7th October 2011


Pitch presentation plan, first draft:

1 I am me, looking at VFX as a subject.
Specifically - the production pipeline and value of its parts in producing quality

2 About me
In short. Architecture - 3D modelling - Computer arts - Animation - VFX
From here my aim is to work in a small studio creating VFX in some capacity

then move up to being responsible for a broader area of production than I would be able

to do in a large studio.

And, with time, to move up in scale, bigger studios, bigger productions.


3 About me 2
Skills i have to do this currently: General 3D - admittedly fairly low in comparison to

industry professionals.

(Software logo pics)

Skills I intend to gain over the course of this year

VFX pipeline design and management (with a view to later career ambitions)

Houdini

this feeds into...

4 Personal aims
Piece of work showcasing VFX skills
Using the subject as an alternative way to get in contact with industry professionals

(contacts)


5 My aims an objectives
In English: an explanation
Aim - How does a studio create high quality VFX for good value
Objective - look at VFX studios and the pipeline set ups they use. Also their products

and wither they achieve a high level of quality

Find out which, if any, forms of pipelines have advantages over others
Take the best parts and create a pipeline which I will use to produce my own work.
Moving onto the modules

7 Concept Development (Subject development)
The exercises we’ve been asked to do with a little elaboration
I’ve written up a wee story as to how I arrived at this subject, if your interested have a

read, i’ll skip it for now.

8 Professional practice (Progress presentations)
The personal statement - a more detailed ‘about me’ than what i mentioned earlier

The research domain - a bunch of other questions i thought about

and loads of questions related to the subject i’m researching.


9 Research methods and dissertation (Research)
My notes on research so far
currently the blog by Isa Alsup, ‘The art of CG Supervision’
description of his blog and where it is taking my thoughts in reference to knowledge

gained and subject direction - the influence it has had


Second Draft Notes

I am me
Visual effects - pipelines, the value of processes within
Art (also technical scientific)
architecture. 3D, sketchup!
Specilise - Computer arts, general CG
VFX - Honours - job
Small studio, work up to supervisor
move studios, supervise larger projects (who knows)
To do this: General CG computer arts, ability with technical processes - arch
What i need: Specialised VFX skill (houdini)
Pipeline understanding
My aims - (several) Portfolio pieces
Contacts - discussing the topic with professionals
The research area - what currently exists
I’ve found... so far
Who’s in the field - any CG production company looking to stay competitive
Why is my work of interest? MONEY
AIMS + OBJECTIVES
Find out what works best, stick it all together
1 - first - define quality as there tend to be discrepancies on what is good - avatar.. so on
budget - resources - value. general assumption, more in more out. not necessarily so
research studios
2 - compare and contrast research. pick out the good and the bad.
3 - take the good, put it together into a pipeline
4 - make something with the pipeline
Methods - trial and error, industry journals, experience (the same things people employed in managing pipelines do)
Subject Development BLOG (concept development)
The exercises we’ve been doing in tutorials
A description of the process i went through
Progress Presentations BLOG (Professional Practice)
Personal statement - a more in depth version of the beginning of this presentation
research domain - alternative questions + related questions
Aim + objectives, you’ve seen
this presentation - I’m giving to you
Research BLOG (Research methods and dissertation)
The notes I’ve taken so far. Isa Alsups series on CG supervision.
This brings us up to now
Currently working through...............
in essence (conclusion)
Find out what makes a good pipeline, try it out!

Pitch Presentation Write up: 1st half

Project Pitch Presentation, Iain J McCallum

To introduce my subject, I intend to analyze the elements within VFX pipelines and how much value they add to the final product. More on that later.
Introducing myself and how I have ended up here:

I have always been partial to artistic subjects and activities while retaining some technical and scientific ability. This combination led me into a Bachelors of Architecture which, in turn, introduced me to 3D modeling, rendering and the possibility of following a career in this area. Although this switch my seem a big change it is more like specializing on one of the many tasks preformed by a student of architecture.
This change brought me into a bachelors at Abertay studying Computer Arts. Over the first couple of years I built a solid grounding in general CG production. Now, at the very beginning of the Honours study, and after considering my options for several months, I have decided to focus on VFX.

On completion of the project my aim is to find work in a small studio producing VFX. From there I intend to work up from a junior position to the studios equivalent of CG supervisor, potentially even VFX supervisor. Once this goal is achieved, the next would be to increase the size of productions and studios that I work with. Keep in mind these aims are only aims, anything could happen further down the line.

Over the past few years, between Architecture and Computer Arts, I have acquired knowledge of general CG production techniques and an ability to understand the rough workings from a more technical perspective. In order to follow up the aims mentioned before I will need to gain a far more thorough knowledge of VFX pipelines, how they are designed, built and maintained. A specialized skill set in VFX will also improve any chances at employment.

My personal aims for this project are similar to any other student on the course: to produce a portfolio piece that will grab the attention of any future employer and secure my future in the industry. Alongside this aim I have the intent to use the research subject as an advantage in acquiring professional contacts. My line of thought is that through research and further understanding I can potentially pass on small pieces of advice to those is a far more senior position, and in doing so gaining respect and a slightly higher chance of employment.

As far as I currently understand, this research area has been well covered but by a secretive group. The few authors I have found to have published work on the subject make note of the lack of available information. Isa Alsup has published a blog with 51 articles moving through various areas of advice aimed at CG supervisors building and managing VFX pipelines. Through his work I discovered a masters thesis "Digital production pipelines: examining structures and methods in the computer effects industry" by Dane Edward Bettis. Currently I have not yet finished the blog by Isa but it has already proved invaluable in enabling my grasp of the subject. In mentioning the secretive group earlier I was referring to any VFX studio wishing to remain competitive. Any advance they come across that gives them an edge over competition would lose it's advantage if they were to publish such information. This fact leads on to why my study would be of interest. In essence, money.

The aim for the project in it's current state reads 'To investigate the value of production methods in VFX pipelines, and to establish methodologies that enhance quality.' I will run through and describe the four objectives to portray a clear idea of the project as a whole.