3DTeachers.com - Resources for Teaching 3D Modeling and Animation: July 2010

3D Animation Program Survey

A survey is being conducted on US schools that have 3D Animation programs. The purpose of this survey is to collect data on schools, programs, their curricula and sustainability issues.

A similar survey has been conducted among Japanese schools earlier. The survey result will be published as academic papers and used to help educational activities of public organizations, such as CG-ARTS, Japan and the ACM SIGGRAPH Education Committee.

To fill out the survey, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5385N3H

The survey is being conducted by:

Miho Aoki
Associate Professor of Computer Art, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Wobbe F. Koning
Assistant Professor of Animation, Montclair State University
Takahito Kamihira
Associate Professor, Senshu University

RenderMan FREE for Educators

I am a big fan of Mental Ray and have been using it for years now. It was accessible and there were tons of resources. I am still a big fan of it, but it was also the only render engine I had access to and honestly all I knew. RenderMan has just been released free for educators to work with. Check it out and get rendering; I will. - Cornell

Pixar's RenderMan for Maya 3.0 (Instructor License)
JourneyEd Item No: 100965128
Manufacturer Item No: JEM-IE-RFM30-NL

Pixar's RenderMan Studio 2.0 with Embedded Renderer (Instructor License)
JourneyEd Item No: 100965135
Manufacturer Item No: JEM-IE-RMS20-RER-NL

Pixar's RenderMan Pro Server 15 (Instructor License)
JourneyEd Item No: 100973954
Manufacturer Item No: JEM-IE-RPS15-NL

Pixar's RenderMan Classroom Kit (Educators/Staff only)
JourneyEd Item No: 100965320
Manufacturer Item No: CLASSROOMKIT

http://www.journeyed.com/dept/Brands/Pixar/RenderMan%20for%20Instructors/291839?qk_srch=JEM_PIXAR_INSTRUCTOR

Sign Up for Free Artist's Guide to RenderMan for Maya 3.0, Digital-Tutors

Free Artist’s Guide to RenderMan for Maya 3.0

Created in close collaboration with Pixar, Digital-Tutors is proud to present you with a new course to learning RenderMan for Maya 3.0. The Artist’s Guide to RenderMan for Maya is a special edition training course dedicated to providing you with time-saving techniques and exclusive tips for creating cinematic-quality imagery using Pixar’s world renowned technology.

Graduates: The Future of EA

I just arrived in LA to attend SIGGRAPH 2010 and I am psyched.

I have always have been know to “fish for conversation”, I guess I got that from my mom. Either way, during the Super Shuttle ride from the LAX to Downtown, I started talking with a guy from EA - Florida. I don’t recall his name but was a cool guy and one of the software engineers in charge of EA’s proprietary render engine. His job is to develop and maintain the rendering engine on Tiger Woods PGA Golf, something like that.

He told me about the student resource site. https://jobs.ea.com/students/

Check it out, he mentioned that one of the main things that the look for is PORTFOLIO. - Cornell

Internships and Co-Ops

What better way to get into the game industry than by working as an EA intern or co-op? EA offers paid internships or co-op positions (pay ranges vary depending on experience and skills), so you can actually get paid for working on games. We will also include your name in the game credits - how cool is that? We'll even throw in some free EA games, too. Better yet, an EA internship or co-op just might lead to a career in games after your graduation.

An EA internship/co-op is a great way to get real-world experience in the games industry. You get hands-on experience working on actual projects, and the EA team you're working with benefits from your fresh perspective. We are confident that once you've sampled life at EA you'll want to come back after graduation.

https://jobs.ea.com/students/intern_and_co-op/

Recruitment Advice

Some great advice from the recruitment team on how to improve your chances of success in getting that job you have always wanted.

Lagoa Multiphysics - Dynamic Simulations

Check this physics engine out, Lagoa Multiphysics 1.0 . . . The details on the simulator have not been released yet, the company says it will publishing more info soon. I am assuming it will be announced and showcased at SIGGRAPH. Either way watch the teaser. - Cornell

FROM THE MAKERS: There’s a lot of buzz out there about what’s this tool and etc…
All I can say is that soon I will be publishing more information on the website of the company www.lagoatechnologies.com

Lagoa Multiphysics 1.0 - Teaser from Thiago Costa on Vimeo.

Another VERY COOL iPhone App – Storyboard Composer

Cinemek’s Storyboard Composer is a bit pricey for an app ($20), but what an awesome tool to have in your pocket to quickly pull together a storyboard. Now I did not buy it yet, so i do not know first hand, but the whole idea of it looks very cool. You just have to check the video overview, it will blow your mind and it is all in your pocket. - Cornell
VIDEO -http://www.cinemek.com/storyboard/index.php

Storyboard Composer is the worlds first mobile story boarding application. No need to know how to draw, no complicated programs to learn. You can have your first story board up and running in a matter of minutes. Storyboard Composer allows professionals and students to portray their vision to others in an easily controllable and transportable format.

