The Graphters Podcast: Recent Episodes
Gary Noden and John Stopforth
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for the Commercial and Broadcast industry for over 20 years. In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Welcome to The Graphters' Podcast!
Welcome back to the next instalment of the Graphters’ Podcast. This episode we are interviewing recent graduate and Mocap Actor, Sophie Stewart. We talk about all sorts, but mostly:
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The Games Industry and its future
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Going from Graduation to work
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Making the most of what you have around you at Uni
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Whisky
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Food
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More Food
and some stuff about biscuits....
Cheers
–––
My Everything by Dj Quads / aka-dj-quads
https://soundcloud.com/djquads
Music provided by Music for Creators • My Everything — Dj Quads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBrnkl3NBU8
Welcome to The Graphters' Podcast!Well, this is a thing now! Our one time Audio Podcast is now a real live Video thing! Why anyone would want to look at us, I do not know, But here we are, me and John, talking about VFX, Games and the Industries that work in them.Today is a Chunnery - that's basically an natter between friends, but we do talk about:1. FMX in Stuttgart2. Burnout3. AI4. Freelancing in 20245. #Blender, of course6. Watching Masterchef and getting hungry7. Broadcast or YouTube.8. The Easter Contest winner!!!! - They've won a Xencelabs Tablet!!!9. Nostalgia over Deluxe Paint.10. Nostalgia again over older softwares...11 #akg not being a sponsor12. #Bahlsen Choco Leibniz also not being a sponsorand some stuff about biscuits....Cheers–––My Everything by Dj Quads / aka-dj-quadshttps://soundcloud.com/djquadsMusic provided by Music for Creators • My Everything — Dj Quads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBrnkl3NBU8
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. This week we have a Full House with John, Gary, Em and Tim, the four Admins of the Apocalypse. Again.
We talk about:
Where Em went on her holidays
We answer questions from members of our Discord Server
Mostly, we wander off piste through the world of Games, 3D, VFX and Software
We do not talk much about biscuits in this one.
Plus the usual chunnering on.
Speak soon.
Gary, John, Tim and Em
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. This week is a guest episode, where John and I talk to the recruitment Specialist Simon Davies who has created DAX, an agency specifically for VFX, Games and VRWe talk about:
Seeing people out and about.
The Shakeups in the Games Industry
How Simon found his way into Recruitment
Working for the creators of Candy Crush!
Helping in the creation of ILM London.
Remote working and security.
Finding Special people for Special jobs.
How to improve your chances to get work.
Changing Education to increase STEM and Art crossover.
Recruitment tips
And something about biscuits…
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hear ye, Hear ye!
Yep, this is a special mini-biscuit of an episode.
If you have not already joined our Discord, this might make you get onto it. We have an Easter Artwork challenge sponsored by a company heavily involved in the Artworld and 3D. If you want to find out listen here, then go to our Discord and join in on the challenge.
It's a great prize for the overall winner, as well as some Graphters' based prizes as well.
If you're reading this after the Easter 2024, this competition is over, but you can always drop by for a cup of tea and a Custard Cream!
Take care and speak soon!
John and Gary
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. This week is a chunnery of an episode, were John and I talk about:Our Discord server. In fact we talk about it a lot, so no change there!
What we got for Christmas
A quick review of 2023What we look forward to in 2024
The layoffs at the end of 2023
The Discord’s Winter Challenge
An Easter Egg about our Easter Challenge
Possible guests.
What we ate at Christmas
Nothing about biscuits!! How did that happen?
Upcoming events and hopefully a live podcast before 2025!
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. This week we have a Full House with John, Gary, Em and Tim, the four Admins of the Apocalypse. We talk about our Discord server. In fact, we talk about it a lot!
How Em went from wannabe personal trainer to a train asset builder.
How Tim went from leaving education to..oh, err, not leaving education!
How rubbish Gary is with Discord, but he’s getting better
How John is our recruitment agent
How much Gary likes “Nodening” people
Women in Games Events
Swedish Games Camps for Women
Some quick questions.
NDA’d info - yep, nothing to see here.
How our discord is growing exponentially.
Affinity Designer vs. Illustrator!
GREGGS!!
And a shocking biscuit result!!
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. This week we are lucky enough to have a student on the podcast. At 16, we did have to have permission from his parents, which we received, but Gary already knew him as he did his school placement in the company he used to work at. During this podcast, we chunner about:
FORMATT and how brilliant it was
If you want to do anything, do well at your GCSEs.
