Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Final
For the final assignment I will try to include every skill and technique we have learned this semester into one complete piece. I want to further expand my last project, to further announce camera reaction to the figures, animation of the characters arms and eyes, along with separate scenes that will transition. I will use all three compositions below.
Scene 1: Shot With an Arrow: A silhouetted figure stands on top of a cliff, looking towards the sky. (His silhouette might change to
the texture and color of the final scene) He is shot from behind with an arrow, then falls off the cliff to his death.
Scene 2: The Pit Below: The man falls into the Pit of hell. He is consumed by fire. The figure above blinks his eyes.
Scene 3: Stoned Hell: He continues his journey through hell. (Intense camera action/ Zooms and Panning, which I found a great tutorial for..... http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/advanced_camera_tips/
Scene 1: Shot With an Arrow: A silhouetted figure stands on top of a cliff, looking towards the sky. (His silhouette might change to
the texture and color of the final scene) He is shot from behind with an arrow, then falls off the cliff to his death.
Scene 2: The Pit Below: The man falls into the Pit of hell. He is consumed by fire. The figure above blinks his eyes.
Scene 3: Stoned Hell: He continues his journey through hell. (Intense camera action/ Zooms and Panning, which I found a great tutorial for..... http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/advanced_camera_tips/
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Stoned Hell
3-D. For this project, I divided all of my separate layers on the z axis to create a higher depth of field. I created a new camera layer, so that I could move through the landscape. I have to figure out a finish. I might end up having the camera zoom all the way to the background, until everything is so giant you can't tell what it is. I also thought of an image to place behind the woman in the middle that could be the end result of the zoom.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Demon Warp Face Test
Ahhh, the demon warp, isn't it nice! I watched this tutorial 6 or 7 times through, then started filming. I filmed a friend of mine, Clay behind his house in a brick-outlined parking lot. The first time I filmed him he moved his body too much for me to track. Most of the tutorial is Motion tracking, but it's 2-D, not 3-D, so the actor needs to keep his body at least aligned with the camera, and not have too much motion from the neck or head. I will definitely take this experiment further.
check out the tutorial at http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/q/demon%20face%20warp/
check out the tutorial at http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/q/demon%20face%20warp/
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
write up
This project now looks 10 times better than it did! I wanted a clean transition for the yellow/orange tone that I used in the graveyard scene (of the tombstones up-close) in the middle, but the red was lacking that effect. I changed the opening scene to a bright greenish yellow so it would roll right into the next graveyard scene. I used various effects, glow, color correction, lightning, and so on.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
finished rough cut
I have finished a cut of the video animation and am pleased with the end result. I want to extend the scenes with the souls dancing through the fire and experiment with laying silhouetted characters on top of the video footage.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Video Footage Experiment
This project is a visual metaphor for death, and the possibilities of what lays in store for us on the other side. I decided to film Elmwood cemetery to capture the visual on death. The film starts with a smooth, almost peaceful ride through the graveyard
The transition occurs with bonfire footage from a previous film, to create an overpowering, silhouetted figure to represent a visual of Hell. Within the figure are lost souls dancing amongst the flames. The next transition occurs through multiple layers of cemetery grave footage, lightning and a spinning light reflection taken from a previous film. The ending transitions represent an abundance of deaths and the possibilities of where those people spirits ended up. When the lightning occurs, the motion of the cemetery shot speeds up to represent how fast life can disappear, and then you are left in the ground prepared for either the end, or possibly a new beginning.
Scene 1: Composite of a stone statue and grave-site from Elmwood cemetery
Scene 2: (Silhouette of flames) Stone statue from Elmwood and footage of people dancing around a bonfire from Adam’s Basement
Scene 3: Multiple, variously angled cemetery shots from Elmwood, lightning and spinning light reflection from Terra Firma
Scene 4: Final cemetery shot (Panning into the ground) from Elmwood
The transition occurs with bonfire footage from a previous film, to create an overpowering, silhouetted figure to represent a visual of Hell. Within the figure are lost souls dancing amongst the flames. The next transition occurs through multiple layers of cemetery grave footage, lightning and a spinning light reflection taken from a previous film. The ending transitions represent an abundance of deaths and the possibilities of where those people spirits ended up. When the lightning occurs, the motion of the cemetery shot speeds up to represent how fast life can disappear, and then you are left in the ground prepared for either the end, or possibly a new beginning.
