jimmy lee on the 2nd year has asked me to let you all know that he's selling a copy of final cut express for £35.
details and the end of this post of his.
31 January 2010
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29 January 2010
Typography
Was doing some research online and came across this bad boy...
http://www.typographicposters.com/#
Top website for some awesome typography. Have a look - it may inspire.
http://www.typographicposters.com/#
Top website for some awesome typography. Have a look - it may inspire.
Sound man, sound
Here's a manc joke for you...
Who are the best, most down-to-earth people in a hospital?
The Ultra-SOUND People.
Anyway.... After having a chat with Alex yesterday I'm going to try to get my sound sorted out for this brief, because I think it'll make it easier to figure out the imagery. Here's some more options -
Nice build up of tension in this one. Maybe a bit too obvious.
This might be a good contrast to dark visuals. It's got that Russian folky sound.
Around 3:30 or 7:30 are good bits to start from
This is great but a bit full on. Would have to do alot with the animation to fit this
Tchaikovsky was the first I thought of, this one works i think
Change of pace
This is good.
Like the vibe of this one.
Maybe one with words
hmmm
Who are the best, most down-to-earth people in a hospital?
The Ultra-SOUND People.
Anyway.... After having a chat with Alex yesterday I'm going to try to get my sound sorted out for this brief, because I think it'll make it easier to figure out the imagery. Here's some more options -
Nice build up of tension in this one. Maybe a bit too obvious.
This might be a good contrast to dark visuals. It's got that Russian folky sound.
Around 3:30 or 7:30 are good bits to start from
This is great but a bit full on. Would have to do alot with the animation to fit this
Tchaikovsky was the first I thought of, this one works i think
Change of pace
This is good.
Like the vibe of this one.
Maybe one with words
hmmm
28 January 2010
Illegible font?
What do you think of this font for a signboard? (It belongs to a hairdresser located in Oxford Street).
Everytime I pass by it really annoys me because I'm not able to read it! Apparently it says Razor Edge, obviously when you know what it says it's easier.
Maybe it's just me...Could you guess what it says without knowing the actual name?
27 January 2010
Animation of the future?
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2wBVYk/www.good.is/post/imagining-augmented-reality//r:t
Take a look at this animaton. I am not too sure it's what the future will be like, but its probably not far off.
Take a look at this animaton. I am not too sure it's what the future will be like, but its probably not far off.
25 January 2010
LDN
I have been in London since Thursday working. But I managed to get a few snaps. This is beautiful.
wow animation
A lot of different things going on here....I tried to do that red sheet thing before, and kinda failed.
Mirror's Edge
This weekend i've been playing a video game called Mirror's Edge, it's all about free running around a city which has become a kind of ignorant Matrix-style way of life. It's pretty short but it's the most engaging game that i've played so far in this current (rather un-inspirational) generation of games, it's rekindled my faith a little in the industry.
I thought that i'd post some footage of the game as it may offer a bit of inspiration in regards to this latest brief, the game itself is a CG model world with some brilliant textures....but at the start and end of each level the cut scenes are vector animations. Have a look-see.
2010 is certainly looking like a promising year for video games. Fingers crossed.
I thought that i'd post some footage of the game as it may offer a bit of inspiration in regards to this latest brief, the game itself is a CG model world with some brilliant textures....but at the start and end of each level the cut scenes are vector animations. Have a look-see.
2010 is certainly looking like a promising year for video games. Fingers crossed.
21 January 2010
Zombieland - Review
This film is about a group of guys that tries to survive in a world invaded by zombies.
To survive, one of the guys has come up with a list of rules that you need to follow if you don't want to become a zombie.
Throughout the movie, when the characters whether follow the rules or break them, the name of the rule appears on the screen and interacts with the action... It's quite hard to explain, have a look at the video and u'll get what I'm saying.
What I like about it, it's that the typography makes the scene less serious, it actually makes it funny.
I quite like zombie movies, I've seen a few; and even if the idea of zombies invading the world is a completely imaginary theme, in the films they take it very seriously, as it could happen in the real life.
Whereas in Zombieland, everything is taken as a joke, I would say they have done a parody of a zombie movie.
Also, the main character they have chosen, it's the typical actor you would see in American teenagers' comedies playing a dumb guy. In Zombieland, he plays the same guy, although this time he is kind of an hero. Again, we see it's a parody, because this actor, who in another zombie movie would be the first to die, in this one he saves everyone from the zombies' attack.
