Do You Hear The People Sing in The Mall? (Video # 6)

THIS IS SO COOL.

As a fan of Les Mis, this was really entertaining to watch and to think how well this was done to do something like this.
Give it a watch and you'll see what I mean.

Nothing Much (Blog # 14)

So, as the blog says, nothing much happened for me this week. It was pretty normal and just, things were alright.

This week in BOCES we did more Premiere tutorials and learned different styles of editing and shot takes after we handed in our own shot lists for our documentary. It was interesting to learn how many different ways someone could take a shot so in displays a more vivid idea of the emotion of mood of that scene. I really liked that.

Although, I can't wait to get into taking the shots and to start making my own documentary and film so, I can't wait to use the cameras.

For happiness, well, I went to go see my friend Karissa in her last 24 hour play (a thing my school does, you make 8 plays in only 24) and she was great in it!

Though, I was really upset this week over my English teacher who just has a bone to pick with me all the time. It doesn't make sense and she says my writing isn't good enough. She makes me stress all the time and come home pissed off because she talks down to us like were lower than her. It's sick

Summing it Up:

A Little How To (Blog# 13)

Here's How

. When hiding a Lav Mic the best option is, if you don't have to hide it, don't do it. By having an exposed mic, you get the best sound quality then having it hidden in clothing and etc. By having it exposed and hidden in clothing, clothing could rub against it and give you bad sound. Another thing that could happen and give you bad sound, is cable noise in which the cable gives out sound when it is moved. Hair could also give bad audio is someone is hairy, even on the chest.
A cool way to possibly hide a lav mic in a tie, is to simply clip it backwards so that the clip could be mistaken as a tie clip or to even tie the mic into a lose knot and put it behind the tie. Tape it down and then make two triangle pieces and sandwich the mic into place and this aids in blocking out some noise from rubbing on clothing. Also, to hide a mic in a tie, hide it in the actual knot of the tie by bringing it down and have it poke out from the bottom and even if it is pointing down, the audio is picked up from the mouth.
If there is no tie, but a collar, do the same technique that was used on the back of the tie and do it under the collar and audio is able to be pick up this way as well. With a buttoned up shirt, you can hide a lav mic between the buttons of shirt with the triangle technique like before.Applying it to the skin is also an option by laying a piece of tape before applying the mic down, First aid tape is recommended and if the person is wearing a t-shirt, just use the same method and run it through the collared area of the t-shirt.

The Opinion

. This video was extremely helpful and eye opening on exactly how a lav mic could be hidden from a shot an this could be really helpful for my own films for the year. I could use these techniques and let's hope and pray for no chest hair.

Let's Learn Kiddo's (Blog # 12)

Let's Get Prepared...

.Nicole Herr is a creature animator that has worked on Game of Thrones and Guardians of the Galaxy who first got interested in animation when she saw The Little Mermaid, that night she contacted Disney Florida Studios, asking for advice and she was able to talk with a senior animator and from then on, she knew what she wanted to do for a career. In 1998, her first professional work was to animate jellyfish for the movie Sphere. Though, asking her what her favorite work was to be apart of, was a tough one as she couldn't choose one. From restoring original animation from the original Fantasia for the 2000 release, to animating Groot and Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy and even Stuart Little 2 where her first character animation was featured.
When also asked for what the differences between being a realistic vs being a character animator was like, she explained that there was no large difference. Just being a realistic animator, details matter and when you're doing a more life like being, small details matter more. For realistic animation, Herr records and studies animals that are connected to that creature to understand their motions and for more cartoon-y animation, she most closely studies herself as the model and shoots film of herself performing the scenes to get and understanding of movement for that character.
For the length of work time, it honestly depends on how much work load you are given at a time and when the deadline is for that project. It could even take up to 40 hours to animate a 240 frame shot, Herr stated.
Nicole Herr was also given the opportunity to animate a dragon for a Game of Thrones Time Warner Cable commercial and she was excited for this project. The rigging, she said, was very smooth and easy to work with and for the commercial they were able to broad out the characteristics of the dragon and give it character.
As a mentor for animators, she notices that when students start animating creatures, they don't plan their shots and forget the character of the creature and give them no motivation for their action. That's a huge thing to keep in mind.

...For Battle

. Reading the article helped me understand the importance for reference for your animations and the need for pre-production for your projects. Their is a major need for an understatement for your creature and who EXACTLY who they are as a real being. Practice acting out and record yourself for movement, don't be afraid to do so, who cares if you look like an idiot. It helps more to do so.

Bringing Mutants to Life- Through the VFX Gene (Video # 5)

This is a really cool video that I found about the VFX breakdown that was done for some of the scenes in X-Men: Days of Future Past and it's really really cool to see how some of the stuff is done for a movie like this, with people having mutant powers/abilities. I highly recommend giving it a look through!

Insult to Injury (Blog # 11)

Hello my fellow people

Overall this week for me has been rather crazy and "busy" as I mostly had the whole week off minus Thursday and Friday and I was taken to BOCES when I didn't have to come so, go me. This week, we started learning Premiere and the inside and out's of that program for our upcoming Documentary project which, I can't wait for. Learning Premiere was pretty fun and it was nice to re-learn some things that I forgot over the summer.

