ratOcclusion, or, the SL code I most wish to see

Over the past few months I've run into a number of bugs with the Pixar-supplied mtor/RAT occlusion shader "ratOcclusion". First of all, it has these crazy artifacts at small scales, and second, it gives me yet-to-be-understood white grid patches when the shading rate is too low, or the image is too big, or... well, that's the problem. I have no idea what these artifacts come from, I just know I hate them, and that I spent hours re-creasing the mtor subdivs in the film (yes, this is still about The Incident at Tower 37 project) when, in fact, the creases weren't the problem at all.

Anyway, I just put together my own occlusion shader that seems to fix these bugs. The hope is that it can be the show-wide occlusion shader, so I need to make sure it is fast. How my straightforward shader is different from what ratOcclusion is (under the hood) is a mystery.

Memphis, here we come

"Catch" just got picked for the Memphis International Film Festival, also happening this March. I'm very glad I got two prints, after all!

chronophage

A great new term came my way, courtesy (once again) of Dean Weisler: chronophage. Something that eats time. Like this blog, or any number of other things in my life.

I also threw down a new term yesterday in a written model critique: aquadynamic. Yes, I intended it to mean what it sounds like it means, and I kind of like it.

Not that anyone reads this, but if you do please share your new words/expressions with me. I'm always looking to make communicating more... efficient? fun? Maybe just different.

"Catch" is on the calendar now at the CIFF: March 18th and March 25th. It's a part of the "Family Shorts" program.

"Catch" finally will be seen

It's been a long time coming, but the Cleveland International Film Festival will be showing my short film Catch this year. And literally at the same time in March, it will be looping at a gallery show in RISD that's showcasing some UMASS MFA student work. Nice to have at least a small audience!