Not Getting Paid: One Freelancer’s Story (and Solution)

An anonymous LA-area freelancer has posted a cautionary tale that will prove valuable to anyone who works for hire.

One extremely helpful bit of advice is to require confirmation via deal memos before agreeing to work for someone. In this freelancer’s case, that practice ultimately helped him win a court case.

Also take note of the even-handed way in which his blog posts are written. Put in a similar situation, most people would be livid, writing hate mail to Motionographer and trying to smear the name of everyone at the studio in question.

Not so for this freelancer. I believe him when he writes:

I don’t write this to intentionally bash the company, but more to make other artists aware of what their legal rights are and what you can do when a company attempts to do you wrong.

And then later:

I have the utmost respect for all of the artists, and especially the director that I was working with there. This whole thing is the fault of faulty production and management, and has nothing to do with any of the artists. They are all very skilled and creative and I would enjoy working with all of them again.

Whoever you are, we salute you for sharing this information. Read the story here.

Photo by ToniVC

Posted on Motionographer

Optix Digital for Bontrust and Inlingua

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NOTE: Some people might find this not safe for work (NSFW).

Optix Digital, based in Hamburg, Germany, flexes their muscles in two new CG spots. First up is Bontrust “Geldvermehrung” (marginally NSFW).

This may be one of the strongest metaphors I’ve seen in a while for global economic convergence. It’s also loads of fun. Unique character designs and a full narrative arc are packed into the tiny space of the spot.

The circling cameras and love-bird music set the perfect stage for what lay ahead at the climax of the story. (Wink, wink.) I wish we could get away with making this type of work in the States!

For a little more behind the Bontrust project, including process images from Optix, read on.

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Next up, an action-packed, type-based spot for Inlingua.

Key words and economic phrases comprise helicopters, fighter jets, tanks, and explosions—all obstacles we fight as we make our way toward the final goal. The POV camera work and excellent sound design help sell the ambiance of warfare and chaos as we duck in and around bunkers and dodge bombs of type.

Bontrust

Client: Bontrust Finance

Agency: Grabarz & Partner Werbeagentur GmbH, Fedja Kehl / Paul von Mühlendahl

Production: OPTIX Kreation

Producer: Steffi Beck, Tobias Ziegler

Creation: Andreas Pohl (CD / animation director), Petra Delitsch (AD)

3D Animation: Markus Geerts (Leadartist), Michael Gottschalk, Florian Weyh, Marc Goecke

Posted on Motionographer

Disclaimer.

Relevant in today’s economic environment, Art Marcovici adds what the Fed hasn’t disclosed yet.

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Motion, Money, Paint & Destroy

N.A.S.A. (North America / South America) è una collaborazione tra musicisti attorno alla quale gravita un gran numero di artisti di altissimo livello, da David Byrne, presente in questo brano, a Tom Waits. “Money”, il video del primo singolo, narra i mali della cupidigia combinando animazione 2D e 3D, portando in vita le illustrazioni di Shepard “Obey” Fairey, recentemente onnipresente grazie al successo del famoso poster “Hope” per Obama.
La regia è di Paul Grisworld e Syd Garon, che seppure di base ad un giorno di viaggio l’uno dall’altro (Indiana / California), lavorano insieme sugli stessi file istantaneamente aggiornati grazie alla release beta d’una applicazione di condivisione on-line. Tra i software prediletti dal duo, Softimage XSI e Eyeon Fusion.

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Forse il risultato non è particolarmente innovativo, snodandosi su una serie di soluzioni alquanto tradizionali, ma l’impatto visivo è degno di nota grazie alle potenti illustrazioni di Obey che, probabilmente, vedremo ancora associato alla motion graphics.

Credits:
Brano: N.A.S.A. featuring David Byrne, Chuck D., Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, DJ Z-Trip.
Regia: Syd Garon & Paul Griswold.
Produzione: Susan Applegate.
Artwork Originale: Shepard Fairey.
Artwork Addizionale: Jennifer Fujikawa, Philip Lumbang.

Articolo redatto da Didier Falzone