After leaving AldenEm, my friend Chris approached me with the opportunity of being a design and animation consultant for his company Animation Technologies. The company at the time had 2 branches--one that provided animation services for biotech companies while the other served as trial support. Chris lead the litigation services group, which used animation and graphics that help make complex or abstract concepts easier for the judge and jurors understand. These demonstratives could range from something as simple as a 2 dimensional timeline of events to a full-blown 3d animation of a traffic accident.
I provided on-site creative support and graphics production for clients including Microsoft and Campbell Soup Company during major jury and bench trials. It was during these few months that I learned how to truly work hard.
On-site trial support requires quick thinking, infinite flexibilty and incredibly long hours. It was not unusual to work three 110 hour weeks back-to-back, spending your time fastened to your computer in the war room, feverishly trying to make the lawyer's arguments for the next day come alive visually. I distinctly remember late one night, going on hour 16 for the day, when I asked my coworker "did you hear that?". The office was dead quiet, but I could swear I heard voices. He chuckled and smiled and said "The voices? Yeah, that's the ice machine. But after a week of long hours it starts to sound like people talking...". *sigh*
This experience had a huge impact on my sense of my own limits. We tend to cut ourselves off and stop working when we *think* we're tired, but this completely changed my threshold and made me realize what people are capable of doing if they are motivated and determined.
I provided on-site creative support and graphics production for clients including Microsoft and Campbell Soup Company during major jury and bench trials. It was during these few months that I learned how to truly work hard.
On-site trial support requires quick thinking, infinite flexibilty and incredibly long hours. It was not unusual to work three 110 hour weeks back-to-back, spending your time fastened to your computer in the war room, feverishly trying to make the lawyer's arguments for the next day come alive visually. I distinctly remember late one night, going on hour 16 for the day, when I asked my coworker "did you hear that?". The office was dead quiet, but I could swear I heard voices. He chuckled and smiled and said "The voices? Yeah, that's the ice machine. But after a week of long hours it starts to sound like people talking...". *sigh*
This experience had a huge impact on my sense of my own limits. We tend to cut ourselves off and stop working when we *think* we're tired, but this completely changed my threshold and made me realize what people are capable of doing if they are motivated and determined.
