FMX 2010, the 15th Conference on Animation, Effects, Games and Interactive Media

Convergence is upon us. Multi-disciplined thinking draws cinema, television, computer, console and mobile screens even closer, reinventing them to remain competitive.  

FMX is part of this process and introduces for the 15th time the world’s leading experts in the creation, production and distribution of digital entertainment and interactive visualization.

Starts: May 04, 2010 - Ends: May 07, 2010
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Website: http://fmx.de/

Independent Exposure 2010: 14th Season

A WORLDWIDE SHOWCASE OF INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILMS,
VIDEOS, AND DIGITAL WORKS

Curated by Microcinema International and Bill Plympton
Presented by Panasonic Broadcast

Independent Exposure invites you to your submit short video, film, and digital-media submissions of 15 minutes or less.

Independent Exposure is seeking narrative, artistic, humorous, dramatic, animation, documentary, experimental, alternative, avant-garde, ambient, music videos, and underground works of all genres, formats, and styles.

Participants of all nationalities are welcome to submit their works by April 30, 2010

Entrance Fee: $US 5

Screenings: San Francisco, Houston, Other Events Worldwide

PRIZES
Grand Prize: Panasonic AG-HSC1U 1/4” 3-CCD High Definition Video Camera
Second Prize: Selected MicrocinemaDVD.com Catalog ($500 worth)
Third Prize: Selected MicrocinemaDVD.com Catalog ($250 worth)

Please read our Submission Guidelines & FAQ and Terms

TO SUBMIT
To submit, go through the Checklist, then submit your information online via our
online submission form and you can also pay your fee online.

Mail all films to:
Independent Exposure
Microcinema International
1528 Sul Ross
Houston, TX 77006
+1-713-527-8412

For extra information, e-mail:

submissions@microcinema.com

Florida Supercon: South Florida’s Comic, Animation, Anime, Video Game, Fantasy and Sci-Fi Festival

FLORIDA SUPERCON: South Florida’s Comic Book, Anime, Animation, Video Game, Fantasy and Sci-Fi Convention returns June 18-20, 2010 to the Doubletree Miami Mart Airport Convention Center in Miami, FL.

Starts: Jun 18, 2010 - Ends: Jun 20, 2010
Submission Deadline: May 05, 2010

Location: Miami, Florida, USA
Website: http://www.supercon.tv

Using the Internet is a good aid for viewing creative careers. I keep close tabs on design, motion graphics, and visual effects houses. For the last year or so I have been attempting choose a career path. I have a profound obsession with the science fiction, fantasy, horror and paranormal genres. If I were to choose a career it would be in visual effects for films. Ideally if I were to have an interest in any establishment, it would be in the SyFy Channel, as a 3d Dynamics specialist.

Realisticly, one has to reach a certain level of expertise in the visual effects field. The artists attempting to fool the eye into thinking everything you artificial insert in productions is real. All the VFX and MoGraph houses look for people with extensive experience and complete understanding of all applications involved.

In researching possible job oppertunities I found some postings that are close to where I’d like to start off.

“Luma Pictures is looking for Effects TDs

LUMA PICTURES is an artist-run feature film VFX studio located a few blocks from the beach off of Abbot Kinney in Venice, California. We maintain a unique culture with an amazingly talented staff that consistently cranks out top notch work. We are currently searching for Talented FX TD’s to fill a few choice spots on an upcoming, high profile productions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Light and render FX passes for specific shots using developed FX rigs
- Develop rigs/techniques to implement and optimize approved looks
- Produce look tests based on provided reference materials
- Creation of tools and scripts to facilitate workflow

QUALIFICATIONS:
- Artist should be familiar with more than one of the following applications:
- Houdini
- Realflow
- Krakatoa
- Fume
- Python scripting experience is a plus
- Understanding multi pass 3D compositing is a plus
- Artists must be able to take direction and work in a team focused environment, good communication skills are a must
- Strong time management skills and extremely organized.
- Solid work ethic and a positive attitude in the face of challenging situations.
- Los Angeles Residents or willingness to relocate preferred • Relocation assistance may be available subject to negotiation



Attention: Recruiting - FX TD
Luma Pictures
248 Westminster Ave
Venice, CA 90291”

“Indigo Post is a progressive San Diego post production facility whose creative focus includes: 2D &amp, 3D animation, film & video editing, DVD production, and video compression for streaming web, kiosk, LED displays, mobile applications, & theater presentations.

Position Summary

After Effects contract artist needed to work in-house on a project using live action materials with dynamic camera moves/fly throughs to illustrate a time line of events. Must be strong in design and able to take direction well. Approximately 50 hrs of work needed. Start date: Wednesday January 13th.

*Must be available to work on site in Sorrento Valley Area, San Diego.

Submission Requirements

-Must submit Reel/Links to:

Wendy Teague

Indigo Post

6440 Lusk Blvd.

Suite D208

San Diego, CA 92121

p: 858.909.0600

email: wendy@indigo-post.com”

“FX Artist - Blizzard Entertainment 

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for a talented contract 3D FX Artist to assist our cinematics team in creating the next generation of our award-winning movies. You will work in partnership with modelers, animators, lighters, texture artists & compositors to ensure shots are delivered to the highest standard. You should be skilled at providing simulations and systems that mimic real life phenomena such as smoke, fire, and water. You should also be able to demonstrate quick-compositing of FX elements for review by the supervision team. Lastly, you should be able to help design solutions where a more procedural approach can be used to help create the effects required.

Requirements

Understanding of Maya for particle systems, fields, expressions, MEL scripts, soft bodies, rigid bodies, cloth dynamics, and particles instancing/flocking usage

Experience in producing effects such as smoke, fire, clouds, water, steam and explosions, plus experience with particle 2 rendering voxel based systems

Understanding of physical dynamics and natural phenomena

Ability to creatively solve problems and work with the director and art director

Ability to stay current with the latest tools, technologies, and techniques and help implement them into the pipeline

Effects animation experience

Familiarity with pipeline issues

Pluses

A working knowledge of Renderman & Mantra preferred and experiences with other renderers are also useful.

Job Status: Temporary/Temp to Permanent

Primary Location: United States-CA-Irvine

Job Number:090009S”

Recently I came across an article in the Harvard Business Review magazine, September of 2009 Volume 87, “Creating Value in an Economic Crisis”. In the article, Bill Clinton explains the importance of corporations’ involvement in giving back to communities and the planet. He goes on to explain the achievements of Coca Cola and Archer Daniels Midland in Africa: creating jobs, improving education, AIDS/HIV prevention, and benefiting communities.

Seeing as the economic crisis is ongoing and our own country is suffering, I believe that efforts should be made to repair our own structures. Also, companies have realized that profits can be made even when giving back. It isn’t a full commitment to the environment, just a new strategy. Yes, today, it takes less than half the energy to produce a dollar of economic output as it did in 1970, according to research from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. It is driven by greed, but in turn, the implementation of green technology will increase throughout the years to come.

As far as corporations being involved in philanthropy, this is not new. Giving back is just  “business as usual”

“The profit and utility maximization motives behind corporate charitable contributions are examined to determine whether or not corporate contributions should be tax deductible. A formal structural model is developed in the theoretical section and a set of empirically testable hypotheses are derived from the model. The results from firm data indicate that profit maximization does have is a motive behind contributions. The current tax-deductible status of contributions is supported by these findings. Firms should be allowed to treat contributions as ordinary business expenses.” Peter Navarro, The Journal of Business. 1988

Ultimately, If it reduces costs and helps the environment, communities, and the company, why not?