Revisiting my Degree Project from RISD

It's been almost two years since I finished my Degree Project at RISD, and I thought I'd drag it out and talk about its few accumulated glories.

In the Beginning from Katie Wendt on Vimeo.

I was very lucky to have it featured on Cartoon Brew, one of the leading blogs in the animation industry today. It was also screened by Arts Guild New Jersey in multiple locations as part of an animated shorts showcase, along with making it into the Animation Block Party 2011 screening in NYC.

I also received very kind invitations from festival directors to submit to the Insight Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, and Florida Film Festival, among others. A lack of time and confidence kept me from submitting, but I'm very grateful for the invitations, which were incredibly graciously given.

I was also approached about having 'In the Beginning' included in an American Animation Showcase, which screens at American embassies around the world, and would have involved my traveling with the showcase and discussing my project with both diplomats at other artists. Unfortunately, the Department of State had the final say in the pieces chosen for the showcase, and my piece was declined due to its religious content, which could potentially cause problems in countries whose policy isn't to take religion lightly. This was another offer which, while I was disappointed that I could not be involved, was extremely flattering, and I'm glad that a showcase exists even if my piece couldn't be included in it.

I plan to create another animated short sometime in the near future; one of my graphic novel projects, Cupcake Captive, will probably turn into an animated short. My work will continue to explore and deconstruct preconceived notions of what makes us "different" from one another, and reconstruct it into similarities between us. Through my work I will always seek to encourage people to understand those who they feel most alienated from, and to approach the uncomfortable and the unknown with an open mind and willingness to learn about their world and their selves--to seek both the facts of life, and the truth of life.

Even more Ugly Americans: 'Wail Street' storyboards

I only did storyboard revision for this episode, and the shots were ultimately replaced by Mark's Life Improve-matorium fantasy. Originally, Mark was going to be tempted by a perfect suburban family life with Callie, but it made sense to replace it with something a little less intimate, in the grand scheme of the show. But it was also adorable, I didn't want to let the designs of the little Mark and Callie kiddies die, so here they are.








Also, I had a great time in Ottawa at the Animation Festival with the Augenblick crew, and it was great seeing old friends again. See you around NYC or next year in Ottawa, everyone!

More Ugly Americans

Several more animatic stills from Ugly Americans episode 'Ride Me to Hell'.


It kind of got lost in the editing process but Twayne was supposed to be REALLY drunk.


"Here's to the ladies!"


And then the rest of my work for the week got chopped out. Callie leaves the party and calls Mark to voice her worries over replacing her dad and 'taking the snake'. Mark is in Hollywood, in Heather Locklear's dressing room, getting ready to perform in Grimes' "ending" as Jimmy.


Callie calls Mark from the coatroom.


Mark picks up in L.A.


"Tomorrow I'm gonna have to swallow a giant snake, which is gonna totally suck."



Mark tries to encourage Callie, but the conversation is cut short by Grimes.

Ugly Americans Animatics

Storyboard/Animatics from Ugly Americans episode 'Ride Me to Hell'


Mark encourages Callie about her presentation.


Cut. "Go play that game of catch that I never could."


"While I was touching my penis just now, you were touching my heart."


Randall's boxed in as a porno director.


Originally Callie made an angry exit.


And then Randall tenderly held Mark.


Aldermach gets ready to show Callie what taking over for him as CEO of Hell entails. This entire sequence was supposed to be a parody of a scene in Poltergeist II where Craig T. Nelson coughs up some kind of worm monster.


More Poltergeist II inspiration.


More Poltergeist II.


Aldermach shrinks when he coughs up the demon snake.


"To replace me you're gonna have to swallow this thing."


Driving to L.A. (also known as Hell apparently). A rare background design of mine.




Cut: A moment of pure disdain for the common hipster in downtown L.A. Another background design of mine, but it was not to be.

You can see my thumbnails in a couple of the images. Ohhh welllll.
More to come soon.

My Degree Project

I was going to wait to make it public but I don't think it will make much of a difference either way at this point. Thanks for watching!

Degree project, summertime, and beyond

I have not updated my blog in a long time. When I said a trailer for my degree project was coming soon, I lied. Straight up.

But good things are happening. I survived the rest of the year at RISD, finished my degree project a week late, and went on to have a super time at the FAV Senior Show.

I have to hide behind Tara's wonder.

And then I graduated, hallelujah.


