Tom Galvin wrote:

> 
> As a techie, then python is the current darling scripting language of 
> Hollywood.
> 
>

Interesting.  Do you know why it has such appeal?  I mean it is an 
appealing enough language to use, but what is the particular 
characteristic that puts it at the top of the list?

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On Wed,  7 Jan 2004 16:22:45 EST incognito wrote:

>Some of you may have read my earlier post from before the holidays about
>looking for work related to ray tracing (i.e. rendering scenes) and related
>tools.
>
>I was wondering what is the single most marketable skill/tool in this field
>you would recommend seeking training in?

  Take art classes.  Technical skills can be always be learned but
companies like Pixar want artists.  They hired my co-worker's son mainly
on the basis of his short film (clay-mation!) on video, though he taught
himself how to use modern rendering tools.  I had the opportunity to
view this video after he got hired.  The video was *really* short,
probably less than two minutes long, but demonstrated his talent at
writing, lighting, editing, and the ability to tell a story.  An artist
must first be able to 'see' the image in the mind before translating it
to monitor (or clay).

  The same basics of art applies to non-animated work.

-- 
Alan
ako### [at] povrayorg
a k o n g <at> p o v r a y <dot> o r g

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> Interesting.  Do you know why it has such appeal?  I mean it is an
> appealing enough language to use, but what is the particular
> characteristic that puts it at the top of the list?

It's very good as a glue language - to bring together different systems and
libraries in a consistent, easy-to-use API. But that is perhaps not the main
reason for the growth of Python on Hollywood, but better yet the cause of
the real cause...

ILM uses it. A lot. For the reason above. And thus every other studio will
tend to use it as well. :-)

Regards,

Roberto

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Wasn't it Jim Charter who wrote:
>Tom Galvin wrote:
>
>> 
>> As a techie, then python is the current darling scripting language of 
>> Hollywood.
>> 
>>
>
>Interesting.  Do you know why it has such appeal?  I mean it is an 
>appealing enough language to use, but what is the particular 
>characteristic that puts it at the top of the list?
>

I've noticed that things like Poser and Paint Shop Pro now come with
Python scripting built in. I guess that companies are finding it easier
and cheaper to bolt application specific objects, functions and methods
onto Python than it would be to develop their own SDL from scratch.

-- 
Mike Williams
Gentleman of Leisure

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news:eSZv4LAYwc$$Ew+$@econym.demon.co.uk...

> I've noticed that things like Poser and Paint Shop Pro now come with
> Python scripting built in. I guess that companies are finding it easier
> and cheaper to bolt application specific objects, functions and methods
> onto Python than it would be to develop their own SDL from scratch.

Blender uses Python and Softimage can use several scripting languages
including Python. However, my short stint with Blender demonstrated one
major problem, i.e. compatibility issues between versions of both
applications/languages (scripts written for a particular Blender version
with a particular version of Python that didn't work in other versions).
Apparently, apart from Softimage, other big names in 3D still have their own
C-light SDL : Maxscript for Max, Mel for Maya, Lscript for Lightwave, Coffee
for C4D etc. Probably, that allows them to keep a tight integration between
the application and the SDL so that both can evolve together smoothly.
In any case, for these applications, most of the additional programming
(plugins) seems to be done through SDKs using C/C++ so that this is an area
where a programmer with CG experience could find work.

G.


-- 
**********************
http://www.oyonale.com
**********************
- Graphic experiments
- POV-Ray and Poser computer images
- Posters

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Jim Charter <jrc### [at] msncom> wrote in news:3ffd6156$1@news.povray.org:


> 
> Interesting.  Do you know why it has such appeal?  I mean it is an 
> appealing enough language to use, but what is the particular 
> characteristic that puts it at the top of the list?
> 

Karma? :)



-- 
Tom
_________________________________
The Internet Movie Project
http://www.imp.org/

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Wasn't it Jim Charter who wrote:

>Interesting.  Do you know why it has such appeal?  I mean it is an 
>appealing enough language to use, but what is the particular 
>characteristic that puts it at the top of the list?

One thing that the application developers can easily do in Python that
might be tricky in some other languages is produce an environment where
only safe actions can be performed. In most other languages that might
be considered, file I/O is part of the core language, so a secure
scripting environment would require rewriting fundamental parts of the
interpreter/compiler.

For example, Paint Shop Pro 8 has a safe environment for "restricted
scripts" where only safe actions are permitted and a separate
environment for "trusted scripts" which permits full access to any
Python library.

-- 
Mike Williams
Gentleman of Leisure

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Yes, I have been thinking about the art classes since that would fit better
with the timeline and is more likely to be approved as opposed
to CS university courses. You are not allowed to pursue an MS degree in this
program. Also, I don't know Python. So, perhaps I will spread the money
between the 2. Sounds like I could pick up the Maya independently...

Thanks again everyone.

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incognito wrote:

> between the 2. Sounds like I could pick up the Maya independently...

I think at this point you can get a copy of Maya without the watermark 
in the $1K range, about the same cost as a course.

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and towards that end, some obvious advice is to look at the requirements
listed in the job listings for companies you'd like to work for.

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