What is MovieType?

At the heart of MovieType is a number of presets for cameras, background, and lighting setups.  These provide a basis for the creation  of your “MovieType”.  An example of the kind of thing you can produce is below.

This library of presets is really easy to install, essentially just a case of copy the download to the library folder in Cinema 4D. Once you’ve installed it, when you open Cinema 4D it you should be able to see it in you ….  Now you’ve installed it, it just a case of going through all the different presets and finding one that suits your needs.  Each preset includes a preview of itself so you can get a feeling of what it’s going to be like before you use it.

However, MovieType isn’t just a number of presets with no ability to change them.  Think of MovieType as the starting point for your title sequence, choose a camera move you like. Add it to your own scene and then tweak it.  That’s right, all the presets can be tweaked once you’ve added them to your scene.

What’s the full list of whats in Movietype?

According to the Movietype website, the product includes the following:

0ver 250 type presets, camera rig presets, light rig presets, material presets, Background presets, Seamless floor presets, Reflective sky presets, plus 12 complete scenes. The tools include 6 type tools, 4 camera rigs, 2 light rigs, a material tool, a seamless floor tool, reflective sky tool and background tool.

22 video tutorials hosted by master trainer John Dickinson.

Access to MovieType Plus, a private forum for MovieType owners where new tools and training is regularly posted.

MovieType Mini-Mentoring: direct access to motion designers John Dickinson and Brett Morris to discuss your project design and approach.

So as you can see, for only $79 you get 250 presets, video tutorials, a private forum and access to John And Brett to help you. It’s a no brainer really!

MovieType is definitely worth the download if you need to produce high quality titles in short deadlines. John and Brett are extremely talented and have worked hard to produce a number of very high quality presets for you to start working with.  Go check out the sample lessons or go and purchase MovieType now!

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The main change in the way effects and transitions work is that essentially they all work through Apple’s Motion application. This i actually think is partly a good thing as it means that effects and transitions become accessible to more. This has led to a number of people creating their own effects and transitions to either replicate ones that were in Final Cut Pro 7 but not in Final Cut Pro X, or just creating new ones.

Below i’m going to list some of the best effects and transitions i’ve found for Final Cut Pro X.

4-way Asymmetric Split Screen Effect

The authors description -

There are 12 different layout options, as well as a plain symmetrical version, all selectable from a pop-up menu.

There are controls for positioning and scaling your source images, as well as controls for border color and width.

Also included is the option to tint any or all of the boxes a different colour which again adds a lot more visual appeal to a split screen enabling you to emphasize or de-emphasize particular images.

This is a great little plugin for doing a splitscreen effect, with a number of different option. The 4-way Asymmetric Split Screen Effect can be downloaded here.

The author has also created a 3 Way version of this effects which can be downloaded here.

Tilt Shift

Tilt shift video are something that has proved popular recently, and this effects replicates that blur part of this look and is easy tto apply and adjustment. Just remember though there’s alot more to a Tilt Shift video that just putting one effect on! Download the effect from here.

Dimensions – making videos with non-standard frame dimensions

This is a nice effect for Alex4D that allows you to matte to the exact pixel dimensions you want your final output to be. The Dimensions effects and tips on how to use it can be downloaded here.

Timecode Reader

For whatever reason, Apple decided to leave out a timecode reader but leave in a timecode generator.  No fear though, some kind soul has managed to create one for FCP X!

Go over to this page to download the FCPX timecode reader. The page is in spanish but you can figure out what to do quite easily or just run it through Google Translate.  Once you’ve installed it just drag it onto a clip.

Bokeh Lens Blur

This is a nice little blur effect that tries to replicate the bokeh you get on High Quality lenses when not in focus. This effect produces a nice defocus effect for adding something different onto your clips. You can download the effect from here.

