Hello everyone!

[Merc]

I've been having a ball lately watching all the YouTube debate and debunking videos and stumbled onto this site through AndromedasWake's profile. I'm a freethinker currently residing in Connecticut -yes, the same state that produced this recent national newsworthy gem - and I'm a big believer in science and rationality.

I move about once every 6 - 12 months and work in the field of feature animation (latest project was Ice Age 3), which is amusing because a large portion of the people that work on those kiddie-type movies like me are actually freethinkers/skeptics. I love attending lectures in my spare time (which isn't much). I'm a part of a skeptics group in Connecticut called "Drinking Skeptically" and we meet once a month to discuss ideas and listen to speakers like Carl Zimmer. In October we're taking a group trip to the Ig Nobel prizes up at Harvard if anyone wants to join!

I just wanted to say to all the freethinkers out there who are putting up very polished and professional debates/responses on YouTube that you guys are AWESOME and keep up the great work! When I get tired of listening to music on my computer I'll start up a playlist of CRaP Debunked or various other debates and just listen (over my headphones of course) and laugh and learn. I look forward to posting on a forum of people interested in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Thanks!

 

[buzzausa]

Wow..feature animation...that sounds cool. Even cooler though "Drinking skeptically"......genius.

Welocme to the LoR Merc

 

[Merc]

Thanks buzzausa! Nice to meet you! :mrgreen:

 

[e2iPi]

Hi Merc. Pleased to meet you.

As for the video: :facepalm:

-1

 

[CosmicSpork]

Welcome Merc

I envy you working in that part of the industry!

My dream job used to be a modeller and/or animator for Pixar, Dreamworks or ILM but unfortunately, it hasn't happened, and don't feel I'm good enough (particularly not now) to compete with others who go for such jobs...

 

[Merc]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes!

@e2iPi: I headdesked when I saw that video too. I didn't even know about it until I heard about it on the news, and then when I heard it took place only 15 minutes away from me I totally facefaulted. XD

@CosmicSpork: That's AWESOME that you want to be a modeler/animator. I will say that you'd probably have a better shot at getting work as a modeler than as an animator, but both are really difficult areas to be in. Modeling departments are notoriously small so they can be quite tricky to navigate into, but once you're in you're set so that's always a good thing. If you're really interested in animation I would highly recommend you take a look at animationmentor.com. I only say that because the majority of the new animation hires I encounter at these studios are graduates of that program. It's pretty fantastic and apparently well worth the money. I was acquainted with a couple of the teachers over at Dreamworks Animation when I worked there.

It's funny that you mention DreamWorks Animation since I used to work there. I was a production assistant on Monsters vs Aliens, then I came up to Blue Sky Studios to work on Ice Age 3 as a technical assistant/ lighter. I'm hoping by my next film I'll be made a full-fledged lighter, until then I'll continue to pull double-duty by lighting a small amount of shots as a secondary role while my primary role remains as an IT-type data management specialist (basically a technical director).

If you really want to get into the industry and don't really know how, I'd suggest taking a look at the studios' various outreach programs. Blue Sky doesn't have one but both Pixar and Dreamworks do. I can't speak for ILM since I've only ever stayed within the animation sphere. But don't give up hope! :mrgreen: I will say that your skills in web are impressive, I love how you got the site working in 6 browsers! I can't do web to save my life, I suck at site design and the coding changes too fast for me to completely grasp. Your post on votebotting was interesting.