Hey Everybody,

I have stopped updating this site for now but you can follow my progress on my Portfolio website:

RussellEtheridge.com

I didnt get through to the final or honerable mentions, but they did give me a semi finalist certificate. Never mind, i’ll be applying to more competitions soon, hopefully with more luck, and perhaps I’ll apply for this again next year.

These are the comments they made:

This is the contest into which I entered my music video ‘Odd from Every Angle’. In the semi final letter they said if I had got through to the final they would have contacted me by June 4th or soon after. Looks unlikely that I’m in the final, although they did have some trouble getting the semi final emails out, maybe they’ll be late with the finals ones aswell. I’m not giving up hope just yet, check back soon for an update!

I have completed a new DVD showreel for summer 2007. It contains a new 2 min montage of a few of my best animations and full length shorts of a wide range of work from my portfolio, including the ones selected for the 2 min reel plus a few others.

You can see the 2 min reel here:

Russell Etheridge Show Reel Summer 2007 (QT H.264 70mb)

My online portfolio can be viewed here:

http://www.russelletheridge.com/

This is a great article with detialed information in creating a showreel:

FxGuide – What makes for a good showreel?

I got the folling information from Aardman Animation. These are their guidelines on showreel appliactions:

Creating your Showreel

Your showreel is your one chance to shine without necessarily being present. It needs to demonstrate, in a couple of minutes, the genius of many years of hard work. It ’s not just a compilation; it’s the unique you and your life ambitions condensed into a few minutes. It’s also the ticket to your future. Here are some tips for creating a showreel that will potentially stand out from the crowd.

• NEVER SEND THE ORIGINAL!
• Utilise College facilities – while you can
• Accept your own strengths and weaknesses - Assume that your showreel will be compared to those of other candidates and that you are therefore pitching yourself against them. A 6-minute showreel with 30 seconds of exceptional work can be completely diluted by five and a half minutes of average work. Focus on what you do better than anybody else. Don’t spend time chasing positions that play to your weaknesses. It is better to spend more time aiming at fewer ideal positions
• Be Creative - It sounds obvious but remember that you are trying to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Try to think of innovative ways of presenting your work e.g. if you can’t send a copy portfolio, film your life drawings and title card them
• Know your audience – You’ve just finished the course, you’re all fired up and want to unleash your brilliance on the whole world. Your instinct will be to blanket drop showreels to all and sundry but it’s not an effective use of time or resources. Research the companies that interest you so that you have a better understanding of what they are looking for e.g. check that a 3D specialist will accept 2D showreels
• Running time should ideally be 4-6 mins – It can be longer but remember it’s in a queue of showreels that all need to be viewed
• Assume that only the first 2 mins will get watched – This will ensure that you grab your audience from the start with a compilation of the best bits of everything. You can always show longer versions after that
• Best work first – after your amazing compilation order the remaining work with the best first to give it a better chance of being seen
• Get the format right – For Stop Frame animation we accept: VHS and DVD’s. For CGI animation: VHS or DVD’s. Please do not send us CD’s, links to your website or email attachments.
• Include a running order and related information – preferably on the tape or sleeve. This will save potential employers from spending time trying to work out what they are watching and you don’t want them trying to adjust the sound if it’s a mute project

I have entered Odd From Every Angle into the aniMOTION festival. The festival takes place in Romania, this is the website:

 aniMOTION website

The degree show name has been decided upon:

‘Pixel Shake’

The flyer has been designed and sent off for printing:

The website has been bought and is up and running. Currently it only displays the flyer but will be updated soon:

www.pixelshake.org

I have prepared for the presentation tomorrow, i have decided to sell myself as an animator to a prospective company.

here are some sites i’ve been using to help prepare:

General Presentation Tips and Hints:
http://www.biogeek.com/pages/presentation%20hints&tips.html

Presentation Hints and Tips for Students:
http://web.stcloudstate.edu/pho/

Professional Presentation Design:
http://www.presentationzen.com/

Artist ‘Pearl Perlmuter’ information
http://www.absolutearts.com/artsnews/2003/05/21/31055.html

Artist ‘Paul Bartlett’ information
http://www.moseley-art-school.co.uk/page14.html

My video Odd From Every Angle is in the Semi Final!! I have to send everything off to get there by May 18th, fingers crossed!

