Pitch Party Contest

Animation Magazine’s Pitch Party is an opportunity for your students to pitch their ideas to the CG community.   Animation Magazine opens up an entire section of the publication to individual advertisements that pitch student’s ideas.  The deadline is coming up soon, so if you can’t get your students to pull it off this year,  you can plan for future publications.  It is $375 per pitch which can be pricy for students particularly in this economy, but some schools have sponsored the student teams and others have set up local contests submitted the winners.  It is worth checking out and the submission issue is great to share with your production classes. 

http://www.animationmagazine.net/pitch-party-2011/

SketchBook, Mudbox, & Maya Webcast

Autodesk offers tons of great resources and throughout the year host a number video webcasts demonstrating key skills and techniques.  They are awesome and worth checking out.  This session look very cool; it walks you through the design process from a sketch to final render.  See you there.  See you there.
– Cornell   

Entertainment Design with SketchBook, Mudbox, and Maya 2012

Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PDT

This webcast, presented by Autodesk Technical Specialist Marcel de Jong, illustrates how to realize concept designs from 2D sketch through 3D rendering. It entails the design and construction of a realistic sci-fi motorcycle of photographic quality using the latest tools and concepts in Autodesk^® SketchBook^®, Autodesk^® Mudbox™, mental ray^®, and Autodesk^® Maya^® 2012 software, also highlighting the interoperability between these products.

Some of the concepts discussed in this session are image plane construction in Sketchbook for Maya, base modeling in Maya for Mudbox, detailing in Mudbox, HDR lighting in Maya (IBL's), and rendering a design project with mental ray. This project speaks to both entertainment and design customers.

Registration is free, but you'll need to register to gain access to the webcast.

Register Now

Visual Effects Society Scholarship

VES is Proud To Announce New VES Scholarships In Honor Of: These scholarships may be used in conjunction with any other financial aid or scholarship, except for others offered by the Visual Effects Society. To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must provide a url to a digital portfolio of their work, completed application and supplemental materials as referenced in the application process. Visual Effects Society Peter Ellenshaw Scholarship The Peter Ellenshaw Scholarships will be awarded to one VES member and one student (either in high school or currently in college) who plan to attend two (2) or four (4) year accredited schools in pursuit of any type of graduate or post-graduate degrees or certificates in fine or graphic arts. Peter Ellenshaw’s contributions to the field of visual effects were primarily as a matte painter and his artistic talent is highly regarded in the world of fine art. For this reason, the education sought by the recipients of these scholarships is not required to have any relation to visual effects, per se; however, that education must focus on some type of visual art. Visual Effects Society Douglas Trumbull Scholarship The first of the Douglas Trumbull scholarships is available to VES members who wish to continue their education in all aspects of motion pictures in order to expand the scope of their careers, and the second is for students seeking degrees in film or television. Douglas Trumbull was an inventor and innovator in the field of visual effects. He has produced and directed several projects which included special venue projects and two feature films. The Douglas Trumbull Scholarships will be awarded to one VES member and one student (either in high school or currently in college) who plan to attend any type of industry-recognized school or training program in pursuit of broadening their skill set in the field of visual effects. Douglas Trumbull’s early contribution to visual effects was as the inventor of the slit-scan photographic technique. Later, he would break into directing, and finally settle into the production and creation of visual effects. For this reason, the education sought by the recipients of these scholarships is not required to be relevant to visual effects, per se; however, that education must focus on motion pictures. Visual Effects Society Albert Whitlock Scholarship The Albert Whitlock Scholarships will be awarded to one VES member and one student (either in high school or currently in college) who plan to attend any type of accredited schools in pursuit of certificates of completion in order to gain marketable skills in visual effects. Albert Whitlock’s contribution to the field of visual effects was as a matte painter on more than 500 projects. For this reason, the education sought by the recipients of these scholarships is required to be relevant to visual effects, per se; however, that education may focus on any type of visual art. Because Albert Whitlock was such a prolific matte painter, he focused on completing those paintings quickly. He always referred to himself as a craftsman rather than an artist; he continually tried to demystify his work, stating that his craft was something that could be learned by anybody willing to make the effort. For complete rules and to submit your application please click here. SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: Friday, June 17, 2011, 5:00PM (PDT)

