I joined just to support cgtalk and the myriad of wonderful things they’ve done for CG in general. I mean I’ve had more than five things answered in the Maya forums for professional projects. I feel that considering I make a decent living in this field then I should support that field a bit. Otherwise, I’ve seen no benefits whatsoever of becoming an actual member. Shrug. I’d love for a chat to be initiated for CGS members. Hell, I’d love to see chats instituted into some of the cgtalk software forum sections for that matter. I just think it would be incredible to have a problem in a package, go on a chat, have members (not just CGS members) galore on, and get instant feedback. How insanely cool would that be…oh well. We all know there are people that basically camp out in the Maya and Max threads to help people anyways (why do they do this? I have no clue hahaha). Why not allow everyone to discuss some topics while troubleshooting can be had?
Is the CGS area dead?
And for that reason I joined in the first place, so its only logical to renew it… only the system doesn’t like my creditcard very much because it gets bounced every time 
Edit: Tried to pay again today… and it worked without a problem. So i’m a happy CGS member again for at least a year 
So… what are we all up to?
Last week I was at Annecy (france), at the International Animation Festival. It was my first time, and I really enjoyed it. Saw over 15 hours of good animation combined with a lot of crap. But the location beats it al!
Now I’m finishing my last things over at work. This is my last week, and then I’ll have 2 free months before starting with school
I must be insane cause I’m contemplating doing the 48 Hour Film Project again this year. Columbus Ohio, August 1517. Did it last year and had a blast but didn’t imagine then that I’d be contemplating it again this soon.
I just started this HMC #15-MLR.
I’ve got a good feeling about this one.
Great locale Rick. I wish there was anyplace close to me where you could see the sand under the water.
Sadly that place wasn’t close to my home took my nine hours to drive all the way over there.
Looks good what you are doing there Whyatt, way out of my league.
Velk, I can remember you posting about it last year in the cinematography area. Can you show us what your entry was last year? I’m interested in seeing that.
I haven’t been here or posted to this area in quite a long time.
Is the CGS area dead?
Man…(from what I see) I would say yes.
I think the romance with CG/3D/Graphics and everything in between has really cooled down. Reality checks (hours) and the amount or new applications at every level has made CG truly ubiquitous. We couldn’t get a CGSociety meet area in Los Angeles so save our lives. This isn’t 90’s anymore.
I’ll echo what others have said, I joined to keep a good thing going. Unfortunately, there is little in the form of benefit. :shrug:
It’s a shame it’s so quite here, but hell… i’ll get past that 
How did your 2 weeks notice ended up? I remember you posting about it a while back. Did you found another job? Still stand behind that decision?
Rickmeister - That 2 weeks seems was around Nov 2007, but I do side work for CBS on occasion. A great group of young talent there.
I’m still working/writing/tweaking my own projects with the idea of producing web/mobile productions - bouncing ideas off nieces and nephews (subject matter UFOs/Aliens+science). What I didn’t mention then was that my dad has pulminary fibrosis and my mom her own ailments. One of my sisters and I look after our folks on a day to day basis. So with all that - I’m keeping busy in a different way these days.
I’m wondering if there are two reasons we people don’t post here much:
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It takes so long just to open the post page… well, it just took me over a minute and I’m on 8Mb broadband!
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Most people who go for membership are professionals who are spending most of their time worrying/looking for work/working/recovering from work. I know that I only tend to spend any time here when I’m not busy… like now.
Just a thought,
Mak
Well there were some specific group projects that started, but looks like they either never really took hold or fell by the wayside. Most of what is discussed is done in the public forums.
There have been some serious slow response days - not sure what to make of it. It would be interesting to know what areas are actually the bussiest - its mid Summer and there doesn’t appear to be an inordinate increase in posts.
Well - for me I’m in between cocktails and back massages, tanning by the pool. Just enough energy to turn on the laptop and type this response - too tired to pick up the sketch book - sigh (yeah - sure thing).
Haven’t been in the CGS area for a while, but things still feel slow around here
How are we guys doing, many months after their last reply’s in this thread…?
I know I am going to have an amazing vacation this summer, no financial crisis on my bank-account. I’m going to travel for 7,5 weeks in California, Tahiti, New Zealand and Japan. Planning this trip is occupying me every day, at least for a couple of minutes.
You guys have any big plans ahead?
I am hoping to keep my job… My work just let us know that we do not get vacation time but we get to take time off during designated down time.
I really want a vacation
Oh man… that really sucks. Sorry for putting it in your face like that. Is it a direct result of the financial crisis? A man needs a good break from time to time. It keeps my mind fresh.
yeah it is direct effect. Half the staff got laid off a week before xmas. Then for the new year that put this into effect. It is all good. I mean if some people are having the ability to have vacation that means there is hope. It is just taking advantage of opportunity.
Hey Richard, not to pry but I’m curious as to which company you work for. I have family up in Mankato, and a bro-in-law who is in art school right now, hoping to find a place to intern or eventually work once he graduates. Hopefully, by then, the economy will be back on track
I actually work for a college that I would prefer not to mention right now. It is located in the Minneapolis Area. The job market here is sparse and we are telling students to look else where because there are a limited number of jobs in the area.
We just had an all hands on deck meeting and the bottom line was, “If we have another year like 2008, we won’t be in business in a year.” Add to that all the grim news on this manufactured crisis and I’m wondering what will come next. Hopefully its just a kick in the pants to get everyone moving as our services are in pretty high demand. Baton Rouge is supposedly in a pretty good position to weather the economic downturn. Hope so.