One of our new members, Brendon Gonzalez, won 2nd Place at the 8th Annual West Liberty Flash Festival for his submission in the Professional Website category. Brendon’s piece, “Standpoint“, is a flash based website featuring a fictitious band designed to present a clean content layout, cool transitions, and a mp3 player. The entire solution was created with AS 3.0.

Brendon received a cash prize of $50 and spoke in front of a packed house about his project. Currently Brendon is an 8th quarter student at PTI and will be graduating this Summer.

Jon Minori, prior MFUGer, at Struck Creative (In Utah) gave me a heads up on some sweet opportunities available where he works. Thought I would pass them on to you guys!

LEAD DEV
General Info: Do you dream in design patterns? Do you write notes to yourself in camel notation? Do you know how to lead with the loyalty and passion of a Spartan? If so, you may want to read on. We are looking for a lead developer who is fully versed in both AS 2.0 and AS 3.0 — the kind of person that understands design and how to exploit a creative opportunity. The kind of person that gets cranked about translating photoshop comps into motion. The kind of person that has a firm grasp on every technical aspect of dynamic interactive web-applications.

In this position, you will work on leading a team of developers to build complex web-based applications. You will need to have an understanding of integration with dynamic sites. People management skills are a must, since you will not only lead projects technically to maintain quality of work, you will also lead a team of developers to help maintain quality of the workplace (happy team members is the first step to doing exceptional work). You will need to be comfortable working within a predefined scope, as well as provide reasonable/accurate time estimates for development.

Key Responsibilities(As a Developer):
• Development of web-based applications using the latest Adobe Flash technology
• Help maintain a consistent code framework
• Contribute in the overall digital strategy for our clients
• Translate static comps to their full-motion glory

Key Responsibilities (As a Team Leader):
• Work with a design director to maintain design integrity from start to finish
• Mentor and inspire team members to learn, progress, and grow in their positions
• People management tasks like performance reviews, filling open positions, identifying and solving problems, approving time-off, etc.
• Work with the producers to produce appropriate time estimates and work schedules

Required Skills:
• Expert skill level in building dynamic interactive web-applications using both AS 2.0 and 3.0, including: OOP, functions, arrays, sending and loading XML, AMF, integration with server side such as PHP, Ruby, or Python
• Portfolio should include string examples work showing a knowledge of motion, design, and technical ability
• Ability to read a Scope of Work and evaluate time requirements
• Up to date with the latest technologies and a willingness to learn them
• Strong attention to detail and a fanatic about clean code (A code nazi, if you will)
• Working knowledge of web standards and JS/AJAX
• Understanding of server-side scripting and database concepts and
logic

Added Bonus:
• Flex 2 and Flex 3
• Soundtrack Pro, Logic, AfterEffects, Final Cut Pro, or Cinema 4D
• SQL experience – MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, .NET, JSP

Benefits:
• Competitive salary based on experience
• 401K with employer match
• Medical/Long-term disability insurance
• Killer group of people that love to work together
• Casual work environment
• Live within 30 minutes of 13 different ski resorts in the greatest snow on earth, hundreds of rock-climbing routes, and miles upon miles of mountain biking trails

Application: If you just read a description of yourself and have a burning passion to do exceptional work, we want to hear from you! Hit us up email-style with your resume, personal website, or links to your latest work for immediate, discreet consideration. We will hit you back up only if you are selected for an interview. No phone calls or agencies please.

send resumes to:
kyles@struckcreative.com

FLASH DEVELOPERS
Our ideal candidates will realize that classes are not something that you just take in college. We are looking for someone with experience in the following to join our world class team:

Actionscript 2 and 3
OOP
Programmatic Animation (Fuse, Zigo, Caurina)
Flash Remoting
A great attitude
Good communication skills

Additional Skills include:
Flex
HTML, CSS, PHP, etc.
Database Integration (MySQL)
XML / Web Services
JavaScript / Ajax

send resumes to:
kyles@struckcreative.com

Total Training contacted us with this offer for UG members. If you’ve been wanting to check out any of their training offerings, now might be a good time to do it.

If you’re not familiar, Total Training provides video software training for Adobe.

If you visit this site: http://www.totaltraining.com/adobe7,
you will have a 7 day FREE all-access Adobe Essentials pass, as well as a 15% off coupon if you are interested in any of their products.

Mullen, a full-service marketing agency has an immediate opportunity at its Pittsburgh office for a Flash Developer / Designer within the Interactive Marketing Division.