I can't wait to learn After Effects and to figure out how to make some pretty (cheesy) cool effects for films in the future

My week all in all was me going to boces and staying at home doing nothing. It was good though, Friday after the field trip I hung out with my friend for the whole day, going to get frozen yogurt, shopping in the mall, went to the Halloween store and we went to see a movie. Then add in horrible jokes and pictures and that was us. I also had a wonderful time on Saturday as me and my parents went to the Daemen College open house and toured the college and the Animation building and I met some of the professors (who are extremely nice) and my parents were VERY impressed. So, hopefully I get accepted there /crosses fingers

Though, on Friday, when I was with my friend, we were crossing the road and we had to run across and while running, my lower back pulled out really horribly and also while walking, my foot got twisted and i almost fell. So i have a pulled out back and a twisted ankle which, hurt really bad, even right now as I type this. So i walked all around Niagara Falls and Daemen College like that.
I deserve a medal.

Summing it Up:

Borderlands, In the Flesh, X-men OH MY (Blog #10)

Ay oh my wonderful people, it's been another week and another week is about to pass .
This week really consisted of finishing up Photoshop projects, which I'm extremely happy with and the beginning of the big picture. FILM. Oh I can't wait to start this, though he started with audio, we basically learned the differences between different formats and what is good and what is bad. AKA MP3 is the Devil.

I can't wait to learn more about film and movies by learning camera angles and how to express emotions through a scene, even without words. That's what I like about films.

This weekend though, has been pretty fun as me and Christina chatted on skype until, like, 2 AM prompting Borderlands and it was a really enjoyable thing to do and hopefully, we'll do it soon! (thanks waifu) Though also, I'm working on my new Kieren Walker cosplay and hopefully, I'll have that finished for Halloween so be warned if I come in with white eyes. Also to add (yes, I had a pretty awesome week) on Friday, me and my crew were able to record almost all my sounds for my sound project and that's really great, just gotta start editing!!

Nothing really bad happened this week, everything ran smooth and well and hopefully I'll have more weeks like this, otherwise, gotta start using my mutant powers to make it happen. mHAHA-

Summing it Up:


(why was this gif ever made oh my god)

Make up is Magic (Video #4)

A video by my favorite makeup artist and since it's October now, I think this would be cool to show!
He's a wonderful artist and he does TONS of stuff so you should totally check out his channel
His techniques I use all the time for things and hey, it helps out with certain things
plus, Laughing Jack is my favorite creepy pasta~

Advice from an Artist (Blog # 9)

Follow This

. Intentionally, many think that being in a video game company, that company is gonna slack off and play their video games all the time and it's gonna be a good ol' fun time. Though in reality, it's just a regular job with regular job things that you have to do.

Although, if you still wanna be in a job like this and knowing that it IS still a regular job, Ian Bowden one of the visual artists and developer at Rockstar is here to aid in some tips for artists.

Look at the trends he says, but be original still. Take what is popular in movies or in the community and give it your own spin so you're able to stand out from others who are doing the same idea as you. Go one step further and don't get cheap with your work, even if it's just a small project. Give 100% each time so it'll show that you are dedicated in your work.

You, as an artist, should always carry a sketch book or even a notebook for ideas. You could be anywhere and could get inspired so it's nice to have one and to simply, practice all the time, even just doodles.

All in all, don't be afraid of new ideas and just experiment with anything. If it comes out bad, try again, practice makes perfect.

What I Learned from This

all that Bowden says is something that I live by because it is true, you must express your interest in the career you want, to get the career you want. Practice, practice and more practice makes you an even better artist or even a better person in the long run and by getting you name out their, someone might like that also and its helps in the long run. 

Personally for me , I carry my drawing pad or even a notepad with me all the time just in case and it really, honestly helps out

Movies Literally Suck Us In (Blog #8)

A Summary About the Facts

. Studies actually show that action scenes in movies excite the brain and pulls us in more for more of those action scenes. It gets our full attention and perception and this is why we stick through some movies just because of the scenes like in Iron Man 2. In reality, studies have even proved this feat as the opening scene from Iron Man 2 was shown and roughly about 75% of the viewers kept their eyes on the action by using heat maps and cameras that focused on the eye movement. The scene may seem real but in reality, the scene was directed in a parking lot and other things were created with CGI.
Though, even with CGI and the manipulation of viewers heads into being sucked in, there is only so much a filmmaker could do and physics and faces. Human beings have life in their faces and with filmmaking and CGI, t could not be replicated because of that very reason. Same with physics, you never know when a thing is gonna bounce with way or not. You'll never know and the maker of Iron Man 2 knew this as well.
In a way though, filmmakers create life out of things unimaginable but with our selves, it's more difficult than those think.

We're Really Brian Washed?

. I think it's quite incredible on how movies are much more than what we perceive them to be. Just pure entertainment. Though truthfully, they are much more than that as they suck us right in with action scenes and it's all in how the brain sees it. The brain sometimes needs pure action and violence i guess?
Also on how, with CGI work, physics and faces and nearly impossible to replicate because it's far to noticeable and way to difficult to handle. The human face even, it's hard to make it with all the inner things it does, which is pretty interesting.