Storytelling Seminar @ ARTS Lab July 19 & 20

STORYTELLING

Matthew McDuffie, an instructor in the Dramatic Writing Program at the University of
New Mexico, and a professional screenwriter who has written for HBO, Showtime,
Warner Brothers, and the producers of ER, Capote, and Six Feet Under, will lead an
intensive and intimate workshop for novelists, playwrights and screenwriters who are
determined to create stronger stories and characters. Participants are encouraged to bring
in their own work to develop over the course of the weekend event.

The workshop will be held at UNM’s Arts Lab 131 Pine St. NE, Albuquerque, NM
July 19th and 20th, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The cost is $225. Lunch will be served. Call
(505) 265-2569 or buzzblanco@comcast.net for more information and reservations.

"Matthew is a passionate storyteller. He lives for it. He understands that the problem
solving and puzzle-making of good story is to serve emotion and character, and
ultimately the audience. In this age of reality TV and internet immersion, Matthew has
not forgotten that entertainment is an art form."

Bonnie Curtis – Producer of Saving Private Ryan and Minority Report

NM Incentives @ AniMotion NM July 8th

NM Production Incentives @ AniMotion NM, July 8th

AniMotion NM welcomes New Mexico Film Office Deputy Director Jennifer Schwalenberg and award-winning animator Chris Kientz to talk about New Mexico's production rebate program and other incentives and how they apply to animation and VFX work.

A cornerstone of the success we've seen in encouraging film production, New Mexico's incentives have become a model envied by states across the country. But while a few states are experimenting with rebates even larger than ours, none has been able to match our straightforward approach and commitment to customer service.

How can animators make use of these incentives? Come to the next AniMotion NM meeting and find out.

When: Wednesday, July 8th from 7 - 9pm
Where: ARTS Lab Garage
(131 Pine Street NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106)
just north of Central and one block west of University

Scripting a Character Rig July 9th @ ARTS Lab

Image via WikipediaMEL Scripting a Character Rig in Maya by Chris Maraffi

When: Wednesday, July 9th from 5 - 8pm
Where: ARTS Lab Garage
(131 Pine Street NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106)
just north of Central and one block west of University

This workshop will demonstrate an overview of how to approach MEL scripting a biped character rig in Autodesk Maya to automate and streamline the character rigging process. It will show you the advantages and issues in creating a rig through code, and will give you a sneak peak of the content of Chris' new book on the same subject, due out early fall.

The advantages of learning and utilizing MEL (Maya Embedded Language) or any other integrated package scripting is comparable to that of riding a bike vs. a motorcycle. Sure you can get there by peddling hard enough, but why not let the motor do the hard work while you just steer to your destination. The concepts in this lecture will introduce just how helpful MEL can be to increase your abilities and productivity in Maya.

Chris is the author of Maya Character Creation, a book that simplifies the complex nature of character creation and rigging using Maya, as well as Softimage XSI FX & Design, which covers character creation and animation using XSI . Most recently he was the Course Director of the scripting and character rigging classes at Full Sail University in Orlando Florida. He has also taught certified 3D training classes at Mesmer Animation Labs, The Academy of Art, The Masters Institute, School of Visual Arts, Pratt School of Design, NYU, & NYIT.

Before becoming an educator and certified trainer, Chris worked as a professional artist, animator, and consultant for broadcast, film, and internet companies in New York City.

Join us for this unique event and learn just how powerful MEL can be!

NM-Made Films & Fundraiser Saturday

Hi everyone...

From Production Coordinator Elaine Thompson...

As you may or may not know, Matt McAlister, our Set PA on "LOVE LIES BLEEDING" and "THE SPIRIT" as well as working on numerous New Mexico productions, passed away on April 11th of this year. With his passing, he left behind not only his parents, grandparents and siblings but a young son by the name of Cyrus McAlister. Matt did not have any insurance so in an effort to help his son Matt's family has established a trust fund in the memory of Matt for Cyrus.

We are having a Fund Raising Event this Saturday, June 28th at the historic Kimo Theatre in Albuquerque.
The doors will open at 11:30AM. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased the day of the event or can be purchased in advance at the Kimo this week. In addition, Delaney Marsh, has tickets available to purchase directly from him.

We will be screening the following three movies in this order: The Horror Chronicles "UNDEAD or ALIVE" and "BURIED ALIVE" then "LOVE LIES BLEEDING" starring Christian Slater. The first screening will begin around 12:30PM with an intermission between each film. We will also have a sneak peak of the upcoming film by Frank Miller "THE SPIRIT".

There will be live music provided by Exit 116 and Boris McCutcheon and the Saltlicks.

