Crescendo

Aedan MICHEA
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Crescendo Podcast is where Aedan Michea, 20 year old French student at UCLA, invites professionals in the industry to explore their careers and inspire the next generations. Feel free to take a listen and if you enjoy it, why not leave a comment or follow us for the next episodes! 🔹Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crescendo.podcast/ 🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crescendo.Podcast 🔹Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crescendo-podcast/ 🔹Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crescendo.podcast 🔹Newsletter & guest question submissions: crescendopodcastofficial@gmail.com

Episodes

  1. Sep 22

    Ep 1 PART 2: The Making Of Pixar ( Dr. Alvy Ray Smith Interview)

    In this episode, Dr. Smith reveals how Pixar survived repeated setbacks, why the company was rejected by dozens of venture capital firms, how its first major business deal collapsed overnight, and how John Lasseter ultimately helped transform Pixar’s vision for computer animation. George Lucas's Misunderstanding (00:01:11) Dr. Smith explains that George Lucas didn't understand his team's creative potential, seeing them only as technical support. The "Star Trek II" Opportunity (00:02:52) The team gets its big break creating a 60-second CGI shot for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." A Commercial for George Lucas (00:05:18) The "Star Trek" shot was designed with a complex camera move to impress George Lucas and showcase their capabilities. Leaving Lucasfilm (00:08:02) Following George Lucas's divorce, the team decided to form their own company to stay together and survive financially. The Search for Funding (00:10:18) The team was rejected by 35 venture capital firms before pursuing a joint venture with General Motors and Philips. A Deal Collapses (00:13:08) The promising deal with General Motors and Philips fell apart overnight due to a conflict involving Ross Perot. The "Hail Mary Pass" to Steve Jobs (00:14:07) With no other options, the team approached Steve Jobs, who agreed to invest in their new company, Pixar. Managing Steve Jobs (00:16:38) Dr. Smith describes Steve Jobs as a difficult person and explains their strategy was to keep him out of Pixar's building. Why Dr. Smith Left Pixar (00:17:31) He left in 1991 to escape a poisonous working relationship with Steve Jobs, but only after securing the "Toy Story" deal. Advice for Younger Generations (00:18:17) Dr. Smith advises young people to know what they are good at, become the best, and go where the action is. Learning to Animate (00:19:30) Dr. Smith discusses his early animation work and learning the principles of animation from Disney masters Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. Hiring John Lasseter (00:22:16) Dr. Smith recounts meeting and hiring animator John Lasseter, who was crucial to Pixar's creative success. The Genius of a Real Animator (00:25:38) Dr. Smith realized he wasn't a "real animator" after seeing John Lasseter's ability to make polygons seem conscious and alive. The Origin of the Luxo Jr. Lamp (00:27:01) John Lasseter created the iconic Luxo Jr. short film at Lucasfilm to show traditional animators the potential of computers. Waiting for Computer Power (00:31:12) Pixar knew they had to wait five years for Moore's Law to make a feature-length CGI film economically feasible. The Disney Deal (00:31:52) Disney eventually approached Pixar to make a movie, a deal that was years in the making and saved the company financially. Convincing John Lasseter (00:35:53) John Lasseter initially refused to work with Disney, but was convinced after a crucial meeting at their Burbank headquarters. Steve Jobs's True Role (00:40:10) Dr. Smith clarifies that Steve Jobs's genius was taking Pixar public, not in the creative or technical development of the company.

