We’ve watched this on our last lecture and I think I was in minority that disagreed with it. I just can’t imagine a society of people with low expectations, people who somehow will get satisfied when someone will reduce their possible choices to only few. It comes with a danger of creating a society that would get easily manipulated, without any higher goals than just living their lives. I think that having a right to choose is one of the greatest things that its given to us. Also high expectations drive us to progress, to get something even better that we have. Would we get all of these gadgets that we use in our lives without high expectations? Why would we need a smartfon if an old phone “would do”? what about flat screen tvs? A black-white tv also “would do”. Why do we need a car if we can just use a bike that “will do”?
The paradox of choice
Posted by kamill on January 27, 2012
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/the-paradox-of-choice/
Context 1: Task 2 Part A
What do I need to enjoy a film? Somehow that’s a difficult question and without a clear answer. First what comes to my mind would be a good story, but I saw few films that even with a great idea for a storyline were a disappointment by the end. One of the examples can be Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks!”. This was one of his weakest pieces of work, outcome was poor even that a comedy based on an alien invasion sounds great, doesn’t it?
I think humour shouldn’t be considered as a factor of enjoyment as well, because many films aren’t suppose to be funny and we can still enjoy watching them. I enjoyed watching “Black Swan”, “Shutter Island” or “Requiem for a Dream” but I just can’t remember of any humorous scene from them, that just wasn’t important for my general view on a movie.
I would guess that strong characters and their development would be a important factor for me, but on the other hand, characters from popular comedies such as “The Hangover” weren’t really complex, or three-dimensional character.
It just depends on my mood if I’ll enjoy specific film, those elements listed wouldn’t really matter. Sometimes I’ll just enjoy some deep storyline without funny parts, explosions etc. but sometimes I’ll just enjoy watching some silly comedy and then things such as storyline, meaning and a message aren’t important.
Posted by kamill on January 27, 2012
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/context_1_task_2_part_a/
DP2: Filmmaking – possible camera angles and shots
My first project in Design Practice 2 is filmmaking. Script was given to us and this time each person got different task in a team. I’m a camera operator so my research will mostly be about camera angels, types of shots, setting the camera on set and using it. I’m pretty excited about this. Last week me and my group had few meeting outside of uni so we could spend time on modifying the script, thinking about location, actors etc.
So one of the first ideas that I got was inspired by an intro to show called “Dexter”:
Those close up shots looks great and I think it would be a perfect way of beginning our film. Of course it would be shorter and less things would be happening in it. The first scene in the scripts is in a kitchen, where Karen is washing the dishes. I think there is a potential in it to get few good close ups on it, when she is washing them, I could show her anger by capturing her scratching the dishes, squashing the sponge and putting clean plates on a dryer. Another idea is to take few shots outside and look at her through the kitchen’s window.
This is how I want to do a table scene. It take place after the police officer comes in to the kitchen. Three of them(Karen, Brian and policeman) would sit by the table and instead of doing cuts I’ll just do a 360 shot(I think that’s how it’s called). I think it will add dynamic to the scene, plus also it not a common shot. I had another idea about this, those pans would be slower so it would make an atmosphere in the kitchen more awkward. That’s something that I’ll have to agree on with the director.
Few examples of comical fight scenes. First was an example given to us by Phil on his seminar. I think that’s the best one and if we’re still going to do a fight scene it should look like this. Other doesn’t quite fit into a script however the third example can be use as well. We can see that lots of those shots are close ups, or medium shots that doesn’t last very long. It’s very dynamic and looks good. Also this scene is funny so director achieved what he wanted.
Posted by kamill on January 23, 2012
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/dp2-filmmaking-possible-camera-angles-and-shots/
Notes from Narrative vs Authenticity debate
EDIT: Formatting is kind of unclear now, I’ll try to fix it later. Also I’ll try to post my comments and opinions later as well.
Narrative and Authenticity
Posted by kamill on January 20, 2012
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/notes-from-narrative-vs-authenticity-debate/
Tutorial task: Tomek Baginski
Tomasz, or Tomek Bagiński is a Polish 3D artist. It was almost 10 years ago when I first heard about him, his animation, “The Cathedral” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Even that he didn’t receive the award he became popular in media and still is probably one of the best known Polish animators.
