The start of our tutorial week, where other students had their talk this week and others having theirs for the next weeks before their submission date. My tutorial was not this week but the next. For a woman called Kate Love had come into our class and explained to us what it was being a director, how she created her short films and lastly the idea of funding for the project.
Apparently, she had graduated here at Ulster as a VFX artist who later did commercials and short films. It was an inspiring lecture, and her shorts were amazing especially her music video ‘Straight from the heart’.
Continuing where we left off last week, we continued onwards with the body mechanics and done six exercises in class with Alec. He showed us the ropes on mechanics with the exercises and using the tweenmachine again for shortcuts.Β
He also checked our progress for the animation cycles and body mechanics for our assignment 2 submission.Β
Here are the 6 exercises I have done for class last day and I have to say it was an amusing activity this lesson.Β
For the next session of class, we were joined by Niall Doherty who had shown us his explanation of straight poses and the key is too have arcs for animation just like what he had done for his. He went around class and helped us out on our work.Β
Our lecturer had not been in for the strike, but our class was covered by John Hannon who is a 3D character artist/modeller for various of characters like God of War Kratos using Zbrush software to break down a part of their 3D body. 3D modelling is interesting at the least, but I don’t think it is the role for me for the future.Β
After the presentation John Hannon had gone over some of work for the other class and give us some tips to make the models better for the next couple of weeks up to our submission date. We continued onward with our team project and cycle animation assignments before the end of the sessionΒ
This class started with Body Mechanics which will also be part of our upcoming assignment in December. We were given a model by Alec on maya and was told to do a jump. He introduced us too script tweenmachine which is a handy tool to break down scenes and add movement to our animations. We were told to do the blocking first and then polish our models. I must admit this tool is really helpful towards our animations on maya.
As well as having jump references for our assignments on our body mechanics which I have chosen from YouTube.
Jumping Reference – YouTube
Here is my jump exercise I have done for class.
For week 8 of Professional Practice, we were given bad examples of cover emails and had answer what was wrong with them and how they can be improved like wordcount, opening line and what to include about yourselves. This piece of information can aid me with my cover email and what I should include and what I should leave out.
Our page should be 3/4 long with written information such as relevant experience and why I am suitable for this role. Near the end of the page, we should include our links to our cv and our showreel/portfolio to present to the company so they can see the individual’s artwork.
Week 8 we had started the basics with walk cycles with the 3D rigging jack and Alec showing us the 16 types of walking for us to choose for our assignment in January. We also looked at the 2D walk cycles with Nial Doherty explaining the spacing and timing with each frame and how he animated his characters.
Here is my 3D walk cycleΒ
For this week a visitor came into our class called Matthew Hamil presenting us with his 3D models and animation. He showed us his game animations and quick tips on how to make it better with space and timing, he also showed us the spine structure for each of these models when it comes to rigging in Maya.Β
It was an interesting lecture while it ended in with him showing us rigging with models, he even sent us to make the character punch in a steady stance on maya from his lecture this afternoon. It was a fun experience.
Getting into our second assignment with animation run cycles with 3D and 2D. We had exercises to do which involved finding a missing frame, what’s it called and had to draw it in to complete the run cycle or both animations. Th 2D frame missing is the down frame for the character and the 3D model is missing the up frame.Β
We also did some poses for the lesson while getting references for them
I also did the run cycles both 2D and 3D for this exerciseΒ
In Professional Practice Glenda Martin had returned to finish her briefing of stress and resilience continuing on from the past week and had given us tips to reduce it and cope with it in our future jobs and our lives. I must admit it was a very informative lecture on stress and how it can affect us emotionally or intellectually through development.
Alec then told us about job contacts which involves the salary, legal rights, pricing and picking a studio in a specific location in Ireland or London that is for our best interest and availability to be flexible for times.Β Β
We had gone over our tutorial week with our lecturers on progress of our work and if we had any problems this week. They also suggested to have group met ups or group chats for the next few weeks to get the work done faster. So, then we continued on our work and showed our progress to each other for how far we’ve come for week 6.
Concept ArtΒ
One of the models textured
As well as models progress
