ABBREVIATED VERSION
I have always had an interest in gadgets and gizmos. Computers seem to be the most
interesting and exciting gadgets yet. In December of 1999 I got my first computer, and I felt it was my duty to
figure it out. Somewhere in the numerous hours spent playing with, breaking, and fixing that first computer, I
developed a knack for the machines. I soon joined a production team doing mostly Power Point presentations.
It was then that I learned sound and video editing.
In May of 2002, after moving to Washington D.C., I enrolled myself in the University of Barnes and Noble
in association with the School of Hard Knocks. My curriculum can be found at the corresponding link.
In January of 2004 I launched Mud Productions in an effort to put my skills into practice. |
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EXTENDED VERSION
As I look back over the years everything seems to have fallen perfectly into place. At the age of eleven
I wanted to be a cartoon animator simply because I liked to draw. I soon became disappointed with my drawings
and the dream of becoming an animator quickly faded. For the next few years I imagined myself becoming an engineer. |
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| One December day in 1999 I was given a computer predominately for checking email and chatting with friends.
With the help of my good friend Chris Passmore, I quickly fell in love with computers and began to learn more and more. My
desire to learn about computers compounded exponentially over the next few months. |
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| It was Jonny Hawkins who urged me to join a volunteer production team creating and presenting Power Point slide
shows. It was then that I met Jenny Billman who continually encouraged me to keep learning and experimenting.
For the next few months I was constantly pushing Power Point as far as it would go. Armed with only Microsoft
Paint and Power Point, I inevitably found myself limited in many situations. Although these limits were ultimately beneficial
for helping me stretch my creative, outside-the-box thinking, I was in need of more powerful applications. |
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| Shortly thereafter, I was given a chance to learn Adobe Premiere. Learning that program opened my mind to a
whole new way of thinking. As always, my thirst for knowledge continued and I began to learn more programs
including Flash, Bryce, and Poser. At the time I didn't fully realize what "3D" was, but I certainly didn't let
that stop my creativity. |
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| For 16 months I tried my hand on-stage participating in both drama and dance groups. Although I thoroughly enjoyed
myself, I couldn't help but feeling I belonged behind the scenes. Using the experience gained on-stage, I
was able to advance my performance behind the scenes. |
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| This process of working with production teams and learning new applications continued until May of 2002.
Immediately after moving to Washington D.C., I spent that summer in California where I met Dave Bondi. Since he
worked in the video game industry at the time, he had invaluable experience and was willing to share it with me.
When I got back to D.C. I brought all of Dave's suggestions back with me. |
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| In August of that year, I began studying 3D and everything that goes with it. 3DS Max was the first high-end
3D application I studied. It wasn't long before my list of programs and subjects grew tremendously. Some time
around September I decided to spend the next several months fully immersing myself in the study of computer
graphics, animation, photography, drawing, directing, and the list goes on. |
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| Over the course of the next 15 months, I worked at my computer reading book after book. Knowledge of one
thing led to the hunger to know more. Although the learning process never stops, the time of studying began to
wane and I started to put that knowledge into practice. |
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| In January of 2004, I started Mud Productions with the eagerness to take my talents and creativity even further
again. |
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