Thunderbirds sweep the Vikes at Head of the Gorge

Saturday October 28, 2006

As last year’s winners, the UBC varsity men held poll position for this year’s 5km long Head of the Gorge. Last year’s crew was expected to win with a roster that included Olympians Ben Rutledge, Kyle Hamilton and Rob Weitemeyer. This year the T-Bird lineup was totally new, save for veteran Ben Dove as seven athletes and their coxswain were lost to graduation.

"I know that many thought we would be 'rebuilding' this year with such a large turn over, but this group has been quick to gel and they love to race; anything can happen with these guys," says men's coach Mike Pearce.

Happened it did.

The Thunderbirds held off the attack from the Vikes national-team-laden crew in the first half, then pulled away slightly in the second half to win by 6 seconds. The race was a great confidence builder heading into the Canadian University Rowing Championships being held this weekend in St. Catharines Ontario , where the T-Birds will be looking to defend their National title won last year.

The UBC men's eight was coxswain Adrian Lietch, stroke Brandon Campbell, Tim Love, Ben Dove, Adam Cragg, Graham Harris, Kevin Devlin, Daniel Gaisford, bow Chris Zanieski.

Final times 1 UBC 13:11.02, 2 UVic 13:17.77, 3 UVic JV 14:03.79

The varsity women, emboldened with a one, two finish at the Head of the Fraser Fours two weeks ago, were eager to take on the Vikes in the eight.

The Viking women have not lost the Head of the Gorge in at least the last 15 years -perhaps longer. A determined T-Bird crew started to reel in the Vikes early, closing the starting gap of 20 seconds to less than 10 seconds by the Gorge Narrows . Once the crews were through the Tillicum Narrows the Birds knew they had the race on their hands, but the race now was for the finish line. In the final 500m UBC rowed down the Vikes, passing them and opening up a length before crossing the line first and winning by 26 seconds.

As with the men, the race was a great boost going into the National Championships were UBC will look to unseat the Vikes who won the National Championships last year, reclaiming the title won by UBC in 2004.

UBC women's eight was coxswain Melina Iddon, stroke Nathalie Maurer, Melissa Cory, Ava Storey, Jacqueline Thygeson, Tayna Lahdenranta, Aiden Sisler, Paige Jackson, bow Martha Pierce.

Final times: 1 UBC 15:21.67, 2 UVic 15:47.68, 3> Gorge RC 16:14.71

Walshman Note: As far as I know this is both the only time U.B.C. has won back-to-back at the Gorge in the men's event and the first time the women have ever won! What an enormous achievement and I am sure a sign of great things to come from the program that the Walshman calls home!

Aquí Venga El Otoño! Autumn is Here!

With a great rush of wind and no lack of Mother Nature's enthusiam autumn has blown its way into our lives on the rainy twilight coast of Vancouver. How beautiful it is too! Although I can't say that I relish the thought of the coming "shoulder seasons" of rain before and after the snow, and therefore mountain amusement, makes its annual appearance, I am more than happy to usher in the coming of fall. This year's long, hot summer seams to have contributed to an abundance of rich auburns, reds and yellows hanging in the trees around our neighbourhood. I love the coming of fall. Something unmistakeable changes in the air... A coolness in the morning, the sun at an ever more glancing angle sweetening the light, and a general clearness of the air. I am moved to think that also a clarity of mind comes creaping in...

The Paddy Wagon

So this post is all about supporting the community... Responding to the call for help and all that (Walshman of and for the people!). I received this email from a former visual effects supervisor I worked with on "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" Paddy Eason. Apparently, ole Paddy is in a bit of a pickle personnel-wise. Paddy now works from the United Kingdom office of Rainmaker Visual Effects. Paddy is a talented guy with a long history in the visual effects business and great eye. You know those funky composites of Harry running around inside the invisable cloak during "The Prisoner of Azkaban?" Some of Paddy's fine work! I would look forward to the chance to work with him again... For those in the U.K. this might be a good opportunity to get into a company with a presence in Vancouver. So rather than a mass-forwarded email, here's his message:

If you have a moment, I'd appreciate your help. Please take a look and forward this job on to anyone you think would be interested in the position, or anyone else who could help me find a great candidate.

