The Last Lecture: Randy Pausch

Some motivation for you...If you feel down, frustrated, or if you need a little bit of encouragement. Hmmm, these days, sounds like many of us are in need of this right? Me included. Listen to Professor "Randy Pausch's Last Lecture"

As an instructor / educator / teacher, we want nothing more than to see all of you succeed (whatever that means). Sometimes though, its hard. Life gets in the way and things knock us to the floor. We are human, we make mistakes, and sometimes despite all our good intentions, some people choose not to listen. If you take my classes, hopefully you'll never sense that its one of those bad days. Be Tigger everyday! Be positive, have fun and help one another.

I originally saw this lecture air on Oprah many years ago, and once in awhile, his messages of encouragement come back as gentle reminders for how to live the many aspects of my life. Its simple, to the point and easy to understand. Recently, this lecture and many of his points keep entering my mind, so I took it as a good sign to create this post. I hope that you too find it motivational.

Randy was a respected and renowned instructor at Carnegie Mellon who learned tragic news of his pancreatic cancer when he was also told that he only had 3 - 6 months to live. This video is a recording of his "Last Lecture" as it appeared on the Oprah Show.

After you've viewed the lecture. Be sure to check his keynote speech to the graduates of Carnegie Mellon close to the year he passed away in 2008. Thanks Randy for your words of encouragement.

Week 9 :: Leg Checkup

Last Thursday, I had a 9 week checkup on my leg. It has been 9 weeks since the surgery and 5 weeks since the doctor removed my cast. When the cast was removed, I noticed that the area was stiff, specifically the heel area and the front of my ankle. On a weekly basis and daily basis, I could slowly feel the flexibility return, but it still isn't one hundred percent. Returning to work was tough, my energy wasn't as high as I would like and I look forward to being able to workout. I'm thinking about going to the gym and to workout my upper body.

Last week, I stood on both feet for the first time without crutches and pain. This felt great. I could also sleep properly as my leg is not affected by a simple blanket laying on top of it. Last week, I was also able to wear a shoe, and noticed the support it provided.

I still still use my crutches while walking, but this time with both feet on the floor. The leg seems to have great support, but I don't have the heel toe roll just yet to be able to walk normally. So, on a daily basis, I do three sets of thirty reps of calf raises and toe raises to help strengthen my leg and to get my heel toe movement back.

My foot is still swollen and its still a different color, but its not as bad as it was about a month ago. I have a tingling in my big toe, not sure what that's all about, and sometimes my knee feels week. The doctor said that its due to the plate in my leg and that it could be touching the nerves that affect these areas. I'm worried about the knee, and that it didn't tear during the accident - I just remember seeing my leg kinda weird that's all. I'll wait and see how the area feels as the weeks go by.

So, 9 weeks after the surgery, and 2 months since the accident, I can now put weight on both legs, and I can walk easily with the help of crutches for support. I'm still not off the crutches, but I can now start to slowly add more weight to the leg, keeping in mind that I have to do this slowly, I would hate to injure the area again from impatience. As far as physical therapy goes, the doctor saw the range of movement in my foot and he said that I was doing great. He said if I kept doing what I was doing, that I wouldn't need physical therapy. I see him again in about 4 weeks.

Today, I took 4 steps without crutches. I'm thankful for the doctor and his staff and everyone's support, I would not have been able to do it without you. I'm also thankful for calcium pills, if you look at the xray above, and compare it to the previous x-rays, you'll see the bones beginning to fill in.

So here's to a great year and to stronger leg. I'll post another update in about four weeks.

Lesson in all of this, besides being careful, is to enjoy life, slow down, appreciate what you have and do your best to stay positive. In times when things aren't going your way, get support and advice from people who love and care for you and take time out for yourself. What does this mean, it means you do something that you love, something that recharges your batteries. For me, its a great movie, hugging my kids and (this is funny) seeing how much money those Google Adsense ads bring in. The Adsense money is not that much, but its pays for coffee (caffeine, by the way, isn't good for bone healing).

When I broke my leg, I found it encouraging to read other people's accounts of their leg accident and their recovery and so I hope this helps you out too.

Randolf

A Motivational Equation

Remember this:
Motivation times ability equals performance.

M + A = P

So, if your motivation is high and your ability is high, then your performance will be high as well. If you are performing at a low level, be sure to check your motivation and your ability.

If you are lacking in either and had to choose between motivation and ability, I would choose motivation. With motivation, you can increase ability.

In essence, you should concentrate on improving ability and sustaining motivation.

