Normal Human!!

I apologize in advance for my lack of things to say today. I'm in a bit of a funk, or perhaps a slow period where not much is happening. It's pretty much work work work from this point on.

• Learned

 Ponytail equation? Well, I guess I learned the equation and what variables need to be found to solve the ponytail equation, but it's all calculus and I'm only in pre-calculus, so I don't entirely understand the equation as a whole. I'm working on it though.

• Want to learn

 I want to figure out the ponytail equation mostly

• Frustrated you

 Ponytail equation... It's so dang difficult. Even my friends who are in calculus told me that it is crazy that I even considered trying to figure it out. In a way, it is, but I don't care. Maybe I'm just crazy like that.

Also, when I was trying to make arrangements to get to my oldest sister's honor society induction ceremony, I kind of re-sparked an ongoing feud between my two older sisters. It got to the point where my older sister absolutely refused to go to her induction ceremony because she was so angry with our oldest sister and I feel terrible because I kind of feel like it was my fault. Everyone says it wasn't my fault, but I can't help but feel at least a little guilty.

• Made you happy

 Octodad- Dadliest Catch. It's hilarious! And of course my boyfriend. It will be our 4 year anniversary on Friday, April 4th. I don't have anything planned though. :( Hopefully we will figure something out.... but probably not...

• Link of interest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aErI0pTCUoU

Another lip syncing tutorial! Because we haven't had enough of lip syncing... yay.... (Well, I personally enjoy lip syncing, but in my own way. I redraw my phonemes and sometimes copy and paste, but I don't have a library filled with specific phonemes)

I love the work of this animator and I was thrilled that they had a lip syncing tutorial for their work. Hopefully they will be of use to anyone who happens to stumble upon this blog entry.

Human Eyes and Cameras

Fast Facts:

•  Eyes can't really be compared to video cameras (or at least, they make for a poor comparison). They function in different ways and process images differently and store data by different means, making them difficult to compare.
• Eyes make for extremely crappy cameras. So many flaws and obstructions of view, blind spots and blurs, and all that jazz. If our eyes were cameras, we would return them.
• To many frames per second can actually give you a headache. This is why, when something is moving to fast for your eyes to see, your eyes add in a motion blur. Without this motion blur, the eyes would get confused and your noggin will start aching.

Thoughts and Opinions:

•  I never realized that eyes produced such a crappy quality "image"
• Another point for technology for surpassing human limitations

Question:
Why is it that, at the point of optimal vision, fewer "megapixels" can be perceived than outside of that point? If the optimal point is compared to 7 megapixels, shouldn't the points outside of this be compared to 6 or less, since it isn't quite as clear? And does that take into consideration the blind spot where no visual data can be drawn from?

Miyazaki's Tips For Better Movies

Just thought you should know:

• Make movies that don't distract from humanity or everyday life, but create movies that inspire thought. For example, Princess Mononoke made us think about our use and abuse of power against the forces of nature. It really makes you think.
• Teamwork is incredibly important. Your associates are there to help and to share or relieve the burdens of film making tasks. Don't try to do it all on your own.
• Don't rely to heavily on one type of media. Try to find the happy medium between old and new to produce the best quality film that you can.

 My thoughts:

• I think these are tips that we all should know, but oddly don't. None of this is all that shocking or unexpected, but it reminds us of what was right in front of us all along. Everybody needs a refresher every now and again.
• Exactly the kind of tips one might expect from Hayao Miyazaki (not that this is a bad thing, but all of these are clearly put on display in his movies). He is a man who can take his own advise and it shows, which is something that can be appreciated and respected.

Question:
 How does one mix old and new media? One might assume that all (or perhaps most) of the art is hand drawn on paper (or some material), but where does the "new" technology come into play?

Weekly Journal Blawg Thingy

• Learned

Hm, this week has mostly been a work week, though I did learn how to make titles in Premiere.  Not so sure I've learned any personal lessons or anything. I don't know.

• Want to learn

Credits in Premiere. I don't think I really learned how to do that. Also, I want to learn how to make my own sound effects. I have been wanting to make a sound of a ball of Playdough  hitting a baseball to simulate Goo smacking into a baseball. Also, I wanted the sound of a baseball rolling though the grass.

• Frustrated you

Sound effects always grind my gears. I can never find any that I am happy with and usually end up sticking in anything I can find that may or may not fit.

• Made you happy

 Getting to spend some quality time with my boyfriend is always nice. Yesterday we played Cards Against Humanity. Though our senses of humor clashed, we had a good time.
Also, I've been keeping a journal. I figured I should keep track of my thoughts, because... REASONS!!!

