Where the heck have you been?! - May 2019 Update
Howdy Folks!
This is an update to where the heck I've been over the past year. I had the wonderful opportunity to work at Groove Jones, a VR/AR Studio, focused on creating huge experiences with a crack team of talented artists. I was recently let go from Groove Jones and am jumping back into some projects at home and applying to different studios.
It was a very challenging year for me working at Groove Jones. I learned how to create an animation pipeline, set up naming conventions for the studio, rig people for motion capture animation, work with the XSENS suit, MotionBuilder, iPhone AR, Unreal Engine, Unity, script more efficiently in Python, create snap chat filters for clients, work with animators to fix rig issues and bugs, rig cars, and communicate with a small team of artists.
( FEEE-EEW! What a mouth full!)
We had a lot of projects to work on that had to be finished in a fast pace, which forced me to work quickly and learn from a lot of my mistakes. This was my first job in the animation industry. After this experience, I definitely have an idea of how independent studios work.
The thing I am going to miss the most are the people. Everyone I got to meet at Groove Jones always had a wonderful personality and walking in each day was a blast. Not only are the people talented at the studio, but they have the biggest hearts.
Co-workers are willing to help you in any way possible and teach you new things to make you grow as a person. I seriously wish everyone in the studio the best, because it was wonderful getting to make new friends and produce projects over the past year.
I am very thankful for my time working at Groove Jones! It's amazing that I got to stay in my home town and get started in an industry that I have been wanting to be in for years. Thank you guys so much for giving me a shot! I will miss all of you and can't wait to see what new experimental projects you guys pull off next. :)
Below is a collection of pictures of working and goofing with some great friends I met over the past year! Photos were taken from the Groove Jones Facebook, by Henry Casillas and friends and myself.
What projects did you work on specifically at Groove Jones?
The Modelo Fighting Spirit Challenge (Facial Blend Shape Artist):
Covestro VR Experience (Rigger, Motion Capture Technician):
Ford 360 Co-Pilot VR Experience (Rigger):
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American Horror Story AR Experience - 2018 Comic Con (Rigging Supervisor and Motion Capture Technician and Actor):
Perot Museum – Pachyrhinosaurus Snapchat Lens (Rigger and Project Lead):
Perot Museum - Dinaledi Chamber VR Experience (Rigger):
I will be making web pages for some of these projects with more in depth explanations.
Check out my newest demo reel! It has all the stuff I worked on at Groove Jones:
So, what am I up to now?
Well, I am getting back on my feet and going over my fundamentals for rigging, learning more about anatomy, learning more Python, posting memes and applying to different jobs and reaching out to different studios. I have some projects that I want to tackle while I have this time in between jobs and I want to make sure that my rigging is solid.
Also, I am probably going to renovate this website a little bit and actually buy a domain name because, man that is way overdue!
What's the status on the Barbarian Rig? Any update?
I had to temporarily stop working on the project, because Groove Jones took up a lot of my time and other personal things got in the way. The really cool thing is that I actually got to meet Corey Loftis, the designer of the Barbarian himself! At CTNx, I ran to the stage after the talk for Wreck It Ralph 2 was done and he told me that he had a booth for people to ask him questions and for buying his wicked merch. He's a terrific guy and you should follow him on Twitter! (@CoryLoftis) Also, follow Alena Wooten (@MumboooJumbooo)! She does 3D sculpts for films and she did an amazing job with Cory's artwork!
Cory Loftis Website
Alena Wooten's Website
Met these wonderful people! Alena Wooten(Left) and Cory Loftis (Right) at CTNx 2018
Anyways, go on...
The Barbarian Rig will be tackled again soon. I am hoping this year. I am collaborating with some friends on different projects and will be rigging some characters before I jump back on that horse.
After talking with my mentor, Ben Rische and the modeler, Josh Caroll, they said that a team of riggers typically take on this big character, so the fact that I made it as far as I did is really good! The last thing I was focusing on were the skin weights, but part of me feels like I need to start over or at least deconstruct what I already have and make something fresh. I have gotten a lot faster at rigging over the past year. I can tell you for sure that I am probably going to be really critical once I open that file again. I am either thinking of tackling the face or going back to the body again.
Are you doing okay?
Honestly, I am excited for my next adventure. I am ready to go over my fundamentals for rigging, learn more Python and a little bit of PyMel and see where the universe takes me next. If you want to see more updates from me or retweets of stupid stuff follow me @nickpick150 on Twitter or you can keep up with me on here. I am stupidly active on Twitter, but I just wanted to update this blog for myself.
Hopefully, there will be more to come on this website and blog.
Your Rigging Pal,
Nick Harvey
