Thursday 28 April 2011

Title Sequence Project

We have been given the brief for our title sequence projet. I have chosen to do the Yesterday's Tomorrow's brief. The team I have pulled together is myself, Amber, Kirk, Lee and Megan. We all have different strengths and weaknesses but I feel we can fill in each others blanks. Soem people in the team seem to lack the motivation to begin with but once we have the idea set in stone I am sure we can get them excited about it too.


 "We have different strengths and weaknesses but I   
  feel we can fill in each others blanks." 


So far we have decided to take an architectural approach to the brief. The narrative idea for the title sequence is that we go on a journey through time from say the 1400's up until the 1940's. The way in which we present the illusion of time changing is from an architectural perspective. Going from architecture from the aforementioned dates up until 'futuristic' visions of architecture inspired by the 1940's.

 "We get the idea that he is a man 
 limited by the technology of his time." 


Originally we had planned to this through the diary/ sketchbook of an architect. Where we move through the pages of his life and his works. With sketches, ink blots, notes, dates, ideas, old newspaper clippings of mysterious alien sightings, etc mixed with with images of mechanical marvels, floating cities, space travel, vitruvian man, vitruvian aliens, etc. We get the idea that the architect is man limited by the technology of his time as we see his vision as his ideas spilled forth on the page but convey his frustration that he cannot create what he has dreamed.  We see blueprint type sketches and structural drawings of buildings, houses, etc from as far back as 1400's until the 1940's followed by futuristic/ sci-fi-esque architectural marvels. Names for cast and crew members for the credits are carefully slipped into the notes and architectural diary/ sketchbook and are cleverly revealed through masks, inkblot, running ink, etc.


Fly through/ long take of architects office/ desk where we see diary/ sketchbooks/ notes and other such niceties scattered around the room 


The idea then developed into incorporating elements from the actual series like a lot of TV shows do where they show clips from episodes yet to come. Incorporating mechanical marvels, floating cities, space travel, vitruvian man, etc. I feel the idea is slightly ambitious espite a team of 5. 


Our production pipeline will probably involve, sketches, After Effects, Flash and Maya. But we have yet to decide how we will execute what though I feel the lion share of the work will be done in After Effects. I plan have an idea set in stone, run it by Derek and Kathy and to story board heavily before we even touch a computer, as I often read horror stories about not doing so.

Saturday 9 April 2011

Title Sequence: X Men


I found this title sequence for the X Men First Class on Vimeo. It was create by 'Jo D!' Its is not the real title sequence just something that was put together. Inspired by classic Sixties movie titles and prompted by John Struan of Super Punch fame, He has built a 1960s style title sequence.

I felt it was relavant to post this as we have a title sequence project coming up next term that I rally looking forward too. I have been on the look out for interesting title sequences since the easter break.

Saturday 2 April 2011

2nd Term Evaluation


 2,500 Word Essay: 
My question for this essay was to explore 'who crated meaning in the film; director or spectator?
I chose this question because it seemed the most interesting. I think a lot of us tacked the essay first before we got on with the rest of the course work. having studied A Level English i was pretty confident about the essay. It would just be putting my research skills to the test.




 3D Modelling Project: 
The aim of the project was to create a model, texture, light and render a scene based on a reference photograph of you choice. I chose to produce a macro image instead as it was much more interesting. In the end I ended up modelling 2 macro shots; one of a pen and a brush on my desk and the other a close up of my mac keyboard. I am very proud of being able to model, texture, and light a small scene. The process takes time and I found it very enjoyable.


 2D Flash project: 
The aim of this project was to get our hears around lip syncing and mixing animation with sound.
I feel character design is something that i really need to work on. It is definitely not on of my strengths and others on my course seem to excel. It did not help that I chose to do a squirrel as the mouth shapes were difficult to sell.
The end result is a very static

If I did the project again I would have developed a character that was easier to work with. I would also

 Experimental Animation project: 
The experimental project had a very open brief. At first I thought this was a good thing however too much freedom with a brief for me can be an issue and it was. Also we were not allowed to use a computer except to edit the piece together. I found it hard to come us with ideas and found myself lacking inspiration. In the end the project was neglected as as result of an approaching deadline.
To add further insult to injury there are those on my course who gained very good exposure that has opened up doors for them while my project, for me, the is the worst project I have ever produced in my entire life. I have not put this project onto my blog because I am ashamed of it and it does reflect my true creative ability. All I can take away from this is that I can only go up from here.

 After Effects Motion Graphics Project: 


Sketch Book Project:

University is very much a time management process. I found myself saying this at the end of the first term that i need to work on my time management. I pretty much had the same issues again this term and some projects were given more attention than others.