Gorgeous lines of action by Ryan Woodward. This just shows you how important reference is... but to not be a slave to it and to embellish it and heighten the entertainment with your artistry to create something really beautiful.
Showing posts with label Storyboard Artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Storyboard Artists. Show all posts
Cinematic Storyboard Class Syllabus
If you are a rising storyboard artist, you are making your own film or are interested in how to set-up and stage storyboards, check out Jay Oliva classes. I have heard great things! One thing many people forget or do not recognize is that drawing is a minor skill when it comes to storyboards. It's storytelling that is king.
2D vs. CG
The industry has so many people complaining and talking about how bad the movies today are. If I don't particularly like something...I just don't post about it. We have enough of that going on. So, I try to keep this blog positive and don't comment on things I personally don't like or think aren't quite right.
However, sometimes points are provoking enough to generate quite a discussion. Since our book was about Bridging the Gap Between 2D and CG, I thought this was appropriate to post here about a recent point made on the blog - Cartoon Brew.
After Jamie saw the post this is what he had to say...
Cartoon Brew's bloggers set up an argument that has people talking. If you haven't seen the Bolt Image Post at Cartoon Brew that is stirring up such a fuss yet. Check it out...and be sure to read through the comments. Very entertaining.
"This has to be one of the silliest things I have read in a long time....one is a drawing, one of thousands for a storyboard no one will ever see. Never meant to be displayed in a gallery. The other is a single frame of film, one of thousands, a 24th of a second of screen time, never meant to be shown as a single piece of art in a gallery.
What a waste of time to argue over "which is better".
To quote the immortal words of Will Shatner....."get a life people"
Too give you a little head start...
One of most accurate comments to the post that covers what animators are really experiencing and talking about today, is by Mike Watt.
Mike Watt says:
It’s funny that folks are so critical about CG visually when the real issue is abuse of artists and the make it cheaper/faster mentality of studios. 2D had the advantage of the drawing barrier and thus artists could make valid claims for decent wages. The supposed ease at which 3D is learned and the current high level of animation specific instruction has created a flood of new world-wide talent chomping at the bit to work for any major US studio, at any price. Unfortunately, the level of animation has dropped, poses are all the same, timing is the same and characters have become more generic, except for Pixar character of course. But at Pixar, seasoned pros can mould the young talent, or simply fix the scenes, to ensure a certain level of excellence.
A large bulk of the “Bolt” animation staff was laid off before production even wrapped. Most of those lay-offs being the higher salaried animation veterans. Another large number of seasoned pros were put on “probation” which a of course is a thinly veiled threat of being laid off unless they don’t get their act together. I assume by “getting their act together” Lasseter and team expect them to work extra off clock hours like most of the staff at Pixar in order to reach that refined level of animation JL demands. This, my friends, is the big dirty secret about animation and especially Pixar, Pixar doesn’t pay a living wage. I know for certain that 10 year vets have been offered $1650 a week as an animator at Pixar. In addition, a few animators from Bolt are going up to work at Pixar for the whopping sum of $28 an hour. Pixar and JL also don’t like titles, like Senior animator or Lead or Supervising animator. Of course, this makes it easy to keep wages low since an artists has no claims to a place in the studio hierarchy or level of responsibility and thus can’t demand higher compensation for more work.
I can’t even go to a pixar film knowing how cheaply they pay their staff. I am certain it’s a wonderful place to work and I am sure “some” people make a living, but I think Pixar expects artists to take a massive pay decrease in order to have the privilege of working for JL and crew.
So all the hemming and hawing about 2D vs. 3D is silly considering the fact that studios, including Pixar, want more work for less money and a living wage be damned. That’s the issue in animation, not some fabricated medium war.
Artist Spotlight - July - Jamie and Drew
Last month, I decided to spotlight one CG artist a month on the blog who has taken something they love to do outside of animation and turned it into additional income - as inspiration for us all. I started it off with Caleb's Cro Customs Chopper venture. This month, I thought none better than to spotlight my co-author Jamie Oliff. He had an art show of his paintings last month at the Dresen with his friend Drew Edwards.
Jamie and his buddy Drew Edwards met in Canada working on Ren and Stimpy. Both, still have one toe in the animation industry mostly doing storyboards. They created a show together that was held at the Dresden. These are the pictures of the debauchery of the night. It was great fun and Jamie sold all of his paintings.
Proud artists...Look at Drew's shoes! Awesome!
Beginning of the evening as people start to come in...
The paintings in black and white are Jamie'sand the monochromatic color ones are Drew's.
This was one of my favorites...look at the character in his face!
Drew was inspired by the movie swingers for quite a few of his.
Guess who this motley crew is supposed to be?I will give you a hint - see below.
Samir eyes a painting he wants...and decides to buy it for 600$!!!
Jamie places the red dot to show it's sold!
Very happy patron the arts!
Sarah Bockett's smile could light up any room!
I am obviously talking about something VERY important,since Drew is listening so closely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)