Message from Kelly

http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/87-Does-your-character-have-character.html

Does your character have character?

For the month of October we will be running a contest together with AWN, Animation World Network. If you somehow managed to miss this great resource for 3d modelers you should check it out.

The contest is titled: does your character have character? So while our contest for this month

is aimed at product designers this is one is for all you character modelers and animators out there. So, what does character mean, and how do you show that your model has it?

This one will be quite a challenge because it is a 3D printing contest. All the high end tricks with shading, lighting etc. you can just throw overboard because with a maximum polycount of 100,000 and a definition of 0.2mm in the produced model, animating for 3D printing is an entirely different story. So it is back to basics and back to the actual design.

We will print out the winner's design, give it to them and give that person $250 in 3D printing. The top 3 designs will be featured on Shapeways and AWN.

To enter submit your model to Shapeways with the tag AWN. You can submit your entries until the 20th of October. We will announce the winner on October 30st.

Message from Cynthia

I just found this cool website and thought it ought to sent out to all the animation students.

Walt was a guy who taught gesture drawing at Disney when I was working there. He wrote up these great handouts and I've passed several of them on to the students I've taught over the years. Leo Brodie is a fellow who has organized, edited and placed into chapters all of Walt's handouts, making it into a book, and it's downloadable for free at the website below.

I don't know how much longer it's going to be for free. I do know that Don Hahn was in the process of getting permission from all the artists to publish their drawings along with Walt's writings. I imagine when that happens and Disney puts out the book, this site will go away. So get it while you can!

Thanks and enjoy,

Cynthia


http://www.fatkat.ca/POST/GESTUREDRAWINGFORANIMATION-V1.pdf

Quotes about Art from Spencer W. Kimball

"Our writers, our motion picture specialists, with the inspiration of heaven, should tomorrow be able to produce a masterpiece which would live forever. Our own talent, obsessed with dynamism from a CAUSE, could put into such a story life and heartbeats and emotions and love and pathos, drama, suffering, fear, courage."

"We are proud of the artistic heritage that the Church has brought to us from its earliest beginnings, but the full story of Mormonism has never yet been written nor painted nor sculpted nor spoken. It remains for inspired hearts and talented fingers yet to reveal themselves. They must be faithful, inspired, active Church members to give life and feeling and true perspective to a subject so worthy. Such masterpieces should run for months in every movie center, cover every part of the globe in the tongues of the people, written by great artists, purified by the best critics."

"It has been said that many of the great artists were perverts or moral degenerates. In spite of their immorality they became great and celebrated artists. What could be the result if discovery were made of equal talent in men who were clean and free from the vices, and thus entitled to revelations?"

"But then we ask, “Can there never be another Michelangelo?” Ah! Yes! His David in Florence and his Moses in Rome inspire to adulation. Did all such talent run out in that early century? Could not we find an embodied talent like this, but with a soul that was free from immorality and sensuality and intolerance?"

"Could there be among us embryo poets and novelists like Goethe (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749–1832)? Have we explored as much as we should? Of the creator of Faust, Emerson said, 'The old eternal genius that built the world had confided itself more to this man than to any other.' But Goethe was not the greatest nor the last. There may be many Goethes among us even today, waiting to be discovered."

"Members of the Church should be peers or superiors to any others in natural ability, extended training, plus the Holy Spirit which should bring them light and truth. With hundreds of 'men of God' and their associates so blessed, we have the base for an increasingly efficient and worthy corps of talent."

“You mark my words, and write them down and see if they do not come to pass.

“You will see the day that Zion will be far ahead of the outside world in everything pertaining to learning of every kind as we are today in regard to religious matters.

“God expects Zion to become the praise and glory of the whole earth, so that kings hearing of her fame will come and gaze upon her glory. …” (Sermon, September 20, 1857; see The Messenger, July 1953.)"

