This week was a lot of working in Photoshop and some tests. I do like working in Photoshop a lot and I thought I knew the program pretty well before but I'm still learning new things all the time. Right now though I'm really getting anxious to start film. I know the Photoshop stuff is important, but I've never really done any short films or anything before. And I really just want to jump right in. I also am really excited to learn Adobe After Effects, as I don't have a good understanding of the program at all yet but I really, really, really want to learn. The only thing that frustrated me this week was maybe getting stuck a little bit in Photoshop a few times, that's all. Also I tried doing a video blog for the first time but I kinda quit halfway through because I think I'm faster at writing honestly. But I don't know maybe I'll try it next week. What made me happy this week was showing off some of my Photoshop stuff that some people liked. And now the link of interest.
My Link of Interest this week is a website called Code Academy. I know this won't interest everybody but I've decided that in my spare time I'm going to take up Coding. I've wanted to make games for years now, and I realized recently that programming was always the thing that stopped me from doing so. I mean you can always do tutorials but if you do those you only really know how to do super specific things, and don't get a general idea how to make games. So I'm using the website to learn JavaScript, and once I get a good understanding of that, I'm going to try and start getting to making games in Unity 3D. It's really easy for me to gain interest in something, and lose it rather quickly. So for this I'm really going to try to do. I honestly feel like an artist with no art sometimes. So yeah if any of you have an interest in learning to program. Here's a great website to get started. I also recommend checking out Code.org , but I think that's more for younger kids. Anyways, that's all for this week.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Why Chuck Jones is basically a god
This Video is by Tony Zhou of everything frame of painting. It goes over the different techniques Chuck Jones used throughout his Animation Career at Looney Tunes, and why this makes him such a great director. The first technique Chuck used is a two part joke system with Assumptions, and then something completely unexpected happening. This is used constantly throughout Looney Tunes, Like for instance Roadrunner cartoons, where Wile E. Coyote has and elaborate trap that ultimately blows up in his face.
The next technique that Chuck Jones used was putting an emphasis on character. The main thing that he used to break down character was aspiration. For instance Daffy wants glory, Pepe le pew wants love and Wile wants the roadrunner. It doesn't matter how simple the desire is, in fact the simpler the more intriguing the character is. Another point piggybacking off this one is how the character moves. It's important to understand how your character thinks and how they will move to show that. You should be able to understand the character by the way they move. And when we understand our characters more, we are self can make assumptions about the character that will make jokes even funnier.
But with all this, there is a problem. You can fall into a formula and the cartoons can get old fast. But Chuck Jones had a solution to this, which he used the make his cartoons better which is Discipline. This is where he challenged himself to set limitations to the cartoons to see if he could overcome it with his creativity. Such as giving characters no mouths, faces, or even no dialogue. A good example of this would be Bugs Bunny. Bugs is only a smartass jerk when his is provoked. He is still a good character but won't take crap unless he has too. Another technique Chuck used was using the smallest facial changes to get laughs. In his earlier work he would go all out with crazy faces. But this technique works really well too in getting laughs. And the last point made is how Chuck said you need to study real life to get better work, because understanding of the real world can make animations so much better. He also encouraged reading because that's another way to bring new ideas to the head.
I really enjoyed this video as I have been a fan of Every Frame of Painting for while now. I really respect Tony a lot and his vast knowledge for how Films make you feel things and really the true art of film making. I think his analysis of Chuck Jones is perfect and would make Chuck himself proud. I also recommenced his videos on Jackie Chan, Edgar Wright and Akira Kurosawa as well.
The next technique that Chuck Jones used was putting an emphasis on character. The main thing that he used to break down character was aspiration. For instance Daffy wants glory, Pepe le pew wants love and Wile wants the roadrunner. It doesn't matter how simple the desire is, in fact the simpler the more intriguing the character is. Another point piggybacking off this one is how the character moves. It's important to understand how your character thinks and how they will move to show that. You should be able to understand the character by the way they move. And when we understand our characters more, we are self can make assumptions about the character that will make jokes even funnier.
