Has it been, so long?? or so long (ya big jerk)?
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Hey Shaun! Congratulations! How awesome and exciting for you two.
Sorry to hear that the remodel has taken longer than expected; of course, remodels lasting longer than originally expected should be expected.
I am sure you are getting excited to be done. It is a brave man indeed who starts a major remodel with his first child on the way. My hat is off to you.I completely hear you about seeing what video games are looking like these days versus what I am able to generate on my own. It can be frustrating, for sure. The worst part, ion my mind, is that our audience has come to subconsciously expect product that looks like Shrek, or Lord of the Rings, or HD video games without any clue as to how much effort/time/money it takes to accomplish something like that.
I generally start my animation conversations with prospective clients in this general way: As far as animations go, there is an incredible gamut of possibilities. On the one hand, I can spend 10 minutes with a pad of post-it notes and a pencil and draw you a fabulous flip book; this will take about $30 and is uneditable. On the other hand, we could orchestrate a group of 75 people, working for 2.5 years, at a cost of $100 million to provide you with an animation that is of a Shrek quality. With this being defined as the range of quality and effort available, every client's sweetspot of time/cost/quality is somewhere in between the two. My task is to figure out that sweetspot, which changes for each client.
Frustration in not being able to construct a HD video game like drive-through of a huge development on my side is more than likely similar to the frustration of client in not being able to afford Shrek like quality. When I start explaining to people that it is easily possible for a 3.5 min animation to take 35-40 DAYS to raytrace render
, they begin to understand the playing field.That being said, it is my job as a designer/artist to be able to provide useful, dynamic, exciting, and provocative product to any client, no matter the budget (within reason, of course). Once defining the mission, one can either say f$# it, I can't downsize my modeling ambition to satisfy a middle of the road client, or, one can decide to embrace the challenge.
As I don't for one minute miss building custom homes, and I really don't miss having to work outside during the winter, which it was my pleasure (not really) to do for 16 years, I have decided to embrace the challenge. And even middle of the road pays better than builder, especially in the US housing market of today.
You seemed to really enjoy the journey of exploration in the 3D modeling world. Don't despair and please don't give up! You have too much talent to walk away, IMHO.
And another thing to remember, all those guys who are working on the cutting edge of video games and Hollywood movies, each individual gets to do one thing and one thing only, be it modeling, texturing, rigging, etc. etc. Sounds exciting for about 2 weeks and then perhaps boring/assembly line ish. I much prefer getting to work at all of the aspects of the product, even though I don't produce at a PS3 level (yet
)Well, enough of the long windedness.......... Is it too obvious that I have been up all night editing animations and compiling a quasi finished movie?
Good to see you back, homeboy, and I hope to see you around here more often!
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Congratulations Shaun!
Nice to have you back . -
Shaun, that's quite a bundle of joy you have there. Congratulations to a new father, from a recent father (before I became a father, I didn't know how to share the joy of new parents
). So you moved while your wife was pregnant? That must have been quite an effort.Guite
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Mateo, I really like your quote. True, too true.
Guite,
Yeah, we did move when my wife was pregnant, but I did it all, and it really wasn't too bad. I find it very easy to keep a good attitude when you know what rewards are waiting..Chuck - man, that's a wordy reply.. I've gotta hit you back on that tip:
You are right, I figured it would be done in a month and a half, add on another 45% on top, and that would be about right... well, I didn't count on the asbestos that had to be removed, and that set me back a few weeks, and then I figured - how long can it possibly take to finish the basement too? etc...
your comment of bravery reminds me though of when I was purchasing my baseboards. I had to find a decent solution, because the walls/floor gap in places (with the hardwood) was up to 1" - mostly baseboards come to 5/8" or 3/4" and that would leave me with gaps of floor - so I chose Pediment - 1 1/4" wide!!! When I was purchasing my 400' of the stuff, the guy looks at me and says "you are a real hero. A champion among men", I had to tell him I wasn't using it for the top of windows, like you are supposed to - but for baseboards..!I like your idea about the sweetspot and giving extremes as choices for the client - I won't be giving up - but I may change my strategy, and I appreciate your comments. - I'm looking forward to seeing some of your new work - like this new animation!
And Ross, I almost forgot - your comments about my photography are too kind, I will look around and find some photos to post that I think to be interesting and different, truthfully, I'm much more inspired by the art of many who have posted on this and the other forums. Not just the final images, but the model, animation, idea, talent in woodwork, programming - really, it's all so inspiring, and I am very happy to be back in this community.
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Wizard, spotted near local scene of great joy, is believed to be Level 2 even though she was loosely disguised as a yard gnome. Film at eleven.
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too funny Carvaggio, too funny. Promise me one thing, that you'll lay off that sweet Kansas Peyote!
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Thought I'd give a link to my blog - there are some photos of my daughter on there, and some text etc. I just started it earlier this week, so.. don't go expecting too much - I just wanted a place to connect with all my friends!
Peace.
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I just found this thread. Congratulation, Shaun. Baby girls are special. She'll have you wrapped around her dainty little finger soon enough, if not already! BTW, babies generally gain about an ounce a day for the first month or so.
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Ditto Ron, so did I....
All the Best with the 'wee little angel' Shaun... my baby girl is now nearly 5 now; don't miss a day of her, they go vertical real quick!!!
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