Mel Miller's Demo Reel

Mel Miller Demo Reel 2010 (v2.0) from Mel Miller on Vimeo.

Here's my current Demo Reel as of 10/15/10. Thanks for viewing!

Music has been made available through Creative Commons Liscensing by Kevin McLeod of http://www.incompetech.com

Reel Break-Down Information:

Mel Miller
MelMillerArt@gmail.com
www.MelMillerArt.com


CREDIT LIST:

Shots 1 through 3: “Cabin Cat” (2008)
Description: Kitty rolls his eyes as Trucker cries, “Well maybe none of this is really true...”
Contribution: Animation, Layout, Character design.
Additional Credit: Audio clip from HBO’s Six Feet Under.

Shots 2: “Riot Eye Shot” from ARMSmasters (2010)
Description: Riot glances up menacingly.
Contribution: Clean Up Animation.
Additional Credit: Rough animation by Mike Winn. Color, Compositing and SFX by Niles Bontrager.

Shots 3: “Aeslyn" from ARMSmasters (2010)
Description: Aeslyn Head Turn.
Contribution: Clean Up Animation.
Additional Credit: Rough Animation by Mike Winn. Tie Down by Patrick Stannard.

Shots 4: “Tyr” from ARMSmasters (2010)
Description: Tyr hammer swing.

Contribution: Clean Up Animation.
Additional Credit: Rough and Tie Down Animation by Mike Winn.

Shots 5 through 15: “Caravan” (2009-2010)
Description: A selection of completed shots from my short film currently in production, “Caravan.”
Contribution: Direction, Animation, Concept Design, Layout and Background Illustration, Color.
Additional Credit: Compositing and SFX by Niles Bontrager.

Shots 16: “Nanmia” (2008)
Description: Nanmia peers about warily.
Contribution: Animation, Character Design.

Shots 17: “Pup Romp” (2008)
Description: A floppy puppy run test.
Contribution: Animation, Character Design.

Shot 18: “Something Terrible” (2009)
Description: Basic Man does a double take, spotting something terrible across the way.
Contribution: Animation.
Software: Autodesk Maya.
Additional Credit: Rig by Dale Myers.

Shot 19: “Not Chinese” (2009)
Description: Basic Man recieves some shattering news from his off-screen friend.
Contribution: Animation.
Software: Autodesk Maya.
Additional Credit: Audio from Season 1 of Showtime’s Dexter. Rig by Dale Myers.


Cheers,
Mel

Mia in Motion and Commissions

Mia in Motion

I'm currently working on cobbling together animation and storyboard portfolios to go along with my illustration portfolio. Thought I'd share what may very well become a part of the prior - Caravan's Mia Talbert, from shot 6 of the film.

Also, I will begin taking commissions soon, for anyone interested. I'll likely open for them this upcoming week, and start them the week following, once everything is in order. More info on that soon!

♥Mel

Caravan Updates as of 06-16-10

My new at-home animation desk set-up :)

After a nice little adjustment and rest/recovery period post-graduation, I'm back to work on Caravan which, of course, means a slew of new Caravan Archive blog entries are to be had! The following is a quick-link list of the latest updates, including a look at my at-home film production set-up (as seen above) and my recent podcast interview with the Stratton Foundation about the film.

• Scene 2 Storyboards and Update

• Working From Home

• ReFueling Inspiration

• Shot 001 Clean-Up & Webcam Conquests

• Stratton Podcast Interview

♥Mel

Caravan Updates as of 05-16-10

Caravan Official Trailer (Updated!) from Mel Miller on Vimeo.

Caravan's first official trailer, (Now with two new shots!) compiled both for the CCS 2010 Senior Show, and for use by the Stratton Foundation, who was recently kind enough to award the film and myself a generous scholarship. A film (Concept, Animation, Backgrounds and Color) by Mel Miller. Compositing by Niles Bontrager. Music by Larry Larson.

Well, it's official - I'm now an alumni to the College for Creative Studies. My graduation was positively wonderful; I'll post an entry on it here soon. While I'm taking a week or two off of Caravan's production for some much needed rest, I'll be diving back into the remaining clean-up, color and final composite soon enough, with the goal of completion set somewhere amidst late September 2010. For the moment, however, below are the links to the latest updates and entries on the film's production, as seen on Caravan's official production blog, including "After the Tale: Roadside Rest," a recently finished concept illustration, as seen below the links.