Candidates should be well versed in Flash, HTML and CSS. The Flash Developer / Designer will be responsible for rapid Flash application and site prototyping, scripted Flash animations, data-driven Flash applications, large and small site development (using Flash), and CD-ROM development (using Flash and / or Director).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Code / develop projects from prototype to final client deliverable. .
• Ensure that final deliverables are to industry, client and agency accepted standards / requirements.
• Be an effective liaison between web development, creative and application / db development teams.
• Develop and continually contribute to team code library and general knowledgebase. Help develop and define methods, conventions and code that best suits the team’s and our clients’ needs.
• Be current and knowledgeable about existing and emerging technologies related to work.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 2 years, professional Flash front-end (animation) experience
• Minimum 1 year, professional Flash Actionscript experience
• Expert knowledge of Action Script and JavaScript including moderate / heavy use of math and physics, (X)HTML, structured CSS
• Working knowledge and some applicable experience in ActionScript 2.0, Flash Remoting, active server technologies, (PHP, ASP, .NET), databases (SQL, MYSQL, XML / XSLT), Object Oriented Programming, cross-platform Director and Lingo development is required.
• Must have excellent understanding of, and experience with using industry best-practices and accepted conventions and can appropriately apply them to work.
• Must possess the ability to respond and / or adapt quickly to team/agency and client needs.
• Must be able to work with tight schedules, extended hours, short notices, and be able to multitask under pressure.
• Experience working in a larger team and within an agency a plus.

We offer competitive salary & terrific benefits, including a sensational team and the best work environment in the business.

Sound like you? Send your resume with salary requirements (a must to be considered) to jobs@mullen.com. We’ll gladly and quickly respond to qualified candidates!

Thanks to all of you who attended the meeting tonight! As promised, here are the files from the presentations:

Joe Kromer
ActionScript 3 Migration Tips

Josh Sager
File Uploads Using PHP and Flash

Ben Pritchard
Using Tweener

Mick Rose
TweenLite

Our April meeting is this Thursday. Yes, that’s tomorrow. We’re a little late getting this newsletter out to you.

We have three presentations booked for tomorrow’s meeting:

WorkFlow: Making the move from AS2 to AS3, Joe Kromer
The move from AS2 to AS3 means making some changes in how you build the basic building blocks of your projects. Joe will be talking about some of the changes he’s made when switching to AS3.

Flash and PHP Application Development, Josh Sager
Want to make Flash and PHP work together to do something cool? Josh will show you how.

Tweening with Tweener, Ben Pritchard
Tweener is a class used for creating tweens and other transitions via actionscript. Ben will demo some of the features of Tweener and how you could use it in your next project.

Meeting details:
Thursday April 17th
6:30pm
at New Perspective
google maps

FYI: We’ll be holding the meeting upstairs this month. If you arrive after 6:30pm the front doors will be locked and you’ll have to call the number posted on the door to get in.

Announcement: A Flash Conference for Pittsburgh

We’ve mentioned it briefly in some of our podcasts and meetings, but now it is officially announced. Flashpitt 2008 will take place in October. This will be the first conference of it’s kind in this area and it’s being planned by some of our very own MFUGers!

Flashpitt 2008 will take place on October 10th 2008 at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. National industry leaders will be present to educate, inspire, and engage the region’s New Media community.

Flashpitt 2008 is for the Pittsburgh region’s designers, artists, students, and developers working with Flash, Flex and AIR. Two tracks of sessions will run from 9am until 6pm. The day will be finished off with an after party full of fun and networking opportunities.

We can’t share too many details yet, but we promise it will be an awesome Flash event for everyone who attends. Check out flashpitt.com to sign up for the event notifications mailing list and to be notified when tickets for the event go on sale.

We’ll be announcing more details like confirmed speakers and ticket prices as soon as that info. becomes available.

If you would like to volunteer to help with Flashpitt, email val. And if you have a blog, please post about Flashpitt to help get the word out. Our media kit is online to help with that.

Recently, Adobe sent the PittMFUG Managers a sweet metal lunchbox full of goodies! Its funny how excited two grown men can get over something as simple as a metal lunchbox. Inside was a plethora of goodies… A Wi-Fi Locator Keychain, energy drinks, Pop Rocks, a T-shirt, cord wrapper and a sweet collection of stickers! The stickers are my favorite. You have probably seen a rowing trend of these little square stickers gracing laptops in your local user group or at conferences. The lunchbox also had a CD in it full of Integrated Workflow demos.
This is a definite pickup for us and a great way to help present new content to our UG members. I thought I’d share some pictures with you guys.

Thanks Adobe!

In the past, some of you MFUGers have expressed interest in internships available at New Perspective. Besides having the invaluable opportunity of working (dealing) with Wayne, Val and Myself (Ben) on a daily basis, you will have the opportunity to let your interactive skills shine for the world to see! If you are a college student and feel you have what it takes visit the Interactive Internship page on the New Perspective website for prerequisites and details. Those of you interested in audio and video internships can hit the main Internship page. Thanks!