Cynematik » Student Successes

3D Animation with Maya

Cyndi Greening — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:15:10 +0000

We spent the last to weeks working with Autodesk Maya. This time, it was at Phoenix Country Day School with students in grades 5 through 11. I am always amazed at how quickly and easily the students adapt to the logic of the software. Within a few hours, they were modeling with polygons, NURBs and subD’s. They were applying surface textures and animating their objects using keyframe and path animation. The thing they liked the most was Learning Maya 6 | Dynamics. They were building bowling alleys, fountains, mousetraps and Rube Golberg devices. It was inspiring, simply inspiring. I’ve read hundreds of (mediocre) Maya books. It’s hard to find good books. The BEST book out there on dynamics is actually published by Alias … and amazingly it was written for version six but it works just as well with the latest versions.

Jordan Wins an Emmy

Cyndi Greening — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:46:07 +0000

My blogging has been atrocious, of late, and I am quite disappointed in myself. I have a really good excuse this time (of course, I always think I have a really good excuse). This time it’s a really good one. I just got back from Los Angeles where I went to see Jordan Pack, a former animation student, win a student Emmy for an animated film he produced. The film was entitled KITES. The film is the story of a boy who comes to deal with his Grandfather’s death by doing something they always did together, flying kites.

Following his graduation from MCC, he was accepted in the Animation and Film program at Brigham Young University. He produced this film his senior year at BYU. He now works for Avalanche (Disney’s gaming arm) were he is a generalist (meaning he does all facets of the gaming production including design, texturing, modeling and such).

Jordan is a really terrific guy … talented, hard-working, creative, generous and kind. He even offered the director (Jed Henry, standing behind him) one-half of the prize money because of all his hard work. He’s just a really decent guy.

Anyway, the ceremony was on Saturday evening at Sony’s Culver City Studios. Fourteen awards were given out. The top three candidates in each category were in attendance. The winner was announced that evening (no one knew who would be the first prize winner). Jordan, James and Jed’s film KITES was the first place winner.

During his acceptance speech, Jordan thanked his wife, his crew and his teachers. He mentioned two professors from BYU (who were in attendance with me). He also thanked Mesa Community College professors Jim Garrison and Cyndi Greening. It was pretty cool to be called out in front of everyone.

Among the presenters were Chris O’Donnell who played Robin to George Clooney’s BATMAN, Masa Oki who plays Hiro from the television show HEROES, and Pauley Perrett who stars on NCIS. There were tons of other industry folks there. Jorge Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua (writer/producerrs of EL TIGRE: THE ADVENTURES OF MANNY RIVERA) were the presenters for the animated film category. During their speech, Jorge revealed that he had won the Student Emmy ten years earlier and it had completely changed his life.

Click on the image above to see the photos from the event.

Living History

Cyndi Greening — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:11:28 +0000

Every place we go, we are reminded of the history of this region. All of the books I’ve been reading for the last several months are springing to life as we make our way around the town. Neither Dublan nor Juarez are very large in terms of population. The main street in each town is only a few blocks long; the town only a few blocks wide. There are colonial homes in nearly every block; the sturdy red brick adorned with white “Gingerbread” exterior moldings, cornices, lattices and bargeboards. Some have been restored and converted into hotels or commercial shops. Some, like “Uncle John and Aunt Joyce’s” and Sister Johnson’s remain in the family. Jared and Jeniece made a visit to the town cemetery and captured evidence of dozens of pioneer families including the Lakes, the Hursts, and the Pierces. There are old tools, fragments of wagons, crumbling adobe buildings and suspension bridges that capture our imagination. The visual artists capture objects to convey the weight of history that we feel everywhere.

Well-Oiled Machine

Cyndi Greening — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:32:33 +0000

After a challenging travel day, we were all worried about how the film shoot would go in Mexico. The day started with everyone feeling apprehensive and anxious. You see, EVERY film shoot is a learning experience because every film is different, ever story is distinct, every location is unique. The saving grace in filmmaking is the crew — or, more precisely — being fortunate enough to work with people you know you can count on. Pamela Jo and I have been working on film projects for over two years so we know that we can depend on the other in these stressful situations. We were fortunate enough to also have two of the crew members from the FILM ZAMBIA crew with us — Jeniece Toranzo and Jared Moschcau. We knew these two knew how to work under pressure and they didn’t disappoint us. We were hoping Michael Montesa would be able to join us but we didn’t give him enough notice.

New to the crew was Justin Moschcau (yes, he is the twin to Jared). We brought him (and a new piece of portable recording equipment) along for sound. It is a bit nerve-wracking to bring new equipment along because you never know if it’s going to perform as expected. Ditto on bringing a new crew member. Justin proved to be a valuable and reliable member of the crew.