Very Cool Iphone/Ipad App - DSLR Slate

I thought this was cool app for production and everyone seems to have a Iphone these days or at least the Touch. Check it out. - Cornell

DSLR Slate is the perfect companion for the DSLR Filmmaker. As a Universal App, DSLR Slate runs natively on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Designed for all needs from student to hollywood, DSLR Slate will be just as useful as the traditional film slate, if not more. “Slating” shots has become standard practice on set and helps streamline shot logging and post production.

Along with a color chart and selectable running timecode, DSLR Slate has all the traditional items for input such as Scene, Take, Framerate, Director, etc. DLSR Slate also provides unique items aimed specifically for DSLR cameras such as ISO Speed, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Lens, Filter, and more. While being invaluable on set, these items also prove useful when shooting tests in varying lighting conditions.

Since there are so many items to show the camera, we’ve come up with a new way of displaying the info. While in SLATE mode, you will see only the traditional items displayed. These items are Scene, Take, Memory Card (Roll), Director, Producer, Project, and Date. Those are the pieces of information that editors use most. Once the camera is rolling, click the START button and a quick burst will begin, flashing all items within about 2 seconds. This allows the camera to “see” each item for at least a few frames, ensuring that all of your information will be captured by the camera. The quick burst is then followed by a Visual/Audio sync and the traditional items will fade back in, ending the slating process.

http://www.lastshotapps.com/LastShotApps/Apps/Entries/2010/5/19_DSLR_Slate.html

Toy Story 3 Animator Roundtable – Part 1

Check out the Toy Story 3 Animation Roundtable from Spline Cast. This is part one of a two part animation Roundtable with: Doug Sweetland, Andy Schmidt, Jessica Torres, Cat Hicks, Carlos Baena, Kc Royer, Aaron Hartline and , Andrew Gordon. . ts3_roundtable_part 1
When I come across part 2 i will post it. - Cornell

Special SIGGRAPH Education Events for Educators

Sunday July 25th

Side Effects invites all educators to our Santa Monica office on Sunday, July 25th

We look forward to meeting with you and to giving you a taste of what's been going on in Houdini education. There are lots of exciting programs in place and with a growing demand for Houdini users it is a great time to get your students skilled up.

Houdini 11 is launching at SIGGRAPH, and we are very pleased to give a special presentation of H11 new features such as dynamic fracturing, FLIP fluids and a new shader building workflow. It will be a great chance for you to ask questions and begin planning your lessons for the coming year.

We will also have an opportunity to mingle over a catered lunch during which we will showcase work created by our interns who come to us from schools such as Savannah College of Art and Design, Bournemouth University, Drexel University, Syracuse University and the University of Southern California.

This event is designed for school faculty, teaching assistants, staff and industry mentors and not for undergraduate students. Whether you teach Houdini today or are exploring Houdini use for the future, this mixer will help you get the information you need. We realize that there are some SIGGRAPH events on Sunday. Please feel free to come for the entire event or any portion of the event that fits your schedule. We are happy for you to join us!

Register now in the top right corner....

Education Mixer - Sunday, July 25th

10:30AM - 11:00AM
Registration and Coffee

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Houdini Education Programs

12:00PM - 1:00PM
Catered Lunch - Showcase of Student Work

1:00PM - 2:30PM
An Introduction to Houdini 11

2:30PM-4:00 PM
Mixer - Dessert and Wine

If you are unable to attend SIGGRAPH this year and still would like information on getting Houdini into your school please contact Debra Isaac at debra@sidefx.com. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Side Effects Software
1453 3rd Street Promenade Suite 340
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Tel: (310) 319 9876

Parking: Public parking on Broadway and 3rd or on 4th off Broadway.

Original Link

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Monday July 26th

Autodesk Education Summit

On Monday, July 26th from 3:30-5:30pm, Autodesk will host an Education Summit at the new JW Marriott Hotel at LA Live, where we are offering educators the opportunity to connect with industry professionals to discuss key industry trends and best practices, connect with their peers and learn about Autodesk products and programs. Any educator, teacher or trainer who teaches with Autodesk technology are encouraged to attend and participate. Following the event, there will be a cocktail reception. For more information, or to register, email jennifer.goldfinch@autodesk.com.

