Exactly Steph, I meant no harm. I just want the people who aren’t established artists to keep entering and not be discouraged and that’s in the best interests of everyone here, because to be fair it can be intimidating just as much as rewarding to go against professionals.
Anyway I won’t be saying anything else on the matter now as its already gotten quite lengthy, but seeing as you was kind enough to validate my intentions I thought I’d reply.
Thank you 
Aaron
The main reason, in my opinion, is to add pieces in your portfolio. Since companies mostly don’t provide breakdown anymore, you have to produce your own personnal arts to show what are your skills. So yeah, you can put screenprint of the movies your work on but I find it pretty frustrating, cause it’s been tweak by comp or heavyly “hazed” by FX.
Second thing is, even if you break in this industry, you should never stop your personnal training and to improve your skills. Participate to community challenge seems to be a nice way to train and also to share with others artists.
As a student or amateur, you should see this as an opportunitie, to actually compare the difference of skills, and determine what you have to do to reach their level and eventually get hired on your first gig 
Don’t be intimidated with potential futur workmates ^^
I think in general we shouldn’t discourage anyone from participating. The diversity of the participants makes everyone better in the end.
(Uh-oh. Repercussions
expanding like butterfly wings. Somebody get the net
)
Just to clarify (because I’ll feel guilty if I don’t, since I opened the can of worms), my own comments on Sunday weren’t a complaint and I wasnt referring to anything against industry pros participating in these challenges. I understand what you were saying, Aaron, and thought you said it quite well. But I dont agree because we never stop learning and one of the best things about these challenges is the fact that established industry pros are participating in them. Thats priceless. So thank you everybody, these challenges rock. I can appreciate what you were expressing though, Aaron. Seems totally valid except for the part that youve won some of these challenges beautifully… against pros. HelloO0o?
Not sure if its clear or got lost in translation or anybody cares except me, but my own vague I dont really understand the results comment Sunday differs from what Aaron brought up later. Its nibbling at me in a darned if I do, danged if I dont explain myself way
but I see the new Feb. challenge just posted which means this is now officially old news… So saved by the bell. Whew!
I will just say my comment wasnt fueled by negativity, disrespect, or pettiness about winning. It was a critical response and I think a valid one. The only reason Im still yammering on about it it precisely because I really do respect the judges and the winners (and myself and all the other artists here) way too much not to voice the opinion. Definitely not upset about the results at all, I just don’t understand them and don’t agree with one of the choices. Apologies for being boneheaded enough to say that. The opportunity to participate in these challenges is huge. So no complaints here. Im chalking it up to what I already know is the likeliest answer: Opinions about artwork are extremely subjective. Theyre also all valid. So I completely respect and accept the judges call this month. Of course! Sorry to let anyone down by questioning that, I should have know better and just muzzled it. (And I say that without sarcasm.)
However…
Speaking up in a friendly way shouldnt diminish anything or disappoint anyone, but Im pretty sure not speaking up generally will every time. Theres that to consider and I hope it resonates.
A sincere heart-felt congratulations again to all the winners this month! But I do think there should have been 5 honorable mentions and at least one people’s choice award and one for longest thread response too. Everyone did a great job!
Thad
Hey guys, I just want to gently ask once again that we keep any discussion about participation views, winner choices, etc to private channels (or, alternatively, another thread) instead of continuing to post them in this thread. Thanks!
Thanks to Milan, Jason and David for the challenge. I appreciate your time and your comments.
yes, thanks to Milan, Jason and David.
Thank you to you too Melaina and other professionals … True It takes some courage to confront non-professional like me, Daazed and all the others … we can make you lose these challenges! do not be discouraged, keep up the good work!
I am joking, I just try to relax a little the atmosphere before this new challenge in February that will not be simple.
Let’s work now !
Stef
Wonderfully insightful and instructive critiques from the judges. Thank you Jason and Milan (and David too of course!). Reading the critiques at the end of a challenge is always my favorite part and this month’s are particularly good. I especially love hearing tips on technical issues (like B/W point & graining, etc) and about studio practice or what one can expect from the art director or supervisor. I find all that to be really informative. The mild befuddlement I was feeling about this month’s results (centered around subtle edging issues and nothing else) have also been fully explained and dissipated. So really glad to hear the professional feedback.
One question: I understand the references to assets and the assets dept, but what does “GAK” stand for exactly? Sorry, I don’t know the term and have never been quick with acronyms. Can’t find a definition anywhere…
Please somebody explain. :rolleyes:
I still don’t know how to navigate this site 
haha.
I see people have been commenting about the judges final round of feedback on last month’s challenge. But I don’t see that thread stickied on the main page or linked anywhere. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Cheers!
Ah. I was trying to look for a separate winners page entirely. I thought that thread used to exist at some point. I stand corrected.
Thanks much Thaddeus!
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=7986672&posted=1#post7986672
I updated post 28: http://forums.cgsociety.org/showpost.php?p=7986672&postcount=28
David and I are trying to keep things more organized, instead of spreading everything out all over. Sorry about the confusion.
Yeah, +1 on that. Milan??? :shrug:
Great feedback from the judges too. Looking forward to Dave Luong’s comments but I know he’s been especially busy. I’m such a slacker compared to you people.
I somehow totally missed that question. Sorry about that.
Apparently, it is NOT an acronym for something super sophisticated but it appears to be only internal slang? Apologies for that. What we refer to as Gak, I guess, is smaller add-on elements to populate a scene, mostly created by the 3D assets department. It is shot dependent but general examples would be antennas, street lamps, signs, barrels, boxes, bottles, etc.
Hope this clarifies it somewhat better? My bad on the confusing terminology.
Go for it guys!! Whoever comes up with the awesomest acronym gets a digital high five across the interwebs. Get creative, can’t wait to see what you all come up with. I’ll share with the people at our studio…
We always say at the beginning of every challenge that they’re for everyone to participate and meant to be fun. This is your chance to really have fun. Sorry, no prizes, other than the chance to invent an industry-wide explanation of a professional term which might stick around for the rest of VFX history. Ha
No problem. I understand. I should have checked back through the thread just to be sure.
Thanks so much for the feedback, Milan. Looking forward to David’s remarks, but the comments you and Jason provided were great. Really made me aware of thinking more critically about future mattes, especially the lighting. Still trying to shake the concepty-illustrative style that permeated both this and my September entry.
Onward and upward. Cheers!
don’t forget to post your regular mattepainting work in our usual forum here: http://forums.cgsociety.org/forumdisplay.php?f=196
I just posted my comments and image write ups, sorry for the delay all! Another great month for sure. Again, so many great entries out there for January. Looking forward to February’s!!
Haha, I guess it could be defined for us as “doodads” or “junk” and “stuff” scattered on the ground for dress up.
