Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: How long did it take you to make Ornaments?
A: Roughly a year. It's hard to be precise because I started making it during breaks between college semesters and finished it in my spare time after graduating. To learn more about the process, see the making of section.

Q: What are the names of the songs in Ornaments?
A: The songs, in chronological order, are:

"Habanera" from the opera "Carmen" - George Bizet
"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker" - Tchaikovsky
"Can Can" from "Orpheus in the Underworld" - Offenbach
"Barber of Seville" Overture - Rossini
"Trepak" from "The Nutcracker" - Tchaikovsky

Q: Can I get a copy of Ornaments on tape or DVD?
A: I'd be happy to send you a VHS copy of Ornaments for the cost of the tape and shipping, which is roughly $15 in the USA. Or, you could download Ornaments from the videos page. Ornaments is not currently available on DVD, but it might be in the near future.

Q: How can I learn to make animations like this?
A: There are many different ways. I just got the software and taught myself, a process which can take a lot of time depending on your level of interest and discipline. Many colleges and almost all art schools offer 3D animation programs, and they'll provide labs with the latest computers and software packages. If you want to get started at home, but can't get your hands on a high-end 3D package, there are many low-cost alternatives such as Blender and Animation Master. And remember - there's more to 3D animation than learning software! Assembling a short requires a solid understanding of character animation, camera direction, story, editing, and other facets of moviemaking. I recommend the following books:

"Digital Character Animation" by George Maestri
"3D Photorealism Toolkit" by Bill Fleming
"Film Directing - Shot by Shot" by Steven Katz
"Sets in Motion" by Affron and Affron
"Story" by Robert McKee