Also, there's this guys who actually enjoys killing zombies (something that never would happen in a regular zombie film) every time he sees a zombie he comes up with a different way of killing it.
I really liked it, although I wouldn't say it's a great movie, but it's a fun movie to watch on a sunday afternoon for example. However, if you don't like zombie movies, don't watch it...!
Silhouettes in Animation
I've been looking at animations that use silhouettes on youtube. There's some really good ones. Here's some of my favourites:
This one's a bit different but along the same lines. It's the credits for the 2004 film A Series Of Unfortunate Events.
This is ace. It's - The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello. It's 26 mins but well worth watching. Watch it ! ENJOY IT !!
This one's a bit different but along the same lines. It's the credits for the 2004 film A Series Of Unfortunate Events.
This is ace. It's - The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello. It's 26 mins but well worth watching. Watch it ! ENJOY IT !!
Inspiration...
I've a pretty good idea what i want to do with this brief but thought i'd have another quick look at some title sequences for further inspiration and ideas.
This one Dave showed us for Mad Men is the kind of look mine will have, i think. Mostly white and grey bakgrounds with black silhouette figures. Embedding's been disabled but it's well worth a click if you haven't seen it -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo
This one's probably already on here but thought i'd stick it on anyway coz it's another one that i really like and it's a different way of using black silhouettes, this time it's drawn which gives it a nice stylized look but I don't fancy the idea of doing tonnes of drawings like with the last brief where I grew to hate drawing monkeys to the extent that I still cannot draw one to this day. I can barely even look a monkey in the eye.
The transitions in this one are lovely. I really like the textured effect on the figues, and the way the text interplays with the graphics. Nice.
This one's great too, and again uses silhouette style figures and a simple colour scheme for the background. The blood splashes are excellent too.
This one Dave showed us for Mad Men is the kind of look mine will have, i think. Mostly white and grey bakgrounds with black silhouette figures. Embedding's been disabled but it's well worth a click if you haven't seen it -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcRr-Fb5xQo
This one's probably already on here but thought i'd stick it on anyway coz it's another one that i really like and it's a different way of using black silhouettes, this time it's drawn which gives it a nice stylized look but I don't fancy the idea of doing tonnes of drawings like with the last brief where I grew to hate drawing monkeys to the extent that I still cannot draw one to this day. I can barely even look a monkey in the eye.
The transitions in this one are lovely. I really like the textured effect on the figues, and the way the text interplays with the graphics. Nice.
This one's great too, and again uses silhouette style figures and a simple colour scheme for the background. The blood splashes are excellent too.
20 January 2010
apropos of nothing....
...save the fact that the memory of these suddenly popped into my head, a few minutes ago.
a classic example of minimalist animation which, in spite of the lack of action, still manages to make me laugh - although having good scriptwriters and barry davies doing the voice-over helps.
it's by chris shepherd [who co-wrote & co-directed david shrigley's 'who i am and what i want'].
enjoy!
a classic example of minimalist animation which, in spite of the lack of action, still manages to make me laugh - although having good scriptwriters and barry davies doing the voice-over helps.
it's by chris shepherd [who co-wrote & co-directed david shrigley's 'who i am and what i want'].
enjoy!
19 January 2010
Title Sequence
As I'm still struggling with ideas for my title sequence, I went on Youtube to see if I could get some quick inspiration...Anyway I found this which I think it's pretty amazing. It's creative and original, it must have taken ages though!
Have a look!!! :)
David Firth Funny Animations
Bit of a random one for you all here. Someone told me about this web-site - www.fat-pie.com. It's all done by a guy called David Firth - 'animation and stuff'. It's got some brilliant stuff on.
Some of it's disturbing, experimental stop-frame stuff like this -
And some is strange and darkly funny drawn stuff like this for the BBC. This stuff's excellent. It makes me laugh so much i nearly do a wee.
And then there's Salad Fingers. Some of you may have heard of him, he's big hit on YouTube where Fat Pie has a channel you can subcribe to, and i recommend you do. I think it's hilarious, and i love the weirdness of it.
Some of it's disturbing, experimental stop-frame stuff like this -
And some is strange and darkly funny drawn stuff like this for the BBC. This stuff's excellent. It makes me laugh so much i nearly do a wee.
