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The San Diego Comicon of 2003 was very different
this year through my eyes. My eyes were focused
on meeting people and making contacts. To my
blissful surprise, the comic book industry is
loaded with animation veterans and industry big
shots.
Initially I went to the Summertime Comics table
out of curiosity. There was not a crowd and I
started a conversation with Ryan Woodward. I
anxiously flipped through the comics and saw some
high quality artwork. He politely asked me what I
did and I told him about my computer animation
aspiration and how I had not found a job after
school in the industry. I quickly realized Ryan
has been involved in amazing animation projects at
Warner Brothers and mentally my jaw dropped to the
floor. I was becoming that drooling fanboy. He
took the time to look through my work and gave me
a lot of confidence.
Later in the con I got the chance to talk to Scott
Christian Sava of Blue Dream Studios. Once again,
I had no idea who he was and what he did. I was
honestly just flipping through the portfolios at
the Astonish booth and the computer generated
comic caught my eye. I got into a 3D software
conversation with Scott and next thing you know I
was handing him my demo reel. I am currently
working on an animation test idea he gave me as
well. After going to his website, I feel very
fortunate to have spoken with him.
Let me take a break and say that I did get the
chance to chat with my old school Comicon people.
That being the likes of Dan Norton, Lee Bermejo,
and Shannon Denton. They all remembered me and
were very gracious to see me there. I also got to
meet Ale Garza, Sandra Hope, and JJ Kirby who had
sort of eluded me in past conventions. Putting
faces with names you have wondered about since
you were fifteen is always fun. It's my old
school passion for Wildstorm that does not go
away. They all have a love for Jim Lee's vision
and are never above signing those old issues of
Stormwatch.
My final great memory of the con was meeting
Duncan Rouleau. His issues of M. Rex blow me
away. His rounded style could very easily be
placed into 3D animation. Anyhow, once again
after being a fanboy for 15min he asks me, Joe
whatever what I do. I tell him about my animation
and before I know it I am handing someone else who
I really look up to my demo reel. He has some
huge animation projects in the blender and to
simply be considered for such work is amazing. I
realize I'll probably never get called upon to do
such work, but the fact that I will be able to
send him future work is incredible. Its an
amazing compliment to any fan to have their own
work be accepted.
Overall, it was cloud nine. I worked the floor
with computer animation in mind and I got more
than I expected. The comic book world is full of
connections and I highly recommend the San Diego
Comic Con for anyone that has any sort of
entertainment aspirations. People are there, you
just have to ask around. This is just a taste.
I'll let you discover your own mouth full.
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