Unnecessary Blog of Unnecessariness

I know I don't have to post a blog this week. Don't care, did it anyways.

This one is going to be different. It won't follow the usual format because it isn't for a grade, so... yeah... let the visual torture begin...

Been focusing a lot on my animation. It's pretty rough, but I am getting more and more hopeful as time goes on. Took a little bit of time off to work on my script... that turned out to be a disaster.... I had one specific line (amongst many others) that was extremely weak and cheesy, so I had to fix that up. Problem is, I'm no good with metaphors, so I asked 2 of the awesomest friends of mine (one of which is an awesome writer herself). They both made suggestions that blew my original idea out of the water. You guys rock (;w;)

Anyway, I will be working on that of course and my animation itself (which I am still stressing over. But what aren't I stressing over?) along with my piles of homework. I have a lot on my plate this Thanksgiving weekend... hur hur hur... Still, I'll make it through :)

To all, I wish you a happy holiday weekend! Eat your fill, be thankful, blah blah blah.

SNOW!!

My Week Has Been a Week

• Knowledge skillz

I think that I will omit my studies in school because I have a feeling that is getting a little old.
However, I have learned (in Animation) that a little goes a long way. I have been so discouraged recently because of how little work I felt like I was doing but when it came time to apply what I had done, it turned out to be GREATLY significant. With only a few pictures drawn in Adobe Illustrator, I made over a hundred frames in a single day! Now, rather or not I want to continue doing what I am doing is another subject, because, although effective, it is extremely time consuming. I will explore my other options though.

• Want to learn

I have been working on some sewing as of late and I keep running into some problems. I want to learn more about sewing I guess :/

• Hulk Smash

 Eh, just sewing I guess. And family stuff.

• Made you happy

D&D tonight!!! And I am determined to do some real rogue fighting today! This is going to be so awesome!

• Link of interest (BAM!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FolnknphLLE

I'm sure we've all seen the Avatar series, right? Now we get to have a little look into the original storyboard used to make the episode Bato of the Water Tribe: Part 2. It is extremely similar to the end result, and I believe that really shows the importance of storyboards themselves. They are just as important as the finished product itself. They are like the blueprints or something like that! Anyways, it was nice to take a peep into the blueprints of an episode that was fairly memorable (The one where we really get to see how jealous Aang can get when someone else becomes the center of attention and you become the third wheel) and it is very relateable!

Frozen in the Making

• Frozen is based off of an old Scandinavian tale. Well that's a little tidbit of information I didn't know. I'd certainly be interested in hearing about the whole legend.
•  Elsa is the antagonist? I thought that Anna was seeking her out just to be reunited with her sister. I thought it was a movie about the importance of family. But I was wrong. It's just another blob about a couple dealing with forces who don't want them to be together. Why Disney, why?
• Frozen is based of of real places and real weather patterns from those real places. I guess that makes a lot of sense considering it is a different take on the folk lore (I'm calling it folk lore for now. Deal with it) of a specific area. Can't make a Scandinavian tale set in the Bahamas or something crazy like that!

Frozen feels extremely generic... It's about a "cold hearted villain" who separates two "lovers" from one another. Sounds like Tangled, Pocahontas, The Hunchback if Notre Dame, etc,.

I am curious to see if the environments are really as spectacular as the article makes them out to be. Also, I have heard of the ice hotel before and I have always wondered what it was like inside. Seeing the ice palace is a lot like seeing the ice hotel only it isn't real and it isn't a hotel (duh).

What is the Scandinavian tale that Frozen is based off of? Is it really as bland as the movie is making it out to be? (Of course, this is my personal opinion and others are entitled to personal opinions of their own.)

Creature Chaos

• Creatures are the big thing nowadays and there's no denying it. Rather on two legs, four, or many more, it is a necessity to draw connections to real movement patterns of real creatures. Even for humanoids, it is beneficial to look into the movement of animals (Ogres to Gorillas for example).
• Diversify your reel. Don't focus on one thing. Show that you have a wide array of talents by combining anthropomorphic beasts with human-like interaction (show them what for it means to be talented animator)
• Contact is impressive. Rather than simply punching and kicking, show some tackles and body slams. Something with a lot of contact over a decent span of time. Carefully place some dialogue in there and you've got yourself a pretty decent piece for your reel.

I've gotta say, I enjoyed reading this article. Probably because I can somewhat relate to it, although I'm working on 2D animating and not 3D (yet). I guess I can relate (or at least imagine) to the human-animal hybrid aspect. I mean, my character has a big fluffy tail and fuzzy ears (Well, that's not really what the article was about, but this is how I draw my connection). I also like the idea of talking animals and junk I guess

Very useful reference videos

Creatures are the way of the fuuuuuture~

I don't know if this counts as a question, but other than timing, what is the difference between the two ogres in the .gif image? To me it only looks like the one is touching the ground faster.

My Week: Read It

Perhaps not one of my best titles, but eh

• Learned

 What have I learned this week? I've learned a bit. Nothing but review in Pre-Calculus, Vectors in Physics (which I am extremely bad at), nothing in English, and nothing in US History. Most of what I have learned has been in Animation. I've learned walk cycles, and junk. I don't know.

