The Epic tweets

Twitter is a great place. You can make statement, follow personalities, know what they are doing etc. In this post i am going to mention a special tweep who made twitter epic. It goes by name "Epic Tweets". I still remember, me and my friend were reading one retweeted tweet, and next thing i know that i m Epic Tweet's big fan! Now i regularly check my twitter account (as i check my FB) just to read Epic Tweet's tweet. Here are some of the best tweets of Epic Tweets.

1) Accidentally typing in your PASSWORD in your USERNAME while you're friend/sibling/parent is watching over your shoulder.

2) (phone vibrates) *runs across room* *jumps over couch* *fights off ninjas* *grabs phone* "damn, i thought u were someone else!!"

3) I love saying ''CONGRATULATIONS'' when someone tells me something unimportant.

4) Sometimes I get depressed, But then I remember I have a great ass, and its all ok

5) That awkward moment; when you’re walking and your shoes squeak..

6) The awkward moment when the polar express pulls up infront of your house...

7) The awkward moment when all of your friends are in the car and your mom starts singing to the radio.

8) you can't buy happiness. but you can buy ice cream, which is kinda the same thing.

9)I want to do it with you! I want to make u hot and sweaty. I wanna hear your heart beat. I wanna hear us breathing heavily! Let's do it! Let's go jogging.... wait, what were you thinking?

10) Dear Homework, If you ask me one more freaking stupid question, I will shread you to a zillion pieces. Do you understand?!

And i can go on pasting, my list never ends...........in case you love those and want a daily doses of those, you can follow http://twitter.com/EpicTweets_
Here i end my post. I hope you loved it.

How I make animated sequence.

I am tired of meeting client who bargain with me for cheap labor. They can pretend to be very knowledgeable, but believe me their bargain tells me about their dumbness. Here is very important article which tell how to make an animated sequence (short scene to long movie).

1)   Preproduction – we decide a story or layout, we have to show in animation. It should be interesting; it should justify our animation effort. Important work like character designing, story boarding and color scheme is also decided in this stage only. This stage is foundation and everything should be decided in this stage only.

2)   Production- first work in production is modeling and my dear clients it’s most difficult work and time consuming work. Modeling will decide how your animation sequence will look. Modeling mean to physical build every character and props in your scene. Then we color these models to give the look we want. Then these models are rigged, which mean fitting bone in body. Yes, it is very tedious and difficult work. But we manage to do it. Next work is to animate it. Please remember we like to do it slowly to maintain the quality. You cannot rush at art. Then light the scene, those beautiful magic on look are done at this stage only. Then comes rendering a scene. It’s not that difficult but very tedious. Generally take long hours to complete.

3)   Post production is carefully making it in complete video. Most of work of composting and editing is done in this stage only.

Thus you can see why it takes time to make animated sequence and why our labor is expensive. By chance any artist bumped in to my post and wanted to learn how to make full animated movie. Above steps are for you also. If you are going to attend some client who doesn’t know anything about making animation, you can make him read this. If you want to know how to choose story to make animated short, I have few guidelines, search in my other post, Here is link for same

 http://ankmachine.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-make-short-animated-movie.html

You are facebooked

I don’t know how many of you are on facebook. But, that thing is very addictive. Once you decided to open your account in facebook, that thing will get into every thing of your life. You will start scheduling your daily activities and even, you will have some hour slots for surfing on facebook. It even gets worse when you decide to skip some of your scheduled activity, so that you can surf on facebook for little longer. And one day you will have feeling that you are not able to get enough time to socialize and you will decide to buy a new phone, which has easy icon to visit facebook through mobile. You will also start snapping many photos so that you can share it on facebook. You may even decide to visit new places for that. You will also model yourself to look good for profile picture. You will start ordering large pizzas to tell your friends what you are eating. You will also try to watch first day first show of many movies, so that you will have something to put in your facebook status. Thus, facebook will decide your daily life trend like what should you wear to what should you eat or buy. Or even, will change your hobbies. If you are on facebook and you find yourself changed person, it’s common.

In whatever case, facebook is great. Recently my exams got over. During exams, as usual, many of us were clueless about the syllabus and important topics. Well facebook became our official bulletin. There were updates of what to study, doubts, important topics, what not to study etc. If facebook would have decided to get shut for even for one day, many of our classmate’s performance could have been affected. Even most introvert people have lot to do on facebook. So what if you cannot chat, or flirt with other, or can make a good sarcastic comment of situations. You can always make your way in world by using many applications. Like Farmville, lifebox etc. Lifebox is my personal favourite, nothing is dumber than this application. Finally there is something, about which you can make fun without hurting someone’s feeling.