Sliding Pane Transition Effect

A nice little transition effect that i’ve seen used on a few videos.  The transition author probably describes it better than me.

a “push” transition that shows both the outgoing and the incoming image twice during the transition in a kind of “filmstrip” fashion.

You can also see a video of it in action below, or if you want to download it follow this link.

TKY Sliding Panel Transition from Simon Ubsdell on Vimeo.

Have you seen any great effects or transitions for Final Cut Pro X? Share it with us in the comments!

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Who are Noise Industries?

Noise Industries were found approximately 7 years ago in 2004 in Boston and a few years later the released their flagship product  FxFactory in 2006

What is FxFactory ?

FxFactory is an installable application which is a visual effects package and acts as the central point for installing and managing plug-ins that are useable in Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express, Apple Motion and Adobe After Effects. They are also one of the first plug in companies to get have working plug ins for the new release of Final Cut Pro X. All the plugins work natively in their host applications.

FxFactory has been designed to take the best advantage of Apple’s OS X by using their FxPlug architecture, which is built upon Core Image and Quartz Composer, Apple’s Mac-OS technologies. This means that the performance on your system is much better as it can take advantage of your GPU and not rely solely on your CPU, which means faster rendering of effects!

Noise Industries themselves produce a number of packs for FxFactory which come with the standard installation such as theFxFactory Pro Pack.

There are also a number of other partners who also contribute packs for installation in FxFactory. These include:

DVShade EasyLooks
Idustrial Revolution Supawipe Pack
Idustrial Revolution Supawipe Pack
Idustrial Revolution Volumetrix Pack
SUGARfx Light Pack Pack
SUGARfx World Cup Studio Pack

Adding a pack is fairly simple too. All you need to do is visit Noise Industries website, download and double click to install.

Creating New Effects

As well as being able to download packs to install it’s also possible to modify or create your own plugins.  This is all possible without writing a line of code.  This is all avaliable from an interface in FxFactory .

So let’s see some examples of what FxFactory can do

So is it any good?

After playing around with FxFactory and looking at some of the videos, i could already see that Fx Factory is immensely powerful as well as being optimised to take advantage of the latest Mac OS features. There are a multitude of plugins and packs available to install which should cover most bases for video editors and motion graphics artists alike. As with alot of effects in various graphics packages such as Photoshop, the default parameters usually need a bit of tweaking.

Overall though it’s a very good package and with it’s ability to create new effects makes it very expandable. I would certainly recommend it to video editors and motion graphics artist

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Tell us about yourself, who are you? Where do you work and how long have been in the industry?

G’day, My name is Brett Morris and I’m Motion Graphics Designer residing in Sydney, Australia. I am currently a Broadcast Designer for Foxtel On Demand which is a pay-per view movie and TV provider (Foxtel is Australia’s cable television.) I’ve been at Foxtel now for almost two years and started in Foxtel Design before moving to On Demand. During my time, I’ve been very fortune to be working along side John Dickinson of Motionworks. Prior to this job, I had been working at a production company called Interactive Originals for around 5 years. Interactive Originals provides live content for a range of live events and television broadcasts including Big Brother, Make Me a Super Model, ARIA’s and MTV Video Music Awards to name a few.

What was it about Motion graphics that interests you?

In the early days I always used to read IDN or 3D world magazines and would always think, wow, that’s amazing, how did they do that? It was something that got my attention because I wanted to be able to create work like that, and I knew I wanted to be part of it. Only knowing a little amount I developed a thirst to learn everything I could- I really like that idea of never knowing everything. It’s comfortable with me because not knowing everything means I wont give up. I think that’s what interests me most about motion graphics, it’s always evolving.

And how did you get into the industry?

