20 Best Acting Performances of The Last 5 Years

20 Best Acting Performances of The Last 5 Years By screenrant.com "Many people would have you believe that movies aren’t as good as they used to be. In addition to dismissing all the great films that have come out in the past few decades, that attitude discounts some of the most intense, bizarre and captivating performances audiences have ever been privileged enough to watch. No method has been untried by both older actors really discovering themselves and newer talents capable of shaking up everything we expect from a performance." All the goodies right HERE

The importance of imagination by the creator of the Twilight Zone

The importance of imagination by the creator of the Twilight Zone, Rod Serling not only delivered some quality TV back in the days, but he was responsible for dropping the killing twist on Planet of the Apes (The one from the 70's , It was Earth all along!).

On the following video he provides some great insights on the wonders of imagination and how it has helped humanity to progress and to move forward.

This content was graciously created by the guys from PBS, don't forget to do some of your shopping @ shop.pbs.org to support such a great channel, which produces tons of quality content to inspire and educate the young minds out there.

Don’t Send in the Clowns: Mime Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Quiet

Don’t Send in the Clowns: Mime Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Quiet by hyperallergic.com "Perhaps mime’s biggest challenge to being widely appreciated is convincing producers to put it in theaters. “It’s not that we don’t have the public,” Goldston said. “It’s just harder to get the theater people to take the chance.”With their experience of running companies and producing shows, Baumwoll and Barbour understand the difficulties of marketing mime. “We’ve had company members who think we should take ‘mime’ out of our title,” Baumwoll said. “When we advertise, we balance the imagery with language that gives off an idea that we’re accessible.” The poster for their most recent show, Above Below, is a company member in a white t-shirt underwater, swimming toward an angelically lit surface. “I want mime to gain back some of its respect,” Baumwoll said. “It needs to be on a stage and it needs to be live.”" Set some time aside to learn more about this amazing form of acting HERE

Break free from the animator's hunch: Better Posture in 4 minutes

Break free from the animator's hunch: Better Posture in 4 minutes, "This video WILL help you get better posture. In this video Dr. Eric Goodman walks you through simple Foundation Training exercises, that can help improve posture, alleviate back pain, and enhance athletic performance, by engaging the major muscle chains in your body and helping you identify and utilize proper movement patterns. Enjoy!"

   

 Just remember to include these exercises in your daily routine.

Creating breakpoints to deal with stress

Create breakpoints to deal with stress. "As productivity writer Seth Godin explains, breakpoints allow you to predict and handle your stress in ways that don’t ruin your entire life for you."

Break free from crippling stress and the temporary problems that could lead to long term consequences by reading and practicing THESE useful tips from lifehacker.com

How to better judge to acting choices

How to better judge to acting choices (It's a Word document JIC) This is a helpful guide to breakdown an animation performance and which you can apply to your shots.

Start Your Animation Studio In 6 Easy Steps!

Start Your Animation Studio In 6 Easy Steps! a funny deconstruct of the eHow approach to make it big in animation. The journey to building your animation studio starts HERE

Shut up and Take my Money Now! A Hayao Miyazaki inspired Platformer in the Works

Shut up and Take my Money! A Hayao Miyazaki inspired Platformer in the Works by Nerdist "The films of Hayao Miyazaki give us worlds in which we would love to live. Who wouldn’t want to fly around and fight air pirates with Porco Rosso, save a forest full of spirits with Princess Monokoke, or meet a world of beasts and monsters like in Spirited Away? A French game developer called Bloomylight Studios definitely has and they’ve turned their love for the look and feel of Studio Ghibli films into a 2D platformer game called Lynn and the Spirits of Inao, which is currently being Kickstarted

."

 All the goodies and details HERE after the jump!

Animation Workflow with Nick Cross

Animation Workflow with Nick Cross, a VERY detailed process of how to plan and execute an animated 2D shot.

All you'll learn over Nick's PAGE is applicable to any animation media or software application,

Remember, only with an organized mindset you can achieve excellent shots. So stop leaving stuff to chance and get the most you can from this amazing colleague.

