Visual Effects Society (VES) Conference Preview

[BrandonD]

This and SIGGRAPH are the two things a VFXer shouldn't miss. The presentations last anywhere from 90-120 minutes with a Q&A session at the end. They're often presented by the VFX Sup and various leads and show stuff you won't see in generalized presentations (the target audience is their peers). Not only do they cover current films, but they also have panel discussions on important topics. Last year there was a panel about character animation with Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippett and other movers and shakers in the field. They also do retrospectives on past important projects. Last year it was a sold out presentation by a dozen of the Blade Runner VFX crew and there was a "Night with Doug Trumble."

It's also a great opportunity to network with other VFXers.

[malducin]

The actual VES festival website had the info at least 2 weeks ago. You can find there more info, which is also the same as the one on the article:

VES 2003 Festival (http://www.vesfestival.org/)

Anyone going?

[beaker]

Anyone go last year? It was up in San Rafel last year, so I couldn't make it.

[malducin]

Yep, I went last year. It was pretty cool. I actually took some pictures and was writing a report aboout it but never got around to finish it. Maybe I should just post the pics. If I do I'll let you know.

If you ask me it should be in San Rafael every year, much nicer than the LA Film School (I would prefer the original location for LA at the TV headquarters near Universal Studios). Tom Atkin mentioned that they might make the trip up to the Bay Area every 3 years. In theory this would have VES up there in 2005, just in time for the last Prequel installment.

[beaker]

LA film school works, pretty nice size. I have been to many users group meetings there. Only trouble is its in hollywood(ugh, nasty, especially at night). I guess its the best middle spot for LA though it would be much nicer somewhere in burbank or UCLA.

[Steveyola]

That's cool ,thanks for the link.:thumbsup:

[BrandonD]

Originally posted by malducin
If you ask me it should be in San Rafael every year, much nicer than the LA Film School

Agreed, San Rafael's my home town, so it's nice to get out of LA for a while and go home :)

[Leonard]

If you are in Europe, you shouldn't miss the 3D Festival.

The speakers blow EVERY OTHER CONFERENCE out of the water this year. Take a look:
http://www.3dfestival.com/event_speakers.php

You want X-Men 2? Jeff Kleiser himself will be speaking
Finding Nemo? Victor Navone will be there
You want a REAL RETROSPECTIVE of TRON? SYD MEAD the man himself will be speaking.

Star Wars - Rob Coleman
Lord of the Rings - Bay Raitt, Jason Schleifer, Matt Aitken
xXx - Joel Hynek

Copenhagen isn't really THAT far, and you have way more incentive to be here - good Scandinavian beer and women.

Leo

[malducin]

Well no desrespect Leonard, but that seems a bit over the top. Maybe it'll blow out any Conference in Europe, but certainly not in the US. We still have to see if there is a VES Europe again this year.

I agree that 3DFestival would probably be the top or among the top of Conferences in Europe, the speaker list is impressive. I'm sure some of the European guys I know will attend as they can't make it to the US.

But nothing compares to the scope and size of SIGGRAPH, or the specific scope of VES. You do realize that the VES schedule doesn't have listed all it's speakers yet right? That could be announced until late May or Early June. Most of the time the VES presentation have 2 or 3 speakers, the retrospectives even more (Harrison Ellenshaw is only the moderator, I wouldn't be surprised if Syd Mead plus 10 other guys show up). X-Men 2 will have at least Michael Fink, Finding Nemo at SIGGRAPH will have 6 speakers, plus who knows how many at VES. Star Wars last year got a huge amount speakers at both SIGGRAPH and VES. xXx no Joel Hynek but still several TD's and R&D people.

The only outstanding part is that 3DFestival will have a LOTR session, they have for the most part been ansent here (the SIGGRAPH Special Session was cancelled late in the game last year and substituted by one about Spider-Man).

Hey if I were rich I would go to all 3, but such is life. Hey the women part does sound encouraging ;-). I do hope someone writes a report about 3DFestival, I would love to find out how it went.