Quotes about Art from Boyd K. Packer

"I would think that [Jesus Christ] would think there is a place for art work of every kinds—from the scribbled cartoon to the masterpiece in the hand-carved, gold-leaf frame."

"The reason we have not yet produced a greater heritage in art and literature and music and drama is not, I am very certain, because we have not had talented people. For over the years we have had not only good ones but great ones."

"Elder Orson F. Whitney said:

'We shall yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God’s ammunition is not exhausted. His highest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God’s name and by His help we will build up a literature whose tops will touch the heaven, though its foundation may now be low on the earth. Since that statement was made in 1888, those foundations have been raised up very slowly. The greatest poems are not yet written, nor the paintings finished.'"

"It is sad but true that, almost as a rule, our most gifted members are drawn to the world. They who are most capable to preserve our cultural heritage and to extend it, because of the enticements of the world, seek rather to replace it.”

"It is a mistake to assume that one can follow the ways of the world and then somehow, in a moment of intruded inspiration, compose a great anthem of the Restoration, or in a moment of singular inspiration paint the great painting. When it is done; it will be done by one who has yearned and tried and longed fervently to do it, not by one who has condescended to do it. It will take quite as much preparation and work as any masterpiece, and a different kind of inspiration."

"I mentioned earlier that the greatest hymns and anthems have not been composed, nor have the greatest illustrations been set down, nor the poems written, nor the paintings finished. When they are produced, who will produce them? Will it be the most talented and the most highly trained among us? I rather think it will not. They will be produced by those who are the most inspired among us. Inspiration can come to those whose talents are barely adequate, and their contribution will be felt for generations; and the Church and kingdom of God will move forward just a little more easily because they have been here."

"Go to, then, you who are gifted; cultivate your gift. Develop it in any of the arts and in every worthy example of them. If you have the ability and the desire, seek a career."

"Spencer W. Kimball is a prophet of God. We have on our shoulders in this generation the Church and kingdom of God to bear away. God grant that those among us who are the most gifted will devote themselves in order that our task may be easier, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Rated R - an LDS Student's Viewpoint

This is a delicate subject, but I hope that I can adequately represent arguments for and against R-rated films so that understanding can occur not only among students, but also among our church membership as a whole.  Albert Einstein said, "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding." I have felt generally uneasy about this topic for most of my life, and I have witnessed similar unease in Latter-day Saints throughout the world. Although I try to be objective, this article ultimately reflects only one person's opinion--my own.

Let us first consider R-rated films in the history of the Church.

"Rated R/R-rated" films have been mentioned in 14 General Conference talks.  One was an apostle, Elder Marvin J. Ashton in 1977, and one was a talk by President Benson in 1986. President Benson's talk has proved most influential in Church history because he stated: "Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral."

Of the other 12 talks that mention R-rated films, three specifically state not to see R-rated films, two before President Benson's talk and one after.

Church magazines have many more references to R-rated films, and a few quote President Benson. With one exception, the authors of these articles are not apostles.

Modern Church reference handbooks, temple recommend interviews, and magazines don't mention rating systems, but instead refer to moral values. In For the Strength of Youth (2001) it reads: "Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way." It is left up to the good judgment of the individual to interpret whether the media he or she ingests is "quality." As such, there has developed an interesting dichotomy among Latter-day Saints, wherein one group will not watch R-rated films, and another feels some R films can be suitable, beneficial and yes, sometimes, even wholesome. The one group generally sees the other as disobedient, and the other generally sees the first as narrow-minded. It is important to note that both groups of Latter-day Saints are good, strong, spiritual people. Both groups can and do possess temple recommends, perform ordinances, and serve in leadership positions in the church. It is important for every Latter-day Saint to know where he or she stands, as well as to understand how these two groups of Latter-day Saints coexist.

