Production Update 147: Shots, Shots, Shots

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Chris Biewer

Back home from AnimeFargo, and it was a blast. I can already say that I am excited for next year! I will have more on AnimeFargo later this week in a recap.

Let’s dive into production update! I was able to wrap up the two short scenes that I mentioned in the last production update. These shots will need to get sent off for audio production this week. Here is a still frame from the recent shots that have been finished.

After completing these scenes, I was able to start working on framing up the next scene. The next scene is composed of 11 shots, so this one will take a little bit more time to wrap up. I have the backgrounds framed for these shots, so the next step is roughing out the timing of the shots and also rendering out the high resolution or beauty versions.

Unfortunately, I discovered I missed a couple scenes in terms of inking and coloring. So over the next week or so that will be my area of focus. To give you all some context, it looks like there are about 5 scenes left including the one I will begin production on.

I am going to get onto inking. Stay tuned for an AnimeFargo recap this week! Thanks for visiting!

Production Update 145: Labor Day Quickie

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Chris Biewer

Keeping this week’s update short and simple since I took Labor Day off from working on stuff and everyone will probably be playing catch up this week.

My goal this week was to get all of the backgrounds rendered out, get crowds built and also get things roughly timed out. I was able to do that on the shots I am currently working on. The first scene is 3 shots and the second scene I am working on is only 1 shot.

My goal for the next production update will be to have both of these scenes finished up and sent in for audio work.

Quick side note, there won’t be a post up later this week on Thursday since I will be traveling for work for the last half of the week and into the weekend. So the next, time I will be posting will be next weeks production update along with some production art!

Have a great week everyone!

Production Update 130: New Scene Production Begins

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Chris Biewer

Production update once again and things are back in order after the slight issue with production last week. The shot I was working on was finished up after another slight production modification as well.

The current scene I am working on has 4 more shots in it. I found out last week when I was starting to prepare the shots, I forgot to actually color and shade the character artwork for the scenes, so I spent the night doing that and also coloring a piece for the dialogue scenes for the e-book. I also got cameras positioned in the scenes so I can start setting up test renders this week. I am hoping I can actually finish up all 4 shots this week.

I also received the first draft of the previous scene I completed with audio work. We have some revisions to make to the scene, so I hope I can get that back this upcoming week as well.

I think I can get these shots done because this past week we spent some time working in our gardens and getting the fences put up for the year. I will probably spend some more time in the gardens this weekend to finish up planting and to also get the netting up to keep the deer out.

Over the weekend I also spent most of Saturday fixing up a cabinet that we are going to add to our apartment. It’s a nice break to get away from the computer for a day and work with some physical materials.

Production Update 129: Scene Complete!

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Chris Biewer

I was finally able to get that pesky scene done. It felt like I have been working on tat scene for a long time. Lots of things sprung up during production on that specific scene. The scene has been sent off to get audio work done. Here is actually a screenshot of the final shot from that scene.

I also spent some time this week with some revisions to the freelance project I was working on. Have one last minor edit to wrap up and then it should be good to go.

I also traveled and visited some family over the weekend. It was good to see them and things have been somewhat stabilizing with my grandpa and his condition.

One pleasant surprise this week, was the notification we got that we would be able to get into our garden almost month earlier than last year! So we spent part of Sunday putting up the fence and getting some early crops planted.

Given all of that, I am starting to prepare things for the next scene. Just to give you an idea of the next scene, it is composed of 5 shots. I am aiming to get a good chunk of it wrapped up for the next production update. I am anticipating that 3 of the shots will need 3D background renderings that will be more than one frame so part of the progress will be focused on how fast things render.

I also have a few minor edits and tweaks to make in anticipation for Akon 26 in Dallas, TX.

Production Update 121

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Chris Biewer

It was a good week getting back to Cosmic Rage and not having to worry about final projects and being able to focus in on my artwork. I had a couple events at the end of the week to attend that did hinder production a touch, coupled with the nice weather we had, I needed to get outdoors. Thursday I hosted a monthly animation meet up and on Friday I checked out a local art gallery reception. It was a good time to reconnect with a few people and artists I haven’t seen for a while.

The cool thing about the art gallery, is that it has some art spaces for rent. I have really been on the fence about getting a space, maybe this summer sometime. Speaking of new spaces, I got approved to move into a new apartment, so the end of the month will mark the beginning of a new apartment. I will be sure to get some photos up of the new space and my desk when I get things organized.

This week I was able to get 3 more shots done. I am sitting at about 40% for this current scene getting it wrapped up. The goal is to have it done by next week for the production update. I will be back in 3D this week and will need to get some background renders done for some of the upcoming shots. The good news is my laptop will be able to render all day since I won’t need it for work. I would also like to get some new production art up for next week since it has been a while.

Other than that, I have been submitting a few things for panels, artist alleys and more for con season. Once I hear back on those I will get notifications and such posted up on the site and maybe we will meet up at a con!