But with all this, there is a problem. You can fall into a formula and the cartoons can get old fast. But Chuck Jones had a solution to this, which he used the make his cartoons better which is Discipline. This is where he challenged himself to set limitations to the cartoons to see if he could overcome it with his creativity. Such as giving characters no mouths, faces, or even no dialogue. A good example of this would be Bugs Bunny. Bugs is only a smartass jerk when his is provoked. He is still a good character but won't take crap unless he has too. Another technique Chuck used was using the smallest facial changes to get laughs. In his earlier work he would go all out with crazy faces. But this technique works really well too in getting laughs. And the last point made is how Chuck said you need to study real life to get better work, because understanding of the real world can make animations so much better. He also encouraged reading because that's another way to bring new ideas to the head.
I really enjoyed this video as I have been a fan of Every Frame of Painting for while now. I really respect Tony a lot and his vast knowledge for how Films make you feel things and really the true art of film making. I think his analysis of Chuck Jones is perfect and would make Chuck himself proud. I also recommenced his videos on Jackie Chan, Edgar Wright and Akira Kurosawa as well.
Ways to use props to get a more interesting film
This article/video was about how to use props to your advantage in movies to get a more interesting film. The first point the article makes is that a prop can convey a characters inner feelings. This is where a prop can symbolize what a character is feeling. And example of this would be the floating plastic bag in American Beauty, symbolizing the characters loneliness.
The next point is Character Nuance. This is when the prop makes you think, why does this person own this prop? And what does this add to their character? Two examples of this would be the Hamburger phone in Juno, which shows that the main character is eccentric.
Another example would be in Pulp Fiction how Jules has a Wallet that says "Bad Ass Motherfucker" because in the movie he is quite the staunch badass.
The next point is Metaphors and Motifs. This is where the prop can explain something complex but does it by showing, not telling. An example the article uses is the spinning top from inception not stopping, making you question if the movie ending is a dream or not.
The next point is related to motifs, being the passage of time. This one is pretty simple in the fact that the prop shows that time has passed. Such as a clock or maybe a rotting corpse.
The next point is the actor performing with a prop. This can just add a lot more life to your scene if your actor has something to work with. Such as hanging up a coat, or reading through something.
And the last point is transitions. This one means using a prop to transition to the next shot or scene. This can work really well if you pull it off right. An example would be a coat waving in front of the camera only to come back to a completely different scene.
I really liked this article and it really made me think about props a different way. I love how movies can make you associate props with them in different ways, and how they use them in cool ways. I definitely want to try this out as much as possible this year in my projects.
The next point is Character Nuance. This is when the prop makes you think, why does this person own this prop? And what does this add to their character? Two examples of this would be the Hamburger phone in Juno, which shows that the main character is eccentric.
Another example would be in Pulp Fiction how Jules has a Wallet that says "Bad Ass Motherfucker" because in the movie he is quite the staunch badass.
The next point is Metaphors and Motifs. This is where the prop can explain something complex but does it by showing, not telling. An example the article uses is the spinning top from inception not stopping, making you question if the movie ending is a dream or not.
The next point is related to motifs, being the passage of time. This one is pretty simple in the fact that the prop shows that time has passed. Such as a clock or maybe a rotting corpse.
The next point is the actor performing with a prop. This can just add a lot more life to your scene if your actor has something to work with. Such as hanging up a coat, or reading through something.
And the last point is transitions. This one means using a prop to transition to the next shot or scene. This can work really well if you pull it off right. An example would be a coat waving in front of the camera only to come back to a completely different scene.
