tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post2967743428561233232..comments2024-03-12T10:31:11.815-07:00Comments on The Ward-O-Matic: Demo-maniaWard Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05013085293679968596noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-23971849771325167822007-08-18T22:48:00.000-07:002007-08-18T22:48:00.000-07:001st video: Mutual Slump - Dj Shadowglad to see tha...1st video: Mutual Slump - Dj Shadow<BR/><BR/>glad to see that you appreciate that track<BR/>-samAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-89486796309987422622007-08-02T21:38:00.000-07:002007-08-02T21:38:00.000-07:00Hey Ward!Awesome reel! Very inspired work.-KenHey Ward!<BR/>Awesome reel! Very inspired work.<BR/>-KenKen A. Priebehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01205082787975327741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-24140191030813343092007-08-02T20:35:00.000-07:002007-08-02T20:35:00.000-07:00Hey Ward,Nice reel, and lots of variety, which giv...Hey Ward,<BR/><BR/>Nice reel, and lots of variety, which given your position I'd come to expect. Thanks for posting it. <BR/><BR/>It kinda feels like stepping out naked into a crowd showing your reel to your peers. You're never quite sure what sort of reaction you're going to get, and tend to feel like you're going to get cut down or exposed as a fraud. Our artistic insecurities I s'pose.<BR/><BR/>You made some great points, with keeping it short, simple and focused. My first reel back in '99 was originally about 2-3 minutes long and a couple of others suggested adding more to it which regretfully I did. I always felt too long after, even tho' it was nice to have a record of the work. That's the danger you face when putting it together. When I was finishing up at Disney last year, I took the strictly 2 minute approach and trimmed most of the scenes. My two cents- only show your best stuff even if it means a 30 second reel. Keep it punchy- you don't want the viewer to get bored, they'll turn it off. Start with one of your best scenes and finish with another(three of my best are in the first 30 seconds of mine and it finishes on another). I also went for a varied pace to the types of scenes I included, planned it out and arranged them to create the 'feel' I wanted. Music is a funny one- some like it, others don't- I put it down to personal taste and how you want to represent yourself. I chose music.<BR/><BR/>I used Premiere to edit mine, haven't tried after effects.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully, mine's not part of your hall of shame.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the great work!<BR/><BR/>Cheers,Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08102950888265856546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-25815142760811748602007-08-01T15:41:00.000-07:002007-08-01T15:41:00.000-07:00Hi Ward, Nice demo! I'm also a big fan of your Ret...Hi Ward, Nice demo! <BR/><BR/>I'm also a big fan of your Retro Kid pics. I've got a question for you...Can you recommend a good book that provides an overview of mid-century illustration? I’m looking for something with lots of pictures by lots of different mid-century illustrators. Does such a book exist?<BR/> <BR/>Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-69243137735450319552007-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:002007-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00forgot to give you the sitehttp://questforanimatio...forgot to give you the site<BR/>http://questforanimationglory.blogspot.com/Vincent Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15195092380327335606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-47703060693962997292007-08-01T07:38:00.000-07:002007-08-01T07:38:00.000-07:00awesome ward. thanks for sharing your reel. It's f...awesome ward. thanks for sharing your reel. It's fun to see some of the animated stuff in your style. It animates well. Congrats on the front page of the paper too..how cool!Jason Newkirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504524442025040872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-751128275265558832007-07-31T17:37:00.000-07:002007-07-31T17:37:00.000-07:00Wow, love to see your work, Ward! Also interesting...Wow, love to see your work, Ward! Also interesting to see the progression from '00 to '06. Very cool!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-28939393658358961232007-07-31T16:41:00.000-07:002007-07-31T16:41:00.000-07:00I was very liberal about showing around my flatboo...I was very liberal about showing around my flatbook during my years in school to visiting artists and recruiters or at conventions. I always received so much positive feedback about having a diverse portfolio. Most people, frankly, encouraged more of it.<BR/><BR/>But having finished school this year, I'm finding great discrepancy between theory and practice. What you said is dead on. It seems like ultimately an employer wants to glean a certain "identity" from the work you show them. Not stylistically, per se, but some thread that ties it all together, solidifies things, reflects confidence or experience in that area. When it's all over the place, it seems to be doubt that fills in all the gaps.