May 2012
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Bring Avid Into the Modern Age
I originally posted this to the Avid Community Forums, but I thought it might be useful to a more general audience. Since the release of Final Cut Pro X last summer, people are taking a second look at Avid Media Composer. And there’s a lot that the application does right. But in many ways, it feels like a piece of software from the late 90s.
There are five major limitations that I see in...
March 2012
3 posts
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Movies aren't dialogue, they're pictures!
I’ve been reading Nicholas Meyer’s memoir The View From the Bridge, a book that drew me in with the promise of behind-the-scenes stories from Star Trek, and then handed me an insightful look at a life spent writing and directing in Hollywood. Meyer writes with humor and intelligence, and it’s been a terrific read.
Not only has the book challenged my vocabulary (seriously—his use...
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Of Mice and Men.
Or,
How I’m Trying to Stop Being a Mouse.
I have a few goals for 2012, and one big one is to stop consuming and start creating. Specifically, to become a screenwriter.
My hope is to alternate months between writing short films and outlining/writing features. In January, I wrote a short, in February I took a third stab at outlining my second feature, and today I wrote the first draft of my...
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“It’s never about the setting, it’s always about what’s going on with more...”
– Jim Morris, Producer of John Carter
Filmmakers may beckon us with the promise of a strange new world, but what they really want to give us is characters—people that we can relate to, cheer for, and love. That’s what makes movies meaningful. That’s also the strength of Pixar: their...
February 2012
2 posts
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The local cinema is not a pulpit.
“Go and make disciples of all nations…” – Jesus
We would be foolish to assume that mass media can do the job of sharing the Gospel.
Let me back up.
The Great Commission is likely the most difficult and critical mission ever entrusted to human beings. It’s a matter of the gravest importance, one of eternal consequence—and one to which little time is devoted by the majority...
January 2012
2 posts
“Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless...”
– J.K. Rowling
(Shamelessly stolen from Advice to Writers, a great inspirational blog. Follow them on Twitter.)
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WatchI received Motion 5 for Christmas, and sat down to check it out last night. While I can’t really speak to its new features, as long-time Motion user I am extremely happy to report that the interface is updated and yet immediately familiar. I whipped up this little animation in a couple of hours, and quickly felt right at home among the darker shades of grey.
For only $50, how can you...
December 2011
2 posts
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“The world needs artists who are Christians. People who will start with an honest...”
– Jonathan Storment
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Lessons from a week at Pixar.
When I accepted my new position at Pixar, I came home to find a spread of Pixar toys on the kitchen table, with a large card that said “Can!” on the front. It was an echo of the words of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, and an affirmation that I can fly. I’ll always cherish that card and that moment.
I’ve now spent one week at Pixar Animation Studios. An editor I recently...
November 2011
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Day one.
Today is my first day at Pixar.
Since setting out for California three years ago with wide eyes and a narrow wallet, my life has consisted of one surprise after another. I’ve sat in the room as LOST was cut, been in meetings with John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, talked with Zachary Levi after a Bible study at his house, and said hi to Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) as he walked down...
October 2011
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August 2011
5 posts
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“The real serious advice is you’ve got to listen. You’ve got to...”
– Steven Spielberg
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Sage Spielberg.
Cinema hasn’t defined Steven Spielberg’s career; his career has defined cinema.
The DGA recently hosted a tribute event for the legendary director, with Michael Apted moderating a panel consisting of J.J. Abrams and James Cameron reminiscieng over his influence. It was a fascinating discussion by an absolute powerhouse of talent. Fortunately for all, it’s available for...
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Donald Miller's Thoughts on Creativity →
I recently said on Twitter, “I want to create, not consume. It’s in creation that I can reflect my Creator.” I firmly believe that. So much of what we do in life is in reality a dim reflection of who God Himself is; I suppose that comes with being made in His image.
The author of several books, including the rather successful Blue Like Jazz (the film of which is in...
July 2011
2 posts
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June 2011
4 posts
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J.J. Abrams Week: Part Two →
Second in the increasingly inaccurately named J.J. Abrams week is this fantastic write-up from New York Times Magazine.
From the article:
“There’s no answer to the box that’s going to make you happy,” he acknowledges. But, he adds, “the key is to use the box as a bait, to grab people and bring them into one story, only to introduce another.”
That’s the key. J.J.’s projects...
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J.J. Abrams Week: Part One
In my opinion, J.J. Abrams is the best live-action filmmaker working today – and it’s not because of his love for genre, beautiful camera work, or use of Michael Giacchino; rather, it’s due to his incredible skill as a storyteller.