I really liked this article and it really made me think about props a different way. I love how movies can make you associate props with them in different ways, and how they use them in cool ways. I definitely want to try this out as much as possible this year in my projects.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Week 24 Comments
Annnnd... we're back. It's going into the 3rd week of the new year now, and I can say that we're doing stuff a lot quicker than animation took. These past 2 weeks was mostly signing sheets, quizzes and Photoshop demos so far. Which is a little boring compared to what we'll be doing in a few months but it has to be done. Also I learned a few new things in Photoshop which is nice. What frustrated me the most this week was just simple things in Photoshop that took me a while to figure out. What made me happiest these past 2 weeks was seeing everybody from last year again. I've grown quite fond of this group over the year and I was very happy to see everyone after a few months break. I have a good feeling that we're all going to do great stuff this year. And I also was glad to see the 2 new people too, one of which I was already friends with. The thing I'm most excited about right now is learning Adobe After Effects, which is a program I don't know a lot about right now. But I'm very eager to learn. And now the first link of interest of the year!
This here is the behind the scenes featurette of my favorite movie of the year so far (Star Wars hasn't come out yet..) Mad Max Fury Road. I've always been a fan of behind the scenes videos in Movies, but this one is a must see. It really is amazing to see all the hard work that went into this movie. With all the practical effects, special effects and all the custom car modeling they did. And also the amazing directing work of George Miller. But anyways, that's all for this week. Time for another week in Digital Media..... or Animation Video Production sorry....
This here is the behind the scenes featurette of my favorite movie of the year so far (Star Wars hasn't come out yet..) Mad Max Fury Road. I've always been a fan of behind the scenes videos in Movies, but this one is a must see. It really is amazing to see all the hard work that went into this movie. With all the practical effects, special effects and all the custom car modeling they did. And also the amazing directing work of George Miller. But anyways, that's all for this week. Time for another week in Digital Media..... or Animation Video Production sorry....
How to avoid some Psychological Mistakes in Film
This Article/Video was about mistakes that filmmakers make frequently and how to fix them. Here are some of the mistakes he talks about.
Too much typing
When you only spend your time on a computer all day, you find yourself in a weird trance where you really only find yourself bored or distracted. Computers are great things but it's important to distance yourself with them to do other stuff like drawing, cutting scripts and also going outside *cue gasp*.
Only focusing on what would be popular
Just because you think something will sell well doesn't mean you'll get any good material out of it. It's important to make projects about something you truly care about, not something you think the mass majority of people will.
Not making enough narrative content
When it comes to writing, story is everything. Comedy and sketches are great, but its important to challenge yourself to really communicate with your audience through story. Because ultimately when you do this, that's where you will get your best material.
Worrying about failure
When you don't have self confidence in your own projects, that's when they will take the biggest toll. But if you don't worry about what other people will think, and just focus on what your vision is, you will have much more confidence and have better success.
Practice humility
If you have a project that fails, so what? At least you actually made something that means something to you. When this happens just focus on how to make your next project better, and your improvement will show.
I also really enjoyed this article, much like the last one in many ways. It brings up many good points on mistakes that everyone makes when it comes to film, but really any form of entertainment.
I really enjoy these short articles on stuff to improve your own stuff, and I really hope that most of the articles we get this year are like these two.
Too much typing
When you only spend your time on a computer all day, you find yourself in a weird trance where you really only find yourself bored or distracted. Computers are great things but it's important to distance yourself with them to do other stuff like drawing, cutting scripts and also going outside *cue gasp*.
Only focusing on what would be popular
Just because you think something will sell well doesn't mean you'll get any good material out of it. It's important to make projects about something you truly care about, not something you think the mass majority of people will.
Not making enough narrative content
When it comes to writing, story is everything. Comedy and sketches are great, but its important to challenge yourself to really communicate with your audience through story. Because ultimately when you do this, that's where you will get your best material.
Worrying about failure
When you don't have self confidence in your own projects, that's when they will take the biggest toll. But if you don't worry about what other people will think, and just focus on what your vision is, you will have much more confidence and have better success.
Practice humility
If you have a project that fails, so what? At least you actually made something that means something to you. When this happens just focus on how to make your next project better, and your improvement will show.