Update:

Ok, I got everything off in time although it was quite stressful! I had to sign a contract to Adobe allowing them to use all the parts of the work in promotion, which basically means I am supposed to have permission to give them permission to do this for every part of the video including the music. I tried emailing Tipper (the original music artist for the video) but he has not replied.

As a result I had to get a couple of my audio producer friends to quickly knock something up in the space of about two days! With some great work on their part they delivered with time to spare. It is an incredible feat for two days work, and I now have a version I can freely chuck around the place without a care!

I’ll be updating my website soon with the new version, http://www.russelletheridge.com/

As a bit of evidence for all this I’ve attached the email saying I’m in the semi final, click on ‘Read the rest of this entry’ below to view it.

Congratulations!

Thank you for participating in the 2007 Adobe Design Achievement Awards and congratulations on the selection of your entry Odd from Every Angle for the semifinal round in the animation category!

The jury will review all the semifinal entries in detail in an all-day hands-on session. Three entries in each category will be selected for the final round and the finalists will be awarded a trip to San Francisco, California and free Adobe software.

The category winner also receives a $5000US cash prize. Any semifinal entry not selected for the final round will be forwarded to Adobe’s regional offices for exhibits and further publicity, giving you additional opportunities for recognition even if your work is not selected as a finalist entry. All you need to do is ship your entry to the competition headquarters.

Let us know you got this message!

Click on the link below to confirm your receipt of this message.

http://www.adaaentry.com/adaa/user/finalistDetails.php?finalist=406

What to send

For Illustration, Photo, Environmental, Print Design Single Page or Print Design Multi Page categories

Please send a printed version of your entry to the semifinal round in San Jose, California. We have notified your sponsoring faculty and hope that they can help you secure school support for the shipment.

For Animation, Live Action, Web, or Motion Graphics categories

Please send a high-resolution file of your video or digital interactive project on CD or DVD to the semifinal round in San Jose, California. We have notified your sponsoring faculty and hope that they can help you secure school support for the shipment. If your entry is a web site, you will not need to send files, but please ensure that the URL is active and viewable with no changes from the April 27 contest deadline.

Great publicity and recognition requires written permission!

Because your work will be shown in regional exhibitions your name and your school name will be announced for semifinal honors, Adobe needs your written permission to show the work.

Signature required

It is important to sign the attached release form or your work will not be judged. Please print the attached PDF file, enter the requested information, and include a copy with your entry to the semifinal judging round.

Put your name and address at the top of page 1 (Adobe will send you a fully signed copy after the close of the competition.)

Print your name and sign the form in the second signature block on page 2

Put the name of the file(s) you are sending to Adobe on page 3.

Shipping information for Adobe

When you are ready to send your semifinal entry, click on the link below where you confirm your receipt of this message. Fill in your shipping service information and waybill number. If your shipment is delayed, this will help Adobe assist you in getting your work into the semifinal judging round.

http://www.adaaentry.com/adaa/user/finalistDetails.php?finalist=406

Label your entry with the information below

When you prepare to send your entry, be sure that you print two copies of the information below. Paste one copy of the information on the back of your entry.

Paste the other copy on the shipping container you send to competition headquarters.

Address label for your shipment

Please print the shipping label below with the exact destination address for your semifinal submission. Detach it from this message and affix it to the outside of your carefully packed shipping container. Be sure to choose a shipping method that will enable your entry to arrive at the competition headquarters by May 18, 2007.

Here’s a quick checklist to review:

1. I confirmed receipt of this message

2. I printed and signed the release form

3. I printed the information with my entry number, category, and entry title and pasted it on the back of my entry.

4. I packaged the entry and pasted a copy of the information with my entry number, category, and entry title on the outside of the shipping box.

5. I clicked on the confirmation link to record the shipping company, the waybill# and the date of my shipment so that Adobe can expect my entry for arrival by May 18, 2007.

Good luck!

The judges look forward to seeing your work in full. If the panel selects your work for the final round, you will be notified June 4, 2007 or very shortly after that date.

Best of luck for the upcoming judging event!

Ship to:

2007 Adobe Design Achievement Awards

**Address Removed**

Title: Odd from Every Angle

Ref: 217

Category: animation

No of pieces included in entry: