Demo reel

Yup, this is my final demo reel. You know what that means? That I'm finally done with school. My last day of class was the 10th of September (actually the 9th, I skipped the last day since I had already turned in my assignments). But this is the fruit of all my labors, and the final project I wanted to have done in my last two classes but didn't have enough time. I really like how it turned out, I think the transformation works out really well. I'm still not completely happy about it though, I need to add some more explosion effects, but that could wait for another time.

So now school is over, along with my job since it was related to my VA education benefits. So now I've got lots of free time (when I'm not looking for a new job, that is), and lots more interest in the Prototytan Project. I've been working on redesigns for some Autobots now, not major changes, but ones that update the characters and still keeps them recognizable. I've also got plans to try my first kitbash - I bought a F-4 model plane and I'm hoping to make one of my original designs with it. I'm not sure how good it can turn out though; the model's pretty small and I have to use assorted Lego pieces for articulation. I'm excited to try it though, so keep coming back for it.

The Trade

Last year I took a Screenwriting and Storytelling class at school. I really got into it, working on a script for a cartoon I had been working on for the last 10 years or so. I quickly got burnt out on that prject, but I really enjoyed screenwriting, so I started up two scripts: a Survivor-meets-zombies action/horror and a dark comedy about supervillains. With all the constant assignments in school, of course, these two projects got lost in the shuffle.

Along with my Asset Production class, which was to make filler for my demo reel, I was taking a Game Art Development class, which was also to make filler for my demo reel, except in this one, we focused on After Effects. I'd never used After Effects before, which lets you edit video and insert special effects, because the class that taught it, Videography, was never scheduled (I don't know how they missed it before, but now I've got to take it next term). Anyway, I decided to revisit my old screenplays and make a trailer for one of them as my project. Maybe one of these days I'll actually finish it (writing it, I mean).

Tank v2.0

I just last week finished up my Asset Production class, which is solely aimed at making filler for our demo reels.  Most of the people in my class decided to model out a number of fairly impressive low-poly models.  But I decided to go another route and try some animation.  I thought I wanted to do prop modeling also, but unwrapping is a BITCH.  So I decided to take a previous animation and update it.

This is the result.  I had higher hopes for it, but I learned what I need to do to fix it the next time.  The main changes here are in vehicle movement and the effects.  In the first version, I moved the vehicles through keyframe movement, but this time I decided to use path contraints for more fluid driving.  

I had a lot of stuff to work on with the effects, considering the explosions I had in the first one were so small you couldn't see them.  In fact, that weren't even explosions, I just used a short fires.  This time, at least they're visible.  I used a ton of Supersprays too, for gunfire and the missile.

Unfortunately, this video is just as short as the previous one.  I need to make it longer, and not just by stretching out the time.  I plan on adding a lot more stuff to it, but with only 12 weeks before I graduate, I'm going to have to bust my ass to get it done in time.

No news is good news, right?

Well, not exactly. Right now, no news is just that... no news. I wish I had more to update with, considering how long it's been since I updated last time, but I really haven't done anything. I'm still planning now, but as with most projects in my life, planning is a lot easier than implimenting.

I'm making very slow progress on my tank animation, mainly just cleaning up the tank model itself. After that, I need to skin the whole thing and make it pretty. I'm going to change a good deal of the animation though because at the end of the movie, the tank's going to TRANSFORM. Yeah, it's not a huge surprise considering who I am, but it will look cool (I hope) and it would show off more animation than just the tank rolling around. I'm still trying to figure out how to cut it up, but once I finish skinning, I should be able to slice that thing into pieces. It won't be a very detailed robot mode, but it'll get the job done. And my favorite part - the tank's giant cannon barrel is going to become a massive hammer.

On other school-related news, my graduation date has been pushed up to September 12. Don't ask me how, the school's messing with schedules left and right. My other classes are going good as well, but they both have big projects, making this one of the most packed-in terms I've had in a long time. Thank god I've got a week break coming up, though I'm still trying to decide if I should work it or not. On one hand, I need the money; on the other hand, I need the sleep.

I've also started coming up with an idea for another Transformer photo-comic, this one using actual photos! It's based around all the Legends figures I have. Of course, I don't really have time to do this, so even if I get a good story written up, I'm going to have to shelve it until I'm at least done with school. I hate how my mind wanders.

Change of Plans

Thanks to the extreme generosity of a friend, I should be getting a fantastic upgrade to my modeling/animating library; Lightwave, Vue, and Bodypaint 3D!  Thank you so much, Rich!

Anyway, its got me thinking about my the Prototytan Project vs my demo reel.  If I really want to get into the PP, I'm going to have to use Lightwave, primarily because I'll own a full version of it that I can upgrade and installon any new computers I buy, instead of Max, which is a limited version I got from my teacher at school.  So the PP is going to go on hold until I get the new programs. 

This obviously leaves me in a bind with my demo reel.  No Prototytans severely limits my plans, you know!  But I figured this morning that I'll go with my favorite animation from my previous class.

Obviously, this animation will need some major overhauling - there's editing errors galore and I want to improve on a lot of the efects in it.  I also need a much better render of it, since this one got mangled in Premier Pro.  But it saves me a lot of time in modeling and it's a chance for me to get one of my favorite animations to the highest quality it deserves.

The Beginning

I'm a huge Transformer fan. I've followed the series since it's beginning in 1984 through the latest incarnation. When I was flying home in 2004 for my grandfather's funeral, I got the idea to write a Transformers story featuring a third faction, one I've called the Prototytans. I came up with a group of original Transformers and designed each one with a new body. But my art has faltered over the years and every attempt to draw them out just ended up frustrating me.

Then I enrolled in school at Collins College pursuing a Bachelors in Visual Art with an emphasis in Game Art and I'm learning how to model in Max. Forget drawing on paper, now I can build in my computer. It seems to be a perfect fit together.

So now I'm on the way to a September 2009 graduation and working on my portfolio and demo reel. I've decided the Prototytans will be the focal point of my demo reel to emphasize my talent and interest in asset production and animation. I've decided to post my progress in this blog to keep me motivated and let my friends and family and anyone interested follow along.