I also really enjoyed this article, much like the last one in many ways. It brings up many good points on mistakes that everyone makes when it comes to film, but really any form of entertainment.
I really enjoy these short articles on stuff to improve your own stuff, and I really hope that most of the articles we get this year are like these two.
How to beat procrastination
This article was about Procrastination, which is when you postpone something more urgent because you don't want to work on it at the time. The article talks about 6 steps to help yourself deal with the problem.
Step back and look at everything you have to do
This is where you just take a minute to look at everything that needs to get done so you can focus on which things you want to work on, to get work done on a project consistently.
Make a list
Get a small notebook or something to carry around with you, this way you can stay constantly reminded that there is stuff to be done.
The Internet is not always your friend
Sometimes you can want to take a short break on some of your favorite websites, and you realize that way more time has passed than you thought. It's important to make sure you're getting work done, but at the same time you don't have to subject yourself to internal solitude. Set a timer for every 1-2 hours or so, to take a 15 minute internet break. This way you get work done, suicide free!
What's the most difficult thing on your list? Do that first!
Sometimes, supposed "easier" tasks can be much harder than anticipated. So try to dig in straight away to the tough stuff first. This way you can take a huge load off your shoulders once it's done. You also don't get discouraged because you know it's tough, unlike the parts you thought would be easy.
Don't skimp on pre-planning
Sometimes you underestimate how much thought before hand something needs. In my opinion, the best Films, Animation and Video Games, come from long extensive periods of pre-planning to make something absolutely perfect in your own eyes. So make sure you concentrate on complected stuff that will need long periods of planning.
Break it down
It's super easy to freeze up once you just started working on something because you have no idea where to start. It's happened to me and probably everyone as well. So when this happens it's important to relax and put everything you have to do on the table. This way you can focus on what you should do right now to get work done consistently
I really liked this article a lot. I struggle with this problem ALL of the time, even right now I'm working on a top secret project and I find myself not wanting to work on it because I don't know where to start. Procrastination is a big problem in my opinion. It can hinder people to never get something done because their not sure what to do. I also liked this article because it was short and and easy read but also very insightful. Those are the best articles to me and I hope to see more in the future.
Step back and look at everything you have to do
This is where you just take a minute to look at everything that needs to get done so you can focus on which things you want to work on, to get work done on a project consistently.
Make a list
Get a small notebook or something to carry around with you, this way you can stay constantly reminded that there is stuff to be done.
The Internet is not always your friend
Sometimes you can want to take a short break on some of your favorite websites, and you realize that way more time has passed than you thought. It's important to make sure you're getting work done, but at the same time you don't have to subject yourself to internal solitude. Set a timer for every 1-2 hours or so, to take a 15 minute internet break. This way you get work done, suicide free!
What's the most difficult thing on your list? Do that first!
Sometimes, supposed "easier" tasks can be much harder than anticipated. So try to dig in straight away to the tough stuff first. This way you can take a huge load off your shoulders once it's done. You also don't get discouraged because you know it's tough, unlike the parts you thought would be easy.
Don't skimp on pre-planning
Sometimes you underestimate how much thought before hand something needs. In my opinion, the best Films, Animation and Video Games, come from long extensive periods of pre-planning to make something absolutely perfect in your own eyes. So make sure you concentrate on complected stuff that will need long periods of planning.
Break it down
It's super easy to freeze up once you just started working on something because you have no idea where to start. It's happened to me and probably everyone as well. So when this happens it's important to relax and put everything you have to do on the table. This way you can focus on what you should do right now to get work done consistently
I really liked this article a lot. I struggle with this problem ALL of the time, even right now I'm working on a top secret project and I find myself not wanting to work on it because I don't know where to start. Procrastination is a big problem in my opinion. It can hinder people to never get something done because their not sure what to do. I also liked this article because it was short and and easy read but also very insightful. Those are the best articles to me and I hope to see more in the future.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
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