• Link of interest

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmiCMZ9uFiQ

 A Game Theory episode on sound which covers a topic we have heard before: Infrasound. Warning: Blood, Mortal Combat characters (so there are some pretty "interestingly" dressed ladies.

Black-drops

Fast Facts:

• "Black-drops" made much easier and more cost effective! It only requires black (wrinkle-less) fabric, a few lights for accents (placed wisely around the scene), and basic knowledge of editing software!
• This method can be used for a variety of things such as music videos and pictures.
• Although this isn't considered the "correct" or "professional" method, it still produces a professional result when done correctly. Like a lot of alternative methods, it is to be experimented with and perfected.

Comments:

• My wallet may one day thank this person for their gift of thriftiness.
•  Practical, effective, badass! It's good to know that you don't have to break the bank for adequate results!

Question:
 Is there any difference in quality when compared the the "correct professional" way of doing this? And what is the correct way of doing this? What differentiates one method from the other?

Creativity and You

I hope nobody minds my personal anecdotes. If you do, well, deal with it I guess.

I have always called myself a creative person, and when comparing myself to a list like this, I find that many of these traits apply to me in some way or another. Truthfully, not ever quality describes me exactly. I still don't like being alone, but some of my best ideas to come to me when I am alone.

Creative facts:

• Being observant is more than just an annoying OCD induced trait. It's a trait of creativity. Wonderful! Now I can continue to observe without feeling somewhat awkward!
• Trauma can actually be very beneficial when used as fuel for something positive. It can drive people to do amazing things (and also horrible things when used in a negative way). Hooray for trauma(?)
• Stalking "people-watching," is a trait of the creatively inclined. They want to know how everything works and why people do what they do. A fascination I find gains me the confused look of my boyfriend when I move things around and see what influences other things to move.

 Creative opinions (much better than regular opinions haha):

• A list that describes me quite well. Thanks for the ego fuel
•  Not so much "informative" as it is an article for fun. Most of these were things we could have figured out on our own if we ever asked ourselves, "what makes me creative?"

 Question:
 What personality types can be confused or crossed with creativity? Obsessive, perhaps?

TORA CON 2014!!

• Learned

 That funky thing with the mouths (it was pretty awesome by the way). I think it could very well be useful (I dunno, maybe eventually). Other than that, I guess I haven't really "learned"  learned anything.

• Want to learn

 More about lip syncing? I don't know, at this point I'm just trying to think of something to put here... ^^;

How to squish my Goo model without him using dig ;w; (Pokemon reference. My model wiggles under the ground before resurfacing...)

• Frustrated you

 When animations don't go 100% as planned. I guess that's probably the same for everyone. And I am more so sad than frustrated that this year I won't be cosplaying at ToraCon 2014 ;m; I love cosplaying so very much but the only costume I like wearing is stained with blue ink and iced tea... *single tear rolls down cheek*

Update: Just came back from the second day of Tora Con 2014... Sunday was absolutely flipping amazing!! Saturday... no... not even close... I mean yes, I did get to sit in a Q&A with characters from my favorite game and get their autographs, that was about it... Everything else was sheet... *sad face* ... the staff was rude, the lines were packed shoulder to shoulder and stretched far longer than reason would dictate, and there was no organization! The some other panels were alright too, I guess :End of Update

• Made you happy

 The voice actress of my favorite Borderlands character is coming to ToraCon and I'm going to get her autograph!! *squeals in excitement* (But I won't be in costume... so a little part of me is dieing ;w; )

Update: SUNDAY HOWEVER, was the exact opposite of Saturday!! Short and reasonable lines, entertaining panels, great friends!! Highlights of Sunday: Brony panel, bought a knit Totoro and cactus, and the cosplay dating game. IT WAS A FREAKING BLAST!! I got to sing and dance and fangirl all over the dating game contestants. 1 word people: Deadpool :End of Update

Goo is looking FABULOUS! His motions are fluid (more fluid that I thought was possible from me) and there is definitely an abundance of expression from the little guy xD He makes me so proud (of me) (despite a few hiccups along the way).

• Link of interest 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3KUZVkco4g&list=UU_pRk73aPnVcPuFgytK4zDw

What else is there to say? It is SSBB to the theme of Attack on Titian.

Excellent animation, very entertaining, much wow.

Underestimated Animation

Fast Facts:

• Even officials are prone to laziness... Really? Isn't it the voters' jobs to watch all of the nominees and make a decision? Can the excuse "I didn't see all the nominees" really be a valid excuse?
• I don't see why Get a Horse! appeared intimidating just because it emulated the old styles of early animation. The fact that the old and new was indistinguishable should be a sign of phenomenal artistic and animating talent! No excuses!
• Those who did vote (3/7) voted for Frozen. I agree with their decision. It was a wonderful animation with amazing animation and songs so beautiful that they gave me goosebumps. 