I am an optimistic person, so there is a way I feel about facebook in future. I think that it will soon become major force which will drive world. Its not far when government minister will have their page on facebook and may be general public comments and request will give them clear idea, what really their folk wants. I say, from next recession to world war, all will depend on facebook. May be I am too mad about facebook, but I have seen small changes happening due this social network site. It has become more than social networking. Look as I m completing this post, and now I am thinking of posting its link on facebook, this give me large number of readers or at least visitors.

Those who really like to share, here is info, try twitting also. It’s also a great thing for making a statement or to know what’s up with your mentors.

The Three Hours

What can you do in three hours? can watch a good movie, can have power nap, can cook good food and then wash all the kitchen, you can even do your room, cloth. Three hours is just enough for many things, you can do or you should. But for some people(they cant do much about it), they have to go to college and waste their three hours in giving exam, and why? Just to show world they are more smart than some less smart guys.
Here is description how my three hours go in hall. First when i take my seat in hall i look around for my friends to get their lucky, "all the best". Believe it or not, i m not superstitious but i become one, just before three hour. Then i remember god and pray him "just pass me this time, i will study next time". Three hours starts, question paper is getting distributed, i try to get glimpse of face of my mates to know how difficult paper is. Then sudden a girl from mechanical stood up to get paper, she is looking cute, oh sorry, i should concentrate on god. Oh god! please, paper should be easy. i will be good boy from now and i will not watch movies with nude scenes, oh god please!
Then i get my question paper, this paper look simple, Hey! but i skipped this topic. Damn! i m gonna study for next paper from today only, so i may not have to skip topic for next paper. Ok! back to today's paper. Let me have a look at other question, and..... ya, now i can see, i know 4 questions, this ensure my passing marks. Hey, i might know fifth one also, yeah extra marks. Suddenly my eyes goes to watch, what half and hour gone, shit, i should move fast. Now, i get in to middle of confusion, where to start, which question can be my strongest to make first good impression. Ohk! this question about two cavity klystron is good. But what about second part of this question? applegate diagram..... never heard. Lets try numerical first, i will peep for this question in my mates paper when he will write its answer. Lets have a look at numerical, ok three value is given, ya i know its formula, hey wait, was MUF in numerator or denominator of this formula? Concentrate-concentrate then suddenly my partner disturbs me for pencil he need. What one hour is over and i m on first question.Ok, i got its formula lets solve it, done! ha ha.
When i get into flow, my invigilator disturb me for signature in attendance sheet. Then two senior teachers come into examination hall and they repeat same dialogue " please check your pocket for unwanted paper". But they don't know. Those unwanted paper, are really, wanted paper at that time. And then again my eyes goes to watch, i lost 2 hours in examination drama. Last one hour, is hour of sprint. I go as fast as i can and finally complete 5 question in three hours. Done!
i come out of hall, telling every people "what an easy paper". But in my mind, i know, i just wasted three crucial hours of my life in stupid paper. And my college makes me to waste it in every 6 month for six times in each.

Losing Youth

It has been estimated, by 2020 average Indian age will be 29 yrs. Our country will be full of hot blooded, dazzling youth. Our country will be on hottest run ever. Bullshit, with attitude that today's youth carry, there will only be crime, black marketing, death and decay of country. Most of the youth are today either engaged with partying or making other's life worse. They have lost respect for life and how to live it with right way. We(youth) have promised world with lots of energy but fact is most of us are very unenthusiastic and we consider money as our prime success.

Problem with our youth is that, their demand are often fulfilled by parents till age of 22. And when their wish are not fulfilled by parents, they fabricate other ways to do it. In process they forget that they need to be tough and independent. Look at the mess created at commonwealth by our officials. What was that? ya it was greed, and they lost respect for everything even for our country.They didn't even thought twice before butchering pride of our country. That was bad, what worse is that, its just trailer and whole show is yet to be seen. And i have doubt that young guns, with such attitude, will do anything different.

Youth should be visionary not ambitious. Its prime motto should be innovation not success. Its time for every Indian youth to think, are we going to be man, who downloads free pirated movie and watch 10 movies a week, or are we going to earn money and watch it in theater with pride even if we can watch just 2 movies a month. Stop expecting from life, rather start giving it something. Question faults, follow rules, stand in election to correct system, be right in everything.Be a youth with positive energy. We have to promise ourself that we are going to live respectful life. Then only be we can be what a young Indian should be.

Between art, imagination and innovation

Art and imagination is like brother and sister to each other. Every imagination is first art and then it it develop further. Many times it develops into innovation and then my dear its one of the wonder.

I read a article today, which was appealing to have innovation in art. Innovation in art has many success story. Avatar is, perhaps, a best example. Five guys in pixar decided to make a movie with new dimension and look what pixar is now. Innovation is new baby coming with art and imagination. In fact its between art and imagination.

