My apologies. But Jim can’t come to the computer right now. He’s busy trying to figure out how to be in 15 different places at the same time so that he can do a good job of covering this year’s SIGGRAPH.
Me? I prefer a more leisurely pace. And — when I see something interesting happening — I pull out my digital camera and take a picture. Take — for instance — …
photo by Nancy Stadler
No, these aren’t UFOs. These are giant silver balls that were heaved into the audience prior to the start of Monday night’s screening of SIGGRAPH’s “Electronic Theater” show. The idea here was that the people in the auditorium were all supposed to take part in a communal game of Squid Ball. Which was really this giant exercise in group cooperation.
As the entire audience was supposed to move this balls into various corners of the auditorium to take out targets and/or make pleasing shapes …
photo by Nancy Stadler
Like this giant teapot, fer instances …
Now I know a lot of you out there think that SIGGRAPH is just this big computer show. That there wouldn’t be any fun for you non-technical types to do at this show. Which really isn’t the case. I mean — even if you have absolutely no computer skills at all (like a certain Disney webmaster that I know) — there’s still a lot of intriguing and informative activities to take part in. Like this drawing lesson at the Sony Imageworks booth …
photo by Nancy Stadler
Or — if you were to find your way out of the exhibition area at LA’s Convention Center — you could then attend some great panel discussions.
Like this one — which talked about Puppetry & Computer Graphics — which featured an appearance by veteran Muppeteer Dave Goelz (far left), Bret Nelson (right) as well as some annoying anonymous Muppet.
photo by Nancy Stadler
And speaking of Muppets … Guess which recent Disney acquisition made a surprise appearance at last night’s panel? That’s right! The Great Gonzo. Mr. Goelz’s most famous (or should we say infamous) character.
photo by Nancy Stadler
When asked about the Walt Disney Company acquiring the Muppets, David gracefully deflected the question. Though one of his fellow panelists said something to the effect that “It’s almost inevitable that — sooner or later — you wind up working for the Mouse.”
Speaking of Disney … Hopefully, some of you JHM readers enjoyed that story the Jim posted on Monday about the yet-to-be-completed Donald Duck star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Well, I thought some of you folks might enjoy seeing what the finished product looked like.
photo by Nancy Stadler
Pretty spiffy, don’t you think.
And — finally — speaking of Disney birds: Guess which feathered friend made a big splash at this year’s SIGGRAPH show. No, not Donald. Walt Disney Feature Animation’s next big thing, “Chicken Little.”
photo by Nancy Stadler
Now — later this week — Jim will be doing some pretty sizable stories about this new Disney animted feature (Which looks really funny, by the way). But — if you’d like to see some concept art from “Chicken Little” (As well as four other upcoming WDFA releases, “American Dog,” “Fraidy Cat,” “A Day with Wilbur Robinson” and “Rapunzel Unbraided”) — Well, I suggest you keep an eye on our sister site, www.skwigly.co.uk. Which should have some pretty amazing photographs up (Taken by yours truly) sometime later this morning.
You can thank me later.
Now — if you’ll excuse me — I have to go look after Jim. He’s on his fourth cup of coffee. So I have to go stop him before he hypers himself into a frenzy.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Talk to you later, okay?
Nancy