DIY Not So Poor Man's Motion Capture setup with Unity and Kinect

DIY Not So Poor Man's Motion Capture setup with Unity and Kinect from Microsoft's Channel 9  "Have  you always wanted your characters to walk around like you do? Then look no further :) Using Kinect v2 in conjunction with Unity you can record your own animation data, even without having a marker suit for example. In my video I show you how you can use the tool Cinema Mo Cap in order to record and import your animations to a 3D Model of your choice - Have fun!"



All the goodies, links and details mentioned on the video, right HERE

Viewport 2.0, all you wanted to know and never had the time to find out

Viewport 2.0, all you wanted to know and never had the time to find out, Jeffrey Hoover and Tim Kallok tell you all about Maya's Viewport 2.0. and how to get the best out it instead of letting it to get the best out you!



And great write up, right HERE 

Should you know something about the Viewport 2.0 that want to share with the world, please put it in the comments right below. :D

5 ways to deal with creative burnout

5 ways to deal with creative burnout by Creativebloq "As an independent creative professional, and because of the number of hours per day I work, I face the very real potential for burning out. The secret isn't luck; it's a deliberate decision to keep the fire burning."

The details of how to enjoy life while working are HERE

Feliz CInco de Mayo!

Feliz CInco de Mayo! Compadres! #cincodemayo

Animation Comedy and Gag Writing

Animation Comedy and Gag Writing by AWN.com "Animation comedy is above all, visual with plenty of sight gags. It uses motion and misuses the laws of physics. The comedy is exaggerated and often illogical. Dialogue may be smart with comebacks, put-downs, puns, rhymes or alliteration. Titles are funny."

Watch Jamaal Bradley thought process while working with Breakdowns

Watch Jamaal Bradley thought process while working with Breakdowns, Jamaal Bradley, the accomplished Dreamworks supervising animator shares his wisdom for breakdown on a very interesting and educational session.

All the goodness right HERE 

The Science of Developing Mental Toughness in Your Health, Work, and Life (and How That Will Make You a Better Artist)

The Science of Developing Mental Toughness in Your Health, Work, and Life (and How That Will Make You a Better Artist), is an insight on the mental trades you need to kick ass as an artist and do great in life, no matter background, grades or heritage,

I have to say that only with perseverance and grit I've accomplished some major goals in life, despite of having to work full time/part time while being punched left and right with all the unexpected things only life can deliver (without mentioning politics at every level, which its an article of its own).

It's a lonely road to the top though, a road filled with tons traps, detours and sad moments,

However, when you reach your destination you'll realize that everything worked out for the better and any battle scar you have gotten is part of your reward and your character.

So read THIS great article from James Clear and build some mental muscle to become tough enough to break through any vermin ridden jungle with both arms swinging in victory!

Ten steps to a great game animation demo reel

Ten steps to a great game animation demo reel by Game Anim "Greater length, quality and variety is expected from someone with industry experience behind them, whereas a student need mostly show potential, passion and imagination that can be nurtured. Admittedly, these are only my opinions so I’d be interested to hear what other developers think, and please also add your reel or others you know of to the group – it’s open to everyone."

More information HERE

Looney Tunes CG Smears and Multiples Breakdown

Looney Tunes CG Smears and Multiples Breakdown, Look at this awesome collection of breakdowns from the Looney Tunes shorts made by ReelFX rigged by the talented Josh Carey.

All the goodies are HERE after the jump!

Enjoy!

Three tips on achieving an awesome animation performance

Three tips on achieving an awesome animation performance by The Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics "Animation is nothing more than a few drawings or models moving on screen. Then how do these lifeless objects give brilliant performances? From Timon & Pumbaa singing hakuna matata in The Lion King to Carl & Ellie in Up, what or, rather, who is it that makes them give their best performance? Of course, the simplest answer is the director of the film. But the director cannot play all the parts. This is where animators come in. They are not only responsible for bringing the characters alive, but also for their performance. In short, animators are the real actors behind the scene."

Check for the complete article HERE