7 Days, 7 Projects-GO!

We received our first project on Monday-"You have seven days, create seven pieces, go!".

I've decided to create short storyboards/animations that involved everyday inanimate objects, and bringing them to life.  Some inspiration for this direction is the "Bent Objects" series by Terry Border.  You can check out some of his stuff here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgDynGCzpjg
OR...

However, I am more focused on sound and what the objects might say; what their onomatopoeia would be if they could make sound and how to create a narrative around that.  I started off by creating three story boards with the goal of animating these three story boards in the next three days;  Then for the seventh project I will compile the projects into a website and/or flash project of sorts-what that will look like I am still unsure...but for now:

I'm already starting off to a strong start [I hope]-this year will be crazy- got to appreciate every moment of this because when we get out into the real world, the space, community, time, won't be the same.

Three days until the assignment is due and four projects left-GO!  Until Monday...

Senior Studio: And it Begins

Here is a start to a new year- new studio space, new projects, same community-and I love it.  We shall see what is to come.

New Slate: Sustainability!

So, after having my freak out, I realized that I needed more out of my work-I want my work to be able to change the world (as cliche as that sounds).  I feel like I need to have more satisfaction out of my work-thus, I have decided to focus my work on Sustainability and Green Design here on Campus.  Here are some preliminary links/research into some issues that could be explored:

Green Roof in Chicago:

Windmills in Illinois HERE

Colleges and their source of energy:  Has U of I and how much CO2 they submit into the air, etc.  Great Link

Office of Sustainability at U of I

MTD going GREEN!

Breakdown of Energy on Campus 

Students for Environmental Concerns (SECs)


THE STORY OF STUFF:

[End of First Half of the Semester] It's Been a While......

Yes, yes yes... I know kids... I've been falling behind here.  Honestly, it is because towards the end here, I've been hating my work.  I finally finished the Inception/Penrose series, but had a hard time finishing it because I kept asking myself: "Who the 'H' care?!"  So I am kind of happy to be done with that and now I can work with a new slate!  But here is that project anyways:

Note: I'll have to post it later-it's on my external back at home and I'm in studio...

Penrose Steps! Foam Core Model, heck yes!

Hey Boys and Girls!

So today at studio I created some "Fake" Penrose Steps!  From the top it is suppose to look like never ending steps, but like Inception, I will show that they are actually ending stairs.  Here is the foam core model!  After doing the model, I figured out the things that needed to be changed, etc.  So in the next couple days I hope to make a finalized foam model before making it into wood.  However, if my foam core model is good and works... I might just spray paint it black and use that as the actual... we'll see.  Anywho...here it is:

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Here is a cool youtube video that shows you how to draw the penrose steps:

And here is just a fun animation inspired by these steps:

[Assignment Two] The Scary Kitchen and What Not

So like I said before, Assignment Two is to just continue working on stuff like Assignment One.  So, to start off, I redid the kitchen scene... I went home this weekend, so I was a little less impacient when filming.  I still used a tripod (and you can tell) because the movements are a little jerkey still, but compared to the first attempted it went a lot smoother.  I had less extreme angles in the shot to try that out... it was easier to make the camera movements but I think visually I actually kind of like the angled look.  Also, later on, I want to add sound to this piece.  But here it it!:

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Also, as far as for the next few weeks, I decided to start with redoing the penrose stairs shot from Inception.  I have made some drawings and his week I hope to complete a foam core model to see about size, etc.  Then I want to create a wood set.  Just have to figure out how I want to show environment (build it, green screen, etc.)

Check out HERE for a nice rendering of the stairs from inception!

[Assignment One]: Project Eight and Beyond!

Hey guys!  So I finally animated the kitchen scene (Project Eight).  I see this animation as more of a draft.  It is very jerky and I would not call this complete, however, the idea is there.  While animating, I found out that using the 50 mm prime lens was not what I wanted.  It made the close up scenes blurry.  Luckily I had my 18-135mm Canon lens on hand and that gave me more of the look I wanted.  Also, in the final, I would want him to have more red stuff on his fingers and face.  But still check it out!

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So on Monday I met with Ryan and he had a few suggestions for me.  The most memorable one came at the end of our discussion when he suggested maybe taking iconic movies/scenes and recreating 10 second scenes from them.  For some reason, I thought this could be very interesting, and would also get me away from trying to worry about coming up with creative narratives.  Tim also thought this could be an interesting processes to go through and would also help me become more away of camera movements, etc.  Some scenes that I have thought of are the shower scene from Psycho (obvious, i know, but I still love it), the rain/escape scene in Shawshank Redemption, and the Penrose step scene in Inception.  I will continue to look at different scenes and maybe sketch out some ideas and story board sequences.  Until Friday....