The Gnomon Workshop will present its sixth workshop weekend, Dec. 1st-2nd, 10:00 am-7:00 pm, Sound Stage 15, next door to the Gnomon School of Visual Effects (1015 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90038).
Gnomon Workshop: Live! will include artists that have influenced the landscape of comics, concept design, visual effects and game design, with work featured in films such as TRANSFORMERS, PAN'S LABYRINTH, BEE MOVIE, CARS, RATATOUILLE, THE INCREDIBLES. PRINCE OF EGYPT, WAR OF THE WORLDS, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, EVAN ALMIGHTY, STAR WARS EPISODES 1-3, JUMANJI I and II, THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD and games such as GEARS OF WAR, UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3, UNREAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2, GOD OF WAR 1-2. Comic book credits include SPIDER-MAN and MIGHTY AVENGERS for Marvel Comics, and VOODOO DOLLS for Image books for DC.
Saturday, Dec. 1st:
* 10:00 amWorking with Maya Render Layers andMental Ray FramebuffersJeremy Birn - Lighting TD, Pixar Animation Studios
* 11:30 amCharacter Concepts for Game and FilmCharlie Wen - Concept Artist, Imagi Studios
Wen will demonstrate tips and tricks for character design in Photoshop.
* 2:00 pmDesigning Believable CreaturesTerryl Whitlatch - Creature Designer
This demo will explain the basics of designing believable and derived creatures of various shapes and body types based on actual animal anatomy. Spread throughout the lecture will be many scientific facts that will aid in transforming a creature concept from spot thumbnails through finish into a believable being, and allow for futher design and stylization appropriate for both highly realistic 3D/2D animated features and illustration as well as simpler and edgier approaches depending on the project at hand.
* 3:30 pmCreature Modeling: A Sculptural Approach toDigital Creature CreationGio Nakpil - Digital Sculptor, ILM
The importance of good, solid form is essential in both digital and practical modeling. Drawing from his experience in sculpting with clay, Nakpil will cover methods he's learned in practical sculpting and apply them in the creation of a digital creature.
* 5:00 pmPractical Design for Content CreationAlex Jaeger - Visual Effects Art Director, ILM
He will discuss making practical designs that work and that aren't just pretty pictures. He'll talk about why this is so important using some real world applications.
Sunday, Dec. 2nd:
10:00 amDigital Character SculptingKrishnamurti Costa - Senior Modeler, LucasFilm Animation Ltd.
Costa will demonstrate character modeling techniques using ZBrush 3.1 and Maya.
* 11:30 amWeapon Concept DesignJames Hawkins - Senior Concept Artist, Epic Games
Hawkins will take you step-by-step through his process from 3D to finished overpainting in Photoshop creating, next-gen weapons for first person shooters.
2:00 pmComprehenisve Anatomy for ArtistMarshall Vandruff - Artist
Vandruff will sample from his seminars to teach how to solve the problems of "form in space" to help you draw human bodies from imagination.
* 3:30 pmGraphic StorytellingFrank Cho - Comic Book Artist
Cho will demonstrate his techniques for storytelling through the graphic novel format.
5:00 pmBEE MOVIE - Honey Made FunnyDoug Cooper - Visual Effects Supervisor, DreamWorks Animation
Cooper will present from concept to completion, the design and execution of DreamWorks Animation's latest feature animated film. Cooper will cover the unique scale challenges of a bee in a human world, the collaborative process between Art & Production to develop the look of the film, vfx challenges such as super-elastic honey and translucent wax and the final polish in post production to get every color just right.
Gnomon will again be holding a recruiting room and more info on which studios will be participating will be announced soon. This will be a great opportunity to meet supervisors and art directors in the entertainment industry. Gnomon will be updating its site regularly over the next few weeks as it confirms recruiters. Bring your portfolios. Bring your questions.
The cost is $125 (non-refundable after Nov. 28th). Purchase tickets online and bring a printed copy of your order confirmation and valid driver's license to the event. Please do not select shipping options, as Gnomon will not be issuing a printed ticket! Gnomon recommends reserving early.
Gnomon will provide light lunch, refreshments and surprises throughout the day.
If you're coming in from out of town, the Roosevelt Hotel will extend the Gnomon rate of about $189 for the event. Call 323.466.7000 and ask for the Gnomon rooms (based on availability).
The Econo Lodge Hollywood is an inexpensive option and within walking distance. It's right around the corner from Gnomon and they're giving a 10% discount on their already really low-priced rooms: Single rooms are from $79/night; double rooms are $89/night. They're at 777 Vine Street, 323.463.5671. Ask for GT or Carol, and tell them you're coming in for Gnomon.
For more info, go to www.thegnomonworkshop.com. Feel free to email questions at gwlive@gnomon3d.com.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