Thanks for your help! -Paddy

Company: Rainmaker Animation and VFX, London
Job Title: Visual Effects Artists
Description: Rainmaker UK is looking for talented visual effects artists. Any and all specializations are sought - also generalists. Compositors, animators, effects TDs, shader writers, matte painters, lighters etc etc... We are particularly interested in senior artists who wish to get out from under large bureaucratic companies and spread their wings.

Dark Vixen I Love You So!

Well, of course, everyone knows how much I love La Megcita! But no, it is not that vixen I speak of today... I am speaking of that dark elixir that (aside from the above stated love) fuels my existance these days. Never before have I appreciated its magical ways the way that I do now. When 5 hours of sleep counts as a "full night's rest!" I can not describe the cravings I have for that warm chocolate-tinged rich and satisfying brew in the morning. Somebody tell me who invented this stuff! Is there too much of a good thing? It is crazy to think I am so reliant on its powers... Am I addicted? Oh no... Of course not...

Long Live The Black Pepper!

It is with great warmth in my heart that I say congratulations to my favourite Caribbean Frenchman and former flat-mate in London the one and only Jean-Paul "The Black Pepper" Rovela! That most enigmatic and indefinable of all computer graphics artists has gained more than a little self-definition in getting married! C'est formidable!!! I suppose this is as good a forum as any to relate the story of how Jean-Paul gained his nick-name. Jean-Paul and I worked together on "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" at The Moving Picture Company in London during the dark soggy winter of 2003/2004. It was then we became friends and ultimately flat-mate on Museum St. We would often go for a coffee in the afternoon at Caffe Zilli on Broadwick Street when we realized that today, yet again, we would be at work until well into the evening. It was on one of these sessions, taking a break from the pressure of production and getting to know each other that the subject of nick-names came up... I thought it was a cool way to get to know each other! To find out what each other was called by friends... Illuminating. Of course, I explained how I gained the nick-name in the third person "The Walshman" from my rowing coach at the 1994 World Rowing Championships Volker Nolte who had the habit of adding a "man" to the end of people's names and only referring to them by that. So he would say "where's the Walshman!?" or something. For others, it disappeared after they were no longer in Volker's midst, however, for some unexplainable reason, it stuck on me. Of course later, there was this strange association to lighting and rendering highend computer graphics and RenderMan... But that's another story. So, I asked Jean-Paul, "what do your friends in Paris call you?" To which he replied "Well, ze onlee zing isza guys sometime call me Casanova... Because of the girlzzz!" to which there was much laughter. But, I then (now famously) responded "The guys may call you Casanova, but to the girls you are The Black Pepper!" And well, I guess that stuck too... Bless The Black Pepper and his new family! Long Live The Black Pepper!!!

Damned Cool Spot

Check out this cool spot. A simple but charming idea and a very nice employment of visual effects. I love the way the gathering weight of this snowball is related in the animation. Slightly spongey, but still heavy. Spots are intriguing to me. I have sort have become "a film guy" by virtue of the last few years of work and it is interesting how you can get labeled like that when the core elements of the work are so similar. The thing about spots that is both the killer appeal and Achilles heel is that it is all about the "idea." There are moments where you say to yourself "wow, what a cool idea" and then you realize you just said that about an advert for a brand of underarm deodorant! Film is much less on the idea and much more on the "art." Films last, spots don't. Film is still the best medium to push a design/look/style because of that bloody big screen. Nothing can replace that forty-footer for appeal of a moving image. Anyway, I am blathering on like a madman now... But suffice to say the two mediums appear irreconcilably divided on this idea versus art axis. Yet they both have strong elements of both as well... See what I mean? Intriguing...

