Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Valentines: Assignment 3 Drafts
Okay so I was a bit of a bafoon and had quite a few drawings ready but didn't read instructions properly about what time things have to be uploaded so I didn't get this up in time. I was actually working on finishing one drawing completely to give a good idea of what it'd look like. But I didn't manage to colour it in so I will just show some rough sketches for those curious enough to revisit my blog.
Understand also that I had to rescript my story completely and therefore had less time to prepare these drawings. I did manage to finish quite a few within 2 days though so I think I will be able to finish this (then start my battle with Adobe). I apologize though for not giving you the benefit of the visuals earlier.
These are in no particular order and are DRAFTS to help visualize before I neaten up drawings and add details.
Understand also that I had to rescript my story completely and therefore had less time to prepare these drawings. I did manage to finish quite a few within 2 days though so I think I will be able to finish this (then start my battle with Adobe). I apologize though for not giving you the benefit of the visuals earlier.
These are in no particular order and are DRAFTS to help visualize before I neaten up drawings and add details.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Fluffy Valentines
Wokay. So I had no story pretty much and had to redo completely. I guess I'll put a post up for that later. This is the new story. I haven't done the drawings/photos but I have planned out how they will look. Hopefully u get a good idea from there.
Story written in sequence. Each number is 1 shot/frame. Written in brackets is the way it will be shot (although I am probably going to be drawing) if it is necessary to understand how that scene must be portrayed.
Sequence:
1) Young adults at café party. Couches, coffee tables, dj in background, people waking about.
2) A pretty girl. Lots of guys after her. [Guys with arm around her chair backrest]
3) Lots of music [ DJ or band + musical notes.]
4) Shy guy in corner. [Shadowy corner of room]
5) DJ says “We’re gonna take a break for a bit” [Might be combined into background of another shot]
6) Music cuts. Waiter is at the table. Shy guy shouts “Can I have some salt in my coffee?” [Musical notes are cancelled out to show silence]
7) Everyone stares.
Some time later
8) End of party. People are hanging around outside the café. The pretty girl is looking at the shy guy who is facing the opposite direction.
9) She goes to talk to him. [Taps his shoulder]
10) “Why did you put salt in your coffee?” [Facing each other]
11) He says: “When I was a little boy…” [Face + speech bubble]
12) FLASHBACK: “I lived near the sea” [Text on top of picture – house by the sea]
13) FLASHBACK: “ I liked playing in the sea” [Text on top of picture – kid playing in the sea]
14) FLASHBACK: “I could always smell the sea and even taste it” [Text on top of picture – kid eating burger on the beach]
15) FLASHBACK: “Everytime I have salty coffee, it takes me back there” [Text on top of picture – in shirt and tie, outdoor café, drinking coffee, thought bubble of house on beach]
16) FLASHBACK: “I remember my childhood, my home, my parents… I miss them” [Text over image of parent holding child’s hand]
17) That Night [Text Only]
18) She calls friend on phone. “Really Cecile, it was so sweet. I’ve never met someone who dared to admit they love home, love their parents. He’s…perfect.”
19) Two weeks, lots of smiles & ‘accidental bump-intos’ later. [Text only]
20) She hands him a piece of paper
21) He reads it [Looks at it]
22) He reads it [Show contents of paper for audience to read: It is a comical contract to become her boyfriend]
23) He laughs/smiles
24) He signs.
25) Both smile.
26) 2 years later [Text Only]
27) They are married [Two hands, with wedding rings on them, held over cup of coffee maybe?]
28) 40 years later [Text Only]
29) He’s dead. [Tombstone]
30) She cries. [Wearing veil]
31) Finds box that says “For my love, if I should leave for heaven’s gates before you” [Hands opening lid. See letter and some jewellery and stuff inside]
32) Reads letter. [Show her with letter in hand]
33) Reads letter [Shot of letter. Move down for audience to read it]
34) Big smile. Tears dropping on letter. [3/4 shot of her face. See letter in her hand. Tears dropping, view of smudgy lettering on paper]
35) She’s touched/amused. [Holds letter to chest and looks at a picture of him hanging on the bedroom wall]
36) “I love you still, with my whole heart” [View from behind her, see back of her head and picture ahead of her]
Alright that's it. Hit me with your comments!
Story written in sequence. Each number is 1 shot/frame. Written in brackets is the way it will be shot (although I am probably going to be drawing) if it is necessary to understand how that scene must be portrayed.
Sequence:
1) Young adults at café party. Couches, coffee tables, dj in background, people waking about.
2) A pretty girl. Lots of guys after her. [Guys with arm around her chair backrest]
3) Lots of music [ DJ or band + musical notes.]
4) Shy guy in corner. [Shadowy corner of room]
5) DJ says “We’re gonna take a break for a bit” [Might be combined into background of another shot]
6) Music cuts. Waiter is at the table. Shy guy shouts “Can I have some salt in my coffee?” [Musical notes are cancelled out to show silence]
7) Everyone stares.