Scene 1: Composite of a stone statue and grave-site from Elmwood cemetery
Scene 2: (Silhouette of flames) Stone statue from Elmwood and footage of people dancing around a bonfire from Adam’s Basement
Scene 3: Multiple, variously angled cemetery shots from Elmwood, lightning and spinning light reflection from Terra Firma
Scene 4: Final cemetery shot (Panning into the ground) from Elmwood
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Final Animation
I ultimately attempted to make the entire animation run smoother. I used parenting with the goddesses wings and instead of zooming in on her, I panned her from the side. I added a few leaves falling in the background and the final leave falling in the last scene. I also changed the color scheme of the background to red and sized down the pattern. I think the end result is a lot cleaner.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
write up
I changed the panning from scene to scene game plan. Once I started to to play around with the scaling, opacity and rotation, I decided to interchange the images within the same scene and fade out opacity for a softer transition. I am still strongly considering leaves falling throughout the scene. It's a rough cut and definitely needs work.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Revised Photoshop
I have recently revised my Photoshop file. I decided to split the bottom scene into 3 layers and the second scene is split into 10. This way I will be able to manipulate more of the characters.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Explanation
I chose to create a high contrast with the materials I used for this project. The silhouetted figures against a bright, textured background helped me to do so. I used a photograph of a Native American tapestry to achieve this background. Through this piece, I hope to communicate the possibilities of a rebirth or afterlife once you die. In the first scene a figure is shown lying dead, while his soul lifts from his body. The soul is then grabbed by the Goddess above and transformed for the afterlife, a tree. The conflict lies in the decision of where the soul shall end up and the resolution is reincarnation in the form of a tree. A dead man, his spirit, a Goddess and a tree make up all of the characters, although I have toyed with the idea of constant leaves falling through each scene until you reach the top and are able to see the last leaves fall off the tree, onto the ground.
Movie Critic
In the Realms of the Unreal
This film contains 2-D illustrations, live footage, narration from different ends, and animation, using After Effects. The illustrations and paintings of Henry seem to come to life, from simple panning all the way to rigorous animation layers. Transitions are smooth and clear throughout the entire documentary. Around 13 minutes into the film there is a shot of girls climbing down a wall, which led to the inspiration of the panning I am choosing to execute in my film.
The Kid Stays in the Picture
This documentary is mostly a subtle attempt of animating still Photos/Images. It does however include live footage as well.
Simple layering of image compositions created a real film effect. There seemed to be a lot of floating text, which for me is a bit distractive. The lighting throughout the film was very intense.
The Civil War and Baseball
Ken Burns films are simple documentary format. Extremely deep, mono-toned narration, along with slow panning of still photography, to create the illusion of depth, space and motion. Although most of the panning was slow, both films seemed to speed up when the topic or subject got more intense. In a weird way, the panning is very intense at times.
This film contains 2-D illustrations, live footage, narration from different ends, and animation, using After Effects. The illustrations and paintings of Henry seem to come to life, from simple panning all the way to rigorous animation layers. Transitions are smooth and clear throughout the entire documentary. Around 13 minutes into the film there is a shot of girls climbing down a wall, which led to the inspiration of the panning I am choosing to execute in my film.
The Kid Stays in the Picture
This documentary is mostly a subtle attempt of animating still Photos/Images. It does however include live footage as well.
Simple layering of image compositions created a real film effect. There seemed to be a lot of floating text, which for me is a bit distractive. The lighting throughout the film was very intense.
The Civil War and Baseball
Ken Burns films are simple documentary format. Extremely deep, mono-toned narration, along with slow panning of still photography, to create the illusion of depth, space and motion. Although most of the panning was slow, both films seemed to speed up when the topic or subject got more intense. In a weird way, the panning is very intense at times.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Story board : Scene 1 Awakened Spirit
As death comes forward, a spirit will rise. Scene will begin with slow pan from bottom to top, then connect to the second scene.
Scene 2: The Gods
The gods shall extract your soul to the afterlife. The transition from scene one to scene two will be the connection of the Goddesses arm to the top of the soul being lifted from scene one. Still a constant slow pan to the top will remain, until the second scene has connected with the third.
Scene 3 : Spirit Fly High
As the body dies, the spirit is awakened. The transition from scene two to scene three will occur through the Goddesses hair attaching to the spirits legs. The pan upwards will continue to the final scene.
Scene 4 : Reincarnation
As the spirit rises from the ground, rebirth takes its toll. In the final scene the spirit will rise into the soil, symbolizing the creation and rebirth of a new life, the tree.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Photoshop (format for story board)
I have toyed with the idea of constant leaves falling through each scene until you reach the top and the last leaves fall off the tree onto the ground. I can also easily cut out segments of the characters to allow me to manipulate each one differently.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Explanation
Most Native Americans believed that life would continue after death. However, ideas of exactly what the afterlife were like varied greatly from one tribe to another. Through the exploration of this topic, I will create a visual explanation of these beliefs.
