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Oregon3D and Discreet Provide Storytelling and Animation Seminars at GDC

Mar 5, 2004 12:00 PM, Press Release

Oregon3D, The Academy for Digital Arts & Sciences, and Discreet, a division of Autodesk, today announced the upcoming "Storytelling and Animation" seminars at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Jose, Calif. Scheduled for Thursday, March 25, this two-part class will explore in-depth, the world of animation from a general overview to the current state of animation as a career. Taught by distinguished industry professionals Andrew Gordon, animator from Pixar Animation Studios, and Mike Wellins, an award-winning former director from Will Vinton Studios, this class will include minute details on creating great animation, dynamic filmmaking and editing.

During this two-part class, Gordon and Wellins will discuss animation fundamentals and principles, animation directing, the basics of performance staging, blocking and storytelling, editing for emotion, and classic character animation while incorporating specific examples from films and television. Part 1 will focus on animation principles, weight and balance, and acting for animators. Part 2 will focus on storytelling and directing with demonstrative examples of both good and bad.

Andrew Gordon has been animating characters professionally for more than ten years. He joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1997 where he has been an animator on "A Bug's Life", "Toy Story 2", "Finding Nemo" and he was the lead animator on the character "Mike Wazowski" for "Monsters, Inc." Andrew recently won an award for "Outstanding Character Animation in an Animated Motion Picture" from the Visual Effects Society Award for his contribution to the "speaking whale" sequence in "Finding Nemo". Andrew is currently working on "The Incredibles" which is due for release on Nov. 5, 2004. Prior to Pixar, Andrew worked in classic animation at Warner Bros.

Mike Wellins is a prolific independent filmmaker and commercial director of animation. Currently Wellins is working at Happy Hour Entertainment in Portland, Oregon. Wellins was also a staff director at Will Vinton Studios for five-and-a-half years. At Will Vinton Studios Wellins directed dozens of commercials for clients ranging from Kikkoman to Playstation, as well as television pilots, a video for the "Powerpuff Girls," and an episode of Fox's "The PJs." Wellins' professional and independent work has earned numerous awards, including an Annie for best-animated commercial. His films have been featured in "The Sick and Twisted" and have appeared on Cartoon Network, MTV and the Sci-fi Channel. Mike has made over 60 films (both long and short, live and animated), including two low budget feature films.

The Oregon 3D Storytelling and Animation Seminar is a two-part course taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 at GDC in the San Jose Hall -Room #C3. For information on additional classes, pricing and class registration, visit the Discreet website at www.discreet.com/events/gdc2004/ or contact Oregon3D's toll free number at (866) 626-9100.

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