Creative COW Forum Host, Web Writer, Contributing Editor
Sean Fennell
Los Angeles, California USA
Sean
got an early start working with computer animation. When he was only 13
he acquired his first animation package, Lightwave 3d. From that moment
he knew he wanted to work on feature film effects and CG films. After
working in the software for four years on his own projects, closely
trying to replicate effects that he'd seen in television shows and
movies, Sean decided to move to a more advanced system. He made his
first plunge into the world of UNIX and Power animator, after
purchasing an SGI O2.
Just entering college, Sean had a
firm self-taught grasp of the UNIX operating system and Power Animator.
He eventually upgraded to the first release of Maya and helped shift
the school's curriculum from teaching Power Animator to teaching Maya.
His teacher was impressed with the amount of knowledge Sean had
developed only in his second year in college and offered him a month
position with his company, Essential Pictures, modeling for the
Toonenstein videogame.
Later the next year, the work with Essential Pictures opened up a
position, with the company's previous owner, at Filmworkers Club, a
post productionc ommercial facility in Chicago. The job allowed Seanto
learn more about the production industry than he possibly could at
school. He worked in all areas of CG production from modeling to
lighting and shading on a number of aired commercials for many large
companies including the Pillsbury Doughboy and Kelloggs. After nearly
two years working at Filmworkers Club, Sean moved into the freelance
scene in Chicago working as a 3d artist for production and post
production houses and eventually producing an all CG Apple Jacks
commercial, at the same time holding a full time schedule in school and
producing a four minute all CG film himself.
Sean finally got to try his skills in a wide-spread collaborative
project on the short film "Major Damage" as part of the lighting team.
The project was a dream come true for him, since he had always dreamed
of working on a CG film with a wonderful team of talented and creative
people. Now just graduated from college,and utilizing experience in all
areas of a cg production pipe-line; After teaching at the Art Institute
of California - Orange County for over a year, and producing numerous
short films with his students that run the film festival circuit.
"Short Films are great, in my opinion they are one of the best group
teaching mechanisms for students trying to get into the industry. I run
my productions the way I would if my students were staff and being
paid. At the end of the production, the students have learned alot."
Sean is now currently working at Dreamworks Feature Animation in
Glendale. Sean still produces short film projects with his students in
his freetime.
You can find Sean Fennell hosting in Creative COW's
MAYA forum.
Maya COW leader, Sean Fennell examines Maya 4.5 Savvy by John Kundert-Gibbs, Peter Lee, John L. Kundert-Gibbs and published by Sybex Books. Sean concludes with, '' Maya 4.5 Savvy will aid beginner through intermediate artist work more comfortably in Maya 4.5.''