On September 18, 2007, a discussion began in Ryan Woodward's gesture drawing class that reflected this dichotomy. Students openly discussed their views on the subject of R-rated movies. Some students had never seen an R-rated film in their life and never intended to, others said they regularly watched R-rated films. R-rated films are often quoted and discussed in the Animation program by both students and faculty. The question that presents itself then, is: did President Benson mean ALL R-rated films? Is it that cut and dry, that black and white? And if so, then why haven't his words been repeated over and over again by his successors in General Conference? Is there a reason other prophets/apostles haven't directly said "no R-rated films"?

Unfortunately, no definite answer can be obtained, but our gesture drawing class did come to some conclusions.

It was determined that an open-minded viewpoint is vital to reaching understanding in this area. The "R" designation does not mean every scene in the film is mature content. Likewise, it is also important to recognize that for some people, even one scene from an R-rated film breaks a personal goal, vow, or belief, and as such, there is value to some in not even watching a single scene, even in film classes.

There needs to be respect from both the students that watch R-rated films and those that don't. There should never be a situation where students feel they are "bad people" because of the media they choose to watch. Likewise, students who watch R-rated films should respect those that don't, and no one should ever feel uncomfortable in saying "You know, I don't really want to watch that. It's ok. I'm just going to go home early," or "I'm just going to step outside of class." Unfortunately, even with BYU's required "If this makes you uncomfortable" slogan before certain film clips, that spirit of understanding does not yet exist.

Some students suggested that R-rated films, such as war movies like Saving Private Ryan, have substantial educational value. They said it opens the viewers' minds to what life is really like in various parts of the world, or what it has been like, and aids a sheltered individual in understanding the alternate viewpoints on a given subject, whether it be war, political issues, or other subjects. Others, however, stated that such films, once watched, never entirely leave the mind, and in a way pollute it.

It was also suggested that almost any kind of film--be it romance, action, or an intense war movie--could be told effectively without intense violence, explicit sex, or other "R-rated" material. National Treasure was quoted in this category, as was Saints and Soldiers.

The fact that ratings are not an effective way of telling a movie's content was also discussed. Rather, the most effective ways are by knowing who made the film and for what purpose they made it. Was is solely for money? How do the producers' previous films measure against the standards of Latter-day Saints? Why will their new film be different?

If I may get personal for a moment. I grew up in a half-active LDS home with numerous R-rated films. I know that there are several films out there whose spiritual impact in my life has influenced me to this day. Even remembering them uplifts me and my spirits. For me, it is the fact that the characters in those films are incredible examples of Christlike individuals and communities. Certain R films were some of the first exposure I had to really understanding and being taught what I now know to be Gospel principles. It was very confusing for me growing up to have Latter-day Saints condemning the media that helped me through some rough times in my life. The media that taught me in a literal sense what it meant to be brave, determined, and forgiving, was uniformly condemned for its R-ness. But I felt the Spirit, without a doubt. Of that I am certain.

However, looking back, I totally agree that the mind through which such images and scenes pass is never totally the same afterwards. That's a warning. And I cannot say wholly whether I am a better man or not because of these life experiences, but I do see both sides of the coin clearly, and have had plenty of time to think about it, and I personally know where I stand on the subject, although I don't feel it is appropriate to publish it here, but you can ask me in private if you're interested. I only hope that my experiences aid someone in coming to their own decision on the subject, because even though there is this dichotomy, I think that there are many of us that have unresolved feelings on the subject.

Michael Mercer

For more opinions, please see the comments of this post and my instructors' opinions:

Ryan Woodward's Thoughts on R-rated Films

Kelly Loosli's Thoughts on R-rated Films

Ryan Woodward's Thoughts on R-rated Films

Prompted by a good class discussion in my gesture drawing class this Fall, I feel that I should put some of my thoughts about R-rated movies down on paper to avoid any misunderstandings about my own personal views on the subject.