Many people complain about art being too static, but it depend on artist. Who thought that a simulation software would now be used for visual effects in movies. Your incompatibility can prove death sentence for your art as it become very static. If you are painter, try adobe photoshop, do you have problem with mouse try wacom's tablet, another innovation.

I have been working on maya for two years and now i have started with some python scripting. And i have discovered new things that can be done in different and vibrant style with it. Remember imagination will die if there is no innovation in art.

Peepli live and oscar hurdles

First of all i would like to congratulate Peeli Live team for being selected from India for oscar entry. It will not surprise me even if it make to final five. Movie is textbook fit for getting into last five. Foreign films are judged on few criteria like cultural representation of country, problem raised through movie etc. Movie is very pacy and artistic, its quite entertaining. But then also it has to cross many hurdle to win oscar.
First of all, movie is quite entertaining. Its satire on farmer suicides. When jury will be watching this movie, no doubt they will have fun, but will expect movie to be more serious. Coz when they will be looking at other entry, which are made in serious tone, they can be biased. Seldom a movie with comic hint wins oscar or even get nominated. Next problem is pace. Well, movie was fit for such pace, but such pace is not fit for oscar. Such pace are good when movie has lots of thrill and action. Seriousness of matter cannot be shown in such pace and main theme of movie is lost specially when it comes to competition with other serious movie. And the last reason is movie has songs. I don't have problem with songs (they are great) but jury have. Lets take example of 2001 oscar for foreign language movie which was won by "no man's land". I have also seen "Lagaan". Lagaan's ending was better than "no man's land". But the main problem was lagaan's continuity, which was broken by inclusion of songs. This is where no man's land won, movie has no stoping. You can watch whole movie in one sitting.
But then also i hope for best for peepli live. I am a great lover of artistic movie and peepli live is one of them. It will be great if Peepli Live pull one 'O' for us.
http://www.imdb.com/news/ni4518518/

My 24fps team

This post is dedicated to my teammates who worked with me on animated short for 24fps. I will tell you about each person in alphabetical order.
Arti was included in team for modelling. But she offered much more services. Slowly she became backbone of team. She took part in every stages of filmmaking from screenplay to composting.
Krishna was for texturing. She is very dedicated artist. She also participated in almost every stage of production but main thing was she was always upto mark with her own job.
Pooja was for texturing too. But also her drawing skill gave us edge in early development of story, specially wid character designing and story boarding.
Pradeep and Yashwant were the lighting duet. Reason i mention both of them together that both were like twins working in our short. If one is not working other will take break too. They were like Laurel and Hardy working with us. It was great to have them.
Last but not least Tarun was like trump card for us. He will always complete his work no mater how long or difficult it is. He use to work with good instinct and move very quickly on problem solving. he use to say " cool होकर काम करो "(be cool)
Lastly, i also want to mention one person without whom this was not possible, our faculty Eshan Sir. His guidance worked like torch in dark.
It was great to have such excellent team.

My 24fps

24fps stands for 24 frame per second. When we animate, we keep our default setting of 24fps. But i m not here to talk about it. We recently created a short for award competition "24fps award". Our short name is "The Toss". We started making it in February and completed in September.
During whole production, I learned lots of things. Most importantly, I came to know what it take to complete a animated short. I also learned how to develop one self's work energy. How to work in team, how to develop a story in pre-production so it fit best in production. Also how to enjoy work (even in deadlines).
24fps have many criteria of judging a short. They have many category also like best animation, best lighting, best rigging, best short etc. But the real achievement was completing this short. Working on this short was really a high time of my life. May be, I will achieve many thing in future or may be not. But, now i can say, i have done one thing worthy in my life.
Here is link to one of blog regarding steps for making animated short.

http://ankmachine.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-make-short-animated-movie.html

How AUTODESKed I am

Few years back when i was not an artist, Autodesk was merely a name for me. It all started when I took admission in PD3D course of Maya Academy of Advance Cinematics (MAAC). I was introduced to two buddies 3DS Max and Maya, both from Autodesk.
Max experience was great. Importantly, it helped me to develop concept of 3D art. how it work in scenario of project, its steps, the animation procedure etc. It was like getting into new world and being attended by best host. Perhaps, those days were best days of my life.
When Maya entered in my life, (which is presumed to be superior than Max). It was bit complex, but I fell in love with its output, its workflow is so easy to grasp, also customizing tools with python and MEL is great. Its render output and file management was like most tasty icing.
Now I am an artist, i like to play with my imagination and i can't imagine to do it without MAYA. Autodesk has taken their products from softwares to main heartline of entertainment. Autodesk is now on a run. MAYA 2011 is like smoothest software i have ever seen. i have used many 3D software and no one is better. I still use MAYA 2009 and i can never get over it. I m so addicted and so AUTODESKed.