    Ep 1 PART 2: The Making Of Pixar ( Dr. Alvy Ray Smith Interview)

  2. Sep 15

    Ep 1 PART 1: The Tech and Origins ( Dr. Alvy Ray Smith Interview)

    In this episode of the Crescendo Podcast, hosted by a 20-year-old French UCLA student, Dr. Alvy Ray Smith, co-founder of Pixar, shares insights on his pioneering career in computer graphics. He discusses Pixar's early technical challenges, the invention of the Alpha Channel, and the evolution of digital imagery. Dr. Smith reflects on the role of AI in art, emphasizing that human creativity remains essential. He also recalls his early inspirations, from childhood influences to his first computer graphic in 1964, concluding that hard work and persistence were key to Pixar's success. Introduction (00:00:10) The host introduces Dr. Alvy Ray Smith, co-founder of Pixar, and outlines the episode's focus on his technical career. Pixar's Beginnings and Moore's Law (00:01:06) Dr. Smith discusses starting Pixar in 1986, the exponential growth of technology, and the technical limitations of the time. Early Constraints and Storytelling (00:03:03) Dr. Smith explains how early computational limits made complex effects impossible but didn't hinder storytelling, citing Disney's early work. The Future of Creative Tools (00:05:52) Dr. Smith reflects on the rapid evolution of technology, like VR, and how it's impossible to predict future creative tools. A Biography of the Pixel (00:06:51) Dr. Smith discusses his book and the concept of Moore's Law, explaining how difficult it is to grasp past limitations. The Alpha Channel's Origin (00:08:12) Dr. Smith explains how he and Ed Catmull co-invented the Alpha Channel at New York Tech in the 1970s. The Power of the Alpha Channel (00:11:12) Dr. Smith describes realizing the Alpha Channel's potential to free images from the "tyranny of the rectangle." The True Nature of a Pixel (00:12:11) Dr. Smith clarifies the misconception of pixels as squares, describing them as the atomic particle of the digital visual world. Creativity, Consciousness, and AI (00:14:19) Dr. Smith discusses the limits of computation in capturing consciousness and argues that AI is a tool guided by human artists. Failure vs. Success (00:19:17) Dr. Smith shares his perspective on learning from success rather than failure, stating that defeats just made him angry. AI-Generated vs. Human-Made Art (00:20:01) Dr. Smith rejects the distinction, explaining that all art is human-made, with AI simply being a powerful new tool. Discovering Computers (00:22:08) Dr. Smith recounts his first encounter with computers at New Mexico State University and his first computer graphics project in 1964. Early Mentors and Influences (00:24:47) Dr. Smith shares stories about his early mentors, including teachers and artistic collaborators who encouraged and inspired his work. The Most Valuable Lesson (00:29:47) Dr. Smith reflects on his career and concludes that the most valuable lesson he has learned is that hard work pays off.

    Ep 1 PART 1: The Tech and Origins ( Dr. Alvy Ray Smith Interview)

  3. Sep 14

    Crescendo Podcast

    𝐏𝐢𝐱𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭Out tomorrow at 8 AM PT / 5 PM CEST on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 🤩 🇫🇷 My name is Aédan-Charles Michéa, I'm a 20-year-old French student studying business here in Los Angeles. My objective is simple:🔹 You want to learn more about the entertainment industry.🔹 How does the technology actually work?🔹 What does each job really involve?🔹 How do the people shaping our industry keep pushing creative and technical boundaries? On Crescendo, we answer those questions through real conversations, diving into what it actually takes to work in this industry, and hopefully inspiring you to pursue your own goals along the way. There's a lot I didn't understand when I first started exploring the entertainment industry, and I've realized a lot of students and aspiring professionals are in that exact same position. So tomorrow, you’ll be able to listen to my full conversation with Dr. Alvy Ray Smith, Co-Founder of Pixar. We discuss his journey, the creation of Pixar, technology, creativity, AI, and much more. Feel free to check out the audio version on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

  • 3 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

Crescendo Podcast is where Aedan Michea, 20 year old French student at UCLA, invites professionals in the industry to explore their careers and inspire the next generations. Feel free to take a listen and if you enjoy it, why not leave a comment or follow us for the next episodes! 🔹Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crescendo.podcast/ 🔹YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Crescendo.Podcast 🔹Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crescendo-podcast/ 🔹Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crescendo.podcast 🔹Newsletter & guest question submissions: crescendopodcastofficial@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Aedan MICHEA
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Aedan MICHEA
  • Show Website
    Crescendo