This morning was dedicated to picking a story I wanted to tell in two minutes. I had a few ideas but none of them really sung. So I'm still trying to think of one now. I want something that would be visually appealing, and I know the style I want to do it in, I just need a good story tis all. It's hard to find a good story about me...
But we basically looked at all the points that makes a story a good one, so with that in mind I'm going to sit and think about something in my life that might be interesting to share with you.
After luch we went to Atticus where we were shown around the studio and watched some of the work they do there. They specialise in animation and website design and use Maya and After Effects. The content they animate is really challenging, dealing with pharmasuticals and architecture, they have to know a lot about what they are animating to get it right. Really tough job, but the environment seemed lovely.
Monday, 9 July 2007
Tuesday the 3rd, onwards!
He he got a bit side tracked with the bloggin ^_^
Tuesday 3rd July
Started off with a trip to 'The Bate' where they mostly use After Effects to crate graphic title sequences and music videos. They showed us some of the stuff they had done for the Super Furry Animals, which included a collaboration with Pete Fowler, who is one of my favourite artists and creator of Monsterism. That was really interesting. Their studio was awesome. It was a little attick room, but it was large enough to use as a studio. Really nice environment but the kids screaming outside the window would get on my nerves.
Later on that day we had a talk with Rick Villeneuve about working as a freelance animator and how to use freelance effectively. I found it easy to talk to Rick, knowing him from GCADT and it was cool to see him again. He made the freelance industry sound both excited and dangerous, which it probably is, I'm nervous about the idea of that kind of lifestyle.
Started off with a trip to 'The Bate' where they mostly use After Effects to crate graphic title sequences and music videos. They showed us some of the stuff they had done for the Super Furry Animals, which included a collaboration with Pete Fowler, who is one of my favourite artists and creator of Monsterism. That was really interesting. Their studio was awesome. It was a little attick room, but it was large enough to use as a studio. Really nice environment but the kids screaming outside the window would get on my nerves.
Later on that day we had a talk with Rick Villeneuve about working as a freelance animator and how to use freelance effectively. I found it easy to talk to Rick, knowing him from GCADT and it was cool to see him again. He made the freelance industry sound both excited and dangerous, which it probably is, I'm nervous about the idea of that kind of lifestyle.
Wednesday 4th July
Had a visit from one of my favourite animators today. Joanna Quinn. I was especially looking for ward to this meeting, I just adore the way she works and draws. Les Mills was also there and they showed us some of the commercials they had done. I liked their work ethic of making commercials and using them to fund their bigger films like 'Dreams and Desires'.
Joanna also brought her portfolio with a mixture of frames and cells from all of her projects. The cells of the cats from the American Wiskers adverts were especially beautiful. The lines quality and the scale she works at make each frame look awesome, I'm very envious of her. The way her and Les Mills collaborate on a project was interesting to hear about too. 
Had a visit from one of my favourite animators today. Joanna Quinn. I was especially looking for ward to this meeting, I just adore the way she works and draws. Les Mills was also there and they showed us some of the commercials they had done. I liked their work ethic of making commercials and using them to fund their bigger films like 'Dreams and Desires'.
Joanna also brought her portfolio with a mixture of frames and cells from all of her projects. The cells of the cats from the American Wiskers adverts were especially beautiful. The lines quality and the scale she works at make each frame look awesome, I'm very envious of her. The way her and Les Mills collaborate on a project was interesting to hear about too. 
Thursday 5th July
Had a visit from Mike Collins who works for calon as a storyboard artist and also works on the Dr Who comics. He's a really cool guy. He showed us some of the storyboards from 'Hana's Helpline' and explained how he would rough it out and get Beth (a friend of mine ^__^) to clean it up. He talked abouit the good points and bad points of the storyboarding and comic industry. It sounds like such a cool job but the pressure to get things looking right would be too much for me I think. Mike is basically acting as first director, planning all the
camera moves and angles. He also brought in his portfolio of camic book work which was fantastic. My favourite had to be the sketchbook he would take on holiday with him. EWith it he would draw different people he saw, very good practice for character design and anatomy. I love to see the roots of how people work.
Spent the rest of the day preparing for a presentation on Ellen Poon before heading to the cinema to watch Shrek the Third. It was okay. I wasn't expecting the story to be great but the animation did look beautiful. The lighting and backgrounds were lovely, but they should have spent more time on good story. They were definately starting to wear thin on gags. Some bits were funny though. I missed the end, but it didn't really bother me. The fairy tale ending was predictable.