Mastering A Skill

Mastering A Skill:

Learning a skill and mastering it is very hard to do. In animation and painting, there are endless things to watch out for. You will need the following on this journey, as the process requires:

• humility,
• self analysis,
• attention to detail,
• feedback from others,
• introspection,
• concentration
• honesty
• and perseverance

You also need to be brutally honest about your skills and your shortcomings. You musn't let advice and or comments from others bother you, instead take it as a different point of view. It doesn't matter what discipline you are interested in.

The more you do this, the stronger you become.

Blur Animation Demo Reel 2007

Click the link below to watch a better, clearer, better sounding version.
http://www.blur.com/movies/animation_reel.html
Or you can watch the Youtube piece below.

"Batman" Fanfilm :: Arkham Asylum

Created by Miguel Mesas, this is perhaps one of the best fan films I've seen in a long time. Great work Miguel. To see a version with better sound, visit Miguel's website.

SIGGRAPH 2007 :: Animation Demo Reel

SIGGRAPH is THE single most important gathering place for cg vfx artists and animators. Next year, it will be in Los Angeles. Do what you must to attend as part of your education training. Below is the demo reel showcasing the best of the best. Enjoy!

If you are experiencing slow playback, click the video once it has started and you can watch it on youtube. The playback should be faster.

"Fallen Art" Movie

"Fallen Art" was created by Tomek Baginski. It features great lighting, modeling, character design and camera work. The story is the most interesting part, after I saw it, I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or stay stunned. Regardless, its a great piece.

As an animation student, don't settle for the assignments given in your CG classes. Push yourself and strive to create something on your own. The work will be much better because you will have fun working on it, most importantly this will show through to your work, which will make a standout piece for your. Go for it. You have nothing to lose and all to gain. Perhaps you'll lose sleep, but that's what weekends and vacations are for.

Enjoy "Fallen Art".

Transformers Conceptual Art

For the conceptual designers, ya'll are going to like this. Below is a link to the conceptual art behind the Transformers movie. You'll also find animation and modeling tests too. Enjoy - click the link below.

http://www.benprocter.com/SITEv2/HTML/PROJPAGE_Trans_01.html

The Samurai's Sword

To the students who have crossed paths with me on this great journey. Hope this adds fuel to your fire. Fire it up! - Randolf

Imagine that you are a trained and loyal samurai. You are the best in the clan, your sword is extremely sharp and you are ready at a moment's notice to do what is asked of you by your Master. This "sword" that you carry, .... is symbolic of your "skill" as an artist. It is with you at all times.

When you are called for an assignment, you run to your master, kneel and eagerly wait for instructions. You gently grip the hilt of your sword, you listen attentively and you are ready. When you know what to do, you fulfill the request with an open heart and you make sure the job is done completely and fully. Once done, you return and you are commended on a job well done. "Great job samurai .

Now, when you return to your chamber, you do not put your sword away.

You take the sword out, and you quietly go to the corner of your room. You sit down with your sword, you take out a sharpening stone and you slowly and carefully sharpen it to retain its deadly edge. The other samurai in your clan do not do this, just you.

You do this on your own.....by yourself.....with no master....no peer..... no instructor....no family member....or fellow samurai next to you. You sharpen it on your own and you do it because it is the right thing to do and it is your duty.

When you are called upon again, you sword is sharp, precise and always ready to serve you.

Keep your sword sharp.

Nelson Mandela / Coach Carter

Last year, I saw the movie "Coach Carter". In it was a quote that I thought was profound and motivating. I conducted some research and found that It was said by Nelson Mandela at a presidential inaugural speech.

Something deep down inside said that I should look at the quote again.. When I read it... I get angry. I get angry because I question if I did the best in all that I have done in life...time to wake up and to not be afraid.

After reading it, I feel bold, I am compelled to do my best and to disregard the opinions of others. Doing your best is infectious and is how we get better as a people. I hope it does something for you...do not be afraid.

~ Randolf

"
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

"

The Caged Tiger :: A Lecture on Creative Ferocity

Intro: When I first started teaching Art & Design, I came across many talented students, but I noticed something was missing. For many of them, a spark was needed or a little gasoline was needed to be added to the fire. Assignments seemed to be executed halfway. An "It's good enough", type of attitude. People were just going through the motions. Whatever it was, it was a concern and its my duty as an instructor to address this. Below is the lecture I developed to get people to try harder, but first, a quick recap of my background so you know where I'm coming from.

Many of the students within the college of Art and Design at SJSU come from the surrounding neighborhoods. We're in the middle. We don't have lots of money, but what we do have is desire, determination and we were hard workers. When we put our pieces up for critique, I had the mindset that it was my duty to blow everybody out of the water...period. I had to beat you, and mine had to be the best. Every week, I'm going to get better and you may win at times, but you are going to get the best work from me every time.