• Want to learn

 I can't really think of anything other than how to correctly do vectors in Physics and how to better do walk cycles (since I am not confident in mine).

• Frustrated me

 More like stressed me out. I always get stressed out over a large project like the 2D short. Mine is fairly simple, since it is a very short fight, it shouldn't be to terribly long, right? Well it feels like it will take forever to do (even though this time I left room for tweening) and I'm worried about deadlines (which I ultimately know I will meet hopefully)

• Made you happy

 I was really thankful that I got the perfect attendance award and the award for the highest average. I was honestly surprised because I there are so many good animators in the class. I didn't think anything of my average when I first saw it. I guess I have taken so many college classes that they don't feel very special. Still, I am thankful and I would like to acknowledge all of those who deserved the award more than I did.

Everyone :D

• Link of interest

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34cOYIGQnhk&list=PLkacLqVMWvwJswX4FQZNgXhJDRtP6Z_Yf&index=2

 I have to say, I was squealing so much when I read this on Reddit. This is my number 1 favorite game and Gearbox is famous for it's video game shorts. That and that Gearbox is awesome enough to cooperate with a college to make a series of animated shorts (3), created by the students. It gives them the opportunity to experience the real job of a video game creator.
Now, about the video itself, it has an intro from one of the storyboard finalists, and then her animated short. The short itself was just amazing. She fully grasped the personality of Claptrap and his shenanigans. Maya is allowed to be so out of character because the whole scenario is based of a fictional work out of Clappy's imagination. Very entertaining and enjoyable for a Borderlands fan!

Recreating a Classic

"When a forger is trying to make a document look older than it actually is, they'll sometimes use tea or tobacco to stain the paper that this item is printed on. And when a furniture maker is trying to make a table or a dresser look like an authentic antique, they'll sometimes beat on that item with a length of chain in order to weather the wood" When an animator wants to make an cartoon look older than it is, they will sabotage the production by purposely adding mistakes that occurred during the real vintage cartoons.

• Disney used to be short on money?! I thought Disney was an instant success from the time it began and that it was swimming in more money than it knew what to do with. Well, that's what I get for assuming.
• Disney cartoons were in really bad shape when they aired. So many mistakes that added to the finesse of the cartoon (where one might assume that it would actually take away from the appeal). Why were they so damaged?
• California used to have a bad electrical current? That's odd considering that California is such a busy and wealthy place. I thought that they would have been the first to have the best working technology.
• Since bullet number 1 doesn't feel very adequate, I am adding a fourth. To go the extra mile, they are snagging the sound files from older cartoons and placing them in the new short. Also, I forget that sound effects are naturally made and not all computer generated.

Eh, it's just my opinion

•  Personally, I've never liked the old animated mickey cartoons. Not sure why. Probably goes along with my previous journal where I stated that "just because it is old doesn't make it any better".
• Very creative and resourceful. I hope it turns out exactly as planned.

Who came up with the idea of remaking a Mickey cartoon? Also, why? Purely for curiosity's sake, of course.

Some Pointers From Your Friendly Neighborhood VFX Man

How very kind of sir Ben Fischler to post these tips for potential SFX job seekers

Cool Beans!

• To get a job in visual effects, you have to really really want it. Unlike some jobs where you just do it to get some cash, visual effects is a very labor intensive field that requires much dedication and a lot of passion. That passion will really resonate with the work that you do and make you even more appealing to bigger and better positions, but with time and with practice of course.
•  VFX is one of the only professions where you build on what you are already strong in and weave in the bits that you are slightly less skilled in. More often than not, it is the other way around. Building on what you are weak in and incorporating what you are already strong in. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to improve what you are weak in, but it doesn't have a huge impact if you start out a little short in a certain field (as long as you have an idea of what you are doing and you're not going in completely blind).

• One of the best ways to "get your foot in the door" is by being a runner or a general errands person. Slightly surprising because it is a position with no actual animating in the field and it would seem slightly difficult to rise from the shadows of the messenger, but it makes sense, especially if you do a good job and make friends. If people already in the field know of your existence and if you have a good reel, they would be able to help you get a better position as an actual VFX artist (or something related to it).

 That was pretty cool in my opinion

• I really enjoyed that this article gave a list of different entry level positions and the best ways to "get your foot in the door". It also gives a brief overview of what the tasks for that position would be and allows for further research by any interested individuals who are curious about said field.
• Also, it was pretty cool that the article prepared the reader for the cold hard truth that no matter how good you are, your first gig won't be with the big leagues. It seems pretty obvious, but some people set their sights to high for their first career and end up getting crushed by the weight of reality. It's sad, but true. At least the article gives a little comfort in saying "hey, it won't happen right away. You have to work long and hard to make it to the top. Don't give up!"

Any tips for an artist who doesn't want to get into visual effects? There are fields other than 3D and VFX. What can I expect?

. .Ben Fischler

Ben Fischler

Weekly Comments Blawg Yay-yah

Heyoh! Another weekly comments blog!!

Well, this week has certainly been something. And I've done quite a bit! There were tests to be taken, new material to be learned. Everything of that nature!