I started off studying film and television at college thinking I wanted to be an editor or producer, however the more I learnt, the more I drifted towards editing. While I was at college I was freelancing on the occasional show/event with Interactive Originals and one day my boss told me I’d be more useful in the long run if I knew After Effects. I remember opening up After Effects for the first time without knowing at all what the application was used for and trying to figure out how keyframes worked…. fast forward a couple of months and I was hooked, reading any book I could get my hands on or searching the creative cow forums (at the time online tutorials weren’t a big thing, there were a few though). I think after my second year at college was over I was given the opportunity to work on a season of Big Brother, I then left college and never looked back.

Is there any advice you would give to someone who was trying to get into the industry?

I can only share advice on my own experiences. I found the best way to get into the industry is building up your contacts list, try and get any work you can, always be working on your own personal projects and be a sponge… soak up as much information as you can, whether that be from colleagues, people of influence on the net or design in general, soak it all in.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

Creative problem solving… there is always that one moment working on a job which is treading on new ground and after slamming your head against the wall there is that beautiful moment when the light bulb strikes… I get a good kick out of those moments. Also we work in a constantly evolving industry. It changes every 6-12 months and there’s always a new bit of software floating around, a plugin, a new trend or technique that spreads across all mediums or even just the empowerment designers can have from the advancement and availability of powerful hardware, it’s always exciting.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

Possibly the soul crushing approval process, I’m fortunate enough now to be working with a great team who support a lot of my work and are great to collaborate with. There have been times though where I have been working with some less desirable clients who tend to say some terrible things without realizing the effect of their words, that part sucks as we all know. Being able to put that aside and leave it at the office allows you to continue without taking it personally as a creative.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics?

I’ve had a couple that I’m really proud of, a few years a go I was asked to create a full edit/graphic sequence to be played behind Rihanna for her MTV awards performance, the catch was the brief… content 3 screens and less that 24 hours to complete it! I slammed myself getting it done! I was so stoked once we sent it overseas, just in time for her rehearsals, then when we stayed up till 4am the next day to watch it, they used a different music track and my whole edit was out of sync by 8 bars! Still stoked to do that job though.

More recently, working on the Foxtel On Demand rebrand with John Dickinson. An insane project – each ident had to be completed in roughly a week because of the launch deadline. John and I worked our butts off on that job, we laugh about it now because we received a lot of great feedback but at the time we didn’t even think we’d make it out the other end.

Genre Ident’s // FOXTEL ON DEMAND from Brett Morris on Vimeo.

What skills do you think a Motionographer needs?

Software skills as everyone knows but you can learn a new one anytime, the real skills should be a strong sense of timing, form, understanding colour and typography. If you have these skills then in time you will be able to make the software work for you.

And what advice would you give to someone who was trying to learn motion graphics or these skills?

There are so many resources out there these days, books, interviews, case studying, tutorials etc, I would suggest trying to take in a little bit of everything in and then build knowledge from there. College would be a good path for most but these days it may not be necessary to everyone unless your job position you are going for requires some sort of degree.

Why or How did the iphone app come about?

I was working on a project a while back and I was doing a lot of modeling. A lot more than what I usually do so I figured I should get used to the keyboard shortcuts for all the modelling tools within Cinema. I felt like there must be a good way out there to get familiar with the shortcuts but searching the web I came up blank. I thought, why isn’t there something out there? I got together with my buddy Pat Teen who is a gun programmer and we came up with the concept of KeyBox, the iPhone app that helps you learn and remember all those hundreds of shortcuts you didn’t know that you should to make your workflow better. We had it going on the side of our full time work as a little project and the more and more we developed it, we realized how useful this little tool really was. The original plan was to do just a KeyBox for Cinema 4D but then as we showed other colleagues and all of the responses we got from every one was – Oh yeh that’s great! You should do one for After Effects as well, or Photoshop, even had a couple of requests for Excel! We know KeyBox is still in its infant stage and we hope to continue to develop it into the best resource it can be for anyone picking up a new software application.

Is there any other advice you’d give to an aspiring Motion graphics artist?

