Bomber, bomber -cue the Motorhead music

I recently signed on to an independent film project, as a volunteer CGVFX artist. It is essentially a film school project and I thought the work would be cool for my reel. They are based in Southern California so it was interesting working remotely on a production when I haven't ever worked in film. The guys seemed like a good bunch, and I am excited to see the finished product. I won't give away the details but the script is set in a WWII bomber flying over Germany. They needed sky shots, clouds, flack and one scene where you see an engine on fire from inside the plane. I am no expert but the shots seemed pretty simple. Stay tuned for images posted. Good luck to the team in their careers as budding film professionals.

March_4_Render_Sunset

March_4_Render_Sunset
Originally uploaded by Greg Faherty

Added a dashbord for the gas tanks. Things to do: sculpt the seat, add stiching etc, details on hand grips, foot pegs, tires need tread, texture and rig. Probably more but that is what I can think of at the moment.

Its been a while

Updated_2
Originally uploaded by Greg Faherty

Since I have posted but I have been busy working, I just haven't felt 'chatty'. Currently working on the first shot for my reel. It is going to feature a guy kick starting his harley. Here is the WIP model of the bike. I am pretty happy with the progress so far. Lots of little things to do yet but if I had to go with the model as it stands today I think it would be pretty good.

creating references, wrap deformers, lip syncing

You know when something has been staring you in the face but you haven't taken the time to stop, pick it up and check it out so when you finally do you feel like 'duh!'' I have been trying to work on models where the resolution has just killed my workflow. I wrongly assumed that you needed higher resolution for certain kinds of deformation and while I knew that using something like a wrap deformer to drive a higher res model with a lower res model I have been concentrating lately on better characters that I haven't had the chance to try out some different methods. Well over the break things slowed down enough where I was actually able to work on some personal projects again and took the time to test some recommended approaches. Talk about a lightbulb going off! I used to spend hours upon hours painting skin weights on dense polygon models only to realize that by skinning a really low res model and then wrap deforming it to a higher res model would not only give me the deformation results I was looking for but would cut hours if not days off the time needed to set up a character. Talk about a 'duh!' I had heard that this method was a good approach but for some reason just hadn't made time to try it. It certainly is a reminder that sometimes what you need to do is to slow down and test a bit before you jump in waist deep.

happy 2009.

tired...

it's friday, the last of a string of projects is this close to going live. 76 hours last week, 45 hours since Wednesday so probably 70-80 this week again.....tired. did I mention that? I am waiting for someone to make some updates so I can post an update for the client and go home. I have a beer in my hand and my body is shutting down. go home and sleep and hopefully put the lid on this project tomorrow in a few hours. the team has been working even harder and longer, we are all looking forward to the holidays, get some rest up for the new year. looks like it could be a busy 09, knock wood. a lot can change in a month or so but so far it looks like we will busy which is a good thing given the state of things.

a buddy from the rugby club in NY is in town, he is already at the house waiting for me to get my ass home. slice of pizza, glass of whisky I will be lucky if I am awake 10 minutes after walking through the door.

but its a good kind of tired, you know?
out

Do water heaters have mouths?

If you were a water heater, where would your mouth be? If a water heater could talk, how would it?

Pitch theater. We have EA coming in on Monday, how much pitch theater should there be and what should it be, beyond the obvious rolling out of our work that is

just some of the questions bouncing around my head this morning as I watch my daughter play.

busier than a one legged man.....

in an ass kicking contest but it is good busy. We are jamming right now, tons of work but we are building from it, gaining some momentum, or at least that is how it feels. hoff site is getting a good reception, new projects for PG&E, more stuff on the way. If we can hold the team together, not burn anyone out we will come out stronger.

Going to do some 3D work for PG&E, fun, fun, fun. Just the kind of opportunity I have been looking for.

It's 1:30 AM have to be up early, just wrapped up some site work and now it is time to go to bed and get started again.

ciao