Production Update 119 Finals Week

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Chris Biewer

I’ll keep this week’s update short and sweet. This week I was able to sneak in one shot before being assigned our final project for my online course. So while it wasn’t a ton of work I got done, I have started piecing together this scene and the first shot is wrapped up. I might be able to sneak in a little bit of work this week, but no promises.

I say that because last week I found out that final project for my online course is going to last this week yet. I am not complaining, because this project will be a fun way to test my skills and everything I learned over the past 6 weeks. As a reward, I will post up the video on this blog so you can all see what I have been up to.

I am looking forward to wrapping up the class and getting back full throttle on Cosmic Rage!

Production Update 118 Animatic Complete!

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Chris Biewer

It was nice being able to stay at my own apartment this weekend and getting some work done. Most of the actual weekend was consumed with my online course homework. This is the final week of the course! I did have a little bit of down time this week in between my homework and a blizzard to wrap up the animatic for the new scene I am working on. Which means I have started working on the actual shots. As I type this, I am rendering out the background for the first shot. This upcoming week I do have homework and I am sure it will be pretty crazy, but my goal is by the end of January to finish up this scene (10 shots).

I also spent time this week applying for some panels at conventions and gathering a few things in preparations for a potential art grant. My goal is by the end of January to have all of my materials outlined so I can write and finalize things in February. So the remaining weeks in January will be busy mocking things up and getting things ready for the spring.

I hope to get some more production art up for you guys real soon. I appreciate all of you being so patient this last month with my online course. It is a small price to pay for great things in the future and I can’t wait to share them all with you. 🙂 I am just getting started.

Production Update 117: 2015 Here I Come!

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Chris Biewer

The first post of 2015, the start of a very exciting year. Big things are on deck to happen and I am so excited to get the year off to a great start. I spent the last week celebrating a late Christmas and enjoying lots of time with my family and my sister who lives almost a thousand miles away. I got some fantastic gifts including some movies, kitchen stuff (since I enjoy cooking) and some desk/office stuff to make 2015 even more productive! One of the items was a new desk chair that was long overdue, and it has been put together already. I also sat down with my dad over the holiday and drew a blueprint for a standing desk. I have been pretty antsy sitting at a desk all day and doing the same when I get home, and in 2015 I also want to put an emphasis on continuing to improve my diet and also my lifestyle. Since I spend so much time in front of a desk, I decided to go the standing desk route to help be a little more active.

I wanted to get an animatic done this week, but with all of the traveling and catching up on things on my to-do list, I didn’t get it done. I know, I said I was going to and I didn’t and that isn’t a good way to start 2015. I came home on Sunday night and spent the night cleaning my apartment, washing my new kitchen stuff and getting my workspace organized in a moment of zen.

I will hit the ground running this week and have the weekend to work on things as well. 2 weeks left in my online crash course, which has been going well and looking into some new exciting things.

One last thing I have, is that if you have any suggestions as to what you would like to see more of on the blog in 2015, please let me know through comments, email, Facebook etc. I would love to help share content that you want to see! Let’s kick some ass in 2015!

Production Update 116 Let’s Get Started!

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Chris Biewer

I hope everyone had a good holiday break, got to spend some time with family and also got all the Christmas goodies you asked for! Personally, I enjoyed some time with some family but we didn’t celebrate Christmas yet, since we are waiting for my sister to travel up here to actually open gifts and such. I did get some good stuff I ordered from RightStuf to tide me over; titles such as Persona 4 and Blast of Tempest. At some point in 2015 I will be able to provide reviews of them. Let’s get down to business though.

I have reached the halfway point of the online animation class I have been taking, it is a 6 week intensive with lots of homework but I can see the course already paying off and I know it will be fine tuned from work and also on the Cosmic Rage project. I did finish up framing the remaining shots for the current scene I am starting. The next step is an animatic, which I aim to get done before next week’s production update. This will depend on the homework assignments through the week and also some travel time, but I feel I should be able to get this completed since I have the compositions laid out and also have the assets pieced together, leaving me with laying some keyframes down this week for timing purposes.

Next time I post it will be 2015!

Production Update 115 Slow and Steady

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Chris Biewer

This week I started working on roughing out a new scene comprised of ten different shots. Currently I am laying out the cameras to get the framing and composition of the shots correct. Admittedly I didn’t get as much as I wanted done this weekend as I intended due to the short online course I am taking. However, the things I am learning in the course will be worth the short term lack of updates. If you want to check out one of the animation assignments from the course, check out the Cosmic Rage Facebook page.

Audio has also been approved for 4 scenes and is all caught up with what I have animated. The goal for the holiday week is to wrap up the framing and composition of the remaining shots and get started piecing things together and getting animation started. With the holiday I won’t be posting up any entries on Thursday this week, so we will see you next week with a new Production Update!