My first workshop has been the push in Maya. I have been provided with a pre-rigged character and set, I just have to animate him/her pushing the block in a naturalistic manner. Before animating, I first drew a storyboard;
Next I filmed a friend acting out my choreography, so I had a live action reference;
Then I made these sequential life drawings (not of Tom, a "willing volunteer") to help me work out the weight and balance of the key poses;
I was now ready to animate the sequence. Below is my first attempt; I am pleased with what I believe to be the subtle naturalistic movements (such as the placing of hands on the block, and looking behind at the foot); however, the head snaps suddenly when he's thinking about pushing it. Also, he needs to push the block further away to show more tension before he collapses, and I have been told his arm slides down too quickly;
Thus, here is my final Maya Push, with as many corrections made as possible within time constraints;