Some time later
8) End of party. People are hanging around outside the café. The pretty girl is looking at the shy guy who is facing the opposite direction.
9) She goes to talk to him. [Taps his shoulder]
10) “Why did you put salt in your coffee?” [Facing each other]
11) He says: “When I was a little boy…” [Face + speech bubble]
12) FLASHBACK: “I lived near the sea” [Text on top of picture – house by the sea]
13) FLASHBACK: “ I liked playing in the sea” [Text on top of picture – kid playing in the sea]
14) FLASHBACK: “I could always smell the sea and even taste it” [Text on top of picture – kid eating burger on the beach]
15) FLASHBACK: “Everytime I have salty coffee, it takes me back there” [Text on top of picture – in shirt and tie, outdoor café, drinking coffee, thought bubble of house on beach]
16) FLASHBACK: “I remember my childhood, my home, my parents… I miss them” [Text over image of parent holding child’s hand]
17) That Night [Text Only]
18) She calls friend on phone. “Really Cecile, it was so sweet. I’ve never met someone who dared to admit they love home, love their parents. He’s…perfect.”
19) Two weeks, lots of smiles & ‘accidental bump-intos’ later. [Text only]
20) She hands him a piece of paper
21) He reads it [Looks at it]
22) He reads it [Show contents of paper for audience to read: It is a comical contract to become her boyfriend]
23) He laughs/smiles
24) He signs.
25) Both smile.
26) 2 years later [Text Only]
27) They are married [Two hands, with wedding rings on them, held over cup of coffee maybe?]
28) 40 years later [Text Only]
29) He’s dead. [Tombstone]
30) She cries. [Wearing veil]
31) Finds box that says “For my love, if I should leave for heaven’s gates before you” [Hands opening lid. See letter and some jewellery and stuff inside]
32) Reads letter. [Show her with letter in hand]
33) Reads letter [Shot of letter. Move down for audience to read it]
34) Big smile. Tears dropping on letter. [3/4 shot of her face. See letter in her hand. Tears dropping, view of smudgy lettering on paper]
35) She’s touched/amused. [Holds letter to chest and looks at a picture of him hanging on the bedroom wall]
36) “I love you still, with my whole heart” [View from behind her, see back of her head and picture ahead of her]
Alright that's it. Hit me with your comments!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Just Another Day
Chose from a series of pictures from Switzerland. Had a few substories, developed 2 and picked the better one. Represented in this assignment is the journey to Switzerland via Emirates, train rides and finally settling into our simple accomodation for the night.
View the assignment here.
I picked pictures from a variety Some showed a representation suspended in time and some were active to show how we moved from one place to the next. I used alot with composition that allowed you to see different backgrounds to show our progress in the journey.
The first shot for instance, shows the group within the flight. 2 pictures later, you see that we're in the air: progress. Then a shot of food, to represent some of the moments within the journey itself that were enjoyable and made the journey interesting. The next shot is a silhoutte to show I was there but with a focus on the window at the airport, reading Zurich so without explanation, you'd know I had already reached another stage - a different country. The following shot is of movement, to show both the people that made the journey an the act of moving.
The next one shows baggage and a pose to again represent a more detached moment in the process. The background also lets you know its the train station. Then, its a focus on me, to remind you who is doing the travelling here. It's to capture the essence of the deeper meanings of the journey, rather than just the external movements. This is done through a self-portrait and the expression. Where I placed the picture in the sequence is also meant to show that I am on the train, typically understood as a time when you have plenty of time to reflect and ponder while entering new landscapes.
Then again pictures of movement. First to show us against the fresh new landscape. And next to show us deeper immersed in it with a closer shot, facial expressions visible to show how we were experiencing it.
Finally less motion and more settled. A glimpse of how the journey has brought the group together where now we're all smiles and able to share a personal meal in a small space. And the final one in a bedroom to show the end of the day, a focus on me to close off the story about MY journey and a smile to show I was thrilled by the whole thing.
View the assignment here.
I picked pictures from a variety Some showed a representation suspended in time and some were active to show how we moved from one place to the next. I used alot with composition that allowed you to see different backgrounds to show our progress in the journey.
The first shot for instance, shows the group within the flight. 2 pictures later, you see that we're in the air: progress. Then a shot of food, to represent some of the moments within the journey itself that were enjoyable and made the journey interesting. The next shot is a silhoutte to show I was there but with a focus on the window at the airport, reading Zurich so without explanation, you'd know I had already reached another stage - a different country. The following shot is of movement, to show both the people that made the journey an the act of moving.
The next one shows baggage and a pose to again represent a more detached moment in the process. The background also lets you know its the train station. Then, its a focus on me, to remind you who is doing the travelling here. It's to capture the essence of the deeper meanings of the journey, rather than just the external movements. This is done through a self-portrait and the expression. Where I placed the picture in the sequence is also meant to show that I am on the train, typically understood as a time when you have plenty of time to reflect and ponder while entering new landscapes.