Experiment, make mistakes and learn from them. Build a solid reel of your own work and have peers critic you, we get so many reels come through the doors at Foxtel and only a small few get our attention, a reel is so important because it is the first impression that lasts! From there it all becomes about personality, how you fit with the team around you, taking feedback and being enjoyable to work with.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

John Dickinson and I have been working of a really exciting project for the past couple of months and we have finally announced it – MovieType for Cinema 4d. MovieType is a brand new way of creating movie trailer style text animations fast and without keyframes in Cinema 4d, something we feel is going make Cinema 4D a breeze for anyone using it. More news to come out in the coming weeks.

Pat and I will continue the development of the KeyBox series, we have some pretty cools ideas for future updates of the App as well as releasing more in the series. As for actual Motion Graphics work, well I’ll be still working on the rebrand for Foxtel On Demand, there’s many more genres to do as well as some big films coming out this years to keep me busy… Any time after all that and Ill continue working on some personal projects.

So, what is your favourite motion graphics package and what do you like about it?

Cinema 4D without a doubt, I have so much creative freedom within the software. I’ve been using it for about 5 years now, it is really intuitive to the way I think coming from an 2D/After Effects background, and with each release it become more and more powerful to the user. Having said that, After Effects is still a vital part of my workflow.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would recommend to someone else?

There is so much out there to recommend, you don’t have to spend too long watching Vimeo to find some incredible work. Something though that does stand above to pack for me is Bright Photon’s (formerly known as Gkaster) body of work. I remember the first time I was shown his work by John Dickinson, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was a Happy New Year greetings card he produced; I knew it was created in C4D because he and John had been corresponding and knowing that was mind blowing in itself. Since then I’ve been following his work and everything he has worked on has been nothing but incredible. Always with these organic concepts, vivid lights, outstanding composition and huge amount of attention to details in his work, definitely something to recommend to everybody to check out.

GKASTER DEMOREEL AVRIL2010 from BrightPhoton on Vimeo.

If you would like to find out more about Brett then why not visit his website or follow him on Twtitter

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Tell us about yourself, who are you? where do you work and how long have been in the industry?

My name is Jordan Scott and I am a visual communicator with a passion for Motion Design. I’m drawn to all facets of design especially motion design including the physics behind how things move in space. I am obsessed with the challenge of recreating these real-world movements and exploring this in my personal and commercial work. I am currently working at a studio in Vancouver called Blink, while also practicing both personal and other freelance motion design outside of the studio. I have been working as a motion designer since August 2010 and been fortunate to work on some great projects for both small and high profile clients.

What was it about Motion graphics that interests you?

Motion graphics as a whole attracts me because it allows me to constantly create things, sometimes things that haven’t been created before or approached from a certain angle and be a problem solver. If that was what it was boiled down to, it would be using creativity to solve problems and make the results look sexy.

Blip TV Bumper from J-Scott on Vimeo.

And how did you get into the industry?

I’m not sure that anyone has a “normal” story on how they got hooked or introduced to motion graphics, and mine isn’t either. I was working at a sporting goods store selling shoes in Winnipeg, Canada and attending university studying criminal justice. During this time a few of my best friends and I had started filming comedy sketches and I always volunteered to do the editing and text overlays and such. The videos sometimes got more elaborate and we did a bit where we filmed on some homemade green screen, and although the result was less than perfect I just got hooked on being able to change, and add, and create. So I would post the videos on Facebook and email them to everyone I knew and one of the fulltime shoe sales guys told me one day that he had seen my recent video and saw how excited I got when I talked about working on them and suggested that I think more seriously about doing it as something more than a hobby. It didn’t take me long to take his advice and I moved out to Vancouver and applied for Vancouver Film School.

Is there any advice you would give to someone who was trying to get into the industry?

The condensed version would be this: network your ass off! You never know who is looking for work, and what comes around goes around very quickly in this industry. If you have more work than you can handle then being able to have some people that you can recommend to the client who would produce work you would back is extremely important, and I guarantee that they will return the favor sooner or later.