Any and all proceeds from this event will be donated to the trust fund for Cyrus McAlister.

If you cannot attend the event but would like to make a donation you can go to the following website that has been set up through a PayPal account: http://inmemoryofmatt.com

I've attached a flyer with the basic information for the event which is being sponsored by the City of Albuquerque Film Office, Mountainair Films, Odd Lot Entertainment and Precinct 13 Entertainment.

I've included many of the local POC's and APOC's in this distribution in an effort to get the info out there so perhaps you can print this flyer and post it in your production offices. I've also included many of our local casting directors so that you can pass along this info to our local cast members appearing in these films.

Today, IATSE Local 480 has generously purchased 40 tickets which will go to the first 40 members of Local 480 at the door. You will need to see me and have your current membership card or driver's license so that I can check your name off the roster.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (number below) or Delaney Marsh – Cell: (505) 231-8608.

Please get the word out and pass along this info. Thanks to everyone for your help and support in making this a successful event.

Warmest Regards,

Elaine Thompson
Production Coordinator
Cell: (310) 503-1566
Email: misselaineeus@earthlink.net

P.S. SUMMERFEST 2008 is also taking place on Sat., June 28th so be advised that Central will be closed between 3rd and 5th.

NMITSA Lunch: Kevin Silver on User Experience Design

I'm particularly excited about this announcement. Kevin is a real star in the world of interaction and user-centered design working here in Albuquerque with Clearwired. He's a nice guy too, with a passion for user-centered design that's infectious.

What is User-Centered Design -- or User Experience? Why is it important to us here in New Mexico or anyone making a product or service they want consumers to use?

Is Apple doing pretty well?

I could try to explain, but... I encourage you to come to the next NMITSA lunch and hear from a real expert.
___
NMITSA is pleased to announce that Kevin Silver will be our featured guest at the upcoming June membership luncheon on June 19th from 11:30 am until 1:00pm at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Albuquerque. Kevin will be speaking on User Experience Design.
Tickets for this luncheon are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here. Registration for NMITSA members is $25, for non-members it is $40. We look forward to seeing you all on the 19th!

Kevin is an empathetic champion of users and a strong proponent of user-centered design. He strives to design digital products that are simple, elegant, and easy to use. Involved in desktop application design and development since 1995, he started tinkering with HTML in the late 90s-just in time for the flurry of growth on the Web before the big .com bust. Kevin has worked on a diverse range of projects, including designing applications for Indian Health Services (a federal agency), Envision Utility Software, University of New Mexico, Anchor Computer, the United States Air Force, and Web sites for Norwegian Cruise Lines, Dr. Martens, Buck Knives, Museum of the African Diaspora, and Adobe, to name a few. One thing Kevin has learned through all of these engagements is that satisfying the needs and goals of users is central to a successful experience.

Santa Fe Complex Grand Opening June 14

We're very happy to pass along info on the Grand Opening of our friends to the north at the Santa Fe Complex. The talented people behind the Complex -- and the lineup of people who'll be performing and showing their work is fantastic.  We hope to see you there!

Santa Fe Complex Grand Opening June 14

Santa Fe Complex will host its grand opening on Saturday, June 14 with
a mixed media show entitled Emergence: The Interaction of Science &
Art from 4p.m. to 8 p.m. at 632 Agua Fria St. Part program, part
science fair, Santa Fe's artistic and scientific traditions will find
common ground in this special event to celebrate the newest addition
to Santa Fe's rich cultural and intellectual climate.

Artists Orlando Leibovitz, Paul Paryski, Jared Tarbell and Woody
Vasulka will display their work in an open house from 4 p.m. pm until
6:30 p.m.; there will also be a display of the work of German artist
Tim Borgmann. At 6:30, Mayor David Coss will open the evening program,
followed by a brief discussion on complexity and the Santa Fe Complex
led by Guerin and Steve Smith, retired LANL visualization scientist.
David Stout and Cory Metcalf of NoiseFold will end the evening with a
performance of their latest work.

Lebovitz describes the event as an opportunity to explore common
visions. "We usually think of art and science as polar opposites,"
Leibovitz said. "But many artists and scientists seek to explain the
apparent complexity of our world by striving for simplicity and
beauty. Emergence recognizes our shared values and creates a common
bond between our work." The Santa Fe based artist will showcase his
musical paintings that explore the relationship between sound and
light, music and color.