ANIMAG TV: Behind the Scenes

Check out  the Animation Magazine's Animag TV.  It is a online video library for animations, trailers, and commercials.  This is nothing really new, but the really cool part . . . “The Making of” channel.  The collection is small, but it is still in its infancy.  I think over time it will be a great source for the classroom. 

On Animag TV, I came across the Genesis sequence" from 1982′s Star  Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.  I always knew of its importance, but I have never seen the making of this sequence.   It was the first completely computer-generated sequence in a feature film, created by the Lucasfilm division. It just beat Tron (1982) into release to take the honor of being the first film to use computer-generated images (CGI).  AND the team that created it eventually formed Pixar!  Check it out.

http://www.animationmagazine.net/animag-tv/

CGArena: April - May 11, FREE Digital Magazine Issue Now Available

CG Arena is a free downloadable CG Magazine with great articles and tutorials.

• Interview with Cris De Lara
• Photoshop: Painting Megaman
• 3ds Max: Making of the Dream Place
• Modo: Making of My Little Fishes
• Photoshop: Making of Sentinel
• Maya: Making of Turkish Butcher
• Gallery - Showcase of latest 3D inspiring art

http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/ezine/apr11_issue.php

Free Software: trueSpace7.6

trueSpace7.6 Features - Full version available FREE

If you are a designer/illustrator, artist, animator, or creator of interactive entertainment, visualization solutions, or corporate training, then trueSpace7.6 is for you.  trueSpace7.6 is a fully-featured 3D authoring package that will let you model, texture, light, animate and render 3D content. As well as traditional images and movies, you can also make 3D content for online shared spaces, and for Virtual Earth.

 

 

Molecular Maya (mMaya) featured in 3D World magazine

http://www.3dworldmag.com/?p=32257

I found a really cool article in the latest issue of 3D World.  I have done a lot of micro molecular modeling and a handful animations and this is a really cool plugin for Maya.  AND it is really easy to use.  I tried it out today and it is straight forward.  The video series covers just the basics to get you started and is very well done.   The cool thing is, whether you are a scientist or an animator, MolecularMovies.org has a series of tutorials for beginners through advanced users.  The site has tons of other resources as well.   It is defiantly worth checking out.     

 

Here is Eric Keller’s four part video series on using the nMaya Plugin:

Autodesk Softimage 2012 - The Incredible Power of ICE - Webcast

Autodesk Softimage 2012 - The Incredible Power of ICE Webcast
Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PDT

In this webcast, Autodesk Technical Specialist Mark Schoennagel will take you through a comprehensive tour of the Autodesk® Softimage® Interactive Creative Environment, better known in the 3D industry as ICE. ICE is a powerful, node-based, multi-threaded visual programming language found only in Autodesk Softimage 2012. ICE is used by studios around the globe for creating stunning particle effects, deformations, character rigs, and now with 2012, procedural modeling effects. During the webcast Mark will take viewers through the basics of ICE, creating and deploying user created tools as well as dive into some of the more advanced capabilities of this amazing technology. If you are in to visual effects this will be one webcast you won't want to miss!

Registration is free, but you'll need to register to gain access to the webcast.
Register Now

Free 3d Scanner – DAVID

We are lucky to have a 3D scanner.   But if you don’t?  Here is a great ‘free’ alternative -  The DAVID Laser Scanner.

DAVID offers a starter kit with more precision equipment, but you probably have all you need at home.  Assuming you have a computer.  So what do you actually need to scan?

What do I need to build a 3D scanner?

