Friday 28 February 2014

The Fantastic Voyage: Underlining the Voyage

The BIG Idea

The idea for my Fantastic Voyage project is an embrace on 'Nature' and how 'Beautiful' everything is under a microscope. I plan on making this a mix between a 'game' with a semi-technical aspects such as mechanics featured within the environment, yet combining it with the Cellular Mold; being the Nature.


Idea 1: First Person   -   Idea 2: Third Person

I would like to find a way of narrating the path of the Mold; stage by stage. Either seen in first person or third person view. (The audience). We would be shown through each stage as 'we' would encounter a new challenge/objective. The camera/audience could interact and watch things as the 'player' engages with certain objects. For example; as the Spores release Amoebas.

The Fantastic Voyage: Briefing; Cellular Mold

The Life Cycle of...

Today we had a new briefing given by Dr. Peter Klappa; who revealed that out chosen subject was 'Let's Have Sex'; the reproduction of specific molds and plants. The options were Plasmodial Mold, Cellular Mold, Moss and Ferns.

CELLULAR MOLD
The Process:




Cellular Mold Life Cycle

Slime mold is a broad term describing some organisms that use spores to reproduce.



They feed on microorganisms that live in any type of dead plant material. They contribute to the decomposition of dead vegetation, and feed on bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. For this reason, slime molds are usually found in soillawns, and on the forest floor, commonly on deciduous logs.

Adobe After Effects: Mask & Motion Tracking

Poster Imported in Adobe After Effects

Wednesday 26 February 2014

CG Artist: (26/02/14) Life Drawing

Perspective & Foreshortening

This mornings life drawing lesson was about perspective and foreshortening. Alan was able to lie down which created obscure angles for us to draw from.

(25 Minute Pose)



(5 Minute Poses)



(Quick Poses)

Friday 21 February 2014

Film Review: Jaws

Jaws (1975) 124min


Figure 1: Jaws Poster


Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, is one of the most famous blockbuster movies said to have captured the most famous reaction in stop motion history; and has one of the most recognized score's of any thriller film. The story involves a huge man eating Great White Shark, terrorizing the beach goers at Amity Island, prompting the local police chief to hunt it with the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter.


Figure 2: Chrissie; Underwater (Shark) Camera Angle

At the beginning of the film, we see a young girl called Chrissie leaving a local beach party to go skinny dipping. She swims out to a buoy, unaware of what is lurking underneath her. ''(…) we see the legs of Chrissie (Susan Blacklinie) slowly treading water from below. We know the danger, but she doesn't, and she is violently devoured" (Nesbit, n/a) The sense if knowing what the character doesn't, something mostly uncommon in modern thriller films, is captured perfectly in those few moments. The great score slowly becoming louder and more intense makes the most subtle of scenes seem to be the most violent, without the use of any blood or gore.



Figure 3: The Boat Shark Attack


Furthermore, the very first scene is also what most people fear when swimming in deep ocean water, and is the only camera view set to make the audience see from the sharks perspective in the entire film. 'The opening sequence is not only a classic, it's still frightening nearly three decades after it was made.'' (F. Hartman, 2003) Many have discussed the role and gender of the Shark within the film as many believe that the Shark is a metaphor for nature, (a symbol of a woman). An example of this is when Shark Hunter Quint is bitten in half 'below the belt' after seemingly being obnoxious and rude to his fellow ship mates. This soon becomes clear towards the metaphorical reason behind the shark and how this 'biting in half' scene could make the shark seem female and "anti-men".



Figure 4: Beach Goers Escaping the Sea


To conclude, Jaws will forever be "A looming, terrifying catch of the day." (TVGuide, 2007) The seeminglessy mechanical shark will keep us in fear of what is lurking beneath us when swimming in open water, and has the ability keep on scaring modern audiences beyond the 21st century CGI.


Bibliography:

F. Hartman. (2003) Jaws Film Review
(Accessed on 25.02.14) URL At: http://www.rgj.com/
TVGuide. (2007) Jaws Film Review. 
(Accessed on 25.02.14) URL At: http://www.tvguide.com/movies/jaws/review/102485
Nesbit. (n/a) Jaws Film Review. 
(Accessed on 25.02.14) URL At: http://oldschoolreviews.com/rev_70/jaws.htm

Illustration List:

Fig. 1. Jaws Poster (1975) From: Jaws Directed by: Steven Speilberg [Poster] United States. Universal Pictures. URL At: http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/jaws/jaws_fl.jpg (Accessed on 25.02.14)

Fig. 2. Chrissie; Underwater (Shark) Camera Angle (1975) From: Jaws Directed by: Steven Speilberg [Film Still] United States. Universal Pictures. URL At: http://thestalkingmoon.weebly.com/5/post/2012/10/13-for-halloween-4-jaws-1975.html (Accessed on 25.02.14)

Fig. 3. The Boat Shark Attack (1975) From: Jaws Directed by: Steven Speilberg [Film Still] United States. Universal Pictures. URL At: http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/Hoofd/A/PhotoLarge.php?Keuze=Jaws50&Age=&Sort= (Accessed on 25.02.14)

Fig. 3. Beach Goers Escaping the Sea (1975) From: Jaws Directed by: Steven Speilberg [Film Still] United States. Universal Pictures. URL At: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/29/jaws.anniversary/ (Accessed on 25.02.14)

Sunday 16 February 2014

S2S: Improved Environment Thumbnails

Re-think: Composition of Mouth Concept


I really like numbers (1), (3) and (4).
They have the most interesting layout that I think draws your eye in.

Script to Screen: Colour Line Ups!

Figuring Out the Colours
Feedback Welcome!

(1)


(2)


(3)


(4)


(5)


(6)