And then there's Salad Fingers. Some of you may have heard of him, he's big hit on YouTube where Fat Pie has a channel you can subcribe to, and i recommend you do. I think it's hilarious, and i love the weirdness of it.
Some Russian music for my brief
Hello all. I've been looking for the sound for my brief and as it's set in Russia in the 1950s I've been looking at Russian classical music of this period. I've found some really good stuff that would go with the visuals I'm making and the feel of the book really well. Here's some:
This one is very fast and furious and would create a feeling of tension and unease, but it may be too fast.
This is a good one. Maybe from about 2:20 to 3:20 ish. Someone on youtube described it as 'robust, masculine... thunders incessantly', which i think would fit the style of my sequence well.
This one's nice too. It's a bit slower, feels pensive, thoughtful, melancholic. Maybe not dramatic enough.
This one is very fast and furious and would create a feeling of tension and unease, but it may be too fast.
This is a good one. Maybe from about 2:20 to 3:20 ish. Someone on youtube described it as 'robust, masculine... thunders incessantly', which i think would fit the style of my sequence well.
This one's nice too. It's a bit slower, feels pensive, thoughtful, melancholic. Maybe not dramatic enough.
Typography
I received this on a newsletter and thought it fitted in quite well with what we are doing now.
It is the new Diesel campaign. I think it may go on for a little too long, but apart from that, I think the idea behind it is super.
It is the new Diesel campaign. I think it may go on for a little too long, but apart from that, I think the idea behind it is super.
18 January 2010
Fearne Cotton Website Review
I decided to write a review about a website because in the ever growing media society we are in at the moment, websites are a massive must for designers. Fearne Cotton is known as a trendy, youthful and fun TV presenter. Her recently created website definitely portrays her personality and style - www.officialfearnecotton.com
When you enter the site, the homepage hits you with a lot of information. There are adverts at the top and side of the page, there is her navigation bar, lots of clickable links and images. Immediately, I feel that is it too busy. You don’t know where to start looking, and it puts you off. However, the style maybe connoting how busy of a person Fearne is and how much work she is involved with. It does also feel personal. You automatically get a sense of Fearnes style, for e.g. the ‘scrapbook’ style typography and the ripped paper. It signifies that it’s her diary. An audience will like this because you feel like you are getting to know Fearne as a friend. This therefore follows the uses and gratifications theory of ‘personal relationships’.
The website is very interactive, for e.g. on the right side you have the option to personalize the website by changing the background. This is an effective technique because it allows the audience to become involved with the website and therefore increasing the chance of them staying on the site.
The sites navigation is very simple. When you click on a link it takes you to the relevant page. I think this works with the website because there is so much going on in each page, that if there was added Flash animation it would complicate it far too much. It would look very unnecessary. When you click on each link in the navigation bar, each page is a different colour. This is a useful technique to keep the audience interested. If all the pages looked the same, the audience are likely to get bored very quickly.
The language used on this website is very informal and colloquial, for e.g. ‘bits ‘n’ bobs’. This definitely fits in with the context and audience because it feels like Fearne has actually written it, and therefore a lot more personal. Again, it emphasizes the friendly relationship you are building with Fearne. It also signifies that Fearne is up to date and trendy by using youthful language.
There is a mailing list you can join on the website which is a very popular method used on celebrity websites. Audiences enjoy this feature because they feel they are up to date with their favorite celebrities and feel like they aren’t missing out. By joining the mailing list it also makes people feel part of a team, with other people who are fans of Fearne. The box is very simple; only asking you for your name and email address. With people’s busy lives, this is effective because people will have the time to quickly fill it out. If it was a lengthy form, a lot of people wouldn’t be interested.
Personally, I feel this website is a bit too confusing to the eye. However, the amount of information and interactivity would keep a lot of viewers attention. It has successfully anchored Fearne’s personality, which ultimately, is what a personal website is all about.
When you enter the site, the homepage hits you with a lot of information. There are adverts at the top and side of the page, there is her navigation bar, lots of clickable links and images. Immediately, I feel that is it too busy. You don’t know where to start looking, and it puts you off. However, the style maybe connoting how busy of a person Fearne is and how much work she is involved with. It does also feel personal. You automatically get a sense of Fearnes style, for e.g. the ‘scrapbook’ style typography and the ripped paper. It signifies that it’s her diary. An audience will like this because you feel like you are getting to know Fearne as a friend. This therefore follows the uses and gratifications theory of ‘personal relationships’.