Assets, Alumni and the silver jubilee

Electronics and tele communication has completed 25 years in NIT Raipur and now its association goes by the name of Assets. But are we right in celebrating its 25 years? Answer is YES.
I think its excellent idea to celebrate this event not because we reached 25 years but for our alumni. They were here before us when this department was just collection of wooden benches and concrete walls. Now, look at them. Good alumni not only raises our pride but also work as source of inspiration. And in case of e&t'c they are really worthy of toast. What better occasion it could be?
In 25 years, world has seen many breath taking advancement in electronics world. But when a student enters in our department he gets disappointed with what he have in our department. Ya, we might not have excellent facilities but we have good teachers to guide us. Also if future of student was depended on facilities our alumni would not have been there where they are now. Our alumni has proved worthy of our department and also that any e&tc student can achieve anything. After all its development of student that mater rather than facilities to that student.
So this blog is type of salute to my alumni and i thanks them to inspire us to achieve beyond. And celebration of 25th silver jubilee of electronics and tele communication at NIT Raipur, is what we can give them.

10 tips to start a Short Animated movie:

In this post i m gonna tell what to do if you want to make short animated movie. Few points to keep in mind are:
1) choose story which is short and good.
2) story must have very few characters.(4 maximum)
3) its better if there are no needs of dialogues for story. Expression should say it all.
4) Try to choose story which starts and ends at same place. Thus you can reduce burden of relighting the scene and modeling lots of prop.
5) Concentrate more on screenplay and character design.
6) give yourself one year to develop whole short.
7) its good if your character wear tight clothes.
8) decide working pipeline before anything. Always open yourself to problem solving rather than just quitting if your pipeline don't work.
9) Have lots of reference and always back up your file.
10) Music should be good but sound effects should be excellent. Should match very precisely with action of you characters.

This post only prepares you to start with your short. I have my own experience of working with short movie and i have really enjoyed it.

Cartoon or Animation ?

What is difference between a cartoon video and a animated video? Difference is in maturity of the person saying either. Toy Story 3 is at 98% on rotten-tomatoes. Movie has earned more than $1 billion worldwide.  Some critic believe it to be best movie of the year. Still there are some people who says its a kid's cartoon .
Its very disheartening for me, a movie whose ticket are difficult to get, its shows are getting cancelled in my city just because they don't have even seven viewers. Reason is very simple, why should i go for a kids movie. Nope, toy Story 3 is very entertaining movie for all ages. Similarly, an animated movie can be watched and enjoyed by people of all ages. Just because they are not real humans and they have exaggerating movement, its only meant for kids.
Here is some personal opinion of a movie critic Scott Feinberg about Toy Story 3, who tells why best movie of year still cannot get oscar even if no better movie came in following time of year. http://scottfeinberg.com/ts3hurdles

Its not about Oscar, but sometimes these type of movies go unrecognized. How can you tell a movie genre is not your type if you haven't seen it. Also, now animation has moved from just comic drama to breathtaking visuals like in Avatar. Animation is art of expressing things in different way. Not only jolly things but also drama, epic or many other things. May be its time for everybody to move from cartoon to animation.
And here are some early Oscar prediction...............
http://www.indiewire.com/article/for_your_consideration_late_summer_oscar_predictions/#

Indian Vfx Industry

I m not going to compare between visual effects shown in bollywood movies and hollywood movies. Rather, i m here to talk about talent boiling in India and great business opportunity. Few days ago, I read an article that being animator is most risky and dangerous profession, and no parents should take this risk for their children. I totaly disagree. Lets first talk about few facts here, Narnia's lion(Aslan) was made by Indian Talents. Rhythm and hues, Mumbai won Oscar for visual effects in Golden campus. Prime Focus is of Indian origin. Also we have Technicolors animation branch in India and even Dreamworks television animation is done by Indian animators.
These are few International recognition to list. Our talent achievement goes much beyond. If you are hardworking, creative and have lots of patience then animation is perhaps best field to go about. Yes, you may not bounce on perfect job at first attempt but constant hardwork will lead you to a perfect dream job.
If you are familiar with Pixar's history, you might be knowing this, in earlier days Pixar was fighting hard to survive its financial crisis. Now look at their success. Moral is, we need to have a vision and more importantly to believe on it.
Now lets talk about failures, I use to have a companion who was good modeler, but he was very indiscipline and irregular due to which he is now lost. Yes this is fact that many of Visual effects and animation students are not able to get job but its not due to lack of opportunity but due indiscipline and unwillingness. Always remember, your work should be priority than money or any other thing.
To end few good news for aspirants, Double Negative has praised the Indian talents( may be they are coming here, who knows?), also prime focus is getting lot of recognition world wide. ILM vfx were in India in seceret visit(don't ask how i know). So there is lots of opportunities for Indian artists. Just give your Imagination a wing to fly and then, see you there.