In 2007 he spoke at TED, a yearly conference on Technology, Entertainment, and Design. Though it’s now four years old, J.J.’s TED talk clearly...
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“I came up against the same discouragement when I left film school: ‘You’ll never...”
– George Lucas
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May 2011
8 posts
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WatchMoments | Humility
Contrasting the humble birth of Christ with the prodigious church buildings of today, the need for simple humility and authentic service comes into focus. Why do we build these structures? Is it for God’s glory, or our own? How much good is wasted on brick and mortar?
These are questions we, the church, should consider.
[Discover more Moments.]
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Christian Film Statistics →
Ok, statistics are boring. I know. But hear me out.
I think a lot about Christian filmmaking and how it can be an effective tool for reminding people of God. Too often films created by Christians do the exact opposite, unintentionally eliciting moments of laughter and derision. It’s easy to see that as an attack on our faith, but it’s really not. The subject of ridicule is the poor...
"A New Lesson from an Old Hymn" →
inbtwnrs:
If you missed our excited tweets this morning, check out the article David wrote for RELEVANT!
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“We can break the rules here; we can make it more like real filmmaking.”
– Brad Bird
In early 2010, Brad Bird stopped by Chapman University in southern California to talk about his work and philosophy of filmmaking. It was a fascinating conversation, full of Bird’s infectious humor and enthusiasm, as well as a plethora of rare peeks into the Pixar process.
...
April 2011
5 posts
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“We are mesmerized by the art of the Infinite,
surrounding us daily,
waiting...”
– Why we create.
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Anyone can [insert job here]!
“How do people get a job in animation? Three words: jump in now. … It’s not easy to ‘jump in.’ You have to stay in constant contact with recruiters. You have to be the champion of your own work. You have to work on your resume and portfolio, attend conferences, and be persistent. Most of all, you have to believe that you have something to contribute to the art form....
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March 2011
11 posts
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The Early Art of Pete Docter →
Though it hasn’t been updated in many years (it mentions Toy Story as a recent accomplishment), this site offers a terrific glimpse into the mind of the young animator who we now know as the director of Monsters, Inc. and Up.
I’m not sure that I’d ever seen any of this art before, and I certainly hadn’t seen the clip from Pete’s short Palm Springs that Pete...
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Finding a Job, or Using Naiveté to Your Advantage
The official unemployment rate in the United States is currently about 8.9%. That’s 13.7 million people. In California, the percentage is even higher: 12.7%, or 2.2 million people.
That means you have some tough competition on your way to a career in the film industry.
But don’t give up hope! Yes, of those two million, many are more skilled than you. Many have more connections than...
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The Iterative Process of Animation
From Don Hahn’s book The Alchemy of Animation:
Screen it.
Discuss it.
Get that sinking feeling that you don’t know what you’re doing.
Weep openly.
Tear it apart.
Correct it.
Re-board it.
Screen it again.
Repeat as necessary.
Right now we’re somewhere between “Weep openly” and “Tear it apart.” But as Ed Catmull likes to say, trust the...
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“We must attack the enemy’s line of communication. What we want is not more...”
– C.S. Lewis
If we were to replace “books” with “films” in this quote, I think we would be on the right track. Your faith should inform the worldview of the films you make intrinsically, not be used to have a character sell the audience on the plan for salvation. They can see...
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The Chicago Code's Mission by Rachel Decker →
Sometimes, my dog Oliver is on a mission. His whole body unites with purpose: his tail points to the ceiling, his nose fuses to the ground, and his steps fall with spastic urgency. Nothing shall deter him! He will find that rotten cat, that scrumptious morsel, that scrap of cardboard, and he will eat it!
Now stay with me here.
I’ve never seen The Chicago Code. Apparently it’s a...
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“I think a lot of times in Christian films they have a list of things they need...”
– Isaac Deitz
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Follow the Curious by Stu Maschwitz →
As a Christian, I know that there is something greater than me, something my knowledge and understanding can’t begin to approach. As a result, I know that I don’t know: that there is always something new to discover, always a better way of doing things. Scientists throughout history have applied this idea to great effect, slowly peeling back layers of God’s creation only to...
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“I really want to make movies that touch people and make them better. Otherwise,...”
– Ed Catmull, Disney/Pixar
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Coloring the Kingdom by Patricia Zohn →
Recently my wife and I watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and while the ending is a bit abrupt (just like the Disneyland ride), the artistry is as amazing now as it was in 1937. In this article we go beyond the animation to the unsung heroes of the film, the army of women who inked and painted every cel. As someone who works at the studio today, I can tell you that in some ways, not much...