• +5 to learning

I've done quite a bit in PreCalculus when it comes to Matrices. We've learned to use them to solve systems of equations and we've learned two different ways to use matrices to solve systems of equations! Inverse method and Cramer's law... fun.... and by fun I mean NOT FUN and by LOUD I mean TASTY!! (referencing YouTube's Brawndo commercials)
In Physics we've just been doing motion graphs. Nothing to terribly special here...
In English we've... well... been reading and learning about Rhetoric and how to argue with other people :D Always useful in any field!!
Social studies is just social studies... We do the same material for weeks on end (Bill of Rights and the founding fathers...). I have been working alone quite a bit and I find that I work much more efficiently this way. Got my work done a day or so ahead of schedule.
Also I will be learning how to play D&D (because I didn't end up playing last week)

• I would like to learn

I would really like to learn how to do a walk cycle (which we will be doing soon enough) because they will be super useful (I like drawing people and I want to expand upon this ability).
D&D
How to use the bone tool. I think it would be useful for this project if I can get it to work. I will try messing with it a little before our 2D Short and see if I can get it to work
How to relax. I get pretty stressed out every once and a while and I need to (teach myself) that often I worry for nothing. I almost always meet deadlines and I always do my tasks to the best of my ability. Relaxing would be nice for a change.
Also, I want to learn how to sew. I want to sew a cosplay for ToraCon 2014/15 and I really need to get on it (but I live with my father and my mother won't let me take my sewing machine to his house. I am never over at her house... Yeah...)

• Frustrating!!

How stressed out I get haha
The fluctuating temperatures. I would really prefer if the weather would remain fairly regular so I know rather to wear my hoodie and a scarf or a winter jacket and my scarf.
Other people can be frustrating, but slightly less so this week. No one has really given me a hassle this week. Key work: this week.

• Happiness

I liked that the lady from Villa Maria College came in and talked to us. She was very nice and was very patient with me when I asked three questions in a row. I like having an idea of where I might belong some day :)
My boyfriend Chris (I'm just going to call him by his name from now on. He's from my High school) was sweet enough to order me a dice set for D&D. He got a fancy black and red set with a bunch of cool looking designs and I got a plain royal blue set. He insisted it was a gift but I paid him back anyways. That's just how I am I guess.
Thanksgiving is around the corner. I like being with the family (sometimes) and I enjoy the food. I always end up getting sick just before Thanksgiving and only ever eat like half a plate of food though. Darn colds know just when to get me. Stupid Rhinovirus!!!
Christmas isn't to far away either and this year I want to get good presents for my friends and family. I feel like I always give bad gifts...

• Link O' Interest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh-BEKM-jRc#t=474

 These guys are great. I frequently watch these guy's work and I love their style.
Crossovers. Seldom do they work. This time, it did. I loved just sitting there and thinking to myself "this is Peach, this is Link, this is..." yada yada yada.
I love how they integrated elements from each game into this video. The rupees, the coins, the darknuts as storm troopers, everything. Makes me wish I had played more video games as a kid.
I would seriously recommend checking out the rest of their videos :D You won't regret it!

Natural Light, It Burns

In My Opinion...

• Personally, natural lighting seems like more of a hassle than what it's worth, but I suppose that if the ambiance calls for the more naturalistic look, then the use of natural light would be the best idea.
• I thought it was very kind to add suggestions for more cost effective budgets (like the Rokinon Cine lenses). I don't think that is included in enough advise articles.

Cool Story Bro

• First off, I didn't even know that natural lighting was an option. I always believed that to have a good movie you had to have it as bright as possible without ruining the shot. When in reality, the exact opposite is true. Sometimes it is better to have less light. Magic Hour (hour just before sunset and after sunrise) and Blue Hour (hour just after sunset and before sunrise) would have the least amount of light with the most amount of brightness/darkness (depending on the time of day the shot is supposed to take place at). So it's like Charmin Ultra: Less is More
• Cameras can be very sensitive to lighting and apparently there are different cameras for different types of light. Ugh, it's all just so complicated. And not only that, there are different lenses to put on the different cameras! So there is a practically endless combination of cameras and lenses for every single possible scenario! Ugh, no thanks. I'll stick to animating.
• There is much more work involved with natural lighting. Natural lighting, to me, feels like a house of cards. One false move and the rest will come tumbling to the ground. And it seems like anything that can go wrong probably will (nobody's perfect). There is the problems with the actors forgetting their lines and not having the right equipment for the shot and the sun being in the actor's eyes and all that jazz. Hell, there are even tighter time constraints. If you can only shoot for about two or three hours a day, doesn't that rack up a lot slower than shooting for like eight hours (probably an outrageous assumption haha)?

 All in all, if you don't have to use natural light, you probably shouldn't (unless you're feeling ambitious, which is understandable. Risks may yield high success. I'm not much of a film-maker myself, so maybe I just don't understand yet).

I would like to know

• How many movies have tried this technique and made a successful production? How about how many have tried and failed? Other than a more natural feel, what else can natural lighting give to a film? Also, is it worth it in the long run?