Matte Painting Showreel 2012 | Jacek Irzykowski

Yatzenty · (#1)

This is my first showreel and now I do understand how much work does it take to actually create one of those. Paintings you see here have been created over period of one year since I decided that this is what I want to do from now on. There is still lot to learn but I do enjoy it immensely. The showreel was mainly produced in Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere. 3d parts were modeled and rendered in 3d Studio Max using VRay rendering plugin. Projections were created in 3d Studio Max. I hope you will enjoy watching it and please leave any comments or questions you might have. Thanks for checking out.

https://vimeo.com/45778958

Version without sound :
https://vimeo.com/45901061

Pavel Cucka · (#2)

Cool stuff, Jacek!

Alex Jenyon · (#3)

There's some good stuff there. I find the 'popping' zoom effect you've used intensely irritating, though. The work speaks for itself, it doesn't need flashy motion graphics or gimmicky effects - they just get in the way.

Yatzenty · (#4)

Thanks Pavel, big fan of your work!

Yatzenty · (#5)

Thanks for your opinion Alex. I find it helpful while watching the reels when the music reflects what is happening with the visual content. I think it adds to the final impression as one complements the other.

nickmarshallvfx · (#6)

I would have to agree with Alex. Going overboard on the motion graphics style editing for your reel is a bad idea. I watched this without sound and couldn't understand what was going on. A lot of employers also watch reels without sound (as they often have a lot to get through and it can distract from the work). Having a reel subtly fit to the music is good because like you said, they compliment each other, but be aware that people watch reels without sound all the time and it sould work well without the sound to give you the best chance...
As for the work itself, looks like you have some good stuff in there, and you show a good range of techniques. It might be worth you looking into more industry standard software too like Nuke if you have access to it?

Cheers,
N

Yatzenty · (#7)

Thanks for taking time and expressing your thoughts Nick. Well, I must admit I did not think about that. Having no sound seems like a bad news for any showreel but like you said maybe some people just can't afford the time focusing on one task only. From the other hand this is my first reel and the best way to learn is on our mistakes as we know. So thanks again for input, I'd like to hear more opinions if possible. Yes Nuke is awesome, I tried projections there and they work great.

Yatzenty · (#8)

Following the advice from the more experienced collegues from this forum I have added a more conservative version to my videos on YouTube.

Link for the interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvBGD...ature=youtu.be

The main post in this thread has been also updated by including this information.

Ricardo Garces · (#9)

Hi!

Just to let you know that you have impressive art in there! Really cool stuff!

I love the Jungle matte and although I hate cityscape mattes the casino is also very impressive. Could definitely be featured in the "Fifth Element" environment.

I think you should add environmental sounds in your reel. And I agree with all the Masters that posted before.

Regards!

nickmarshallvfx · (#10)

That's much better already. It's hard to take criticism on board when you are quite happy with the reel already, but i think that's a much stronger reel, so kudos for making the changes.
In the opening between the titles it feels a little bit fast on the transitions so we don't get a look at the work properly. My suggestion really would be to just have your titles and contact info up front and then get right into the work. You will probably feel that all these changes make the reel a bit boring, but less really is more. Its just a showcase for your matte paintings, not to show you can edit together a cool clip, so let the work take centre stage :)

Lookin good!