MGLA February Mtg.

Tuesday, February 17 @ LA Film School
------7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ------ Cover charge: FREE ------

MGLA focuses on techniques for getting "real work done",
ranging from Photoshop tricks for motion graphics to text for film
titles to 3D for a weekly television show. Here's an overview of the presentations they have planned:

LINEUP: 3D Motion Control Camera Moves / Titles for "Cold Mountain" /
Graphics for "More Than Human" / Projects with Combustion

* Digital Motion Control Camera Moves in 3D *

First came "motion control camera" moves on still images...then came
tilting these images in 3D space...then came the technique
popularized in the movie The Kid Stays in the Picture of cutting
portions of a photo out from its background and separating the
elements in 3D space, resulting in more realistic multiplaning as
virtual cameras move around them in 3D. But many users are still not
100% clear on exactly how you would go about preparing elements for
and executing this advanced technique in programs like Photoshop and
After Effects.

MGLA regular Thomas Luth will
demonstrate this technique for us, including some tips for cleaning
up photos, and creating variably soft edges of elements on layers,
with demonstrations of 2D and 3D variations of the technique. He is
working on a music video (Teri Hitt's "Free Yourself") that uses this
technique extensively, so he has plenty of first-hand knowledge of
how to pull it off.

So that you can put what you learn to work, we've arranged a number
of related door prizes - including a copy of Photoshop CS, Total
Training on DVDs for Photoshop, and excellent Photoshop book - more
details in the door prize list at the end.

* Opening and Closing Titles for "Cold Mountain" *

MGLA co-host Trish Meyer of CyberMotion
was the animator for the opening and closing titles on the recent
mega-movie "Cold Mountain" (working with Deborah Ross Film Design).

She will demonstrate the techniques she used to make the text and
images of Cold Mountain emerge and disappear back into the rippling
water of a well. Trish will undoubtedly have additional war stories
on the overall issues of working with film elements (especially when
the film editorial team is a continent and ocean away), and how stock
footage came to the rescue. Enter
in your
browser to download a QuickTime movie (2.95 meg) of the opening
portion of the titles.

Tying in to this, we will be giving away one of the Artbeats
libraries used in the Cold Mountain tiles, as well as a full set of
Trish and Chris Meyer's After Effects books. Again, more details
below.

* Kicking Out 3D Graphics for a Weekly TV Show *

MGLA co-host Lachlan Westfall will discuss how his shop, Quiet Earth
Design , has approached cranking out 3D
graphics for a weekly hour-long show on Discovery titled "More Than
Human." Lachlan is tasked with creating illustrative 3D graphics
depicting scenes ranging from people who survive steel rebar piercing
their head, to sword swallowers, to people who catch arrows shot out
of a bow and much more.

Lachlan will discuss how he determines where to put the focus of
certain shots when the deadline is so tight and there are inevitable
compromises to be made. He'll also show how layered rendering and
integration with Adobe AE is also key in turning this stuff out
quickly, as well as the development of various "looks" to be used
when photorealism is not an option due to both time and budget.

* Projects with Discreet Combustion *

During the January meeting, we received an update that the Mac
version of Discreet's combustion 3
was "hours" away from shipping
- and indeed, it shipped later that evening! As a follow-up, motion
graphics artist Brendan Lambe will share with us tips and techniques
for some projects he's been doing with combustion for clients such as
Disney. We will more post more details here as we have them.

* demo reels *

We plan to have time to show a couple of reels. You are welcome to
show your reel or a recent project, as long as you are willing to
come up to the mic beforehand to share with us what tools you used
and some other ideas on how you executed it (a great opportunity to
plug you and your business). Reels are shown on a first come/first
shown basis until we run out of time; hand your reel to Warren Heaton
before the meeting or during the break. You will be asked to come
down front and discuss your work, so don't be shy!

Please keep the running time under 3 minutes, and make sure your
sources are copy-right cleared and properly attributed. Formats we
can play include DVD, DigiBeta, BetaSP, VHS, DV, and DVCAM. Please
bring your contact information so we can list you in the meeting
summary.

* door prizes *

The prize theme this month is Photoshop and stock footage. Tickets
are free, and are handed out during the second half of the meeting
(take one and pass the remaining down the line). You must be present
to win; winners get their choice of the remaining prizes in the order
they are drawn. This month's list of prizes includes (nearly $2000
worth):

* courtesy of Adobe, a full copy of Adobe Photoshop CS (for either
platform $649 value)

* Artbeats: Liquid Ambience stock footage library ($399 value). Note
if you buy any library worth $229 or more from them in January, you
can add on Cloud Flythroughs 2 for just $249 more (a $450 discount).

* the just-released Total Training for Adobe Photoshop with Deke
McClelland ($299 value)

* a Logitech Z-560 THZ-certified 400 watt speaker system, courtesy of
3Dconnexion ($200 value)

* Texturing Concepts Texture Map Fundamentals with Adobe Photoshop
training DVD from Desktop Images ($60 value)

* a copy of After Effects in Production by MGLA co-hosts Trish &
Chris Meyer from ($50 value)

* a copy of Creating Motion Graphics Volume 1: The Essentials by MGLA
co-hosts Trish & Chris Meyer ($55 value)

* a copy of Creating Motion Graphics Volume 2: Advanced Techniques by
MGLA co-hosts Trish & Chris Meyer ($60 value)

* a copy of Photoshop CS Artistry courtesy of Peachpit Press ($55 value)

* a copy of O'Reilly's Digital Photography Pocket Guide 2nd edition ($15 value)

And again, thanks to Adobe's sponsorship of MGLA this year, admission
is free! We look forward to seeing you on the 17th.

Chris, Trish, Lucky, Tony, Warren, and Marshal
Your MGLA co-hosts

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Directions:
LA Film School
6363 Sunset Boulevard
(the corner of Sunset and Ivar)
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone: 323.860.0789

The theater has its own entrance on Ivar - do not try to enter on Sunset!

From the 101 Freeway:
If coming from the East, exit Vine and turn right (South) to head to
Sunset Blvd. Turn right, go past the Film School to Ivar, turn right
again, and then look for street parking or enter the parking
structure on your left (see below). If you are coming West, there is
no Vine exit; go to Cahuenga, South to Sunset, left, and left on Ivar.

From the 10 Freeway:
Exit La Brea and go North to Sunset Blvd. Turn right and go to Ivar;
turn Left on Ivar, and then look for street parking or enter the
parking structure on your left (see below).
Click here for a MapQuest interactive map, including the ability to
get directions from your location to this address.

NOTE ON PARKING: There is parking available in the building (entrance
on Ivar) for a $4 fee (goes up to $5 later in the evening). The
garage closes at 11 PM. There is also parking on the surrounding
streets if you want to avoid the fee.

If you get there early, Amoeba Records across the street is a great
place to kill time browsing for music; they also donate a portion of
their sales to the Rainforest Action Network. If you want to catch a
bite or drink before or after the meeting, the Cat and Fiddle at 6530
Sunset is a funky place, with the kitchen open until 11:30 PM.

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Posted by andrew at February 13, 2004 08:04 PM