Microsoft Private Cloud - How I sold myself

[Nero]

So I thought I would share with you guys what I did during the past summer.
I was looking to getting a job and applied literally everywhere that offered something related to the 3d field. For 2 months, I got no response, and the ones I did get were almost all negative (In the sense that they told me they had enough employees ect.). Then one nice summer day, I open my email (I almost stopped checking it at this point because I didn't believe I would get any), and there in front of me was an unread email.
It was the director of Integrated Talent asking me to a phone interview for a Microsoft Private Cloud/Hewlett Packard campaign video. I went NUTS.... After calming myself, I did the interview later that day, and ended up getting the job over 25 other applicants. The deadline was really harsh with less then 2 weeks to complete my assigned tasks. I ended up staying till 5 in the morning a lot of nights because we kept changing things and going through revisions as I sent in updates.
I was assigned 2 main (Hero) vehicles and from those, I had to create the interior, exterior, and about 4 variations of each. Please note this was my first job. :) Please enjoy.
Concept of both vehicles:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Concept2-1.png
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/concept-4.png
(I was provided storyboards too)
With out further a due here are some work in progress pics:
SPACESHIP ENGINE DESIGNED BY ME:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/engine3.png
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/engine4.png
SERVER HIGH POLY:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/bake5.png
SERVER HIGH POLY WIREFRAME:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/bake6.png
LOW POLY:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/bake3.png
LOW POLY BAKED:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/colors1.png
BAKED AND TEXTURED:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Untitled-2-4.png
RANDOM SHOT:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Vehicle1-4.png
CAGE:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Vehicle1-12.png
ALL TOGETHER:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Vehicle1-11.png
FRONT:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Vehicle1-6.png
INSIDE:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/Vehicle1-1.png
SPACESHIP
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/gril4.png
INSIDE:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/vehicle2.png
EDIT: For you lazy people:
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003254/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003246/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003249/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003253/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003252/780x486.png
no wires included in this shot:
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003242/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003251/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003273/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003289/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003291/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003292/780x486.png
http://m.cmcdn.net/13003277/780x486.png

Here is the link to the final product on the Microsoft site:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/private-cloud/overview.aspx
(http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/private-cloud/overview.aspx)
Here is a link to a direct video:
http://vimeo.com/30453133
(http://vimeo.com/30453133)
Here is some beauty shots that were done 5 in the morning because Microsoft wanted an update.
http://privateeyesonly.carbonmade.com/projects/3236977


(How much I made is private)

Enjoy.

[Nero]

Updated with more pics.
Edit: Animator was Anthony Pauzie. Great guy. :)
Btw; the director worked in rush hour 1, charlies angles, ect. And the producer helped in Transformers 1 (Friends with Micheal Bay), and some other films I can't remember from the top of my head.

[PopeAK49]

Very cool stuff man. That must have been very exhausting to accomplish. Congrats to you.

[Nero]

Thanks man! It was, I think overall it was very worth it. Learned a lot too!
:)

[n00b1n8R]

That'll def look great on your resume ;)

[Nero]

Thanks n00b. It will hopefully! First I have to go to 3d school though (Starting next year). :D

[neuro]

cool stuff, welcome to the big boys world.

also.. 3d school? don't get me started..

[n00b1n8R]

cool stuff, welcome to the big boys world.

also.. 3d school? don't get me started..
dont get him started

[Nero]

Thanks neuro! Glad you like them :)
I take it that you don't think 3d schooling is worth it?
Ik a lot of schools don't teach crap or that they are schemes to get your money and give you a useless degree, but I did my research. This is why I am going to uni to get a degree in 3d animation/modeling:
-Canada will not give you a working visa permit to work out of country for 3d work, if you don't have some sort of proof you went to school for it. (This is big for me as I might work out of country at one point)
-It will give me an advantage over the people with just portfolios.
-It is a university, so therefore it will at least be a school that isn't an institution that would give you a diploma worth nothing.
-My parents want me go for Law, but they allow me to go down this route if I so please. If not, its out the house and the university isn't far from where I live, so that would be moronic on my part.
-I want to learn some animation and broaden my experience in the 3d field.
-More portfolio work will be done while in school
-It will look good on my resume. Lol.
I don't mind you posting why I shouldn't be going though.

There was a guy on poly count, that had many years of experience including work on the Avatar game ect.. He now has given up due to the lack of responses from studios here in Canada and also due to the fact that he can't go out of country. He has no degree = no visa, and he was offered jobs in the US, but he can't accept.

@n00bl; you silly man.

[Sanctus]

It looks VERY nice so far. Be proud of yourself

[Nero]

Thanks man! I am. :3
Look what I found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKQJjAgt9xo&feature=player_embedded
:D

[Patrickssj6]

I didn't like the rendered images at first but in the video it just looks great in context!

Nice work :D

[Hotrod]

Nice! The models look great, and it gives me some sort of strange tingly feeling watching that video while thinking "I know (if being on the same forum as the person counts as knowing) the guy who did those models... Damn...", especially when it's a Microsoft video.

Let's hope this leads to even bigger and greater stuff in the future!

[Warsaw]

Great content. Too bad for Microsoft that the dude with the early 20th century flight gear is classier than the 'tard in the hover car.

[Nero]

@Patrick; Yea, I was told to make them semi realistic and was shown some reference photos to get an idea what I was going for. Thanks!

@Hotrod; Haha, Ik exactly what you mean. I too hope this leads to bigger things. Thanks btw! :)

@Warsaw; aha, you mean this guy?

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn159/Joshflighter/pilot_hovercar.png


:P

Thanks.


Workin on my portfolio now.

[Nero]

OMG! YES!!! Microsoft released the ad I worked on through out the web. Look for Microsoft ads on sidebars ect.
This is what it will direct you to:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/readynow/?CR_CC=200066022

The one I helped create is the second one. :D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Patrickssj6]

The beginning of the video reminds me of the Simpsons :P

[Maniac]

Very happy to see things working out for you man.
Great job too.

[Nero]

It kinda does patrick. haha.

Thanks Maniac! Btw, man, ur sig! D=