Registration Open for Summer Term at Gnomon School
Registration for summer term 2005 at the Gnomon School, which runs from June 27 through Sept. 11, is in full swing. You can register online at www.gnomon3d.com/registernow.html, in person, via mail or by fax. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can also call (323) 466-6663 to make an appointment.
Gnomon has added five new courses that echo the advances and changes in the industry:
* Cloth will be taught by Mark de Sousa. Dynamic clothing and fabric have expanded their role in vfx and feature animation. This class focuses on the modeling and simulation of costumes using the Maya Cloth module. Students learn the basics of the Maya cloth solver, clothe a character, and create simulations. This class also covers workflows for setting up scenes that require dynamic cloth. Prerequisite: A solid understanding of Maya.
* Shader Writing with RenderMan. Instructor: Saty Raghavachary. This class deals with shader writing techniques using the RenderMan Shading Language (RSL). It also covers examples of Slim templates which offer an MTOR-specific way to generate powerful shaders using a visual connect-the-blocks approach. Additional topics include writing shadeop functions and procedural RIB generation plug-ins.
* MEL Programming Applications will also be taught by Raghavachary. This class focuses on creating real-world MEL programs, with emphasis on program design and advanced concepts such as file handling, string processing and UI programming. In addition, the class also covers the basics of writing C++ plug-ins using the powerful Maya API. Prerequisites: Working knowledge of Maya.
* Applying Character Techniques in Animation. Instructor: Lino Di Salvo This class covers advanced techniques in character animation. This class focuses on producing at least two demo-reel-quality animation scenes through nailing down the subtleties of animation, including facial animation; working on giving characters proper weight; and good acting in animation. Exercises include Heavy Lift -— showing weight, clear staging and trimming; Dialog Acting Test -— finding the most entertaining way to deliver dialog.
Students animate, starting from a blocking pass all the way through final animation. Using a production-type environment, students pitch/sell their idea via the blocking pass. Everything an animator does should have purpose and matters, down to the smallest gesture. Exercises focus on making visual and tactual contact with objects and other techniques that will help "sell" the scene.
Lectures will feature guest speakers. This course is designed for working pros who need a refresher and students who have already completed Character Animation I and II. Software is Alias Maya V.6.0. Prerequisites are Character Animation 1 & II.
* Gesture Drawing. Instructor: Ron Husband. As a complement to Figure Drawing, this course focuses exclusively on gesture as applied to animation. It centers on drawing from the live model, both nude and costumed, in a variety of character and story-suggestive poses. Through drawing quickly and spontaneously, the student learns to be more creative, inventive and versatile. The central importance of acting is constantly stressed, training the student to feel, as well as see, the gesture.
The summer term offers the following new instructors:
* Andy Chen, who will be teaching Dynamics 2. Chen is an effects animator at DreamWorks Feature Animation working on OVER THE HEDGE. He began as a technical director doing lighting and effects work for STARSHIP TROOPERS. His film credits include: CONTACT, ARMAGEDDON, FINAL FANTASY, EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, SCORPION KING, THE MATRIX sequels, X-MEN 2, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, SHARK TALE and Madagascar. Game credits: MEDAL OF HONOR: RISING SUN.
* Jack Cheng, instructor for Character Skinning, is technical animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks. He has seven years of broad industry experience covering video games, print, TV productions, commercials and feature films. Past credits include: Lead rigger for ad campaign Nike Gamebreaker, HP Change and GE at Digital Domain.
Gnomon has added five new courses that echo the advances and changes in the industry:
* Cloth will be taught by Mark de Sousa. Dynamic clothing and fabric have expanded their role in vfx and feature animation. This class focuses on the modeling and simulation of costumes using the Maya Cloth module. Students learn the basics of the Maya cloth solver, clothe a character, and create simulations. This class also covers workflows for setting up scenes that require dynamic cloth. Prerequisite: A solid understanding of Maya.
* Shader Writing with RenderMan. Instructor: Saty Raghavachary. This class deals with shader writing techniques using the RenderMan Shading Language (RSL). It also covers examples of Slim templates which offer an MTOR-specific way to generate powerful shaders using a visual connect-the-blocks approach. Additional topics include writing shadeop functions and procedural RIB generation plug-ins.
* MEL Programming Applications will also be taught by Raghavachary. This class focuses on creating real-world MEL programs, with emphasis on program design and advanced concepts such as file handling, string processing and UI programming. In addition, the class also covers the basics of writing C++ plug-ins using the powerful Maya API. Prerequisites: Working knowledge of Maya.
* Applying Character Techniques in Animation. Instructor: Lino Di Salvo This class covers advanced techniques in character animation. This class focuses on producing at least two demo-reel-quality animation scenes through nailing down the subtleties of animation, including facial animation; working on giving characters proper weight; and good acting in animation. Exercises include Heavy Lift -— showing weight, clear staging and trimming; Dialog Acting Test -— finding the most entertaining way to deliver dialog.
Students animate, starting from a blocking pass all the way through final animation. Using a production-type environment, students pitch/sell their idea via the blocking pass. Everything an animator does should have purpose and matters, down to the smallest gesture. Exercises focus on making visual and tactual contact with objects and other techniques that will help "sell" the scene.
Lectures will feature guest speakers. This course is designed for working pros who need a refresher and students who have already completed Character Animation I and II. Software is Alias Maya V.6.0. Prerequisites are Character Animation 1 & II.
* Gesture Drawing. Instructor: Ron Husband. As a complement to Figure Drawing, this course focuses exclusively on gesture as applied to animation. It centers on drawing from the live model, both nude and costumed, in a variety of character and story-suggestive poses. Through drawing quickly and spontaneously, the student learns to be more creative, inventive and versatile. The central importance of acting is constantly stressed, training the student to feel, as well as see, the gesture.
The summer term offers the following new instructors:
* Andy Chen, who will be teaching Dynamics 2. Chen is an effects animator at DreamWorks Feature Animation working on OVER THE HEDGE. He began as a technical director doing lighting and effects work for STARSHIP TROOPERS. His film credits include: CONTACT, ARMAGEDDON, FINAL FANTASY, EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, SCORPION KING, THE MATRIX sequels, X-MEN 2, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, SHARK TALE and Madagascar. Game credits: MEDAL OF HONOR: RISING SUN.
* Jack Cheng, instructor for Character Skinning, is technical animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks. He has seven years of broad industry experience covering video games, print, TV productions, commercials and feature films. Past credits include: Lead rigger for ad campaign Nike Gamebreaker, HP Change and GE at Digital Domain.
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