serious animation tip no.1

When dealing with directors, be sure to listen closely and pay special attention to the 'feeling' of the shot, and not just the physical details. Of course, you don't want to disregard the physical notes, but just make sure to keep in mind that animation is more than the sum of it's moving parts. You should be able to discern from any review from a director these three things:

1. Motivation of the shot. Where the audience should be focusing their attention on, and for what reason. This includes motivation of the character or object in the shot as well as the overall feel. Know your character's (or whatever you're animating) reasons for doing whatever they're doing on screen.
2. Insure a clear scenic arc. The shot should flow seamlessly through the previous and following shots, as well as the rest of the story. If the story is mid-crescendo, don't pop the cork before the glasses are ready. Basically, know where you are in the story.
3. Details. Assessing technically what needs to be done to complete the shot in the amount of time available. Listen to the directors notes, and understand which they feel are most important.

Often times directors will not like a shot, and try and fix the problem by giving you a lot of notes like "adjust the eye shift forward a bit and speed it up" or "more antic before that step and get a stronger pose at the end. Bring the hand up more". If that's all they give you, then you'll have to read between the lines a bit. If I have a good working understanding of a director, I can often get if they think the motivation of a character is off based on the technical notes they give me. But sometimes you can't get it and if you're ever unsure, be sure to ask questions until you do understand. Otherwise you risk spending the day working on something that isn't what the film needs, and making more work for yourself in the long run.

Or you can do what I've been doing lately and watch movies all day in your cube while randomly keying poses here and there until something looks good.

I'd recommend watching movies like:
The Godfather**** - I never really liked it until the third viewing. Hm....
Amistad** - Def. not one of Spielberg's best. Over acted, over storied, over everythinged.
Aliens Vs. Predator * - Models running around in the arctic befriending monsters with laser guns.

kay dudes

I've been getting a lot of comments about my comments as of late. Apparently some of you out there think I'm being awfully down and depressing-like. It's true, I've been going through a bit of a hard time as of late with work and all. But it's more than just that. Yesterday I found myself at home for most the day (due to reasons beyond my control) and instead of being totally proactive and doing constructive things like working on an animation idea or installing bedroom windows, I found myself curled up on the couch watching mythbusters. As I was lying there watching Adam and Jamie attempt to fling a dummy catapult style from an extended arm crane, I started to wonder where my drive is.

My bro just sent me an e-mail all gushy about seeing my name up on IMDB.com. It's sort of like the yellow pages of the movie biz. Only there are no phone numbers. It recently struck me that my childhood goal of seeing my name scroll by on the credits after a movie has been reached... Going on for a third time right now. And now that the dream is fulfilled, what next?

The questions and images that used to drive me only seem like little flutterings now a days. No longer do I wish to be a great character animator... what do I want? I dunno, maybe I should just walk out the door, put on some hiking shoes and don't turn back until I know... But obviously, that's crazy talk.

pointless visuals:
Mary Antoinette***-I applaud the concept, visuals, and effort. But the film runs flat when it comes to drama and plot.
The Illusionist***- Watch that other magician movie from 2006 instead. Unless you want romance. Then watch this one. Aw, heck. watch em' both.
Casino Royale****-Kick ass bond with a touch of class. Shaken, Stirred, and all f**ked up!
Deliverance****-An oldie but goodie. Fear hath never been more apparent to the wilderness wanderer...
Anna and the King**- Boring and historically farcical.
How to Draw a Bunny***- Interesting subject matter, boring doc.
Ghost Dog: Way of the Warrior****-Jarmusch rocks out hip-hop japanosushi style in this ridiculously funny flic.
Planet Earth****-Just started watching this 11 part series on Disc. Channel and it's AMAZING.

mousetrap

Well, my attempts to capture the rodent that's been plaguing the animation department by eating all our snackies is done. And I'm sorry to say nothing has come of it. The little bugger has either died in the walls or has moved on to more fruitful places because he sure isn't here anymore. I'm sorry it couldn't be a more exciting ending, but we live in the real world. Not some make-believe furry animal fantasy world on film.
I know, what could be more frustrating than setting out for a goal and never making it to the finish. One that's right there in front of you. When you feel like each step forward is followed by two blows to the head and you stumble back two steps. Like when the directors hand you a shot and say "here, do this" and you do it, and it's not good, and they tell you to do it a different way, and someone else chimes in and gives you bad direction saying that the directors told him to tell you to do it that way, and then you show it and they're like "what the hell are you doing?!" and they get angry and you get all frustrated and you punch your director in the cheek and the building's security kindly escorts you out the door.

You know what I say?... publish THAT mother f***er!

why do i even bother

What's the point, really?
No one reads this silly blog. I don't even tell people about it. And when I do reluctantly tell a friend about my blog I say " oh, it's not very good so don't bother checking it out". Nothing much ever happens at work here. I have to blog about stupid pathetic things like our mouse problem in the studio. I'm not even much of an animator. And I live in Brooklyn. It's not even Manhattan, so should I really be calling this blog 'animator in the city"?
It should probably be re-named 'grumpy, fat, dull scuttlebutt sits at his computer and procrastinates the day away watching crappy movies and crappier half-finished animations flicker by'. Yeah, that's a better title. Maybe I'll change it tomorrow. But I'm probably too lazy to do even that.
At the moment I'm waiting for my computer to render the images of my shot to show the directors. It should have been done last night, but I think my screen saver accidentally came on and killed the render after I went home. Most likely it won't finish rendering in time to show, and I'll be another day late... ungh.
The production manager scheduled a meeting to meet with me tomorrow. I don't know what it's for. She's either going to scold me for taking too many sick days and fire me, or I'll give me a promotion. Honestly, I'm not really sure which one it'll be. We'll just have to wait and see.

flics:
Gosford Park **** - charming and most delightful Altman delicacy.
Seven up/ 7 Plus Seven *** - Interesting Documentary series following a group of brit's every 7 years of their lives.
A Dirty Shame **** - The closest John Waters has gotten to the raunchy shock flics of his youth.
Thumbsucker *** - Indie teen drama
Swimming with Sharks *** - kind of over done storyline... well, really overdone.
House of Sand and Fog *** - Nicely done, but same old...
The Rock *** - The one that really started it for Michael Bay. Pumpin' fun.
Last Days ** - Van Sant's done much better. Self indulgent student filmish.

digital dillema

We're having a little problem with the mouse hunt night vision renders. Unfortunately, there is an overload in the render farm here and the rat pics don't take priority over other images. Hmph! But not to worry, they'll be coming up soon!

Currently, I'm still working on my first shot. It's been a year since I last animated a shot completely through to completion and I'm feeling a bit rusty. Well, really rusty. Splining out my shot has been going uber slow. But if I can really buckle down today and get some work done... HAhahaha! well, I'll try.'

The clock keeps ticking,
the counter reads one hundred and eighteen,
and it keeps going down,
i can't tell if it's a happy feeling,
or absolute fear...
...terrifying excitement.

smoovies:
The Science of Sleep**** - It's like a giant gondry video. Sure, it's self indulgent, but I love watching it all.
Reds***
Munich*** - just another spielberg thingamadood. Got a tear from me in Shindlers List, not this time.