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I just watched a documentary about Pixar and they mentioned John Lasseter used to spend 3 weeks straight in the office working. Just because you're working a lo

by leak 14y ago

I just watched a documentary about Pixar and they mentioned John Lasseter used to spend 3 weeks straight in the office working. Just because you're working a lot, it doesn't necessarily mean it's the wrong company. Here's a funny quote from him: why do you have the best parking spot? John Lasseter "Because my car hasn't moved in 3 days" But, I would move on too.

kayoone 14y ago
I agree, however theres a big difference between sprints prior to launching and averaging 70+ hours of work throughout the whole project. Whats the name of the documentary btw ?
- pooriaazimi 14y ago
  It's "The Pixar Story"[1]. A great documentary, highly recommended. But Pixar wasn't all roses either - during the tight production of Toy Story 2 (because they changed almost all of the story and had to rush it for christmas), a couple (who were both animators) forgot that their 1-year old was in the car (and not in the day care!), and the girl was there for almost 10 hours... She lived, but still a pretty horrible story. The source for this unpleasant anecdote is [2]. It's a long talk by Ed Catmull, but I can't recommend it enough. It's really, really awesome. Success hides problems (Ed Catmull) Want to know why Pixar was awesome for soooo long? It wasn't luck, and it wasn't because they had great animators. It wasn't even (entirely) because they told terrific stories. It was because they constantly learned from their "successes"... Watch (or listen) to Catmull's talk. I guarantee that you won't regret the 55 minutes you spend on it... [1]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059955/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059955/ [2]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc
  - raverbashing 14y ago
    Wasn't this Toy Story 1? Well, I'll watch this Catmull's talk. Still, Pixar Story is a great documentary really, and if you have the chance read the book as well.
    - pooriaazimi 14y ago
      I have, actually :) The audiobook version, I think. I got it for Steve Jobs parts, but the whole book is, as you say, we'll worth a read.
  - kayoone 14y ago
    Thanks alot! Cant wait to see it :)
  - braveheart1723 14y ago
    another great documentary: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Indie_Game_The_Movie/70229918?trkid=7115812 http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Indie_Game_The_Movie/70229... about indie games
rhizome 14y ago
If I was getting paid like Lasseter and basically running the show I could tolerate periodic 3wk crunches for creative spurts or whatever.
- pooriaazimi 14y ago
  Not disagreeing with your point (in general), but in this case Lasseter was doing it the worst days of Pixar - the days that any day there was the possibility that Jobs might shut the whole place down...

by leak 14y ago

kayoone 14y ago

I agree, however theres a big difference between sprints prior to launching and averaging 70+ hours of work throughout the whole project. Whats the name of the documentary btw ?

pooriaazimi 14y ago
It's "The Pixar Story"[1]. A great documentary, highly recommended. But Pixar wasn't all roses either - during the tight production of Toy Story 2 (because they changed almost all of the story and had to rush it for christmas), a couple (who were both animators) forgot that their 1-year old was in the car (and not in the day care!), and the girl was there for almost 10 hours... She lived, but still a pretty horrible story. The source for this unpleasant anecdote is [2]. It's a long talk by Ed Catmull, but I can't recommend it enough. It's really, really awesome. Success hides problems (Ed Catmull) Want to know why Pixar was awesome for soooo long? It wasn't luck, and it wasn't because they had great animators. It wasn't even (entirely) because they told terrific stories. It was because they constantly learned from their "successes"... Watch (or listen) to Catmull's talk. I guarantee that you won't regret the 55 minutes you spend on it... [1]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059955/ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1059955/ [2]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2h2lvhzMDc
- raverbashing 14y ago
  Wasn't this Toy Story 1? Well, I'll watch this Catmull's talk. Still, Pixar Story is a great documentary really, and if you have the chance read the book as well.
  - pooriaazimi 14y ago
    I have, actually :) The audiobook version, I think. I got it for Steve Jobs parts, but the whole book is, as you say, we'll worth a read.
- kayoone 14y ago
  Thanks alot! Cant wait to see it :)
- braveheart1723 14y ago
  another great documentary: http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Indie_Game_The_Movie/70229918?trkid=7115812 http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Indie_Game_The_Movie/70229... about indie games

rhizome 14y ago

If I was getting paid like Lasseter and basically running the show I could tolerate periodic 3wk crunches for creative spurts or whatever.

pooriaazimi 14y ago
Not disagreeing with your point (in general), but in this case Lasseter was doing it the worst days of Pixar - the days that any day there was the possibility that Jobs might shut the whole place down...