The website is very interactive, for e.g. on the right side you have the option to personalize the website by changing the background. This is an effective technique because it allows the audience to become involved with the website and therefore increasing the chance of them staying on the site.
The sites navigation is very simple. When you click on a link it takes you to the relevant page. I think this works with the website because there is so much going on in each page, that if there was added Flash animation it would complicate it far too much. It would look very unnecessary. When you click on each link in the navigation bar, each page is a different colour. This is a useful technique to keep the audience interested. If all the pages looked the same, the audience are likely to get bored very quickly.
The language used on this website is very informal and colloquial, for e.g. ‘bits ‘n’ bobs’. This definitely fits in with the context and audience because it feels like Fearne has actually written it, and therefore a lot more personal. Again, it emphasizes the friendly relationship you are building with Fearne. It also signifies that Fearne is up to date and trendy by using youthful language.
There is a mailing list you can join on the website which is a very popular method used on celebrity websites. Audiences enjoy this feature because they feel they are up to date with their favorite celebrities and feel like they aren’t missing out. By joining the mailing list it also makes people feel part of a team, with other people who are fans of Fearne. The box is very simple; only asking you for your name and email address. With people’s busy lives, this is effective because people will have the time to quickly fill it out. If it was a lengthy form, a lot of people wouldn’t be interested.
Personally, I feel this website is a bit too confusing to the eye. However, the amount of information and interactivity would keep a lot of viewers attention. It has successfully anchored Fearne’s personality, which ultimately, is what a personal website is all about.
Death Becomes Her
Seen as a lot of you have not seen or heard of this masterpiece, I thought I would post the trailer to give you guys an idea on what the film is about. Just so you understand my title sequence a little more;
Basically the film is about ; money, love, beauty, youth, murder, jealousy and humour = black comedy.
Enjoy folks...
Basically the film is about ; money, love, beauty, youth, murder, jealousy and humour = black comedy.
Enjoy folks...
17 January 2010
CHILD 44
So I've decided to do this title sequence on a book I've just read called Child 44. Above are a few of the cover designs i've found for it. I chose this because I wanted to make something completely original, creating all my own imagery based on my interpretation of the narrative and atmosphere of the work, without being influenced by a directors version of what the story means to them. There are loads of films I'd like to do one for, some of the ones I considered were: Dog Soldiers, The Evil Dead, A Nighmare on Elm Street, Scary Poppins, The Lost Boys as well as several other contenders. I'm happy with my choice though, and I'm sticking with it.
To give you an idea what the book is about here is the blurb -
In Stalin’s Soviet Union, millions live in fear. Death is a whisper away. The mere suspicion of ideological disloyalty sends millions of innocents into the Gulags or to their executions. Defending the system from its citizens is the MGB, the State Security Force. No MGB officer is more courageous, conscientious, or idealistic than Leo Demidov. His only ambition has been to serve his country.
Then the impossible happens. A different kind of criminal, a murderer, is on the loose, killing at will. Leo finds himself demoted and denounced by his enemies, his world turned upside down, and every belief he’s ever held shattered. The only way to save his life and the lives of his family is to uncover the criminal. But in a society that is officially paradise, its a crime against the State to suggest that a murderer, much less a serial killer, is in their midst. Exiled from his home, with only his wife remaining at his side, Leo must find and stop a criminal that the State won’t admit even exists.
That's about it. It's an intelligent, atmospheric, tense thriller which received a good deal of acclaim at the time of it's publication. It was in fact long-listed for the Man Booker prize, the first thriller to have been considered I believe, and if any of you folks ever partake in such archaic practices of reading an actual book, I can recommend this one.
That's all for now folks. I'll keep you posted on developments. Much love. x
13 January 2010
Creative Designer
This has nothing to do with the brief or moving image, however, seen as we are doing flash...
This website is of a designer and creative advisor - I think its super. Something I have never seen before in a website. I think he comes across as hugely professional and innovative.
http://michaelwolff.oi-dev.org/
This website is of a designer and creative advisor - I think its super. Something I have never seen before in a website. I think he comes across as hugely professional and innovative.
http://michaelwolff.oi-dev.org/
11 January 2010
Website
Think I am nearly happy with this;
www.kittypembertonplatt.tk
Few more tweeks and I am sure I will keep changing it, but its a great way to point everyone to my blog where all my work is kept.