<BR/><BR/>I guess you get the job based on ability, and keep it for your flexibility. Maybe best to save the versatility card for after the hire....Meghan Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07126688948838989848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-1846733094236342552007-07-31T14:01:00.000-07:002007-07-31T14:01:00.000-07:00Oh, cool that you actually caught that show, Chris...Oh, cool that you actually caught that show, Chris! It was my impression that they used that opening sequence (we also did all design elements throughout the show as well) for the first season only, dropping it for a more watered-down dull opening and logo later on. Are they still using it? That's cool if they are.<BR/><BR/>wagster, there's definitely nothing wrong in wanting to learn and do new things. I'm guilty of that many times over. I guess what I was trying to say is that I've seen most students do this sort of thing: try to hit as many targets as possible right out of the gate after graduation, in order to snag a job, any job. If you are wanting to do 3D and ONLY 3D, then by all means work on nothing but that until you feel that you've got it down. But it's okay to mention that you're versitale in various things that are similar for the most part, like compositing and editing. In this case, it should help you once you get a 3D gig and you already know all the language in how to handle the post stuff. Does that make sense? I hope so. I might've trailed off there...<BR/><BR/>Robert, I knew something was up when I caught you with a dagger in your hand that one day...Ward Jenkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05013085293679968596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-55819884783022540342007-07-31T12:38:00.000-07:002007-07-31T12:38:00.000-07:00Been meaning to tell ya that I've always dug the t...Been meaning to tell ya that I've always dug the title seq. for that HGTV show (My wife watches the channel religiously). The show itself sucks, so I would always complain "Why can't the show be as cool as the opening animation?!?!?" As usual, my Mrs. just rolls her eyes.Chris Battlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01315912681205822163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-22208169848839996062007-07-31T09:57:00.000-07:002007-07-31T09:57:00.000-07:00Slick new reel, Ward. I really like it. Nate's tra...Slick new reel, Ward. I really like it. Nate's track has such a slinky, sinister feel which goes perfectly with your rock chick and slam kid.<BR/><BR/>It's cool to see how "the master" represents himself. :)<BR/><BR/>That reel advice is great, too. I think sometimes I fall into the category of being difficult to pin down as far as my focus goes. I gotta' work on that.JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301955517044392288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-22216409502010459162007-07-31T07:46:00.000-07:002007-07-31T07:46:00.000-07:00I NEVER wanted to rip at anyone's throat! I just ...I NEVER wanted to rip at anyone's throat! I just wanted to KILL! KILL!! KILL!!! Uh...*cough*..forget I said anything...swingin' post and great advice for young and old alike, baby.Robert Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216484801391073449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-68906956181088888642007-07-31T07:11:00.000-07:002007-07-31T07:11:00.000-07:00Long time reader first time commenter. Thanks for ...Long time reader first time commenter. Thanks for the advice Mr. Jenkins. Yeah, I made the mistake of spreading myself a little to thin. Spent my last year of school focusing on animation instead of improving my Graphic Design work. Although, I learned a lot during that year probably would have been better served working more towards Graphic Design and approaching the field of animation after graduation.gemini82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14229597792837772055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-17747391441513886322007-07-31T06:34:00.000-07:002007-07-31T06:34:00.000-07:00Oh... boy. I remember creating my first reel in 19...Oh... boy. I remember creating my first reel in 1999. I had no clue what to put on it (I had never worked for a studio before). I scoured the AWN forums daily for guidance. Thank gord for the internets.<BR/><BR/>When I started reviewing portfolios and reels later on, I thought back to my old stuff. It was hard not to see the desperate animator on the other side of the screen and identify with that. Then you have to decide what's best for the studio and the project, which isn't always the choice your deeply sensitive soul wants to make. (SIGH)<BR/><BR/>Even with all the hindsight, putting together a reel isn't easy. But somehow it's always been fun. My kids love to see them from time to time and it's cool to have them say, "Can I make a movie?"D.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00156358912885372218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8984824.post-37155183315736800292007-07-31T06:17:00.000-07:002007-07-31T06:17:00.000-07:00Hey Ward...Definitely write about/show us your mov...Hey Ward...<BR/><BR/>Definitely write about/show us your movies! Would love to see that.<BR/><BR/>What you wrote about spreading yourself too thin definitely resonated. That's exactly what I've done and it's hurt my marketability. Still, I can't help it. I'm interested in learning and doing new things.<BR/><BR/>I've got quite a bit of experience now compositing and editing and am now trying to learn 3D character animation... would you suggest I just put my 3D spec work on a reel, and leave out all of my professional stuff?<BR/><BR/>Here's my site by the way:<BR/><BR/>www.williamgadea.com<BR/><BR/>Love the blog!Wagsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00006107167297678630noreply@blogger.com