Lots of stuff

Alright, it's been way too long since I've posted, so here we go:

The Animation Mentor classes have been going wonderfully.. I am learning a crazy amount of knowledge and keeping a huge notebook of notes.. I think it will turn into pure gold when I'm done with the course. I am in week 8 of 12 in class 3 of 6.. so that means...... I'm more than half way through the program! wooooo! This week, we just started our first shot animating to dialogue. I've done a few tests with dialogue before starting AM, but this is one I feel most confident about.

In class 2 I had Michelle Meeker as a mentor and she was just great. She really pushed me hard which was exactly what I needed. At the end of the class, we all voted on which student was most improved and best of show.. and I won best of show! It was an honor to know that other people liked my work. I mean, I'm never really sure what other people's responses are to my work, cause they could just be nice and say "good job" or most of the time we are constantly critiquing others to push their animation.. but it was nice to know people enjoyed what I've done.

So now I'm in class 3 with Ray Chase.. he gives great advice and gets up and acts stuff out which really helps me know what he means. I finished an acting piece in week 5 and will finish my dialogue shot in the beginning of next class. So I'm sure I will have those 2 pieces the next time I post. But for now, here's the progress from the end of class 2:




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Other REALLY exciting news is that the short film I was working on is now finished! It's so nice to see a project come to an end, and the final product being as it is.. He rendered it in stereoscopic, so at the premiere we got to put on the 3d glasses and watch it on the big screen.. it was so nice to see the audiences reactions and getting all the positive feedback.. Of course there are things that I would change if I went back to it, but overall I am pleased.

here's the link: www.pacoshort.com

also, you can go to the cgtalk thread that was started: here


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In work news, things are kind of here and there.. we are working really hard to try and get our game portal product out there to as many people as possible. But we are still looking for an investor.. . heh, if anyone knows someone with lots of money and wants to invest in a game portal, hook us up! riiiight.. well we are being positive and hoping that it will work out.. we are becoming more confident this plan is going to work with the positive feedback from our clients, but just need money to see it through to the end.. i'm just glad i still have a job at the moment and hope it lasts for a while :)

if something happens, I think I've got some other options around the indianapolis area I can pursue.. or maybe I'll just move to california and live with Frank (the guy who came up with the Paco short) cause he just got accepted to the residency program at PIXAR! way to go Frank! You deserve it man..

well, I think that's about it from here, hopefully I'll get some more time to post more often, and at least get my AM work up here..

Thanks and here's some more links..

WALL E in Real Life!
Good references for facial expressions
FALLEN - A really good short
Engineer's Guide to Cats (my brother works with these guys)
The Grid is way cooler than the internets
Another short with Simon's Cat