I had to do this because I had no choice. I didn't want to go backwards and I had to prove to the doubters (sometimes these were people I loved) and to prove to them that they were wrong...you know what I'm talking about. There's always someone to bring you down. Some doubter, I heard comments like, "Why do you want to be an artist for, they don't make any money. You should be an engineer, lawyer or doctor."

First of all...
"Don't tell me I can't do something, if I know what I have chosen to do has always been a part of who I am." I would never say this to their face, but its what I was thinking. Yes, it hurt, but if these people didn't say those words, I probably wouldn't be where I'm at in life. Comments like that are placed in your path to motivate you because you remember them. The funny thing, is that those doubters will never know that they affected me in that way.

The lecture below was created to motivate students in the hopes that they too could think about the attitude necessary for success in school and in the real world. So far...I think it works. For many, its an eye opener. The world is tough and there are many talented and experienced individuals...my hope for you is that it makes you bold and that it gives you courage.

::

The "Caged Tiger"
A Lecture on Creative Ferocity
Copyright ©2007 Randolf Dimalanta

Imagine, you are in art school and you've just labored over a design that took many days and weeks to complete. You've worked hard and you keep copies of master works on your wall to serve as inspiration and reference. You hold your piece up to the master artist's work on your wall, there is no comparison and you realize that ... you're NOT that good and you've got a looooong way to go.

On top of that, when you take your piece in for critique, your instructor tells you everything that is wrong with it..."change this, change that, this is off, what are you doing in this area over here, these colors are off?"

It keeps going and going... and on top of that....you compare your work to others in the class and everyone's piece is better than yours.

You then feel frustrated and angry, because nothing that you do is ever good enough. You know in your heart where you need to be, but you can't get there. You are anxious, impatient and uneasy. Life is too slow...

STOP

Now...take all that aggression, all that anger, frustration, impatience...and relax. Very quietly, contain those feelings in a slow deep breath.

This strong emotion that you feel is the heart of the "Caged Tiger".

Imagine a large angry tiger locked up in a small cage, relentlessly pacing back and forth, silently watching. The tiger at this point, is pure energy that is restrained, and it waits and waits. You can tell by looking at it in the eye, that the tiger is dangerous and if given the opportunity, when that cage door is opened, that many people around the cage will know about it, almost like a ticking time bomb.

In art school, the times that an instructor gives you an assignment, are the times when that cage door is opened!

With every assignment that is given to you, you are fierce, you don't give up, you make this your best work and you out do yourself. You take that assignment and you run as hard as fast as you can towards the touchdown. Blow everybody out of the water when it comes time for critique and let them deal with the fact that you have just provided some good old fashioned reckoning.

This was the attitude I had going in going to school and I remember that in many of my classes, there were many caged tigers. I keep in touch with them still. Having a class full of these types was intimidating, but it actually motivated you to do better in class. It was awesome and to this day, those classes stand as one my best life experiences.

Now that you know what a Caged Tiger is, you will be able to identify them in your class. The interesting thing is that they appear humble and quiet at times, but don't let the quiet demeanor fool you. They are watchful, ready at all times and cannot wait for that cage to be opened. They let their work speak for itself and they usually help others in class who are struggling too.

After this lecture, I tell students that when they graduate, they might have to compete against someone like me for a job. "What are you gonna do", I ask. "When you go up against a guy like me, who is more experienced and maybe even more talented than you?" A serious question, but its a fact that designers right out of college have to deal with.

I'm experienced, I got talent, I know it, I know how to use it, and I got an armed samurai and a caged tiger behind me who are willing to do whatever it takes to beat you (The samurai lecture is another story and will be posted shortly). They will help me stay up many nights in a row and they will help me prepare for the task at hand. Next thing you know, without you knowing, I would have snagged your job from under your feet. What are you going to do then?

But I'm not going to do that to you...you're lucky I'm on your team. "I got your back" as they say in my neighborhood, and as long as I'm here, I will be one of your biggest supporters.

One day you will compete with someone of exceptional caliber. Its a scary thought but, there are people like that everywhere. They have more skill and experience than you coming out of school and they're hungry. You're going to need an edge. This story I shared with you is your edge and I hope it levels the playing field when you compete.

I hope great things come your way and that you continue to do the great work. You have absolutely nothing to lose except maybe sleep, but even that's overrated. That's what weekends are for. As I write this, the soundtrack to "Conan the Barbarian" is playing (thanks Cindy) and I'm looking at the clock and its 4:40 am. I'm not worried about sleep because I know that many have requested this and that it be posted online. So here you are.

- Randolf