The pacific title sequence - Close ups

While getting feedback from the group someone suggested looking at the pacific intro. The piece features close ups of charcoal with only the charcoal in focus, this reminds me alot of the style of my piece, However something I have noticed about this sequence is the yellow sandy colour palette used, I think this would work well in my video rather than a white background.

Designer - Steve Fuller

Visiting lecturer - Jonathon Barnbrook

Last week Jonathon Barnbrook came in to give us a talk about his work.

Not knowing anything about him before I went in, I was very surprised at how famous some of his work actually was. For example the Cd cover for David Bowie below.

Im interested in album art from looking at the work of peter saville for Joy division record sleeves. I just think its a shame that album designers dont have the canvas that is a record sleeve to design a beautiful iconic image anymore.

I found Jonathons political views and sense of humour interesting in particular when he was talking about ADBUSTERS, ive seen these type of mocking adverts before but never knew he was behind some of them.

As of moving image work I found his piece for the british heart foundation very extreme in hitting hope the message. Just watching the heart beating made me feel abit squeezy. This is what Jonathon Barnbrook was trying to achieve.

Listening to his lecture really inspired me and reminded me of my graphic design days. I still continue to design for bands in my spare time and I wouldnt rule out graphic design briefs in the future.

Ming Wong - Cornerhouse

I recently visited the Cornerhouse in Manchester to look at a film exhibition. There was one moving image piece of work that really caught my eye. The exhibition by Ming Wong had two projected films either side of me showing different emotions of two different people but with the same mellow music over the top.

This showed me how a piece of film can change the mood of the music and how music can seem faster if put with a fast animation. I spent around 10 minutes watching this captivating piece of film by Ming Wong as it got me thinking of ideas for future projects and maybe how I adjust the sound for this project.

On to the next one -music video (composition and oil)

After seeing this video it gave me the idea of using plain backgrounds and simple composition. There is a point in the video where oil is poured onto a skull. this gave me the idea of oil dripping on money.

Throughout the video, there are crucifixes, angelic symbols, a skull. During part of the music video,the music stops, and the audience sees producer Swizz Beatz with his back to them as he seemingly makes the symbol with his coat by raising his hands.

THis had also given me the idea to use some of my ideas as metaphors so that the viewer has to think about what im trying to show.

I love the style of this music video (creeps me out abit) but it sync's well with the song and the harsh black and white contrast keeps things simple.

Director Sam Brown

Hamburger Bahnhof - Andy warhol

Another exhibiton I found interesting when visiting the Hamburger Bahnhof was a series of prints by Andy Warhol, Like the one above Andy Warhol, Mao - 1973.

I find Andy Warhols work intriguing because of my love for handcrafted processes such as screen printing. I recently bought a book all about screen printing and its a technique I want to use for my final major project. I had the idea of involving printing in my self initiated brief but due to time restraints and learning the software it wasnt possible.

I aim to put this right with my major project considering the time I have available to me. I will look at other work from Andy Warhol to gain influence.

Hamburger Bahnhof - soma

During the recent berlin trip I visited the Hamburger Bahnhof. They had a number of exhibitions on including "Soma" an installation which aims to express spiritual hinduism. The installation by Carsten Hoeller is split into two sides containing a dozen reindeers,A bed is at the end of a long room on a raised circular platform that overlooks the reindeer enclosure. The pathway that leads to the stairs up to the bed bisects the sawdust-covered pen, and tall white railings keep the reindeer and guests separated at all times.

However I didnt quite understand the true meaning behind the exhibition and I found it more of a publicity stunt than and art installation. There was an element of animal cruelty about the hole piece something which I found unecessary.

Love portfolio visit

Having found it extremely hard to get portfolio visits before Xmas I decided to go back to love creative to get a little bit of input into my current project.

Mike from love creative sat down with me to look at the footage I had so far for my global warming project. He liked the idea I had of picking out facts and doing a small video for each idea and then editing it all together. He said it reminded him of a viral you would see on the Internet to try an hit home the effects and devastation of climate change.

He gave me similar feedback as in our crit on monday. He recommended I really hit home the facts by going to the extreme. For example pouring more of the grain faster. He also asked what my ideas were on how It would finish. I hadn't quite thought the ending through and he suggested it could all be rewinded and ended in a different quote. I think this is something that would make sense and give the viewers the incentive to do something about climate change.

Fake blood in water test

This is one of my test shots of blood in water. I think speeding it up would give it more of a dramatic effect. Also I think i may consider shooting from different angles. meaning I can plan my composition and compensate some space for my text.

