Lighting Progress

By looking at these online tutorials I have significantly improved my lighting skills using Maya.

I have been experimenting with different techniques and exploring the attributed of various different light settings and mechanics.

I shall demonstrate my progression with a couple of render images.

1.

The image above was my first attempt at lighting without the use of any tutorials. As you can see the lighting here is poor, purely because I did not really understand how lighting worked in Maya.

2.

This image above however is far more effective. The online digital tutors tutorial has helped me so much and has improved my lighting skills by a long way. I applied what I had learnt to my own 3D interior environment. I am very pleased with this render and it is very close to what I imagine the final result to look like.

Industry Day

Some very interesting points were made today regarding the industry and what employers are looking for within a showreel and portfolio. Certain speakers were stating that there are many different big projects coming to the UK. The visual effects houses in London, Soho in particular are inundated with many feature film projects. So it appears the UK is a particularly good hub for job opportunities for work within the film industry. Double Negative is currently working on visual effects shots for John Carter of Mars. It was also interesting to see their pipeline processes when compositing scenes for certain shots for Chris Nolan's Inception.

Many Speakers stated that grades were secondary to the quality of your work within your portfolio and it is your work and how you present yourself that will get you noticed. They stressed that you must work hard, must be prepared to take risks, be different and do not follow the crowd and develop your own style. They also said that you should always say yes to any opportunity as you never know where these will lead you. They also stressed the importance of staying in contact with your friends as it is these people who will serve as important contacts. The statement "it is not what you know but who you know" was mentioned too.

When it comes to the portfolio, they are looking for quality not quantity. They are looking for exceptional work in your own style. They suggested that a showreel must be approximately 2-3 mins long, with your best work at the beginning. It is recommended that you should pick what you think are your best pieces of work. They said that a portfolio/ showreel and your CV must be tailored to the company you are applying to.

Online Tutorials

I have decided to purchase a monthly subscription to an online tutorial website. It is called Digital Tutors. It covers many different techniques regarding a variety of software. It is a very useful and intuitive learning resource. It does cost a bit of money, however it is in my opinion worth it, because I have already learnt so much in a short amount of time. I have been focusing on learning lighting techniques using the 3D package Maya.

Work Experience

This year I have to try and get some work experience placements. This experience will be invaluable as I will be able to get an understanding of what to expect in the work place and in the industry I wish to work in. Getting work experience will also help with acquiring new techniques, advice and more importantly contacts. It is said that it is not what you know, but who you know.

At the moment I am staying in contact with The Senate, a small visual effects company/ studio based in Twickenham. It has been involved in several productions including Kick Ass(2010), StarDust(2007), 10,000BC(2008), and 28 Weeks Later(2007). I have been able to get in contact with The Senate and hopefully I will be able to organise some work experience during the Christmas holidays. I already attempted to organise an earlier work experience slot during the Summer holidays but unfortunately they were far too busy and were inundated with work with imminent deadlines.

Speaking of work experience, I did manage to acquire some work back in September. It wasn't really work experience but rather a freelance job. It was my first paid job within the Industry I hope to work in. I heard Ubisoft were looking for a conceptual artist to do some concept designs. I sent them an email saying that I was interested and I sent them a few examples of my work. I was elated that I managed to get the job despite being in competition with other professional artists. The pay was quite low, however, I was more concerned about getting myself noticed by people in the creative/ entertainment industry. The pay was reasonable in my opinion considering I was still in college and that this was my first paid job in a field I really wanted to pursue. Up until now I had only been involved in unpaid work experience such as Harry Potter and Clash of the Titans. So needless to say this was very big and important to me.

When I had finished the work, I sent them the first invoice on the 9th of September 2010. They stated that they were very pleased with the work we had given them, and that they were "excited" by the developments I had made. However it is coming to the end of November and I still have not been paid for my work. I have sent a few emails to prompt them that the contract has not yet been honoured, and I am hoping that these messages will speed the process along.

Learning and Recording

As I am progressing through my 3rd year project I have realised how important it is to record new things I come across. I have begun to keep notes in bullet form. These notes are particularly useful when attempting to reuse complicated actions within Maya. This method of note taking is handy when reminding myself which techniques I have used and which I have yet to experiment with. I am also using notes and reminders to help with time management. I have also created some schedules so I can keep track of various tasks that need to be completed.

Notes

Schedule

New Skills

Today for the first time I was practicing lighting within the 3D modeling program Maya 8. Considering that this was my first attempt, I was quite pleased with the way the lighting test turned out. I was carrying out numerous lighting test renders to see if I could improve the desired mood and look I wanted. It turned out very well and the tests improved every time I adjusted attributes and settings. There is still a fair way to go but it was a start, and I was very pleased. I used various online tutorials in order to learn important details in order to carry out an effective lighting setup.

Pitches

I have learnt for future reference that I should not skip essential points/ details when delivering a pitch. When I was trying to get my idea across to tutors they seemed confused about the premise. I must learn to fully prepare for a pitch and make sure that no important details are missed.

Contacts

This 3rd year will be important in as far as forming friendships and developing relationships with various people with different skills in a range of different fields. These people will be potential contacts for information or job opportunities in my future career.

