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.

Walshman Versus Portman

So... The Walshman faced-off against the power that is known as "The Portman" recently during an a trip east to The New York of Canada (yes, I mean Toronto...) for some on-set visual effects supervision duties on this film. Always an interesting thing "meeting a star." First, there's the meeting, which invariably you are much more uncomfortable with than they are, isn't really a meeting at all. In this case, I was staring down at a crossword puzzle folded on a chair (yes, the secret is out... on-set work is often that boring!) when a voice said "if you can do any better than me, go right ahead." No, in fact I could not add anything to Ms. Portman's efforts in this regard, and so I informed Ms. Natalie of this fact and then promptly resumed "minding my own damned business." It is an odd circumstance indeed to see a large group of people in a condensed area all trying desperately "not to bother someone." Yet, it somehow all functions like a greased wheel. The director ponders the scene largely from a secure location via a monitor, the assistant director bellows orders, the cinematographer instructs the grip, the grip issues the communication to the crew, etc. Like a modern fiefdom. Nothing new I suppose, but it did prohibit the ultimate showdown from going down.

Spring In Vangroovey

Ah yes, here we are in that most momentous of occasions on this fair coast: spring! Heralded for certain by the arrival of the Japanese Ornamental Cherry blossoms you see in this photo taken mere footsteps from the doors of Image Engine and in fact, on my bike route to work. Quite spectacular for sure. In the often sunny, often wet, Vancouver months of April and May the city seems to be at its most colour-saturated and perhaps most beautiful. The evenings may not match the warmth and lingering light of July and August, but the mornings are nearly always stellar with the end of winter on the North Shore Mountains picking up the light of the sun like painted high-lights on a stage set.

My buddy James and I had a conversation one time while enjoying a late "summer" day in Los Angeles about how when spring arrives in Vancouver it comes with a "pow!" And really lifts people spirits. Very true, you can just see it in the way people hold themselves, though sometimes I wonder if that's just because of the rains of winter have subsided. Contrast does people a lot of psychological good I think. It is the great characteristic of some places that they do not allow people to become complacent. I think that the weather in Vancouver is one of these forces. Just when you begin to take the long "Indian Summer" for granted the cold north winds of November arrive, and just when January and February's oppressive begins to eat your soul you are magically lifted by the brilliance of "la primavera." Salud!

Walshman Digs In Deep!

At the suggestion of Vancouver real estate mogul Mike "Coach" Pearce, I decided to check out a town house development on the off chance that I might amidst the insanity known only as "the Vancouver real estate market" be able to afford to own reasonable housing. The next thing I know I am locked in a bidding war with lesbian parents of a new born. Is that possible? In East Vancouver it is! And that's why I love it! To make a long story short a strange set of circumstances lead to Meg and I deciding to place an offer on a 1200 square foot town house just off of Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. The first thing was that while shopping at the best independant grocer in Vancouver, Famous Foods on Kingsway and King Edward, I received a call from Coach Pearce encouraging me to check out a housing development just around the corner called "The Brix." As I made my way over there I ran into Victor and Julia from our birthing seminar, who as luck would have it live in the development! Not to mention that "Ms. Griffin" Meg's teaching partner Heather from Stratford Hall School also lives in the building. "Fate! It must be fate!" I told myself. Intelligent folks you know all chosing the same development? Must be... So we took a look with the assistance of Lynne Dequanne, Meg's aunt who is a dynamite real estate agent and loved the place except for... dum, dum, dum... for the small living room! After much humming and hawing we decided to elicit the help of Coach Pearce and his lovely wife Christine who came to "review the property" and who were very enthusiastic and gave up the proverbial "thumbs up!" So we went ahead with an offer and a day later we're home owners!

Having lived not far from this location for a number of years in the past, I knew I would love it. It is a true "up and coming" area of the city. But, what I didn't truly realise was just how much was going on in the area and the pace of development. Things are really ripping along in East Vancouver these days. Within eye-sight of our new home there are four other townhome developments in the works. It is crazy out there! I am really looking forward to seeing Mateo ripping about John Hendry Park (Trout Lake) and having Commercial Drive's diverse community within walking distance from my front door!

My Lovely Birthday Card!

Thanks so much to my sweet Meg and little gaffer Mateo for putting the time and effort in to create this beautiful birthday card. It is really beginning to feel "right" to be called "Papa!"

Walshman Gets Buddha!

I thought it might be a good idea to get myself my own little Buddha. What with all that spiritual turmoil lying about the place. Besides, they're all the rage these days. I strongly suggest you get one for yourself! Ah... The calmness and serenity.

GKR Coming To Town

Click here to read an article about San Francisco based Giant Killer Robots visual effects firm who have made the decision to open a satelite studio north of the 49th paralell! Another local option!

Raising A Ramone

Hey! Ho! Let's Go! Hey! Ho! Let's Go! Looks like Mateo has had a little too much Blitzkrieg Pop!

Yo! Walshman, what's the weather like?

Hmmm... Let's see. It seems to be raining. Yep, no doubt. It's raining. No, make that pouring. Coming down pretty hard actually. Cats and dogs, really, who's kidding who? Come to think of it, it was doing the same thing yesterday. In fact, it has been raining for so long now, I can't really recall when it actually started! My memory has blended the past two months into one single blue-grey, blurry, nebulous element. Where is the street? The people? I think I see something moving but I can't be sure! Is anyone out there in the abyss? Okay, calm down. I was thinking to myself "this is normal" I am just 'getting my gills back.' The Los Angelino azure is still lingering smoggily in my consciousness. But, no, time for reassessment. It is wet. It is really frickin' wet. And blowing a gale. And dark. Nocturnal, northern, damned dark, and saturated. Stinking humid. Saturated. Did I already say that? Okay. It is seriously wet out there people. Everything is one gigantic sponge wet. Robyn Hitchcock singing "the rain falls... Up from the ground!" wet. The Pacific Ocean attempting to transfer itself to dry land wet. Wrap yourself in a kilt to survive wet. Bloody Orks of Mordour arriving to the bloody gates of Helms Deep wet!

