UNL Alumni Magazine - Honors Day

APSU Student Work at SIGGRAPH 2019

Some Austin Peay student work from animation and visual effects was chosen to be shown at this years SIGGRAPH conference in LA. APSU joins a list of 34 other schools who's student projects were chosen to be screened all conference long at the Education Committee Booth.  Soon after the conference it will be made available on the website for other educators to view and be inspired from.

You can find the press release HERE

UNL Alumni Award

With Charles O'Conner - photo credit Justin Mohlin

I was honored to get to spend the weekend at my Alma Mater - University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where I was the first Film & New Media student to be awarded the Alumni Achievement Award. I was able to visit campus and give a talk to some of the current students, as well as catch up with the Film and Theatre faculty that I had as professors myself 15 years ago.  The program has grown tremendously and is about to take another huge leap next year where it morphs into the new Emerging Media program.  It was very exciting to see everyone again and I am truly honored to be in such good company.

With Oscar winning editor Mike Hill and Dean Charles O'Connor

My kids enjoying the awards dinner

Lecture at UNL

As part of receiving the Alumni Achievement Award at UNL, they asked if I would give a talk to the faculty and students as well. I was very happy to get the opportunity and decided my talk would be "A Story of Saying Yes" - discussing how my career trajectory took many twists and fortuitous turns because I embraced the opportunities in front of me. It was great, and perhaps a little surreal, to return to my alma mater and reflect on where the last 15 years has taken me. Actually, my slideshow started with a VHS clip I found of me back in 1994 attending a summer theatre camp at UNL! 

UNL Alumni Board Awards Announced

I've been selected to receive The Alumni Achievement Award in Theatre and Film from University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Hixon-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts!  You can read the full press release HERE

Here's an excerpt from the article:

The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Alumni Board has selected the recipients of this year’s Alumni Board Awards. The awards will be presented at the College’s Honors Day Dinner on Saturday, April 27. The dinner is by invitation only. 

The Alumni Achievement Awards honor alumni from each academic area of the college who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and overall professional excellence.  

The Alumni Achievement Award in Theatre and Film will be presented to Scott Raymond (B.F.A. 2003). Fifteen years ago, Raymond was a member of the first graduating class of the new film and new media program in the Carson School. He received a second Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre design and technical production. 

Following graduation, he earned is Master of Fine Arts cum laude in animation and visual effects from the Academy of Art University. He did post-graduate work at Animation Mentor, where he received a certificate in advanced studies in character animation. 

He then worked at elementFX and ultimately worked as a crowd artist at PDI/DreamWorks, one of the most prestigious animation studios in the world. He spent nearly eight years at DreamWorks on such well-known projects as “Trolls,” “Kung Fu Panda 3,” “The Penguins of Madagascar,” “Madagascar 3” and “Shrek Forever After.” 

In 2015, he began teaching at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. Although a full-time instructor, Raymond continues his work as a freelance animator. His recent freelance clients include “The Highway Rat” for BBC, the Racing Legends ride at PortAventura Theme Park, and the Kid’s Choice Awards for Nickelodeon. 

Additional faculty, staff and student achievement will be celebrated at the Honors Day celebration. 

46th Annual Annie Awards

I had the awesome opportunity this weekend to attend my first Annie Awards!  It was a last minute trip, and I was up on Friday and back on Sunday.  I was able to stay with our good friends Tiffany and Richard, who came with me to the pre-event VIP Reception and ceremony. 

It was a great night - overall there was just an amazing collaborative energy to the awards.  Spiderman: Spider-verse was the huge favorite in the crowd and ended up winning every award it was up for.  The Highway Rat was up for an award for Best Special Production, but lost to Mary Poppins Returns.

There was also a fun list of presenters, from actors Patrick Warbuton and Holly Hunter, directors like Brad Bird and Brenda Chapman, and voice actors - all the way from Pinky & The Brain to Disney's original Alice/Wendy.  Just a great night celebrating animation, and running into a bunch of old co-workers makes you remember how small this industry can be.

Highway Rat Wins At NYCIFF

The Highway Rat just won the Audience Award (age 3-6) at the New York International Children's Film Festival.   It was also it's North American premier.  Congrats to Jeroen Jaspaert and everyone at Triggerfish!

Annie Awards Nominations Out

A big congrats to friends and former co-workers who got nominations this year!  You can see the full list of nominees HERE

I was excited to once again serve on one of the Nomination Committees.  It's always amazing to see the work that gets done throughout the year - I think animation just keeps getting better each year.

Annie Awards Jury

Today ASIFA announced it's list of nominees for it's annual Annie Awards.  I'm very proud to have served on the jury for this years Best Student Film category.  The jury narrowed it down to five shorts to be voted on by the whole ASIFA professional membership.  So many amazing and strong films - it's incredible to see the work being created by students today.

You should check out the nominated films.  Many have trailers and making-of blogs you can find online.

Oscar Pics

Had a great Friday night taking the boys up to the new Disney Animation Studios up by the Burbank Airport.  They had a big celebration for winning the Best Animated Feature and Short Oscars this year.  Heather had William (who's a "production baby" on Big Hero 6) and Wesley join her for a photo with the film's producer.  A fun evening - there's such a great energy and excitement with everyone at Disney.  Also, I think this may be the first photo we have where both boys are smiling at the same time :)

"Better Bot" Racking up National Ad Awards

Well, the fun little robot my wife and I helped create has ended up having quite an exciting life.

First it won a AAF Nebraska Professional Gold ADDY Award.  And several AAF District 9 awards.  As well as several Webby awards (including Best of Show).  Now it's apparently also won 2 National ADDY Awards!  You can read the main ad agency's press release here.

Here's the full list:

National ADDY Award 2014

Silver in Digital Advertising: Advertising and Promotion
Silver in Elements of Animation: Visual

AAF District 9 AAA (ADDY) Gold Winner 2014

Elements of Advertising: Animation or Special Effects
Digital Advertising: Banners, Rich Media

AAF Nebraska Professional ADDY Award 2014

Professional Gold in Digital Advertising
Professional Silver in Elements of Advertising
Professional Silver in Integrated Campaign

Internet Advertising Competition "Webby Awards" 2014

Best of Show: Rich Media Online Ad
Best Financial Services: Rich Media Online Ad

And don't forget to watch the whole video we made with Outpost 12 for Bailey Lauerman here!

Wife & Oscar

Insanely proud of my wife!  She stopped by work (she's still on maternity leave) to have her picture taken with a couple of guys named Oscar.  She was the Lead Matte Painter on "Life of Pi" and I'm insanely impressed by all she has accomplished.  Way to go honey!

You can see some of her work on the film here