Latest Industry News

I have heard from numerous people including my father that there are several big budget projects in the film industry under development that are coming to the UK in the next 3 and a half years. Projects such as Gravity, Dune, John Carter of Mars, Alien Prequel, World War Z.

Places of Note for Possible Job Opportunities in the UK

London: Soho Vsual Effects Studios

• Cinesite
• The Senate
• Framestore
• The Mill

UK Film Studios

• Long Cross Studios
• Leavesden Studios
• Pinewood Studios
• Sheperton Studios

Skills

I am a mac user however I am competent with a PC.

*I am most skilled in using Photoshop CS, a digital art program primarily used for photograph retouching.

• I am also skilled in Maya, a 3D modeling program.
• I am competent in using Final Cut, an editing program.
• I am also competent in using Adobe After Effects, a compositing program.
• I am competent in both Microsoft word and Microsoft Excel.

Skills to be Improved:

I certainly need to become more proficient in programs such as Maya in terms of lighting and texturing and rendering. I must also become more familiar with Adobe After Effects and Final Cut.

Self Promotion

I have a MSN email address so that I can receive and send emails to contacts and employers.

ChrisC1cc@hotmail.com

I have a Facebook account which is a useful tool to keep in contact with friends who maybe useful contacts for potential jobs within the industry.

http://www.facebook.com/chris.caldow1

I have an online blog on blogger.com that showcases my concept work.

http://chriscconceptart.blogspot.com/

I have a deviantart account online which also showcases my concept illustration skills.

http://corruptrecluse.deviantart.com/

Stamps, Signatures & Logos

Art Work Signature

Self Promotional Logo

Business Card Designs

Final Business Card Design

I am making sure that I keep an up to date CV and portfolio so that when the time comes for work experience or a job placement, I have an up to date record of my work experience and the very best work to show.

An Example of my work. (Sanctuary in the Clouds)

I have sent some of my best concept art to be shown on the display screens throughout the Ravensbourne building. This should be a good way of promoting myself and exhibiting my artistic skills. Hopefully someone from either inside or outside of Ravensbourne will notice my work. This may lead to new contacts or even a contract.

Career Path & Plan

This animation course and particularly this 3rd year will provide me with sufficient skills and experience to become an artist within the creative industry. I hope to work within game and film. I am prepared to start as a runner if need be and work up the ladder. I would preferably like to become a conceptual illustrator/ storyboard artist. Hopefully later in my career with enough experience I could become an art director or even a director. I shall keep a diary and online blog in order to record my progress, self evaluation and analysis. I can also record skills and techniques acquired over my career.

Keeping a website with an updated showreel would also be a good idea in terms of self promotion, showing my development, thought processes and design skills.

The 5 Whys

In our first IPP lecture we were told to ask ourselves questions regarding why we were wanting to pursue a particular job or career. It was stated that a particular exercise was useful in analyzing your thoughts, actions and choices. Through this exercise we can learn more about ourselves in relation to the industry. This exercise is known as the 5 whys and is particularly useful in self promotion to help us acquire that dream job.

Q: Why are you at Ravensbourne?

A: Because I wish to complete an animation course.

Q: Why do you want to do an animation course?

A: I wanted to do this animation course because it was the course that closely resembled what I wanted to do later in my career.

Q: What do you want to do later in your career?

A: I wish to work in the games or film industry.

Q: Why do you want to work in the games or film industry?

A: Because I have loved games and film from a very early age.

Q: Why have you loved games and film from such an early age?

A: I guess my father was a huge influence because he has been working in the film industry from an early age. But probably the most important reason is because I have over the years played games and watched many films and have quickly realized that game and film are such powerful mediums in which to tell a story. I have become passionate about storytelling and I just love listening to and telling stories. For me watching a great movie on the big screen and being transported to another world/ space and time is an amazing feeling. Nostalgia is also a key element too, as I have fond memories of watching films at the cinema.

I have also had an eye for design, so to be able to design something and then for it to be projected on the screen is also a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

The Importance of Transferable Skills

I see myself as becoming a specialist in a particular field. However because the film industry I intend to work in is notoriously unpredictable, even more so than many other industries, I do see the value of acquiring a variety of transferable skills in order to ensure good employability and career flexibility. The way I see it is if I focus myself in one particular field/ area I will be narrowing myself down to a handful of job opportunities. However if I embrace a variety of different skills I will be opening myself to a variety of choices. At the end of the day I need a job in order to earn money to look after myself and my family if I decide to settle down. Of course I also need to consider a financial scheme to support me in my old age.

The Industry

During my first IPP lecture various issues were discussed. Issues such as technological advances, the global economy, the condition of the creative industry and the importance of good employability.

The importance of this IPP unit for me is that it will show me the importance of being able to adapt in an unpredictable environment so that maintaining a job in my future career will be easier to manage.

I aim to become a professional freelance concept/ illustration artist, storyboard and 3D modeler. To begin I would like to work within the games industry but preferably within the film industry. From there I would like to become an art director and eventually followed by Director later in my career.