Access College in Manchester and how comprehensive the course is.
How young Oli is.
How old Gary is.
Two old guys talking about the Good Old Days…
Quick questions, two ways!
A bit about Blender, no, really? Oh yes.
Oh and…
SPECIAL: We’re talking about doing a live show!
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. This week is just the two of us…we can make it if we try, just the two of us…John and I!
We discuss...
Epic's Unreal pricing.
Unity price backstep.
Our Discord Server!
David Stirzaker (again) and chocolate.
Genvfx Tutorials used in colleges?!
John was travelling the nation with work.
FE Colleges or Higher Education.
A bit about Blender, no, really? Oh yes.
Even more about our Discord server.
Live podcasts?
Blatant plugs for a couple of ex-students.
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Okay, a lot about biscuits. We are lucky to have with us this week Thomas Butters, Lead Weapon & Prop Artist at Facepunch Studios Ltd.https://facepunch.com/
We talked about a lot of things including:
Thomas’ early years as a student of 3D.
What some Universities deliver and what they don’t.
How Faith is sometimes all you need.
The Importance of Real Criticism.
Creating the work of The Creator.
Skill progression through “Just Doing It.”
The power of “Twitch.”
To AI or not to AI, that is the question.
What the education pipeline needs to bring to the table today.
Fundamentals.
Stil no USD.
A real twist in the biscuit question.
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits. Actually not a biscuit mention in sight this week!
We will discover
We talk about a lot of things including:
The weather
The End of the Academic Year
About putting a calendar on the website - which we have done since this recording
The Develop Show in Brighton
It’s getting colder in Maya - the growth of Bifrost in the newer users
Meeting fans - yes an actual fan!
Me reviewing an amazing Lenovo PC
My Deep Water Phobia
The Internship Film Project we are creating!
Oh, and “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI”
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits!
As you know, this week is the second part of our podcast with Paul Coulthard od Axis Studios. We will discover
We talk about a lot of things including:
How long it takes to get from storyboard to an actual piece of work
Best practice of how to get into the industry today
That you need to keep drawing and keep learning
As with Owain Street, we get to those pesky Fundamentals.
How to watch a film to help with storyboarding.
And we ask that crucial question, "Where are the Storyboarding Courses in Education?"
All this as well as biscuits.
Oh and then we return to influential stuff from our youth again.
Plus the usual twittering on.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits!
This week John and I are joined by Paul Coulthard, Senior Storyboard Artist at Axis Studios and a round nice guy.
He was so lovely that we talked for way too long, so this is the first part of two podcasts!
We talk about a lot of things including:
80s Cartoons
Discovering Manga and Japanese animation
School Careers Advisors
Getting into Storyboarding by a chance meeting.
Mentorship, how important it is and learning on the job.
The power to add life to a script without always "Panning."
Plus the usual twittering on.
Ooh, and you'll find out what biscuit Paul likes on the next one. Yes, you'll have to keep waiting. I will say he does come up with a couple of different biscuits that made John and I both go "Ooo..." and "Yum!"
Speak soon.
Gary and John.
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits!
This week John and I are on a chatty natter; a One To One if you will. Talking about everything Except Biscuits!
We talk about a lot of things including:
Holidays.
Seeing in the Dawn with coffee, croissants and a heavy fog.
Is Education ready for emerging technologies in CGI and Games?
The USD and AI pipeline and software agnosticism.
I mention Lost In Space, again!
"Not Now" moments.
Not Wacom...what is out there for us to use?
CG Software History and a reminder of what Lightwave has achieved and is achieving.
FMX 2023 before John went to it.
A big hint about what we have planned for the future.
Plus the usual twittering on, my dog, work, life and the importance how to not pack a breakfast int a rucksack.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits!
This week we are happy to be joined by Motion Graphic Producer and Artist, Owain Street. Owain has been creating beautiful work for TV and Corporate clients for well over 2 decades. He has been running his company, Design Hutch for over 10 years and has produced work for CBBC, the BBC, Natwest, DeMontfort University, and the Discovery Channel to name only 5!
https://www.designhutch.co.uk/
We talk about a lot of things - this is a long podcast, but it was so much fun we didn't want to chop too much out - including:
The Swiss Army Knife of MGFX.
Studying Motion Graphics now to back when you were taught Graphics.
Principles over Technology.
Motion Design over Designer.
Adobe still ruling on Motion Graphics.
A bit of reminiscing about an office we all worked at AT THE SAME TIME!