But wait! Lo! What is that glimmering golden orb on the horizon? A streak of light emanating from the beyond? Has the end finally come? Are we all to be ushered off the to the Land of Beulah? No, not yet at least. It is just the sun.

I already miss the rain...

My Son Mateo!

Well, it has taken me a week to find the time, but here he is nonetheless for all the world to see: William Mateo Peñafiel Walsh! A.K.A. Bebe Burrito, Tomateo or Mateito! Take your pick! He was born January 22nd, at 2:03 pm, after a strong 7 hour labour and weighed in at a hunk-o-burnin' love weight of 11 pounds 7 ounces! About 5.2 kilos for those of you living in the modern world. So, it appears that he will be a gentle giant like his brute of a Dad!

Here's the "birth story." Meg was blessed with a freight train of a labour which began at about 7am, when her waters broke and she immediately went into labour with strong contractions about 3-5 minutes apart. We were into Saint Paul's Hospital by about 8:15am after picking up Meg's mother who we had invited to be along for the ride. By 10am she was already 4cm dilated, and continued with good strong steady rhythm until about noon when she was 8.5 cm. By this time she had spent about half the labour walking, standing the latter half in a nice deep tub which helped immensely. Holding her hand while she experienced the contractions in the tub will be something I will always remember to draw encouragement from when times are tough. She was truly inspirational to me. The midwives then began to try to slow her down a bit, so that the last bit of dilation would go as planned, but before we knew it she was beingtransferredd to the bed so that she could begin to push little Mateo into the world. And what a job she did! I have never witnessed my Megcita be so courageous, without reservation or fear, and full of shear focus as I did on that bed. She literally willed Mateo into the world in 18 minutes! I was full of tears as his head emerged, and before I knew it he was there with us, plopped out onto Meg's chest and we were suddenly three!

Thus far the little big guy has been nothing but a pleasure. I think he thinks he is on holiday or something!? He sleeps and eats happily and he and Mom and I are spending days at home together getting to know each other. As strange as it may seem, now that he is here, I simply can't imagine what we did without him?

The Age of Aquarious Begins! Long Live The Aquarian!

Any Time Now!

Well, we are definitely into that time of the pregnancy where we are "waiting with baited breath." Meg was officially "due" yesterday. We had a trip to the midwife that was all positive for both Meg and baby. It is totally normal for first time mothers to carry their babies a little over due. So we are remarkably chilled out about it all at this stage. A friend told me "you both look like you have submitted to accepting your new future." And I guess that's very true. At this stage every little change brings about the phrase "could this be it?" And I think in our case the midwife just pointed out that Meg doesn't look all that "uncomfortable" yet and that's generally a sign that she is still a few days off. It is amazing to see just exactly how stuffed she looks and especially in Meg's case where she has literally only gained weight in her belly. She looks like she is hanging a freakin' pumpkin off the front! And yet the midwives say things like "it feels like there is still a lot of room in there!" Huh? One thing I have noticed that is really amazing is how "small" women's worlds become the further and further along they get in the pregnancy. It is like the world is closing in around them, the things they care about being the most immediate direct things around them. This manifests itself in the particular in the well known and much talked about need to "nest" in the home, but it is really stunning to see how focused your partner becomes. If anything, this extra waiting time has given us a chance to continue to adjust to our new reality! We have had a lot of support from friends and family over the past few months, and it really has made coming home to Vancouver such a great thing. So, I say "bring on the chaos man!"

"I find myself missing Vancouver more and more these days."

A friend of mine south of the border said that to me a while back. No, really! It is true I am a well known verbose fan of Vancouver. Even occasionally masochistically! For example, I was very disappointed recently when a brilliant sunny day ruined the city's chances of breaking a record going back to 1952 for most consecutive days with measurable rainfall - a mark of a true Vancouverite I thought. The statement still caused me to reflect a bit because I myself have just returned to this fair rainy twilight coast. So, if you find yourself muttering the above statement these days... Don't fret! You might want to pick yourself up a copy of this book just to tide you over if you are far afield. And remember, you know, but you're not alone in this regard! There seems to be a growing sentiment of this kind... Especially amongst my work friends. My friend James and I had many, many, conversations while working together in Los Angeles that perhaps people were just getting to that age, or time in their careers, where the intangibles outside the studio were beginning to count for more and more. I mean, it is not that people don't like other west coast places in North America like San Francisco (or L.A. surprisingly!) but there seems to be a remaining appeal to ole Vangroovey that people don't shake easily. Whereas people seem to "grow out of" L.A. or where-ever else. Is it because there is a feeling that Vancouver as a place is "growing along with you?" I wonder if Portland is more like Vancouver in this regard? Who knows? Since coming back, after three years in "bigger places," (San Francisco, Madrid, London, Los Angeles) I think that I have figured it out. Quite simply, aside from lack of a particular job opportunity (like say, Pixar in my industry, the top job or whatever in your respective industry) living in Vancouver is just kinda "better." Cheaper cost of living (though still high by Canadian standards - after all it is the San Francisco of Canada!), very diverse, multicultural, and so tolerant (much more so than even San Francisco), no guns! (relatively speaking, but hey! at least our Prime Minister is actively campaigning on "a total ban of hand guns"), politicians who can actually speak lucidly(no kidding!), way less 'religiosity' (in fact the near total absense of religious programming on television is a shock in comparison to the U.S.) a much greater sense of social well being, etc. Hence, I may say things like "I miss my social life in London." Or "even though I had an amazing job in L.A. I only really miss the dry roads." Or "I would love to live in San Francisco for a "stint" again." However, saying all that "I would NEVER trade them for Vancouver." Canada in general seems a more welcoming, less arrogant place than many in my opinion. And Vancouver really seems to be "becoming something." I don't mind the rain as some people do... I grew up in it, and it never did me any harm. Though Meg and I still plan on living in Spain temporarily at times throughout life. Ah yes, but you're still thinking about the work. I have come to realize that we have to work hard to change the "work opportunity problem" ourselves. We can't sit back and "just hope someone does something about it." The opportunities to create a Pixar are long gone, maybe even the opportunities to create a WETA are gone, but nonetheless there is 'net growth' in the computer graphics industry. I am under no illusions about my own "level," and thus I realize the imperative for a team. So it is all about creating the opportunity to do good work, in a way that we who have spent time away from this place have learned to do it, with that team... The answer to "how?" still remains fiction. We'll see.