Easy Does It from J-Scott on Vimeo.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

I love to create, to take either my own or others ideas and turn them into something beautiful that everyone can experience and feel a part of.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

How often people forget that this is something we do for a living, and although I happen to have found my absolute passion it doesn’t make it any less valuable.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics?

The connections I have made, and keeping in touch with other designers and seeing the rad stuff that everyone is constantly producing. This is a huge motivator and inspiration.

SCULPTURE from J-Scott on Vimeo.

What skills do you think a Motionographer needs?

I think that previous knowledge of different software is great but not the most important part by a long shot, which a lot of people assume. If you want to know a piece of software you can learn it, there are tutorials on pretty much every technique you might want to try. Make sure you invest time into learning the basics, the theory, and the technique will come later. Have a proper knowledge and build your skills on top of that, if you do these things your design choices will reflect it.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

I am currently completing a second contract with Blink here in Vancouver working as the lead motion graphics designer on a TV show, once finished I will be moving down to Seattle to start an internship at Digital Kitchen.

The Rebel Kind from J-Scott on Vimeo.

So, what is your favourite motion graphics package and what do you like about it?

I use After Effects on a daily basis and no other program compares to its versatility and limitless tools. I am also a 3D generalist and use Cinema 4D as a complimentary program to a lot of projects by introducing small amounts of 3D to the piece.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would recommend to someone else?

I really enjoy the piece entitled MAKE IT BETTER, and would definitely recommend it.

MAKE IT BETTER from Clim on Vimeo.

If you want to see more of Jordan’s work, find out more about him or get in touch then visit his website or follow him on twitter. He also runs a design inspiration blog called Ice Cream Hater or follow the twitter feed.

J-Scott Showreel from J-Scott on Vimeo.

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In The Frame: DazPix

Tell us about yourself, who are you?  where do you work and how long have been in the industry?

My name is Darren Marshall, I run a small Motion Graphics & Visual Effects studio in London, working on Broadcast & Corporate Projects, Commercials, Music Video & Web Video.

I’ve been working in the tv and post production world for over 20 years now on all kinds of projects with all kinds of brilliant people.

What was it about Motion graphics that interests you?

Firstly I love creating images, especially if they move. I enjoy the different disciplines, the mixed media and animation styles and the way images work with music and sound effects.

And how did you get into the industry?

My background was always in art & graphic design, but I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do when I finished my further education. I got an opportunity to work at Rushes, a post facility in Soho, as a runner during a summer to earn some cash to go travelling. I had no real idea what they did until I started, but loved the atmosphere there and the excitement and passion of everyone making all these cool commercials and music videos. When I returned from my travels I asked if I could go back and work, which they thankfully agreed to, and as soon as I got my first opportunity to try out the Quantel paintbox I was addicted. I couldn’t put the pen down and would get onto the system at every opportunity. As a runner, my pay was miniscule, so I virtually lived at work, picking up things as I went along. Eventually I got my chance as a full Paintbox/Harriet artist and I never looked back from there.

Is there any advice you would give to someone who was trying to get into the industry?

I think it’s a very competitive business now with software and computers so readily available and cost effective, but the same rules apply as they did 20 years ago if you want to get into the industry, it just requires passion, dedication, hard work and of course some talent, not just as a designer but the ability to get on with other people and communicate your ideas. Always be open to learning new things and never be scared of diving head first into an opportunity.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

The thing I love most about Motion Graphics is that every day is different, every project is different, and I simply never get bored. I love the challenge of a new project more than anything else.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

My least favourite aspect is going back to an old project to make changes or adjustments. Once a piece is put to bed I would much rather leave it there and move on to the next project I am excited about.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics?

That’s a hard one to answer, but I guess working with so many people I admire in the ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ series was a definite highlight. I mean how many people get to direct John Hurt, David Suchet & Jerry Springer on set? I felt very humbled working with such great actors and celebrities.

