Thursday 25 July 2013

SIGGRAPH 2013 Anaheim, CA : Diaries : Day 09



Day 09,  Thursday

 Today was another busy day, but great just like all the others.

I queued for my first Pixar's RenderMan Teapot, my Mike-Pot.

Figure 01. Teapot

Figure 02. Quick lunch before my shift

Figure 03. Mike-Pot!

Figure 04. Blue Sky Studios - Epic Talk

Figure 05. Blue Sky Studios - Epic Talk


Figure 06. Balloon Party hat BEFORE 

Figure 07. Balloon Party hat AFTER


Figure 08. Stands - 3D Printing

Figure 09. Stands - Scan your plasticine model then 3D Print it


Figure 10. Stands - Animatronics


Figure 11. Stands - 3D Prints of people after being scanned


Figure 12. Stands - Scanning an attendee which makes these little models in the foreground


Figure 13. Studio Teardown Time


Figure 14. Studio Teardown Time



Figure 15. Stands - Digital Painting on an Easel 


Figure 16. Studio Teardown - Looks so bare now



Figure 17. Studio Teardown Time - Working really hard



Figure 18. Studio Teardown Time - Super hard work



Figure 19. Studio Teardown Time - I was presented with a Studio T-Shirt and told I stood out amongst the other SVs as the hardest working. Quite an honour.



Figure 20. Studio Teardown Time - I was also given a reference for next year if I'm accepted to be an SV again, I should quote the guys name and they'll ask for me to work the fun stuff. 

After the studio was all packed away again we were send to the SV office for the closing ceremony and massive Raffle with donations from many many different companies. Things such as really good graphics cards, graphics tablets, Software packages and so so much more.



Figure 21. SV Checkout & Raffle
Patrick rocking his new hat.



Figure 22. SV Checkout & Raffle
Sitting in the front row




Figure 23. SV Checkout & Raffle
Sean Hannon saying his bit

After a hectic day and last SIGGRAPH day :( 
I decided it was time to celebrate with Steak! And was generously bought champagne :D 



Figure 24. Steak Time!



Figure 25. Steak Time! This was one of the best steaks I've ever eaten.... I had to have a moment to myself.




Figure 24. Steak Time!
.... and champagne, cocktails, and side dishes.... Mainly steak though

Great end to a great SV experience.



Wednesday 24 July 2013

SIGGRAPH 2013 Anaheim, CA : Diaries : Day 08



Day 08, Wednesday

Figure 01. I was snapped on camera at work! We are in the process of making attendee's their 3D Lenticular Cards.

Figure 02. This really threw me off... I did't know people could Skype somebody into one of these machines so they can drive themselves around the conference... An even talk to each other on the machines, this is a picture of 3 people in 3 locations talking. It was a really great and funny thing to see.

Figure 03. Lunch break to visit the SV Chapter's Luncheon. And... I bumped into my new friends on my way back to shift.

Figure 04. Job Fair
Talking to the recruiters at Double Negative - Cool

Figure 05. The gates of Monsters University - Pixar Stand

Figure 06. The Z-Brush stand (Sorry Stitch - Didn't get a chance to get the photo we discussed ;)   )

After a day at work - it was time for play

Figure 07. Ummmm... I think the plan was to just work our way down the list

Figure 08. House of Blues Ribs.... These are some of the best Ribs I've ever eaten... Glad my appetite had decided to return on this day!

Figure 09. Blue one.... tasted yummy

Figure 10. Pudding

Figure 11. Walking around the Disney Gallery Shop after dinner I spotted this guy working away in the corner... He was working on a 'Wreck it Ralph'

Figure 12. I liked the lighting on the walk back

Tuesday 23 July 2013

SIGGRAPH 2013 Anaheim, CA : Diaries : Day 07



Day 07, Tuesday

Figure 01. Talking with Sean Hannon in the SV office.

Today I was chilling out in the SV office and Sean Hannon sat down and started watching something on his laptop. He then turned to me with a big grin on his face and said wow.... I love your animation. Then we sat and discussed aspects of it and opinions. 

Figure 02. Sean Hannon

A bit about Sean's experience - Currently animating several principal characters of 'Smurfs 2' and 'The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow'. Has worked on commercials, game cinematics and pre-viz. Sean is also a Student Volunteer Subcommittee member and he has some really cool contacts that have arranged to come and show us some really great geeky things - including the Pixar talks.


Figure 03. Some more SIGGRAPH Bling.

After chatting with Sean I had my appointment with the reel and resume review panel. I was asked to sit down with a guy called Toby Cochran,

Figure 04. Toby Cochran (Left)

I sat with Toby and we discussed Winnie for quite a while, followed by advice on my Resume to make it POP, so some great advice and another cool contact made. 

Toby is currently working at PLAYSTUDIOS as a Mobile Content Manager & Associate Producer, with experience as a Production Artist / Technical Artist / Studio Event Coordinator as well as being the Owner / Director of Big Grin Productions, to name a few.

Next up on the schedule was a special talk with Bobby Beck, CEO of Animation Mentor.

A piece about Bobby Beck :

AnimationMentor.com is The Online Animation School focused on teaching anyone in the world the skills to become a professional animator. We've brought together the entire professional animation industry allowing them to have the opportunity to pass their skills and experience to the next generation of talent. 

As CEO/President I focus my efforts on maintaining and growing the strategic vision and relationships of the company. 

If you are interested in learning more visit our site (www.AnimationMentor.com) to see and listen to the success stories and experiences this exiting online community is having.

Specialties:Leadership, goals and strategic planning, relationship building, education analysis, curriculum advisor, Animation production pipeline, storyboarding, animated and live action film production.

This was such an energy filled and inspiring discussion, he's constantly jumping around as if there's no drain on the batteries. We got to see his reference video footage of him running around a room like a little girl to animate 'BOO' from Pixar's Monster's Inc. As well as a TON on great advice about animation and processes.

After these brilliant discussions through out the day it was time to celebrate Patrick's birthday (this time not at a Disney party) but we did go to Downtown Disney.... Ironic? Can't escape Disney.


Figure 05. Downtown Disney

Figure 06. Downtown Disney


Figure 07. MORE PIZZA


Figure 08. Downtown Disney


Figure 09. Downtown Disney


Figure 10. Downtown Disney


Figure 11. SVs at dinner - with drinks!

Things got pretty funny