Feature Animation Coming To Town?

Click here to read an article about the feature animation "Space Chimps," being produced by Vanguard Animation (who also gave us "Valiant" last year). There are some rumours that the production is going to settle down in Vancouver for the next couple of years. I would be interested in knowing if anyone out there knows more! Pretty exciting. Aside from both Nitrogen and Bardel Animation producing some elements of "Happily N'Ever After" in town last year (I believe the film was finished by the Berliner Film Group), I don't recall anyone ever completing a full length theatrical feature animation production in Vancouver. So, doubly interesting then, given that it will be a first. Let's see what happens on this one!

Chief Executive Baby Sitter

Check it out Dad! That little girl on your lap looks pretty darned happy to be in the arms of Grandpa Walsh now doesn't she!? When do you think that she'll start calling you "Bud?" My guess is sooner than you think! Congratulations on your recent "appointment" to Chief Executive Baby Sitter, and Chairman of the Smiles Board. Oh, and incidentally... Happy Birthday Dude!!!

25 Years Ago Today

The strange thing is that although I was only ten years old, I vividly remember driving in the car with my mom when the CBC News broadcaster said something like "John Lennon, the singer, songwriter, former Beatle and peace activist was shot to death outside his New York apartment today." Not only that but I remember my mom gasping in horror, and me asking her "why would a man do that to him?" I don't recall the answer. Today, as I heard the CBC broadcaster remind listeners "25 years ago today..." I couldn't help but think of the first time I heard The Beatles "The White Album" and realized that almost everything that I listened to and loved in rock music "came from there." And also how relevant I think John Lennon and his moral center still is today. Especially today. I found this great quote from Norman Mailer just now.

"I have hidden myself in work today. But it keeps flashing in my mind. I feel shattered, angry and very sad. It's just ridiculous. He was pretty rude about me sometimes, but I secretly admired him for it, and I always managed to stay in touch with him. There was no question that we weren't friends, I really loved the guy. I think that what has happened will in years to come make people realize that John was an international statesman. He often looked a loony to many people. He made enemies, but he was fantastic. He was a warm man who cared a lot and with the record Give Peace A Chance helped stop the Vietnam War. He made a lot of sense."

So, in honour of the Statesman Who Never Was... STOP THE WAR! GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

The Shameless Exhuberance Of A Child

Why is it that a simple thing like a day off from the studio and a midday skate-ski with my buddy Mike can enfuse me with such a childish sense of joy? Wait a minute... I said "day off" and "midday ski" in the same sentence... Now I get it! Or was it the café carajillo?

The view of Howe Sound from the Cypress Mountain ski area on a pretty winter's day. The rare combination of opportunity and access to the ever changing outdoors that is so representative of Vancouver. Hard to believe that this view is only 45 minutes from most parts of the city. Ah, bliss... Experiencing a vista like this is a huge part of the soupy mix of multiculturalism, liberal attitudes, modernity and optimism that makes up my perspective on Vancouver as a place. A place of a great unknown future that ultimately breeds engaging and interesting people of all walks of life. Can you tell I am all goofy happy from the ski? You knew it!!!

Megcita en sofa!

The question I know you are all asking is whether Megcita is smiling in this photo because she looks so beautiful and happy to be 32 weeks pregnant, or if it is because she can't hold back her joyous state of mind having received delivery of our new sofa. Agreed, it is tough question to answer. Nonetheless, there she is... "My" beautiful wife sitting on "her" beautiful new sofa!

The Trailer To End All Trailers

Click here to see the latest uber trailer for "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." Nine minutes long. You'd think that would be too much... but it is done in a very interesting way. Mostly, I just noticed the musical score which sounds great. Above are some stills from the NarniaWeb page. They are frames from some of the shots I worked on at Rhythm and Hues. There are loads more images on the NarniaWeb page under the image gallery link. After 8 months of hard work and expectation... It sure is nice to see the stuff out there! Only one week until the film opens, and I have to admit that I am unusually excited to see this one!

Atmospheric City of Perpetual Change

A funny and somewhat unpredicted result of moving back north to Canada from Los Angeles this year has been the number of people both here in Vancouver and down south who have asked me "so, will you miss the weather?" It is quite true that California has a generally lovely Mediterranean temperament when it comes to the weather. Especially, in my opinion, the north of California. But, what I found surprising was how although I appreciated very much the consistently dry roads while riding my bike, I found the weather in Los Angeles to be, well, a bit boring. I thought it would be cool to combine a few images from a local webcam to illustrate this point. Within the relatively short period of time that I was living there I found myself really missing the atmospheric sense of the weather you have in the north. I missed the clouds and the play of light that they bring. The sense of things changing, and time passing. Wind. Stuff like that. There is a "day to day" consistency about the weather in Los Angeles that people there love. It is in fact a reason why people move there! By comparison, in the past week in Vancouver we have gone from socked in seemingly perpetual fog, to brilliant clear and cold (it is the end of November after all), to the first snow fall of the year. This extraordinary change is what I missed. A sense of the unpredictable. Well, all this to say I am glad it is back and well, no complaints from me about the rain and snow this year. I promise!

New Narnia Film Trailer

Click here for a high resolution look at the new "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" film trailer. Looks quite good if I do say so myself! I especially like the "snowy bits." I am sure that this will go over very well given the film's holiday season release date. All of the visual effects work looks really outstanding, but then, we have come to expect this from the block buster seasonal films, so it is not all that exceptional. Still, the images do seem to really have some depth and warmth to them, which can only come from things well conceived. I am very pleased I had a small hand in them. Gryphons flying around looking as real as can be... Nothing like it! There is all sorts of other Narnia buzz here.