Fake Blood

My original idea was to drop red ink into water. however I think that usign fake blood consisting of Cornflour,syrup,water and food colouring will look more realistic in water.

The blood is supposed to symbolize the contamination and the spreading of malaria.

Cress seeds in Burger bun Experiment

Still sticking with my idea of growing cress from the top of my burger I set up my lights and tried different compositions in placing the burger. I like the last shot the best as the burger looks half glamourous but then cress with start growing from it.

I have tried to stick with the same lighting conditions as with the ice. i like the feel of the yellowy white background which to me displays isolation and decay.

Ice close ups - (hot or cold ice experiment)

Concluding my experiment on hot or cold ice. It doesnt seem to make a difference. I set up some shots to see how many composition might look. The shadows create a mood which I may incorporate into my other ideas.

I was going try and freeze type within the ice but considering my other ideas dont feature text within the piece Im tempted just just add the text on in after effects to continue with the theme.

Hot or cold ice? the experiment

I read an article on the internet saying that hot water produces clearer ice than cold water. So I have dived an ice cube tray into two halves to see if this theory is true.

I suppose the clearer the ice the easier it will be to freeze my text within the ice cubes. However the distorted look of the ice is something i may incorporate within my piece.

Cress experiment 2

After two days of no action in my cold garage. I decided to set up a smaller test in my draw in my bedroom. I planted some seeds on a damp piece of kitchen paper and watered them for a few days and they have already started to grow! The conditions are better for the cress as they are in a warmer darker place.

I think I may now plant these already growing seeds in my burger bun so it speeds up the process. It remains to be seen if they will grow under a studio light.

The reaping - Danny Yount

The Reaping end credits from Danny Yount on Vimeo.

Danny Yount is a title sequence designer i have look at closely for some time now. Like me he is heavily influenced by Kyle Coopers work and now I am influenced by them both. Reading up about how he got the extreme close ups on this piece he apparently shot through a microscope with reflective light. This is great use of a natural filming technique that I wouldnt of known about if i had not read his comments on vimeo.

Cress experimentation

I set up four experiments. I put cress seeds on a damp paper cloth with room light. I put cress seeds on a sliced muffin and added abit of water. I then did the same for two more but put them under a shoe box with a small hole cut in the top.

This test should show me which grows best and if my idea of growing seeds from a

burger bun will work.

Considering how cold my garage is I dont think the temperature is suitable for the cress to grow. But we will see what happens.....

Portfolio Visit - Gyro

Gyro is a marketing design agency based at Salford Exchange Quays. After all the emails I sent out only Frazer Hennessey of Gyro got back to regarding a visit.

Fraiser sat down with me and I talked to him a bit about my background and the areas of design I am interested in. Along with Frazer two members of their creative team, Richard Pearson and James Currie sat with me and gave me some good critical feed back on a few pieces of my work.

They liked the design of my channel ident but gave me an idea that I could animate the words "Science channel" The same way I have animated the logo. They also liked the way my Office title sequence reflected the character of Ricky Gervais. I also showed them my sketch's and ideas for my new global warming video. They liked the way I had come up with different ideas based on facts and seemed very interested in my Decaying burger and melting ice ideas.

James gave me a great piece of advice is how to break into the industry telling me that designers employing graduates also remember people who's work stand out. For example "The guy who did that piece of a moldy hamburger." I completely understood what he was saying and its something I should think about when making my work stand out.

Before I went Frazer gave me some names of moving image designers that he thought would be willing to give my work a look. He seemed pleased with my ideas and said that if I ever wanted a placement at the office I would be welcome to. He explained that his team didnt really have alot of moving image experience and that it was an area that they want to build on.

Another global warming advert

Global Warming from Sublimeman Space on Vimeo.

This is another piece i stumbled upon that uses 3d as well as live footage similar to SEHSUCHT's Google earth piece. It takes more of a playful tone than the previous video where the animals commit suicide. However it still gets the message across about how we need to make a change before its to late. The only thing I dislike about this animation is the text. I think they could of thought of a better way to show the information. This is something Im going to be thinking about in my piece.

Strong Global Warming advert

Global Warming from Astvr on Vimeo.

While looking for existing Global Warming videos I came across this advert. The message "If we give up,They will" is displayed in a strong visual message.To create a piece as detailed as this it would take along time but maybe taking ideas of the tone of voice can help me visualize how my own ideas will work.

Good old Se7en title sequence

Se7en from Brian Kornic on Vimeo.