- A camera (e.g. web cam) For better results, choice  one with low noise, a glass lens, and high resolution camera for capturing surface color (gray scale is better for surface geometry)

- A hand-held line laser (If you are good with a soldering iron . . . you can get a Line Laser for $4 http://www.dealextreme.com/p/red-laser-module-focused-line-3-5v-4-5v-16mm-5mw-5928)  And you might have one at home already, I got a Black and Decker line laser for father’s day a few years back.  The thinner the line the more accurate. 

- Two plain boards in the background (poster board)
- A Windows PC
- Our free software DAVID-laserscanner  (Download)

 

I personally have not tried it yet, but this is my focus this year and I will and will compare it to a our present  scanner.   I know that one advantage is you can open your eyes during the scan providing you uses the right laser. (*Use at your own risk) 

Here is the website:  http://www.david-laserscanner.com/ 

 

Here is a video overview.

Vue 9 Pioneer FREE

We stopped using Vue at version 5, not that there was anything wrong with it, basically our budget is not limitless.   Vue 9 Pioneer is fully functional, but is still limited compared to their other packages, including a water mark in the lower corner of the render.   Also due to the activation restrictions, it doesn't work out for a lab setting.   They state in several locations:

Note: Due to activation restrictions, Vue Pioneer is not fit for classroom use. If you are a school and want to install Vue in your computer lab, we recommend that you choose a Vue Infinite or Vue xStream Educational License rather than installing Vue Pioneer. 

But you and your students can use it at home. Check it out – Cornell

Here are examples of what the pros have done.

5280 Comic Book Classroom

Comic book enthusiasts and animators are friends or one in the same.   I know many of the university animation programs  are partnering up with local high schools, so I thought it might be of interest to you all and  maybe your area has similar initiatives.  This year a group of Denver area comic book enthusiasts and educators  founded the 5280 Comic Book Classroom .    It is nonprofit organization that presents comics as an educational tool,  creating programs to  provide alternative approaches to literacy, learning, and character development.  Check out their site and initiative.  -  Cornell

http://5280comicbookclassroom.org/

Making of . . .

I don't know about you guys, but I am the one who buys the DVD “special editions”. I love watching the 'making of' section of the DVD and probably watch it more times then the actual movie itself. I even bought a movie just because I heard the 'making of' was good. It was “The Core”.

Recently I can across an awesome site, www.MakingOf.com. It provides a behind-the scenes look at the film industry through interviews with filmmakers, actors, directors, writers, producers and pretty much the key players.  So if you are teaching a specific area of the industry, you can share those interviews based on that topic. The categories are broken down to directors, editors, production designers, special effects/vfx, actors, producers, costume designers, cinematographers, composers, stunts, screenwriters, camera / elect. Dept, casting directors, and art directors. But with that said, the bulk of interviews are with directors, with over 120 videos which is great and 90 or so with actors. The remaining categories tend to be a bit limited, but the site is still relatively new and dynamically growing. Either way, check it out. – Cornell

Autodesk Media and Entertainment Education Showreel 2010

Check out the 2010 Autodesk Education Showreel released in November.   Students content from all around the world were chosen and then compiled into an awesome reel.   What an honor for students who were chosen and  I think it was a brilliant idea from Autodesk.  Students will be vying to be apart of this reel in future years.  Great Job guys, let keep on pushing the bar!  - Cornell
 

Unity Powers Scion's Ultimate Car Customization Experience

Unity is a great tool to have in your toolbox and on top of that, it has a great license – free.  When we think of game design, we think of Mario and Doom.  At least I do, but that might date me a bit.  These game engines are being introduced into a number of fields from medical, military, forensics and marketing.  One of Unity’s strengths is web interactive and here is a very cool marketing tool developed by Works Zebra using the Unity engine.  It ran a bit slow, when I first logged in, but it is a lot more fun that the old Flash car sites.  Check it out . . .  Cornell

Unity 3 is a game development tool that has been designed to let you focus on creating amazing games. If you've tried Unity before, see whats new in 3.0. If this is your first time, take a look around or try Unity for yourself. http://unity3d.com/

 

3D Development Platform Takes Interactivity to a New Level

Unity Technologies, provider of the Unity development platform for highly interactive 3D content on the web, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, Android, Wii™, Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3, today announced that Unity is powering the virtual visualization experience for Scion’s Canadian website that went live in the last 24 hours at www.scionnation.ca.

