Letter From the Editor – September 2011
I was born stubborn.
You can blame my parents for raising me with so much pride, blame the kids in elementary school who picked on me for being a nerd or blame the stars that I was born a Leo. Personally, I stopped trying to point fingers a long time ago and just accept it. In fact, I’ve learned to turn it into somewhat of a game.
If somebody told me I couldn’t do something or that there was a better (or easier way), I took it as a challenge to do it my way. I would boldly attempt to complete my mission in a John Locke sort of way, only not as insane. Even if that challenge was near improbable, I would still try, success or not. Eventually, I learned the errors of my ways.
I still challenge myself, but in a slightly different way. I recognize that there are better and easier ways to reach my goal. I thoroughly look at all avenues before I begin a project. I know that it isn’t my way or the highway. Others have walked this path before me, and others will walk it after I’m gone. I’ve learned to learn from their lessons.
Now, If I see something that inspires me, I try to emulate it. Then I try to understand it. Then I go a step further and make it my own. It’s an almost obsessive tendency.
I guess we all have these obsessive tendencies in our field, regardless of what creative field we are in. We are constantly searching for new ways to do something. To build upon what others have done before. To forge new paths through the unknown.
The important things we all should take from all of this is to remember where we have been, that there are new paths to be taken and to never stop learning. Of course, with the recent release (and soon to be released) plugins for popular software, who has the time to stop learning.
The Newton Physics Engine for After Effects has been released, and by all accounts it is a critical success at propelling a piece of software forward in a direction it hasn’t been before. Be careful though, it can almost give you a God-like complex. MovieType for Cinema 4D has made it easier than ever to create great looking text elements for your projects that emulate film and television title sequences. Of course, Element 3D will be coming soon (right, guys?) and will bring unprecedented 3d control elements into After Effects. That’s not to mention all of the lesser known plugins and presets that are already on the market.
Through it all, we here at FYM will continue to try and do our part–bringing great articles to inspire, give insight and learn from. We have some great things lined up for you including the return of the Feature Friday column (remember those?). This time, however, there will be a few additions. What better way to learn than by seeing what everybody else is doing well?! Of course, there will be more tutorials including more of the Cinema 4D Tags Quick Tip series, plus a couple of columns that will help you learn and inspire in a few new ways.
Keep learning being inspired and one day you will be the one who inspires.
John Kostrzewski is the Editor of Fuel Your Motionography and a freelance motion graphics and visual effects artist, videographer and writer living in Minnesota. He is awesome. Follow him on Twitter at and .
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