MB Workshop LA

MBworkshopbanner2013

Just signed up to go to the MB Workshop coming up, December 5-8. Looking forward to multiple days of awesome demonstrations, mind exploding inspiration and more learning and skill development in a couple of days than I might get in a year. I’ve wanted to go to one of these workshops for the last few years, but they have never been close enough to home to allow me to go.

If you have the time to go, you should do it. If you’re already going or plan to go, let me know so we can meet up.
http://massiveblack.com/workshop/

SIGGRAPH 2013

20130721-085533.jpg
I have the pleasure of attending SIGGRAPH with a full conference pass this year, thanks to a colleague of mine at work. We’ll see how many days I actually get to go based upon workload at work. But I’m not going to think about that right now… Looking forward to a lot of learning and checking out what people all over the world have been doing within the field of computer graphics, visual effects and interactive content.

Day 1 will be spent taking a Unity class. I’ve been learning Unity on my own for a little while now. Between online tutorials and trial and error, I’d say I’ve figured out a lot on my own. Having an instructor lead class will hopefully bring a lot of that knowledge together.

More updates to come…

Gnomon Live – April 2013

I’m up, bright and early so I can make my way up to Hollywood to attend a 2 day workshop hosted by Gnomon School of VFX (Gnomon Live!). It’s going to have 10 instructors and be full of all sorts of awesome learning and inspiration. Looking forward to hearing so many talented folks talk about their work and process while being surrounded by like minded artist and maybe a few new friends.

I’m sure there will be more updates and pictures to follow over the next few days.

The Oscars & VFX

Link

It’s crazy to see that the film that won the Oscar for best VFX was completed by a VFX company (Rhythm & Hues) that recently declared bankruptcy. It is a sad day when the best of the best can no longer financially compete in an industry that relies on their talents to make all of these incredible movies.

http://io9.com/5987131/why-the-visual-effects-industry-protested-the-oscars-and-how-the-academy-insulted-them-in-return

CGW Magazine – Quote

Quote

Came across a great quote in Computer Graphics World magazine. This month’s issue is a VES Awards Prelude and was covering the work that has been nominated for awards. My current work isn’t in the entertainment industry, but the tools, techniques and workflow my colleagues and I use fall under the VFX umbrella. It is pretty incredible what we are capable of creating.

“Of all the craft areas in moviemaking, the VFX branch can boast the smartest and most highly educated practitioners, the most advanced technologies being applied, and the largest impart on the economics of storytelling in the digital age…”
– Bob Coleman, Owner, Digital Artists Agency

 

Future of VFX Industry – AWN

I listen to a recording regarding the future of the VFX industry, given by Industry giant Scott Ross, co-founder and former CEO of Digital Domain, at FMX2011. It was broken up into 5 parts and can be found here: The Future of the VFX Industry

Interesting to hear about where the industry has been and where its going. It was encouraging to hear him speak about how the top 20 all time movie blockbusters have been driven by content creators and not famous actors.

There was also a great quote mentioned about how art and business co-exist:

“The art is is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work”  – Oscar Wilde