At the end of the day, Marvin — a descendant of the Allreds and the McClellans — came by and offered to take someone up in his small, two-seater plane to get some aerial shots of Colonia Dublan. When the cinematographers hadn’t yet returned from 2nd Unit shooting, Justin agreed to take the camera, fold himself into the tiny seat (he is 6′6″), had Marvin attach the gyro … and away he went. They got some great footage of the colony, the orchards, the Paquime ruins, the ranches and the sunset. He was definitely a welcome addition to the crew and I’d gladly work with him again. All in all, it was a very productive day for all of us!

Moviemaking in Mexico

Cyndi Greening — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:28:13 +0000

Well, we headed off to Mexico today — to film in Colonia Dublan and Colonia Juarez — in Chihuahua, Mexico. We hadn’t even left the Phoenix metro area and we had to turn around and go back … the over-heating light on my car kept coming on, so we just didn’t feel safe taking it on the eight-hour trip. We had to turn around and get a different vehicle. That delay put us two hours behind and had us crossing the border at dusk. Then, a delay at the border had us crossing the winding road over the mountains between Sonora and Chihuahua in the dark. We ended up arriving after midnight. It was, to be certain, an inauspicious beginning for the trip. The Mexican countryside was beautiful … and remote.

While we were driving I was thinking about how long it had taken the colonists to make the journey from Snowflake, Arizona, to La Ascension. Our twelve hours were nothing compared to the month it took them in their horse-drawn wagons. Some of the journal entries we read were about losing a family member along the journey and having to bury them in these vast, vacant prairies. What an unbearable horror that would have been.

Universal Remote Productions

Cyndi Greening — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:58:38 +0000

When I was younger, I read an article about Human Success Dysfunction (that’s my term for it). It was during one of those phases when I was doing a lot of self-help reading. This particular syndrome, HSD, talked about how children will sometimes self-sabotage their ability to succeed to avoid out-doing their parents and making them “feel bad” because their is child getting “more” than they may have been able to get. There was also a section on the HSD parents, some of whom undermine their children to ensure they are not successful so the parents can remain in power, continue to have the wisdom and be in charge. All very unpleasant. The healthy alternative was that people do what they’re best at and not worry about that competitive thing within the family but simply celebrate each other’s gifts and successes.

So, much to my delight, I get to announce that Alec (my smart, talented, handsome boy) and his friend, Pacino, have started a production company in New York. The company, Universal Remote Productions specializes in digital media production and post-production. They edit, do 3D design and production, motion graphics and flash for web. They have a lot of contemporary music connections (because Pacino used to be in a successful touring band) and a lot independent film connections. One of the projects they worked on was Three Thug Mice. Now, they’re on to their own thing. It’s exciting for me to be able to write about what the guys are working on. Pamela Jo and I have been helping with paperwork and web spaces and all of that mundane business stuff that no one likes to do (not even us) but we want to be supportive. I wish them the best of luck and all the success in the world! I’m only a little envious.

The Rise of Shawn Downs

Cyndi Greening — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:40:03 +0000

BY CYNDI GREENING, ARIZONA, USA – Shawn Downs, the gaffer and sometimes cinematographer on the FilmZambia projects, is completing his thesis film at the LA Film School. You can view the trailer for THE HUNTER on YouTube. It is visually compelling, a nice piece of filmmaking. Often, beginning filmmakers think the dialog is the most important part and spend all of their time shooting actors talking. (Hence the horrifying descriptor, a Talking Heads Movie. Woe the director who makes a talking heads movie.) Shawn was never confused about the fact that filmmaking was telling stories with pictures and that it is different from, well, audio books or radio. Shawn’s moving pictures are moving. I like the rack shot with the arrow (a tad faster would be swell but perhaps he’ll speed that up in post). The choreography of the fight sequences looks very Wong Kar Wai-ish. Lyrical. And, I do love the sound effects. That chilling sound of the blade being pulled from the scabbord is chilling at the end. Okay, I am not keen on the opening graphic and hope that doesn’t make it to the final but, heck, if I had a bunch of money, I’d be having him direct something for me. Wouldn’t you?

Congratulations to Shawn. Since we returned from Africa, it has been an intense year for him. He has dedicated himself to filmmaking and, like several of the other Zambia crew members, he has taken the necessary steps to make his life line up around his goals. Of course, I think the goal of visual storyelling is a noble one. Gifted filmmakers give viewers access to people and places they might never see, propel them to have thoughts about relationships or quests they might never have had, perhaps even to relax and be entertained after a gruelling week. Shawn is beginning his quest and he’s making a strong first step.