Original Link

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SIGGRAPH 2010: Grand Challenges in Education Panel

***If you are attending SIGGRAPH this year, don’t miss Grand Challenges in Education panel discussion. I will be there and will fill you in if you were not able to* attend. *- Cornell***

20XX.EDU: Grand Challenges in Education (Part 1)

Wednesday, 28 July | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Theater 411

This panel, organized by the ACM SIGGRAPH Education Committee and Leonardo/ISAST, brings together a diverse group of outstanding researchers and artists, academy and industry professionals, educators, and government officials to discuss the future of education in its broadest sense, encompassing both formal and informal learning.

New digital technologies for human expression and communication have given birth to a 24/7-connected worldwide community that offers individuals and institutions a myriad of new models for shared, interactive learning. Information from a variety of digital devices that we now carry with us at all times is reshaping the way we perceive the world and interact with it. Online collaboration and social networking now play a major role in how we acquire and spread knowledge.

How can educational institutions take advantage of the increasing popularity and dissemination of these technologies? How can individuals and institutions benefit from the massive increase of participatory and collaborative learning in our society? What are the major challenges in education today, in the sciences and the humanities? What are the new educational trends and paradigms for the coming decades? What kind of new learning contexts can be created outside of traditional institutions?

The recent MacArthur report on The Future of Learning Institutions in the Digital Age provides one set of responses to these questions. This panel continues the conversation.

Panelists

Marc Barr
Middle Tennessee State University

Roger Malina
Leonardo/ISAST

David T. Goldberg
HASTAC, University of California

Rebecca Allen
NOKIA Hollywood

Pamela Jennings
National Science Foundation

Sarah Cunningham
National Endowment for the Arts

Glenn Entis
VanEdge Capital

20XX.EDU: Grand Challenges in Education (Part 2)

Wednesday, 28 July | 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Theater 411

This panel, organized by the ACM SIGGRAPH Education Committee and Leonardo/ISAST, is a continuation of the conversation that begins in Part 1 among a diverse group of outstanding researchers and artists, academy and industry professionals, educators, and government officials to discuss the future of education in its broadest sense, encompassing both formal and informal learning.

Panelists

Marc Barr
Middle Tennessee State University

Donna Cox
NSCA

James Foley
Georgia Institute of Technology

Andy van Dam
Brown University

Victoria Vesna
University of California, Los Angeles

Roger Malina
Leonardo/ISAST

Pixar’s Randy Nelson on Learning and Working in the Collaborative Age

Wow! What an awesome presentation, defiantly watch this and show your class.

I am always trying to create a more dynamic learning environment for my students. One that allows them to learn the content and take it further without setting limits, basically letting them loose while focusing there energy. In some classrooms the energy can be stifled by the dynamics of the students, so how can you change that? It is really hard to say, there is just not one answer. It has to be cultivated and embedded in the room as part of the culture.

Randy Nelson, Dean of Pixar’s University speaks of exactly of this, paralleling it to the how the inner culture Pixar’s studio. Very Cool!

- Cornell

Or you can download it from iTunes here.

Lucas and Spielberg on Norman Rockwell

How One of the Most Successful Painters of Americana Influenced Two of the Most Successful American Filmmakers.

This morning I was just about to mow the lawn and just by chance caught George Lucas out of the corner of my eye on Sunday Morning. I love the show, but can’t always watch it - workaholic. I looked for the interview online, but could not find it, so if anyone can comes across it let me know. Either way check out the article on how Rockwell influenced both Spielberg and Lucas. - Cornell

(CBS) The work of a beloved American artist has helped shape the work of two of Hollywood's most cutting-edge movie directors. Rita Braver shows us how:

He was the quintessential American artist of his generation, creating scenes that captured turning points in life . . . and dreams of what lies ahead.

They are the quintessential American filmmakers of their generation, creating scenes that capture turning points in life . . . and dreams of what lies ahead.

Still, you might be surprised to learn that Norman Rockwell's work had a profound influence on Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, starting when they were boys, inspired by his covers on the Saturday Evening Post.

"He was able to sum up the story and make you want to read the story," said Lucas, "but actually understand who the people were, what their motives were, everything in one little frame."

It was Lucas who started collecting Rockwell.

His friend and colleague, director Steven Spielberg, said he couldn't believe that somebody he knew had "a living, breathing oil painting by the hand of this great American icon. It was amazing."

"So you decided to get some, too?" asked Braver.

"Well, well yeah; I copied this guy and got a Rockwell," Spielberg laughed, adding, "I went out and I got a bigger Rockwell!"

The first exhibit of the works they own just opened at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington.

Read the rest of the article , , ,

Video Games and the Uncanny Valley – Game Characters

Interesting . . . I was just sent this video on the uncanny valley of character development. First of all, the 45 second intro was way too long and I was just about to close the window, but my dog vomited on the carpet and I rushed to clean it up - true story. As I sat back down I got sucked in. It basically discuses, in a fun way, character development from stylized, “photo-real”, and everything in-between. It is worth watching;check it out.