Friday (Day 5)

I don’t really consider today a Siggraph day.  We looked at the schedule and since the exhibition was closed, there was nothing really important going on so we went sight seeting.  We took the subway to Hollywood Blvd and walked around for a while.  We ate at a California Pizza Kitchen (friggin awesome pizza), and then started to walk towards the Hollewood sign.  We walked and walked and walked and walked.  Did I mention we walked?  One of the locals had to direct us to the right street which required climbing down the mountain we had just climbed.  Once we reached the right street, we were so tired that we took the picture below and walked back to Hollywood Blvd.

From there we took a bus and somehow ended up in the subway again but eventually made it to Universal Studios Hollywood.  Citywalk looks alot like the citywalk here in Florida.  maybe it’s just me.  =)  Then we took the train again and then a bus and a couple of miles on foot and we ended up in Beverly Hills.  beautiful place by the way.  Very expensive though.  Here I had the BEST MILKSHAKE I have ever had.  It was at a little Diner that I don’t even remember the name.  Very good Califonia burger too.  Who would’ve thought to put avacado in a burger??  =) 

Then a friend picked us up and we drove down to the Santa Monica Pier.  Really cool place.  Rollercoaster, ferris wheel, a TON of arcade games, etc.  And yes, I stepped in California water and it’s friggin cold.  I’m used to Florida water.  Awesome way to end my week though.  Awesome trip all around.  Looking forward to next year’s trip to New Orleans Siggraph 2009. 

Click here to see the pics from Day 5 on Photobucket.

Today was more of a relaxed day.  It was the last day of the exhibition so everybody was winding down.  Still a cool day.  Collected more swag and YES!!  I GOT MY TEAPOT!!!  After standing in line for an hour and a half, I finally got my hands on one.  I’ve heard so much about them from previous years, and it was everything its cracked up to be =).  Walking teapots . . . now I feel like a real animator.

Then I attended a really cool tech talk on Speed Racer and how they used the software Massive to create all of these race scenes and how they spent countless hours on getting the cars to move the way they wanted them to and how in the end . . . . they scrapped it all and used hand keyframed animation.  =)  Gotta love productions.  Also went to a tech talk for KungFu Panda.  It was all about the visual design of the film. 

After that I just went back to the conference and collected even more swag (love swag . . . I even like saying swag).  After that we walked over to the Nokia Theater once more and this time it was a talk by the Director of the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, Dave Filoni.  He was actually interviewed by John Knoll.  Very interesting talk about the movie and creative decisions made on the film.  He also said that George Lucas couldn’t be there because he was working on the TV series that goes along with the movie.  Afterwards we get to see the actual movie.  A day before it came out.  In beautiful HD at the Nokia Theater on a HUGE screen.  Hate me yet?  =)  Very cool way to end the night. Oh and before I forget, before the talk started, there were Star Troopers shooting t-shirts into the crowd. 

Check out the pictures of Day 4 on Photobucket.

Well Day 3 was simply unbelievable.  At first we just walked around the conference some more, got some more swag, etc.  Didn’t get my teapot yet but my friend Brian got one.  %^#*&$.  Walked around some more and then I decided to hit the tech talks.  The first one was called “Machines and Monsters: ‘Cloverfield’ and ‘Iron man’”  This is one of the best talks I have attended so far in this conference.  They showed the making of Clover himself (see photobucket pictures and video of the talk below) as well as Iron Man.  Take a look at the Iron Man video (42min) which has the entire talk on that film.  This is the kind of stuff that will end up on the DVD special features (maybe).

 Nothing else really happened until about 8pm that night when we went to a Production Night at the Nokia Theater.  They had a tribute to Stan Winston and had the actualy Iron man suit on stage along with a model of Terminator 2 that San himself worked on before he passed away.  The best part is, it was hosted by JAMES CAMERON!!!  He was actually there along with Stan’s son.  I have included the video of the tribute video and James Cameron talking.  They showed Terminator 2 afterwards, but the tribute alone was worth the trip to LA.  After that we went sight seeing in Hollywood.  By the way . . . never get into the LA subway system after midnight.  =)

Click HERE to view Day 3 pictures on Photobucket

Cloverfield Video:

Iron Man Video:

Stan Winston Trubute:

Today the exhibition opened and we were there about 45 minutes before the flood gates opened.  Everybody there was aparently rushing to the Pixar booth to get a Wall-E poster so I followed.  Very nice poster by the way.  I know what you’re thinking, “what about the teapot?”, well, that comes later.  =)  I walked around collecting swag for a few hours and then I decided to hit some of the talks.

Rhyth & Hues hosted an excellent talk on the making of the Incredible Hulk, showing off the muscle system, the pulse system, the texturing, and a ton of other cool stuff (See YouTube video below).  They also showed some technical things from Madagascar 2.  Click on the picture above or here to go to the Photopucket folder for Day 2 and check out all the cool stills I took.

 I then attended a talk on some of the technical issues with Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.  They discussed how they created 865 shots.  I will post audio of this talk later.