Native American culture has always been a big part of my life. I was very close to my Grandmother, who was full-blooded Cherokee, so I have always felt drawn to that side of my heritage. I have dreamed of reincarnation and possible afterlives since I was young, so it has definitely been inspiring for me to further explore and research the topic. I have started gathering textures and other visual imagery to further help the design process.
Native American culture has always been a big part of my life. I was very close to my Grandmother, who was full-blooded Cherokee, so I have always felt drawn to that side of my heritage. I have dreamed of reincarnation and possible afterlives since I was young, so it has definitely been inspiring for me to further explore and research the topic. I have started gathering textures and other visual imagery to further help the design process.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Native American Views on Death and The Afterlife
The Maya of Southeastern Mexico believed that the spirit of the dead made a journey, but during the journey the soul was tested by the rulers of the underworld. If the tests were passed, the spirit gained a carefree eternal life. Failure condemned the spirit to wonder forever through the underworld, which was thought to be a dangerous place from which the soul could never escape. The Underworld was ruled by the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), who controlled harmful and infectious diseases.
Hunapa (wan a pwa), and Xbalanque (SHi BA lan KAY) traveled to the underworld and used trickery to pass the cruel tests. They killed One-Death and Seven-Death, two of the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), and because of their bravery were put in control of human fate. Hunapa became the sun, the symbol of life and heavenly power. Xbalanque, (SHi BA lan KAY) however became the jaguar (symbolized by the star of Venus) and was put in charge of the underworld and death.
Aztec Men that were killed in war, were believed to have gained a special place in the afterlife. They escorted the sun as it made it’s way across the sky, then after four years they found eternal life as hummingbirds drinking nectar from flowers. The flower was a symbol of war, representing the heart of a slain enemy, while the nectar was his blood.
Another means of pleasing the souls of the dead was to insure they were adequately provided for on their journey from this world to the next. Food, water, moccasins, and items necessary for a long journey were buried with the body.
The Hopi believed in reincarnation, that the soul of a dead person would come back to life in another form or body. However, reincarnation did not happen for everyone. Those who were most likely to be reincarnated were very young children who had died. It was said that their death occurred because they were not ready to live in the present and would be better suited for a future, more peaceful life.
While death ended life in this world, it was only an introduction to existence on another plane, which in turn would end with reincarnation. Those who died a natural death journeyed through a thorny forest and crossed a river to the Town of the Dead, (the cemetery with grave houses). They would warm themselves by the cremation fires, subsisting on the food and drink put into the fire by their relatives, or consumed in their memory at Potlatches. Those who died by violence went to a “heaven,” or land above the sky. The very wicked (liars, thieves, witches) went instead to “Raven’s home” or “Dog Heaven.”
At death, the deceased individual was transported by canoe to the land of souls. Relatives blackened their faces, cut their hair short, dressed poorly, ate little, and walked with a staff as if very weak. Large painted sculptures could form a leading Chief’s memorial.
A chief upon losing a close relative such as an eldest son would make death companions for the lost one by killing slaves or sending warriors against one another tribe.
Native Americans Volume 1 and 3.
2000 Grolier Educational
Handbook of Native American Indians Volume 7 and 8. Smithsonian Institution
Encyclopedia of Afterlife Beliefs and Phenomena
1994. Lewis, James R. 133.903 L674e
Book of the Hopi
1963. Waters, Frank
Mythology of the North American Indian and Inuit Nations
2003. Molyneaux, Brian L.
The World of the American Indian
1974. National Geographic Society
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-transmig.html
http://nativeamericanfirstnationshistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_afterlife
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/america/my-moff5.htm
http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=9&pageid=93&pgtype=1
Hunapa (wan a pwa), and Xbalanque (SHi BA lan KAY) traveled to the underworld and used trickery to pass the cruel tests. They killed One-Death and Seven-Death, two of the Lords of Xibalba (Shi bal ba), and because of their bravery were put in control of human fate. Hunapa became the sun, the symbol of life and heavenly power. Xbalanque, (SHi BA lan KAY) however became the jaguar (symbolized by the star of Venus) and was put in charge of the underworld and death.
Aztec Men that were killed in war, were believed to have gained a special place in the afterlife. They escorted the sun as it made it’s way across the sky, then after four years they found eternal life as hummingbirds drinking nectar from flowers. The flower was a symbol of war, representing the heart of a slain enemy, while the nectar was his blood.
Another means of pleasing the souls of the dead was to insure they were adequately provided for on their journey from this world to the next. Food, water, moccasins, and items necessary for a long journey were buried with the body.
