Alright, I know its been quite a few months of no posts…sorry about that, but since its a new year, I might as well start posting again…and watch the posts dwindle to nothing throughout the year as I get busy and this gets dropped down to the bottom of my priority list (at least I’m a realist about this stuff). So enjoy it while it lasts people
Anyway, brief rundown on what been happening around here. Last 4 months? Life was getting crazy trying to maintain a balance between work, my own projects and having free time to relax with family and friends. So after some restructure and changing priorities, I’ve managed to “balance” everything out again (so far anyway).
With NDD things are going well, with a diverse range of projects, and I’ve got a few reliable people to help me out, which is always a good thing! Overall, after more then 6 years, I can happily say that “its all good”.
With my own projects, I’ve finally started to reshoot “The Balloon”, and have to say that after the last few years everything is starting to come together. We’ve manage to find locations that look great, and the first 2 minutes of footage look great. Hopefully within the next 6 months it will be finished.
Also the animated film I’ve been working on is still going (slowly). A few script rewrites, a re-edited storyboard, has a leaner and meaner short film, which should be achievable by the end of the year. I think I’ve been working on this in some form for the last 5 years…
Anyway, its looking like a good year, and hopefully its the year where I can finally achieve my own goals of getting these short films made.
I’m getting back to working on my animation again, so I’ve dusted out some of the files, and I’m finally set myself to get finish this short animated film I’ve been trying to work on for the last few years. Here is a quick test animation i did last weekend to flex those old animation muscles.
Ok, after working my ass off for the last 6 months, it looks like I need a holiday, even though I do enjoy the view of the harbour from my office / apartment. But as always, working for yourself and holidays just don’t seem to “gel”. So after reading and researching aspects of working remotely, I’ve finally started to get my stuff together so I can (hopefully) work remotely for a couple of weeks from various locations. And enjoy a different view for once!
Here’s a list of things I’ve figured out so far:
1. Optus Wireless Broadband. Using the 3G network I can be connected to the internet in most places. Bought the pre paid, so I can just buy the usage as I need it. So far it works great. But should only be usd for surfing the web, mail, etc. Any massive downloading should be done from the office 20mbit ADSL/2. Also supports global roaming…hmmmm
2. Upgrade the notebook to 4GB RAM. I’ve got a HP Intel Duo 2.0GHZ with Vista Ulitamte 64. And as any graphic designer will tell you more RAM the better. This should be decent enough notebook for all graphic design and web. Just not used to working on a 15 inch screen, when I currently work on a dual 30 & 24 inch monitor setup with wacom 15inch. It’ll probably start choking on any major 3D animation, After Effects or HD video editing. Have to test it a bit more.
3.Setup a VPN. Basically a virtual Private Netowrk, so I can access my home office server over the internet. I tried using the WIndows XP VPN…but I couldn’t get it to work. So I tried OpenVPN, after alot of messing around, it nearly worked,but turns out it doesn’t support Vista 64. Third time lucky, I tried www.logmmein.com Hamachi. Yes! It worked straight away! Great, but it does cost $4.95 a month, but its worth it.
4. Remote Connection. Been using www.logmein.com and it works perfectly. Allows me to remotely control my office workstation from anywhere.
5. Evernote. This is a great program that allows you to capture any ideas, notes, photos, etc, which are all centrally stored on the internet and available from the desktop, internet and the iphone! Awesome way to quickly remember everything you ever had an idea about. Free, and a premium version is available for $5 month. www.evernote.com
6. Hosted Exchange for email. This was tricky. I use outlook for all my contact, emails and calendars, and I needed access to this remotely. Since my current Outlook has a 3.5gb data file, I really needed to sort out my email. I decided to take the plunge and use www.sherweb.com. $8.95 per month for hosted exchange email, contacts, and calander with 3GBs of storage. This allows my email to be centrally stored on an external server (good if my copmuter dies), web based access for email, calenders and contact. Also another bonus is that it supports the iphone, so all my my emails, etc go straight to my iphone too! It took a good part of my saturday to get working, but its looking very promising.
Bonus remote working:
iPhone 3G. With this I can keep track of any info when I don’t have my Laptop, and thanks to a nifty app called “teleport” I can access my laptop through VNC if I’m required.
So a this stage I think I’m nearly ready to rock.
I’ll be heading off to Melbourne in a couple of weeks for a photo / video shoot for Cole Clark Guitars. Currently doing a new website, and a few other things, so this will put it through its paces.