He will be joined by video art pioneer Woody Vasulka, who began
exploring the digital medium in the 1960's and continues to break new
ground in the computational art medium; Jared Tarbell, a self-
described "solar powered bipedal brain tower" and a leader in the
computational art movement; Tim Borgmann, whose three-dimensional work
won an honorable mention 2007 International Art of Digital Show in San
Diego; and Paul Paryski, whose photographic explorations of complex
natural structures will complement their work. Tarbell and Vasulka
will return to Santa Fe Complex later this summer for individual shows
and discussions about mathematics and computer art.

For more information, visit the Santa Fe Complex web site.


---
Don Begley
Managing Director
Santa Fe Complex
624 Agua Fria
Santa Fe, NM 87501

www.santafecomplex.org
505-216-7562
505.670.9432 (cell)

NM AdFed June Luncheon: Strategy Panel June 17

Looks like a particularly interesting AdFed event this month:

Join the big thinkers at five of Albuquerque's best-known agencies as they discuss the importance of great strategic planning.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

NM AdFed June Luncheon

Tuesday, June 17 / 11:30am-1pm

Embassy Suite Hotel

Members FREE / Guests $30 / Students $15

RSVP to rsvp@nmadfed.org

 

FEATURING

Chris Moore / 3 Advertising

Del Esparza / Esparza Advertising

Frank Duran / Kilmer & Kilmer

Steve McKee / McKee Wallwork Cleveland

Erik Lohmeier / Rick Johnson & Company

 

AniMotion NM -- Next Tuesday @ ARTS Lab

Traditional Cell Animation

Where: ARTS Lab
When: Jun 10, 2008 07:00 PM –08:30 PM

Join Disney animator Dan Haskett for an evening of traditional cell animation!

ANiMotion NM is proud to present master animator Dan Haskett.

Dan Haskett, is a veteran animator with three decades in the business. He designed the character Belle for Beauty and the Beast and Ariel for The Little Mermaid. He won an Emmy for his work on The Simpsons and has credits for Toy Story and The Prince of Egypt, as well as for commercials and cartoons for Sesame Street.

Dan has designed commercials for Ford, Kellogg’s, General Mills and Best Buy and created many consumer products and character style guides for Warner Bros., Disney and NBC Universal.

He has served as an art supervisor for Disney and Richard Williams and as a lecturer at New York University, DreamWorks Animation and Nickelodeon.

See you on there!

ARTS Lab
131 Pine St NE
near central and university

Motion 08 :: Call for Speakers

From Elaine Montoya @ Motion...

Greetings fellow MISP list members,

First - the big news. We've changed our name! To better reflect our goals and mission, Best in the SW will now be called motion!

For those of you who are not familiar with our conference, motion is a nationwide event, which happens to take place right here in ABQ! Since we just had our first registrant from Sweden, I guess we will have to start referring to ourselves as a 'worldwide' event ;)

At motion, our speakers are the top talent in the industry. We invite you to submit a proposal to speak at motion08, October 12-15, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency downtown in Albuquerque.

motion08 is about 'the art of" – animation, motion graphics, and visual effects. Additionally, we have added new tracks this year to include: video for the web, motion picture title design, motion picture trailer design, and sound design for animation or motion graphics.

Our attendees are inspired by *real work*, creativity, and real-world experiences.

The submission deadline for proposals is June 15, 2008.

Here's a list of possible topics, but as a creative conference – "the sky is the limit" – so don't let these limit your ideas:

• case study: broadcast graphics for networks

• case study: character development for "animated series"

• case study: motion picture title design "movie name"

• case study: motion picture trailer design "movie name"

• greenscreen techniques for motion graphics

• Flash animation for broadcast

• Flash animation for film

• the 3D animation pipeline

• the 2D animation pipeline

• animating music videos

• sound design for animation

• sound design for motion graphics

• animation content creation for portable video

• social networks for animation: Frederator, ColdHard Flash, Motion.tv, Adobe TV

• animating webisodes

• the art of typography in broadcast design

• color palettes for broadcast design

• vfx for 3D animation

• preparing your animations or motion graphics for the web 

• Flash video tips and best practices

• new distributions options for animation: podcasting, Flash Media Player, YouTube, Adobe TV

• process: design principals for motion graphics

• process: where do you draw your inspiration from?

How to submit your proposal:

- click here  to go to the motion08 speaker portal

- if you don't have a speaker account yet, select the link to create one

- after you have created an account, login, and select 'session proposal'

- fill out the form with your session proposal information. This includes the session title and description. You will also be asked to select the categories your session best fits, and the skill level for the session (from beginning to expert).

What's next?

All speakers who are accepted to present at motion08 will be notified no later than June 30, 2008.

