The VFX Process Podcast #44 | SouthernShotty discusses making his Blender animated short film 'Watermelon Girl' and shares his advice on how to succeed in a solo filmmaking project. WANT EXCLUSIVE CONTENT? BECOME A MEMBER: TVFXP NEWSLETTER - If you enjoyed this video, check out the latest episodes of The VFX Process Podcast: The VFX Process... Getting Intimate With Your Industry! Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes looks at the world of animation, VFX and filmmaking. Don't forget to like, share, and leave your questions and comments below! @thevfxprocess?sub_confirmation=1 🎙️ EXTENDED VERSION AVAILABLE AS A PODCAST: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SouthernShotty is widely known in the 3D community for his unique character designs and his Blender tutorials on YouTube. Shotty started teaching Blender skills to the community four years ago and is now one of the go-to content creators for those wanting to make 3D animated films. In this episode, SouthernShotty shares the process of creating his animated short film "Watermelon Girl," made using Blender with a little help from After Effects and the Adobe Substance suite. After failing many times to complete this project, Shotty reveals how he finally made it to the finish line, covering the creative process of producing a 3D film in Blender. He focuses on scalability, character design, asset reuse, and the importance of feedback from the Blender community. He also delves into the challenges, learnings, and advice for aspiring artists and filmmakers. Produced by a single animator, "Watermelon Girl" tells the story of a girl born from a watermelon seed in a departed king's stomach. A stunning journey begins, with an art style inspired by hand-made arts and crafts. Looking to create your own films in Blender? Check out this ultimate guide to solo filmmaking. Learn about animation, production, design, and all the tips you need to create animated short films by yourself with the help of SouthernShotty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONNECT WITH SOUTHERNSHOTTY: @SouthernShotty WATCH WATERMELON GIRL: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONNECT WITH US @thevfxprocess ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⏰TIMECODES⏰ 00:00 - INTRO/ABOUT SOUTHERNSHOTTY 03:22 - CHARACTER ANIMATION OBSESSION 04:01 - WHY LEARNING FILM THEORY IS IMPORTANT 04:55 - THE STRUGGLE OF MAKING WATERMELON GIRL 07:32 - DEALING WITH SOFTWARE & HARDWARE UPDATES 10:09 - PLAYING TO YOUR STRENGTHS IN ANIMATION 12:46 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WATER IN WATERMELON GIRL 15:01 - STYLE & INSPIRATION 17:27 - BLENDER TEXTURING & LIGHTING TIPS 21:43 - BEING YOUR OWN CLIENT 25:13 - HOW THE COMMUNITY HELPED SHAPE THE FILM 28:11 - HOW TO LEARN BLENDER WHILE CREATING 30:01 - BEHIND THE 2D FACIAL ANIMATION 31:59 - MANAGING PIPELINE 35:29 - THE BEST SOLO FILMMAKING ADVICE 37:51 - THE FUTURE FOR SOUTHERNSHOTTY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MUSIC: Motion Array - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This video is NOT sponsored. some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we will receive a small commission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ #blender3d #filmmaking #VFX #animation #film #game #visualisation #vfxpodcast #animationpodcast #b3d #thevfxprocess #3dartist #blender #geometrynodes #animatedshortfilm #blendertutorial #shortfilms #watermelongirl #rtx4090