• Transitions

• Caravan Official Trailer (Updated!)

• "Mel-Style" Caravan

• Roadside Rest (Flat Colors)

• Roadside Rest - Final

"After The Tale: Roadside Rest" 2010

-Mel

Caravan Updates as of 05/03/10

Caravan Official Trailer from Mel Miller on Vimeo.

Caravan's first official trailer, compiled both for the CCS 2010 Senior Show, and for use by the Stratton Foundation, who was recently kind enough to award the film and myself a generous scholarship. Music by Larry Larson.

The semester has finally, blessedly, ended, and I'll be graduating in a week. Caravan's production, however, will likely span through September - I'm looking forward to diving back into it after a brief but much-needed break. For now, below are the links to the latest updates and entries on the film's production, as seen on Caravan's official production blog, including the first version of an official trailer for teh film, seen above.

• A Cornucopia of Happenings

• Thank You, Stratton Foundation!

• The Traveler's Camp (Soundtrack)

• First Official Trailer (And To Do's!)

• I kill trees for fun.

♥Mel

Caravan Updates as of 04/18/10

Shot 80 of Caravan, completed.

The end of the semester, and the end of my time at the College for Creative Studies, is fast approaching. I'll be graduating on May 13th, and could not be more excited and ready to do so! In the interim, I'm continuing my work on Caravan (A process that will, at this point, span throughout the summer months) which is, blessedly, going quite smoothly. Below are the links to the latest updates and entries on the film's production, as seen on Caravan's official production blog, including the completed version of shot 80, seen above.

• Score Recording Scheduled!

• Shot 80 Completed

• Random Roughs

• Re-Organization and Numbers

Caravan so far. The trees... they weep for their kin.

♥Mel

Caravan Updates as of 03-29-10

More New Caravan Shots 3-30 from Mel Miller on Vimeo.

Progress on Caravan is continuing to come right along. Spring break saw to the closure of all of the rough animation on my to-do list, and I'm right back to clean up, color, and final composite. Finished 5 shots this past weekend, and as always, it feels fantastic to see those completed clips. As per usual, here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above reel of more completed shots from the film.

• Everybody Likes ol' Charlie

• Quirk's New Cover

• Patrick's HoobleDoodles

• Peaceful Mia (Rough Test)

• Shot 26 Progression

• Pat's Mia and Hoobler

• More New, Completed Shots!

Cheers,
Mel

Caravan Updates as of 02-17-10

A Glimpse of Caravan from Mel Miller on Vimeo.

I'm on the very cusp of having Caravan's final animation halfway complete. As a whole, I'd wager that the film's work is almost 3/4 of the way done, which in a good realization to have made, for sure. As per usual, here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above reel of more completed shots from the film.

• Caravan Girl

• 2 Down, 4 to go! and Wacky Fanart

• Another Glimpse of Caravan

• Half Way There :)

More again soon,
-Mel

Caravan Updates as of 01-26-10

Composited Caravan Clips from Mel Miller on Vimeo.

A couple of recently composited shots for Caravan.

The usual drill: Here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above completed shots 003, 019, 030, 031 and 040 the final in the film.

• The Clean Up Process

• Caravan: Mia Runs Into Camp

• Composited Caravan Clips

• Kelsey Clean-Up

• Production Photos (Pt 2)

Onward and upward,
Mel

Caravan Updates as of 01-12-10

Shot 081 - Returning to the open road.

Caravan's entire collection of 64 backgrounds are now complete! I'm now in the mad dash to complete its animation, alongside my other half, Niles', diligent and entirely awesome work in compositing the whole shebang together - he's already completed two and is slated to compile more shots this weekend. Here goes nothing, as they say! That said, here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above completed background from Shot 081 - the final in the film.

