CGI Landmark - TRON

Though I haven't seen either of the Tron films (original and modern version) I'm aware of the cult-like following it has and found the below video really interesting. The interview with the Director of the original Tron, and his thoughts on the comparisons between the processes of creating the original and the modern sequel, highlights just how far animation and special effects has developed - and how important the original Tron was to this process.

The Tron of 1982 (released by Walt Disney Pictures) contains 15 minutes of complete CG content, and was one of the first films of that time to use as much as possible, this therefore has made it be seen, in the industry, as a milestone. Both Tron's combine computer animation and live action, but it seems to be pretty clear that (as it was a more original concept at the time) the original Tron was a lot more impressive,  whereas in a culture that takes CG for granted now, Tron: Legacy isn't as 'groundbreaking'.

Muse - Bliss (Directed by David Slade) - Making of.

I love the music video for Muse's Bliss - ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqsWc8muj8&feature=g-vrec) I think it's visually stunning and the constant falling echoes the 'flowing' feel of the scales in the song- it creates a sense of speed but also weightlessness because there's never impact. The timing of the cuts compliments the track and different shots (from close ups to wider shots) help give a range of 'intimacy' at some points and 'perspective' at others. It's got  a futuristic feel - not only from the subject matter but also through the metallic colours used. And... it's just really cool.

So I found the 'Making Of' Video pretty interesting.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWHo3uZJTpsIt shows the miniatures used for the tunnels and city etc, as CGI was out of budget range (and wouldn't fit the schedule). David Slade (Directors) says: 'There was a lot of 2D compositing though and Smoke & Mirrors artist Rob Maggoch created all the starscape backgrounds entirely in inferno.'  I find this making of video really interesting because it's very hands on, there's a lot of physical work to create the movement from the use of miniatures to the use of crash mats. Matt Bellamy was shot using the wires over two days - and apparently ended up being sick from it. The use of wires and fans helps create the weightless feel (as opposed to other techniques in videos for 'falling' - such as having the camera on it's side and using a fan) and I think the video benefits greatly from using them - as it is the main motion in the video. The idea in a way, is quite simple, and by avoiding diverting away from the falling motion adds to the impact and I think creates quite a beautiful film.

Stereotype Mood Board

So we're trying to sort the image of our character. We could use a specific stereotype to illustrate the 'type-cast' sentiment such as a nerd, or goth - though this may then cause the aim of the 'film' to seem specifically related to that certain thing, instead of being more vague. There was the idea of just making the girl seem more theatrical in contrast to duller background characters (e.g people in suits) - which I quite like the idea of aesthetically but may be a bit confusing.

Digital Film - Poetry Films

The second part of the Digital Film brief is to create two 2-minute long videos in response to Poems (One chosen, one given at random).
Our group consists of myself, Siobhan, Rhys and Tom, all taking on different roles. I am focusing on the storyboarding and concept art part - though we all are involved with each aspect of the project in some way, as help with ideas etc. The poem we were given was 'Define Me?' by Zenam Bi and mainly focuses on the concept of being labelled and stereotyped.


We were drawn to the word 'Puppet' in this poem, and researched a little into videos for movement etc. A more detailed/ organised record of our ideas can be found HERE - (By Siobhan - taking on the 'producer' role).
Siobhan found this video which I really like. The movements I think we are trying to achieve for our 'Character' in our concept, will have this 'controlled' feel, but perhaps less mechanical. It gives a slightly dreamy feel - yet shows the lack of choice in movement through the wires.




Our concept involves a woman being controlled like a puppet - as she is 'expected' to act/be a certain way - a certain stereotype. I did a rough concept of this sequence, as we intend for it to be in a light/white space. Things such as amount of ribbon and the look of the girl will probably change through development - for example the girl at the moment has no real 'defining' features (We are considering making her a 'stereotype' e.g a goth or nerd)

Editing and Shot list

Along with my storyboard I wrote up a brief 'Shot-list' for my one-minute film, to make sure I shot everything I intended. - This was easier to use 'on location' that the storyboard.

I also made some rough notes when 'reviewing' my clips before the edit, which helped me get a rough idea of the main 'images' I wanted to use. As well as the moment where I would hopefully add text. 

Maya - Deformers etc.

This lesson of Maya I actually found quite enjoyable as I experimented with Deformers etc, it seemed less 'technical' and a little more creative. Deformers allowed me to twist, bend - in general create many effects, and therefore create interesting quick animations, as I could manipulate shapes with ease. Here are some examples I created:

We also learnt about Hypershade and how to add colours/textures and lighting. I need to experiment a bit more with this, as there are aspects, such as causing something to 'glow' I haven't tried yet. 

  

Modelling and Movement in Maya

We've been introduced to modelling and animation in Maya. 

Truck
By creating this 'truck' I learnt basic skills such as creating polygons and snapping together objects. In the end I managed to create the model but struggled doing it - finding it a bit infuriating. However I think with more practice I should hopefully become more competent at using the programme. We used tools such as 'Insert edge loop', 'extrude', 'merge' and 'bevel'. As well as hot keys (Z = Undo, Shift Z = Redo) and the importance of deleting 
history.



Animating

We were given some activities to create and get to grips with basic animation. These involved making a pendulum swing - which meant manually altering the animation graphs causing different aspects of the pendulum to move at different times - so the 'swing' follows through giving a more naturalistic look.

We also used what we'd learnt with the above animation to create something a little bit more complex, in honesty I struggled a bit with this animation - and it shows with the quick jerking of the pendulum as it stops, I need to work on timing and perfecting editing the animation graphs.

Lecture - Film - Auteur (Alfred Hitchcock)

The Auteur is usually a director who characterises and influences their film, having creative control and 'leaving their mark' on it. An Auteur is seen to start conventions - and not follow them, whilst, due to their technical confidence and use of film language creating a unique style, usually tackling deeper issues and meanings than the ones initially perceived.


This Lecture mainly focused on 'the Auteur' Alfred Hitchcock, and his long career (directing more than fifty films in sixty years). Described as 'The Master of Suspense', Hitchcock has been incredibly influential in film, especially to psychological thrillers and slashers, having said:
 'There is no terror in the bang of the gun, only the anticipation of it'.  
His work is not art-house and attracts mainstream audiences, illustrating that cinema can involve innovative styles and framing whilst also attracting attention. 


 His mastery of suspense and causing the mundane to seem macabre has even created the phrase having a 'Hitchcock Mindset'. By using a clever use of montage and cuttings he creates tension even in quite 'normal' settings, leaving the audience in anticipation. This is illustrated in his famous 'Shower sequence' in the film 'Psycho'. Hitchcock also made effective use of techniques and equipment to enhance his story-tellings, for example by using the Dolly Zoom in his film 'Vertigo'. 


However, the concept of a film being influenced by an 'Auteur' usually causes the roles of other members of the film crew to be overlooked. For example having a good storyboard artist could be a 'making' point of the film, yet credit would be given to the Auteur despite the fact they can never fully be in control of all aspects of the film, for example a good Actor may influence the actions of their character.