Baginski is a self-taught artist, he was studying architecture but he dropped it so he could focus on making films. He debuted in 1998 with a film called “Rain”, a story that takes place in the future, in the world destroyed by global warming, where humans only contact with rain is in a virtual dream. “The Cathedral” is another futuristic story. I think that CGI still looks good, after those 10 years, its much more impressive than in “Rain”. Baginski spend 3 years working alone on this animation, that shows me his love to what he does and engagement to it. His next animation is called “Fallen Art” and it was released in 2004. It’s different to his previous work, this time Baginski creates a grotesque film. Also his style changes, characters are caricatures, which fits the genre. His latest work, “Animated history of Poland” was used to promote Poland on Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
Posted by kamill on January 19, 2012
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/tutorial-task-tomek-baginski/
Evaluation of my animation
I already had some experience with animation. Last year one of my college assignments was to create a stop motion animation. It was interesting and enjoyable experience, even that I wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. So I was excited about this assignment. I haven’t used Adobe After Effects before, so I was confused at the beginning. So one of my first animation wasn’t great. I’ve already posted it here and decided that I will carry on with this idea. So after few changes this is what I had:
This idea was interesting and I wanted to improve it. I’ve created completely new background for my animation which I was very satisfied with. It gives an amazing effect and really changes the look of the whole thing.
In my opinion this was a successful attempt and I wanted to have this part in my final version. I was considering using this as an ending for it, but my tutor suggested that I can create an explosion right after Will got sucked into this wormhole. I liked that idea and started researching some tutorials on the internet.
After that I have created few little changes and different version of my animation:
I’ve added an ending sequence to it as well. There are two version of it. On the first one there is only one layer of text and it is floating around the centre of the whole project. But I had another idea where there is another layer of text which stays still in the middle of the animation for the whole time. I wasn’t satisfied with it as it was a bit unclear and harder to read.
I add some little changes to the final version, for example I got rid of some extra layers with explosion which makes it smoother. So here it is, my final version:
Posted by kamill on November 17, 2011
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/evaluation-of-my-animation/
My first animation in Adobe After Effects
Posted by kamill on October 25, 2011
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/my-first-animation-in-adobe-after-effects/
Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is an composition rule used in photography and other visual arts. It says that an image should be divided by two horizontal and two vertical lines into nine equal parts. The important elements should be placed along those lines. This improves an images, makes it more interesting. People say that it gives an image more energy and tension. Below you can see two of mine examples:
As we can see it didn’t really work. Those important objects aren’t where the rule says they should be.
I have cropped an image so it would meet the requirements of the rule:
It looks a bit better but I am still not sure if it is what it’s suppose to be. However now I know what the rule of thirds is and how it should work and I’m planning to do some other videos and photographs where rule of thirds is properly used and it actually makes picture better.
Posted by kamill on October 24, 2011
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/rule-of-thirds/
Interaction Task
As web development is something that I am interested in and I would love to work as a webdesigner. That’s why I was excited when I was told that Interaction is out first project. However I was confused in the begging, I didn’t quiet understand what we are told to do. I can say that I have wasted a first week, because I haven’t done any work then. Only think that I had was a general idea of what my story might look like. As we were told not to do any snapshot at our houses or accommodations my entire story is taking place outdoors in city center.
So this story starts on Old Market Square when a player finds lost alien. As I couldn’t find anything better I had to use a pink plastic toy. I have to say that I am satisfied with it. So as I approached the Old Market Square I realize that I need to take a close shot of my alien as it wouldn’t be noticeable from a distance. Then I moved to a different location, I went to the castle. I decided to take a picture just outside it, on the Robin Hood statue. I think it was a better location than a Nottingham Castle, that really doesn’t look like a castle. I used a long shot for this, so there was a lot of objects and things. This will confuse a viewer and make this game more interesting. Next I moved down to a canal. I took few photographs over there, each was taken closer to a goal, which was a little, orange miniature of a spaceship. I have done a same thing in other locations. It will also make this game more enjoyable.
After my photography was done and I’ve started to link everything in Dreamweaver I’ve notice that this game needs some information. That’s why I’ve designed few things in Photoshop. First one is a basic question that appear in the beginning. Next one was a map that a player will find. Originally it was suppose to be on a notebook, I’ve even took a picture of my notebook, while I was doing photographs for this project. But as modifying it in Photshop seemed too difficult I’ve just created a new image using screenshot from Google Maps and an old map texture. Result of this was pretty cool and I was satisfied with it. Last thing that I have done in Photoshop for this project was an ending. After player collects everything that he needs a picture of an Alien in his spaceship flying in a space appears. Also there is an image of Earth as well. I decided to create it by myself, rather than cutting it out from some picture from the Internet. To do so I’ve use a tutorial that I have found. It is old but it gave me a satisfying result.
Posted by kamill on October 20, 2011
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/interaction-task/
Hello? Is it tea You’re looking for?
Posted by kamill on October 10, 2011
http://kamill.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/hello-is-it-tea-youre-looking-for/
Multimedia Events- Fw: £100K funding available for Games PrototʗrZm5 December 19, 2011
- FW: Huge opportunity for young animators & digital artists December 13, 2011
- MI: YGAward 2011 - Find out the Winners & Finalists now! December 13, 2011
- [cid:image001.jpg@01CC9EF8.3EC13830] DISCLAIMER: This email is... November 9, 2011
- ALL: Creative Times: Digital innovation in the arts | New! Digital Toolbox series | Title Art Prize review November 9, 2011
