Sunday, 11 December 2011
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Maya: Camera Pre-Viz Rigs, Thirds, Diagonals, & Perspective
On Friday we started creating camera rigs and making thirds and diagonal perspectives onto the camera using Photoshop. The process was pretty easy to grasp especially when creating the grids and guides for the perspectives camera.
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| Camera Rigs |
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| Diagonal perspective |
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| Rule of Thirds grid |
Life Drawing Class: Week 12
Well today, like last week we're concentrating on tones. To start things off again we did some quick one to two minute warm ups.
Next we did some quick sketches again only changing from 1 min to 15 seconds. It wasn't too bad though I did feel that I'm somehow stuck to a certain style in drawing these sketches so Tutor Chris advised me not to go for a "sketchy lined" drawing but to go for a more rhythmical and flowing image that need more curves and be loose with them. This was extremely hard for me as I haven't done this kind of thing in ages so it did kill a lot of time drawing them compared to the "sketchy lines".
This time we could draw the next image in any style so thinking back to the idea of curves, I felt that I should concentrate on it more. It was frustrating me as I tried to restrict myself with the amount of erasing lines and when drawing curves, the proportions go very bad. Tutor Chris mentioned that I should exaggerate these curves so using tone I thought I can make the outlines exaggerated which I felt works well. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to work on the face and chair which looks incomplete.
For the last 10 mins of the lesson we used the method that we've used for the last image and use them on this image which by then we should've got used to the method and can quicken the pace. I still couldn't quite get the hang of the curves so I've left the mistakes on the page as a "reminder" for me when drawing the scale and curves. Again without much time the image is incomplete with only the body in bits of charcoal.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Don't Look Now (1973) Review
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| Film Cover |
Set in England and later to Venice the film, famous in its
time for the innovative editing style and its themes. This involve flashbacks
and forwards to depict the blind lady’s and John’s precognition of events as
well as some on other characters. “It's
the fillips, visually introduced by director Nicolas Roeg in glimpses and
flashes, that make this much more than merely a well-made psycho-horror
thriller.” (Variety, 1972)
The theme of red is depicted and is used to remain in our minds from the very beginning since Chrissie’s death which she wore a red coat. The use of red remains in the film, like blood and the red tile on the mosaic piece which is either hinting that the characters can’t let go of their daughter or that the spirit is trying to contact them to warn of dangers ahead or that it is used to play with the characters and the audience right until the end which to find out that “the child running around Italy” turns out to be his killer. "The one bit of colour that registers on John is that of a brilliant red parka worn by a child who, from the back, looks just like his dead daughter. The figure appears to him at night, at the end of dark alleys or fleeing from something on the other side of the canal. John also has some other hallucinations that I dare not describe without giving away the plot” (Canby, 1973) this could either represent the devil or imp or just a killer in red.
The theme of red is depicted and is used to remain in our minds from the very beginning since Chrissie’s death which she wore a red coat. The use of red remains in the film, like blood and the red tile on the mosaic piece which is either hinting that the characters can’t let go of their daughter or that the spirit is trying to contact them to warn of dangers ahead or that it is used to play with the characters and the audience right until the end which to find out that “the child running around Italy” turns out to be his killer. "The one bit of colour that registers on John is that of a brilliant red parka worn by a child who, from the back, looks just like his dead daughter. The figure appears to him at night, at the end of dark alleys or fleeing from something on the other side of the canal. John also has some other hallucinations that I dare not describe without giving away the plot” (Canby, 1973) this could either represent the devil or imp or just a killer in red.
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| The "girl in red" but what or who does she represent? |
The film contains some parts of Occult superstition, like
the séance scene where they try to contact Chrissie only to be reminded
beforehand that their legs shouldn’t be crossed. The most used flashback in the
film is the river reflection shot of Chrissie running along the riverbank which
she appears as running upside down.
