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	November 15, 2006 MENITHINGS CREW PROFILE: JEAN-DENIS AND SYLVAIN The following interview is the fourth installment in a series of profiles that give insight into the talented crew responsible for bringing "Terra" to life. The 'secret weapon' of many productions are talented, energetic Interns. We recently imported two from France. We caught up with our Animation Interns for the latest crew profile: Sylvain Salame and Jean Denis Coinde. How did you first learn about MeniThings? Sylvain: I learned about MeniThings while I was looking for an internshipin the US. It was in October and I found the MeniThings' website on CGChannel. Then I looked Meni's works and the trailers of the lasts short movies and it matched perfectly, so in January, I sent an e-mail to Dane Smith about an internship for the summer. Jean Denis: For me, I was looking for a CGI company in the USA. I would like absolutely to work for a movie company. I have also seen Menithings on the CGChannel website. After seeing their works, and with the fact that Meni's works were often Sci-Fi movies ; I've asked for the internship as well because of my love for Sci-Fi. Was it difficult to make all of the arrangements to travel to another country and work with Meni on his film? Sylvain: The paperwork are complicated to get the visa, but not impossible. You have to go through a company, then pay and wait around three months. In May, we had to go to the US embassy for the last step, and we got the visa few days later. Jean Denis: Of course, the visas - what hell! The lines in the embassy! Tell us a little about your school-how long have you been a student there? What are you studying when you return? Sylvain: Our school is Supinfocom Arles, it's a 3D animation school in the south of France. Our studies are during four years, the first two are generalist artistic works as paintings, drawings, 2D animation, film making, art history and some 3D. Usually it's small projects, alone, for a maximum of two months. The two lasts years are specialization in 3D. During the first year we learn the software and at the same time we do small exercises and a short CGI movie of one minute, the dead line is early May. This year the subject was the carnival. In the last year our following year we'll do a short CGI movie of five minutes with three other students, we've started the preproduction in this January and we have until the end of June 2007. Jean Denis: Supinfocom gives us the opportunity to make a short movie in one year! For me it's the best way to learn CGI. We have learnt 3D in the third year and have begun the preproduction. It's the story, designs, color ambiance, and the first animatic. In the last year the experience gained will be important too because the three people will work on all the CGI parts which are modeling, lightning, texturing, animation, render and post-production. What are you guys doing on Meni's film? Sylvain: I'm mostly doing animation of extras, continuing the job of the others animators. I'm also doing some exports and assisting Miles Horst, the project coordinator. Jean Denis: First, I did extra animation. Then, I worked on concept design including drawings on the ships. I also made some logos. I'm starting to work on building's textures, so it's very interesting to work on many parts of the project. Is this your first time working on a feature film? Sylvain: Yes, it's my first time working on a feature film and it's very exciting! Jean Denis: Yes, and we are too lucky to work on it and having fun with the group. There is a very good ambiance here and that¹s why we can do good work. Was it difficult to adjust to living and working in California? Sylvain: Actually, not at all! It's very nice to live in California and I love LA now, I'm fluent in English, that's help too. It wasn't so hard to find an apartment to rent in this great neighborhood of Westwood. Of course, I enjoy working in LA, but is it really considered as working? ;) Jean Denis: The sun is shinning, the birds are singing, what the hell! I'm in a real dream. LA is my favorite place now. I'm falling in love, I don't want to come back in France. Oh well, I still love France. Seriously, I'm learning English so it's difficult to speak with people but I'm improving! What will you do when you graduate? Sylvain: Animating in MeniThings I hope! Or at least in California. If I can't find anything, I'll probably go to work in London, or in an Asian country, but we'll see! Jean Denis: I wish to work in Menithings, it¹s so nice, but if not, I'd like to work in west coast of the USA, in London or in Australia. I would prefer working on modeling, lightning and rendering, I love it! "Terra" is MeniThings's first original feature film project. The science fiction CGI feature will be in theaters in 2007.


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