Style Exercise

This one was a very quick graphic design exercise and is a ridiculously blantent rip off of another poster I found by artist and graphic designer Michael Scwab. But it didn't take very long and I was using it to test out the font and effects I could use on it for potential use in the title sequence and in that respect its been successful..

Variations on A Theme

I've been looking at 1920s and 1930s travel posters for colour and compositional inspirations for potential use as part of the title sequence or as promotional postcards/ posters . This is my first attempt, its not there yet so there are several variations for you all to choose from, a compromise between them will work so let me know which ones are working for you. I aim to get 3 or so done over the next week for fun, research and experimentation...

The Birth of A Beast

So I may have had to start the Maya model again but practice makes closer to perfect and while its not there yet the first Futurist Waverley is born, many happy polygonal returns. I only have some screenshots for tonight for sleep beckons, camera movements to follow soon. Now if anyone has any idea how to begin UV mapping this beast I would be happy to hear...

HDRI's of Edinburgh Sites

Not perfect in places but very fun to complete and more location tests! The original photographs, the Nuke composed panorama and then the image lit by the photo in Maya.
Magic.

Blog Submission - Guide To Navigating It

Although I will be continuing to work on the practical elements of the course in the next two days tomorrow morning is the final submission of the blog for our assessment so I though it was worth explaining what would be the best way to find relevant information on the blog. Also over the next two days I will be gathering HDRI's and texture referencing photographs and site stills from the potential locations to be used in the film for the live action elements and I will be continuing to work on the Maya model, a current state of construction will be presented in the Exploring Practice presentation on Wednesday.

Using this blog:

Under blog archive at the right each post is listed with the date and the title for reference. I have also arranged each post under different categories or Labels which can be accessed on the right hand side so that all posts pertaining to the relevant categories can be viewed chronologically in one page even if they are interspersed throughout my blog. I have put a guide to the labels below. Please note some posts will be shown under more than one label as they were appropriate in more than one category:

1. Experiments - Practical work completed or tested for the course, storyboards, program of study,
                          basic match moving/ film/ HDRI tests etc.

2. General - Posts like this which are less project/ module specific or ones which are related to my
                    attitude or opinion of animation in the broader sense

3. Inspirations - Critical reviews of films, artworks, buildings or photographs which I feel are useful
                          references or examples for my main Master's project

4. Leap Year - A side project carried over from last year which I will be using as a way of testing 2D
                        textures on 3D models

5. Presentations - Completed final presentations or assessment work which was required throughout the
                            semester to pass the modules

6. Research - Similar to inspirations research is more practical and reflective and contains analysis of
                      certain sources and exercises such as the extract which was required for Research and
                      Methods module.

7. Waverley - Everything which is directly related to the practical project has been given this label.

A useful post which is indicative of the overall blog is the mind map which can be found at the link below and the search function on the top of the blog will assist if anything seems to be missing.

blog mind map:
http://what-would-sant-elia-do.blogspot.com/2011/11/spicynodes-edit-nodes-edit-content.html

I hope you enjoy my blog so far and thank you for the time to look through it!

Renaissance 2006 - Dir. Christian Volckman

Renaissance is a French feature length roto-scoped film-noir film. Set in 2054, Paris is a labyrinth where all movement is monitored and recorded. Casting a shadow over everything is the city's largest company, Avalon, which insinuates itself into every aspect of contemporary life to sell its primary export -- youth and beauty. In this world of stark contrasts and rigid laws the populace is kept in line and accounted for.


Despite a rather weak and cliched plot-line this film is visually stunning when it comes to the backgrounds. Set in a future version of Paris iconic Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel tower and Monmatre are shrouded in electric adverts and glass modernist boxes. This film is an inspiration and despite being entirely filmed in black and white with rotoscoped animation tehniques is the kind of feel and shock factor when it comes to the city as I want to create with Edinburgh. I also love the way adverts are worked into the fabric of the buildings and how they echo across the city throughout the film in a subtle way which is what I would like to achieve with the Futurist manifesto in my own piece. 


Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh7s32XRScQ

Construction Continues

Futurist Waverley Station Maya:  Side Towers 1 and 2 are modeled.


I had to start again due to having a corrupted Maya file, a complicated model and forgetful snap issues however it was clearly for the best and once I got back into it, fun to remodel with caffeine to hand. It is also a much more manageable file and feels like it is maybe slowly getting there. Maybe....