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| The distinctive reflection shot of Chrissie running |
List of
Illustrations:
Roeg, N (1973) Film Cover (online):http://www.iwannawatch.net/2011/05/dont-look-now-1973/ - (accessed on 30/11/11)
Bibliography:
Variety Staff (1972) Don’t
look now (online):
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117790513?refcatid=31 - (accessed on 30/11/11)
Canby, V (1973) Don’t
Look Now (1973) (online):
TM (1973) Don’t look now (1973) (online):
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/65675/dont_look_now.html - (accessed on 30/11/11)Sunday, 4 December 2011
The Innocents (1961) Review
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| Film Cover |
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| Quint's ghostly appearence on the window whilst possessing Miles |
Set in 19th
century Britain, the film attempts to create a psychological film set around
the life of Miss Giddens. Based on Henry James’ “Turn of the screw”, the film
uses elements to create dark, mysterious horror into the film such as exaggerated
lighting of the candlelight’s, cockroaches that sprung out of the mouth. “Clayton's
filmmaking, mustering frisson by both candle and blazing daylight, could serve
as an object lesson in its genre” (Atkinson, 2005) Long staircases are also used as part of the
horror genre, giving the idea of no return as well as ghostly appearances on
the windows or out on a very rainy day near the river bed which reflects on the
story of how Miss Jessel killed herself.
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| The innocent siblings with Miss Giddens |
The characters is
pretty similar to the style of “who dunnit” or “Cluedo” where each character is
as mysterious than each other only this time is through the perspective of Miss
Giddens, in particular Miles, who looked like a ten year old child but seemed
too mature for his age especially in the scene where Miss Giddens gives him a
kiss goodnight, Miles kissed her directly on the lips. “Meanwhile, slow fades and a bravura dream sequence hint at
the blurring of boundaries – between life and death, rationality and
imagination – that so disturbs Miss Giddens, endowed by Kerr with a frisson of
hysteria from the start. Whatever is happening, she knows it is ‘something
secretive and whispery and indecent’” (Walters, 2006) The siblings play an innocent-yet- mysterious
pair of children where sharing secrets could either be a good thing or that
they’re creating something sinister. “Kerr runs a wide gamut of emotions in a difficult role in which she has
to start with an uncomplicated portrayal and gradually find herself involved in
strange, unnatural goings-on, during which she sometimes doubts her own sanity.
Clayton has also coaxed a couple of remarkable pieces of playing from the two
youngsters, Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin, extraordinary blends of
innocence and sophistry.” (Varity Staff, 1960)
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| Miles kissing Miss Giddens |
The strangeness
of the film is how it ends. With Miles dead whilst on Miss Gidden’s lap as she
cradles him after Quint appearing on the hedges when Miss Giddens urges Miles
to “say him name” and Quint clasping his hands before disappearing, it gives the
audience a question of whether Miles was actually got set free or was the “clasping”
of the hand a symbolism of “I has taken your soul” this is for the audience to
decide.
List of Illustrations:
Clayton, J (1961) Film Cover (online):
http://divxm.com/the-innocents-1961-480p-brrip-xvid-ac3-ltrg-t333799.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
http://divxm.com/the-innocents-1961-480p-brrip-xvid-ac3-ltrg-t333799.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Clayton, J (1961) Miles kissing Miss Giddens (online):
http://www.cineplex.com/Movies/Archives/CS11986/The-Innocents/Photo.aspx?id=123667 - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Bibliography:
Atkinson, M
(2005) Resurrecting an Unsung
Horror Gem (online):http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-08-30/screens/resurrecting-an-unsung-horror-gem/ - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Walters, B (2006)
The Innocents – (1961) (online):
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/76028/the_innocents.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/76028/the_innocents.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Variety Staff
(1960) The Innocents (online):
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791964?refcatid=31 - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791964?refcatid=31 - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Maya: Hotel Scenes, textures- All Done!!
Finally, fixing all the textures and adding new scenery props I've managed to complete this mini project. I've also found out how to create the sky which with some tweaking with the lights and tones makes it look well when its rendered. I did had trouble between renders as there are some windows might have not joined up well with the UV maps and then I've realised that the windows weren't properly aligned to the wall itself! I've also added some texture on the roof which the shadows show the shape of each tile which I think works well. So adding cars, streets, lamps and trees this scene is officially complete!! ^_^
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| Final Image |
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| Before: the window problem |
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| Changed the sky a little, problem with windows again and the walls on the right |
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| Final: windows,walls, UV texture, sky fixed, added car. set in slightly different camera view |
Friday, 2 December 2011
Maya- All videos done!! :D
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