A worthy first photo!

Well, such a beautiful day here, I thought it a good idea to try posting my first photo. It is days like this when the rest of Canada is "dealing with the onset of winter" and Vancouver has emerged from a rainy gloom that the place just grabs you... in a way few places can. This is a view of Burrard Bridge, Bowen Island on the far right in the distance, and Kitsilano in the left. Enjoy.

The Computer Graphics Wasteland of the North

Since I arrived back in Vancouver I have more or less gone from the frying pan of finishing "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" in Los Angeles into the fire, no, make that raging inferno of finishing season nine of "Stargate-SG1" and season two of "Stargate Atlantis" the television series. I have been working pretty much 12 hour days, 6 day weeks at Image Engine.

Getting back in touch with the different demands and challenges of television post-production has been trying to say the least. The words "from scratch" have often come to mind. It has reaffirmed assumptions such as "television may be more forgiving, but if you can get it done on this schedule... You can do well on a features schedule." It is not that working on feature films is any less work, in fact at times it seems to be a lot more work, because you can't get away with anything - the scrutiny of the work is extreme (and often kills people's enthusiasm, but for me I love that scrutiny) and you therefore have to "build for it." The work has a different focus depending on the medium. "Make it look amazing!" always out-ranking "get it done" in the feature world. In the television world "done" is the only word of the day. Of course, all projects finish at some time, so there is an inevitable "just get it done" phase on films too. But, for television, you remain in that phase regardless of the production cycle. I suppose I lost touch of that a bit.

The great irony that I know that I face coming back to Vancouver is that I have just left a job and company (Rhythm and Hues) in Los Angeles that was certainly the best I have ever had in terms of working "family hours." In fact, it may have been the only employer I have ever had in this regard. This is ironic because we have returned to the Great White North for all of the non-work reasons such as starting our family, seeing close friends more frequently, job opportunities for both Meg and I (rather than I alone due to the U.S. visa situation Meg faced) living in the great city of Vancouver and living Canada in general (yes, it is better, thanks for asking!). But, we both seem to be killing ourselves at work these days. So, as a result... We aren't enjoying any of the above. I keep telling myself "this is temporary" due to the rare circumstances of our return to Vancouver (timing is everything after all). But, the cruel truth is that working in Vancouver... I have never experienced anything else but this manic pace because trying to achieve anything of quality here often takes Herculean effort above and beyond the call of duty and that is why I often refer to it as "The Computer Graphics Wasteland of the North" (tongue firmly planted in cheek, mind you). I fully realize and am very grateful for the opportunities that I have "on the good side of the border," but I have to say that so far that work has a real sticky point. Methods must improve.

Why does it have to be this way? Well, thus far the real answer is that it has to do with the access to higher end work, which is limited in Vancouver due to the limited relationships with people who have access to the work. To make a long story short, you have to do good work to get noticed, but really you have to have the relationships in place for that work to get noticed. A "chicken and egg" phenomenon. People in Vancouver have often made the mistake of thinking "if we just do good enough work..." When in reality, the level of accomplishment is very often secondary to the principle issue of "who has a relationship with whom?"

So, what to do? Well, now that I have seen the light so to speak at some pretty top-end studios over the past few years, I am bound and determined to bring some of that know how home. The thing is... Even some basic improvements will go so far (farther than I think people realize) and it will be very fulfilling to see them happen. It is just a question of having the opportunity and then doing the work to make good on that opportunity. One fine example is, of course, The Embassy who have recently done loads of high end work and all largely for out of town clients. I think it would be hard to argue that they are not doing the best work ever done in visual effects in Vancouver. A model for the future of The Computer Graphics Wasteland of the North? We'll see!

The Goings On These Days

Meg is up at 5:30am and I doze to the sounds of the shower and the traffic outside for a few minutes more. I try to tell myself "it is like waves lapping at a shore" until the radio comes on at 6:15am tuned to CBC's "Music and Company." My turn in the shower. Scarf some breakfast. Usually a slice of toast, maybe some hot cereal this time of year, coffee will have to wait. Somewhere between 7:05am and 7:15am we're out the door. Pretty much everyday I say to myself "I hate driving." I drop Meg off at Stratford Hall School sometime between 7:20am and 7:35am depending on traffic. I then thank "my lucky stars" (where did that phrase come from again?) that the commute is almost over. Every 23 minutes a new driver is added to the Vancouver area. I head back to Main Street, sometimes stopping for a coffee at Calabria Caffé on Commercial Drive (and a chat about pregnancy and visual effects with The G), but mostly just head into the studio to get a start on the day. Working too much, yes, thank you or asking. Check my renders. Swear. The morning goes by in semi-hallucinatory haze of moving images and caffeine. The Gollum-like animal squirming in my gut indicates that I have yet again "forgotten the necessary fuel for this habit." So, I scramble for something to eat. Luckily there's lots close by... and I love this neighbourhood for it. Sometimes I head to Bucket's place to hear him play The Strokes on his guitar. Noodles on Main Street occasionally, but usually a sandwich at Terra Breads. By 2:00pm it is heads down again as I can feel the day slipping past me just as quickly as it came. 6:30pm comes far too quickly aided no doubt by a couple more coffees. Rushing off to get Meg who has completed yet another Herculean effort at the school and is starving. About half the time, we eat out somewhere between the school and home, or at her parents, and if we have time and the forethought (to say nothing of luck), we eat at home. If I am even luckier, I have wine. After dinner, depending on how the day has gone I am either relaxing at home, and trying to keep some semblance of order, or rushing off to the studio again for a couple more hours of work before my eyes start to bleed (proving once again that living close to the studio is not an option, it is a method of survival). After I have successfully set fire to "both ends" I head home, and to bed for a few pages of my book. Meg is already a piece of comma toast, and I say to myself "hang in there." I fall asleep with the lights on wondering when I will find the time to ride my bike.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Ocean attempts to relocate to Lynn Valley...