Everyone has seen this great title sequence before. So much so that it doesnt hold the same excitement. However I think that being a major fan of Kyle Cooper and that fact my idea is focusing on close ups gives me the right to take a a look at this title sequence again in great detail.

I have read Kyle Coopers book and he says how he put himself in the head of John Doe to imagine how the composition and editing could work. Putting yourself in the head of a character helps feel the emotions which is why this sequence has become so successful.

Studio Visit - Sehsucht

While visiting Berlin we visited Sehsucht - a moving image based design agency. We were given a talk by Mate Steinforth who talked us through a project they have just completed for Google Earth. Not only did he show us the finished piece but he showed us the stages from animatic to first edit to final render.

GOOGLE STREET VIEW from Sehsucht™ on Vimeo.

I really like the size of the design studio and the amount of people working there (around 8)

although working in front of a computer screen for 5 days a week seemed a bit tiring. If I was to work at a company like that I would have to be doing other stuff such as story boarding, stop-motion,researching.

Studio Babelsberg - Berlin

During my visit to berlin we visited Studio Babelsberg which has been the location of filming for blockbusters such as Inglorious Bastards,V for Vendetta,Bourne supremacy and most recently the three musketeers staring Orlando bloom.

The picture above is a street set which has been used and altered for different films including the cinema set in inglorious bastards. It was great seeing how the wood work and plastering guys could design photorealistic sets from weeks of researching.

As well as seeing the sets. We were able to look around the prop and costume warehouses where there were thousands of objects that had been used in films. A great moment for me was when the woman showing us round showed me the book used at the end of The lives of of others which is a favorite film of mine.

Above are some uniforms used in by actors such as Tom cruise in Valkyrie and Jude Law in Enemy at the gates. I really enjoyed the experience and it made me think about other jobs within the industry such as prop researchers for films would be a very exciting job.

Cress growth - time lapse

One idea I have is the idea of cress and mould growing or de-growing. Time lapse photography where I can take a frame ever minute or so would work better than film for a week. I could then add fake focus and blurs in after effects.

Dvein - Toca me

I went to visit Dvein in my first year when we visted Barcelona. They showed us a showreel of their work and ive been interested ever since. They use a lot of live action combined with 3d to the point that you cant tell which is computer generated and which is real. This piece uses close ups of materials growing such as liquids,wax,insects.

Close ups and depth of field are a big idea of mine with this project when thinking about growing plants and melting ice.

Global warming facts

This video has given me not only facts about global warming but it has given me a way of comparing data such as deforestation and the killing of cows. it has also giving me a way of displaying facts using icons/symbols.

Ice melting

The first thing that comes to everyones mind when thinking about the conscequences of global warming is the ice melting resulting in rising sea levels. Looking at time lapse in my first year reminded me of close up ice melting speeded up. I find this video visually interesting because of the detail within the ice.

Competition - Climate change

My new brief is a competition focusing on the effects of global warming. The competition is on http://www.1minutetosavetheworld.com/artists-project-earth-youth-visions-award/ and the aim is to produce a one minute piece displaying the changes in our world as a result of global warming.

Ukrainian egg decoration

This video has given me a good understanding of the patterns that ukrainian people use to decorate the eater eggs. the black lines are something i may incorporate into the background of my piece giving it a feel of nature and growth.

The thing I need to decide is wether to include colour into these patterns. because currently my design has a colour palette of only blacks/whites and light brown. For my final shot of the trophy I am thinking of using a mask to animatic the pattern growing.

Smokin Aces title sequence

Like the Rock and Rolla title sequence this intro uses high contrasting colours. The other similarity is that they both do not feature live footage from the film, they use still images with either a moving background or a moving camera. I like this title sequence because of its upbeat feeling, mainly due to the music.

Title designer - Paul Donnellon.

Rock n Rolla title sequence

I love RocknRolla and this title sequence gives the entire film a certain feel, A cool,witty,crime style film which Guy Ritchie has been assosiated with throughout his directing career. I can see a resemblence between this and my piece because of its movement and its 2d 1/2 look.

It was designed by Danny Yount / Prologue films.

Kinetic text - Ludacris

This piece of kinetic text has so much energy to sync in with the pace of the song. When creating my piece in after effects I want to use kinetic text as a transition between frames. I think this will be appropriate for my title sequence considering it is aimed at sport fans that want to be excited by what they see.

Studio Skylab

Skylab are a manchester based moving image company who design things from websites,social media and film.

"We help clients create a digital strategy that acts as a road map to success across all digital platforms. We also create digital intellectual property for clients that they can own and build on, well into the future."