Beulah & Holly are Almost Famous

Cyndi Greening — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:31:06 +0000

BY CYNDI GREENING, MESA, ARIZONA – I was watching television a couple of weeks ago and saw one of my digital filmmaking students on the news. Beulah Martin (and daughter Holly) were entering the ALMOST FAMOUS 48 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL. If Tigger were a grandmother, he’d be Beulah. She has boundless energy and even more enthusiasm for a film task you put in front of her. The films that they made tended to make had strong stories and, generally, a fun sense of humor. They didn’t win the festival but they did get their film up in lights. Beulah writes:

BEULAH: Holly and I are still engrossed in trying to learn about filmmaking. We entered the “Almost Famous” Film Festival. Our film did not make top 20, but did make honorable mention out of 81 teams. In fact, we were voted Audience Favorite on the night our film screened at Harkins and so we got to be shown again that Thurs. atthe top 20 screenings. That was a good experience to see our film on the big screen. We do enjoy reading your blog as it helps keep us informed on a lot of things going on in the independent film world.

At one point, Beulah had inquired about going to Zambia. She just loves filmmaking and good stories. I don’t know why she decided not to go … no doubt some other film project came her way.

Revisiting FilmZambia Crew Reels

Cyndi Greening — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 01:59:39 +0000

BY CYNDI GREENING, PHOENIX, USA — Working on the film trailers has us revisting all of the shooting days and recalling the terrific, dedicated work of our amazing FilmZambia crew. Their dedication and determination were unparalleled. So, a reminder to take a look at their reels if you’re looking for a crew member who will do whatever it takes to get your film done!

Helping Find YOUR Voice, Tell YOUR Story

Cyndi Greening — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 02:51:13 +0000

BY CYNDI GREENING & PAMELA BOWMAN, PHOENIX, USA – The FilmZambia project has been a life-altering, monumental experience for all who participated. It is because of the Zambian project that we (the producers) have come to realize and refine our life mission. We experienced such satisfaction and joy at helping to bring a new voice to the global cinema, in educating filmmaking students in Zambia, in watching our MCC students expand their skills and have profound cultural experiences. The goal of educating, developing and supporting new voices in global cinema continues to be one of our primary concerns.

However, after attending the Sundance Film Festival in January, we realized that we were overlooking the voices of U.S. filmmakers. We were inspired to expand our commitment to include finding and nurturing the voices of new filmmakers in the U.S. Attending the festival, we found our voice and are stating our desire to help storytellers and filmmakers find their unique voice and get their story into the national market.

So, we are pleased to announce the launch of Greening Productions / Angel&Wings Productions, a site devoted to supporting independent filmmakers worldwide. (You will have to read the story of how the company name was bestowed upon us in Zambia! Whle we don’t make religious films, we are committed to doing good work.) On the site, you will find the dates and times for classes and seminars that will be offered in the Phoenix metroarea. These classes will also be available in different national locations in the near future. In addition, we are making DVDs available to assist in your digital film development.

Wherever we traveled, people interested in film would pepper us with questions. Due to limited time, we felt we could not give adequate answers or explanations. Through these classes and products, we are now able to provide information and assistance to future filmmakers.

So enjoy the site and let us know what you think! If you have thoughts on other products and classes we could offer that would be of support. We will continue our global projects (we are currently working on a FilmEcuador project and a FilmSenegal project), also. We appreciate your feedback and thoughts!

Back in the Saddle Again

Cyndi Greening — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 14:44:44 +0000

FINALLY finished my pity party and am back on the bright side today! I started working on the Zambian film project yesterday (with a vengeance) and got myself all excited again. So, I’m back on the bandwagon and working hard.

[Don't get confused -- although, Lord knows, I get confused by me sometimes -- I still love teaching and will miss it tremendously. I'm just focusing on how I can teach in Zambia and other environs to keep myself happy.]

Gina and Margaret have come on board to help with producing tasks for the film. With three of us in the harnesses, pulling in the same direction, we’re moving at a quicker clip. Contracts are being written and signed. The press kit is being completed. The proposal and budget are being finalized. Eeeeee-yah!! Ride’em cowgirl. Let’s get a move on.

MCC Art Student Awarded $18,000

Cyndi Greening — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 03:22:17 +0000

Artist Michael Moore was awarded $18,000 by Columbus College of Art and Design. Moore submitted a portfolio of his work and application and competed with students nationwide.

Located in Columbus, Ohio, CCAD is a wonderful Art school. (I envy their many galleries!) Maricopa Community Colleges have an articulation agreement with CCAD that makes it very easy and appealing for Maricopans to continue their studies toward their Bachelor’s degree.

