Nicholas Boughen's Lounge Discussions

Nicholas Boughen
Are you stuck at home due to Covid? Want to train in digital media with real instructors anyway?

This is a problem I've heard many times in the past few months. Work is slow or closed. Cabin fever. Watched everything on Netflix. Know how to cook. Have sorted all socks in orphan sock bag. Have sewn all holes in socks. now what?

We think you can make really good use of all that time.

If you've been...

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Nicholas Boughen
Don't let Covid delay your digital media training

Covid is keeping students away from brick and mortar campuses. CG Masters offers covid-safe, fully remote, 3D foundations training in a 12 week, half-time format. You can learn with live, master-instructors from anywhere in the world.

If anyone you know is waiting for Covid to end, let them know t...

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Nicholas Boughen
VFX students recreate GRAVITY VFX

Students inspired by the incredible work at Framestore set out to recreate some of the most difficult animated VFX they could find. You can see the results here: https://vimeo.com/137160019

Stage 32 Staff - Julie

Now, this is great work....amazing the talent!

Steve Scifi

The animation was very smooth. The best shot for me was 2:05. Congrats to all who took part.

Nicholas Boughen
Animation students recreate GRAVITY VFX

Students inspired by the incredible work at Framestore set out to recreate some of the most difficult animated VFX they could find. You can see the results here: https://vimeo.com/137160019

Gareth J. Rubery - Composer

Nice post Nicholas, stunning. If you ever make a film with VFX's like this, do let me know as I am looking for a film like this to score. Love it.

Malcolm Carter

pretty good!

Nicholas Boughen
Too much VFX training fraud. Pick your school carefully!

Some schools are starting to come under scrutiny for alleged fraud. (see below twitter link) It's a big investment, you should choose your school carefully. Here's ten safety tips: http://goo.gl/xztNJF

Nicholas Boughen
Too much Animation training fraud. Pick your school carefully!

Some schools are starting to come under scrutiny for alleged fraud. (see below twitter link) It's a big investment, you should choose your school carefully. Here's ten safety tips: http://goo.gl/xztNJF

Mark Ratering

looking for 90 min animation pieces mrateringg@hotmail.com Middle East Distribution

Nicholas Boughen
Richard "RB" Botto

Fantastic share and great discussion. Thanks for posting, Nicholas.

Nicholas Boughen

Douglas, the business model would never support "free" work. The studios offering graphics "for free as part of the package" are still paying for it and are still taking some sort of profit margin on...

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Douglas Eugene Mayfield

Nicholas. Thanks for clarifying.

Tomasz Mieczkowski

Hi Nocholas, I know the pain. I used to own a t-shirt in two different colors that actually spelled out "No! I will not fix your computer" Can you imagine doing this elsewhere? Hi Dominoes, I'll have...

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Nathan Dodge

I guess it depends on what all gets pulled into the realm of CG and VFX. If motion graphics are becoming a part of the edit package for a smaller combined price when does that happen to VFX and any ot...

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Nicholas Boughen
Laurie Ashbourne

The age old plight of the artist made worse by the fact that 'people' think now it's just the click of some computer keys and voila. VFX artists and the profession, don't get near enough credit or support.

Nicholas Boughen
Sydney Cuthbert

Excellent article. Thanx.

April Ranck

Nicholas you right fear is the mother of distraction. It is always and everywhere crisis.

Rich Martin
Animated Pilot

Hello 32ers! I was looking for some advice. I am more of a writer than an animator but my heart lies with animation. I wanted to try to do my own pilot cartoon comedy (15-20 mins) and I'm not sure where to start. Can anyone recommend software or whatever would be the best means to get this ball rolling? Thanks! -Rich

James Saunders

I think I accidentally hit a nerve (apologies I'm a notorious comment troll who is trying to reform) what I meant was more or less what Katherine said about not wasting time learning a software if you...

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Rich Martin

I appreciate everyone's feedback here. I'm relatively new to all these things. Writing is something that I do in my free time with hopes that something takes a hold. Therefore my creative process, I g...

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David Arandle

If you really want to also play around with animation software what you choose depends on your skill level as an artist. GoAnimate.com is really good if you have no drawing skill at all and need to re...

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Grace Dimaranan

Hello Rich, if you have your script & story ready. have it done in storyboard first, and have your character designs ready. In this way, you can see visuals of the pacing, and how "funny" & engaging y...

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Nicholas Boughen

Here's an analogy of what you have requested: "Hi, I'm a draftsman but I'd really love to build my own house. I've never built a house before and I'm not trained in construction. Can someone recommend...

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Nicholas Boughen
Animation & Visual Effects working conditions are fine? Oh thanks, boss, I guess we were just too exhausted to notice.

London Executive says working conditions in VFX are "fantastic", there are just a few disgruntled employees. We say "bollocks". Tell us what you think. http://academy.cg-masters.com/nicks-rants-and-raves/dont-like-quit-serio......

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Nicholas Boughen
VFX working Conditions are fine? Oh thanks, boss, I guess we were just too exhausted to notice.

London Executive says working conditions in VFX are "fantastic", there are just a few disgruntled employees. We say "bollocks". Tell us what you think. http://academy.cg-masters.com/nicks-rants-and-raves/dont-like-quit-serio......

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Nicholas Boughen

Antoine, I don't have anything against a degree holder per se. It's the presumption that a degree means a person is capable that I take issue with. I have met many lazy degree holders and many hard-wo...

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Antoine M Dillard

Well, people are gonna be people & a degree isn't going to change that. If you're lazy & unreliable then you'll continue to be that unless you really want to change degree or not. The truth is that yo...

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Nicholas Boughen

Well then I am very happy to be counted as a "foolish employer". It would be absurd for an employer to pass up a skilled, able candidate for one who is not skilled but might be able to do the job in t...

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Antoine M Dillard

I can see this is no point to continue to post here. This is supposed be a topic about working conditions and it (for strange reason) turned quickly into "Who is best for hire" debate. Plus I feel lik...

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Nicholas Boughen

Well I'm all in favor of a good debate, but a good debate does not include making baseless presumptions about the other such as remarks like this last one. First of all, I spent years in post secondar...

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Nicholas Boughen
Nicholas Boughen
Nicholas Boughen
Star Wars and Cylons? What the...

Battle Star Wars is finally finished! Congrats to all the term 2 students who worked so hard to complete 54 shots in only 15 weeks. Great job team! http://youtu.be/XSLqz11wSV8

Nicholas Boughen
Star Wars and Cylons? What the...

Battle Star Wars is finally finished! Congrats to all the term 2 students who worked so hard to complete 54 shots in only 15 weeks. Great job team! http://youtu.be/XSLqz11wSV8

Nicholas Boughen
Troubleshooting is a critical skill for digital artists

Ever tried to fix something and made matters worse? http://goo.gl/cQcVa3

Julie Meitz

So very true ! Good article :-)

Nicholas Boughen
Stephano Christophero Aka Pandaman

Thank You Nicholas! Even though I could never afford a school, or even the time, I thank you for caring. I read your advice. You're are a big help for those who "can" afford it! With I could afford it...

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Nicholas Boughen
Student work can be great!

Sick of reviewing awful student animation / vfx reels? Wish schools would actually train people properly. Check out this work from mere term 2 students: 8 partially trained students recreated 54 Star Wars shots from scratch in 15 weeks: Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica together at last! Wait...wha...

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