They have designed for companies such as Burnage arts school,Injury lawyers for you,Muse and oasis promotional video's.

Skylab has an award winning history including:

A BAFTA Award plus two further BAFTA nominations. 

Cream, NME, British Video Association, Roses and Big Chip.

Fatheads creative studio

Fatheads is a graphic design company based in manchester that speacialize is Web design and brand identity although they also have a freelancer working for them called John Hedley who produces 3d animation.

The company have produced work for companies such as Treasure island - St Helens, Stoke City FC and Hidden Skin cosmetics.

Sean Turner is the digital director of the company which has been shortlisted for the Big Chip Awards 2010.

The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood are a multimedia company based in within the same building as Love creative, meaning that Love often offload some of their required moving image pieces to The Neighbourhood.

" We combine imaging, animation and technology and sharply focused craftsmanship"

They cover nearly every aspect of moving image from 3d design and illustration to film shoots and TV idents.

Ben Davies is the managing director of the Neighbourhood where they employ around 20 staff. Companies they have designed for ranges from Playstation to Nike to big Car companies like Renault and Toyota.

Awards won:

Big Chip awards 2007

Big Chip awards 2008 - Best animation

International 3D awards - Best film/animation 2009

Young business of the year 2009

Love Creative

Love Creative is a company I have done work experience for in the past. They are a well known graphic design company in the center of Manchester. Love have other 30 members of staff listed on their website but it also came to my attention when I worked there that they also employ freelancers to come in when they need something particular doing.

Thankfully I know a guy called Phil Skegg (EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR) through family members. He was the one who hooked me up with the work experience which learnt me alot about how the industry works. Chris Conlon is the managing director at love and I also had the chance to show my work to Ed Hall who is a designer at the studio.

Love has designed work for big name brands such as Playstation, Doc Martins, Umbro, Nando's. Unsurprisingly they have one host of awards along the way.

Thinline Creative

Thinline creative is ran by Gary Morris who is a freelance web based graphic designer. His studio is on the top floor of his house in Heaton moor, Stockport where he works for various clients that need is design know how to create professional web pages for their company. Gary also designs packaging labels and brochures for local business's.

Gary's company is just himself but he also gets other freelancers in to help to input into his design. He told me that when designing web pages aimed at females he often hires a woman to come in and help him with the graphics.

I found Gary's business when searching for local design studio's in my area and I was pleased to find gary lived only a few roads away.

Euro 2008 - BBC & ITV intro

This is the BBC's intro for the 2008 games, I dont like it at all. I can see where they are coming from.....using the classical culture of switzerland and austria. But when tying it in with football in a cartoon style animation I just dont think it works.

Euro 2008 was also a joint country hosting the games and although I dont know much about switzerland and austria im sure te designers of this intro had the same problem as me when trying to include references to both nations.





This is Itv's Intro for the 2008. Itv have also gone for the classical reference but have focused more on the musical/opera side of switzerland and Austria. Something the country's are quite famous for.

I think I prefer this piece because of its inclusion of live footage within the composition. I think it just excites the viewer before the match starts. Itv wins!

Busta rhymes -make the world go round

Just came across this video and it uses some of the techniques and ideas I have for my self directed brief.

My idea focus's on the upcoming 2012 european championships in poland and ukraine. Ive been looking at polish poster art and ukrainian pattern design to give my piece a foreign design influence.

This video which has been put together using the 3d feature in after effects takes a journey through different magazine designs from different country's japan,russia,brazil. The director has obviously studied the style of design from these country's and used them in his piece.

Cassette Tape Art

Iri5 is an artist who specializes in using non traditional media such as old books, audio cassettes, playing cards, magazines, credit cards, basically whatever he can find.

What she’s created with some old cassette tapes and reel tapes is simply remarkable. Using these old tapes, iri5 has turned them into works of art in a series that she calls “Ghost in the Machine.” The series portrays celebrities and musicians such as Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan, Robert DiNero, Jimi Hendrix, Ian Curtis, and Jim Morrison.

Mark Jenkins - Street Installations

I came across the work of Mark Jenkins the other day. Im impressed!

Jenkins is known for his tape art but also for his street installations that he has put into place in city's all over the world including London,Barcelona and Washington dc.

His work reminds me of the Chapman brothers work, but less disturbing. Although just like the Chapmans work it causes people to start talking. Something all artists dream of.

Oldboy

I watch Repo-Men last week and was extremely pleased with one scene in a corridor. I later found out that this scene had been taken from a film called Oldboy and replicated.