Scion brings Toyota brand quality to the table but with a distinct twist - delivering designs and vehicles custom-built for personal expression that target a different market with an entirely distinct mission. Scion set out to build vehicles tailored to the needs and tastes of a new generation of trendsetting drivers. The outcome is a complete range of iconic urban vehicles that combine attitude, affordability, quality and fuel economy. Each Scion offers a broad array of dealer-installed Scion accessories and TRD Performance Parts that give every Scion driver the means to boldly express their personality and individuality.   (MORE)

http://www.scionnation.ca/scion/build-price/tc#build-your-scion

Share The Planet CG Artist Competition

Contest Deadline: 28th Feb 2011

Share The Planet: Categories

The competition has ten routine categories and one special category.

Routine Category

1. Portrait (digital painting): entry must portray no more than five wild animals. Recommended strategy: to capture their expression and behavior.
2. Portrait (digital sculpture): entry must portray no more than five wild animals. Recommended strategy: to capture their expression and behavior.
3. Herd (digital painting): entry must portray no less than 5 animals. Recommended strategy: focus on representing magnificent scene and the sociality of the animal.
4. Herd (digital sculpture): entry must portray no less than 5 animals. Recommended strategy: focus on representing magnificent scene and the sociality of the animal.
5. Mother’s love (digital painting): entry must portray mothers and their cubs. Recommended strategy: focus on representing emotional interactions or communication between mother and her child.
6. Mother’s love (digital sculpture): entry must portray mothers and their cubs. Recommended strategy: focus on representing emotional interactions or communication between mother and her child.
7. Prey and Predator (digital painting): entry must portray a scene of animal hunting animal. Recommended strategy: portray the moment of killing, the silent waiting for ambuscade etc.; focus on representing the hunting behavior of the animal.
8. Prey and Predator (digital sculpture): entry must portray a scene of animal hunting animal. Recommended strategy: portray the moment of killing, the silent waiting for ambuscade etc.; focus on representing the hunting behavior of the animal.
9. Harmony (digital painting): entry must portray a scene that shows the harmonious relationship between mankind and animals. Recommended strategy: emphasis the emotional interactions of your characters, or create a scene that mankind and animals share the world peacefully.
10. Harmony (digital sculpture): entry must portray a scene that shows the harmonious relationship between mankind and animals. Recommended strategy: emphasis the emotional interactions of your characters, or create a scene that mankind and animals share the world peacefully.

Special Category

Swan Lake (digital painting): entry in this category must choose Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) as its sole theme. Artists are allowed to portray any scene as long as it contains only Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus). This category is set to support “’Rongcheng Swan Lake’ Wetland Ecosystem Restoration Project” carried out in Shandong province, China.

http://www.shareoneplanet.org/

'Above Everything Else' from Alex Roman (The Third & Seventh)

Silestone -- 'Above Everything Else' from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

About a year ago, I posted an amazing 3D project short The Third & Seventh by Alex Roman.  It was a  fully cg animated short illustrating architecture with an artistic cinematographic perspective.  Since then Roman produced a commercial with a similar cinematographic feel & style for Grupo Cosentino’s Silestone brand countertops.  It is another beautiful work, check it out.  -  Cornell

Title: 'Above Everything Else'
Agency: N/A - direct client
Client: Grupo Cosentino
Product: Worktop
Brand: Silestone
Production company: The Mushroom Company
Director/DoP/Art direction/Post/Editor: Alex Roman
Original idea/Concept: Alex Roman
Additional CGI: Juan Ángel García Martinez
Music: ZipZap Music
Spot TV 60"

SALE!!! 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby for only $90

How long would it take you to model a 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT, including interior and layout the UVs? Can you break it down to hours? What about factoring in your hourly rate? You can buy this exact model from www.arte-3d.com for $90.