• Latest Inspiration Tunes, and Updates

• The Closing Shot

• A Juxtaposition of Homes

• Shot 030 WIP

♥Mel

Caravan Updates as of 01-08-10

After a much needed break over Christmas, Caravan's production is back in full swing. Here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above completed background from Shots 036 and 040:

• Caravan Shot 19 WIP

• OMG TREES! (Part 2)

• Night Backgrounds Complete

• Change of Seasons

• Peaking Tension Through Light

• Colors of Fall ♥

♥Mel

Caravan Updates as of 12-17-09

Hi all! Here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above completed background from Shot 002:

• Opening Shot Completed Background

• Mia's Path to School

• Sound Design In Progress

• OMG TREES! (Part 1)

• Caravan Fall09 Semester Progress

Happy Holidays,
Mel

Caravan Updates as of 12-06-09

Hi everyone! Here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above completed background from Shot 027:

• Short Post, Big News

• Whew! The Doozie!

• Production Photos (Pt 1)

• 5 New, Completed Backgrounds

• The Finals Week Game Plan

Cheers,
Mel

Caravan Updates as of 11-24-09

Hi everyone! Here's a quick-link list to the latest progress on Caravan, via entries over at the Caravan Production blog, including the above completed background from Shot 034:

• Mia Pat-ronizied

• Inspiration: Larry Live

• Shot 033 Background Finished

• Shot 034 completed background

Just in case I am unable to get to blog updating over the Thanksgiving holiday - Happy Thanksgiving, all! Be safe, have fun, and eat your weight in yams!

Cheers,
Mel

Slew of Caravan Updates!

Nightfall at the Kavenaugh camp site - Background for shot 030!

Hi all! I just wanted to encourage anyone who has not yet visited my Caravan production blog to give it a looksee, as I've posted a slew of recent updates - the film is sailing right along, including rough animation, SFX tests and completed backgrounds! Here are the latest entries:

• Mighty Miss Mia: Rough Pencil Tests
• Mia at Peace
• Background Layouts in Flat Color
• Smoke and Fire, First Pass
• First Completed Backgrounds
  

Cheers,
-Mel

Chipper Charlie

A quick image of Charlie from my Caravan production blog (Check it out for much more on the film!)

I do love Charlie Kavenaugh - little Kelsey's father. He's the sort of dorky dad who tries to be cool, despite the fact that he, quite implicitly, is not, by any little kid's standards... At the same time, he's too irresistibly adorable not to have a soft spot for.

As a side: I want that hat.

-Mel

Official Caravan Production Blog

My senior film (which will undoubtedly dominate the next many months of my life) now has its own dedicated blog! In it, I'll be keeping tabs on my progress, thoughts on the project as well as posting images that won't see the light of day on my art blog here. Please feel free to have a gander, follow, and tell me what you think!

The Caravan Archives!

Cheers,
Mel

On-Model Mia

If nothing else, life is unpredictable. Shortly after my previous entry, my last surviving grandparent passed away; As one could imagine, the remainder of my summer break was quite the instance of upheaval as a result. I've since begun my senior year at CCS, and the production of Caravan is again underway. While much more art is to come, here, for the moment, is (finally!) a properly on-model orthographic of Mia Talbert. (Greatly improved from the rushed and hilariously off-model ortho previously posted as part of her otherwise acceptable model sheet!)

Stay tuned (And thanks for sticking with me!)
♥Mel

CCS 2009 Year-End Review Reel

At the end of every semester, CCS faculty reviews each student's work and progression throughout the year. Each year, I compile a Review Reel highlighting everything I've done for non-liberal-arts classes. It has, most definitely, been a very busy year.

All visual work seen here is by and copyright of Mel Miller 2008-2008, apart from: Animation assistance on shot four of "Cabin Cat" was provided by Patrick Stannard (http://kiltedanimator.blogspot.com/) Line art for the Code Monkey backgrounds were dawn by Niles Bontrager (http://nilesart.blogspot.com/)

Music by Kevin McLeod, which he has graciously provided for public use under the Creative Commons License. Check out more of Kevin's wonderful resources at http://incompetech.com

♥Mel

Caravan: Mia Ref Sheet & Environment 1

More Caravan concept art! Above is the first official character model sheet for Mia Talbert, and below is the Talbert Farmhouse where she and her father Ethan live. I will be working on the production of this project continually throughout the next four months and beyond, so keep and eye out!

♥Mel