The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many events to become virtual, but it has also led to the multiplication of events that otherwise would be all placed under the same banner. One such example is Autodesk’s Vision Series, which is traditionally held in-person during the annual SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference, but this year is moving online, and will take place September 9th, 10th, and 11th.
SIGGRAPH 2020, the international conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques. was originally planned to take place 19–23 July in Washington, D.C.,, but moved online, a first for the 47-year-old annual conference, spanning two weeks from 17–28 August, with content for most programs available within the virtual platform through 27 October.
Autodesk Virtual Vision Series happens in September, as mentioned above. Autodesk has now unveiled the full schedule of free sessions, which offer participants insight into the latest technology, trends, and techniques driving content creation for film, TV, games, and design visualization. In light of the global pandemic and the challenges of these unprecedented times, the series will also include practical discussions on navigating a changing world, going freelance, and creating change during times of unrest.
Maya, Shotgun, Flame and more
The lineup features presentations and panelists from ALTSHIFT, ILM, LAIKA, Magnopus, Naughty Dog, Rising Sun Pictures, Walt Disney Imagineering, and more. A first look at the event programming can be found below:
Wednesday, September 9
9:00am PT – Maya: Faster Rigging and Animation Workflows
Enabling artists to animate faster and without creative limits has been central to recent Maya updates. In this session, we pull back the curtain to see how artists at Walt Disney Imagineering, ILM, Naughty Dog, and Build a Rocket Boy are using the latest animation and rigging workflows in production.
10:00am PT – Lights, Cameras, FX: Exploring What’s Possible with Bifrost
From user experience updates to instancing, character FX, point clouds, particles, and volume tools, learn about the latest additions to Bifrost’s portable visual programming framework, and what’s coming down the line.
11:00am PT – Shotgun: Developing for the Future
In light of current times, remote collaboration and security in the cloud are more important than ever. In this session, learn how security, tracking, integration, and automation in Shotgun have evolved to address changing industry needs, and how Shotgun plans to develop for the future, no matter what that holds.
12:00pm PT – 3ds Max: Open Standards and Next Generation Viewport Framework
Join the 3ds Max team on a journey through modernizing the 3ds Max viewport. Hear about how the team is developing a decoupled, open, and extensible graphics framework that supports modern graphics APIs, and is based on open source technologies.
1:00pm PT – Taking on Complexity: GPU Rendering, USD, and Scalability with Arnold
From Arnold GPU to recent USD components, find out how the latest updates to Arnold are enabling studios like Rising Sun Pictures to tackle some of the most complex projects on the big and small screen today.
2:00pm PT – Impossible Post-Production with Flame
See how Flame artists are making the ‘impossible’ possible. Get an overview of the latest developments for Flame, including tools to automate and enhance your VFX work using AI.
10:00am PT – Between Arch Viz, Sports Shoes, and Fruit Salads
Hear about ALTSHIFT’s journey to establishing a dope design studio, and their experiences dealing with some strange projects, weird clients, and unexpected requests.
11:00am PT – Open Source at Autodesk: USD, MaterialX, and OpenColorIO
Open source projects play a critical role in the creation of Film and TV content. Dive into Autodesk’s open source projects and collaborations with tech partners and creative studios, including work on the USD plugin for Maya, MaterialX, and OpenColorIO.
2:00pm PT – Advancing and Automating Scheduling and Resource Optimization at LAIKA
Join the LAIKA team and Shotgun’s Phil Peterson in a discussion about the studio’s new approach to scheduling complex feature film productions. Hear about the challenges, solutions, and future possibilities in scheduling and automation, and get a glimpse into the tools and techniques empowering their approach.
9:00am PT – Future-Proofing Your Studio: Best Practices for Modern Creative Studios
Shotgun clients in film, TV, games, and VR share how they’re using Shotgun to adapt their workflows for the future of media creation and reveal how Shotgun has proven essential in recent months in creating a “virtual studio” for remote work.
10:00am PT – WIA Presents: Women Working in Virtual Production
How can we leverage virtual production as much of the film industry has pivoted to work from home? What are the opportunities for women starting their career? In this panel moderated by Jinko Gotoh, producer, Netflix, hear from women in animation and VFX about the advantages, challenges, and blue sky of the future.
11:00am PT – The Role of the Artist: Creating During Times of Unrest
During times of unrest, we look to art for hope and inspiration. Listen in as artists participate in an open conversation about storytelling and showing the world as it is, even in challenging times.
12:00pm PT – Succeeding as a Freelancer
Ever dream of working for yourself and being your own boss? Join Autodesk and a panel of current and past freelance artists for a discussion about their experiences and career paths, thoughts on freelance art, and advice for navigating industry shifts.
To learn more about Autodesk Virtual Vision Series and register, visit: makeanything.autodesk.com/events/vision-series-2020