Grinchmas for Universal Studios, Hollywood

The incredibly talented group at AES recreated Dr. Suess' Whoville for Universal Studios Hollywood 2008 Holiday Season, a vast cartoon theme experience.

SCREEN SHOT OF MY 3D GRINCH MODEL

My role was to create the 3D model that would become ten foot bas-relief replicas of the legendary Dr. Suess' Grinch for the main entrance.
So much goes into the creative fabrication of an event like this and it was a real honor to have a hand in it all.

The Grinch is an internationally recognized icon that will be seen by thousands of people, so I used Zbrush to make a perfect digital sculpt. The 3D digital models I create become the "blueprint" for the KUKA, a state-of-the-art 6-axis robot, to carve the styrofoam for the fiberglass mold.

Pictured above is Craig's KUKA robot at work
carving a block of styrofoam from my 3D model...

Pictured above is the finished foam carving,
hard coated, primed and ready for paint.

Below: 3D Grinch replica in Paint and Finishing....

Above: 3D Grinch replica installed at Universal Studios.

Thank you, Craig B., Barbara G., the crew at AES and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Conga Room Conga's

Over at AES, my role was to create a 3D model of these slick looking conga drums for the brand new Conga Room at LA Live.
So much went into this amazing new entertainment complex, that it was kinda cool to have a little hand in it all.

First, I create a custom shaped spline in 3DS Max, converted that shape into an Editable Poly, add a Lathe Modifier to it, and viola, a Conga Drum. Once you have one drum, you can have as many as you want. I want two. Then I boolean out the shapes because they intersect and they have to fit together - so one ends up having a section scalloped out of it.



Here's the drums after being cast in fiberglass,

The KUKA robot carves a styrofoam block which becomes the mold for the fiberglass drums. Here they are pictured in the AES shop, cast and ready for paint and finishing. I will add photos from the paint booth soon.

Here is the final installation with my 3D congas, photo by Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times:

Photo featuring Brad Gluckstein, founder and co-owner of the new Conga Room, perches on the club's sign. The Conga Room, which used to be in the Miracle Mile neighborhood, will reopen next to the Nokia Theatre, across the street from Staples Center.

Thank you to Craig B., Murph and Eric, the crew at AES and the Conga Room!