I bring this up in my advanced classes all the time because I want my students to really think about the industry and their future role. Technical foundation skills are essential, there is no doubt about that, but ultimately it is your ideas and how you execute them. It is just certain aspects of the industry have developed in to what I call 'the digital production line', like modeling. It is not a new concept, thank you Henry Ford, it just works a little different theses days.

Now there will always be a need for great modelers and creative ones, it is just more competitive these days. I feel that given a good blueprint, anyone anywhere can model from it, even a high school student. In fact, I can teach just about anyone to model and one could learn these skills within a months time, but you cannot learn to be an artist in a month. Many of my students want to be modelers, I can't blame them because I love to model, and the industry will always need creative modelers. That is just it, be a artist, a digital sculptor, a creative modeler and the work will be there.

Check out the site, the models are amazing and have such detail. You can even purchase based on the render engine that you will be using. Then show your students and ask them where they see the industry going and what will be the impact. Lastly, as a teacher, are you just teaching the 'tool'? – Cornell

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2010

Price: $90.00 List price: $120.00

But Wait There is More . . .  All Leather Interior . . .

 

http://www.arte-3d.com/store/

Changing Education Paradigms – Watch.

Our educational institutions have been under the microscope for some time now, but over the last few years they finally made it to Hollywood and now everyone is sharing their ideas.  Kryptonite anyone? I do not think the answer is easy, but I do think that changes need to be made.  Even in the books I have been reading lately, Linchpin,  Whole New Mind, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die,  Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, and  a number of others, it seems education is definitely an underlying topic.  These are not traditional education books, but I think they all speak to the same reader,  and Amazon agrees, just look at the “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” section,  these books are all within 3 to 5 covers apart.

I recently came across this RSA (The Royal Society for the Arts) Animate on Changing Education Paradigms, the audio was an abridged version of a speech by Sir Ken Robinson on Changing Paradigms in 2008 and then and then illustrated in 2010.  Robison is a strong advocate for the arts in education and is  international advisor on education in the arts.   It is worth watching and showing your students.  The second video is his unabridged speech, which is also worth watching but almost an hour long.   -  Cornell   

  Watch this video - 10+ minutes.

 

Here is Robinson’s full lecture from 2008 - 55+ minutes.

Extra Credits: So You Want to be a Game Designer

Check out one of the latest Extra Credits: So You Want to be a Game Designer.   It is not as funny as the Uncanny Valley, but it is entertaining enough and hits on a lot of valid points regarding the gamming industry and design.  It is a great series and always make me laugh.  -  Cornell

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/extra-credits/2443-So-You-Want-to-be-a-Game-Designer

Industrial Light & Magic: Creating The Impossible the Documentary

I love movies and even watch them when I model, it just keeps me in the zone.  I am embarrassed to admit how many times I have actually watched (really listened to) Lord of The Rings with the commentary on.  And I do have a life!!!   It just stimulates something in my brain and keeps me in the zone.  With that said, I only have basic cable!  Now I have been OK with that for years, but for the first time I wish I had it. 

On Sunday, Encore premiered a special  documentary “Industrial Light & Magic: Creating The Impossible “.  It is the story of ILM and I am missing it.  The film is by the same directory of “The Pixar Story” and I own that DVD.  Now I am not going to go out and upgrade my cable, but I did spend some time looking to see when it will be released on DVD – no luck! 

If anyone got to watch it, let me know if it worth running over to a friends house.     -  Cornell

 

Starring: George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard , Robin Williams, John Lasseter, Samuel L Jackson Show Full List

Directed By: Leslie Iwerks

Genre: Documentary

Synopsis: The story of Industrial Light & Magic - the special effects company started to create Star Wars - is told via clips (Iron Man, Star Trek, Jurassic Park) and interviews (George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, more). USA - 2010 – TVPG

Here is the trailer . . .