At CCAD, more than 1,300 students from 40 states and 30 foreign countries are enrolled in one or more of seven majors: Advertising and Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Fine Arts (including painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and glassblowing), Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Media Studies (including photography, digital imaging, video and film, storyboard and computer animation, and photo illustration). In addition to major areas of concentration, they offer specialized courses of study in animation, art therapy, computer graphics, fashion illustration, product design, package design, and photography.

Students Serve MCC While Learning

Cyndi Greening — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 03:01:04 +0000

The Media Arts students took on several projects for the college recently. The Graphic Design students worked on posters for Assessment Week, Communication Day, the annual Student Art Show, Media Arts courses of study (to send to high schools) and Graduation reminders. Eric Aguirre did an amazing poster on graphic design and illustration. Made to look like a comic book or graphic novel, it’s wonderfully engaging. Jeniece Toranzo made a companion poster for motion media (digital filmmaking and animation) that is visually compelling and powerful, as well.

M.K. Racine has been working diligently for over a month on the creating downloadable PDFs on ALL of the programs at Mesa Community College. She’s done a fabulous job! I’m incredibly excited to know that students and community members can quickly access information on programs without having to drive to campus and wander around to find a printed brochure. I’m hoping this means interested individuals can get information immediately (and THEN come to campus to talk to instructors and advisors). M.K. also produced both the Communication and Assessment posters!

Media Arts Filmmaking Students (there are over 20 students involved) are working on Video Spotlight Promos on a variety of careers available on campus. Student producer/directors set up the shoots, student videographers captured footage, and student editors are putting the promos together. The real standouts thus far have been Jeniece Toranzo, Lindsey Black, Michael Montesa, Carlos Espinoza, Gina Puma, Pam Bowman, and Stephen Shelley. My son, Alec Hart even worked as a videographer on one of the shoots.

Heath McKinney has almost turned himself inside out getting a dual-language DVD ready for the Spanish-speaking market. He, Ross Ingle, Jeanette Roe and I recorded the absolutely fabulous Sherrie Soria doing an informational presentation in Spanish. We’re trying to finalize the edit. We’re struggling with silly things (like how to hide the holes in the wall where I removed the clock from the wall). Originally, we had hoped to have it ready for an on-campus presentation on Friday but we’ve finally conceded that we’ll have to mail them next week. Regardless, we do have a Spanish-language DVD for the school … AND, it’s ready to be used NOW … to support enrollment for the fall. You gotta feel good about that. Kudos to Heath and Ross for super-human effort.

We’ve shifted into our final couple of projects. A Chinese-language DVD/CD and an interactive MCC promo CD. Oh yeah, and the Zambia project.

The students have said that they learned soooo much from doing these projects. There’s nothing like “real” clients and “real” deadlines to really drive the lessons home for them. I’m really glad we were able to serve the college AND the student learning at the same time!

Steven Glauser Accepted in Animation Program

Cyndi Greening — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 03:22:07 +0000

Some great news from former student Stephen Glauser today! Stephen took the beginning filmmaking and other media arts classes. He did one of the funniest short films I’ve ever seen. He spoofed campus security. It was a hoot! So, it was no surprise to hear that he’s doing well at BYU. He writes:

“Sorry it has taken me so long to write. For the past two semesters i have been working my ar$$ off. I never knew how intense the animation program is here. Finally, after a year, I got my portfolio put together and submitted it. Who would have thought that of all the applicants they only choose sixteen. Luckily I am one of them. Hooray for me!!! That was the hardest thing I’ve done and I am not close to being over …. I miss you and your classes, they were fun.”

Of course, I send my heartfelt congratulations to Stephen (and family … Mrs. Stephen is in the family way) AND look forward to hearing all about his future successes. I’m sure there will be many!

Animation & Film at BYU

Cyndi Greening — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 04:25:19 +0000

Since I have so many students who go to Brigham Young University after they complete their studies at MCC, I am getting quite familiar with their program. Both their film and animation programs look quite impressive. Some of the student productions have won prestigious awards and their graduates are doing quite well! I found a wonderful animated short that they’re working on called OUT ON A LIMB. They’ve got character sketches, environments, animatics and support materials online.

Since I’ve studied in Mexico (twice), I love the idea of a story from a piñata’s point of view! Not to mention, when I was in sixth grade, my family took a trip to California. We crossed the border to Tijuana and misplaced my younger brother for a short while. (Fortunately, we found him under a table.) My mom bought a piñata that she wanted to bring home. There was no room in the car. There was some suggestion about tying it to the roof of the car but Dad said it would be shredded in seconds. So, we left it behind.