After recovering this morning from a late night drinking binge, I realised it was about this time 6 years ago this week that a drunken friend and I decided to start NDD. Since then alot has changed, so I decided to write a quick list, titled “Stuff about Nodding Dog Design”
- Originally started by myself and a friend Haydn Davis, NDD is now run exclusively by me, while my mate now works as a fashion design for Quicksilver. He still works for me on a contract basis, specialising in logos and branding.
- Orginally NDD started out of my parents place, using my bedroom in a dark back room…. Now it runs from my home apartment in the city, with a view of the harbour…..;)
- Currently have done work for around 200 various clients. Some big, some small.
- Have worked on roughly 500+ projects. With most projects consisting of multiple parts.
- Have had clients nationally in Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Mackay and Perth.
- Have had clients internationally in Germany, UK, US & recently Italy.
- NDD (based in Newcastle) uses contractors to collaborate on projects from Sydney, Melbourne, Germany and Canada.
- I have been interviewed in a national magazine twice, and once in a UK magazine.
- Have been interviewed on national TV once.
And ther’s probably more…I’ll add it as I get some more time.
As you all know I’ve been running my business Nodding Dog Design for the last 6 years. I started it when I was 22, straight out of University and figuring out what to do with my life. But as usual life has a way of doing what it wants, no matter what your plans are. So now at the age of 28, I must of done something right since I’m working my ass off! But really I have no complaints, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and people I’ve met over the years.
Well anyway here’s the list:
6. Whatever your biggest problem is now, it will probably be insignificant to the problems you have in 12 months time…. Just means that as business expands and opportunities grow you’ll have to face bigger problems that put your previous issues into perspective. Whenever I feel anxious, I think about some of my clients who have millions of dollars in various risky ventures, and I feel better and get some perspective.
5. Success is a reward for opportunities taken. Failure is a lesson to be learnt….Failing is good as it teaches you something, which you should be greatful for. But if you repeat the same mistakes regularly you really neeed to re-evaluate what your doing. Success is a reward for trying and achieving. Often risks, hard work and a bit of good timing is required.
4. You gotta do, what you gotta do…..sometimes you have to do stuff because it has to be done. There is no easy way to approach it, you just got to do it.
3. Work hard. Play hard….. I work alot and if I don’t reward myself through enjoying some activities, parties and time with friends, whats the point? You do need to balance the work load and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
2. What you put out there, is what you’ll attract.….I decided a while ago with Nodding Dog Design to create an image for the company that I liked. I went against traditional thinking that I should create an image for the demographics I’m targeting. I wanted to create a look and feel that I liked and I wanted. This was one of the best things I could do, as it made me passionate about my business image as art, rather than business. In doing this I differentiated my business vastly to other people in the same industry. And more importantly I attract clients who like the work that I create, and want me to apply my thinking to their business. People who want a unique and different approach. And this has made working all the more enjoyable.
1. I want to be an old man with no regrets…..When making any decision, I always ask myself - one day I’m going to be 70 years old, and on my deathbed. Do I want to be thinking “I wonder if I did this, what would have happened?” OR THINKING “I tried and failed, but at least I know”. So far I’m happy with my decisions based on this, because it puts everything into perspective.
So in conclusion, there’s probably more stuff I could write, but we all end up in the same place, its just how we get there which makes the difference.
A few people have asked about the video camera equipment I used, so I thought I’d put up a few pictures online.
Specs:
- Panasonic HVX 202
- Cinevate Brevis 35mm Adapter with image flip and rails
- Cinevate matte box
- Marshall V-R70-HDA (High Def)
- Nikon Lenses 24mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm
- 2 x 16gb P2
- Rodes Condensor mic
Ok, I’ve been heaps busy with work, looks like my workload is increasing exponentially, with work from all around Australia. Anyway, here are a few photos I recently took.
This is a quick sketch id id with my Wacom Cintiq 12xw (just had to mention that). I quickly whipped this up as an idea for a 3D image / artwork I’m working on.
Just found these old animation tests I did a few years ago. Thought I’d put it online, so I can get myself to start fousing on getting this short film done. This was done about 3 - 4 years ago, so I need to get my ass back into gear and start working on it again.
Its been awhile between posts, been so flat out with work. This is a music video for Tom Hudson, a mate of mine who helps me with all the video work I do. All this was filmed with the Panasonic HVX-202, and a Cinevate Brevis Adapter, using Nikon lenses (24mm, 50mm, 85mm & 105mm)
Still expreimenting with this video stuff, but its heaps of fun. Enjoy.
