Chud Has a Little Elton John Going On

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Now it's just getting silly. I'm trying to get Chud and Sal ready for rendering and I just keep adding weirdness. These are Chud's new Goggles. I think he has issues.

This morning I got up early 6am to go renew my Permesso di Soggiorno (like a visa). There were about 100 people ahead of me in line at via Montenapoleone and by 730 I found out that I was in the wrong place... apparently they don't do the PDS for Canadians there anymore. Luck had it that Roni was also out and about at the break of dawn trying to do hers and correctly directed to the same one I was now on my way to. We got appointments to actually do the paperwork at the end of June. She leaves the country 10 days afterwards.

I'm going to egt my hair cut later.

Where are we going? To GARDAAAAAA!!!!

Yesterday we got up at stupid AM after the 70's party at Frida. We piled into a very small caravan and head out to GARDAAAAA!!! Apparently, after all this time Andrea suddenly thinks to mention that his parents have an apartment on the beautiful and also famous lake in Northern Italy, and that he has a set of keys. Epi, Denise, Carolina, Ricardo, Fabri and I were off.

We stopped for lunch upon hitting the lake then went for a stroll in Sirmione. It's a penninsula that juts out into the lake (well, an island really, connected to the mainland by a castle) and boasts the home of Maria Callas and giant hotels hidden by trees as well as thermal baths, pebble beaches and an impressive and frightening Gelato (ice-cream) district. I had Mela and Lampone.

After Sirmione we drove past Gardaland (Italy's #1 theme park), Movieland (Italy's #18 theme park) and finally arrived at Andrea's apartment on the water. It was overcast, but we still headed down to the pebble beach and all got our legs in the water. It was 17degrees, but I reckon I could have had a swim if I had thought to change into my bathing suit. We practiced skipping stones and had fun throwing pebbles at Ricardo while he slept on the dock. It was about 15 minutes before he woke up. In all this time Michele was "trying" to get to come meet us and we finally realised he was actually on the west side of the lake as opposed to the east side where we were enjoying the sunset and the horrible neighbor's' leaf burning. We decided it was best to meet him in Cola'.

At Cola' we debated for a long time whether or not to spend the 18euros to enter the Thermal park. In the end, Fabri and I grabbed a pizza with the others then our bathing suits and decided to try it out. It was amazing. They've built a false lake over the thermal spring with pebble bottom, grotto,waterfalls and massage point. Really, it was the most fantastic 'pool' I've ever been to. Did I mention that it's around 34degrees? Oh, and that within the lake there are 2 hottubs, one at 37degress and the other at 39?? It was WONDERFUL. I'm so going back there. Check it out here: www.parcotermaledelgarda.it If I can managae to organise it maybe I'll force everyone to go back there for my birthday in July.

Chud and Sal look to the future.

Y'know, I might just put these two in a musical while I'm at it.

Chud's a redhead now and not quite as bald as he was in his debut feature. Also, he stopped wearing the blue coloured contacts cause I convinced him his natural, deep brown eyes were worth showing off.

What exactly am I doing? This is my final project for progettazione. I haven't really learnt how to Proggetare (plan) anything in the class, but I recently got a book on the subject of planning towards short film production... here I come.

My idea for the thesis is coming along well. As things go, in the next year I have to study biped as well as quadruped motion. Yes, we're talking four-legged friends here. The main idea comes from a story that Max told us at the bar one night (that's Max the friend, not the 3d software or my nephew). Ah, dogs are so cute and troublesome.

I'm hoping to get started on Gretel's recital in the next few days. The only think is she's all rigged nice and clean in Maya and I don't feel like pulling her out for a re-rig in XSI, which after the experiment with the gymnast seems to be my strongest animation program.

Ha ha ha... I imagine this blog seems pretty weird now. So, for something normal: Today I will go to the gym for a swim.

Sal

This is Sal. He's Chud's best friend. He's kind of like a sidekick. He has problems with personal hygene.

The Many Faces of Gretel

This is probably the work I'm most proud of this year. I haven't any time to elaborate, but I'm going to try to get a short animation of Gretel done to a song from the hit off-broadway musical 'You're a Good Man Charlie Brown'. Gretel will be playing the role of Lucy.

1950's

This is a 1950's Record player and Lamp I'm working on for a project in XSI.