Then I attended a talk hosted by John Lassatter himself /\ /\ (director of Toy Story, A Bugs Life, etc.) at the Nokia theater accross the street from the convention center.  It was a tribute to the man who hand animated “The man who planted trees”, Frédéric Back who was there also (1929-Present).  Then we got to watch a documentary on the History of Pixar, written and directed by Leslie Iwerks who is the granddaughter of the great Ub Iwerks (1901-1971), Walt Disney’s partner.  Great documentary.  She is a really great film maker.

Click here to see the stills from Day 2 in Photobucket.

We arrived in LA at around 9:30am California time.  We jumped in a cab and drove to the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown LA.  We weren’t allowed to check in yet so we left our bags with the consierge and walked down to the convention center to sign in. 

We walked around for a few hours in the areas that were open and eventually made it to Hall B for the first talk of our trip.  It just so happened to be hosted by Ed Catmull (one of the founders of Pixar.  VERY COOL). 

After this we made our way back to the hotel and signed in.  We got all cleaned up and jumped in a cab to the Shrine Auditorium for the Autodesk User group and party.  Very awesome auditorium by the way.  At the Users Group, they debuted the new Maya 2009, Motion Builder 2009, and my personal favorite, MudBox 2.0.  I have included the demo of MudBox in the video below.  They also showed a bunch of demo videos in Stereoscopic 3D.

 After the awesome presentation, we were all escorted to the ballroom where they were hosting the after-party.  Free food and free alcohol all night.  WOO-HOO!!!  The had a catering service serving food all night and they had about 8 stations with all of their software for you to try.  All of this while playing some very loud music and free bar.  We were so Jet-lagged, that we stayed for a little bit and then went back to the hotel to crash.  Awesome start so far.

Lucasfilm will present an exclusive advance screening of their highly-anticipated animated film “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” as part of the new Production Studio Nights at the SIGGRAPH 2008 Computer Animation Festival.Hosted by John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor from Industrial Light & Magic, the evening will begin with a behind-the-scenes discussion about the film’s design and style with the film’s Director, Dave Filoni. The advance screening of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” will follow the discussion on Thursday, 14 August at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, California.

“SIGGRAPH is honored to host this special advance screening at the Festival,” stated Jill Smolin, SIGGRAPH 2008 Entertainment Director. “The Star Wars films have always been stellar examples of visionary visual effects. Seeing these effects paired with computer animation, and the behind-the-scenes knowledge from Dave Filoni will be an incredible experience for fans and film professionals alike.”

In addition to the Production Studio Nights, this year’s Festival will also feature talks and screenings dedicated to stereoscopic 3D research, applications, and programming. In a series of talks, experts will teach the foundations of 3D, from acquisition to projection and from history to the future. Screenings of 3D shorts and clips from 3D features will be shown in a montage of creations from the past, and previews of tomorrow’s achievements. In addition, the popular “U2 3D” will be screened in its entirety.

Computer Graphics World knows that YOU will be the next generation of leaders and will take our industry to the levels of technology we can only dream about today.

CGW has planned something special just for you. We have gathered some of the industry’s biggest names to give you an insight into this ever-changing and exciting field.

ALL Siggraph Student volunteers are invited to join us for a Lunch&Learn on Monday, August 11th.

Here is what we have planned:

Guest Speakers:
• Tim Sarnoff – President of Sony Pictures Imageworks
• Carlos Felipe Leon – Recent Supinfocom grad and SIGGRAPH Animation Festival 2008 Student Prize nominee
• Melissa Cobb – Producer Kung Fu Panda
• John Stevenson – Director Kung Fu
 Panda from DreamWorks

A bunch of FREE STUFF in our packed gift bags–and, of course, LUNCH!
(meal vouchers will be provided)

When: Monday, August 11th 10:30 am – noon
Where: Job Fair Seminar Room,
Los Angeles Convention Center

Please RSVP no later than 8/8/08.

For questions or comments contact
Lisa Black lisab@copcomm.com

BOOTH #739

Creaform unveils new product at siggraph 2008
Creaform specializes in 3D scanning and realistic 3D reproductions. The company has developed and distributes the Handyscan 3D line-up of self-positioning handheld and truly portable laser scanners.
A regular exhibitor at SIGGRAPH, Creaform will take advantage of this exceptional venue to pre-launch its new and most advanced laser scanner. To see this advanced scanner in action and to learn more about all the applications of the Handyscan 3D line-up of laser scanners, come and visit us booth #453.
Plus, Creaform will participate in the Tech Talk series of conferences.
What? Handyscan 3D : Real-Time, True Color Reconstruction of Textured 3D Models
When? Wednesday August 13th, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Where? Hall G, Room 2
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About Creaform
Creaform is a world-class technological company offering 3D digital solutions with offices in Canada, the United States, France, China and Japan. Creaform combines every 3D process and technology with innovative solutions that can cover the entire range of 3D needs: 3D scanning, reverse engineering, inspection, styling, design, analysis and digital manufacturing.
Creaform has developed and sells the Handyscan 3DTM line of products. These revolutionizing self-positioning handheld 3D laser scanners provide real-time 3D rendering visualization and generate files that can be exported to most CAD platforms. Due to its true portability, versatility and precision, the Handyscan 3DTM line of products makes 3D scanning more simple than ever.