10/4/2005 - The Barnyard is Looking for Artists... |
Hello World!
Well after looking over a more up-to-date blog the other day I figured that maybe I should get back to posting things here and see if I can keep it a little more steady. I think the biggest problem with blogs (other than trying to update them) is that this particular blog is limited to the amount of pictures you can post. So I feel a little limited...Oh well.
So I was trying to figure out what to post, what to say and so on and so forth. I thought maybe I would post a job listing, we're currently looking for Lighting/Compositing Artists.
If you live in LA or the Orange County area, or your just really great at what you do you should take a look at this information. Feel free to drop me a personal message and I'll make sure that I get your information to the right people. Please only submit your stuff if you have the experience and meet the following description.
http://www.softimage.com/Corporate/Careers/Jobs/default.asp?action=view&ID=849
Take care people!
...i |
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8/8/2005 - A Day In The Life of Siggraph... |
Well hello all...
Been a little too long since my last posting. I find that due to lack of upload space on this blog it's difficult to find something interesting to talk about without a cool image of some sort? None the less I would like to comment on last weeks Siggraph. For those of you cats that are not familiar with Siggraph it's the largest 3D Animation convention in the US.....as far as I know. Not only are there lots of cool Animation studios there but also a bunch of up and coming software/hardware demos.
For me it was all about the really cool animation booths. Disney Feature, DreamWorks PDI, Blue Sky and yes a little company by the name of Pixar. Though Pixar and DreamWorks maybe known for being the cool kids on the block, I must say that Disney Feature 3D takes home the blue ribbon. Their booth was by far the coolest and hippest place to be. With several large monitors displaying their up and coming works, showcasing the talent on the films and the direction that they see their studio going is in short very exciting. Although I know that Disney/Pixar haven't kissed and made up I think that Toy Story 3 is still very up in the air and is if anything nothing more than a bargaining chip at this time.
Although I am very disappointed to see the complete switch to all 3D feature, I have a hope in my heart that someday some where we will see 2D or that is Classical Animation continue to grow and return to mainstream animation. It might only happen through independents but I guess with time we will see. As for Siggraph it's self, I had a great time. It's amazing to think that about 3 years ago no one had work, everyone was looking around and trying to figure out what they would be doing with themselves. Siggraph 2005 represents the fact that the industry is changing, there are jobs out there and for those who are willing to work hard and step out in faith there maybe a place for you.
Until next time.
...i
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7/25/2005 - The Beat Goes on... |
Monday, Monday.
Da, da, da da.
Ummm what to say for Monday.
Let me start off by saying that the response from fellow artists has been less than favorable.
Actually it's more like there's alot of negativity that has come from my posting a link to the Barnyard trailer on Sketch Book Sessions. Funny thing is, though I might not enjoy a film I don't find myself being incredibly rude to the people who may have worked on the project. I think it's more about remaining professional and that comes through in a variety of ways.
Take for instance Animation Nation, AN is a very professional and most of the time courteous forum to post on. Then again maybe they just exercise the "If you don't have nothing nice to say"....rule? Who knows all I know is that it's my desire to treat people on-line and off-line with respect as to what they've accomplished individually. There are a number of films that have really rubbed me wrong, be it the over all look, story line or horrible animation, not to mention the politics behind the project or the production and leadership as a whole.
Good movies, or rather good animated movies are hard to come by these days. But in looking at the Barnyard, I'm of the belief that our story has alot of heart. And a lot of heart can go along ways. Should the timing of Barnyard be ripe for the picking I do believe that the Barnyard maybe very well received by a very eager and less critical audience, mainly the kids.
Because who else are we doing this for if not for the enjoyment of watching the smiles light up on their faces.
In closing here is a comment from a good friend of mine, his sister seems to think the move will be a good one.
"We were watching some dvd the other day and the Valiant trailer came on... She was all ho hum, she didn't think the British humor was very funny. But in any case, she said... "I'm looking forward to that Cow movie, this doesn't look very good." By cow movie she means the Barnyard. AND I assume she's the target audience (10 years old)... so you guys are doing something right."
...i |
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7/22/2005 - Life at the Barnyard... |
Hey Howdy Hey,
Well there's been some interesting responses to the Barnyard trailer that is now on-line and playing in theaters. Nothing that those of us working on the film haven't already thought about our selves, what I'm really looking forward to is hearing what kids think. Wish I would have caught the trailer in the theater just to see if the kids were laughing?
Oh well, I guess I'll just wait and see.
So anyways I got my first comment and would like to answer some questions from KirkGuy who can be found in my friends list.
Looks interesting. I’m on a Mac so I could not see the trailer.
Wow, I'll check that out at my place tonight. I have a Mac at home but work on a PC at the studio. Should work though, man bad news if it's not Mac friendly.
What do you do at your company??