Yes, what I mean is that it is raining like the bejezuz-bells out there. "Monsoon-like" would also be a good way to describe the rather humid conditions out of doors these days. Click here to see what I mean! Almost makes one miss the bland, but ever present, "dry haze" of Los Angeles (no, the sky is not blue there). Almost... It was one of the things that people in Los Angeles always said to me when they heard that I was leaving for Vancouver. "But, what about the rain? Like, dude, what are you going to do?" As if the mere thought of occasionally getting wet (outside the context of surfing, that is) was tantamount to torture.

I grew up on the west coast of Canada, in a lovely little piece of "fake England" called Victoria (I could swear, now that I have seen the real thing, that somebody had the idea of picking up Bournemouth, and relocating it to the southern tip of Vancouver Island!). And although positively balmy by Canadian standards in winter, and downright Mediterranean by summer, Victoria got its fair share of "northern weather." Even if we played ice hockey inside a rink the stinging pain of frozen feet and hands following the soccer match as they warmed in a hot shower is an all too common memory for many of my friends and I.

Endurance through the onslaught of winter in the north is a Canadian identifier and bonding experience across cultural barriers. Once you've "lived through" a few years of near zero degree pounding rain on the West or East coasts, or a sub - insert ludicrous number here - degree snow blown landscape in the rest of Canada, you can safely say you have bonded with the rest of the nation. There is something so endearing, to me at least, about being "out in the weather." It makes you harder somehow, more quietly confident. Enjoying what the out of doors has to offer "in spite of it all" is just something that seems to make sense to me... perhaps it is something that makes me "Canadian?"

T-Bird men win Canadian University Rowing Championship

There's few things in life that please me more than a row of navy blue with gold trimmed crew shirts ripping down he course ahead of all comers.

T-Bird men win Canadian University Rowing Championship

VICTORIA

A year ago, it was the UBC Thunderbird women winning the Canadian University Rowing Championship. This time around, the powerhouse UBC men claimed top honours, fending off a strong challenge from Western Ontario and Queen’s to take the title in the final race, the men’s eights, at Elk Lake UBC started Sunday's four-boat 'A' final on the right foot, winning the men's pairs with a dominant performance from national team veterans Kyle Hamilton and Ben Rutledge. Rob Weitemeyer, also a national team member, followed up with a convincing win in the men's single sculls, making it his second sculling title at the CURCs, having won previously in 2002.

The UBC lightweight men had to hang on in a deep and competitive field in the coxless fours. Rich Cotter, Julian Lamoreux, John Page and Andrew Poole finished in a solid fifth place, and in the light men's singles, Page rowed to strong seventh place. These finished added six valuable points to the T-Birds’ mounting total.

While UBC dominated the heavyweight small boats, Western and Queen’s were picking up consistent top finishes across the board. By the last race of the day the scene was set with Queen's, Western and UBC in a tight points race, leaving the eights to determine the national champion.

To qualify for the finals, UBC narrowly edged out Western, UVic and Queen’s in Saturday's time trial, which was raced over a short 1,000 metres due to rough water and high winds. The final was raced over Elk Lake's 1,850m course. UBC was able to step out early, powering off the line to gain a half-boat-length advantage over Western by the first 750 metres. UBC slowly started to build on this lead, while the Western crew began to concern itself with Queen’s, who were determined to make it a three-horse race. UBC managed to draw clear of Western and Queen's by the finish to win in a time of 5:36.77. Western finished second in 5:41.84, and Queen’s followed in 5:41.97. The UBC eights was made of Cox Jane Maxwell, stroke Rob Weitemeyer, Ben Rutledge, Kyle Hamilton, Thorsten Schmidt, Ben Dove, Chris Kemppainen, Alex Doucette and Curtis Dearden.

The T-Birds collected 56 points overall to claim the men’s title over Western (47) and Queen’s (45). UVic and Brock rounded out the top five with 34 points apiece. On the women's side UBC fought hard, qualifying for four of six 'A' finals with some very competitive finishes in an attempt to defend their 2004 title. But Western and UVic would prove too much to handle with Western sweeping all three heavyweight events and UVic, who covered all the events with solid finishes, ultimately reclaiming the national title from the T-Birds. UBC's Jen Andrews turned in a silver-medal performance in the heavy single sculls. Lailey Wallace and Julie Miller won bronze in the light double sculls and the heavyweight eights would also win bronze.

UBC (63) finished eight points up on Western, while UBC (36), Queen’s (30) and Brock (25) rounded out the top five. UBC coach Craig Pond was voted the 2004-05 Canadian university coach of the year.

Holy War Looms Over Disney's Narnia Epic

Click here to read a Guardian article about the current "media campaign" surrounding the release of Disney and Walden Media's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" feature film.

"To millions 'The Chronicles of Narnia' are a childhood tale of wonder and triumph now made into a film that could inspire millions of children to read. To others, including the celebrated fantasy author Philip Pullman, they are stories of racism and thinly veiled religious propaganda that will corrupt children rather than inspiring them."

Essentially this film is turning into yet another "the public eye is on this one so let's all turn it into a religious debate" film. This year's "The Passion of The Christ"if you will (although obviously with that film it was pretty obviously intended to provoke). Whenever there is a contentious issue such as this one I find it odd how as an artist working on the film you become so consumed in "making it look cool" that the broader context of how the work will be received eludes you. Of course, it comes up in casual conversation all the time amongst the artists, but you never really feel that you are contributing to an agenda of any kind. The idea that "hey, I am making Jesus in the guise of a huge photoreal computer generated lion" never really crossed my mind. Those who worked with me might beg to differ as they recall a bellowing "ooooh ggggeeeeezzzzuuuzzzzz" or two as my renders went horribly wrong. In reading Pullman's comments (I am a big Pullman fan) I am inclined to think that his criticisms are valid given that in general I share his "spiritual perspective." Nothing like a devout atheist to get you biting the hand that feeds you!