What skills do you think a  Motionographer needs?

Ability to learn quickly, passion, focussed ideas, passion, patience, attention to detail and passion.

And what advice would you give to someone who was trying to learn motion graphics or these skills?

Learn from as many people as you can, act like a sponge soaking up everything around you. Nobody knows it all and everyone learns something new each and everyday, so try and stay focussed and take your ideas and influences to fruition.

Is there any other advice you’d give to an aspiring Motion graphics artist?

Just love what you do and pour your whole self into what you want to achieve. Some people find it easier than others to pick up new software techniques or methods but as long as you know what you want to achieve the software is secondary, Motion Graphics and Visual Effects has always been and still is not about the kit but about the person using it.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

I would love to continue growing my little studio, doing more channel brand work, Broadcast titles and music videos. I suppose my ultimate goal would be to design and create title sequences for major movies.

So, what is your favourite motion graphics package and what do you like about it?

That’s easy to answer, After Effects, it just rocks. You can achieve almost anything with it given enough time, it is a truly fantastic tool. I am also a lover of Autodesk Flame, but I wouldn’t class that as a motion graphics package.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would recommend to someone else?

I suppose a recent piece that has really inspired me is Nando Costa’s opener for Flash On The Beach 2010.

FOTB 2010 Titles from Süperfad on Vimeo.

It’s a wonderful example of many techniques used to create an inspiring piece. It works so well with the music as well.

If your interested in finding out more about DazPix then why not view his showreel below or visit his website.

DazPix Motion Graphics Reel EXTENDED from dazpix on Vimeo.

A Longer version of the Motion Graphics work selection for 2009

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So, tell us a little about yourself, who you are, where you work now and how long you’ve been in the industry?

I’m a senior motion designer working at iloura http://www.iloura.com.au/ in Melbourne. I’ve been working in the industry for over 15 years, as an editor, compositor and now designing and animating. I have also done bits and pieces of cinematography and sound recording as well.

What made you go into motion graphics or how did working in Motion graphics come about?

When I was working as an editor there was always a need for graphics or fx. I found I had more fun doing the peripheral stuff than the editing. I got an internship at zspace http://www.zspace.com.au/ in Sydney and it went from there. I worked as an in-house editor/designer then did a 3 year stint freelancing in London which was great experience before I settled back in my hometown of Melbourne.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

I love making things ‘come to life’. Its very satisfying to add character and movement to static things. The work is often varied so I’m never bored. I also enjoy the collaborative nature when you’re in a good team, sharing
ideas and bonding over interesting work. I find it a great creative outlet as well, if not on paying jobs, doing my
own work satisfies my creative juices.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

Sometimes clients are a pain but that goes for any creative endeavor that you get paid for. Also having a great idea that gets watered down can be disheartening as well. Sitting down at a computer all day isn’t great for your body either.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics ?

I was proud to direct my first car commercial late last year.

HSV – evolve your instinct from Simon Bronson on Vimeo.

I created the look of the head up display graphics as well as storyboard, create the animatic and work with the talented tic dept here at iloura.

Creating and sharing work on vimeo has been really satisfying as well. My first form experiment:

Form Experiment 001 from Simon Bronson on Vimeo.

was received very well, with http://toolfarm.com/ using it to promote trapcode Form as well being asked my http://ae.tutsplus.com/ to make a tutorial about it.

What skill do you think a  Motionographer needs?

It helps to be an all rounder. As well as a design sensibility you need to understand the language of film. I draw upon my editing and audio background to help construct pieces with some kind of story, at least a beginning,
middle and end. Keeping up with technology and trends is also essential as well as an open mind to keep learning.

Is there any advice you’d give to an aspiring Motion graphics artist?

