From: "Chris Zwar" Received: from mail-pf1-f180.google.com ([209.85.210.180] verified) by media-motion.tv (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.1.0) with ESMTPS id 7449619 for AE-List@media-motion.tv; Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:02:38 +0200 Received: by mail-pf1-f180.google.com with SMTP id q7so12139514pfh.8 for ; Tue, 15 Oct 2019 03:06:33 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=chriszwar-com.20150623.gappssmtp.com; s=20150623; h=from:mime-version:subject:date:references:to:in-reply-to:message-id; bh=XtJ26/Nm8ditab7sDBzDLTPVDaMX0KwCrobMHrgCAes=; b=aglHGzGq63UWvYxxeOWJrThBbPs+w+2TIPHSpToj5Tgshh/MaVayTEA2pn8Sdw20Pp SSP5PkWKKAGShg9xh9hswL0vRH+Ua+ipzkVVf197WrVfESl32SfJsHxBUP1Pt1Dy2ET8 0avKDdHElbcMN1SO1O8YHccJk01R/loXeNOLZNsuzMyWE83C0cEwo4e+Gk6uXrNVs12j O1wqwutVQQ7k8f57rlhVnKzHI7FIKYd+dWU3wYn0Kr2qywLMb0AhyXJwOa/6bpl1lt0L PgroyVhj7MGHv4CTrgXVOUEsEaW6EUHHgwSVcnPb7oKe4XsndgNnmREUxn4SppsEH+6s a9dg== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:from:mime-version:subject:date:references:to :in-reply-to:message-id; bh=XtJ26/Nm8ditab7sDBzDLTPVDaMX0KwCrobMHrgCAes=; b=p/lDccQGXe0L2Cm4mmphDMiWkKuwDsbTgMvx19ulf8+5EYRMM2FV32Uyg5BsLWWf3+ X08o2h2bibAbLu60gXRRdTs9xklfiD4U+FnxhD7b5tptXft/G4oFZ463MvXeFsd4Xuhh 4R9BD4SX99zcJwgCtivY9VvciAr7bhjGgs+VyJHjg1nsVqmgH/oWuSdya76+2VvzKWUy dGweoau6m2OWt6/OdH8VbeoVT1tGAaN/NUq8P917kzOTuiyOXwH1asLrWNhZgoMmJQth PO9Tr5PN+hikTwKqRak+dPZoX9rlF6/bt1grMBTToVISfHSwooz2jl7vlcCJVpiJK505 yvKw== X-Gm-Message-State: APjAAAXpRnSKXshNEO6otNuT6MgBLh4LGA0BckOzthS7/fxFZqhlxQvY sV3BQ4E0jnzTkQCb7qL2Sl00Pa7Xf50= X-Google-Smtp-Source: APXvYqx18Uo4xcxiH4F7ol4pY635LcTeejeP371y2DjnN4TP2DhMadiCk9B9MPviRzHKKBGZ4G7CEQ== X-Received: by 2002:a17:90a:a604:: with SMTP id c4mr41592228pjq.48.1571133990864; Tue, 15 Oct 2019 03:06:30 -0700 (PDT) Return-Path: Received: from [192.168.0.3] ([101.164.85.130]) by smtp.gmail.com with ESMTPSA id u11sm11075881pgo.65.2019.10.15.03.06.28 for (version=TLS1_2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128); Tue, 15 Oct 2019 03:06:30 -0700 (PDT) Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="Apple-Mail=_4C19582B-E78D-4D91-AF58-3E73C5F5B019" Mime-Version: 1.0 (Mac OS X Mail 11.5 \(3445.9.1\)) Subject: Re: [AE] getting out of a rut Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2019 21:06:26 +1100 References: To: After Effects Mail List In-Reply-To: Message-Id: <1176B8A7-9FBC-4BE4-A3AC-AFBBA7823126@chriszwar.com> X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.3445.9.1) --Apple-Mail=_4C19582B-E78D-4D91-AF58-3E73C5F5B019 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Everyone so far has been talking about a professional rut. Don=E2=80=99t = overlook your personal life. Take a vacation that=E2=80=99s at least 2 = weeks long. Don=E2=80=99t look at a screen during that time. A long time ago now I went camping for a while, totally isolated. = Sleeping in a tent, no electricity, cold water washes, etc etc. I loved = it but I didn=E2=80=99t even realise how relaxed it had made me until I = went home. Very hard to explain but I could tell that I was much calmer = and happier and generally chilled. I really wish I could do it again. I don=E2=80=99t expect you to hike the Appalachian trail, but seriously: = 1) vacation 2) MUST be at least 2 weeks duration 3) No screen time! -Chris =20 > On 15 Oct 2019, at 8:46 am, Peter Mock = wrote: >=20 > I agree with the previous messages. Two things that worked for me are = designing a new showreel=20 > And really getting my head around where the newest trends are going = and how I can fit in. A lot of=20 > Fresh and original ideas come up that way. The second approach is the = 'copy and test' approach or=20 > Simply the 'child=E2=80=99s play=E2=80=99 approach: I learn a new = technique or software and first - like a nerd - copy=20 > Everything down to the last detail so that I understand it then I = start sampling and play around=20 > With what I learned and let the =E2=80=99the new thing=E2=80=99 be my = inspiration just like a child. It is very refreshing=20 > And inspiring. > Peter > __________________________________________________________________ >=20 > >=20 > FlowVision Ltd > Peter Mock > Graphic and Motion Graphic Design >=20 > +44 (0)79 7365 3479 > petermock.info@mac.com > info@flowvision.design >=20 > Showreel: = https://vimeo.com/330970792 > Show Case: https://vimeo.com/user13380742 = > LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/peter-mock-aa61567 = >=20 >> On 14 Oct 2019, at 21:41, Chris Bobotis > wrote: >>=20 >> Agree with David. Changing up tools takes you out of your comfort = zone and pushes you to new areas. Thing is, Mettle was never a one = toolset shop. We used the tools that best served