A very interesting look into the Oscar nominated film by Lauren MacMullen
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Tag Archives: Maya
Heber Alvarado
What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Heber Alvarado and I am working proffesionally as a Senior Artist with Microsoft Game Studios. I also freelance on film projects and teach character modeling at local schools from time to time.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I had a couple jobs in high school but the craziest one was working in a warehouse driving a pallet jack  (like a mini forklift of sorts) you were basically lifting heavy boxes all day and had to make a “daily quota” or you would be fired. Needless to say I was there about 5 days into it when I crashed my pallet jack into a large beam that had lots of boxes full of eggs stacked on top. It was a disaster , a domino effect if you will. After getting chewed out by the supervisor over it and having to clean it up I decided I was never going to work that type of job ever again, lucky to say I never did.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Recently wrapped up a couple of cinematic trailers for a client (Saints Row 3 and Rift) that is pretty recent work and It proved very rewarding, got to work with close friends on them and learn a lot from them as well. Â Before that it would have to be when Continue reading
Darren Kiner
What is your name and your current occupation?
Darren Kiner – CGI Lighter / Compositor / Supervisor.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Optical Effects for a surf film, before moving to LA. I also worked my way through college as a busboy. Sorry, not very crazy.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Aladdin, Iron Giant, Fantasia 2000, Thirteen Days, Charlie Wilson’s War (the last two being somewhat historically relevant).
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Escondido, CA – UCSD Film School – Lucky to Continue reading
Ben Rush
What is your name and your current occupation?Â
Supervising Animator at DreamWorks Animation.
Supervising Animator at DreamWorks Animation.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Sprinkler trench digger, Nordstrom Café busboy, parking garage number painter.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Kung Fu Panda and Panda 2, Turbo, Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains in Los Gatos, CA.  I always loved animation- the idea that these draftsmen and women could move drawings to create life was completely mystifying to me. Looking at rough Disney pencil tests put me over the moon. And in the Continue reading
Starr Allen Shaw
What is your name?
Starr Allen Shaw
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
“I once made a 3D pre-vis film for Nextel that ending up making a multi million dollar sale. I help design the Nascar Car of Tomorrow inspection platform that is still used in Nascar today. But, by far one of my most favorite… and proud of projects is a game my brother, a friend and I made together in just a little over 2 months for the Apple iPad & iPhone called BattleNoidz (Available on iTunes) LOL. ”
What would you say has been your primary job in animation?
For most of my Computer Graphics career (Since the early 90’s) I have been a 3D artist. I have done my share of animation, video, short corporate films, and web media. The smaller the company I work for, the more animation I seem to do. I often have to wear an Animators hat when its called for. So, I would say I primarily do 3D Pre-Visaliaztion Animated films, well at lest I did for many years before I started working in the game industry.
How did you become interested in animation?
“I remember when I was young I was lucky enough to meet Don Bluth at a mall in southern California. I think it was the mall. He was sketching there and I was able to walk away with a signed sketch of Dirk from Dragons Liar. I do not remember where the hell that sketch ran off too… I lost it. But, anyway, I remember going to the art warehouse somewhere in Pasadena, and getting my parents to buy me tons of Cels, Pegboards and Cel paint for my next animated feature film. 🙂
My dad made me a Rotating Light Table for painting cells and I somehow got a 8mm film camera with a stop motion trigger for doing animation. I can not remember if I actually even finished any animation…. but do remember working allot on my own kid version of the next dragons lair. LOL”
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I am from Southern California. My first CG job was in Hollywood. I started making little animated banners for websites, and Shockwave Director applications. Now I am a bit of a CG nomad and really move to where there is work to be done. I have travel and worked from coast to coast.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
These days I work in the game industry. I am a CG generalist, so I will do a lot of Tech Art, Rigging, 3D Modeling and Animation.
John MacFarlane
 What is your name and your current occupation?
John MacFarlane - I love to create beautiful fairy tale worlds and the creatures that live in those worlds. So animation inspires me. And moving water, fire, smoke, and the like is awesome.
John MacFarlane - I love to create beautiful fairy tale worlds and the creatures that live in those worlds. So animation inspires me. And moving water, fire, smoke, and the like is awesome.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Before animation I used to manage our families printing business. But I did have a crazy job one summer working on a movie called “Roar” in Acton California. Part of my job was building fences to fence in lions and tigers on the sets and moving them from their holding cages to the sets and back. That was an experience I’ll never forget. I don’t think they ever finished the movie.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
“Iron Giant” It was great to be a part of that, and work with Brad Bird. I also got to do efx on DreamWorks
first animated feature “Prince of Egypt” and most recently Disney’s “Princess and the Frog”. Animating the
gooey inside of Frank in “Osmosis Jones” was a lot of fun. Futurama is cool to because that show always
something to blow up or disgusting gunk to slosh around. I also Illustrate children’s Continue reading
