Alastair, brilliant letter. Here's hoping other studio executives will chime in.
On 10 March 2014 11:44, Martin Chatterjee < martin.chatterjee.li...@googlemail.com> wrote: > Alastair, > > excellent letter and spot on. Thanks for taking the effort. I hope this > letter does not "just" stay inside this mailing list but gets more exposure > as well. > > -M > > -- > Martin Chatterjee > > [ Freelance Technical Director ] > [ http://www.chatterjee.de ] > [ https://vimeo.com/chatterjee ] > > > On Mon, Mar 10, 2014 at 12:35 PM, Morten Bartholdy > <x...@colorshopvfx.dk>wrote: > >> Thank you for posting this - my sentiments exactly Alastair - very >> well put. >> >> >> Softimage is the very reason why we can handle complex stuff with a >> very small crew. With Maya on the horizon we will be less effective and >> have to hire more freelance TD's to get the same things done => less money >> earned. >> >> >> Morten Bartholdy >> >> VFX Supervisor >> >> Gimmickvfx.com >> >> >> >> >> >> Den 10. marts 2014 kl. 11:20 skrev Alastair Hearsum < >> hear...@glassworks.co.uk>: >> >> Folks >> Dan Y and other folks, I hope this comes across as firm but reasonable. I >> will post it on other appropriate sites. Any ideas on that front? >> >> * An open letter to Autodesk. * >> >> Dear Autodesk >> >> My name is Alastair Hearsum. I'm a founding partner, director and head >> of 3d at Glassworks. If you haven't heard of us, we are a small to midsized >> company which has been creating VFX and animation for TV commercials for >> markets around the world, for the past 20 years. We have branches in >> London, Amsterdam and Barcelona. We create innovative and multi award >> winning work and we use Softimage. >> >> Your announcement that you are retiring Softimage has left us saddened, >> disappointed and not a little angry. The anger for two reasons; that you >> have shot the racehorse of the 3d software world in the head in its prime >> but also that you didn't consult with us about this assassination or >> discuss any of your plans for the future with us. We have no idea what the >> future from you holds. We are big and longstanding users of other Autodesk >> products as well as Softimage. The puzzling thing is, technologically >> speaking, there was no writing on the wall as there was with Henry and >> Flame, for example, or these days with Flame and Nuke. >> >> We have been punching above our weight, in London, for the past 20 >> years competing well with the much larger organisations of MPC, Framestore >> and The Mill. One of the reasons we have been able to do that, apart from >> the deep talent of our crew is, I believe, because of the software that we >> chose. I'm nearly 150 years old now but I still sit at the computer making >> pictures for TV commercials to the same arduous schedule that I always >> have. So I know what I'm talking about. For a period a few years back we >> had a 50/50 split of Maya and Softimage. We chose to go 100% Softimage. Its >> better for the work that we do and the sector we are in. Its no coincidence >> that all the finalists in the recent British Animation Awards (tv >> commercials) did their work in Softimage. Similarly, both silver and gold >> award winners in the 3d animation category at this year's British >> Television Advertising Craft awards were Softimage companies. >> >> You may well go on to list major work that's been done in Maya. Sure >> there has, and great work too. But Maya is used as a shell in the major >> film effect companies. It is heavily customised and unrecognisable as the >> product you ship. We have our proprietary software and tailored workflow as >> well, but Softimage remains pretty much untouched. It is lean, efficient, >> and the ICE environment is innovative and empowering. >> >> So you've done it. What's next? Like I said we have had vague >> information about what the future holds. We hear rumours about bi-frost and >> that's about it. From what I understand from various sources there are no >> plans to replicate the efficient workflow and full ice functionality that >> made us so productive. You have offered free transitionary licenses of Maya >> with the threat of having to discontinue using Softimage in 2 years time. >> >> >> The final thought is not just about what software is best for our >> future but also about what sort of software supply company we want to get >> into bed with. The attributes that come top of my list: listening to >> customers, acting on their recommendations, speedy development, innovation. >> Now does that sound like you? >> >> Alastair Hearsum >> Glassworks. >> >> >> >> -- >> Alastair Hearsum >> Head of 3d >> [image: GLASSWORKS] >> 33/34 Great Pulteney Street >> London >> W1F 9NP >> +44 (0)20 7434 1182 >> glassworks.co.uk <http://www.glassworks.co.uk/> >> Glassworks Terms and Conditions of Sale can be found at glassworks.co.uk >> (Company registered in England with number 04759979. Registered office >> 25 Harley Street, London, W1G 9BR. VAT registration number: 867290000) >> Please consider the environment before you print this email. >> DISCLAIMER: This e-mail and attachments are strictly privileged, private >> and confidential and are intended solely for the stated recipient(s). Any >> views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not >> necessarily represent those of the Company. If you are not the intended >> recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that >> any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is >> strictly prohibited. If this transmission is received in error please >> kindly return it to the sender and delete this message from your system. >> >> >> >> > > -- 3D Artist/TD @ The Mill, London http://www.amaanakram.com
