Week12

Visiting the Science and Media Museum - again

I have been trying to get my hands on the book below for some time now. However, it was taking longer than expected to order at the library and so the staff was very helpful in finding alternatives. They found out that there was a copy of this book in the University Library in Bradford. 

Unfortunately, it was more complicated than just turning up and I would need to fill in some form and come to Bradford again if the University Library was not already closed to visitors.

So instead, I went to the museum to spend some time in the Animation section. I have been here once before, but this time, I was here to see specific pieces.

Such as this set - I feel shame that I did not take a picture of the label as I have never watched the film itself:

Also, the set for The Wrong Trousers by Aardman:

It is amazing how detailed and precise the floorboards are and I like that as an audience I am still able to identify most of the materials on the first set.

All of a sudden the labels describing the materials are that much more interesting when I am focusing on doing stop-motion animation. 

I could not resist capturing my perfect drop of water either.

This year, back to the normal timetable, I actually had some time to make a Christmas present for my brother by painting him a handkerchief with some old fabric paint using existing illustration and quote from other artists. Limited to just three colours - blue, black and tan. It turned out alright!

Zero Carbon Headingley Brief continues developing in the background - this week we looked at creating textures and backgrounds for the assets.

Week11

Time is Ticking - Christmas Break is Coming

Li has done the Dad character concept, I am happy apart from changing is a cardigan to a shirt. 

On the last presentation, I have identified myself as the project's storyboarder. However, with the time pressing and storyboards not being my future interest, I spoke to Ava. After the CoP deadline, we then met to thoroughly discuss the story and solve any unclarities. There really is nothing like working on a problem with someone else in person. I wish I have done this more often, but I have been terrible at creating/maintaining work/friends relationships on my course this year.

On the positive note, thanks to my boyfriend I have done the following since August, I believe all the events are benefiting my learning of set design and set making, creating an atmosphere on a set etc.:

• going to see Le Miserable in Alhambra Theatre in Bradford and be able to compare the set provision in London with the one on tour was very interesting. I preferred the one in Bradford, the way they used rails for props was very clever and the set was magnificent and rich with depth.
• La Boheme at the Grand Theatre, Leeds - my first time ever seeing opera.
• Messiah at the Town Hall, Leeds - I had no idea the Town Hall was so beautiful inside, also the first time seeing such a big orchestra and choir.
• I have also finally visited Leeds City Museum for the first time - instantly fascinated by the WWI part of the exhibition.

On the negative note:

I am running behind the schedule already with finalising the script and storyboards as well as set design, all because of my fails with scriptwriting.

I have missed my CoP deadline by a silly mistake of putting the wrong folder onto my pen drive and the elections happening the following night made me feel rather depressed. If that was not enough, I have received a notification email from SFE straight after the elections, not quite sure what about. What a wonderful start to the Christmas break.

Lastly, I still cannot get over the fact that our University would like to reduce the amount of printed paper by reducing the number of posters around the building. When I first heard this I cried. Just look at the two sides of the same corridor in the photos above. My opinion is that if the posters are on the wall it remains a gallery of events and opportunities we can randomly stumble upon. It has also been one way of collecting research data - hanging questionnaires around the building. Whereas, by removing the posters, we can no longer be exposed to this random information without actively searching for it if it all starts being on online platforms. It is like Google, it is helpful when you know what you are looking for. But it is very easy to stay in a bubble. Even then, why do people forget that running electronic devices as well as using the internet too produces a lot of waste? From my experience, posters seem to support word of mouth and communication while online platforms support assumptions that everyone has seen the post  'Didn't you see it?, It was online!'.

Week10

Link With CoP Research

From my Context of Practice practical and theoretical research I have learnt that making of my sets will be hard as there really is not enough information out there about set making for animation. So it will hugely depend on my existing knowledge of techniques and materials and any further research in this then adapting it to animatable sets. 

So far, this is my favourite way of building a cave wall from cork, experiment - part of CoP practical.

However, this research was useful for me in other ways. Thanks to my CoP research I have skim-read number of stop-motion animation books and gained different techniques and views on puppet making as well as other tips and tricks, and difficulties I may face. 

 

Also Li has given me second version of the Mum character which I am really happy with.  

Week9

What is new

Latest weekly's presentation 

Photo reference I provided to Li

Li has provided me with first draft of Mum character. 

What went well (better late than never):

Creating a schedule, 

Identifying budget and list of additional collaborators I need to find, 

Knowing all my roles,

An event where students from LCOM visited our course - I was finally more confident than when we were selecting groups last year and pitched my project and learned about other peoples style. Coming out from the event with a music composer Matteo Falco, with a suitable style for my film was a good outcome. 

What went wrong:

Dialogue for my project is still a struggle. I really cannot connect with it emotionally which is probably to do with me still feeling bi-lingual and non-lingual at the same time. Or that I was never one to be good with essays and other writing. But giving it to someone else to write is not making much sense as I hold a clear idea of the story in my head already. Maybe I am overthinking this part way too much and need to close myself in a room for couple of days with just a pen and paper. 

I am struggling to keep consistent communication with my character designer Ben, because my part of homework is not complete yet and I am starting to worry he won't be able to do the design on time with the time we originally agreed he could commit to this project running out.

CoP is starting to be the priority with the deadline behind the corner.