Archive for January, 2010

3dsmax Generalist Wanted: Hatch Studios Ltd. is looking for an experienced 3dsmax generalist available for contractual and/or full-time position. The applicant should posses experience in most aspects of 3D computer graphics including modeling, rigging, texturing, animation, lighting, rendering, vfx and compositing. Advanced modeling experience is required. VRay experience is an asset. Production experience is an… »

In the fluid nature of the animation industry, most workers can encounter a number of different relationships with a prospective employer. Small jobs, relief work, contract, sub contract, volunteer, employee, literally every combination you can imagine can apply to a job. I’ve worked in a number of different circumstances, and the main lesson I’ve learned… »

Cookie Jar inks deal with Mexican digital platform, Hi-TV Best of Ottawa 2009 coming up at the National Library and Archives, in Ottawa, February 20th.  Presented by the Canadian Film Institute NFB releases stats for it’s online archive and app… »

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Thanks to RobotJohnny at Drawn.ca for linking to this. There are a bunch of other great clips from the same interview available on… »

Or: Critical chain management methodology for animation production. I have mentioned before the data on the % of projects that are considered a failure or that go over budget for various reasons (32% success rate, 44% over budget and 24%failure, source) I feel that part of the issue is the way that we create schedules… »

Pixar Canada is looking for several Sets & Characters Technical Artists (“TDs”) for its new studio in Vancouver.  Pixar Canada is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pixar Animation Studios, the world leader in animated films.  The Vancouver studio will produce short-form animation focusing on legacy Pixar characters from films such as Toy Story and Cars.  As… »

I got word the other day that Gene Fowler and his gang at Loogaroo had just picked up a gig from a company out of Singapore.  Never one to miss an opportunity, I hit him up on MSN to find out more about it.  Gene was good enough to indulge my questions and even drew… »

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LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES – EXTENDED DEADLINE for entries of animated commercials, music videos and TV trailer: 29. JANUARY 2010 The 17th International Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart / Germany (4.-9. May 2010) invites international advertising agencies, filmmakers and production companies to submit their films to our international competition Under Commission until January 29th 2010…. »

FX Artist Position Description and Requirements: The FX Artist helps in the design and implementation of special effects for a feature length animated film. 3+ years fx production experience. Intermediate to advanced experience in all aspects of 3d production is a plus. Experience developing and designing fx water preferred. Experience with Maya particles/dynamics and particle… »

Responsibilities: Interpreting the script into images that will best convey the story and characters presented by the writer while maintaining a quality consistent with the respective series/production; plan and coordinate all the images from thumbnail to final boards that make up the show. Manage his/her time effectively and efficiently in order to complete the production… »

Or: TZ_2010_SC_22_fx_prt_02_walk_3_4_back_blue_V_23_good_Final_rev_latest._Friday_6 I love computers. Either Mac or PC. I’m not one of those folks who feel they have to hate one over the other. The biggest advantage- and also failure- of programs are their ability to allow the user to find many different ways to get the same thing done. This is a good… »

Would you like to make a 1 minute animated film in stereoscopic 3D and live in Montreal for 12 weeks?   Then head over here and get your shit together by February 19th, 2010. Here’s a bit of what it says: The National Film Board of Canada seeks submissions from emerging filmmakers (young and not-so-young), and… »

There’s a very comprehensive post over here about the life of Kate McGarrigle. I’m not even going to try to compete with it. Like many of my generation, Kate McGarrigle is part of my experience as a Canadian, whether you know it or not. I only became familiar with her as an artist in my… »

This has been making the rounds, and  yeah, it’s not Canadian, but it IS… »

I’m often asked by artists to judge whether the work they are doing is worth the money they are being paid by a studio. It’s a tough question, as every studio I’ve ever worked for or heard of has paid their crews different amounts for work, and in very dissimilar ways. Some studios pay by… »

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January 18th, 2010 Job Description: The Director Original Content ensures that the network is getting the best the Canadian Industry has to provide in terms of original series for the network according to our programming strategies and in accordance to our CRTC regulations. Responsibilities: • Under the direction of the VP Programming and guided by… »

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Reposted from urbmn January 16, 2010 News: Nerdland, Ninjamaica gain most votes in Teletoon Pilot Project After three months and ten shows, Nerdland has emerged the English-language “winner” of the Teletoon Pilot Project.  The Cuppa Coffee Studios show attracted 185,342 votes. Interestingly, ledetour.ca visitors voted Lenz Entertainment’s Ninjamaica their favourite, with 76,014 votes.  Having not… »

Mary and Max is playing at the Bytowne this week, here’s the listing. Written and directed by Adam Elliot (who made the Oscar-winning short Harvie Krumpet), Mary And Max is filmed entirely in stop-motion animation and narrated by Barry Humphries. The film begins in 1976 with eight-year-old Australian schoolgirl Mary (voiced by Bethany Whitmore and,… »

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I got a link to this via email yesterday (so much catching up to do), and thought it migh tbe of interest to the readers.  It’s a letter that John K sent to then014-year-old, Amir Avni.  Amir is now finishing up his time at Sheridan, just to give this some context.  He’s getting pretty good! … »

This is great. Looking forward to the… »

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Or: This data doesn’t look like a blonde? Knowing the stage that every element of a production is at is extremely important for a production manager. The use of digital asset management tools has become essential. You need to be careful though, it can be very easy to rely on the digital data alone to… »

The Canadian Film Centre is offering a challenge to filmakers: The Reel Challenge is a contest for aspiring filmmakers to make a short compelling film about the importance of creators’ rights and copyright protection for their work, from a creator’s perspective. For contemporary artists, including filmmakers, the digital age brings extraordinary opportunities, yet at the… »

This popped up in a search today.  It’s a short post about Vic Atkinson, who used to be a big name in animation here in Ottawa.  Seems Vic paints now. A few more strokes of the keyboard and I came across Vic’s website.  Here’s what his “about” section says: Vic Atkinson was born in London,… »

I find autobiographies pretty suspicious, maybe it’s the skeptic in me, but I’m always wary of someone’s own telling of their life story. The author tends to leave out the petty crimes, broken hearts and embarrassing moments as they construct a rather sunny view of their accomplishments. I will at least go against my nature… »

There’s a new page of Apricot-7 up.  Click on the image for the… »

This is the original short, by Graham Falk and Dan Craig. It was made for it’s own sake, and to see if they could produce a traditional cartoon digitally. This was back in the mid-nineties, before digital production had become the norm. A second short was made a few years later, followed by a series,… »

Student film by Algonquin grad, Shane… »

January 8, 2010. Position: Post Production Manager Reports to: Head of Production Operations Division: Cookie Jar Entertainment Location: Toronto, Ontario Description: The Post Production Manager will oversee the offsite Post functions of all Cookie Jar series and aspects of budgeting, logistical management, technical evaluation and cost accounting pertaining to Post Production. This position is located… »

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