El cumpleaños de "La Embarazada" lo mas bonita!

Here's a little photo of Megcita pregnant on her 32nd birthday... there have been a ton of requests, and I am sorry to say I have not been too good about taking photos! What can I say? It is a little hard when I have been in Los Angeles and she has been in Vancouver. I hope to make up for it in the near future... keep your eyes peeled!

Two Movies On Battle Of Iwo Jima

Yep. I am a Clint Eastwood fan... how can you not be? I love the fact that he has grown so much throughout his career and remained creatively vital for so long -- and much past many of his contemporaries. He is often under appreciated by many who have not seriously taken a look at his greater body of work. His better films, for example "A Perfect World" and "Unforgiven" from the early 1990's, always seem to tackle difficult characters and challenging tense situations. I can't help but think that his drive to present such a horrific subject as the battle fought on Iwo Jima "from both sides" is a not so subtle way of waking American people to what's happening elsewhere in the world due to their involvement. What's happening on the "other side" of the Iraqi situation?

‘You Just Have to Trust Your Gut,’ Eastwood tells TIME

New York – Next fall, Clint Eastwood will simultaneously release two movies telling the story of the battle of Iwo Jima – one will be from the American perspective, and the other told from the Japanese perspective, TIME’s Richard Schickel reports in TIME’s What’s Next special issue (on newsstands Monday, Oct. 17).

Beginning next February, Clint Eastwood will start shooting the companion movie to Flags of Our Fathers, tentatively called Lamps Before the Wind. Typically, Eastwood is not able to articulate fully his rationale for this ambitious enterprise: “I don’t know—sometimes you get a feeling about something. You have a premonition that you can get something decent out of it,” he says. “You just have to trust your gut.”

He asked Paul Haggis, who wrote Flags, if he would like to write the Japanese version as well. The writer of Million Dollar Baby and director of Crash, Haggis was overbooked but thought an aspiring young Japanese-American screenwriter, Iris Yamashita, who had helped him research Flags, might be able to do it. She met with Eastwood, and once again his gut spoke; he gave her the job and liked her first draft so much that he bought it. It was she who insisted on giving him a few rewrites she thought her script still needed, TIME reports.

Taken together, the two screenplays show that the battle of Iwo Jima—and by implication, the whole war in the Pacific—was not just a clash of arms but a clash of cultures. The Japanese officer class, imbued with the quasi-religious fervor of their Bushido code, believed that surrender was dishonor, that they were all obliged to die in defense of their small island. That, of course, was not true of the attacking Americans. As Eastwood puts it, “They knew they were going into harm’s way, but you can’t tell an American he’s absolutely fated to die. He will work hard to get the job done, but he’ll also work hard to stay alive.” And to protect his comrades-in-arms. As Haggis’ script puts it, the Americans “may have fought for their country, but they died for their friends, for the man in front, for the man beside ’em.”

Type and the truth will be told...

Click here. You know you want to...

Back On the 24/7

Well, work at Rhythm and Hues Studios over the past few weeks has finally felt like all my other computer graphics jobs. That is, I have been shackled to my desk for hours on end. It seems to have been a long time coming. We are on "work as much as humanly possible" mode at the moment trying to finish all our work for "The Chronicles of Narnia" to the highest standard possible before our looming deadline arrives towards the end of the month. I have been here since mid-march and it is a testiment to the relative sanity of this studio, and the fine folks running it, that only now am I posting this comment. This gig at R&H has been the closest thing to a 9 to 5 job I have ever had in computer graphics. I have to admit to feeling quite conflicted about it. While Meg was here it was certainly nice to be able to guarrantee her I'd be home at a certain time. That hasn't happened a lot in my career. But, as it turns out I took a big cut in pay due to the relative lack of over time hours here. It made Los Angeles seem a lot more expensive to me as a result I guess. I am not at all apprehensive about leaving R&H because I know that there are great challenges waiting ahead. But, I will "miss it." It has a tremendous "studio vibe and culture" and a relative lack of egotistical behaviour that has been great. Like an oasis in an otherwise not very admirable city. Easy to leave Los Angeles, not so easy o leave Rhythm and Hues!

Vangroovey Tops The List

Click here to read an article about a survey conducted by The Economist Group that proclaims that of the 127 major cities in the survey Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is the most "desirable place to live" in the whole world. It is always a bit odd to read something like this when you are from the place they are talking about. But, I have to admit to being a total "homer." I believe most of my friends would attest to hearing me rave once or twice about the place (and I trust will permit me yet one more rant). But I also recognize that in this respect I won the lottery. How did I end up a Vancouverite? My father grew up in New Westminster and having spent a decade in the east at graduate school and beginning his career throughout his late 20s and early 30s he elected lifestyle over careerism and chose to move to the much sleepier climate and take advantage of the family proximity of Victoria. His forethought, my lottery. I grew up in Victoria and only became a "Vancouverite" in earnest when I went to The University of British Columbia in 1990. Being a formative time in my life, I fell in love with the place and I haven't ever really lost the passion for it. It is my place and I am very comfortable about that.

I think the thing that strikes me most about Vancouver these days is that I realise now more than ever that it has yet to fully define itself. Its character is in flux. And while you live there you are a part of defining that character by what you do and your values and the choices you make in your life. Having lived in places like London and Madrid recently, I recognize that Vancouver "is not" but "will be" what it is... The vast majority of the character of the place has yet to be etched in stone. There just hasn't been enough time yet. It is cool to be part of that defining process rather than inheriting it. Of course, much will be derived from the local surroundings. The presence of the ocean and the mountains and the trees is a constant reminder that the place was built on the backs of "pioneers" from elsewhere in the western developed world who gave little attention to the local colour at the time of their arrival. Nonetheless, I think that this sense of pioneerism is still very much a part of the culture there. New things do well in Vancouver. There is a spirit of openness and honest opportunity that is greater than elsewhere I think!