Friday 6th July
Spent most of the day preparing for my presentation on my chosen Special effects artist, Ellen poon. I hate presentations, I'm never any good at them, but this one I didn't mind so much. I had no idea about anything this woman had done, and after gaining all the research I could on her, she turned out to be really interesting. You can see my power point presentation here side show
Had a visit from Mike Collins who works for calon as a storyboard artist and also works on the Dr Who comics. He's a really cool guy. He showed us some of the storyboards from 'Hana's Helpline' and explained how he would rough it out and get Beth (a friend of mine ^__^) to clean it up. He talked abouit the good points and bad points of the storyboarding and comic industry. It sounds like such a cool job but the pressure to get things looking right would be too much for me I think. Mike is basically acting as first director, planning all the
camera moves and angles. He also brought in his portfolio of camic book work which was fantastic. My favourite had to be the sketchbook he would take on holiday with him. EWith it he would draw different people he saw, very good practice for character design and anatomy. I love to see the roots of how people work.Spent the rest of the day preparing for a presentation on Ellen Poon before heading to the cinema to watch Shrek the Third. It was okay. I wasn't expecting the story to be great but the animation did look beautiful. The lighting and backgrounds were lovely, but they should have spent more time on good story. They were definately starting to wear thin on gags. Some bits were funny though. I missed the end, but it didn't really bother me. The fairy tale ending was predictable.
Friday 6th July
Spent most of the day preparing for my presentation on my chosen Special effects artist, Ellen poon. I hate presentations, I'm never any good at them, but this one I didn't mind so much. I had no idea about anything this woman had done, and after gaining all the research I could on her, she turned out to be really interesting. You can see my power point presentation here side show
Monday, 2 July 2007
We had a visit from Bruce Steele who was representing the work created at Glassworks studios. Put into perspective the amount of work that goes into something that only lasts about 20 seconds on screen. Was really interested when he started talking about the Stella Artois adverts, which are some of my favourite adverts ever, especially the one with the ice skating priests. When you can convert short stories like that into a 30 second advert, well, thats pretty talented. I was suprised to find out how many special effects were put in and that people just take for granted.
This was displayed in the "Pilot" Stella Artois advert.
Really really interesting stuff!
Friday, 29 June 2007
Dinamo
Went to Dinamo studios this morning to talk to Owen Stickler and Aron Evans. Really really interesting stuff, and they are so nice ^__^
It's my second time visiting the studios after doing work experience for them back in April for a few days and was lovely to see everyone again. They were even working on the designs I did for them, which was really nice, I hope to see the finished result of what they do for them. Such a cool environment down there.
It's my second time visiting the studios after doing work experience for them back in April for a few days and was lovely to see everyone again. They were even working on the designs I did for them, which was really nice, I hope to see the finished result of what they do for them. Such a cool environment down there.
I drew a pug...
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Spent the afternoon at Calon, being shown around the studios by Lynn Stockford. The first studio was where they create and shoot Hana's Helpline which was pretty awesome. The sets were far larger than what I'm usually used to seeing from college. A really impressive studio environment which was what I was hoping for and more. Makes me sort of wish I did stop motion animation... but then I would miss drawing far too much.
We then made our way back to the main studio where we witnessed some of the production on Bobinogs. Was more interested in the storybording than any thing else. Was surpised to to recognise so many people there, which is rather reassuring.
I'm more inspired to dabble in a few different styles now. Especially inspired by Andraw Offlers vast collection of curios and animation books. The walls were covered in everything from religeous paintings of the Madonna, Betty Boop figurines, vintage joke packs, a Goofy phone and many many other bits of memorabilia from the industry. Now that was inspiring, I could live comfortably in a room like that, not work though. I'd get far too distracted. I can't imagine how he does it.
We then made our way back to the main studio where we witnessed some of the production on Bobinogs. Was more interested in the storybording than any thing else. Was surpised to to recognise so many people there, which is rather reassuring.
I'm more inspired to dabble in a few different styles now. Especially inspired by Andraw Offlers vast collection of curios and animation books. The walls were covered in everything from religeous paintings of the Madonna, Betty Boop figurines, vintage joke packs, a Goofy phone and many many other bits of memorabilia from the industry. Now that was inspiring, I could live comfortably in a room like that, not work though. I'd get far too distracted. I can't imagine how he does it.
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Greetings
Hello.
Well, this is my first blog entry from the Cyfle studio down Cardiff Bay. Just setting up this account to show you lot what I get up to at the studios, what inspires me, interests me, all that Jazz. It'll probably be all animation knowing me, but cartoons are great, so it's all good. I'll probably be updating this quite often, keeping an account of what I get up to over the year.
So, yeah, I'll post up some stuff as soon as I get used to this.
I'm quite new at all this blogging ^__^
See ya!
Jen.
Well, this is my first blog entry from the Cyfle studio down Cardiff Bay. Just setting up this account to show you lot what I get up to at the studios, what inspires me, interests me, all that Jazz. It'll probably be all animation knowing me, but cartoons are great, so it's all good. I'll probably be updating this quite often, keeping an account of what I get up to over the year.
So, yeah, I'll post up some stuff as soon as I get used to this.
I'm quite new at all this blogging ^__^
See ya!
Jen.
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