Learn from others. When I started there wasn’t as many good tutorial sites but now there’s http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/, http://www.mograph.net/and http://www.creativecow.net/ to name just a few. Whenever I work with experienced designers I’d always ask how they did something. People are usually flattered so don’t be shy. Create your own style, don’t just copy what other people are doing. A short, snappy reel is essential as your calling card.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

I’m hoping to do some more directing and create more personal projects this year.

So, Cinema 4D is your main software of choice, what do you like about it?

Cinema 4D is vital for my workflow these days. From creating assets, animatic, camera movement and high quality renders its really invaluable. I was reluctant to move into 3D from being a 2D guy but I’m so glad I made the jump. Even if I’m working on a 2D after effects job it can often be embellished with stylized c4d stuff.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would reccomend to someone else?

‘What Barry says’, create by Simon Robson from knife-party.net if probably one of the best motion graphic pieces created. Amazing execution and informative content. It certainly inspired me to get into motion graphics.

If you want to find out more about Simon, take a look at his showreel below or why not visit his website.

2011 Showreel from Simon Bronson on Vimeo.

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Most of us have seen motion graphic videos with typography integrated into it. But why is it so important? How does the type selection and every choice which accompanies it important? Well firstly typography itself is an art. The font we choose should aid the audience in grasping the message and feel the emotions which we are looking to attain. Simple things like if it is a serif or sans serif would make a huge difference. Not to forget leading and kerning. For example every movie sequence has a different typeface. From Tron to Step up, Each movie has a distinct imagery and identity. The font which we choose should be able to sustain that image and enhance the audience. Just ask yourself what would be suitable for an action flick compared to a sci-fi movie. A good site to check out title sequences would be,

http://www.artofthetitle.com/

Every font choice serves a purpose.

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So, tell us a little about yourself, who you are, where you work now and how long you’ve been in the industry?

My name is Michael Jones, and I currently work as a Motion Designer/Video Producer in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I work in the production dept at Manna Church, a multi-site church that has video venues. I’ve been doing production for 4 years now/ Motion Design for 2, so I’m still certainly a beginner. My wife and I run a Photography business which has been a blast, and I’ve found Photography to be very helpful in teaching me about better design.

What made you go into motion graphics or how did working in motion graphics come about?

I had an internship doing Video Production. The place I was interning also had a motion designer, a guy named Phil Lashley. Every day he would call me over and show me a thing or two in AE. He really encouraged me to check out resources online and try to learn the software. After a few tutorials from Lynda.com i was hooked. I lost a lot of interest in Video (which has come back slowly) and began to focus on Motion Design. I enrolled in an online Animation School called “Animation Mentor,” which specializes in Character Animation. There I learned about the 12 principles of animation and my work began to improve because of it.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

I like the fact that every day is different. Each project presents new challenges, as well as opportunities to try new things. I also enjoy the community that comes with being involved in Motion Design. There are so many amazing Animators putting out work, and I’m constantly inspired by the level of skill that’s out there.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

It seems like the more experience i get and the better i become, The more i realize how much i suck. Not in a self-depricating way, But rather beginning to see how much further i have to go before i would call myself a professional animator.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics?

I have not done a lot of high profile work that anyone would recognize. However i have been privileged to get to do some work for some amazing causes. Getting to do work for Organizations that are Fighting Sex Trafficking was cool for me. I was able to do some work for a campaign called “Coins for Children,” that raised a nice sum of money to help fight the trafficking of women and children.

What skill do you think a  Motionographer needs?

The 12 principles of Animation and Patience.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

I would certainly love to try my hand as a broadcast animator. I love seeing really great motion design packages for the major TV networks.

So, After Effects and Cinema 4D are your main software of choice, what do you like about it?

After Effects and Cinema 4d. What i love about Cinema is how light it feels compared to other 3d packages. Working in a program like Maya can be daunting (it was for me at least), but Cinema is far more user friendly and easy to learn.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would reccommend to someone else?

Find the Troika Design Studio Reel…These guys are producing some of the finest broadcast graphics in the biz. Also anything by Jr. Canest.

