Maya hair and Python

So Maya Hair can be a real witch with a capital B.

I've never, ever worked with Python.

Given those two facts, it makes perfect sense for me to make a hair creation tool in Python.

I am having a BLAST learning Python.  It makes so much more sense than MEL (which I'm still struggling with BTW).  For one thing, I don't feel like Yoda when working with Python.  Granted, I've only been playing with MEL for about 7 months or so, but it still seems backward to me.  Python feels very straight forward.

It's a little weird having to do the whole "import maya.cmds as (whatever)" though.

My first impression of Python is you run the risk of killing a fly with an axe.  It seems like Python is better used when doing something complex but if you're doing something simple, you may as well stick with MEL.  We'll see if that impression is correct.

By the by, what's going on with that nuke project I was talking about a while ago?  Glad you asked.

I'm still working on it.  (Not being in school is awesome.  There's much more time to do things).  Unfortunatley, my laptop is older than Adam's dirt so things are slow.  So very slow.  I need a computer, y'all.

~Melissa

On to Plan B

Just had an amazing 40 minute conversation with Jim Conrads of Dreamworks animation.  Nothing has been set in stone, there's still one more position that they're looking to fill for the CFX Challange but it looks like I'm probably not going to get it.  Eh, what are you gonna do.  I'm not gonna lie, after three months of hoping it's a little disappointing to hear "probably not", but that just means I gotta keep going on.

He went on to talk to me about graduate school work.  I've always been set on going to graduate school and getting my MFA but he really sort of cemented that course of action in my mind.  I think I'm going to go look at Savannah in July, maybe go to Texas A & M sometime in later, maybe early Fall.  I need to see when you can tour the campus.

I guess that means I'll be going to SIGGRAPH this year.  Sweet.  I'll keep you posted on that bit of news.

Well, I guess my final thought of the post is this:

I've tried not to get too religious on this blog, but I've just gotta say something.  I feel like it's appropriate.  My entire life, I've been a church going person who's gone through church schooling.  It's a huge part of me that I'm very proud of.  I believe in a big God who specializes in the impossible.  Heck, my situation isn't even impossible!  I may have gotten a kind no, but I'm just as hopeful as I was yesterday because I believe the talent and passion that's been placed inside me wasn't put there to go to waste.  When you look at it that way, you have to keep going, other wise you're doing something that just wasn't meant to be done -- we all know what happens when you bury a talent ^^;

I'm working on some hair related stuff.  I'll post my progress as I make it.

Thanks for reading,

~Melissa

It's official

No, not the Dreamworks thing.  I still haven't heard from them.  But I just got my grades and, yes, I am now a college graduate!  I'm the first in my school to graduate with a B.S. in Effects Animation!  Woot!  It's been a long (long, long, long, LONG) road, but it's over... until I go for my M.F.A.  I'm so excited!  The only thing that would make this week any better would be getting that Dreamworks position.

Well, now I have time to focus on personal projects.  Maybe.  I've been pulling 10 hour shifts so I can afford to go to California if I get the Dreamworks thing, or going to SIGGRAPH if I don't.

((aww, I can't see the dance unless I click on it.  Click on it!! o_o))

*dance* *dance*

~Melissa