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Visit to Bento Box
55 minutes ago
2010-07-29
Lagoa Multiphysics 1.0 - Teaser
Thor
"Thor" SDCC
Uploaded by ThePlaylist. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.
2010-07-27
Jason Holley
The Color from jason holley on Vimeo.
Interview from jason holley on Vimeo.
Books on Tape from jason holley on Vimeo.
a peek into the life of a working illustrator...
2010-07-22
Scott Ross for President
Everyone should listen to this interview...
This is the most articulate, solution oriented conversation I have heard yet on this subject. If the VFX shops are awarded the money, respect, education, and deserved appreciation Ross proposes a trade organization would provide... I am confident there would be trickle down to the employees. Ten years ago, these needs (401k, benefits, fair hiring practices) were being met. Some shops back in the day even had car washing, dry cleaning services, meals provided, studio sponsored parties, etc. VFX shops managed to provide these things to artists even on a "next to nothing" profit margin. Then, times changed. The movie studios told shops you have half the budget , twice the work, and half the time... even though profits on VFX driven films are higher than ever. Studios told the shops, if you don't like it, the shop down the street beet your bid by 150k! So, the VFX shops began to hire cheap labor just to make ends meet.
The VFX companies are not the enemy in this situation and the situation is not personal. What have we got to lose? If the shops don't organize and fix the situation now, they are out of business anyways. Then, no one has a job. If the VFX shops paid dues to a trade organization like artists do to the VES, we might get somewhere. As long as the new trade organization does the job presented to them and isn't fluff and just talk, like some organizations we know. I think this is what Scott means by he would be willing to help organize as long as people made a commitment to the mission. If shops all agreed to pay dues to get the organization started, they might have a fighting chance in this as Ross put it "race to the bottom."
I also agree completely with Ross on a Union. The biz model for VFX shops is not one that could work with a Union. at this time The issues that artists have with the shops (401k, benefits, fair hiring practices) are only symptoms of the bigger problem. VFX was never working off of fat, it was lean muscle ten years ago... now we are cutting ligaments and bone as far as budgets and any profits. There is no room for negotiating. A union could help after we recover from the current circumstances... possibly, but I do not see how a Union would fix the profit margin issue between the Movie Studios and FX shops. How would a union deal with Runaway Production. I am curious how are they handling it now? I am pretty sure 2D ran away to Korea... no?
The one thing that did bother me in their talk was when they said the whole issue since the town hall "died because people are working." I know more people out of work than ever. Artists have no power, no money, no leaders, no experience in this stuff and mouths to feed. We feel helpless. That is why it died. If the VFX studios have no cash, you think out of work artists do? So, artists go overseas to help the lack of local talent for 1/3rd of their salary on even smaller budgeted movies and leave their wife and kids behind to keep a roof over their heads. It's the unskilled talent pool overseas that needs our artists to make the incentive program work. Again, worst biz model ever. And I digress.. Anyways, it's the first real discussion I have seen anywhere so far.
2010-07-21
2010-07-19
Character Animation I - Studio Arts Class Half Off!!!
Studio Arts has a Character Animation Class
that I have agreed to teach this term.
We are shy some students to make it happen,
so if you contact Studio Arts and say you
saw the posting on this blog...
they will let you take the class for half price!!!
Class starts next Wednesday!
10-Week Class: Wednesday evenings
from 7PM - 10PM (7/28/10 to 9/29/10)
Because of Siggraph: Dates have been moved to:
08/11/10 - 10/13/10
Because of Siggraph: Dates have been moved to:
08/11/10 - 10/13/10
Price:
(750$ if you tell them you saw this posting on the blog!)
Prerequisite: Intermediate, working knowledge
of Autodesk Maya is recommended.
Instructor: Angie Jones
2010-07-14
2010-07-13
2010-07-12
Cutest Mascot Ever
This is the cutest thing ever...
you must watch til the end.
I think it's because the costume actually blinks...
well, that and the guy inside can really dance.
Interview With a Robot
I thought we were supposed to be in hover cars by now
this one can barely talk.
2010-07-08
"Motion capture by itself is not an animation technique."
OSCARS: Academy Announces Rule
Changes For Animated Film & Visual Effects
...in the Animated Feature Film category, a sentence regarding motion capture was added to clarify the definition of an animated film. The language now reads: “An animated feature film is defined as a motion picture with a running time of greater than 40 minutes, in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. Motion capture by itself is not an animation technique. In addition, a significant number of the major characters must be animated, and animation must figure in no less than 75 percent of the picture’s running time.”
for more read here...
2010-07-07
Media industry fears new rules will kill jobs
This is the first article I have seen regarding runaway production in Animation and VFX that makes any sense to me. If you are trying to build an industry in a region and expect incentives from the government, it shouldn't be easy to import temporary workers to do the work. You should have to hire the local talent. Of course, the real talent doesn't live there, so you look for loopholes to import people from the states to do the work. Looks like those days of easy imported talent might be numbered for Canada.
"Without the IT category, Pixar, Digital Domain, Ubisoft and the like will, starting in October, have to apply for temporary work visas the way every other company in any industry does. This means first seeking a so-called Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from Ottawa's Service Canada department. It requires demonstrating that a position meets wage guidelines, brings new skills and knowledge, and does not adversely affect the employment of a Canadian worker."
2010-07-06
2010-07-05
Handsome Guy
This uncanny valley stuff scares the crap out of me - creepy!!!
This is the Handsome Guy Mask made by Rusty Slusser at SPFX Masks.
Mr. Hublot
French sculptor Stéphane Halleux is trying his hand at animation. He’s created a digital character after one of his leather and scrap metal sculptures, Monsieur Hublot. I love how the character moves and look forward to seeing more.
Zelit Productions and Stéphane hope to develop the project into a feature-length film. In the meatime, a frame-sponsoring system is in place, allowing interested fans to take part in the short’s development at up to 9EU per frame. From the Monsieur Hublot website:
In exchange, among other things and depending on the amount of images sponsored, they will get updates on the film’s production, a print of one of their sponsored images signed by Stéphane Halleux, the opportunity to appear in the the credits, etc. As for ourselves, this quid pro quo will enable us to complete the financing of the short film and to prepare the release of the feature film.
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