Post House list 2004-02-18 - By Bradley Gabe
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>
>
>Well actually we don't teach XSI here we use it to support our
>curriculum by incorporating animation and graphics into our distant
>education classes and technology enhanced learning modules. We don't
>really do commercial work here
>
>John
>
>
This is a serious issue, having a loose 3D license floating around an
academic institution like that. 3D animation is not a toy or hobby to be
taken lightly. It is, in fact, a highly addictive medium which can
result in severe changes in lifestyle and life direction. Take me for
example. The following anecdote is a true story:
I was on my way toward a nice useful career in science and medicine,
when I was exposed to 3D animation for what was supposed to be some
simple scientific visualization work. I had a small SGI, an academic
Soft 3D license, a huge shelf full of manuals, and there were blood
cells and chemical reactions to animate. Little did I know that it would
take me down a progressive degenerative path until I would never be able
to work in science or medicine again. :-(//
My first experimentation in 3D was for multimedia presentations and
teaching aids. While it seemed harmless at the time, 3D was too new back
then. The studies hadn't yet proved what has become common knowledge...
that multimedia is a gateway to bigger and nastier 3D effects. After a
time, rendering little Quicktime movies wasn't enough to keep me
satisfied. I needed a bigger thrill. I progressed into games production
where I had my first exposure to character animation. At that point,
there was no turning back, even if I wanted to quit. I should have taken
the hint when after only a few months, the games company I worked at
closed down and turned us all out onto the streets.
Unemployed and without my daily dose of 3D, I tried to quit cold turkey.
I was able to stay off the stuff for almost 2 years, keeping myself
occupied by going to grad school and doing engineering work to pay the
bills. But grad school, which started out in engineering, mutated into
computer science. And my engineering job became mostly CAD work, which
was just too darn reminiscent of 3D, I couldn't stay away. There was a
3D software reseller near the engineering company I worked at, and I
found myself driving out of the way, just to pass by the place on my way
to and from work.
It wasn't long before I found myself stopping at the 3D dealer and going
inside. The first time, just to look around, then leave quickly. The
second time, the dealer saw me and cornered me. I couldn't help myself.
I started asking about quality and availability of 3D in the area. The
dealer set me up and I was off the horse and back doing multimedia
again. After a time, predictably, that wasn't enough and I ended up
switching into local commercial work, then regional, then national, then
the really high end nasty stuff... super bowl commercials.
Ultimately, that wasn't enough either. When all hope was lost, I found
myself throwing away any chance for a career in science or medicine (my
mother still weeps) and becoming the ultimate American cliche. I moved
to California to pursue a career in movies. And that's where I still am
to this day. So before you go dismissing your little XSI license (which
we all know is far more potent than 3D was back when I got hooked) and
claiming you don't do commercial work, remember my story. And think of
all the people I could have helped if I had only stayed away from 3D and
managed a useful career in cancer research like I was supposed to.
-Brad
--
Bradley R. Gabe
Industrial Light & Magic
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<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid000001c3f663$d5a12990$5590e980@(protected)">
<pre wrap="">Well actually we don't teach XSI here we use it to support our
curriculum by incorporating animation and graphics into our distant
education classes and technology enhanced learning modules. We don't
really do commercial work here
John
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
This is a serious issue, having a loose 3D license floating around an
academic institution like that. 3D animation is not a toy or hobby to
be taken lightly. It is, in fact, a highly addictive medium which can
result in severe changes in lifestyle and life direction. Take me for
example. The following anecdote is a true story:<br>
<br>
I was on my way toward a nice useful career in science and medicine,
when I was exposed to 3D animation for what was supposed to be some
simple scientific visualization work. I had a small SGI, an academic
Soft 3D license, a huge shelf full of manuals, and there were blood
cells and chemical reactions to animate. Little did I know that it
would take me down a progressive degenerative path until I would never
be able to work in science or medicine again. :-(<i></i><br>
<br>
My first experimentation in 3D was for multimedia presentations and
teaching aids. While it seemed harmless at the time, 3D was too new
back then. The studies hadn't yet proved what has become common
knowledge... that multimedia is a gateway to bigger and nastier 3D
effects. After a time, rendering little Quicktime movies wasn't enough
to keep me satisfied. I needed a bigger thrill. I progressed into games
production where I had my first exposure to character animation. At
that point, there was no turning back, even if I wanted to quit. I
should have taken the hint when after only a few months, the games
company I worked at closed down and turned us all out onto the streets. <br>
<br>
Unemployed and without my daily dose of 3D, I tried to quit cold
turkey. I was able to stay off the stuff for almost 2 years, keeping
myself occupied by going to grad school and doing engineering work to
pay the bills. But grad school, which started out in engineering,
mutated into computer science. And my engineering job became mostly CAD
work, which was just too darn reminiscent of 3D, I couldn't stay away.
There was a 3D software reseller near the engineering company I worked
at, and I found myself driving out of the way, just to pass by the
place on my way to and from work.<br>
<br>
It wasn't long before I found myself stopping at the 3D dealer and
going inside. The first time, just to look around, then leave quickly.
The second time, the dealer saw me and cornered me. I couldn't help
myself. I started asking about quality and availability of 3D in the
area. The dealer set me up and I was off the horse and back doing
multimedia again. After a time, predictably, that wasn't enough and I
ended up switching into local commercial work, then regional, then
national, then the really high end nasty stuff... super bowl
commercials.<br>
<br>
Ultimately, that wasn't enough either. When all hope was lost, I found
myself throwing away any chance for a career in science or medicine (my
mother still weeps) and becoming the ultimate American cliche. I moved
to California to pursue a career in movies. And that's where I still am
to this day. So before you go dismissing your little XSI license (which
we all know is far more potent than 3D was back when I got hooked) and
claiming you don't do commercial work, remember my story. And think of
all the people I could have helped if I had only stayed away from 3D
and managed a useful career in cancer research like I was supposed to.<br>
<br>
-Brad<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Bradley R. Gabe
Industrial Light & Magic
</pre>
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