Gretel Revisited

This is a newer version of gretel after consulting with Kizo on technical and Laura Fiori on Character Design. She's much closer to the original concept too.

The Little Gingerbread House

Well, Gretel is almost finished. Her dress and hair need detailed modelling and textures (which I'll knock out in Zeta). I'll probably go for a blonde or red for the hair as I find black too Wednsday Adams.

She needs rigging and posing for the final exam after Easter... Any feedback? I'm talking to Signora Fiori today and seeing if I've strayed too far from the original character sketches (which you might remember were more cartoon).

Speaking of Easter, jetting off to London for 7 days. Wanting to catch up with everyone, but not sure if anyone's around.

Didn't Win Hasbro: No More Contests For Me, Well, Maybe One.

Well, the award ceremony for Littlest Pet Shop was yesterday and honestly I really thought I had a chance when I saw the other work. I wasn't impressed by anything there really and thought each workl had as much chance as each other work in winning, that is, except for the ones which actually did. Apparently the judges decided to give the prizes to work which could never actually go into production. The first prize and the €1500 I could have spent on computer stuff, shoes and other fun goodies, went to a door with horrible pink poodles glued to it. I give up with the school's idea of what flies.

The only other thing I might consider entering is a 24 hour modelling (no, not like fashion modelling, which like 'field hockey' I think should always be prefixed even if we are in Europe) contest in XSI. Yes, I only picked up the software a few weeks ago, and yes, the prize is a Softimage trainer's jacket which I can guarantee I will never wear, and yes, it's 24 hours straight in front of a computer in a big room full of other geeks in front of a computer doing the same thing (though my work is probably something other than a gargoyle or demon or minataur). But doesn't it sound romantic? Like a ballroom dancing marathon? I'm actually going to look into it.

I have a fancy dinner business thing tonight with Fabri and I'm convinced I'll be overdressed, but I have no other venue to wear my new silk, chinese, high collar gown which is white with navy blue flowers on it. So I guess I'll be wearing it tonight. I might leave my hair down tho. I don't want to be too much of a cliche'.

What a long few weeks!

I haven't had a chance to update in ages. I've been throwing myself into the documentary of Ciccio's graduation that I have to submit on Friday. Alos been slaving away (but creatively) on reference photos, collages and sculptures, yes, sculptures for an illustration I'm startign in XSI. Above you can see the collage of what I'm hoping to accomplish with the image.

Friday was so nice cause I met Nathalie and we did a Pilates class. It's not easy I'll tell you. But then we had the full sauna/spa experience at my new gym and it was such a treat. to top it all off we discovered a wonderful 'Piccolo Ristorante' just by the gym that does a fantastic set menu for 8euros... that's first, second, salad, coffee and wine/water for 8 euros... Crazy!

Yes. I joined a gym. It's more like a health club really. I've been on a roll so far and there 3 times a week. between different classes, the spa, the cardio machines, the weight machines and the pool I'm not bored yet. The crazy thing is that going 3 times a week coupled with the medicine I'm taking and you can already see muscles taking shape in my arms. I feel stronger too. I'm not talking incredible hulk or anything, but we all know how fit I was to begin with right?

Cheech came to Milan for the weekend and stayed here. We all had a big night on Friday and Nat and Roni came out too. I was exhausted on Saturday and terribly hung over but managed to make it out for brunch anyways (I do love the American Bakery). I slept the whoel afternoon and then spent far too much money that I don't have AT ALL at dinner at daBertie. I'll never go there again I'm sure.

Sunday we were at Mario and Lucrezia's for lunch and then headed out to the Hobby Show which ended up being very boring and not the right place to take your boyfriend and one of his friends on a Sunday afternoon. I'm certain I would have enjoyed it alot more if I was there with my mom and she was buying me crafting paper and we were thinking up ideas for fabulous crafts. In the end I only bought an anatomy book.

I'm working alot on Gretel and ZBrush these days too. Been studying how her muscles and bones go together, but I'm reluctant to show you a screen shot cause at the moment she looks kinda gross... all bald and naked. I guess that's how all of us start out though right?

This is how the joke starts...

So there four dead-skeletal raccoony things are playing poker, right?