We look forward to your ideas. motion08 promises to be yet another outstanding experience – celebrating the art of animation and motion graphics with top animators, motion graphics artists and VFX artists.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

sincerely,

elaine

motion | experience inspiration

[ october 12-15 2008  |  abq nm ]

elaine montoya  P R O D U C E R

...............................................................................................................................................................

motion | 505.344.8801 | PO Box 70102, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107 | motionconference.com

...............................................................................................................................................................

a     d      o      b      e              c      o      m      m      u      n      i      t     y             e      x      p      e      r      t

48 Hour Meet & Greet - WED 18

From Liz at the 48 Hour Film Project...

New Mexico Creative People,

It's almost time to make films!  The 48 Hour Film Project is coming up -  July 11- 13.  Teams of filmmakers will write, shoot and edit their films in 48 Hours!  Your finished film screens just 3 days later at the beautiful  KiMo Theater.  For info see www.48hourfilm.com

Still putting a team together or want to be on a team?  Here's one way:

Open Call / Meet and Greet Wednesday, June 18    5:00pm - 7:30pm at O'Neill's Irish Pub

4310 Central Ave SE  (Central at Washington in East Nob Hill)

This is a great opportunity for teams to begin scouting for cast and crew members and learn more on how to prepare for this years New Mexico 48 Hour Film Project.   Also if you would like to be a part of a team this would be the time to meet the producers of this year's 2008 New Mexico 48 Hour Film Project!! 

• Talent bring copies of your head shots and resume
• Musicians bring copies of your music
• Filmmakers bring your DVD demo reels to show on the SCREEN!!! (Films will be screened in the background)
• We will also be screening the Best of 2007 48 Hour Film Project with films from all over the world who competed last year.
• Sponsor's / potential sponsor's come out and learn more about this year New Mexico 48 Hour Film Project!!

If you just want to come out and see what's going on you're welcome to come along.

If you can't make it, but still want to join a team, sign up here:  http://www.48hourfilm.com/join/?city=newmexico

If you have questions, e-mail your New Mexico producer: liz@48hourfilm.com

Don't delay, Register today! Spots are filling up quick!!     www.48hourfilm.com/newmexico

This may be overkill, but here's EVEN MORE info about the 48HFP. 

48 HOUR FILM PROJECT IN NEW MEXICO:

 

The 48 Hour Film Project is coming to NEW MEXICO!  In a wild, sleepless weekend, you and a team will make a movie--write, shoot, edit and score it.  From scratch.  In 48 hours.  On Friday, July 11, you'll get a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all to include in your movie.  By Sunday, July 13, the movie must be complete.  It will show at KiMo Theater in Albuquerque on July 16.

 

In association with the Duke City Shootout, and with support from the City of Albuquerque, the 48 Hour Film Project is starting its 3^rd year in New Mexico.  Teams from across the state are invited to participate.

 

Last year's winning film by Trifecta Plus screened at the Cannes Film Festival, with many of the team members in attendance.

 

 

There are two ways to be involved:

 

1. FORM A TEAM.  If you can rustle up enough folks to make a movie, great!  The project is open to pros and amateurs alike.  Just put together a team and register on-line at http://www.48hourfilm.com/newmexico and then meet us on Friday, July 11, ready to go.  There are only a limited number of slots, and once we reach our limit teams will be put on a waiting list, so apply soon...

 

2. JOIN A TEAM.  If you're interested in participating, but can't form a team, you can still definitely be involved!  There will be happy hours where folks can meet team leaders and join their teams.  Get your information to team leaders at:

http://www.48hourfilm.com/join.  Stay tuned for announcements about  "Meet and Greet" opportunities in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

 

Here's your chance to get off the couch and start filming.  Meet other filmmakers, spend 48 hours in intense movie making, see your film screened at the world class KiMo Theater, and compete for International fame!  

 

The winning NEW MEXICO team will compete in second round competitions for a Panasonic Camera, and $5000 in cash, as well as national distribution and film festival screenings.  Entry instructions can be found at http://www.48hourfilm.com/newmexico.

 

Come on out and make a movie!

-----------------------------

Liz Langston
Executive Producer
48 Hour Film Project

www.48hourfilm.com
202-285-5166

June 9th @ 2PM: Sony Equipment Rep @ ARTS Lab

Apologies for the incomplete info earlier -- I will post more details soon. For now though, we'll be hosting a demo and talk from our regional Sony Equipment Rep for Education next Tuesday, June 9th at 2PM in UNM's ARTS Lab.

She'll be demonstrating two of Sony's newer video cameras, as well as discussing plans for working with schools and educators.

UNM's ARTS Lab is located at 131 Pine St., NE; one block west of University Blvd., and half a block north of Central. During the day, parking immediately in front of the ARTS Lab is by UNM permit only, but street parking in the area is available.