Moving Out

Due to my concerned over putting all my internets in one basket and the fact that Google miffed me off because they’re closing Reader, I decided to port this blog onto WordPress.

I don’t have much time so the operation has been a tad clumsy.  I also decided to prune some of the weaker posts so some of the links might not work, but eventually it should get there.

Please subscribe here for future updates.

Many thanks.

Maya 2013 Installation Failure - Result 1603

Been having trouble installing Maya 2013 on one of our Windows 7 machines.
Message came up "Installation complete. Some products failed to install".
Rectified the problem thus:

1. Go to Start/Control Panels/Add or Remove Programs.

2. Remove the following: "Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (x64)" & "Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable (x86)"

3. Restart

4.Go here.

5. Download and install: "vcredist_x64.exe" & "vcredist_x86.exe"

6. Restart.

7. Reinstall Maya.

10 Reasons Why Animators Should Make GIFs

1. They're quick to do. 
Animation is traditionally a lifetime torturefest of pain, self-doubt and confusion. You can make a nice GIF from just a few frames and that's the end of it.

2. They catch the eye.
There's nothing like a moving image in a sea of search results to make people look twice. (We're living in an attention economy, people).



3. You can provide a nice teaser to your Vimeo page.
Like worms for fish.



4. No-one will ask you to explain the sub-text.
Which is especially good if it is not in your best interest to tell people what exactly that is.



5. People rarely click and watch a video on Tumblr.
With a GIF, TOO LATE!! They already watched it.



6. It's down with the kids.
Kids love GIFs, GIFs love kids.



7. You can do self portraits and no-one has to look at your ugly face.
I've been participating in the Guest Directed Self Portrait project initiated by Molly Peck. I think I am only recognisable in 1 of my 7 submissions so far made.





8. You can try stuff out and get quick feedback.
Nothing says something works by a tsunami of reblogs.



9. You learn the virtue of brevity.
There's nothing worse than a time waster.



10. You can recycle old work.
Remember that crappy piece of work you did years ago that you're too ashamed to show anyone? GIF the good bit, bin the rest.

BAFTA nomination for #Wonders

OK, I've had a cup of tea and a slice of cake so I'm slightly calmer now, I'll explain a bit more fully:
I work at BDH making CGI for television, which can involve making all sorts of things, from visualizing thought to animating bouncing sex toys.

Last year we were lucky enough to work on a miraculous programme called "Wonders of the Universe", hosted by Professor Brian Cox, and produced by the BBC.

For someone who grew up on Carl Sagan, Star Trek and Doctor Who it was a very special experience for me personally.

I was largely responsible for star surfaces, coronal loops and solar flares.

So now the work we did has been nominated for a Visual Effects award at the Television Craft BAFTAs, alongside Great Expectations, Inside the Human Body, and... DOCTOR fucking WHO.
So today couldn't really get more awesome.

(There is 15 minute edit of just the work we did here:




and a lovely playlist of clips from the actual series here:

 

in case you are unfamiliar with it's magic.)

Did I mention I just had cake?

This is a sting (by Steve Bell) for the Soundproof event at the Exchange Gallery, Princes Street, Penzance on Friday (11th Nov).
Two of my films will be showing as well as lots of other wonderful and excellent things.
Please attend if you can.