Simulated Client Project Proposal

I've just handed in my Simulated Proposal and thought about uploading it here so that you can see what i've done for it and give me some feedback if you want to or compare and contrast with your own.
Was anyone else a little bit miffed about the random 3pm hand in deadline? No e-mails to tell us what time the deadline would be. Are just meant to find out on the day of the deadline?!

Simulated Project Proposal.pdf


Music: Gentle Giant - Way Of Life

Pixar Parody

This is so good I had to post it. Picked it up through someone's tweet but I can't remember who it was now. But it was posted on collegehumor.com




Music: Al Jarreau - She's Leaving Home

PRP - Choreographed Animation

After a recent tutorial with Andy I am going to start looking at choreographed animation for my Personal Research Project.
So first I must define what choreography is in relation to animation.

Leopard OSX Dictionary:

choreograph |ˈkɒrɪəgrɑːf|
verb [ trans. ]
compose the sequence of steps and moves for (a performance of dance or ice skating) : he is now choreographing a ballet.
• figurative plan and control (an event or operation) : the committee choreographs the movement of troops.
DERIVATIVES
choreographer |ˌkôrēˈägrəfər| |ˈkɔriˈɑgrəfər| |-ɪˈɒgrəfə| noun
ORIGIN 1940s: back-formation from choreography.

Wikipedia:

Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance, see chorea) and "γραφή" (writing). A choreographer is one who creates choreographies.

Examples of choreographed animation (More to come soon)...
Sigg Jones


One Man Band


Anima

Simulated Project - Research (4)

Production Pipeline...

First I looked at Pixar's Production Pipleine to get a better idea as to how the animation production pipeline is structured.



I found more reading here for animation production pipeline

Production Pipeline job at Dreamworks Animation, California

And another useful bit of reading for the Principles of Animation / Production Pipeline

Using some of the above I have written my own Animation Production Pipeline...





Music - Mahavishnu Orchestra - You Know You Know

Simulated Project - Research (3)

This is SO interesting. It doesn't help the project, it actually goes against the outlines of the brief but it is really interesting so I had to post it.
This video follows the history of one of the most well known and used drum loops in history.
It covers the subject of copyright and which bands/artists have used it.
I also found it useful to watch because now I know what music (or drum loop) I am going to include in my final 20 second animation.



End of post :)

PRP and Simulated Project - Tutorial 1

PRP...
The first tutorial for PRP was really useful. I got to hear what ideas everyone had for the 'question'. Although the point was made that it doesn't have to be a question, I just have to ask myself; What am I looking for? And form an informed opinion! That makes things easier and more sense in my mind.
Andy suggested that because I have shown an interest to it on my blog, that I look at choreographed animation. This could be a lot of things such as fight scenes, dancing, non-dialogue interactivity etc. Now that I have a key word; choreograph, which I didn't think of before but am interested in, I will have a better direction for my PRP project.

Simulated Client...
My idea is very simple, to the point and contains some animation in a 3D world (ala Matrix white gun room).
There is an evil, sinister looking character who is sitting at a laptop. He looks around to make sure no-one is there and he presses DOWNLOAD on the keyboard of his laptop. In front of him are thousands of faceless figures with names above them. As he hits the download button you see one of the figures disapearing. As an example; Pink Floyd. The message shortly after, though I haven't given it much thought yet, will be something like; Downloading music and films is killing the industry and stopping people from working and financing the music and films that you enjoy. Stop file-sharing, stop downloading; It's illegal!

These are my notes, drawings and ideas up until now...




I'm going to get started on some simple 3D storyboards once I have 3ds max 2010 up and running.


Music: Dub FX - Love Someone

Simulated Project - Research (2)

More examples (artefacts?) of Anti-Piracy campaign videos already made by government or private funding...





Classic! Think I saw this first on Charlie Brooker's (check out the baadass dance moves)


Oh my good gracious no! They couldn't stop at the first one and had to make another (ala Eiffel 65 - Blue music video anyone?)...



This is just funny! I can't take it seriously. Is he being serious? I can't tell...



More silly campaigning. I checked the site at the end and www.filesharingfacts.com doesn't exist




More useful links...
http://www.fact-uk.org.uk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federation_Against_Copyright_Theft
http://belmontsife.org/filesharingfacts.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_sharing
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Internetsafety/DG_071136



Music: The Atomic Bitchwax - Smokescreen

DJ Hero is here

And i'm not a fan!
But I am a fan of the cinematic advert made and released by Framestore London.



For high-res video click here

Simulated Project - Research (1)

Every bit of research and reading that I'm doing at the moment is making this project much more difficult. I keep finding documents arguing for and/or defending file-sharing and company Pirate Bay.

