Thursday, 11 May 2017
Aesthetics and ethics
Today's session helped me to develop an understanding of aesthetic and the importance of in in relation to concept, theme and visuals. These all have to explore the plot and idea fully.
E.G if a narrative has dark anf cynical tones, this should be easily identified through the aesthetic via mise en scene elements such as low shadow filled lighting and crooked design elements. This has made me think about keeping narrative and plot ideas simple and expressing this further through the aesthetic, visual and sound elements. I would like to research Len Lyes work further in the future as I admired his scratchy visual philosophy seen in his work.
E.G if a narrative has dark anf cynical tones, this should be easily identified through the aesthetic via mise en scene elements such as low shadow filled lighting and crooked design elements. This has made me think about keeping narrative and plot ideas simple and expressing this further through the aesthetic, visual and sound elements. I would like to research Len Lyes work further in the future as I admired his scratchy visual philosophy seen in his work.
Friday, 21 April 2017
Recent Animation: A Scanner Darkly
Recently I watched A scanner Darkly (2006) which was filmed digitally and then turned into an animation over a period of 18 months, this is also the case with another of Linklater's work "waking life" which I am also interested in watching in the future.
The way in which the piece was animated was very effective in enhancing the aesthetic of the piece, especially as the main theme of the piece was the war on drugs, and the protagonist's addiction so, the animation really added to the questionable psychological emphasis of the film.
This is the first film I've seen which uses animation over live action filming, which was very interesting and opened my eyes to the vast possibilities of animation and how this might continue to develop in the future.
Probably a bit too advanced for me to try and attempt in my work, but I very much admire the style and the way this method depicts well known actors in an animated fashion, the aesthetics of this is very pleasing.
The way in which the piece was animated was very effective in enhancing the aesthetic of the piece, especially as the main theme of the piece was the war on drugs, and the protagonist's addiction so, the animation really added to the questionable psychological emphasis of the film.
This is the first film I've seen which uses animation over live action filming, which was very interesting and opened my eyes to the vast possibilities of animation and how this might continue to develop in the future.
Probably a bit too advanced for me to try and attempt in my work, but I very much admire the style and the way this method depicts well known actors in an animated fashion, the aesthetics of this is very pleasing.
Wednesday, 29 March 2017
Character development
When communicating my narrative through my work, a key element to assist me in doing so is my protagonist. The role of the protagonist in any given story is to be at the heart of the action and tends to undergo some kind of emotional or philosophical change during the plot. The protagonist is someone who the audience can empathise with despite whether this character is good or evil.
When creating my particular protagonist it is important to consider that he is not a traditional "hero" or "good guy". I have designed him this way to present him as nothing more than a human, very capable of mistakes. I hope in this sense the audience will be able to sympathise with him. I have decided to make him a grumpy old man as there is something very endearing about this feisty but vulnerable character. We see this kind of protagonist or love interest in many films.
I took inspiration from characters such as Melvin from "As Good as It Gets"
and Carl from "Up"
I created my character "Albert" using Illustrator as, I wanted to create him freehand but in a computerised cartoon style. I used images of these characters throughout my process to try and help myself stay true to what I was trying to create.
It was important to me to make sure he was grumpy looking and had a rough quality to him, but also that he was endearing and there is something a bit cute about him, in order to do this I gave him big babylike features such as his eyes and nose but also gave him deep wrinkles and creases and bushy, wild eyebrows that move separately making him seem a little bit coarse and rogue. This will also be reflected in the way he moves as an animatic.
When creating my particular protagonist it is important to consider that he is not a traditional "hero" or "good guy". I have designed him this way to present him as nothing more than a human, very capable of mistakes. I hope in this sense the audience will be able to sympathise with him. I have decided to make him a grumpy old man as there is something very endearing about this feisty but vulnerable character. We see this kind of protagonist or love interest in many films.
I took inspiration from characters such as Melvin from "As Good as It Gets"
I created my character "Albert" using Illustrator as, I wanted to create him freehand but in a computerised cartoon style. I used images of these characters throughout my process to try and help myself stay true to what I was trying to create.
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
National NHS March 4th March
On the 4th March, HCT (Health Campaigns Together) called for a national demonstration in London to show. HCT is a network made up of a variety of organisations to try and defend the NHS and to try and take appropriate action in doing so.
HTC urges people to stand up and to protest against the growing destructive Tory policies tearing apart our National Health Service. Gross underfunding and ongoing cuts of the NHS services. More and more private companies are taking hold within the NHS.
NHS salaries being cut by 14% ongoing since 2010. Some 25000 nursing + 3500 midwifery vacancies in England alone.
The Tory parties plans are being unravelled-- HTC expresses how we need to come together as a community to demonstrate.
The service is at a real risk as the future just holds further cuts and privatisation after Theresa May demands more austerity in the service.
HTC urges people to stand up and to protest against the growing destructive Tory policies tearing apart our National Health Service. Gross underfunding and ongoing cuts of the NHS services. More and more private companies are taking hold within the NHS.
NHS salaries being cut by 14% ongoing since 2010. Some 25000 nursing + 3500 midwifery vacancies in England alone.
The Tory parties plans are being unravelled-- HTC expresses how we need to come together as a community to demonstrate.
The service is at a real risk as the future just holds further cuts and privatisation after Theresa May demands more austerity in the service.
NEW IDEAS
New social/cultural/historical event
After struggling with trying to make politics artistic and tidy in terms of narrative I have decided to stay away from directly looking into politics as part of my plot. I then wanted to try and base my idea on the death of David Bowie and to create a narrative around him as an icon and his impact on an international scale, but how could I reduce Bowie's life to a two minute sequence. I found this task impossible. One of the main things I want to focus on in my study of animation is the beauty of animation in the movement and image themselves rather than the storyline. So I have to decided to change my idea yet again to something which will translate clearly and effectively through my animation. It will be annoying to start again seeing as I have already begun my journey on designing a Bowie-esq character. But I think this is the right choice.
I have decided to go with an event which happened only last week. The National NHS demonstration in London on the 4th March. Showing extensive support for our national health service and collective anger towards the destructive policies of the Tory party.
After struggling with trying to make politics artistic and tidy in terms of narrative I have decided to stay away from directly looking into politics as part of my plot. I then wanted to try and base my idea on the death of David Bowie and to create a narrative around him as an icon and his impact on an international scale, but how could I reduce Bowie's life to a two minute sequence. I found this task impossible. One of the main things I want to focus on in my study of animation is the beauty of animation in the movement and image themselves rather than the storyline. So I have to decided to change my idea yet again to something which will translate clearly and effectively through my animation. It will be annoying to start again seeing as I have already begun my journey on designing a Bowie-esq character. But I think this is the right choice.
I have decided to go with an event which happened only last week. The National NHS demonstration in London on the 4th March. Showing extensive support for our national health service and collective anger towards the destructive policies of the Tory party.
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