Avner Geller

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Avner Geller and I am a visual development artist at PDI/Dreamworks.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I guess the most extreme one would be serving 3 years in the israeli Military… doesn’t get much crazier!

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
One of the most creative and enjoyable experiences I had was creating the short film Defective Detective, with my friend Stevie Lewis. it was so satisfying to be able to conceptualize the story and bring it form early development to a fully realized film. We were very luck to share this film with many people on the web and in festivals around the world, and were honored to receive a student academy award for it, as well as an Annie nomination.  Prior to my job at Dreamworks, I was part of the team who was working on Henry Selick’s “The shadow King” (which I hope will get back into production soon). it was a true honor to work with one of the people who inspired me the most to get into animation.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in the states. My parents are both Israeli and when I was 4 years old we moved back to Israel  where I was raised. I always loved Continue reading

Thunderbirds Are Go | Official Trailer

On Sunday April 12… International Rescue are back! The major new children’s series – a co-production between ITV Studios and Pukeko Pictures in association with the world-famous Weta Workshop (The Hobbit) – sees brothers Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon and Alan Tracy return to pull off amazing feats of heroism. When duty calls, Thunderbirds are GO on GO! TV.

FREE Storyboarding and Storyboard Pro classes

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro 4 What's New and Release Notes

Want to learn Storyboard Pro and storyboarding in general for free?

I’ll be teaching along with Pete Michels the next three weekends starting next weekend at the Union in Burbank.

Saturday 4/11 – Toonboom Storyboard Pro Intro (Grand Tour) – 1 day – At the Animation Guild location

Saturday 4/18 – Toonboom Storyboard Pro Foundation – 2 days (1 of 2) – At LAAFA location in Van Nuys

Sunday 4/19 – Toonboom Storyboard Pro Foundation – 2 days (2 of 2) – At LAAFA location

Saturday 4/25 – Toonboom Storyboard Pro Advanced – 2 days (1 of 2) – At the Animation Guild location

Saturday 4/26 – Toonboom Storyboard Pro Advanced – 2 days (1 of 2) – At the Animation Guild location

We are providing the equipment for the students (up to 12 students): Macbook pros with the latest version of the software and 22” Cintiq tablets for all.

Anyone interested in registering can email registration@eido-ed.com and provide the following information:

* Name
* local affiliation
* class name they’re interested in (one class per email, please)
* the members guess as to if they would be CSATTF eligible. (“I don’t know” is an acceptable answer)

Lucas Martell

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Lucas Martell. I’m a writer/director/producer currently developing my own projects through my company: Martell Animation (martellanimation.com) I also freelance occasionally as a Line producer or CG Supervisor.

 

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
For one summer I did school photography. You know the guys who go around and take pictures of high schoolers for the yearbook? Worst. Job. Ever.

 

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
A while back I did a short film called Pigeon: Impossible. It was a lot of fun, and I learned an immense amount by going through that and dealing with every single step of the animation process.

 

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?

I’m from a small town in central Illinois. In college I was a music major, but did a lot of technical work in the recording studio, as well as music videos. I moved to Austin TX after graduating in 2003 with

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Chris Oatley

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What is your name and your current occupation?
Chris Oatley. I was a Visual Development Artist and Character Designer at DisneyToon Studios (most recently designing characters for Disney’s ‘Planes’ franchise) before I left to start The Oatley Academy Of Concept Art & Illustration. At The Oatley Academy, I teach Composition, Color Theory and Digital Painting. I also have a Character Design Workshop coming up soon.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
At age sixteen I submitted my illustration portfolio along with a standard application for employment at my neighborhood Kroger and was immediately hired as a cake decorator. They also wanted me to do the in-store illustrations – china markers on the windows and what have you.  I think I started out at $12 an hour. It was way more than any of my friends were making at Bob Evans or Dippin’ Dots or wherever. It was my first job and I was already getting paid (well) to draw….until the US Department Of Labor called two days later and shut me down.  An industrial meat slicer was located within a certain proximity of the cake decorating station and thus there existed the possibility of accidental lacerations. The liability waiver I had signed didn’t count, legally, because I was a minor.  I was immediately demoted to bag boy. I liked bagging groceries because I could chit chat

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