9.1.2004

I won the great 3D prize on the Machineflesh Challenge - a CG contest promoted by CGNetworks / CGTalk about the Machine and Flesh subjects. Congratulations to all the 3D and 2D winners. Also congrats to all the another artists that made the short-list, with great works. This challenge was great, with over 1700 3D entries and more than 700 2D entries from all around of the world, with over USD$ 20,000 in prizes. Bellow you can see the image that I sent for this challenge, after three months of hard work:

• Tons of images that I sent over three months of challenge, with some step-by-step details: http://cgnetworks.com/challenge/machineflesh/entry.php?challenger=2041

• The complete CGTalk thread, with over 70 pages, 1000 posts and more than 180.000 visits: http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=130908

• Here you can know all the MachineFlesh Challenge winners: http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/machineflesh/winners.php

• Full description of the prizes: http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/machineflesh/prizes.php

My interview was published in the ZBrush website: http://pixologic.com/zbrush/interviews/costa_interview.html

• Was a great pleasure for me to know Mr. Jaime Labelle and Mr. Ofer Alon (aka Pixolator), some of the brains behind the revolutionary software ZBrush at SIGGRAPH 2004, Los Angeles. Take a look in the photos :)
  http://206.145.80.239/zbc/showthread.php?t=20569&page=1

Cover of Pixel Magazine, issue 93: http://www.pixel.cz

• Congratulations to Ítalo Cajueiro, writer and director of O Lobisomem e o Coronel short movie, for the new prizes in the last Gramado Festival 2004 (Brazil) for his new short movie A Moça que Dançou Depois de Morta.
  

• Happy end: my work visa for the USA was finally approved, after almost five months waiting. I left Brazil in the last 6.13.2004 to work in "The Barnyard", in San Clemente, CA. That's a new featured animated movie written and directed by Steve Oedekerk (Bruce Almight, Nothing to Lose, Ace Ventura). My work visa will expire in May 2005, when I have to decide to try to stay in the USA or come back to Brazil. Thanks a lot for all the people for the support and kind words in the foruns and e-mails and, mainly, to Mr. Steve Oedekerk and The Barnyard crew for the invitation, kindness and for the great opportunity in this nice project.
  
  Oficial information about the movie on AWN and CGTalk:
  
  http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=165058
  http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=1179

6.5.2004

* After four months sending documents and many e-mails, my work visa to the USA was finally approved. The interview in the embassy happened on last Wednesday and in the same day I caught my passport with the visa. I am now finishing my work in Machineflesh, beginning to keep the things and getting ready for the trip, in one or two weeks from now. The expectation is big and the project also. I will be in southern California for 1 year and 1 month, but I intend to continue updating my site while there. Thanks a lot to all that always believed in my work and I hope to see you soon.