So I went out and bought Oldboy and it was a great piece of cinematography from start to finish from Korean director Chan Wook-Park. I also thought the ending was great and something you totally dont expect. The hole tone of the movie infact leads up to something that surprised me.

ITV World Cup intro

For those of you who watched the world cup over the summer (In my case a very long one) you will seen this exciting intro from the ITV.

This was shown just before the experts did their post match preparations to gear you up before the games. Sadly the world cup in africa wasnt the best. But this intro with its graphics focusing on the continent of africa was beautiful memo for the 2010 world cup.

Jography

I went on a 2 mile jog yesterday and decided to take my camera with me and take some pictures of the different scenery as I was running.

You can see by the pictures the different places a jogged through. from residential areas to dirt paths and football fields. I like how the pictures turned out as you can definetly see a sense of speed and adventure by the motion blur on some of the pictures.

Kaka 3d advert

I love this advert!

Maybe due to the football content. But this advert just sells the new sony 3d hdtv. The advert is shot in 3d just like films such as avatar but obviously you cant watch it on your bog standard tv. This makes you want to go out and buy one of these overpriced tv's straight away so you can watch sport and films in full 3d.

While Kaka is doing his thing it also cuts to different ways you will also experience the full effect of 3d (e.g. motor sport,glass shattering and explosions.) Something I also picked up on was the music used. The use of calming classical music in contrast with all the action going on makes it seem normal to be having things exploding in your face.

Directed by well known director Jonathan Glazer

Shes a thing of beauty - Split screen

I love the feel of this traditional french feeling advert. The split screen brings together both the woman dressing up to go out and the beer being prepared.... The advert is obviously comparing the cool Stella Artois with the good looking sexy woman.

Seeing this advert reminded me of my new way of looking project in year one. I based the project around cubism and seeing things from different points of view. however I think the Stella ad has taken the cool looking technique of split screen and created something smart and original for this ad.

This is my project from year one:

Science of the movies

I have been watching the first couple of episodes of this american show on the science channel. It has really given me an extra insight into how big movie productions are made.

The first episode I watched featured different types of cameras used on sets and also a big hollywood company that specialized in editing together 3d elements with the footage of the characters.

The second episode I watched showed how different weather effects and mechanical effects were created in hollywood. I thought I knew all about these things but when I watched this show it was very interesting and helped me learn about the moving image industry even more!

Paddy Power - Blind Football

As a major fan of football myself. There was nothing better than seeing this advert the other day. Although now banned from being shown on tv this ad uses a great deal of humor to advertise betting. Something in which the advert has nothing to do with.

The Ad is not aimed to get people to quickly log onto paddypower and start betting away. Its a viral that people will talk about down the pub and everyone will remember the name Paddypower! I think its great.

BRONSON

Bought the film Bronson on dvd the other day; Not a penny wasted. I found the film entertaining from start to finish and it was all based on true events. While I was watching it I couldnt help but think the director ( Nicolas Winding Refn) had largely copied the idea from the film Chopper, which is based on another maniac criminal just like Charles Bronson. But I still found it unique and with lead actor Tom Hardy putting in an Oscar winning performance.

I would highly recomend this film to anyone!

Q-Tip

Better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer,singer, and actor from queens, new York City, Part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest.

Q-tip is one of the artist that feature in the Mark Ronson video I last uploaded. There something I really like about his style and the way he raps. As soon as I heard him in Band Bang Bang immediately bought his album and it did not disapoint!

Bringing back the retro - Mark Ronson

When I heard this song on the radio I loved it. Ronson has the musical genius to combine his instrumental sound with other artists ( Q-tip and MNDR) to produce something great. When I saw the video to the song It got me watching it over and over again. The video is shot in some early 90's style chinese game show style with shapes, bright colors and old school effects. But it doesnt look old it looks modern! its strange but great, And the song is also brilliant! Video directed by Warren Wu

Street Drummer

When I saw this link from a friend I was like wow this guy kills it!
Using only pans,buckets and what I can only describe as scrap metal this guy combines the sounds of hitting different materials to produce a drum and base style composition. This guy just proves you can make sound with anything!

Graphic design - Rockstock music festival

Before I joined the course I had a graphic design background,Studying it at diploma level. Graphic design is something that excites my on the same level as moving image and so every now and again I get a few people asking me to do designs for their gigs etc.

This poster has been pinned up in nearly every pub,shop and cafe in Stockport, something I am very proud of. It was to raise money for Christies and they raised nearly £2000!

This Guy even got my logo shaved into his head all for charity!