The Hopi believed in reincarnation, that the soul of a dead person would come back to life in another form or body. However, reincarnation did not happen for everyone. Those who were most likely to be reincarnated were very young children who had died. It was said that their death occurred because they were not ready to live in the present and would be better suited for a future, more peaceful life.
While death ended life in this world, it was only an introduction to existence on another plane, which in turn would end with reincarnation. Those who died a natural death journeyed through a thorny forest and crossed a river to the Town of the Dead, (the cemetery with grave houses). They would warm themselves by the cremation fires, subsisting on the food and drink put into the fire by their relatives, or consumed in their memory at Potlatches. Those who died by violence went to a “heaven,” or land above the sky. The very wicked (liars, thieves, witches) went instead to “Raven’s home” or “Dog Heaven.”
At death, the deceased individual was transported by canoe to the land of souls. Relatives blackened their faces, cut their hair short, dressed poorly, ate little, and walked with a staff as if very weak. Large painted sculptures could form a leading Chief’s memorial.
A chief upon losing a close relative such as an eldest son would make death companions for the lost one by killing slaves or sending warriors against one another tribe.
Native Americans Volume 1 and 3.
2000 Grolier Educational
Handbook of Native American Indians Volume 7 and 8. Smithsonian Institution
Encyclopedia of Afterlife Beliefs and Phenomena
1994. Lewis, James R. 133.903 L674e
Book of the Hopi
1963. Waters, Frank
Mythology of the North American Indian and Inuit Nations
2003. Molyneaux, Brian L.
The World of the American Indian
1974. National Geographic Society
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-transmig.html
http://nativeamericanfirstnationshistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_afterlife
http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/america/my-moff5.htm
http://www.esalenctr.org/display/confpage.cfm?confid=9&pageid=93&pgtype=1
40 similar and opposite words
1Underworld Serenity
2Reincarnation Judaism
3Death Living
4Life Dead
5Fate Choice
6Heaven Hell
7Eternal Brief
8Journey Stay
9Soul Blood
10Spirit Flesh
11Buried Burned
12Form Liquid
13Body Mind
14Earth Mars
15Existence Apocalypse
16Natural Processed
17Disposal Urn
18Grave Surface
19Cremation Coffin
20Relatives Stranger
21Sky Ground
22Transport Unmoved
23Uncertain Positive
24Mythology Fact
25Culture Uncultured
26Reconnect Disconnect
27Power Fear
28Human Robot
29Animal Insect
30Plant Manmade
31Soil Stone
32Wind Rain
33Peace War
34God Evil
35Satan God
36Ghost Alive
37Force Weak
38Permit Unaccepted
39Approved Disapprove
40Universe Locality
2Reincarnation Judaism
3Death Living
4Life Dead
5Fate Choice
6Heaven Hell
7Eternal Brief
8Journey Stay
9Soul Blood
10Spirit Flesh
11Buried Burned
12Form Liquid
13Body Mind
14Earth Mars
15Existence Apocalypse
16Natural Processed
17Disposal Urn
18Grave Surface
19Cremation Coffin
20Relatives Stranger
21Sky Ground
22Transport Unmoved
23Uncertain Positive
24Mythology Fact
25Culture Uncultured
26Reconnect Disconnect
27Power Fear
28Human Robot
29Animal Insect
30Plant Manmade
31Soil Stone
32Wind Rain
33Peace War
34God Evil
35Satan God
36Ghost Alive
37Force Weak
38Permit Unaccepted
39Approved Disapprove
40Universe Locality
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Lately I have envisioned myself in a fantasy world. I have been studying a lot of Brian Froud, I might add. Although, I have an overwhelming desire to consistently create something completely new, Froud's influence never leaves my mind. I want to construct a world that I can further build, however I wish and put myself smack in the middle of it.
I love the mundane aspect of me in an every day conversation, while the world behind me is going nuts. Is that not what really happens every day? To me it is, I mean I am mostly aware of my surroundings, but I'm sure I have missed a lot. This will be my interpretation of what it feels like is going on in the world around me and my life. I was also referred to Tod Lockwood, a fantasy concept artist who turned out to be fantastic and extremely helpful to my conceptual designs.
I love the mundane aspect of me in an every day conversation, while the world behind me is going nuts. Is that not what really happens every day? To me it is, I mean I am mostly aware of my surroundings, but I'm sure I have missed a lot. This will be my interpretation of what it feels like is going on in the world around me and my life. I was also referred to Tod Lockwood, a fantasy concept artist who turned out to be fantastic and extremely helpful to my conceptual designs.
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