the challenge. >>=20 >> One thing I would do (that really helped bring folks out of their = rut) when I was leading creative teams was to go cross boundary with = disciplines as well. For example, I would hire still photographers for = location work=E2=80=A6 have our industrial designers take on motion = graphics design=E2=80=A6 2d designers or illustrators take on 3D=E2=80=A6 = etc. The results were fabulous (most of the time). >>=20 >> Maybe you are struck servicing the same vertical for way too long? = Take on another vertical? >>=20 >> One thing I (personally) was very good at is to always work with a = clean slate=E2=80=A6 I would not walk into a project with a = pre-conceived notion on how I would resolve the challenge at hand, no = matter how much it felt like "deja vu=E2=80=9D. >>=20 >> HTH, >>=20 >> Cheers, >> Chris >>=20 >> mettle.com >> Chris Bobotis=20 >> Founding Partner | Mettle | MettleLabs |=20 >> Mobile (514) 983-2082 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >>> On Oct 14, 2019, at 4:24 PM, David Torno > wrote: >>>=20 >>> One thing I=E2=80=99ve learned nearly seven years ago about myself = and my AE work (that being my 14th AE year of the now nearly 20) is that = I was hitting AE boundaries everyday and it was holding me back. I had a = well refined system of solutions and efficiency. Nothing wrong with = that, but it gets old, boring, and repetitive fast. You can show work = today up against ten years ago and not tell which is newer. >>>=20 >>> Getting stuck in this cycle does not challenge you to think = differently nor motivate any personal progression or learning. You = become a simple manufacturer. For a creative mind this can be death = itself. >>>=20 >>> If you want to improve and/or change your work, you must first = change your mind, your tools, and goals. Doing this will allow you to = start failing again and therefore learning new ways to think and open up = your mind to other possible interests or skills you didn=E2=80=99t = realize you had. It=E2=80=99s a leap of faith and scary as hell trying = something new, but pushes you in finding that next step to better work = or life. >>>=20 >>> For me, it was learning Cinema4D, Turbulencefd, X-Particles, = Houdini, and other 3D software. All this over the last six years or so. = It allowed me to move forward and get closer to creative visions I was = never going to accomplish with AE solely. >>>=20 >>> And if leaping out of AE completely is not your desire then there = are a number of third party tools that keep appearing each month that = can give you different styles and looks. >>>=20 >>> I find following some science and tech profiles on Twitter and = YouTube inspirational visually, and mentally. They show a lot of things = most people don=E2=80=99t think about daily that can help drive design, = VFX, and just gets you thinking outside the box sometimes. >>>=20 >>> YouTube: >>> Two Minute Papers >>> Smarter Everyday >>> The Slow Mo Guys >>> Physics Girl >>>=20 >>> Twitter: >>> @8infinite8 [Infinite Realities] >>> @mxsage [Articulation Copy (2)] >>> @fyfluiddynamics [Fuck Yeah Fluid Dynamics] >>>=20 >>>=20 >>>=20 >>> David Torno >>> 818.391.6060 >>> -------------------- >>> https://vimeo.com/davidtorno = (experiments & breakdowns) >>> https://gumroad.com/davidtorno = (products for sale) >>> http://provideocoalition.com/author/dtorno = (tutorials) >>>=20 >>> "The most useless day is that in which we do not laugh" >>> -Charles Field >>>=20 >>>> On Oct 14, 2019, at 10:08 AM, Cary Spenser > wrote: >>>>=20 >>>> All - >>>>=20 >>>> Been creating AE since v3. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that = my work is looking repetitive after 23 years. Pretty embarrassed about = it after doing a retrospective of the last 5 years. IT ALL LOOKS THE = SAME! ;-) >>>>=20 >>>> What to other do to get a fresh breath of creative juice, to break = out of the old patterns? >>>>=20 >>>> Thanks. >>>>=20 >>>> Cary >>>=20 >>>=20 >>> +---End of message---+ >>> To unsubscribe send any message to > >>=20 >=20 --Apple-Mail=_4C19582B-E78D-4D91-AF58-3E73C5F5B019 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Everyone so far has been talking about a professional rut. =  Don=E2=80=99t overlook your personal life.  Take a vacation = that=E2=80=99s at least 2 weeks long.  Don=E2=80=99t look at a = screen during that time.
A long time ago now I went = camping for a while, totally isolated.  Sleeping in a tent, no = electricity, cold water washes, etc etc.  I loved it but I didn=E2=80= =99t even realise how relaxed it had made me until I went home. =  Very hard to explain but I could tell that I was much calmer and = happier and generally chilled.  I really wish I could do it = again.

