Posts

Showing posts from January, 2018

Straight ahead animation

Image
Today we animated a person throwing a ball using straight ahead animation. This means there were no key frames, just drawing frame by frame. I was quite happy with the timing of this, which is what I focused on. However I was not so happy with the actual movement of the figure's body. The throwing arm is ok but the connected movements do not work as well. I am aware figures is something that I need to work on.

Psycho film review

Image
Psycho is another of Hitchcock's highly renown films that helped to shape the direction that both horror films and movies in general moved. The film set a new level of acceptance of both sexual and violent behaviour. It is influential enough for the US library of congress to select it for preservation in the National Film Registry due to it's culturally, historically or aesthetically significant content. Figure. 1 Shower (1960) As with others of Hitchcock's films, Pyscho is based on a novel by Robert Bloch. (Fig. 2) The novel itself is based on a real life American murderer called Ed Gein who was prevalent in the 1950s."When Robert Bloch's novel was published in 1959, Hitchcock bought all copies to keep the plot twists under wraps. Similarly, studio execs and theatre owners were given no detail about the film." Gray (2017) Figure 2. Psycho cover (1959) Paramount reluctantly agreed to a small budget for the film without asking any questions. &q

Rope film review

Image
Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 film Rope is a highly experimental piece of film, based around the 1929 play by Patrick Hamilton. "The play appealed to Hitchcock's sense of the macabre and his fascination with situations involving the inconvenience of dead bodies." Ebert (1984) Fig. 1 Rope (1984) What stands out about this film is not its story line, that is one that has been used in many other narratives and ultimately did not belong to Hitchcock, but rather the incredibly groundbreaking methods he deployed in the film's production. "Hitchcock was interested in seeing whether he could find a cinematic equivalent to the play, which takes place in the actual length of time of the story." Canby (1984).  This was a highly experimental film, and even Hitchcock declared the film a failure, and refused to let it be released for a number of years. Hitchcock used 10 mins reels of film to film continuous shots; moving between the actors and starting and finishing

From Script to Screen OGR

Image
From Script to Screen OGR by Eleanor 'Nelly' Luckett on Scribd

Character Work

Image
Today we were working on props, and how these can effect the character, how they should link to the character they belong to and how they have to fit the culture and personality of their context. The character I decided upon was Toothless from How to Train your Dragon . I decided that an accessory he might need could be flying goggles to protect his eyes when it is misty or they are flying through waterfalls. We then began creating characters from inanimate objects from rooms in a house that we were each given. I was given a bathroom. I really enjoyed this task, and created a group of characters I'm very happy with. Meet the bathroom crew.

@ Phil: Potential story - Buried alive

I decided that part of the issue with my story telling might be that I was talking about subjects that I had no personal experience of. So, I decided that it might ultimately be better to base my story on my own knowledge and experiences instead. PTSD is a difficult subject for a child and especially to portray to others, however this is something that needs to be tackled more and could ultimately be highly effective. "Buried Alive" A young child has had a bad experience (?loss of a parent?) and ends up with PTSD. Her carer sends her to therapy as she really isn't coping, has become insular, uncommunicative and randomly burst into tears.  Her therapist tries a number of therapies - EMDR, CBT and council ling. None work Girl still thinks she is stupid, overreacts to everything and doesn't understand why no one talks to her. The only thing that helps the girl cope is a small rabbit doll. Psychologist decides toys might help her recover and understand what's

Maya Lectures - basic animation

Image

Research/influence boards from prompts

Image
So I've been struggling a little with the stories and details for the From Script to Screen project, so I decided to make inspiration boards for each of the prompts. Toy Maker .  https://www.pinterest.co.uk/anadora97/toy-maker/ Toys https://www.pinterest.co.uk/anadora97/puzzle-boxes/ https://www.pinterest.co.uk/anadora97/dolls/ Airport https://www.pinterest.co.uk/anadora97/airport/ Microscope https://www.pinterest.co.uk/anadora97/microscope/ I'm hoping that these images will help me to get some clarity as well as hopefully some inspiration and new and inspiring ideas. More to come soon!!!!

@Phil - Further plot ideas developement

So following Phil and Jackie's feedback, I wrote two more possible plots. These both clearly use the prop of the microscope, which I am finding quite restricting and challenging. "The Pharaoh's assistant" Ancient cartouche being researched from a recent excavation, detail missed on corner - requires (microscope) enlargement on computer. Depicts Pharaoh's entertainer/toy maker entertaining a group of children. Name inscribed next to hieroglyphics ????? Dive/flash into cartouche into the story of the Toy Maker Cartouche in top secret/fragile suitcase moving through airport.  Act 1 Shot: Focussing on suitcase with fragile and Secret written on it. Zooming out to hand holding it and walking through corridor. Man in suit walks out of shot.  Shot: Research lab. Working on cartouche, removing debris. Notice a small, additional inscription on bottom corner. No use with magnifying glass, so decide to use computer enlarger (microscope). Act 2 Sho

@Phil Working story ideas

The three objects I was given for my narrative to be based on were: a Toy Maker, An Airport and a Microscope. I immediately found some ideas beginning to form in my head and develop themselves, winding into a plot that I quite like, whereas other ideas required much more in depth thinking and development and I don't find them quite as intuitive. I have basically ended up with two workable plots, which I have nicknamed (for now) "The Scanner Incident" and "Childhood Sweethearts". "The Scanner Incident" Opens with shot showing "childs" leg being shoved into a suitcase See Toy maker trying to board flight with suitcase - goes through scanner - "body" shows up Toy Maker interigated and explains - suitcase is opened  Flashback showing him creating doll with incredible detail - magnifying glasses, letter from little girl on desk - sister very ill, doll is way to make her feel better.  NB - from here out TM = Toy Maker A

Audition Lesson 1 - Dragons!!!

Image
Today we had our first audition lesson, playing around and editing animal sounds together to create a Dragon. I only had about 30 mins due to a medical appointment, so I'm quite happy with what I got. And this was the sound I created for its roar. I was very happy with this given the time that I had but I hope to play with it more in the next couple of weeks. 

Post briefing thoughts - Story projects

Image
During our briefing today we were given starting points for both our Soundscapes project and the Script to Screen project. Soundscapes For this project we were given three images and asked to create a 30 second soundtrack for what we think each image would sound like. I decided to start by brainstorming ideas of what each image made me think of. This was a bit of a challenge but ultimately should help me start figuring out what direction to take the sounds in for each soundscape.  Soundscape 1 My initial thoughts/ideas were: Vibrating Moving Colliding  Slither Bustle Busy Layers Clicking Clanking Metal Organic Fingerprint Changing Modulating Buzzing Alive Chasing Occupied Smooth Curves Flowing Pieces Parts Machine Colony Hive Repetition Soundscape 2 My initial thoughts were: Pumping Dropping Difference Round Overall Busy Empty Full Bubble Emptying Group Hive School Heart Disintegrate Dying Surrounded Membrane S

Camera rigs

Image
Today we worked with camera rigging in our Maya class.  These two shots were created using the roll function. This one was created using Pitch And this one was created using Pan. I found these quite amusing however it showed how simple Pre-vis could be.