[Leonard]

I'll admit, I was overzealous this morning and yes, I retract my original statement as it is over the top.

Just given the amount of effort that we have put into the 3DF, it's sometimes a little perturbing when people fail to mention that 3D Festival is a major worldwide CG event comparable to SIGGRAPH and most certainly VES.

US conferences are not the be all and end all of CG conferences.

What I would also like to add is that SIGGRAPH is NOT a competing event to 3D Festival. SIGGRAPH is an academic conference run by ACM. It's focus is quite different to 3D Festival, which is foremost a creative event catering specifically for 3D artists.

Again my apologies if I stepped on anyone's toes. It IS going to be a fantastic event, and I hope that all the European artists on CGTalk will be able to make it. We will, no doubt, play a big role in the 3DF.

Take it easy,

Leo

Originally posted by malducin
Well no desrespect Leonard, but that seems a bit over the top. Maybe it'll blow out any Conference in Europe, but certainly not in the US. We still have to see if there is a VES Europe again this year.

I agree that 3DFestival would probably be the top or among the top of Conferences in Europe, the speaker list is impressive. I'm sure some of the European guys I know will attend as they can't make it to the US.

But nothing compares to the scope and size of SIGGRAPH, or the specific scope of VES. You do realize that the VES schedule doesn't have listed all it's speakers yet right? That could be announced until late May or Early June. Most of the time the VES presentation have 2 or 3 speakers, the retrospectives even more (Harrison Ellenshaw is only the moderator, I wouldn't be surprised if Syd Mead plus 10 other guys show up). X-Men 2 will have at least Michael Fink, Finding Nemo at SIGGRAPH will have 6 speakers, plus who knows how many at VES. Star Wars last year got a huge amount speakers at both SIGGRAPH and VES. xXx no Joel Hynek but still several TD's and R&D people.

The only outstanding part is that 3DFestival will have a LOTR session, they have for the most part been ansent here (the SIGGRAPH Special Session was cancelled late in the game last year and substituted by one about Spider-Man).

Hey if I were rich I would go to all 3, but such is life. Hey the women part does sound encouraging ;-). I do hope someone writes a report about 3DFestival, I would love to find out how it went.

[malducin]

Nahh that's OK, you should be proud of what you have accomplished with 3DFestival. I just found it funny (maybe I should have added some smilies) about the way you said it. I just imagined you like a car salesman flapping you arms around ;-). Yes 3DFestival seems the biggest and best in Europe this year so far, it is a testament to your hard work. Just don't forget that there are other hard working people out there like maybe LEAF later on the VES folks. BTW, SIGGRAPH is mainly academic but is all encompasing, that's why the Special Sessions and the Animation Sketches would be comparable to 3DFestival and other CG animation festivals.

Anyway as I said if I could I would go to Europe and see those talks. I'll add some entries to my calendar so anyone interested might go. Cheers.

[Leonard]

Absolutely, by no means am I putting down SIGGRAPH, being an ACM SIGGRAPH member myself. I just wanted to articulate that we do differentiate ourselves from SIGGRAPH quite significantly.

Believe me, I can wave my arms around like a car salesman quite good!

Leo

Originally posted by malducin
Nahh that's OK, you should be proud of what you have accomplished with 3DFestival. I just found it funny (maybe I should have added some smilies) about the way you said it. I just imagined you like a car salesman flapping you arms around ;-). Yes 3DFestival seems the biggest and best in Europe this year so far, it is a testament to your hard work. Just don't forget that there are other hard working people out there like maybe LEAF later on the VES folks. BTW, SIGGRAPH is mainly academic but is all encompasing, that's why the Special Sessions and the Animation Sketches would be comparable to 3DFestival and other CG animation festivals.

Anyway as I said if I could I would go to Europe and see those talks. I'll add some entries to my calendar so anyone interested might go. Cheers.

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