Preparing to take a picture from second base at Yankee's Stadium
Well, I never played anything but softball when I was in 2nd grade or something, yet somehow I’ve managed to find myself on holy ground at second base in the new Yankee’s stadium. And the majority of my teachers never thought I’d get anywhere (except for Judy Hemphill).
If you’re wondering WTF, well let me explain. Apparently you can’t actually make a commercial starring the Yankees and film at the stadium. You have to take an awesome ferry to Staten, shoot them there and fill in the stadium later in post. So, somehow, I got to be the lucky guy let onto the field to take reference photography. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take a tri-pod out with me as the turf is worth more than the GDP of small countries or something.
Photo credit : Al Torres
ONDCP "Tree Service"
Hi so what’s new with me? Well, I quit my post as CG Supervisor at Method NY and I’m going back to being a freelancer. I’ve had a very proud 2.5 years there. Leaving was like breaking up with a dozen people at the same time. I’ve learned a hell of a lot, and I’ve also made some mistakes, but I’ll be better for them next time.
In the short term I’ll be starting my first gig at Mass Market. Also I’ll be cutting an updated reel – featuring the squirrel pictured above. The squirrel, fence and background is entirely computer generated (with Houdini) and wants you to not do drugs.
If you’re like me you think Shake was the pinnacle of image compositing packages. Everything else is just more of the same. One thing it still does better than anything is allow for back end pipelines. ALL of shakes compositing features are available from the command line. This is because in version 1, you had to build your compositing ‘trees’ by writing text files by hand (with vi of course). More or less you typed out your own .shk file.Yep, scriptwriter heaven. The actual UI didn’t appear till 1.5 or maybe 2 (my memory is hazy on this techinical bit).
So, I’m still interested in running it (on linux) to this day. However in the modern world Shake needs a little to help to run on these newer operating systems.
After a grueling few hours of crawling through the cobwebs I’ve figured it out. Assuming you’re doing most of the stuff here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1264840.html
You need this package:
http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/libx/libx11/libx11-6_1.0.3-7_i386.deb
install the libX11* files in the .deb (should open up in gnome by clicking on it) to the $NR_SHAKE_LOCATION/lib/
Just finished a grueling few months on Spike Jonze’ new short film “I’m Here” premiering this Thrusday at the Sundance film festival. Have a read below. (it’s where i nabbed the really awesome pic.) Also, I’m going to finally get to snowboard that Utah snow!
http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/01/15/exclusive-first-look-spike-jonzes-im-here/
I was really proud of our team at Method Studios – well over 250 shots in about 2.5 months.
Granted, it’s the day after Christmas. Enough said. I’ve been really, really busy working on a short film. That’s my excuse for lack of updates.
Anyway, I digress. Onward to a picture, on the night before Halloween. Yup, that’s Pooh playing Buck Hunter.
Also, I found a Ralph Steadman in Bleeker Street bar.
Also, this the lobby of my building. It’s awesome when you have ambitious neighbors. People truly make a place.
Yep thats me at 1 minute 40 seconds above the “Mitch ‘Gas Pipe”‘ credit, you can click the picture to watch it on YouTube. Sporting a tan shirt with a design by my friend Ira Shain, camo shorts and a helmet. I always skate in Adidas Samoas on a Gravity skateboard. (Sponsor me already!) I’ve been working too much and the above race was a welcome change up from the day job.
Watch the video this picture came from on YouTube – trust me, it’s worth it.
I spent a month out in LA this summer. I worked every day but one and yet managed to have a nice time – Thanks in great part to my friends I’ve made over the years. As promised here are some pictures.
California Summer Work
First Post.
Technology is now to the point that I can run my own crappy blog with a few clicks of my mouse. So I blame society.
Shortly I’ll be updating this with pictures of my recent travels. This is me at the airport near Paris. I spent the next 7 hours waiting for a plane there. However, they comped my ticket and then some. Thanks Air France!