Plus the usual twittering on, my dog, work, life and the importance of a good work lunch.
Speak soon.
Gary and John
Hi there! Yes, John and Gary are back talking about the Games Industry, the VFX Industry and even occasionally about biscuits!
After a really fun first season, getting our ducks in a row and our podcasting feet well under the table, we've now reorganised the show format. We're going to be bringing 4 types of shows to you. A general round-up episode - like this one, a guest from Industry Episode, a guest from Education episode and a technology episode.
This first episode is very much a getting-back-into-the-saddle ep. We talk about:
AIs in design and education.
Work.
Stuff.
Work...
Nothing too taxing for a start show. Oh, and I had to edit out a lot of stuff I (Gary) was spouting about The Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Trust me, even I can't stand to hear me twittering on about how important the number "42" is to me.
Speak soon
Gary and John
So this is it. The last episode of Season 1. The next will be our second year and so warrants a nice new start. We've got a solid idea now of what we are, and hopefully you will enjoy our new year as much as we are looking forward to it.
Today we are lucky enough to have another guest. Neil Gallagher, Senior Lecturer BA & MA Games Art and Design at the University of Hertfordshire, Blender Lover, Unreal Superstar and the creator of Moving Dungeons - a living D&D map for Tabletop Monitor Systems - this should be a real treat for all
It's a lovely time talking about
- Education
- Gaming
- John's awful Maths
- Neil's path from student to Lecturer
- Going from the Games Industry to the TV Industry
- Pubs in Soho circa 1999
- UE5 and how wonderful it is
- Autodesk Open source? Yes!
- XSI and ICE - oh how the world could have been different
- https:/movingdungeons.com - we're all getting in on this one!
- Old Men still talking about Fitness
- Mentorship and Targets with Students
- Quick Fire and Biscuits
- A bit of bumbling to the end.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
A few links from the podcast:
Neil's Course at Hertfordshire University https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-3d-games-art-and-design
As we come closer to the end of Series 1, yes we are going to be moving to a second series very soon, we take some time to pontificate on things more important than Blender. I know, hard to believe right?
Don't believe me? Then read the following topics:
- Where are the VFX and Games Freelancers?!
- How do we support Educators?
- Experience and Education
- Back In The Day -more retrospective bits on Games
- Putting the Skilled into the Universities
- If University is not an option, what is?
- Upskilling
- Blender section, well a little one
- ESPORTS as a career
- Shoutouts
- Our new logo
- Getting involved - have your say
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
We mention Lightforge and CGMA in tonight episode. You can find more info about them here:
https://www.cgmasteracademy.com/
https://www.lightforgeacademy.com/
In the course of this podcast, Gary rambles on a bit, chats about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast - an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education and also general rubbish.
This week, very little preamble as we are without John (health reasons, but he's all right now and will be in the next one. But I am not alone as I have an interview with artist, animator and old colleague Anthony Rosbottom (better know in the 1990's as "Blizz")
We discuss:
- Jobcentres and YT Schemes
- Graphics in the 1980s
- Left-handed mouse use
- Captain Scarlett
- Never (or Always) meet your heroes.
- the Dunning-Kruger Effect
- Forgetting names
- Something about forgetting something..?
- Biscuits.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
More info about Anthony Rosbottom can be found here: https://www.artstation.com/anthonyrosbottom and you can follow him here:
https://twitter.com/arosbottom
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast - an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education and also general rubbish.
This week, a lot of general rubbish followed by a very fun interview with the lovely Chris McFall, the person behind Hollowpixel Studios, the wonderful Blender Clinic and is a full time fabulous Blenderhead. We also discuss:
1. The Winter Olympics!
2. Spurious nonsense about something or other.
3. Blender being top
4. The education system being a bit on the shonky side at times.
5. Muppets.
6. Electric Cars.
7. Stuff!
8. A tiny amount of biscuit talk.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
More info about Chris McFall can be found here: http://blenderclinic.com/and here: https://twitter.com/hollowpixels as well as here: www.linkedin.com
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast - an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education and also general rubbish.
This week, after a Christmas and New Year John and Gary catch up with a bit of housekeeping and hopefully manage to get this podcast to under an hour after editing but try to keep in these things:
1. Surviving the Holiday Season!
2. What the end of the BBC charter might do to the VFX industry.
3. A wintry Blizzard Acquisition by Microsoft.
4. “The Eternals” making a whimper of an arrival in the Marvel Universe.
