Sunday, May 29, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
SIGGRAPH Preparation and other news
A group of students at my school have gotten together to produce an animated short to put on the festival circuit.
We have a really great story and we have this gut feeling that people will really enjoy it. After a seven hour production meeting, we got more than we could have asked for. We have a producer now. We are getting ambitious, but ambition is a good thing.
I actually like that we had this meeting as well because it made me think of the story about how most if not all of the Pixar films were ideas that happened during a lunch John Lasseter was having with the other big names at Pixar who would go on to direct Pixar films.
On another note. I'm prepping for SIGGRAPH 2011. And I designed my own business card. No pre designed crap like had last year. I really just thought about what do I want this card to say about me. Yes, I am a character animator, but it has to have my personality as well. And here I am unveiling my business card design. The first time I ever designed one. It's simple, but elegant. I think anyway.
And yes my number and email is on there for the upload, but I thought if it wasn't the full effect would be lost.
We have a really great story and we have this gut feeling that people will really enjoy it. After a seven hour production meeting, we got more than we could have asked for. We have a producer now. We are getting ambitious, but ambition is a good thing.
I actually like that we had this meeting as well because it made me think of the story about how most if not all of the Pixar films were ideas that happened during a lunch John Lasseter was having with the other big names at Pixar who would go on to direct Pixar films.
On another note. I'm prepping for SIGGRAPH 2011. And I designed my own business card. No pre designed crap like had last year. I really just thought about what do I want this card to say about me. Yes, I am a character animator, but it has to have my personality as well. And here I am unveiling my business card design. The first time I ever designed one. It's simple, but elegant. I think anyway.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Just one week left
One week is left in what has been my most difficult semester yet. Not that the work was extremely hard, but the workload was tough. Some of which I brought on myself.
First there was my class animation project. I never do anything simple and probably never will. Not only did do more work than the other students who only animated one or two characters, I animated 3. I then decided one would be animated going up stairs and falling down them. That turned out alright, but damn I was killing myself on that one. Then I decided well 2 of the characters are ghost and they need effects. And in comes compositing and After Effects work. So I then to break up the animation into render layers for the composite and the effects. Overall, it was a lot of fun and I loved doing it. But it was stressful, I was pulling at my hair, I didn't sleep, and deadlines were always looming. So if anything from that stand point, I think I'm ready to work at a studio.
Then there is the Texturing and Lighting class. This class had two major projects. First the alley project and the pumpkin composite. The alley project not so bad. The pumpkin composite kicked my ass. But it was also fun.
Then there is Perspective class which at that the start of the semester I really enjoyed and totally loved. Now I just want it to come to an end so I never have to think about that class again. 10 times the work of the other classes combined. Now I know this sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really not. I truly enjoyed every minute of the semester and really know now that I do love this. You have to love it to put this much time and work.
That also having been said, this semester was a learning experience. I really learned what kind of an animator I want to be as far as the stories I want to tell and the emotions behind those stories. I also got extreme encouragement from my texturing class instructor to take a story I've developed and have been for close to 10 years and get it really going.
So all I can say at this point before head into the lion's den to do my Perspective class final (the only one left) is I learned a lot and made a lot of new friends and connections and even myself a bigger part of the University through my new position and title. And because of all of this... big things are on the horizon. And that is all I will say. :-)
First there was my class animation project. I never do anything simple and probably never will. Not only did do more work than the other students who only animated one or two characters, I animated 3. I then decided one would be animated going up stairs and falling down them. That turned out alright, but damn I was killing myself on that one. Then I decided well 2 of the characters are ghost and they need effects. And in comes compositing and After Effects work. So I then to break up the animation into render layers for the composite and the effects. Overall, it was a lot of fun and I loved doing it. But it was stressful, I was pulling at my hair, I didn't sleep, and deadlines were always looming. So if anything from that stand point, I think I'm ready to work at a studio.
Then there is the Texturing and Lighting class. This class had two major projects. First the alley project and the pumpkin composite. The alley project not so bad. The pumpkin composite kicked my ass. But it was also fun.
