Filmmaker Kris Wong has put together Command+Z, a nifty little short that has tons of energy and a lot of VFX moxie. According to Kris’ website
Our main influences came from action films from the 90’s, art deco, and war propaganda
The result is kinda like if the Hudsucker Proxy and Kill Bill had a love child. And I mean that in a good way. Make sure you check out the Making Of section. These guys obviously had a blast making this thing.
(LINK) to the Command+Z microsite
If you laughed at the title of this post you will defiantly be jealous of my VFX geek-tastic Birthday Cake. A handcrafted, custom baked and iced, full scale replica of the Millennium Falcon (from the movie Star Wars, maybe you’ve heard of it). I can’t quite figure out what is more nerdy, the fact that I grinned and giggled like an 8 year old boy at the sight of the thing or how much the other VFX dudes in my office wished they had one of their own.
LINK to Hansen’s (the company that made the cake) Cake Diaries blog
Thanks to L.E. for the pix
The results are in from CGenie’s user survey on 3d artists satisfaction with the software they use. Above is a graph of the overall satisfaction scores for each software. It’s interesting to see that Blender (the open-source 3d graphics package) consistently tops the list in most of the categories listed from new features to value. Of course some of this is not surprising considering that Blender is free. The offerings from Autodesk (namely Maya and 3ds Max) are grouped over and over at the lowest rungs of ladder. The survey results also include some choice comments from users in which the Autodesk products take quite a beating from those who toil in front of them day in and day out. Like these…
Maya: I’m forced to use this software to make a living but I resent it every minute.
and
3ds Max: A lot of the times it feels like the developers do not listen to the artists. Some tools that have been in max for ages and always had problems, they are just left as they are… Come on let’s fix the old stuff clean up the code and then move onto the new stuff.
It seems the open source model is outpacing the bloated development cycles of the big boys. It’ll be interesting to see if they can find a way to catch up.
LINK to the full survey on CGenie
Daft Punk vs. Adam Freeland - “Aer OBAMA” from Gold Greendot on Vimeo.
What better way to celebrate the inauguration of our 44th prez than a total stop-motion-techno-freak-out? Hail to the chief!
via Eric Alba’s Blog
Rubber suited, trashcan lookin’ CG robot action!
(via Twitch)
Hey looks like updating the Wordpress install wiped out the all the users in my database. Yipee! So now when you comment you’ll get the added fun of having to re-register your user name. Think of it as a chance to re-evaluate part of your online identity.
Thanks for your patatience.
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Check out this crazy 8-bit rant from uber-hip animator David O’Reilly that was posted on biongbiong.tv today. It makes some really obtuse points about animation history and the future of CG through the use of crazy primitive rendering techniques. Got to love the title tho’ Innovate or GTFO.
LINK to more David O’reilly madness on bbtv (Super Mario 8-bit theater)
Last month Variety published an article about the increased role of the VFX supe on set subtitled “Tech Pros Move Up In Film Production Hierarchy”. Here’s a taste.
“Not so long ago, visual effects were an isolated corner of post-production, a ‘black-box’ process headed by amiable engineers who kept largely to themselves. ..That has turned the job into a kind of uber-technician-diplomat whose job touches all departments”
I guess that officially makes 2008 The Year of The VFX Supe! To help guide us the dangerous wilds of our new found celebrity I’ve come up with a few tips to ease the transition.
Tip #1: It’s Time For a Makeover
A Hawaiin shirt under a custom-made photographer’s vest coupled with Trebekian facial hair just won’t cut it anymore. Put away the mullets and fanny-packs fellas cuz your with the big boys now. Get subscriptions to Details and Esquire now! Before you know it you’ll be on the carpet with Cloney and Pitt.
Tip #2: Get On The Scene (like a VFX machine)
Since VFX folks have a tendency to fall on the sedentary-anti-social-misanthrope end of the civility scale, newly found celebrity will have to include a social make-over of sorts. Topics that need to be focused on include; volume modulation in both conversation and laugh, human to human eye contact and of course grooming. Please take note that waiting in the comic book store for new books to arrive on Wednesdays is technically NOT considered socializing.
Tip #3: Use Smaller Words
Now that you’ll be released into the wild it’s time to be your own personal Henry Higgins and start listening to the way that you talk. To get started, try this role playing exercise. Don’t talk about Blade Runner for 5 minutes. How’d you do? If you made it more than 30 seconds your on the right track. Other off-limits topics include; the relative merits or high end video cards, TOS vs TNG and whether Greedo shot first just to name a few. A good rule of thumb is that if a conversation topic sounds interesting you, it will probably be insufferably boring the the non-vfx people you are trying to impress.
Tip #4: Keep Your Friends Close and Enemies Closer
Having a VFX Supe involved in every aspect of production on every flick from Tranformin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo to Rainbow Bright: The Movie means that lots of folks on the practical side of things will be out of work as a direct result of what you do. From now on, every Art Director, Make-Up Effects Artist, Special Effects Whacko, heck everyone with the possible exception of the guy who makes the smoothies will be giving you the stink eye every time you walk on set. So be careful, many these people are crafty and have access to high power explosives.
Tip #5: Stop Letting Others Drag You Down (and also don’t forget the little people)
Your time has arrived! You’ve been baptized into the realm of the Hollywood Gliterazzi and now you’ll have to engage in that age old Tinsel Town tradition of blaming others when things go wrong and taking credit for just about everything when things go right. There is only one thing you must do to maintain your good standing. If you are ever in a position to receive an award of any type for your work, make sure you mention that you “couldn’t have done it without my super-talented crew”.
LINK to Variety article
To help ring in 2008 I thought that I’d share with you my resolutions hoping that you will follow suit and help make our world of VFX a better place.
Oops, looks like number 10 is already out the window. Hope you all have better luck with yours this year.