First of all, the most important principle to understand when tackling this subject is the principle of agency. The Lord has not given us a black and white guidelines regarding every challenge that faces us in our lives. Even in the Word of Wisdom, the Lord does not go into detail about how much cake and cookies we can eat or how many days a week we can eat fast food. That would seem to revert us to the Law of Moses. Instead, the Lord gives us “basic” guidelines of health (with some clear cut does and don’ts) and he expects us to judge for ourselves and utilize our knowledge and potential search for knowledge to help us make our own minds up.

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (Moroni 7:16)

The same principle is applied with media and entertainment. We each have to use this precious gift of agency and discernment to understand what content in acceptable and what content is not. With that said, there are going to be a lot of varying opinions about the appropriateness of R-rated films. I have heard several arguments with varying degrees of opinions. What is important for each one of us is to determine right now, what that boundary is. Because whether you don’t watch rated R films or whether you watch all R-rated films, unless you have a set boundary that you personally will not cross, I guarantee, that your standards will eventually be washed away completely. This agency is clear with this council in the For The Strength of Youth Handbook:

Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable.

Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the Spirit and make you less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way. They contradict the Savior’s message of love for one another.

Notice that there is no direct reference to the current rating system. There is no question that many PG and PG-13 films have suggestive and inappropriate content. Clearly, we are encouraged to use our agency. President Ezra Taft Benson draws the line more clearly:

We counsel you, young men, not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterwards. Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. President Ezra Taft Benson, To the Youth of the Noble Birthright. Ensign May 1986

Agency defined is not only the freedom to choose, but a choice accompanied with a knowledge of the consequences. In other words, playing the “ignorant” card will not work with BYU students.

Many of you asked me this question in the class because you want to know my opinion. I will share this with you, but you must understand that first principle of agency. I have chosen a course of action that works for me, and it is a personal decision between the Lord and me. This decision is in no way an argument for judgment against others.

As a young animator and filmmaker, I was surrounded by talented professionals who I wanted to be like. I worked tremendously hard to be in the position I was in at Warner Bros. and I wanted to continue to get better and better. As expected, the topic of conversation in the studio was frequently about the latest films. I loved to hear and contribute in these discussions. However, I found myself conflicted inside when a R-rated film was the topic of discussion. I wanted to watch and learn from every great film out there. I knew there was undoubtedly some good filmmaking to be learned, especially in selective R-rated films. After all, this field is my career. I argued with myself and to the Lord that I needed to learn from these films, and I wanted his approval about going to see them. However, I could not get the topic of faith out of my head. Who did I have faith in to learn even secular knowledge? Successful filmmakers in Hollywood, or maybe the Lord knows something about filmmaking he can teach me? Who do I have faith in that can teach me what I need to know? I resolved that I needed to set up a principle that I would honor for the rest of my life. A principle based on an “If, Then” statement, that I could take to the Lord and plead for his support. That principle became this: If I decide to not watch rated R films, then the Lord will bless me with the skills and knowledge that I would have gained had I watched the film.

Nearly 12 years has passed since I set up that principle and it still becomes a topic of discussion in my prayers. I cannot say I am perfect. I can count on one hand a few slips. And yes, it made me feel terrible inside. Grief follows self-denial. (More on that topic; read The Bonds That Set Us Free, by Terry Warner)

Fortunately, there are other media outlets to see the films that I had missed in the theaters. I look to TV channels like TNT or USA, that professionally edit out R-rated material. However, I am not a supporter of third party editing companies (Clean flicks) that compromise the filmmaker’s art by “hacking” up their films without their consent or approval of the final edit.

As expected, this personal decision of mine has been ridiculed from time to time. Some call it naive, others just say I’m too conservative or I’m not a “real filmmaker”. Regardless, I am at peace.

So, has the Lord blessed me to be a better filmmaker? I have hope and I have faith that indeed he has. One day I will know for sure, but until then, I will continue to act on faith and on the peaceful assurance that this principle has brought me. I would recommend that each of you ponder and pray about this issue with the Lord. Let him know your career dreams, and ask his advice, and if you are inclined, determine your own principle that you will live by, act on it with faith, and see what the Lord blesses you with.

Ryan