Then there is Perspective class which at that the start of the semester I really enjoyed and totally loved. Now I just want it to come to an end so I never have to think about that class again. 10 times the work of the other classes combined. Now I know this sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really not. I truly enjoyed every minute of the semester and really know now that I do love this. You have to love it to put this much time and work.
That also having been said, this semester was a learning experience. I really learned what kind of an animator I want to be as far as the stories I want to tell and the emotions behind those stories. I also got extreme encouragement from my texturing class instructor to take a story I've developed and have been for close to 10 years and get it really going.
So all I can say at this point before head into the lion's den to do my Perspective class final (the only one left) is I learned a lot and made a lot of new friends and connections and even myself a bigger part of the University through my new position and title. And because of all of this... big things are on the horizon. And that is all I will say. :-)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Okay... one more. For good reason.
This is one of my prouder moments in life. And a great accomplishment for me. And also Flaminia Grimaldi who has sort of become my partner in crime in this project. I believe that when you succeed at something, then share that success with others. Nothing is ever a one man show, it is the combined work of several talented people. Flaminia and I have already come up with so many ideas and Vince is pretty much giving us free reign to act as the representatives and the producers of what this office will churn out.
Now back to schoolwork.
Now back to schoolwork.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Last posting for a few weeks
So, there are three weeks left in the semester and now all the work I have done this semester is reaching it's end.
This has been by far the busiest yet the funnest semester of all the ones I've been through thus far. There have been surprises, some ups and downs, mostly ups, with one especially major up that has been covered so I won't go into that.
For the end of the semester, I have to complete my animation project. I am looking forward to this because it will be great to see how far I have come, but also because I so desperately want to animate something other than the Norman rig after animating this guy for 3 months.
I also have to wrap up the photo real pumpkin composite. This is by far the easiest of the assignments, but still a big challenge that needs devotion and attention to detail.
The remaining and final assignment for perspective is to either draw storyboards or a comic book using what we have learned. I am still undecided on which I want to do, but for my idea storyboards are probably the best route.
And one more artwork upload to share from perspective class. The 5 point fisheye perspective view.
So this all I have to post before I vanish into the final few weeks and come out on the other side prepared to sleep for a few days after it's over.
This has been by far the busiest yet the funnest semester of all the ones I've been through thus far. There have been surprises, some ups and downs, mostly ups, with one especially major up that has been covered so I won't go into that.
For the end of the semester, I have to complete my animation project. I am looking forward to this because it will be great to see how far I have come, but also because I so desperately want to animate something other than the Norman rig after animating this guy for 3 months.
I also have to wrap up the photo real pumpkin composite. This is by far the easiest of the assignments, but still a big challenge that needs devotion and attention to detail.
The remaining and final assignment for perspective is to either draw storyboards or a comic book using what we have learned. I am still undecided on which I want to do, but for my idea storyboards are probably the best route.
And one more artwork upload to share from perspective class. The 5 point fisheye perspective view.
So this all I have to post before I vanish into the final few weeks and come out on the other side prepared to sleep for a few days after it's over.
Friday, April 29, 2011
More goings on...
So, I had another meeting today with Vince DeQuattro. This time other faculty members of the department. When I arrived at the meeting, I was greeted by Vince with "this is Andrew, and I would like every to give him a round of applause for getting this idea going". That was pretty cool, but I was also turning red a bit. Vince then when on to say how he and Chad (modeling genius and technical guru) at my school were talking and remarking
"that they were kicking themselves for not coming up this idea themselves".
To really elaborate on the idea and what it is would be this. An online office for coordinating online and onsite students both grad and undergrad to get collaborative projects off the ground and work in a studio production pipeline. The opportunities that this will give the students is enormous. This is the sort of thing that every student in Computer Graphics should be doing. I have no doubt that the work we churn out will be amazing. It is my goal to see this program develop some very remarkable shorts that will garner recognition for everyone involved. These are the things that are going to get us on the path to our careers. The thought it is hitting me that demo reels, portfolios, and websites are nice, but this program is the thing that will get us to Pixar or Dreamworks. This is a bunch of students getting together and saying we don't have to be Pixar or Dreamworks to create some damn good shorts that people will love. It's the people that grab life by the balls and run with it that are successful. This is exactly what myself and other students are going to achieve. This is what I have been dreaming of doing for so long.