I = don=E2=80=99t expect you to hike the Appalachian trail, but seriously: = 1) vacation 2) MUST be at least 2 weeks duration 3) No screen = time!

-Chris
 

On 15 Oct 2019, at 8:46 am, Peter Mock <AE-List@media-motion.tv> wrote:

I agree with the = previous messages. Two things that worked for me are designing a new = showreel 
And really getting my head around where = the newest trends are going and how I can fit in. A lot = of 
Fresh and original ideas come up that way. = The second approach is the 'copy and test' approach or 
Simply the 'child=E2=80=99s play=E2=80=99 approach: I learn a = new technique or software and first - like a nerd - copy 
Everything down to the last detail so that I understand it = then I start sampling and play around 
With = what I learned and let the =E2=80=99the new thing=E2=80=99 be my = inspiration just like a child. It is very refreshing 
And inspiring.
Peter
_______________________________________________________________= ___

<= /span><logo-= revised.gif>

FlowVision Ltd
Peter Mock
Graphic and Motion Graphic = Design

+44 (0)79 7365 = 3479
petermock.info@mac.com
info@flowvision.design

Showreel: https://vimeo.com/330970792
Show Case: https://vimeo.com/user13380742
LinkedIn: = https://uk.linkedin.com/in/peter-mock-aa61567

On 14 Oct 2019, at 21:41, Chris Bobotis <AE-List@media-motion.tv> wrote:

Agree with David. = Changing up tools takes you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to = new areas. Thing is, Mettle was never a one toolset shop. We used the = tools that best served the challenge.