My Stupid New Fancy Television

Click here to see the specs on my stupid new fancy television. For whatever reason I have never spent any money on a television. This is literally the first one when the price tag raised my eyebrows. I know, I know... Crazy to imagine in my profession that I wouldn't put any value in one. I used to spend (still do really) so much time at the studio and I guess I always preferred the cinema to home viewing. For the longest time I had a crap 17" JVC television was literally a "hand-me-down" from my folks. No kidding. Early on when I started work, everyone else was blowing all kinds all kinds of cash on huge projection televisions I had my little 17" crapper... Seems ridiculous now, but hey did I suffer? Not really, I just saw a lot movies in the theatre. Meg and I got rid of that one when we started globe trotting. When we got set up in Los Angeles we bought a 21" Toshiba CRT that's been a nice old school set. But, now that we are "settled" in our new place, spending lots of time "en casa" with Mateo and winter on its way, well I thought it was about time to get a "proper television" to watch movies on cold and rainy winter nights at home. So there it is. I am officially condemned as one of those "home theatre guys." I am gonna have to pay someone sit in front of me, chew loudly, and repeat lines from the film for me... Or else it just won't be the same.

Local Boy Makes Good: Neill Blomkamp

When I saw that RES Magazine had finally placed Neill Blomkamp on their "Top Ten Up and Coming" list of graphics artists/directors sometime last year I knew that eventually the chap would break out of the local scene in a major way. Well, directing "Halo" ought to qualify! The news indeed traveled fast around the Vancouver visual effects and post-production scene that Neill had been awarded the directing gig on one of the most hotly awaited films in years (due to the massive success of the video game title). But really, the boy has been on his way for some time now - no surprise given his solo efforts and his more than accomplished professional work for The Embassy Visual Effects. I remember hearing about how he had started his career at Rainmaker VFX right out of high school basically and has been a "natural" with 3D computer graphics from the start. This lead to much accomplished work and word that Neill was a "one-man studio" forging whole projects single-handedly. The fact that very early on he showed a penchant for total project involvement, design and directing, etc. Makes it come as no surprise that he was selected by Peter Jackson (Executive Producer of "Halo") as the perfect new face to embrace this hugely popular title (not to mention the fact that his own work really could be seen as one long extended pitch for this role). As with all films that originate in a video game concept this one has its fair share of nay-sayers already - like this idiot. Why is it that guys like this insist on pissing all over something that they have no idea about. What a moron! I can see it now... "Halo" comes out in 2008 and this jackass will be all over it and saying "Neill Blomkamp is the best thing since sliced bread." Ridiculous - make something, anything, as good as Neill has - then talk the talk. Cudos to Mr. Blomkamp... All the visual effects hounds in Vancouver are watching as one of their own moves on to the true "big time." Now, if it wasn't all being done at WETA...

Now that's what I can a bike race!

Could you have really asked for anything more entertaining in the great wide world of professional cycling than this year's Tour De France? GAWD! It was awesome... The surprise "ban" announcement just prior to the start opened the field to unlikely competitors for the yellow jersey, the early sprints were exciting, a total long shot Oscar Pereiro takes nearly 30 minutes on the yellow jersey in one strategic move strangely unanswered by the peloton, and the alps prove to be nothing but drama. The strategic favourite, and former Lance-a-like Floyd Landis, awaiting hip replacement surgury of all things, finally takes the lead on a gruelling mountain stage, only to completely crumble the very next day, losing the yellow by nearly 10 minutes. Then, of all things, he wakes up the next day and has what some people think was the single greatest day of racing ever on the tour. He charges away from the peloton on the first assent of a ridiculously tough alpine stage, and consumes 70 bottles of water over 5+ hours and 5 monster climbs to come within 30 seconds of getting the yellow back! And as luck would have it - the following stage was a long distance individual time trial and Landis reigned supreme. Crazy. I was up nearly every day sitting on the sofa, playing with Mateo, and explaining to him all of the ins and outs. I think he understood everything. Especially the part about going fast! I am still at a total loss to understand how Landis, after completely shutting down only the day before, could psychologically get himself together and just go out there and say "well, today, I will just get it back." I suppose we could all learn from that one. Vive le Tour!!!

Mainframe Entertainment and Rainmaker Set to Merge

Ah yes... The ole "fake news post." In fact, a favourite past time of mine. Alas, I can't take credit for this barrel of laughs. Although I never reveal my sources, I will say that yes, "the author" has lived in Germany, owned a Ford Explorer, and married a baker. As dreadful a reality as that may seem. And now, the hilarity!

Vancouver Sun Thursday July 20, 2006

Mainframe Entertainment and Rainmaker Set to Merge

Two of Vancouver's film and television studios are set to merge in a move by Rainmaker to consolidate the previous competitors. It is yet unclear what the new entity will be named. Top analysts believe the most likely possibilities to be, Mainmaker, Rainframe, Lamemaker, Moonraker and Jalopy Puddlebum's World of Computery Tricks.

When asked what spurred on the upcoming merger the new CEO of Rainmaker Warren Franklin commented, "We have been growing exponentially in the last couple of years and we really need somewhere to store our bikes and a couple more washrooms. We see the Mainframe facility as an opportunity to fulfill both."

The Mainframe team greets the coming days with excitement and optimism. Rick Mishel, CEO stated on Wednesday in his weekly PodCast, "Hey Buddy! Hey! Where's Johnny Darrell? Johnnyyyyyy! Hey man! He's crazy! Hey Buddy!"

A letter written by Mishel to Franklin also stated, "Hey Buddy! I hope we can manage to keep the Mainframe stock floundering in the lower twenty cent range. Do you know Johnny Darrell? He's crazy! Johnnyyyyyyy! Later Buddy!"

Franklin's only response was, "My god. What have I done?" before pulling a gun out of his bureau drawer and shooting himself in the stomach. The funeral will be held on Sunday at 10:00am at the Sands Funeral Parlor, 3423 Fraser St.

Click here for the real thing.

The Lord of Song...

Ever since I realised I didn't know more than the first verse to "Twinkle Light Star" I have been thinking about how parents sing all these little songs to their kids without ever really stopping to think about it... So I am going to try something a little different. I am going to sing (if you could call my warbling "singing") to Mateo songs of my favourite Canadian song writers! What better way to introduce the little big dude to our culture!? I was humming a Neil Young song yesterday when I recalled this amazing version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" sung by Jeff Buckley... And I thought why not start with this one! After all Mr. Cohen is my "all time favourite Canadian." One look at this guy and read of his lyrics... Man, amazing.



Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Bucket

Who in their right mind posts this photo of themselves on the Internet!? Bucket - who the hell do you think you are? Bob and/or Doug MacKenzie? How's it goin' eh? 'Av a few too many Foster's of late? Awe whatever... We're all just jealous that the Bucket is chillaxin' on a surf board in the southern hemisphere aren't we? Well, I for one... That damned Bucket!

Mark Norrie: Third Greatest Human

Due to a recent shipment amounting to 3 kilograms of Groundwork's micro-roasted coffee (Venice Beach, CA) accompanied by 2 extraordinary Cuban cigars and a posh lighter, Mark Norrie, formerly of Los Angeles has been promoted to Third Greatest Human in The Walshman global rankings. It goes without saying that Mr. Norrie has strategically positioned himself well to pull off such an endevour. Speaking from his Sydney, Austrailia penthouse suite Mr. Norrie reflected on the recent move. "The Walshman has always been good to me. I am simply the yin to his yang." It will take some doing to topple him from his new roost. Debate still rages over the subject of the cigars, however, and The Walshman has not yet determined how to best make use of them. Current thinking is to employ the services of EBAY. "Cigars courtesy of the Third Greatest Human."

Vive Le Tour

Ah yes... It is that time of year again when we thank the cycling Gods for gifting whomever at OLN with the clairvoyance to give us such amazing "breakfast coverage" of the greatest race on earth, and the most difficult individual event to won in the world.

VIVE LE TOUR!

With all the hooplah surrounding this year's race (the official retirement of Lance Armstrong, the suspension of nine riders including the #1 and #2 contenders Basso and Ullrich, etc.) it is gonna be a wild ride! Stay tuned!

Celebrate With Socks!

Come on people, get your socks on and give it up for the most beautifully confused country in the world! And remember, real Canadians kiss on the lips!

My First Father's Day!

This picture says it all really, doesn't it!

Casa Walsho Springs a Leak!

Somehow, I probably deserved this... Not sure why, but I probably did. We took possession of our lovely new townhouse last night. First order of business was to install full shelving in the closet of our bedroom. It has a small walk-in closet which we really need to take advantage of... Due to the small space we have. At the back of the closet the original builder installed one, yes people... Just one measly shelf. Kinda pointless right? Uh, yeah. So, after measuring out all the studs I decided that before I headed to the store to get the shelving I would just take that one shelf outta there because it was not going to work for us anyway. Little did I know what awaited me when I did that! As I turned the very first screw our of the wall, I heard a strange hissing noise. As I continued to turn the screw out, it got louder and louder... What is that? I thought... What in egad's name have they screwed through on the other side of the wall? And then fizz-whooosh! Water starts spraying out of my wall! You can imagine my stunned response as I feverishly wound the screw back in as tight as it would go and then went running around the apartment shutting off water valves not knowing if I was having any effect or not.

Here is a picture of what it looked like when I finally got the water stopped. Luckily I was quick enough to just figure that if I got that screw back into whatever it came out of I would be fine. As it turns out that's what saved the day! They had drilled that mounting screw right into the sprinkler supply which is on a completely different water system than the household water. So, even though I turned off the household water, it wouldn't have stopped the gushing had I not got that screw back into the pipe, and it would have been minutes not seconds that the water was rushing down inside my walls and would have most certainly cause a ton of damage. I would have had to call 911 or something to get the sprinkler system shut off!

So much for "not having to do anything" as a result of moving into a new place! Someone told me that "you have to live through one of these incidents to develop empathy for your home." As I fill and sand all the wholes the idiot who mounted the shelf improperly created I tell myself "I am learning to love my home..."

"If Image Engine was a woman..."

Click here to read a Vancouver Sun article about the 'up and coming' Vancouver visual effects community. Could it be... At long last... That Vangroovey is finally making the 'AAA' map? Nawh! Come now... don't be ridiculous!

C.R.A.Z.Y.

Vive le Quebec Libre!!! If you have that moment sometime soon as I know you will... When you ponder endlessly the lack of great Quebecois films you've seen lately... Uh, yeah... Well fret no longer! For the great Monsieur Jean-Marc Vallée has given us this masterpiece of film. C.R.A.Z.Y. is an endearing story of growing up in Canada's much maligned Belle Provence during the 1960's and 70's and oh, let's not forget...Beingg gay. Small detail really as it only provides the context for what are some tremendous and personal performances by the entire cast. What I love about this film is that it feels delightfully Canadian without actually trying to be Canadian. It has such rich, authentic and well chosen details the sum total of which create a beautiful fabric that is immensely watchable. Allez-vous!

Version Up! Walshman V|6.2.1 Now Available

Release Notes: this version incorporates cutting-edge strategic planning initiatives and complex dependancy arrangements as well as extensive multiple outcome contingencies. Negotiated resolution, robust hierarchical implementation and aggressive stop-gap asset management techniques are also encorporated. Spring mango a non-negotiable parameter.