See you all tomorrow!
www.kittypembertonplatt.tk
Few more tweeks and I am sure I will keep changing it, but its a great way to point everyone to my blog where all my work is kept.
See you all tomorrow!
8 January 2010
6 January 2010
latest league standings
well, folks. i hope you've all had a spiffing chrimbo and new year and are raring to get back to college and get tore in again. as an added incentive/disincentive [depending on your mindset], here is the state of play in the PDP league table, as of today:
Virgin Media shorts
I don't who else is with Virgin Media here but some of you may or may not have seen some of the short films submitted for the Virgin Media shorts competition, I watched all the shortlisted finalist works yesterday and these were my favourites:
CGI-brows
This one is a brilliant documentry style film giving a satirical view of the process of green screen technology.
She Farted and Created the World
I like the musical interaction with this film.
Mixtape
This one ended up winning the competition, I like the different focus and colour techniques that they used. It was very remniscent of Billy Elliot.
Apart from these few the rest didn't really inspire me, but watching them all has inspired me to keep an open mind. I'd like to try my hand at submitting a film for this in the future.
CGI-brows
This one is a brilliant documentry style film giving a satirical view of the process of green screen technology.
She Farted and Created the World
I like the musical interaction with this film.
Mixtape
This one ended up winning the competition, I like the different focus and colour techniques that they used. It was very remniscent of Billy Elliot.
Apart from these few the rest didn't really inspire me, but watching them all has inspired me to keep an open mind. I'd like to try my hand at submitting a film for this in the future.
Work in Progress
http://web.me.com/kittypembertonplatt/Site_2/No_place_like_Home.html
Let me know what you think...
Let me know what you think...
1 January 2010
Happy New Year!! ...unt Decade!!
I hope everyone is enjoying themselves, as always the trigger-happies set off the fireworks 2 minutes early. ;)
[ Picks of the year/decade ]
Bob's Film of the Year: Inglorious Basterds
Over the past couple of days i've been compiling a list of movies with the aim of choosing my 'Film of the Decade', following on from the recent stint of programs on Channel 4 (i'm sure that some of you watched the 'Best Advert of the Decade' show at least). And although I could've just picked something quick that I found utterly awesome like Kill Bill or House of Flying Daggers purely because i'm into martial arts and they're relevant to my interests, I wanted to pick something that had the total package.....
...and so after ending up with a list of about ten films I whittled it down to just two, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie (2001) and Takeshi Kitano's Dolls (2002). Whilst both are up there in my all-time favourites anyway, I ultimately chose Dolls as I have rarely felt such mixed emotions whilst watching a film.
Bob's Film of the Decade: Dolls (2002)
Bob's Song of the Year: Mind Wall [ Towa Tei ]
Bob's Song of the Decade: Plastic Girl [ Capsule ] (2002)
Thinking about the past decade, if I could sum it up in one word then that would be Japan. Up until the late 90s I knew very little about the Japanese and my only insight back then came from the Hong Kong movies that I grew up watching....which generally portrayed the Japanese as the enemy. But the internet changed all that....and Japan has had a big part of my life ever since.
I hope the following decade provides a few little treats of it's own.
[ Picks of the year/decade ]
Bob's Film of the Year: Inglorious Basterds
Over the past couple of days i've been compiling a list of movies with the aim of choosing my 'Film of the Decade', following on from the recent stint of programs on Channel 4 (i'm sure that some of you watched the 'Best Advert of the Decade' show at least). And although I could've just picked something quick that I found utterly awesome like Kill Bill or House of Flying Daggers purely because i'm into martial arts and they're relevant to my interests, I wanted to pick something that had the total package.....
...and so after ending up with a list of about ten films I whittled it down to just two, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie (2001) and Takeshi Kitano's Dolls (2002). Whilst both are up there in my all-time favourites anyway, I ultimately chose Dolls as I have rarely felt such mixed emotions whilst watching a film.
Bob's Film of the Decade: Dolls (2002)
Bob's Song of the Year: Mind Wall [ Towa Tei ]
Bob's Song of the Decade: Plastic Girl [ Capsule ] (2002)
Thinking about the past decade, if I could sum it up in one word then that would be Japan. Up until the late 90s I knew very little about the Japanese and my only insight back then came from the Hong Kong movies that I grew up watching....which generally portrayed the Japanese as the enemy. But the internet changed all that....and Japan has had a big part of my life ever since.
I hope the following decade provides a few little treats of it's own.
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