And I was lucky enough to immediately start work at Augenblick Studios after graduating, mostly as a storyboard revisionist but I had fun picking up extra background and prop work. I'm happily starting up again, in a new position, in about a week.

'In the Beginning' was also selected to screen in this year's Animation Block Party! It was a huge honor to be in a festival with so many talented artists and amazing submissions, and it will ease the pain of my rejection from Ottawa. Congratulations to Barbara for winning best student piece!! I had to edit this post because I forgot to add that a couple of very very kind people have also been nice enough to mention 'In the Beginning' in their blogs and write-ups of the festival. Adam Ansorge has a nice rundown of the festival, and Chris Robadue saw it at the RISD FAV Senior Show, and had some excellent things to say about other projects in the Senior Show as well.

Guess what? I took a 3D CGI class last fall.

It was pretty painful.

A project from Digital Illustration, and an advertisement for the catering company that my mom and her friend run, all in one. 2 different business card/postcard options. If you need something catered around St. Louis, MO, now you know where to go.


Some 'In the Beginning' stuff.






And I did this as a preliminary thing for album art for the Walk-It-Offs, but it won't make the final cut.


That's all for now, homiez.

Degree Project and more

Promotional stills for my degree project, IN THE BEGINNING, which with credits has a runtime of 5 minutes and 15 seconds. Trailer coming soon.


THE RISD FILM/ANIMATION/VIDEO SENIOR SHOW IS WED-SAT, MAY 19-22!

AND, check out DJT at sickdamage.com.

Even more DP work

I know I just posted for my DP but I have to show some of the background characters because they turned out better than I expected.

More DP work

More degree project work:





OH AND--

Degree Project has begun

DP work DP work DP work

Concept sketches and palettes. More sketches, colors, background tests, etc. to follow.

Studio Internships

I've been offered internships at both Augenblick Studios and Clambake Animation for the summer, and I'm in the process of nailing both down.

It may be a lot to take on but hopefully I'll manage it.

Owlie

Hello owl

Character design for character animation class

Gibbon animation exercise

We went to the zoo last Monday for character animation. This was the exercise I got out of it.



I like how it turned out; usually I keyframe but this was freeeestyle. Hand-animated in Flash, on 2's.

Titan A.E. redesign project

The Titan A.E. redesign project
Group members:Heather Kahn, Kim Weiner, Magnolia Porter, and me.

Titan A.E. is a mediocre-to-awful animated sci-fi movie that had potential for interesting themes and issues, but failed to connect to audiences due to bad storytelling and generic character design. We attempted to craft more interesting and engaging characters with more potential for good storytelling.

Sorry about the crappy pictures, I just took some photos of our presentation board. I'll post the nice digital files eventually.

Main cast:
Cale - protagonist, 20-year-old space station mechanic
Group design, my drawing + ink, Magnolia color

Original.
We wanted Cale to look a little younger and more awkward, less like a male model.

Akima - female lead, Korso's pilot
Group design, my drawing + ink, Heather color

Original.
Made Akima's ethnic group more ambiguous, wanted to make her feel like a gypsy connected to Earth, but still a believable pilot.

Korso - Works to find the Titan with Cale, ex-military, working with Drej
Group design, my drawing + ink, Kim

Original.
Korso became a bitter Vietnam-style vet, decorated but scarred by his military experience. A believable "fallen hero".

Drej - pure energy, hivemind with queen figure, want to destroy humans
Kim's personal design + color

(Couldn't find an original that showed them very well.)
Wanted to make the Drej look less manufactured, focus more on the queen and hivemind aspect to make them creepy instead of just inanimate energy.

Supporting cast (crew of Korso's ship)
Gune - map-reader, scientist, comic relief; works with the protagonists
Heather's personal design + color

Original.
Made him less generic. Gave him more hands to work on multiple tasks at once, a long neck to extend up to peer into people's faces. Gave him a birdy face to allow for a more fidgity demeanor.

Preed - Korso's first mate, traitor
Magnolia's personal design + color

Original.
Added a transformative quality to him, making him appear nonthreatening until his point of turning traitor.

Stith - weapons and muscle; works with the protagonists
My personal design + color

Original.
Gave her more upper-body strength and a powerful, stout set of legs to keep her grounded. Turned her into more of a protective figure.

This was a great learning experience about working in groups--our group was great and I think we all played our strengths well, I'm proud of us.