For me, Vancouver also personifies the movement towards a kind of cultural fusion. As such it is a city of people who are best when embracing the best of multitudes of cultures and trying something new. That's why there is such a diverse range of people and their food, there is comparatively broad opportunities and a lack of discrimination, and a sense of a growing vibrant place. This vibrancy is one of the things I really noticed having been away for a few years. Something that you don't necessarily catch while you're living there day to day. By way of comparison Spain is incredibly rich culturally, but you don't get the sense that much is evolving. Spaniards are pretty happy with the status quo. London is also a very engraciating culturally mixed place, but it gives you the impression of a place that the cultural mix is being "enforced" in a way. The fall out of a empire that once reached around the globe. In Vancouver, fusion is the only way there has ever been.

Anyway, a feather in the cap. Here's hoping that the rain keeps all the baddies away!

Behind The Scenes Hoop-lah!

Click here (warning: film look spoilers!) to see a featurette about the visual effects post production work ongoing on "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." I believe this is one of the behind the scenes documentary style movies that are all the rage these days (used as a compliment to the DVD package). There are a few of my shots in the mix. They are the ones that feature the "flying hawks and gryphons" during the battle sequence. What you see there is definitely "work in progress" and I was surprised to actually see them in there! Because they are missing all sorts of elements and so forth... C'est La Vie! There has been a lot of press buzz being generated out of Sony Imageworks especially, and WETA Workshop, about the work and it has been a bit of a thorn in the side of the companies who do not have the same level of PR resources: Rhythm and Hues Studios in particular. It is very difficult for a truly independent studio like Rhythm and Hues to go head to head with Sony when it comes to "exposure." Little do people know that Rhythm and Hues Studios is officially the Lead Visual Effects Facility, entirely responsible for the digital Aslan character, the Centaurs, all the Massive work in the film, and for that matter the vast majority of the key battle sequence towards the climax of the film. In the long run, when the credits roll I think that the perception of Rhythm and Hues Studios will stack up really well. The shot that I feel is really exemplary of the full range and level of the work is featured very briefly as a split screen of a centaur walking. Totally convincing. And I might add that the background roto/prep work is astounding on its own. Lookin' good people!

American Automotive Industry Stupidity!

Check out this shining example of American automotive industry stupidity! If there is one thing holding Southern Californians image of rampant stupidity and ignorance hostage, it is the Sport Utility Vehicle/Pick Up Truck. When! I ask you are these moronic gearheads going to be shaken from their intellectual slumber? 13 Miles per gallon? What the hell!? Most of these vehicles never see anything rough in terms of terrain than the parking lot medians they regularly drive over as their helmsmen strain to make out anything outside the cab. Pure gluttony in a time of mounting global concern over fossil fuel usage. Meanwhile, companies like Toyota seek alternatives (they are offering more hybrid engines than any other manufacturer) which while still using gas are at least a step in the right direction... Thank you for not even trying America! Trying to find a reason the U.S. invaded Iraq? Or why 2000 Americans have lost their lives? How about "the two-wheel-drive Ram Mega Cab takes a 47-foot-wide road to turn around. "

Rhythm And Hues Explodes!

Well, now that it is all over, the rumours of our untimely demise have been greatly exaggerated. But, it is true that there was a "large explosion" at Rhythm and Hues Studios yesterday at about noon. I was in film dailies at the time, and there was a terrific bang followed by the sound of debris landing all over the roof of the cinema, and then the power going out. I was standing near the back of the room (film dailies is packed these days as we final all sorts of work for "Chronicles of Narnia") with my buddy Rodrigo "La Velha" Teixeira, and when we heard the noise we just turned and ran outside through the loading dock to see what had happened or if we were in any danger. I honestly thought ludicrously that we had been hit by "falling plane debris" because we are so close to LAX. It is amazing what sort of ridiculous imaginings your mind throws at you in times of stress. As we exited the building there was obviously an exploded transformer or something going up in flames outside the building and it was threatening to spread to all the adjacent poles, the building, etc. So we ran back in and started to tell people they'd best get out of the building pronto. Everybody was remarkably calm. It was a horrific bang and there were probably 200 people within 20 meters of it, but everybody just calmly left the building. It was quite chaotic getting away from work, but as a result of the incident, it did afford us the day off and an afternoon of beer and quesadillas de pollo! Bueno, perfecto! Click here to check out the damage!

First Avenue Machine

All right already! Enough of the humorous anecdotes and back to the slick computer graphics! Check this out! Some very stylish use of High Dynamic Range Imaging and Ambient Occlusion. The compositing is really well done too. Nice integration, etc. But what is perhaps the most impressive is just the creative diversity represented within one coherent idea. Wheew! That hurt!

It rained...

Normally, this would not be worthy of note, but today it is... It rained in Los Angeles for the first time since I arrived in March. No kidding. There has not been one single drop of rain the entire time. People went nuts out there today. Film dailies were cancelled in the morning due to the rain! No word of a lie! I didn't see anyone at all riding into work like me (well, not that I see a lot of people anyway in the SUV Culture Capital of the word, mind you) and I got to work people said things like "did you really ride to work in the rain?!" "Did you get wet?!" and "Are you hurt?!" It was hilarious. As I woke up to a by now unfamiliar sound of rainfall I was over-joyed! I couldn't believe my reaction as I gleefully hopped on my bike to "ride in the rain" to work. Totally childish but true! I was thinking, what a foreshadowing of my impending move north to Vancouver! There is so much "negative press" about the north down here is it silly. People say all kinds of stuff without having any idea! The funny thing is here are the real statistics:

Los Angeles Annual rainfall: 380mm (15 inches)
San Francisco Annual rainfall: 508mm (20 inches)
Seattle Annual rainfall: 914mm (36 inches)
Vancouver Annual rainfall: 1117mm (44 inches)

"Good Lord," I said to myself Vancouver is "only 3 times as rainy as Los Angeles!?" What the hell? Would you have thought that the rainfall in Los Angeles was "more than half of that in San Francisco?" I wouldn't have. Here I was believing in all the hype... Maybe now I won't feel so bad when the Pacific Ocean annually attempts to relocate onto dry land in Vancouver. Dark days of winter here I come! I suppose that the rainfall in Vancouver falls over quite a few more actual days of the year which makes it feel like more rain... When it is raining outside I guess that's all that counts in people's minds, not the actuall amounts.

