MIB North Extras: Director's Cut: Charles Vollmer

Director's Cut - Charles Vollmer

Charles Vollmer went to school with my wife in Bryan Ohio. I've never met the man, and know literally nothing about him on a personal level. This, of course, would normally make him an odd choice for someone that I use as inspiration when it comes to gaming.

After graduation, Charles Vollmer left Bryan to join the Walt Disney team of animators. I saw Beauty and the Beast with my wife, and she proudly pointed out Charles' name in the credits at the end of the film. It's now a ritual - we sit through Disney credits, scanning them for his name (he's usually on backgrounds, if it helps any). And, we take a small amount of guilty pleasure that we have found his name on the movies that we really like (Lilo and Stitch, Beauty, etc.) and not on the less interesting efforts (cough cough Pocahontas Treasure Planet cough).

Charles is part of a team that creates some of the best animation on the planet. He works for months and years with a group of like-minded artists and technicians to create a film that will be appreciated by generation after generation of audiences. His work, combined with the talents of those around him, produces something extraordinary.

So - whom are YOU working with?

I have spent twelve years as the announcer of the University of Toledo Rocket Marching Band. It's an ensemble that varies in size and talent each year, but has become one of the best marching bands in the Mid American Conference. (No, I will not indulge "better than" comparisons. {Insert band] is one of the best, too, so there.) Individually, we all have bad days and performances (for me, it's usually some word with a foreign derivation that I'm trying to read cold that ends up embarrassing me), but every year, there are a few moments of absolute transcendence, when the music and the moment combine to catch your breath and your heart in one melodic swoop. I am a small part of something of real quality that I could not create on my own.

Sometimes, it seems that gaming groups focus on individual accomplishments - this person is a great gamemaster, that person really brings a character to life. Yet, my favorite roleplaying experiences were when the group was relying on everyone to create the experience, not just the GM. Whether it's a small roleplaying group or a large convention event, the more people that are actively participating in one way or another, the more energy and ideas that will be created and explored.

Gaming as a social experience is a common thread through these articles, but in the same way that gaming provides a context for social interaction, working with others creates the bonds and support that will improve the gaming experience. I've been fortunate to work with many talented people over the years. Combining what talent I have with theirs not only makes what I produce better, but also gives everyone in the project the chance to create something extraordinary beyond our normal abilities.

Thanks, Charles.

Alex Yeager
AlexYeager@yahoo.com
SJ Games North US MIB RD/Cheapass Games Demo Monkey