Visual Effects for the Digital Market

So I got an email today announcing that The Mill is opening up a shop dedicated to providing services specifically designed to meet the needs of the d-i-g-i-t-a-l world.



About time I say. I've had a couple of Dare projects lost within their slightly old school visual effects pipeline of late. It was a real shame as they're a great company of very talented artists; but up to now they just haven't been kitted out for providing work to digital agencies.

I did a Talk to the APA the other day on what Digital Agency land needs from film production companies and their visual effects shops. I'll post more in detail later on but for now

Digital Agencies require:

- Proportional budgets: come up with an affordable solution, don't just hit back with the most expensive feature-film costs.

- FAST turn around times: This isn't film, baby. It isn't TV; our clients work on breakneck deadlines and so do we.

- Cut the Bullshit: not every agency has me working for them, so many digital agencies can get lost when talking shop with FX houses (what's a TK/ Grade/ Tracking Marker)

- There WILL be amends: Digital clients are used to demanding vast quantities of amends, and because it's a website (flash/ html/ photoshop) they're used to getting these amends done very quickly. It is up to the VFX shops to talk digital agencies through how they will get their work done, when they can get amends done, what they can and can't have amended on time.

I'll post some slides later on this, but my autumn 2009 mission is to help everybody get the most out of the ideas being made.

Google Latitude

Again google beats a whole host of competing companies to the post and released Google Latitude.

This combines Google maps functionality with GPS and location aware services and places you on a map along with your friends who are also using the service.

I'm sure that this is going to kick up a whole host of privacy issues and there'll be a hoo-har over husbands seeing that their wives are in their ex-boyfriend's post-code etc, but for me it's super cool

My Friend Hugh

Had a singing lesson.

Somebody had a camra.

Now it's on YouTube.


This is why the internet was invented!

It's actually [just a plug] part of a feature for my other friends running Whisper Mag. I'm so proud of them both.

Hilldrop Lane Snowman

Hilldrop Lane Snowman, originally uploaded by donshades.

School's out for the Winter. I did actually do some work at home (I know, I'm a nerd), but this dude required a photograph taken, I'm going to sell him the print tomorrow.

Snow in London Feb 09

Snow in London Feb 09, originally uploaded by donshades.

and a lonely drink.