KBaer
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Posts posted by KBaer
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There's something I think all of you should know about. Last month when I was at the Apple Developer's Conference I attended a talk about the next wave of cell phones that are already big in Asia, and are just now being launched in the US. They are called multimedia capable phones or 3G cell phones. They have larger color displays, and are capable of streaming video content. Just this week Sprint announced their new streaming video service. They will have a base service, and a choice of 5 or 6 premium channels. One of them is mFlix which is for short independent films and animations. I met the man behind this channel last week at SIGGRAPH, and have been talking with him about how A:M Films can be a part of this.
Here's why I'm so excited about this.
One of the biggest problems facing an independent filmmaker or animator is getting your films shown and seen by the public. In order to get on network or basic cable TV, or in theaters, filmmakers have to pay exorbitant amounts of money to distributors, and you likely won't get a dime. That's why we hardly ever see any independent works, it's all locked up. But these new phones offer a way to deliver watchable content to a potentially HUGE audience, and channels like mFlix offer a way to bypass the corporate giants that have control over all the other media. The cell phone companies are desperate for content, and even better, people seem to be willing to pay for it, so there's a revenue stream. There's a better chance artists will get paid. Though it's too early to know how much. Don't quit you day job just yet.
These phone have already been a huge hit in Asia, especially Japan (no surprise there). But, what I found interesting was the statistic that in India, more people had these new phones than had computers, and get this, TV! People are using these phones to watch TV on the go, like on the train. We already know how attached people can become to their cell phones, and they begin to think of them as an extension of their own body. Mobile video could really develop into a major new medium. We have an opportunity to get in early and be an important part of it before Fox, AOL, and Sony take it over.
So, I want all of you to start thinking about this, and visit the mFlix site. They are trying to collect films that around 2 minutes long, and don't have any copyright issues like music you don't have rights to. Funny films will probably be the most popular. Like I said, there is potential for some money, but it's so early they don't know how much it would be. So, go into it with low expectations. They say you can have credits at the end, but not blatant advertising, and scrolling credits don't work too well. I would suggest something like:
A Joe Foo Film
Modeling and Animation
Joe Foo (joe@foo.com)
Software
Animation:Master
It will end up on a 176x144 screen. They will convert your film to the right size and to the 3G format for you as long as you submit it in a format they suggest.
Eventually, we would like to integrate submission to mFlix in the A:M Films submission system, so you can choose if you want to submit to both. It's still early yet. In the meantime, submit your films to them, and don't forget to modify your credits.
I hope all of you are as excited as I am. Let's get those films out there!
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Still have the files from the Christmas library disk sitting around anywhere (or the disk and a way to get them off it)?
They won't do you much good, everything in Apprentice was made with voxels, no splines! But, if you want to see the characters, check out Christmas Chaos circa 1987, probably one of the very first 3D CG character animation films made on a personal computer.
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Too bad you aren't using Animation:Apprentice. We used to sell a Christmas library disk that had a Santa and Reindeer, the ones from the Christmas Chaos film. Of course, it would probably be hard to convince you to use a 7Mhz Amiga at this point :-).
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C-Wheeler,
I think one of the problems at the Universities, and especially at the trade schools (that masquerade as Art schools), is that they have been teaching tools not craft. The trend of the last few years is to develop a computer animation program aimed at training students in the tools they think the "industry" uses so that the students will get hired by the likes of ILM and Pixar. The problem is that these kids pay a fortune for that degree and they come out with knowledge of how to use a specific version of a specific tool, and very little knowledge or experience in general animation and the ability to make something worthwhile. Then they don't get hired, because they can't animate. Or if they do get hired, it's probably by a studio that won't be around very long, because they also made the mistake of focusing on the tools over the craft.
So, one of the things that we are stressing when we sell Animation:Master to schools, is that with A:M you can get to the actually animating much sooner, and concentrate on the craft over the tool. Students will get hired if they can demonstrate good skills in animation, that's the bottom line. This is the message we want to get out there.
