Rants, raves, ramblings.....things that have happened that affect me, the observatory or the results obtained.

[March 19 2010] Island in Pre-Production

Finally started my own Animated Short.  I have set up a Blog here.  The script is complete, the dialogue is being recorded and the characters are being designed and constructed - AND - only 1 week left at work before I take my 7 months leave to work on the project full time. 

[November 14 2009] Back on developing my own story

Since I have 7 months of long service next year (finally approved) and am back on developing the story for my first Animated short.  The 2 ideas I have are the same 2 ideas I have had over the last 4 years but I am now leaning toward my own composition rather than someone else's story.  With the help of some research I am trying to improve the story by developing a proper concept and premise rather than just a string of events. 

[November 13 2009] Animating on Scarecrow of Oz project

I am still working on the same scenes I started last month.  The OSX version of AM is as unstable as ever and making going tough but when it is running the results are good.  I am tending to rely more and more on the Windows version but it's hard since that is on my laptop.

[October 24 2009] Back on Scarecrow of Oz project

I have updated my AM subscription and started work on the Scarecrow of Oz group project once more.  I must say that I have missed the modelling interface in AM but can't say I missed the crashes - mainly in the OSX version.  Finished one model and now started work on 2 scenes. 

[July 12 2008] Loving Blender

I have spent the last 3 months learning 3D all over again this time with Blender.  My first journey into 3D was with Animation Master nearly 10 years ago any I must say that I was 'brain washed' into thinking that Animation Master was all I would ever need.  Well things have changed at Hash and there's only one programmer still working on the software and it just won't render well on my iMac - So a change of scenery was called for an I must say that I have not looked back. 

[December, 23 2007] New iMac, Rain and coming to the end of TWO

I have been busy all year with my studies having completed my Graduate Certificate in Science (Astronomy) and observing and discovering a record number of Binary Asteroids.  But now it appears the drought downunder has broken and for nearly the last 2 months we have had rain, rain and more rain (and I am NOT complaining).  With no studies and no observing, I now have plenty of time to devote back on some TWO work and I have been doing some scene cleanup work.  TWO will be done in the new year as HASH get busy with their WebRender engine (think Renderfarms that work like BOINC/Seti@Home).  I also have a new iMac and now experiencing AM from the OS X side of things (I did employ BootCamp to ensure that I had a Windows partition to run the Windows version as well.)

[February 10, 2007] Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been very busy completing numerous animation shots for Hash's TWO project.  I've also taken on a small modeling and animation 'job' for a Star Wars Fan Film modeling and animating a realistic baby head.  It makes a nice break from solid animation tasks.  (See WIPS for details)

[December 6, 2006] Back on TWO

I have been away from animating for more than a year doing my asteroid research and study.  Now I have a break from study and have had a long stint of poor weather so I am back to animating and back on the TWO (Hash Animation Masters "Tin Woodsman of OZ" feature animated 3D movie project project. (see HASH)

[May 13, 2005] Inspiration at last

I have been able to come up with an acceptable concept and script for my very own animated short.  Pre Production commenced today and a new web page created (see LATE)

[May 10, 2005] Opportunity to participate in a major movie production

Hash has announced it's intention to make a Movie so us Hash Fellows have been thrashing about ideas and concepts.  Art and Animation Directors have been announced and the core team is being put together with a view to commencing production early 2006.

[November 18, 2004] Back into it

Just started back into animation after a 2 year break.  Upgrade AM to the latest version AND have joined the Apprentice program under the guidance of Frank Silas.

● Email Me at higginsdj at bigpond dot com ●