I guess that's all I really have to say about that...

Thoughts:

• Faith in humanity('s taste in entertainment): -1
• LAAAAZYYYYYY. Lazy lazy lazy!

Question:

Why is animation seen as a child's genre? It's frothing with entertainment and lessons that you are never to old to relearn. I think it's sad that people are still discriminating against this beautiful genre... *cries internally*

Gaming Meets Filmmaking

Two of my favorite things are going on an extra special date together and just might produce the next greatest thing in movie making history. Olala~

Modern movies are now implementing video game NPC AI's? THAT IS ******* AWESOME!! And a wonderful idea! It makes animating quicker, smoother, and more efficient! Less time wasted on the side-dishes (unimportant background people) and more focus on the main course (Main characters or lesser main characters).

Games are getting so close to movies that not only are they similar when it comes to being story based, they're even sharing assets! That's super-special-awesome!!

Games are getting even more movie like with new tools such as the Oculus Rift which uses virtual reality technology to give the player a sense that they are the actors in their favorite games. This is one step closer to making movie-like games even more movie-like.

I love you media <3

Thoughts and opinions

Informative I suppose. I had not stopped to recognize the similarities that are ultimately there (and growing more similar by the day). It's good to have an article that isn't so much to "inform" as it is to "update on the media community."

Even better that it discussed video games and movies all at once >w<

Adding AI's will make animating so much easier. Yay for efficiency!

Question: How do AI's work in movies?

Curse You Perry the Platypus

• Learned

 I learned that bone structures can be very difficult and if anything can go wrong, it likely will. I've also learned how to keep eyes in their sockets (or perhaps in their necessary positions). A very useful skill for me right now. I look forward to many other complications in the future. :D

• Want to learn

 I would like to learn how to make scenes look more believable. I have a wide open park scene but it abruptly ends where the grass meats the sky. I have a few trees and a few park benches but I'm not sure it looks believable. And another thin, my benches don't like to rotate correctly and I'd very much like to fix that.

• Frustrated me

 Rotation points are messed up and I have no idea how to fix the ones I'm concerned about.

• Made me happy

 My Goo model is cooperating with me. His eyes are staying in place and rotating properly. I had to make a few compromises, but I am pretty happy with the results.

• Link of interest

 Curse you Perry the Platypus!

Lip syncing tutorial from the popular YouTube channel Domics. Always useful. Step by step instructions on how he does his lip syncing for his animations while animating one of the most popular phrases in the Disney Channel show Phineas and Ferb. CURSE YOU PERRY THE PLATYPUS!

The Holy Bible of Comedy

Death is easy. Comedy is hard.

Funny Facts:

• It's either funny or it's not. There is no in between. "Kinda funny" isn't really funny at all.
• Comedy is much more difficult than drama because comedy breeds arguments and clashes between different personality types. Different people who think different jokes would be funnier and others at each others throats. Comedy is frustrating for everyone involved.
• Even comedies have scripts. Comedy is still a story and still needs a well organized storyline. Comedies need to be taken very seriously.

My Thoughts:

• Mixing religious references and comedy felt very uncomfortable :(
• Dang, comedy is overly complicated. So many rules and restrictions and so many scenarios where everything can go wrong. It's either a hit or a miss.

Question:
How can an unfunny person "become funny"? Or did the person in the article act as the anchor for the other comedians?

LEGO Lighting

Fast Facts:

• Tone down the reality whenever necessary. If headlights and highlights are ruining your shot but they would normally be there, tone them down.
• Referencing previous works is a great idea. Look and see how the lighting worked during those movies and maybe they will hold the answers you are looking for. Also, make your own references. Apply the scenarios to reality and observe how things would work, then translate them into the project (like how Carlos Baena recorded himself flopping onto the ground to see how the shoulders reacted to impacts like that. Extremely funny, by the way).
• LEGO bricks are highly complicated. You have to pay attention to the colors of the bricks, the reflectiveness, and even oxidation to make the bricks as convincing as they can possibly be. By emulating the conditions one might find a LEGO in (like a sandbox or a basement), one can make a convincing LEGO brick or character.

Thoughts and opinons:

• Still don't like the LEGO movie ^^;
• Useful tips that some people might not even think about at first. I have to say, I appreciate tip articles like these because one never knows when or where these tips might come in handy.
• LEGO bricks are so much more complicated that I have ever imagined.

 Aftermath:
How much information could be translated from other, non LEGO sources? Even if the situations are the same, referencing a movie without LEGOs would almost feel unnecessary because it wouldn't show how the light reflects off of the brick. Unless referencing the other movies would explain light intensity and placement.