Posted at June 14, 2006, 7:01 pm:
Massive black concept art workshop-Montreal 2006
Okay, first of all before I get into my review on the montreal workshop, I want to make it clear that I think all the artists that appeared this weekend have tremendous talent. That being said, I was highly disappointed in the workshop. I found it very poorly organized and I’m not alone. I found the lack of structure and foresight unsettling. I would have thought that a studio running something this big would have at least scouted the facility they had rented to make sure it was adequate. Over the first two days there were technical difficulties upon technical difficulties with the sound and the projector or both at the same time. I can understand some hiccups but this bordered on the ridiculous. There was not sufficient enough seating, so many of us had to stand or sit on the floor which is lunacy considering we paid 600 US to come to this thing.
I think my biggest frustration was the schedule. I was excited going into this workshop when looking at the schedule and seeing such classes as colour and theory of light and visual symbolism :making meaningful images but only to be let down when the schedule was not followed. It seemed like massive black tossed it to the wayside and decided to do whatever popped into there heads. Even when the schedule was followed, the majority of instructors (this is what massive black called them, not me) talked next to nil about anything. I wasn’t expecting to be spoon fed things but a little insight into their thought process would have been nice. I know what some people will say “well you should have talked to them after and picked there brain” Honestly, I shouldn’t have too considering the money that was spent. Plus, the artist has limited time and would not be able to have an hour conversation with each and every person that was there. Again I refer to comments I have read today on the forums, someone mentioned that It was nice to see that the artists were introverted and understood why they didn’t really talk to the room ...pardon me??? I paid a lot of money for this workshop, the least they could do is talk a little into a mike. Matt Rhodes did a fantastic job at drawing and talking to the audience at the same time. He gave insight into not only his job position but his technique and also what’s going on in his head while he sketched. Dan Milligan was another stand out in this area, going above and beyond what was needed in the presentation. He actually seemed like he put some thought into what he was going to do and say. Coro was another bright spot too.
I can guess what a lot of you are going to say when you read this review. Fine that’s your opinion just like this is mine. Many of you might question who I am and where I get off saying these things. Well, for one thing, I was not the only video game artist (yes I am one of the ones that some of you said expected to be spoon fed) that was there and was upset about the weekend, I know at least 12 others who work in the same field and were disappointed by the quality or the lack thereof. I mean I really didn’t pay the money to watch a guy airbrush people all weekend The only ones that I know will be totally convinced it was the best weekend of there lives are the young students who haven’t experienced the real world and are star struck. The amount of money that was needed to get into this workshop was horrendous considering what we got out of it. I mean you couldn’t even throw in a t-shirt? You had to gouge more money out of these kids, many of whom I expect used school loan money to attend.
Again, I stress that I am not disrespecting the talent of the guys that were there. I was inspired but many of them like marko, coro, alexi among others. I took away some valuable information but it was far too little for the price we had to pay. But in the end it was the overall experience I was let down by. I just hope in the future that massive black takes all comments to heart (even the critical ones) and improves the next workshop.
Original of the message was taken from http://www.conceptart.org/forums/
Replies:It wasn't perfect from a logistical standpoint, I personally would hav...
I think someone was saying how the artist that attended where introver...
I have to totally agree, I feel that we did not get our money's worth.
This would be an issue if massive black made money off of these.
Slash has a good point.
I think it was a terrific review actually.
Hopefully you 3 guys up in London Ontario (I can assume which company)...
You guys, while I understand you might have constructive critique to g...
If this was just an event for conceptart.
I've been in the business for all most 9 years now and found each work...
All right im just a student right now so I found this work shop quite ...
wow another from london ontario.
I'm going to give my honest opinion:
I am still a student, and this w...
Wow I would have not taken this forum as one that informs people where...
I do want to add that we have had more than 100 studios (including wet...
NO MORE PERSONAL ATTACKS WILL BE TOLERATED.
Im totally with Se7en on this one! Well said bro.
I am going to say what no one else here is going to say.
okay i expected the differing opinions which is good.
This weekend cost basically $1000 all said and done (and im sure more ...
I just want to say that most of the people that seem to be putting dow...
these four days at the workshop cost almost exactly the same as a week...
i am truly sorry if some of you felt like you didnt get what you wante...
I think alot people just need to put down their shovels before they di...
I think alot of people where pleased and alot of people were dissappoi...
wow.
Wow.
I have worked on two games from start to finish and spent four years l...
I'm one down for eye-opening experience.
I agree with Visions on every account.
Haha, Wild forum.
Thank you Riccard, i did not know that you were there.
I'll pretend I never read that.
I'd like to put in my 2 cents as well since a few "new" memb...
Yumiko - Thank you.
After some deliberation I have decided to put my thoughts on the works...
I can understand the feelings that many of the people who criticized t...
actually aesir.
hmm looks like the next workshop is going to own then.
hi there,
I just wanted to say, that for me it was well worth the t...
Visions, you hit this spot on.
Ok, I cant read all this thread.
I don't need to go into all of the other crap that has been spoken bac...
I think all in all in the workshop was great.
I'd like to sing with the choir - I got out of the workshop what I put...
Thank you very much.
I'm probably just going to restate everything that has been said.
The workshop was good in overall and very fun, but i found that the la...
All the significant points have been made already in this thread and s...
This was my first workshop and while I agree that it was far from what...
I've been in the gaming industry for ten years and have to say the bas...
One more thing.
The bashing is ridiculous, of course improvements and feedback are goi...
For the Record:
I've personally never gotten so much useful informat...
I think that matching instructors together for a demo was a great idea...
I don't get where all of this is coming fro.
Conceptart.
I came back home with:
- a ton of new techniques to try out at work...
Sorry I can't give any crits for Sun and Mon of the workshop.
Hi Fran great to see you here, and it was a thrill meeting you and the...
2 flood;
Bud, if ye remember i told ya guys during our presentation...
I did sit in on most of the D3 room discussions with you guys and you ...
Hey all, I didn't get to go to the workshop to meet everyone yet after...
I enjoyed the bioware presentation much.
Jason, you've probably had this idea before - but for the folk who fee...
"I enjoyed the bioware presentation much.
I had only wished that I could have come at the beginning of your lect...
The link below shares some things that other professionals and student...
I distinctly recall Jason telling us several times to TALK TO WHO IS N...
Your on! We had our internal postmortem workshop lunch last week and o...
Fran were you the one next to me at the workshop (last day.
I wasn't able to attend this one, but I've been dead set on attending ...
Hello there !!
I've been reading this post and I decided to give m...
Alright, i guess its time for me to chime up as well.
Three cheers for Layil!
Hooray^3
I flew out at quite an expense from Australia, and I would do it again...
You jerk, you live too far away for ANYONE to visit you!
Hey, I made the effort, so can everyone else!
I really loved the workshop.
i would in a heartbeat,if I HAD TEH FRIGGIN MONEY!
seriously,more tha...
I support this, for us folk who weren't fortunate enough to attend but...
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