Then again pictures of movement. First to show us against the fresh new landscape. And next to show us deeper immersed in it with a closer shot, facial expressions visible to show how we were experiencing it.
Finally less motion and more settled. A glimpse of how the journey has brought the group together where now we're all smiles and able to share a personal meal in a small space. And the final one in a bedroom to show the end of the day, a focus on me to close off the story about MY journey and a smile to show I was thrilled by the whole thing.
Dreams Poster Design
The story:
A girl of about 19 has worked diligently all her life. She is happy and has a principle of helping people, even in her ambition. At 19, a close friend living far away, has come to her with problems. He has a young child and has no energy to go on with life. With depression and thoughts of giving up, he speaks to her and despite the distance admits that she is the only one he trusts and the only person he believes that cares about him.
She has two choices: To continue on her path and finally reap the benefits of her hard work... or to give it all up to answer the calling she feels in her heart, to do what is right as the person she sees herself to be. What will she choose with the knowledge that the life of 2 people are dependent on her kindness?
This play is a dark comedy about the decision she makes as a young women with the potential to achieve her dreams or to follow her heart and start living immediatly as the selfless person she aspires to be.
The Poster:
Title - Scissors through the dreams to signify sacrifice. A little bit of foreshadowing here.
Black & White - To signify choice. Being sacrifice, there's some darkness. But which is the 'black' option and which is white is not clear. Helping people and pursuing dreams, neither is clearly the losing choice. So I used this to signify the difficulty of her choice.
Puzzle pieces - To symbolize that she needs to remove certain factors from her life in order to fit her friend and his child into her life. Placing them in her life would mean every day from then on would be very much about them and their welfare. Thus the falling jigsaw pieces and 2 pieces with their faces on it being fit into the background of the poster.
Silhoutte - The figure has her arms open to show her welcoming the 2 people into her life. It's black so you can't really see the details of how she feels. The rather friendly pose is also to add the lighter element, to make room for the comedy in the play. It also is a literal representation of DARK comedy.
It also is in black to blend her into the black and white themed background. This highlights that this is the foundation. Every thing else in the poster are additional elements, to reflect the nature of the play being focused on her and her life, with everything else as choices that colour up her life. She is the thing that everything else is working on. So she blends in the back as the basis and all things have some contrast to look like they go on top of it.
Starring - Some pull power to get audiences in, they want to know who's playing the lead roles. I added perforations to look like a ticket stub to frame the cast listing.
The flower pattern - To add a bit of prettyness and lightness. Also to fill the space to make it a balanced opposition to the black half which seems alot stronger because of the nature of the colour.
The faces - Slightly smiley, doesn't evoke strong reactions. The focus is not so much these characters but the main character so I didn't want them to be the focus of the poster. So I didn't want audiences to gain too strong an impression from their faces. That's why they don't directly into the cam. They aren't supposed to be EVIL characters that make the audience thing, "hey, its simple, follow your dreams". I didn't want them to look depressed either, but people with a chance at life and look somewhat delicate, for the lead character to want to take care of them and 'repair' them. The audience should get a hint that they are lovable, thus the lead's desire to love them. Again, all this is to underscore that the situation is not a simplistic one.
Font -
Dreams: A solid font, to be able to be seen from a distance and with enough room to be torn and still be decipherable.
Cacophony Theatres - A poster is after all an advertisement, so its important that a logo-like representation of the production theater's name be used, to make it recognizable. Thus the added lines around the title. The idea is that any production by this theater would use the same print of their name.
Details - Small but readable, only for those really interested in watching the production. This is a step further than the visuals of the poster just being able to attract attention so it can afford to be small. Colours chosen to provide sufficient contrast and to act as INFORMATION n not to be confused with other elements that tell you about the content of the play. Also added some lighter highlights around the text wherever it crosses over the black figure, without having to resort to alternating the colours of the text (black over white background and white over black background) which can be quite ugly or look like a 'cheat' move. The glow highlights are also quite subtle but do add contrast enough to help readability.
Details given are sufficient for interested audiences but I put contact details for any clarifications. Also added a discount element which is quite common in productions to draw particular audiences.
Changes - I've modified certain elements after the class presentation. I've made Dreams a brighter white, including the reflection which came out rather grey and didn't look reflective at all like it does on a computer screen. I shifted the puzzle bits a little to make the hole in the black background more apparent, to see these are new pieces being fitted in to an established back. Added white highlights to the left of the silhoutte to make it more visible from a distance. Added contrast on the scissors for the same reason - visibility.
A New Year: NM3208
The start of a new year and a big challenge ahead of me. I have never done video editing, so after the first lecture everything sounded pretty daunting. But, I' m in this class to learn some practical skills and I actually admire people who have such productive artistic skills so I think, as much as this will be very challenging for me (I plan my whole timetable around 3208!), I am excited to learn all the things that I will.
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