M9 Interviews The Super Busy Atalantos Options

[ArthurWill]

Atalantos is a very popular M9er, an awesome community cheerleader and a man who never failed to create a big smile on others' face with his humor. He is also a Certified Themer, Certified Designer, and created amazing themes, wallpapers & ringtones that have been downloaded close to 7 million times worldwide. Nowadays he is pretty busy so we are really happy to have him in this interview. Want to know how he got the nickname - "someone who has no talent at all", why he started making themes, why he makes winning mixes etc? Read on!

(IMG:http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/9720/atalantosinterview.jpg)

Howdy and a round of applause to you, Mano, for winning yet another gold trophy in TMC last week. So glad to be able to catch you up and do an interview with you.
Howdy AW and M9ers!!! (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/hi2.gif)
I’m truly honored to be here, in this interview.


Can you introduce yourself to those who don't already know you? And why Atalantos?
Well, my real name is Manouso and by short is Mano
I’m from Hellas – Greece as you all can see at my profile info
Atalantos haha… 1st of all I have to explain what does Atalantos means in Greek. Atalantos is the one who has no talent at all, so "Atalantos" in English means "Untalented" "Ungifted"
I used to be a DJ and my nick name back then was DJ Manos, but a friend started to call me Atalanto ironically (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) … and I get used to it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


How did you start making themes and why it continues to be something you enjoy doing 3 years on?
When I bought my beloved SE W900i, I wanted to make it look different, to make it unique… so I Google it and found the M9 Galleries full of amazing themes for my phone (IMG:style_emoticons/default/punk.gif)
Then I said... hmm I want to do that also!!! (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/mpouxaxa.gif)
I downloaded the Theme Creator, took some lessons from the M9 tutorials and since then I’m addicted… (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/pc1.gif)
I can’t really express my feelings when someone looks at my phone and says "How did you do it?" "Where did you find it?"..... Em… I made it!!!
I will continue to produce themes and shear them with all of you as long I can.


When you first started, which themers inspired you the most?
Oh… I will never forget these amazing themes from
TermiteMusic with Yin-Yang Dragon and Little Dragon
Patrick_Lippe with Aqua Graphite, AlienLand and Subtle
Rantanplan with Wind of Emotion
Baby_oink with tekken – Yoshimitsu
Zjurina with 2001_A Space Odyssey
Azumoru with Plasma Vortex, LifeLine and Black & White panels
Jasnasto with Vista Ultimate, Burning Desire and Demon of Fire
dr_megabyte with Atom, Alienware, Butterfly, Tribal, Blue Waves… this would be endless by dr
but the one which grab my attention and said ‘I want to make themes like this one’ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/crybaby.gif) was by Sedma with Gold


Like others, you started with making basic themes but these days you are able to produce themes that consistently making it to podium in TMC, received many many favourites & downloads. How did you achieve that?
Well that's because I’ve learn how to use Photoshop CS and how to make themes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
I have said it before in TMC… you have to be patience of what you are doing and always studying what everybody else is doing haha (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil2.gif)
Just keep your theming style functional and readable, that will do... and soon enough it will be recognizable.


3 of your top favourite themes (your own themes) so far?
My favorite 3 (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/letmethink.gif) …

FL Studio
(IMG:http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3079/flstudio.jpg)

Silver Dragon
(IMG:http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/18/silverdragon.jpg)

214 TMC entry Pirates
(IMG:http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1917/pirateo.jpg)


Till this date Mano is one of the only two M9er who has won gold trophy in all 3 competitions. So lets dig a little more into that.

Besides making themes you also participated in RC & WPC. How did that come from?
Well TMC and WPC have one thing in common, Photoshop CS!!!
It’s very obvious to take part in both competitions when you use the same tool (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
Now, as for RC… as I said, I used to be a DJ, so, one part of my self belongs to music (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/music.gif)


We used to see you everyday in M9 (& I miss that a lot) but you recently got a new job. How has it been?
I miss M9 too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/crybaby.gif)
I’m trying to manage my time so that I can be more active but, my job has unpredictable situations that require a lot of time at any time (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/wallbash3.gif)
But I’m really enjoying my new job and particular my business trips (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil2.gif)


Besides theming, what else do you enjoy doing when you have free time?
When I have my nerves (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/pcangry.gif) … I play some music with my CDJ’s (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/djj.gif) ...a couple of hours will do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
When I’m bored (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/ltlchild.gif) … I’m grabbing my bicycle for a ride!!!
When I’m happy… I go out with my friends, playing Tekken (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/ps3.gif)
When I feel creative... I’m making themes, manipulating photos, editing videos… (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/paint.gif)
When I want to calm down, I watch a movie, listen to an internet radio and basically not thinking of my job at all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


It's soooo good talking to you today. Thank you for your time! If there's anything you'd like to add, go ahead.
The pleasure is mine AW (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/tybow.gif)
In all these 3 years I’ve been here, I only have one regret (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
Why I didn’t Google M9 earlier (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/wallbash3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/crybaby.gif) (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/smthng2lgh.gif)
Seriously, M9 is a very special place for me, I had and I’m having fun in here whenever I login!!!
The M9 admin team is awesome and very helpful (IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/good2.gif)
M9 community has a family feeling and that’s making it so unique, for me at least (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
Overall I’m feeling very (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) when I know that there are almost 7 million people in all over the world, having my themes, wallpapers, ringtones and videos on their phones!!!

(IMG:http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/Atalantos/Emoticons/ty.gif) you M9 for the amazing years that past and to those that they will come (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)



Thank you Mano. I'm so touched by what you say about M9 & the community. We are very fortunate & honoured to have a member like you too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif)

[thump_rockstar]

This Interview Could Be Better with One Photo from Mano. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Well actually you bring out a good point there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/10.gif)
How about all those who get interviewed share one of their photo with us too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wow.gif)



This post has been edited by thump_rockstar: Oct 12 2009, 10:07 PM