The End Is In Sight...

It's been a hectic 15+weeks for most second years I'm sure, and whilst my final few shots are dancing down into my images folder, I thought I'd write up a brief post of what this project experience has been like for me and what I will take away from it.

I'd first like to say - I am a changed man. This last 10 or so days has really put me in a place where I didn't want to be. That place being 5am. I know even the hardest workers of all, have their moments of anxiety towards the end of a project, and my advice to anyone in the future and myself: DON'T PANIC! Telling the milkman to F*!k off, punching your monitor, or the old favourite of mine - blackmailing your PC into working, ultimately just creates a horrible environment for yourself and anyone around you. Avoid it. I'm about to show off here and say that recently I purchased a nice new office chair with a back massager...Invest, it is money well spent for those of you up at 4am like myself now. If you're a smoker, get a packet, if you drink tea, put a kettle in your room, do what you have to do, to create an efficient 'studio'.

I mean, who wants to work in a dark corner of their room, on a drumkit stool with no back, using their leg as a mouse mat, and running into the kitchen everytime you need a sip, instead of being comfortable? (Apparently me until about 2 months ago). So, the 2nd thing I learned was: REWARD YOURSELF. Now I have a rule of thumb for this little lesson I picked up. If you fix a problem you were having in Maya - Watch the Simpsons before your evening tea. If you complete one of Alans tutorials - Don't download the next one until you've eaten at least one Big Mac. And so forth. We all understand, CG is hard! with ever developing technology and techniques, nobody can ever become a master - so don't expect to pull off something way out of your jurisdiction.

Saying this, we also know that the CG community is massive and ever growing. With that in mind, why not PLANT A FEW SEEDS? What I mean by this, is we all have that one friend. You know, the guy that just spent £2000 on a PC to go on facebook with. Right? why not give him a copy of Maya? Then when you're running around, offering first years £5's worth of redbull, so as to use the computer they're on because your renders are killing you, you'll remember that ''Oh! Joe Bloggs has got maya now? I can use his computer to render too!'' It's just common sense. Also, don't be afraid to beg...

To which was replyed with...

I mean...what a stroke of luck! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Eric Keller, he is first and foremost a true gentleman, and secondly a part freelance tutor at the Gnonmon School Of Visual Effects, and part student at the same place. Now don't worry, all he did for us was render a few shots! The point I'm driving at is - HELP EACHOTHER OUT! we're all in the same boat, were in the same boat, or will be, so why not lend a hand when you can and vice versa - don't be afraid to beg for computers to render on (Disclaimer: Any restraining orders, fines or funny looks you get are entirely accounted for by those who act)

I've had a positive experience on a whole. A love hate experience, as I have learnt a lot from being with the guys in my group, as well as come out with the most important lesson of all: Use your time effectively and enjoy all the little things. Despite this I'd like to take a quote from the very wise Jordan Buckner and say:

"(I've had) enough of this fucking project... if group projects represent a real life scenario, I'd rather work in McDonalds for the rest of my life"

I can understand why some people would tend to feel this way about certain aspects about this project (myself being one of them) but it is important to lastly TAKE AWAY THE POSITIVE and LEAVE BEHIND THE NEGATIVE.

Right, well, my monster render is about done, so I will leave it here. I hope at least even 1 person see's this and tries to take something away...heck even if I stick to it It'll count for something!