One thing I would do (that really = helped bring folks out of their rut) when I was leading creative teams = was to go cross boundary with disciplines as well. For example, I would = hire still photographers for location work=E2=80=A6 have our industrial = designers take on motion graphics design=E2=80=A6 2d designers or = illustrators take on 3D=E2=80=A6 etc. The results were fabulous (most of = the time).

Maybe= you are struck servicing the same vertical for way too long? Take on = another vertical?

One thing I (personally) was very good at is to always work = with a clean slate=E2=80=A6 I would not walk into a project with a = pre-conceived notion on how I would resolve the challenge at hand, no = matter how much it felt like "deja vu=E2=80=9D.

HTH,

Cheers,
Chris

mettle.com
Chris Bobotis 
Founding Partner | = Mettle | MettleLabs | 
Mobile (514) = 983-2082









On Oct 14, 2019, at 4:24 PM, David Torno <AE-List@media-motion.tv> wrote:

One = thing I=E2=80=99ve learned nearly seven years ago about myself and my AE = work (that being my 14th AE year of the now nearly 20) is that I was = hitting AE boundaries everyday and it was holding me back. I had a well = refined system of solutions and efficiency. Nothing wrong with that, but = it gets old, boring, and repetitive fast. You can show work today up = against ten years ago and not tell which is newer.

Getting stuck in this cycle does not challenge you to think = differently nor motivate any personal progression or learning. You = become a simple manufacturer. For a creative mind this can be death = itself.

If you want to improve and/or = change your work, you must first change your mind, your tools, and = goals. Doing this will allow you to start failing again and therefore = learning new ways to think and open up your mind to other possible = interests or skills you didn=E2=80=99t realize you had. It=E2=80=99s a = leap of faith and scary as hell trying something new, but pushes you in = finding that next step to better work or life.

For me, it was learning Cinema4D, Turbulencefd, X-Particles, = Houdini, and other 3D software. All this over the last six years or so. = It allowed me to move forward and get closer to creative visions I was = never going to accomplish with AE solely.

And= if leaping out of AE completely is not your desire then there are a = number of third party tools that keep appearing each month that can give = you different styles and looks.

I find = following some science and tech profiles on Twitter and YouTube =  inspirational visually, and mentally. They show a lot of things = most people don=E2=80=99t think about daily that can help drive design, = VFX, and just gets you thinking outside the box sometimes.

YouTube:
Two Minute Papers
Smarter Everyday
The Slow Mo Guys
Physics Girl

Twitter:
@8infinite8 [Infinite Realities]
@mxsage = [Articulation Copy (2)]
@fyfluiddynamics [Fuck Yeah Fluid = Dynamics]



David= Torno
818.391.6060
--------------------
https://vimeo.com/davidtorno (experiments & = breakdowns)
https://gumroad.com/davidtorno (products for sale)
http://provideocoalition.com/author/dtorno (tutorials)

"The most useless day is that in which we do = not laugh"
-Charles Field

On Oct 14, 2019, at = 10:08 AM, Cary Spenser <AE-List@media-motion.tv> wrote:

All -

Been creating AE since v3. = So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my work is looking repetitive = after 23 years. Pretty embarrassed about it after doing a retrospective = of the last 5 years. IT ALL LOOKS THE SAME!  ;-)

What to other do to get a fresh breath of creative juice, to = break out of the old patterns?

Thanks.

Cary


+---End of message---+
To = unsubscribe send any message to <ae-list-off@media-motion.tv>



= --Apple-Mail=_4C19582B-E78D-4D91-AF58-3E73C5F5B019--