What made me want to start giving away resources on the blog?

I think just the desire to want to contribute to the community…Lots of people give away resources and information that have contributed my development.  Guys like Nick Campbell and Andrew Kramer and teaching a skill set that people can use to run with and improve upon.  I now have a full time job which allows me to provide for my family, and in a very real sense those online free resources helped me to achieve that.  So in my own small way i like to share the things that i’ve learned to hopefully help someone else continue to develop and learn new things.

Want to find out more about Michael Jones?

Michael runs the brilliant Render Time blog where he posts some great Cinema 4D models as well as some great tutorials, go check out the blog!

If you would like to get in touch with him then feel free to give him a shout on Twitter.

You can also take a look at one of his piece of work below.

Infographic from Michael Jones on Vimeo.

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So, tell us a little about yourself, who you are, where you work now and how long you’ve been in the industry?

My name is Daniel and I’m a self taught designer/director. I just moved to Los Angeles where all my dreams will come true (at least thats what I’ve heard). At the moment I’m freelancing, doing work wherever anyone will have me. I’ve been working in industry about 2 years now and learning for about 5.

What made you go into motion graphics/ how did working in Motion graphics come about?

It was the movie Helvetica. Going to film school I didn’t really study design or anything like that, but when I saw the movie I was a little surprised. I was entranced by a movie about a typeface. I started to look into design more, and thought it could inform my film making and help me become a better visual communicator. Motion design seemed like the logical choice since I was already accustomed to working on a timeline and I enjoy making things move around.

What do you enjoy most about working in motion graphics?

Two things: when a project comes together and finishing a product you are really happy with. The moment you select a color or add an element and the whole thing starts to sing, and then when its done being really proud of this thing you just made.

What do you enjoy least about working in motion graphics?

When you can’t get the mojo working and you hate everything you make.

What has been you biggest highlight in motion graphics.

I concepted and executed the opening titles for Webzeroes, a web series I co-created and directed on revision3. The show was about 3 guys trying to get famous on the internet so I was trying to think of something that would communicate that and not just be some flying text over pictures. The idea was to cut back and forth between their reality and their fantasy, in one shot they are on the red carpet surrounded by fans then in the next someone is playing video games or trying to use an old busted camera. It was the first motion graphics project I did that I handled all the way through and I was very pleased with the outcome.

What skill do you think a  Motionographer needs?

Good color theory (so things aren’t ugly), a sense of composition (so things aren’t ugly), some stubbornness (to stick with it until things aren’t ugly), and a correct view of yourself (because no one is perfect). Oh, and don’t be a dick.

Is there any advice you’d give to an aspiring Motion graphics artist?

Unless you’re a freak it will be a while before you start to make anything you’re remotely proud of. It takes some time. The search for perfection is a life long journey and you never really get there. Its a fun trip though.

What are your future plans in Motion Graphics?

There was a great thread over at mograph.net about motion design as a career and the consensus seems to be universal. Motion design is not a career, its a starting place. Like a PA on a set or an apprentice at a mill. I’m doing this right now to pay the bills, and because I still believe that design will inform my work as a film maker. Directing is the ultimate goal but no ones going to give that to me without putting in the work. Right now I’m putting the work.

So, After Effects is your main software of choice, what do you like about it?

I’m a bit of a gear head so I like it for a lot of technical reasons, mainly its versatility. I can work with so many types of files, frame rates, and resolutions to do almost anything I want.

Is there a particular motion graphic piece you would recomend to someone else?

Telephoneme – http://telephoneme.tv/

Impactist reel – http://www.impactist.com/montage.html

Vanishing Point – http://vimeo.com/8837024

All because this isn’t the type of work I can do and I wish it was, also the editing is really great in all those pieces.

If you like to find out more about Daniel or see more of his work then why not visit his website http://www.danielmiller.tv/

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