Duel

This is a rendered scene of 30 seconds of a film I have to reproduce in a team for next Tuesday. It's Spielburg's first success, so I guess it's good luck.

Sky Fishing Online!!

Please follow this link to see my 2nd ever animated short 'Sky Fishing'.

www.orchid-eye.com There is a link right there on the home page.

Released Today and Coming Soon for Your Viewing Pleasure

Previously known only by it's working title 'Gone Fishing', my 2nd ever animated short was finished today, 2 days ahead of schedule! Here are some shots from the 1 minute animated film.

Within the week I'll be publishing the short on my website for your viewing pleasure. Look out for it! There's a surprise ending!!!

Thanks to:
Eric an Jaqui in 2004 for a conversation on a drive down to Copake New York which planted the seed for the concept of this film

Fabri for loving a crazy, aspiring CG professional, and for believing in me.

It Might be the Stereroids Talking...*

... but I feel great!

I was up till 3am last night organising thing for render and I got some rendering done but then I realised I wasn't in the right Pixel-Aspect-Ratio and I had to do it all again this morning... But I didn't care! I was up without the alarm at 7-something and back at my desk. Work work work work work work work.

Ohhhh!! I love this! Deadline approaching at high speeds...2 windows of Max running... the fear that my computer will crash... it's all so exhilerating. I feel alive. (yes, I know I'm a loser... why do you think I keep a blog for myself?)

And I know it will be great... I really do. Here are some things that you can keep in mind to look for when I've published online the final scene:

the moon

fly trapped in a spider's web

a martini
an airship

mac makeup products

lamb's navy rum (cause it's cheap)

*I have started taking stereroids and a daily cocktail of other fun pills. It's for 'early arthritis' that didn't quite negate, but posponed perhaps the previous diagnosis of Lupus. Anyhow, they seem to be working.

Feeling Kinda' Groovy, Working on a Movie

Gone Fishing...

So I've finished my animatic, gone through each shot and made changes notes and I've come up with 17 pages of detailed changes to make. That's roughly 10 minor changes (at an average of 30min each), plus 2 major (1-2 hours each) per page.

The math looks like this:

17pages ((10 x 30min)+ (2 x 120min)) = X more minutes needed...
I would figure it out, but I don't have time.

Then you have to take into account that there is also rendering time to be calculated in... and who knows how long that will take... I don't that's for sure. The exam is due on Tuesday. It's Thursday today. I can forget about doing anything on the weekend... but Chud will thank me for it (Lula not so much having had her wallet stolen).

In other news, I've updated my website somewhat... check it out on the link to your right: www.orchid-eye.com

The Amzing Chud Gibo

I have till the 1st to finish animating, rendering and editing Scene 4 of 'Gone Fishing (working title)'. Here are some unfinished camera views of good old Chud.

Hansel & Gretel Part 2

'Who’s there?’ asks the old woman in a kind voice. ‘I’m afraid my eyes aren’t what they used to be’

Gretel looks at Hanzel who signals her again to run away, but she sees that the woman isn’t bad and so replies: ‘It’s me, little Gretel, I’ve come to see if you have some bread. My brother and I have been walking for days and we’re hungry. We broke your window to get inside.’

The old woman is saddened and concerned about the window, but not angry. She says that glass can be replaced and begins to set the small wood table for three. The children drank milk and ate pancakes and laughed with the woman. She then set them up two little beds and helped them off to sleep.

To Be Continued...

Working on Chud Again

Here's Chud Skinned badly... He still isn't fishing.

I Didn't Win Pepsi.... Suivant/Next

Well, now that I got doing competitions out of my system it's time to get down and do some real work for school this year. Maya class is finished and Max, though I haven't understood much of anything is coming to an end too. Yesterday I spent 4 hours modelling a chair in nurbs, then subdiv and then general box modelling before I moved onto the table which only took a half hour... As you can see from the unrendered screenshots.

Interjection: I have left a mug of milk in the freezer. I must remember to drink it upon publishing this blog.

There's always a billion things to do... I should start making Excel spreadsheets though I guess that'll be a waste of time. Instead I should just get on with all of it. I'm going to try to at least organise myself to start working on Cheech's Laurea video and finish Gretel's story this weekend. I'm so happy to finally be free of deadlines for a little while

Really, the milk will be gross by now.