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Yes I know you are. The addition of AM Films, the additional resources for beginners, and now press reviews are superb! I imagine the sales graphs have a nice increasing positive slope.
Summer is usually a very slow time for the software business in general. But, business has been very nice this summer, at least for us. There seem to be a combination of factors helping this, but hopefully part of it is because of happy customers.
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Great review, I'm glad to see a journalist that GETS IT!
His comment of never having heard of AM. I guess the enlightened marketing guy has his work cut out for him
I'm working on it! :-)
Our best advertising is still word of mouth. So, you guys have to help too. In the meantime, we have another ad coming out in Animation Magazine, and I've been talking with them a lot lately. We're making great friends there.
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Here's the review. We got 5 out of 5 cows. I'm not sure if they are going to send us a trophy or a cow :-).
http://www.creativecow.net/show.php?page=/..._rev/index.html
Enjoy!
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I noticed someone on the AnimWatch forum had a general question about A:M that needs a response from some experienced A:M users. Here's the link
http://p079.ezboard.com/fanimwatchindepend...topicID=1.topic
I would be cool if some of you could help him out.
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The online registration for free SIGGRAPH passes is now closed (on July 28). But they send us 10 printed passes to give out to folks that missed out on the online ones. So, if you want one, send me (baer@hash.com) and email, and I will send it to you. First come, first served. I will post a message in this thread when they are all gone.
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Joe Williamsen has posted his latest Hunter tests on A:M Films here:
http://amfilms.hash.com/search/entry.php?entry=843
http://amfilms.hash.com/search/entry.php?entry=842
Read the description for more information. This is great quality stuff, do don't miss it!
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Joe just gave me permission to post his new Hunter tests on A:M Films. Since the A:M Films entries are on the fast server, we'd appreciate if people used the following links. We don't want to drag down our server.
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But how far back do we go for showing our awards? Does an award count if the magazine that awarded it has gone bankrupt? There, there's the fact that some awards are not really awarded but purchased. And some are tied to advertising. Don't get me wrong, I love getting awards, and this latest one is really nice to get, but I still prefer positive testimonials from users and reviewers.
Of course, if we got invited to the Emmys or Oscars, I wouldn't camplain about having to rent a tux. :-) But for now, our reward is happy users.
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What time will the Hash Party start on Aug 11 at Siggraph? Need to know because of flight schedule.
peace,
dingo
I will post the official info soon, but here's what you need.
The A:M User Reception and Party will be August 11 8pm-11pm at the Holiday Inn City Center (the closest hotel to the convention center, 2 blocks away). We will have tickets for the party at the booth, so come see us and get one.
Unlike other SIGGRAPH user events, we won't be scheduling it to conflict with the show hours. That way ALL of us can be there. We look forward to this all year. It's our chance to meet everyone face to face, show the best animation from the last year, and say thanks to all our cool users!
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Well, A:M for OS X has only been out a couple weeks, and we've just gotten our first award for this version. The PC and pre-OSX Mac versions have gotten several awards over the years, including two "Freakin' Awesome" awards from MacAddict, but this is our first one for our native OS X version. Here's the link.
http://www.macminute.com/2004/07/15/showtimeawards
The awards are presented at MacWorld to twelve of the "coolest, most interesting hardware and software products shown at the event". We are thrilled and honored to be one of them. Thank you MacMinute!
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Of course, you have permission to say you used A:M for your film, and to show screen shots. We'd love to see what you do with it, and we love that you want to help spread the word about how well A:M works for Indie film production. We're all about that, and always have been. And after our experiences making our own movie, we have a great appreciation for others that are pursuing their own vision.
If you get a trailer together that has some A:M elements in it, we would be happy to post it on A:M Films with a link to your film's web site.
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All you contest winners should submit your films to A:M Films! Make sure you use the Description field to tell us about your film.