Mostly instigate Nerf Wars....but on a busy day I work in the Layout department at Omation on Barnyard which is a 3D Animated Feature. We set up the shots. In doing so we set up the cameras and camera moves, the characters and the 3D environments to match the storyboards. Then we render out the frames and cut them together for the director to get a better idea of continuity. Layout 2 is what we are currently working on and involves alot of camera tweaking and final prepping for the next department who will continue finessing the shot.
What kind of jobs are there in animation?
There are so many jobs in the animation industry that I really don't even know if I could list them all. At this studio alone there's been 3D Character Animation, 3D Clean-Up Animation, Rigging, 3D Layout, Texture Artists, Lighting, Rig-Testers, Modlers, Character Modlers, BG/Mo-Cap Animation, as well in the beginning of the production there where Character Designers, Storyboard Artists and Concept Designers as well there's the management end which would include the IT Dept, Production Assistants, Production Coordinators, Production Management and Line Producer, then there's the big guys like the Producer and the Director, the Director in this case is also the Screen Writer. And that's just for a 3D studio working on a feature, if you try a 2D house or a commercial house there's going to be a wide variety of positions.
I think alot about switching to animation work (currently an Art Director), but I do not know much about what kind of work is out there and what doing that work is like.
It's alot of fun, your able to see something be developed over the course of a few years and then BOOM it's on the BIG screen.
I think it is a field of work that mostly younger people do because it takes alot of hours and the pay is so, so. I could be wrong, I’m sure.
Your right about the long hours, the pay is pretty good or at least it's better than when I was working at StarBucks. But as for it just being younger people you couldn't be more wrong. There is such a wide variety of people who work at our studio, young, old, some with experience and some like myself who are still learning the ropes. Lots of ages and lots of talent!
In looking over your web site I could really see you working on storyboards, have you ever tried your hand at doing any commercial animation or looked into some of the television animation studios?
Thanks for the great questions Kirk!
...i |
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7/21/2005 - Rise of the Animals... |
Finally!
I must say that all of us in the Layout department have been waiting too long to see the trailer. Today we finally had our opportunity to see it here at the studio. A few lucky individuals have had the chance to see it on the big screen playing in front of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I got to the theater too late and missed out! So today our marketing guy worked his magic and not only do we have a trailer but also a reworked web site that has more than just an image of the poster. With some luck and the marketing madness that is Nickelodeon I imagine that the film could get some good coverage.
What's the movie about you ask? Well other than all the tag lines that you might read it's really a story about growing up and taking on responsibility, yeah sounds iffy but it's got a lot of gags and a pretty good story behind it. Steve Oedekerk is the director/writer and has done a great job with telling a story with alot of heart.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the kids like it and how the adults react. As for others working in the industry....ummm they might be tougher to sell on the idea. For one thing this film has it's own look to it. Just like when Shrek came out or even Ice Age, 3D has alot of flexibility to be just as stylized as traditional 2D animation. I think that based on the trailer, which can be seen here: http://www.barnyardmovie.com I think that we have something unique going and hopefully it will be well received at the box office, that is other than my friends and family who are going to go see it.
Until next time....as well if anyone would like to ask me any questions about the film or the studio I would love to answer them the best of my ability and with-in studio boundaries.
Cheers.
...i |
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7/11/2005 - I've Gotta a Golden Ticket! |
Well welcome back to the blog!
I've officially fallen prey to the many artists who enthusiastically set out to rule the world with a blog (who came up with the name blog?). Anyways all is well in my little world and there are many things to look forward to this week.
For starters a little thing call COMIC-CON! http://www.comic-con.org/index.php YES!! Can't wait to see what cool comics are out there from the front lines of independent artists. I'm very excited to meet Mark Andrews and the rest of the E-Ville Press boys/girls from Pixar. Mark Andrews has a book called COLOSSUS that I can only imagine is going to look great. Check out this posting for more info: http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/08/pixar_artists_launch.html
Boy what else, ummmm well our first and for all I know only trailer for Barnyard will be played in-front of Willy Wonka this Saturday. From what I've seen the trailer looks great, I hope that it's well received that that the kids like it.
As a tribute to the magical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we are watching the original Willy Wonka here at the studio. What a great film, it has some much charm and a twisted since of reality. Ummm lets see what Mr. Burton ends up doing with it, could be a big year for ol' Mr. Scary Pants Tim Burton.
Well off to my many endless chores of finding shots to work on.
Until next time.
...i |
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6/27/2005 - Monday, Monday... |
The weekend is gone and the week has begun. That's the way it works folks.