What I have found amusing living in Los Angeles is that the sun worshippers here absolutely cringe at the idea of being caught out in any sort of weather aside from beaming sunshine. They simply can not function in anything otherwise. Truth be told I have really enjoyed the weather in Los Angeles, but I can't say that the weather in general is something that "gets me out of bed in the morning" you know? I guess that comes from growing up soaking wet all the time and it not bothering you. Either that, or my "bred for the North Atlantic" Irish blood. Whatever the case, I can't stand the "sun or nothing" attitude down here. I think I am one of those "I need to feel the change of seasons people." I have had so many memorable times due to being "out in the weather" and I wouldn't trade those memories for any number of sure fire sunny days.

Vangroovey All Right!

Jesus Murphy! Check this action out!!!

All for a "tortilla de papas!"

The other day "mi companiero del piso" (room-mate) Raul Sanchez Ortega had a bit of a Spanish-style spazz attack whilst realizing that he had not had any "real Spanish food" for almost a year. I believe he said something like: "Estoy hasta las narizes con esta puta mierda comida rapida en Los Estados Unidos joder!" which basically translates as "I have had it up to my eyeballs with this crap American food!" So, I said, hey man, calm down, no worries, this City of Angels is what? 12 million people? Somebody out there has got to be running a Spanish restaurant with "real Spanish food." So we took to the computer and searched for such a place and low and behold we found a place in Glendale called "Spain Restaurant." Not exactly an appetizing name, but I thought, what the hell. Let's find that sucker and head on over there for some tapas. So, that's what we did. Although in doing so I once again confirmed a realization I have had about my "L.A. experience." It is not representative of the city at all... I live and work in the posh and gentile confines of the west side nearly always within sight or sound of the Marina and the beaches. This is a mere sliver of an existence. There is a heck of a lot of "yuck" out there. Due to my inherent fear of the highway (and Veronica sharing that fear) we set out to find Glendale Avenue via city streets... Before long we were lost in the abyss-like grid of Hollywood traveling slowly eastward. As I sat in the back of Raul's open jeep I thought to myself "why am I so freakin' cold!? Is this not he sunshine state? And am I not Canadian?" To cut a long story short, the ride was horrendously long and the scenery foreboding. 30 miles of concrete and low lying buildings. When we finally arrived at our chosen destination we were starving, which I have to admit helped he flavours of the food! But, the food itself was great, even if the restaurant was slightly on the sketchy side. Sort of a half take-out, half eat-in place just stuck on the side of a nondescript five-laner. Typical of L.A. We happily ate tortilla de papas, gambas al ajillo, chorizo asado en vino tinto, ensalada de Rusa, etc. All the while fearing the return journey across town... Raul has voluntarily decided not to be so touchy about the food.

Sir Lancelot Rides Again?

Click here for the latest speculation! It seems he may be at it again... Well, only time will tell if he makes the "right decision" in this case. People are already throwing out the comparison to Michael Jordan who came back only to look very human after once appearing as a god. For my part, I think this case is different. Jordan spent far too long away from his sport and came back for the money. Lance is riding on the heels of criticism and innuendo about his fabled past. He has not been out of it long (mere weeks really), and has plenty of "fresh fuel" for the fire courtesy of the unforgiving and often flagrant French press... So, entirely different circumstances. But, it still remains to be seen if one man can suffer for a living for that much longer. Even if the drug rumours are substantiated (I am in the "no way!" camp on that one) perhaps he's one of those athletes who needs to know definitively that it is over... Perhaps he feels he must be beaten to truly pass the torch. That certainly would fit his profile. Ah well, cycling in the headlines, what's wrong with that!?

For some inexplicable reason...

You ever have one of those mornings where in your semi-awake, not quite sufficiently caffeinated, cerebral haze a thought just sort of floats through... And it is gone!? Well, this morning, I snagged it on the way past! The thought was "I wonder what Bryce Duffy is doing these days?" Bryce is a dude I sort of knew during the 1980's in Victoria, B.C. Now, if Bryce and I had been closer friends back in the days of high school this thought might somehow seem pretty normal. But, the fact is that we weren't close, but only friends in the context of having friends who were friends. That kind of thing. And the vast majority of my memories of the dude revolve around his infatuation with one of the high school girls... In other words, not a lot to base a friendship on! So, here I am thinking this thought, when the omniscient internet makes itself known and I say to myself "hey, why don't I Google that $%&*er!" And low and behold Bryce's new website! Amazing... Pretty nice work too! Apparently, Bryce has become an accomplished photographer. Good on yah, dude. So, from me to you, for some inexplicable reason... The work of Bryce Duffy, old high school acquaintance.

Holy Spam Batman!

I lost my "blogger spam virginity" this week! A hilarious telephone message from my sister (thank god for family watching out for your best interests!) tipped me off to the fact there were some shall we say "disturbing" messages posted in the comments section of the previous posting. I apologize to anyone offended, but I am sure that most people would have recognized the expletive-infused gibberish as a classic spam attack. Anytime you see the phrases "get Muslim religion" and "free black p***y" used in the same sentence you know that something is up! I have changed some of my website settings to hopefully avoid this in the future.

"I walked with the Zombies..."

Okay, this is totally cool. I can't believe I missed it! I think this kind of informal public gathering is what creates the heart and soul of a place. "Vancouver, where dressing yourself as a creepy character from a B Horror film is a way of life." Amazing! And so long as nobody wrecks anything, damages property, or otherwise acts like an ass it should be totally supported in the community! An annual zombie walk, man! Everyone is so scared of breaking the law down here in Los Angeles this kind of thing would never happen. Sad. Groove on Vangroovey!!!