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I just posted 5 films from Matt Rhodes to A:M Films. Among them are CG-Eye and RockPaperScissors. Both of these films were hits at our annual SIGGRAPH parties. I'm very happy that Matt submitted these films. Go check them out!
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You should submit this film to A:M Films.
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An innovative product from this group of free-thinkers — located in a converted church in Portland, Ore. —
So why don't they get that you guys are in Vancouver WA?? (My dad's hometown...)
Steve Katz knows better, but I guess he thinks that the readers would think we're in Canada. I'm hoping he'll write a feature article about us and our history someday. It's so cool that there's writer out there that really understands where we're coming from (philosophy-wise).
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I had a feeling you'd want to see it. Special thanks to Jim Talbot, Dusan Kastelic, and Joe Williamsen for their artwork, and Avalanche Software for their Orangutan model. And Randy Croucher who did the overall design of the ad.
http://www.hash.com/products/SIGGRAPHad.pdf
I hope you guys like it.
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Don't let it be said that Hash doesn't advertise. Our new ad is out in print in the current issue of Millimeter as part of the SIGGRAPH insert. This insert will be part of what every SIGGRAPH attendee receives when they get their badge at the show. There's a PDF of the special insert, but it doesn't have the ads. I can post the PDF of the ad, if people care to see it.
Also in the same issue of Millimeter, Steve Katz wrote a nice little blurb about us about our appearance at NAB. Here's the excerpt.
"If you wandered to the perimeter of the show floor you might have found the booth for Hash's Animation Master, the character animation tool for Windows and OS X. After nearly a decade of development, this best-kept-secret software continues to launch the careers of animators at Pixar, PDI, and Disney and enjoys a following of loyal users. Remarkably, this software provides high-level character tools that are easy to use and competitive with XSI, Maya, and Houdini at $299."
"That's because the team of developers has concentrated on character animation. Although the system has dynamics, a particle system, mo-cap support, and other tools useful for visual effects, these features take a back seat to a world-class patch modeler and IK implementations that demystify character rigs and keyframe animation for character work. Version 11 was shown at NAB with a dynamic-based hair and fur system that is stunning. An innovative product from this group of free-thinkers — located in a converted church in Portland, Ore. — Animation Master turns conventional software wisdom on its head and comes up with a wonderfully targeted artist's environment. If you don't get into Sheridan College's animation program, give this software a try."
I wish all columnists "got" our software as well as Steve Katz. He's been a supporter since we introduced on the Mac in 1993.
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Hash, Inc. is proud to announce Animation:Progeny 1.0 co-authored by Noel Pickering. This 9 pound 1 ounce bundle is currently bug-free and is expected to expand and grow for several years to come. Current features include squirming, sound output, nipple sucking, and diaper processing. Future features include voice recognition, pattern matching, construction/destruction, and expanding mobility.
Expect future announcements from Noel regarding feature enhancements.
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Are you moving old animation contest entries to AM Films or do you want us
to resubmit?
I've only moved a few, it might be better if you officially submit them. Then you can say something about the film in the description and get your email and home page links in there.
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Wow....238 movies on AM:Film going by that link! Now that's growth.
I still want to see everyone dig through their archives and submit some of their older films made with A:M. We are showing everything from 1987 to the present. It doesn't have to be made with the latest version of A:M (though we definitely want those too).
SUBMIT YOUR FILMS!
New films on A:M Films
in (2003-2004)
Posted
I've just posted a few new films up on the A:M Films site. Make sure you watch these two!
Aesop's Council of Mice by Matt Rasmussen
http://amfilms.hash.com/search/Entry.php?entry=847
Clay by Joshua Taylor
http://amfilms.hash.com/search/Entry.php?entry=877
Clay is a student film, and Joshua's advisor is Todd Kesterson, a former Hash employee and animator on Christmas Chaos, QWERTY Dancing, and Joyride. Great stuff!