Like I said yesterday, I think I'm startin' to get those animatatin' juices flowin' again. I had my assignment critiqued today, and although there are some things to fix, the reaction was favorable. I also think I'm starting to get a handle on that balance in my stuff. (caution: shop talk ahead) In the beginning, when you learn the basics, and the principles, you probably go overboard to make sure all your sillouhettes are as clear as can be, and your arcs are all elaborate and poetic. The problem I ran into though was that a lot of the time, although all those things were working to the max, it sometimes looked stagey, because the naturalism was lost trying to bend and pose and muscle to get arcs and sillouhettes and blah blah blah. But I think the key is to have all those ideas ingrained in your mind, always there, but having the flexibility to turn them up or down to serve your scene and the motion.
I'm excited to move on to the oncomming assignments. Tomorrow, its going to be fixing those comments I got today, and brainstorming for the next project. I've also got to finish reading Blue Surge tonight and pick a scene I may want to do, as well as the character I had in mind.
So I'm now in possession of a ticket to GDC courtesy of my major department.=) Reportedly a 200 dollar value, although I hear with a student ID its 50 bones. I know at least seven other people who got free tickets, so I'm sure I'll be bummin' rides off them. I'm still undecided if I'm going to bring any of my goodies (reel, resume, that kind of thing).
I haven't been getting too far in the Illusion of Life, mainly because of time...and the lack thereof. But I'm enjoying slowly making my way through it. Its here, at the head of my bed for whenever I've got a little while to spare. From the comfort of my mattress.
My bedtime has begun to stretch itself into the wee hours, dangling perilously on the precipitous between night and day. I'm going to try and shave it back to a nice, safe 3am bedtime. We'll see how that goes.
Okay, I'm off. *foop*
2/26/2003 04:24:07 AM
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Another great animation day. I'm startin' to feel that fire again. I think all it took was some positive results and feedback. I've been in somewhat of a rut the last 2 or 3 months when it came to animation, but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I actually think I may finish, with a nicely polished piece...on time. Thats pretty surprising, given how long it is. I figure tomorrow I can come in say, around 2'ish, finish off the end, add some overlap to one of the arms(subtle polish), and maybe add some rocking to the chair he's in. I can make it happen before class if I'm studious.
I've been on point the last two days, able to concentrate for long periods of time, without too much wandering around and bothering.=)
Today, some of the lab rats and I went downstairs to take advantage of a free graduate MFA dinner. Of course we were all undergrads, but that didn't stop us. I did have a strange feeling knawing at me while I was eating though. Maybe it was the fact that several people recognized me, and were probably thinking "I didn't know he was a graduate student?" I don't know, I should've walked in there guilt free, but I had that feeling I didn't belong. Lame huh?=) But hell, it was free, and it was a break, and it was chill. I'm always down for free grub.
I finally did it. Like I said I would, I've uploaded my photos onto my new online photo albums. I just uploaded the last of them tonight, which is why I'm up at 4 friggin' thirty in the morning. But its up to date now, and I can feel good about sending out links. The photos start with my trip down to SD those weeks ago, up till now, with some photos from the computer lab that I practically live at, and which is mentioned here probably more than any other place in SF.=) So if you're curious who I'm talking about when I say A, D, J, and all of them, you can see them there. I'll probably send links tomorrow.
2/25/2003 04:34:47 AM
Monday, February 24, 2003
Today was a really good animation day. Although I labored long and hard over some very small bits, I think, as I watch it in its 70% completed stage now, they really make certain parts sing. Get this, I spent two hours just trying to get the model's hand to hit a desk convincingly. Thats how animation is sometimes, where you're fighting the model. It takes patience, or maybe thats just a cover. Because I don't consider myself an extra patient sort of person in dealing with other things. Its like the fella who gives the tours at Pixar, "Animators basically say to you, "give me two weeks to tell you a gag!"" Well, I suppose its true.
Sundays are usually quiet, good work days and today was no different. I like it because I have no class, and I can go about things at my leisure. Yeah, I'm a leisurely sort of fellow. That means sleeping in first off. Which I did. Next was eating breakfast, which I did...leisurely. Third, I called people whom I haven't been able to get back to during the week. I finally made it to the lab around 5pm, 2 hours later than my predicted 3pm, but I ain't sweatin'. Its all chill on Sundays.
Tomorrow will be nice. I'll sleep till about 12, have a nice, short work out, and eat some breakfast. I suppose I'll mosey on down to the lab around 3pm. I'll work on the rest of the animation. Today was the hardest part (from what I can tell), and finishing off the last third and doing some polish on the rest should be a piece of cake. Still, I can't get too distracted. I've gotta keep that focus and finish off strong. That means getting to bed.
Which I'll be doing now, nite.=)
2/24/2003 04:42:18 AM
