Minxuan Zheng

8/5-8/28

I start to do my portfolio around 8/5, I sent it to lots of companies, approximately 20 plus. They are mostly related to animation industry or art. I got three interviews; these three companies all gave me test to do. The genre of the test are illustration, animation, and environment design. I choose to go to the animation studio as a background designer, because a film made by this studio was quite famous and I had watched it. I was very excited when I got the invite although the studio is not located in my city. 8/28, is the first day I started working. My sit was surrounded by producer, director, and the main graphic designer. The first day was hard, because I don’t know how to use Photoshop. So, I learnt it while drawing the line art. It was little mess.

8/28-9/3

This week went very fast, everyday I learnt some new things. Now I knew how a movie standard background is made. First, the 3D apartment will make the model according to the design. Then a very rough model which indicate perspective will be given to the line art department, when we finished the line art, our work will be checked by lead artists and director, then the work will continue pass to colouring department. I tried line art, filling the color in this week. Due to lack of proficiency of Photoshop and drawing pad, I was very low efficiency. 

9/4-9/10

I was getting more and more familiar with Photoshop, and I can now remember most of the shortcut now. This is very exciting! This week I was sign to draw 6 backgrounds which all in one scene, I couldn’t done all of them. The lead artist always told me there were perspective problems existed in the paint, I used half of the time to fix that.

9/11-9/17

This week, main producer asked us who would like to design patterns. I responded. My coworkers said it would be hard due to the high standard request from the director and lead artist. However, I just want to give it a try, since it is already a hell difficulty for me. They could me I would start to draw after I finished the works on my hand.

9/18-9/24

I was stuck in one background for the entire week… It was not a too complicated background at first. I finished it in half a day and use other half to fix some problems. But I didn’t knew the nightmare was just began.. I though it was done but then lead artist asked me to further design patterns on the door and made it more delicate. I drew five or six version of that, then when I finally pass the check of both director and lead artist, one day later, the director said the ratio of the 3D model is not correct. And the whole door need to redesign. I was so down in this week. However, the director said this paint would be continue after the model is fixed. I can start to draw patterns in next week.

9/25-10/1

It was nearly a month since I went here. I felt extremely tired and I was kind of  lost to the industry. I asked one of my coworker about how she can consist in this kind of level of work for more than two years. She said to me this is because now we are making movie and the time is too limited. The time let to the whole studio is only less then 10 month but there are more than half of the work done yet.

10/2-10/8

This week is National day. I left a bit work but the producer said I can finish that after I came back to studio! I went back to Shanghai and hang out a lot with my friends. Finally having a good rest!

10/9-10/15

Drawing patterns is not as difficult as background to me, but it need me to search lots of references. Recently, the temperature is going done and clothes is harder to get dry. So when the sun is out, I would immediately grab my clothes and let them enjoy the sunshine.

10/16-10/22

My work schedule was arranged by the producer, and it was so full, she arranged it until middle of the November. Hmmm.. I would try my best to finish all the work on time. I wasn’t sleep for a whole day in this week in order to finish the work on time. But it go through the check very quick! Lots of the work I done is kind of a redesign of a pattern. Plus the movie has a certain era. It makes it even easier when the color pattern is also fixed.

10/23-10/29

There are lots of cats in the studio. I counted them all, there are seven. One of them I liked most. It name is “A BAO”,  means treasure in the English. When there are some days I am in a down mode, I will sit alone at third floor of the studio. And every time “A BAO” would jump on to my thigh. I am thinking take him away with me. This is because other cats in the studio would bully him. If I explain, it will be a long story. However I plan to discuss the idea with my coworker first. This week was also tired, but I finished the works on time. Most of the work need to adjust, but the main artist and producer told me I didn’t need to fix it right now due to the time limit. So I was wondering by the time the movie is finished, how much the work I done will be shown. It is hard to accept…