As for me here I am sitting at the studio waiting for shots to come through. No shots mean no work and if there's no work then it means that things are slow and we need to get this film finished! Looks like the trailer is finished, though I haven't seen it yet. I think they plan to do a studio showing but who knows when that will happen? Hope it looks good, from what I've seen it looks better than "Open Season", although I really like the character design on the bear. Pretty funny looking. On a side note I notice over on Animation Nation they had a few posters from a trade show in NY for up coming Dreamworks pictures. However they posted a picture of our film with the DW stuff, silly people!
Take a looksie...
http://www.animationnation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010373
Not much else to add for this Monday's entree. Maybe I should come up with some ideas for neat'o things I could do for different days!
...i |
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6/24/2005 - The Corpse Bride... |
This movie looks like it will be very fun. I'm not going to set myself up by saying "Oh this movie looks great" but it does look great. What I mean to say is it looks amazing, the designs, the stop motion (yes that's stop motion not 3D).
Tim Burton is back and if the story holds up as well as the style of this picture then we are all in for a Fall trick or treat! I love it when movies like this come out in the proper season. Next to the new Harry Potter movie I think that Corpse Bride is going to be a very fun Halloweenie movie to catch.
They have a fun web site up and I recommend checking out the trailer if you've been living in a hole or have been held captive for the past month or so to things of more importance.
This movie looks like it will be very fun. I'm not going to set myself up by saying "Oh this movie looks great" but it does look great. What I mean to say is it looks amazing, the designs, the stop motion (yes that's stop motion not 3D).
Tim Burton is back and if the story holds up as well as the style of this picture then we are all in for a Fall trick or treat! I love it when movies like this come out in the proper season. Next to the new Harry Potter movie I think that Corpse Bride is going to be a very fun Halloweenie movie to catch.
They have a fun web site up and I recommend checking out the trailer if you've been living in a hole or have been held captive for the past month or so to things of more importance.
http://corpsebridemovie.warnerbros.com/
...i |
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6/24/2005 - Too Tired For Words... |
Ok BACK OFF!
Just kidding....what's up people?
Had a late night at the studio and our 2nd review got push and push and push back until we were here for a late review. So that was yesterday and this is today!
I didn't have a chance to ramble on about a movie that I'm very interested in seeing so I will now use the power of the almighty blog to ramble.
Here goes!
Oh wait I should attach the picture first.
...i |
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6/23/2005 - Off to Re-Take City... |
Good morning Internet Land,
I hope all is well on the www and .com
As for me I've just finished a so-so Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks and a nice blue-berry muffin. Checked the statues of my shot from yesterday and approved it! Feeling good! Oh what's that, my boss wants to see me.....RETAKE! Ouch! Okay so I need to move the tree....okay....what's that? I need to move the camera....um okay. What? Oh I need to import another camera, point the landscape to the textured one and maybe cheat the stump out of the shot. Boy that's a retake.
So of to Re-Take City I go. I go....
...i |
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6/22/2005 - My Very Own Studio at the Studio... |
Aw crap! I hit the wrong key and now my train of thought is GONE! Oh well. Anyways as I was saying this is a picture of my workspace, I got the idea to take the picture from a posting on www.cartoonbrew.com there was a similar photo of a guys workspace at an animation studio. So I thought that was a fun idea, so here is my work space here in San Clemente, Orange County. |
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6/22/2005 - Good Morning World... |
War of the Worlds that is! Man that movie looks pretty creepy sweet. Gave me the chills watching the trailer.
So anyways, on to the morning. Just got in to the studio, not many people here yet though it is a little after 10am. No coffee for me this morning, gots me a LG coke from El Pollo Loco! BTW (email slang) Pollo Loco no have breakfast burritos. I got the Casadilla instead.
Checked the statues on my shot from last night and looks good. Pulled it off the render farm and approved it for the delight of my supervisor who may kill me at any give moment.....(I look over my shoulder)....all is well.
Sip, sip....ummmm coka cola. Wonder how it tasted when they put the real deal in-side of it. Bet it had more kick. Awh....well I'm playing a little Pink Floyd to easy into the morning...Jon just shot me with a nerf gun. HE MUST DIE! I'll make him live in fear for now.
Have a happy Wednesday people!
Wednesday Wedding Day!
...i |
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6/21/2005 - A call to the Armies of Animation & those who swear allegiance! |
Okay, well not really.
So here I am with my very own Blog. Man a new and inventive way to waste time and shamelessly hope that my friends will read my pointless ramblings.
Well here goes.....
The Layout Crew and I just got back from a review with the Director of Barnyard the movie. For those of you catz that are hip that's a great big 3D feature by Steve Odekerk and yes he is funny.
The review went pretty well....not really but at least we'll have some work coming our way. Off to the Land of the Retakes!
So that's it for my first blog experience. Boy I'm tired, this blog thing takes alot out of a guy.
Here's a link for the site, there still working on it so back off! http://www.barnyardmovie.com
...i |
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About Me
I will be sharing aimlessly about animation, art, comic-books, video games & whatever strikes my fancy.
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