5. Remote working and Escape Technologies Sherpa - https://sherpa.escape-technology.com/
6. Still nothing about biscuits.
7. Gary promoting his youTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/GENVFX
8.Still trying to get David Stirzaker to come on the podcast.
9. John promoting his Employer.
10. Calling out to McCall
11. Even less about biscuits.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast - an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education and also general rubbish.
This week, after a flaming long hiatus, John and Gary get down to the nitty gritty in the 3D world and talk about:
1. Covid – really, no kidding!
2. Maxon turning into Adobe with it’s Acquisitions
3. Something a bit Unreal about Maya.
4. Netflix’s Arcane
5. Korean influences in the UK.
6. Nothing about biscuits.
7. Still trying to get David Stirzaker to come on the podcast.
8. Gary’s youTube channel teaching Blender is small chunks
9. John’s love for his new Job.
10. Still nothing about biscuits.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Also we have a guest! Gary Kelly, a VFX Supervisor and NUKE TD who has been working in the industry for around 11 years and has worked on all sorts of projects from Children’s TV shows to major Motion Pictures such as “Dredd” you can find out more about Gary at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrgarykelly/
Also, because he’s a few years younger than myself and John, he has a very relevant take on what works in regards to working and getting work.
In this one we talk more about:
1. New Technology and how it doesn’t have a name yet.
2. The importance of Previs no matter what the software it is done in.
3. Knowing a little of everything.
4. How beverages help you find out more about your working environment.
5. Custard Creams or Bourbons, of course.
6. Which way to hold a Chocolate Hobnob. For anyone listening in the USA, it’s like a Maryland Cookie, but coated on one side with Chocolate.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John (and Gary)
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Also we have a guest! Matthew Wilson, who is the Course Leader in Games Development at Priestly College near to Liverpool.
He’s a top laugh and he talks a lot of sense
In this one we talk more about:
1. Why it’s best to learn mainstream software
2. Why Guinness contains all the five food groups.
3. How to trigger Matt
4. When past students come back and talk to the current ones.
5. Custard Creams or Bourbons
6. How to be cancelled from Social media by hating blender
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John (and Matt)
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
Also we have a guest! Adam Knight, Associate Technical Artist at DT3, who will be talking about his roundabout journey into the games industry.
In this one we talk more about:
1. Dad jokes.
2. Breaking into the industry.
3. Education or Youtube?
4. A bit of waffle.
5. Fast fire round for the Guest.
- Who is H/the fourth man? - (Recorded, Sunday the 2nd of February 2020, the night of the last ever episode of Line Of Duty, allegedly - "Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey!")
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John (and Adam)
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
In this one we talk more about:
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Not having a guest yet
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NFT fiscal dreams
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The Short film "Mami Wata" which we'll all be involved in!
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Making a logo for us!
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Other stuff and nonsense.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast clients for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
In this one we talk more about:
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The Right Stuff - getting an education on 3D is one thing, but being taught the right skills can be something totally different.
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Twitching - watching live streams of people making models in 3D
-
Blender 2.92 - Going from candidate to release!
-
Addons and Content - is it cheating?
-
The Short Film - mostly a proper chat about what it is about for the listener and potential of being involved.
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast stuff for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
In this one we talk more about:
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Pipeline - never underestimate the power of the dark side...err. I mean, the pipeline.
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Old Software - We're old. We used, and at one point John sold, some of the original 3D packages out there. Here us ramble.
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The Project - yep, as we go on, we have a mission. A mission that requires people with a dream to model, rig, shade, animate and comp...almost completely in Blender... listen in to find out more...
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YouTube Addictions - we all have them, but we share ours with you, even the ones not about 3D!
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Arguing - we do this, today, about best practices in relation to pipeline.
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Education - Best practices
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VFX old and new. What we accomplished back in the day with long coloured cables, purple boxes the size of Coventry, only a mouse and a keyboard with 2 Alt keys (none of the "Alt Gr" malarky) and what can be done today with an app on a phone!
Take care and stay safe.
Gary and John
The Graphters Podcast - Episode 1.0.1 - First Time Out
Welcome to The Graphter's Podcast, an audio journey around the subject of CGI on industry and education. Join Gary and John, two yet-to-be jaded individuals who have both been involved in teaching and creating 3D stuff for Commercial and Broadcast stuff for over 20 years.
In the course of this podcast, both Gary and John ramble on a bit, chat about education, industry and the increasing role of open source software in the industry as well as, did I mention rambling?
This is a proto-podcast, so please excuse the rambling. I promise we get better.
Gary and John