First I looked at Pirate Bay's website and found a link to e-mails they had received and sent back from various compaines threatening to take legal action if they did not pass on information etc. 1

Then I discovered Pirate Bay is actually owned by Reservella. 2

So the guys who were held responsible at the court hearing are not liable to any sanctions or suits. 3

The consequences of Pirate Bay operating has been a year-long jail sentence and a fine of $3.6 million. It has also seen the company shut down on many occasions and as recently as Monday 12th October 2009. 4

As you can see i'm finding a lot more information about the persons who are providing the facility to download illegally and not the person who is doing the downloading. I have to steer myself away from that now, as interesting as it is to me and focus more on the public who downloads...


Other useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act
http://torrentfreak.com
http://www.zeropaid.com
http://www.afterdawn.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/file-sharing
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/26/filesharing-pirate-party-uk-downloads
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/oct/08/winny-file-sharing-court-result

File Sharing - STOP IT!

Okay, the title is a little with tongue in cheek, but this is the underlying message I have to convey in my Simulated Project...

I wanted to start my research by looking at other types of campaigns that aim to inform (and more often scare) the public for; what is illegal, why it is illegal and what the consequences will be. So I searched around, through ALOT of parodies for the adverts that i've seen on television before and found these:

TV License...



Anti-piracy...

Car Tax...

DVLA not paid you car tax advert
Uploaded by hamster1992. - Check out other Film & TV videos.

They are all a bit longer than the 20 second piece in my brief, but I think they give me a good idea of the rhythm with which the animation advert will flow to achieve it's purpose of sending out a message.



Music: Pearl Jam - Last Exit

Back to School

Today was the first day back to University. Here are my notes, thoughts and plans from the lecture...

My first thought when we sat down in Waverley Lecture Theatre was a sad notion that everything was coming to end, but also that everything in between was just 'stuff' that had happened... kind of strange as I don't usually think like that.
I believe this thought was prompted because it was the first time I had been back in the Lecture Theatre (from memory) since the first year. I don't usually think of things in this way so I found it interesting.

Anyway, lots of other things to think about now, such as:

• Simulated Project
• Personal Research Project
• Careers Service
• Hive Start To
• Successful Practice and Principles Year 3
• Multimedia Exhibition

The Simulated Project sounds really interesting as it holds much relevance to our society today.

The Copyright Protection Society (CPS) is starting a public information campaign that illustrates and explains what file sharing is, when and why it is illegal and also the consequence of being involved with this illegal activity.
They want you to produce a piece of Multimedia that will address the points above.

To meet this brief I'm going to research into Pirate Bay as suggested by Deb and talk to friends about this topic. I have 6 weeks to complete this project. Two weeks to have a proposal and the rest to complete the project which is roughly 150-200hrs of work.

The Personal Research Project (PRP) has been the module that I have given most thought to. I have to make my final decision on a question by the end of October. So far I am on my third idea which is: "Bringing and inanimate object to life". I have a few ideas for films to look into but need to do some more planning first.
NOTES: Who else has done it? So, what is the precedent? Argue the point, even if it is a lie.

Linda from Careers Service came in to talk which was very useful to me. I can book appointments to see her on:
Mon 1-3
Tue 2-4
Wed 10.30-5.30
Contacts: linda.brown@ntu.ac.uk 0115 848 8638

HiveStart To sounds like a really great new scheme to help students in the creative fields understand and move into self-employment. The lecture was given by the super cool Bindni Karia; an alumni of Multimedia who is doing great things such as the recent edit for behind the scenes of All My Sons at Curve Theatre in Leicester. I have just signed up and sent off my application so I hope I get the place!

Successful Practice and Principles Year 3 (SPP3) is about preparing yourself for the industry. My first project is simply to create a mock post graduation package. I have to find 4 actual Multimedia jobs and create a mock application for one of them. Then find 4 post-graduate courses being advertised online and create a mock application for one of those as well.

Finally, I let everyone know today that I was running as student ambassador. Someone else volunteered for the role too which is really cool. And it sounds like everyone is going to help in the design process for the exhibition and make it a really good one this year. I have a few ideas but can't wait to hear what everyone else has in mind, so I'm going to arrange a meeting soon.

Points that were mentioned today were: The importance of the industry night. We have to create a really good mailing list so that the potential for work opportunity from professionals coming to the exhibition is really high. Also, I might get in touch with David Cameron Walker. I've spoken to him before about Fly FM last year when he was running it. He was also on Multimedia and he is now running the Students Union. I can't think of how at the moment, but if we can have his help in some way that would be great.

So, two hours and two rooms later (which was only supposed to be one room for 50 minutes) we can now see that this year is going to be CRAZY! But i'm so excited, enthused and ready to work hard and get my 1st degree!



Music: BBC Radio online - Jazz Line-Up (11/10/2009)