Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laurence McElrea. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Laurence, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Over the years I have taken many risk. Most of the time the risks have paid off for me, however there have been times when I have been scammed or lost money. When this happens you just have to pick yourself up, keep moving forward, and learn from your mistakes. I found out there is a lot of risk when trying to get into the Movie/Animation industry. If you don’t know anybody in the industry, there are a lot of scammers out there looking for people like you and me. Unfortunately I signed with one of them. While the services they offered were legit they charged way more than they should have, and pocketed an obscene amount of profit. They were supposed to help me get my Children’s Book “The Adventures of Sappy Sardine” in front of some production companies to be made into an Animation. It turns out they wanted to see a Screenplay. Now they set the hook. I do not have a screenplay. So, how much did I pay to have a screenplay written for me, Too Much. The good news is that they did find me a good screenplay writer. How do I know that it’s a good screenplay? I entered it in a ISA screenplay competition, and it made it to the quarter finals. While I didn’t win I was given a critic of it by a screenwriter. He told me that most of it was very good, however there were some improvements that could be made to make it better. It may take me a while, but I think I can make the improvements myself. Why did I follow this path? Like a lot of Dreamers I am following the path least traveled.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
In 1979 I got my Masters Degree in Photographic Art, or Photofusions, a merging of elements of art and photography. Over the years I have been writing, producing, directing and editing Video Training Programs. However I am now retired and concentrating on my art work. I am most proud of my children’s books, Sappy Sardine Save Our Seas, and The Adventures of Sappy Sardine. My goal with Sappy Sardine is to have him become a full length feature animation. The children of this generation need a hero to help them Save Our Seas. This planet is in deep trouble and If things do not change the oceans will die, and if the oceans die mankind will also die.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is its freedom to create what ever comes into your mind. Most 9-5 workers are taught not to think. And society tells you you have to be this way until you retire.
I tried 9-5 jobs for many years and found I got bored with them in about 3 years. Later in life I found it hard to find new jobs because they always wanted to know why I changed jobs so often. When I am creating a work of art it is for myself. The only one who has to be happy with it is me. Also I can take as long as I want to finish it, no deadline.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
As an artist in college I always found myself doing art that was very realistic.. One semester I had a professor that wanted me to draw faster and more abstract. I was not use to this type of drawing.and was terrible at it for most of the semester. However by the end of the semester I became very good at it, and actually enjoyed drawing this way. The drawing of the Antelope with a bird on his back is one of those drawings. It took less than 5 minutes to draw and I sold it for 50 dollars.
Contact Info:
- Website: sappysardine.com
- Facebook: Laurence McElrea Also Sappy Sardine
- Youtube: Laurence McElrea Channel
Image Credits
Laurence McElrea