Also, since I will now be at SIGGRAPH this year, I am going to meet Vince at the Conference. This is another step towards realizing what I want to do and see it accomplished. When one door opens, it leads to another and then another and another. Eventually all those doors lead to the place I want to be. I am looking forward to going back to SIGGRAPH and meeting all the new faces, and reconnecting with those I met last year. Though I know that there are some who I met last year that won't be able to make it for various reasons, and I wish they could be there. I would love to see many of them again and talk about how their lives has changed since last year. After all, a lot can happen in a year.
"that they were kicking themselves for not coming up this idea themselves".
To really elaborate on the idea and what it is would be this. An online office for coordinating online and onsite students both grad and undergrad to get collaborative projects off the ground and work in a studio production pipeline. The opportunities that this will give the students is enormous. This is the sort of thing that every student in Computer Graphics should be doing. I have no doubt that the work we churn out will be amazing. It is my goal to see this program develop some very remarkable shorts that will garner recognition for everyone involved. These are the things that are going to get us on the path to our careers. The thought it is hitting me that demo reels, portfolios, and websites are nice, but this program is the thing that will get us to Pixar or Dreamworks. This is a bunch of students getting together and saying we don't have to be Pixar or Dreamworks to create some damn good shorts that people will love. It's the people that grab life by the balls and run with it that are successful. This is exactly what myself and other students are going to achieve. This is what I have been dreaming of doing for so long.
Also, since I will now be at SIGGRAPH this year, I am going to meet Vince at the Conference. This is another step towards realizing what I want to do and see it accomplished. When one door opens, it leads to another and then another and another. Eventually all those doors lead to the place I want to be. I am looking forward to going back to SIGGRAPH and meeting all the new faces, and reconnecting with those I met last year. Though I know that there are some who I met last year that won't be able to make it for various reasons, and I wish they could be there. I would love to see many of them again and talk about how their lives has changed since last year. After all, a lot can happen in a year.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Today was a damned good day!!!
So yeah, last night I got the acceptance letter for being a SIGGRAPH Student Volunteer. Now I know I'm going. And I really didn't think there is anything that could possibly trump that news. But something did.
I had a meeting today with Vince DeQuattro, the Director of the Animation and Visual Effects Department at AAU. I was really only meeting with him to discuss my career path, classes I should take, and the choices that will effect my career. I walked away from this meeting getting far more than I ever expected.
We discussed how online students tend to feel disconnected from the school because we are so far away and are missing out on things. He then said he wants to setup and online office for on campus and online students to meet and collaborate on projects. The office would then have a student rep to communicate their questions or concerns to Vince. He basically just said to me that the office would be mine to control. I would set the hours, and be the student rep. He asked me to send him a headshot so the students know who the office instructor is and know who to talk to when problems arise. He told me since some students might be nervous about talking to him because he is the big cheese of the department, I could voice their concerns and questions to him directly if they were too nervous to speak to him. This was a damned good day. I just went from being an AAU Student to being AAU faculty. Only in my wildest dreams could this have happened. This is one of those defining moments when the unexpected happens. This is the moment when careers are made. I'm beside myself with happiness.
I had a meeting today with Vince DeQuattro, the Director of the Animation and Visual Effects Department at AAU. I was really only meeting with him to discuss my career path, classes I should take, and the choices that will effect my career. I walked away from this meeting getting far more than I ever expected.
We discussed how online students tend to feel disconnected from the school because we are so far away and are missing out on things. He then said he wants to setup and online office for on campus and online students to meet and collaborate on projects. The office would then have a student rep to communicate their questions or concerns to Vince. He basically just said to me that the office would be mine to control. I would set the hours, and be the student rep. He asked me to send him a headshot so the students know who the office instructor is and know who to talk to when problems arise. He told me since some students might be nervous about talking to him because he is the big cheese of the department, I could voice their concerns and questions to him directly if they were too nervous to speak to him. This was a damned good day. I just went from being an AAU Student to being AAU faculty. Only in my wildest dreams could this have happened. This is one of those defining moments when the unexpected happens. This is the moment when careers are made. I'm beside myself with happiness.
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