Fantasy Hammer: First Phase

The first phase of my new project was to create the silhouette. This means drawing out a black-filled shape of what I want the hammer to look like. This doesn't include any details, as it is the most basic shape, blocked out. This is then followed by making a copy of the silhouette, sizing it up and creating a sketch over the top that includes finer details. This was all done in Photoshop.

It is always a good idea to have a "story" behind the object you create. For example, what will this hammer be used for? Who will use it? What are the purposes of certain details? So for this hammer, it is designed to be sued by a demi-god or god in a fantasy game/film. No ordinary character can use it; somewhat similar to Thor's hammer! The circular/oval shaped object at the top of the hammer is a gem. The lighter grey area under that is where crystals can be placed to change the type of beam created from the top gem when the hammer is slammed on the floor, etc. The whole hammer is made out of metal, emphasising it can only be used by a god because of the sheer strength needed to lift it. The handle itself is grooved with a nice design, with a solid base at the bottom with a small accompanying gem., merely for decoration.

The basic story and background is completed enough so that I could start modelling. I modelled the head of the hammer first in 3DS Max, which completed the first phase of the project. The next step is to work on modelling the handle and preparing the mesh to export it into ZBrush.

Scam & Apologies

I apologise for the lack of posts these past few weeks. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I was doing some freelance work. However, as it turns out, said work was a scam. I should have gone with my gut instincts when I was first contacted about doing some work.

A few months ago, I signed up to Freelancer - a site for freelancers to "bid" on projects they like, so they can do the work for it and get paid. I was sceptical at first, but thought why not. I put a bid in (bids don't cost anything; depending on your account type, you have a certain number of bids per month) for a simple project regarding file conversions, from one type to another. However, the employer contacted me about a different project that was not advertised on the site; it was character modelling/sculpting, which is what I love doing.

So I had to do a 24 hour test, which was to model a toad based on Bufo, like my previous post detailed. I did this, sent him the files as he sent the payment in the form of an eCheque on PayPal. It would take 3-5 working days to clear. I was pleased - I'd be getting roughly £80 for the work I had done. He asked to send through details of the next character, to which I agreed. It was to model a peacock in the style of Kevin from the film Up, but had to be white and not rainbow coloured. When I was working on the peacock, the payment for the toad cancelled as it failed to clear the sender's bank. I was annoyed, and told the employer (Mark) that it had cancelled. He sent it again and, like before, would take 3-5 working days to clear. This is when I started to become more and more suspicious.

I won't bore you with details of sending files and creating the models...but after I sent him the final files for the peacock, the second attempted payment for the first model failed to clear the sender's bank again. I suggested to Mark we use Western Union and I would go down to my local one to collect the money. He agreed and said he would send me the details, such as the MTCN number and security question/answer. The message after really annoyed me and made me realise that I was being conned. He said the peacock file I sent him was too big and came through distorted on "their" machine (I put their in quotes as he was supposedly the project leader for a children's animation). It made me think, if it opens fine on my computer - which is built mainly for gaming - it should be perfectly fine on an animation studio's computer. So he therefore aborted the peacock, but appreciated the work I did. I took this as he implied I would not get paid for the work I did. He then had the cheek to ask if he could send through the next character details for me to work on, to which my response was that I can't commit my time to work on things for him when I can't guarantee I will be paid. I felt that I had wasted my time. And with him being in Australia, the time difference made the whole process that much longer. I was supposed be getting £280 for that model...

Mark actually never replied to that message. Nor did he send through any Western Union details. At this point I was 100% certain he just used me and no doubt passing my work off as his own and getting the money for it. I have an idea as to what I'm going to do if I see my models in an animation. And I will seek legal advice if it happens.

Freelancing can be very good and will bring in a decent amount of money. But with freelancing comes a whole bunch of risks and unfortunately, those risks were a reality for me. I am owed £360, which I won't be seeing. For me, I will much prefer working in a studio with other people. This leads onto my next point and on a different topic.

From now on, I won't be working on characters. Even though it is my favourite type of modelling/sculpting, I have literally no chance of getting a job in that field...yet. I did some research and found that roughly 1 in 20 companies offer entry level 3D character artists. Obviously, characters are a huge part of any game/animated film, so ideally companies want people with experience in the industry rather than employing entry level people. The more common and slightly easier way to get into the industry is to do environment modelling. This includes environment stuff like trees, rocks and perhaps buildings and other various models like weapons and other assets. That is what I'm doing now; I am currently working on a hammer, much like one Thor has. I'll write another post detailing my progress in that project.

Sorry for such a long post! Until next time.