Hey there! I guess this is more of a re-introduction than an introduction. I’m Margot — but I go by MJ, or “trill” if you prefer. I was part of the brickfilms community about 15 years ago. I only made 2 films and was always too shy to share them online. One was a Star Trek film, and the other was a Star Wars film so my content pool was fairly narrow and uninspired, too.
I am now a professional ramen and pastry chef with my sights on being a restaurateur, although COVID managed to derail my immediate career plans. I transitioned careers a few years ago after about a decade working in fine arts and UX/UI design, but still moonlight as an oil painter and digital illustrator. I live in SoCal with my husband and daughter. I’m a gamer (mainly PS4 and Xbox for now, also building my first gaming PC), a lazy Twitch streamer, and spend my free time roller skating, practicing my Japanese and French (I’m determined to be trilingual by the time I turn 35), and (when it’s not a global pandemic) hanging out at Disneyland or traveling.
It probably bears mentioning, although I cringe to think back on it: I was peripherally involved in the mass exodus from brickfilms.com. I was a dumb, incredibly depressed teenager with a stressful home life acting out on the internet. I sought out and created drama and chaos because that was the only thing I knew as familiar and safe. If anyone is still around now who was subject to my immaturity and poor behavior, I genuinely apologize.
I’m in my 30’s now and have a LEGO-loving kiddo of my own. She has recently shown an interest in making brickfilms and I want to share that hobby with her, so have resurrected my account to poke at what’s new in the tech, equipment, and software departments of stop-motion animation.
A funny, personal anecdote: I may not have been too involved with the filmmaking aspect of LEGO in the last several years, but about 3 years ago, we sold everything we owned and moved cross-country (from Austin, TX to Central Oregon) with only what would fit in our car. Included in this haul was an entire XL sized cargo carrier and 2 large storage tubs of LEGO, what I estimate to be about 250lbs worth. Because #priorities, right?
