personal development plans

No not really, but that is the name for a wicked mural project in Philladelphi. Headed by Steven Powers aka ESPO it is a love letter painted on the walls facing the Market elevated train painted by 40 local and international artists (street/graff) and signwriterS.

It is a brilliant project of cool, typographical signs and street art, creating visually and mentally stimulating messages along a particulary grim and derelict section of trainline. I think hats off to the local Philly authority to have the insight to commission these murals.......apparantly it is mural city! But because of this love of murals they seem to have much less problems with illegal graffiti......this is maybe something the British Transport Police should be looking into.

What is really cool is as well as the obvious influence for the project from 1950's advertising, the messages are quite thought provoking, but the direction of the train travelling has also been taken into consideration and this determines how the typography appears....on the site the pictures of each mural say whther they are best viewed east to west or west ot east. The use of colour is also a big consideration and a lot of thought has been given as which pigments work best and which will be diminish more in the sun. This is something that all graff artists take into consideration...well the good ones anyway. They will consider which paints mix with each other e.g. if you mix belton chrome with molotov piglet pink then it will run!

I think this project gives an insight to the consdierations taken when creating a good mural and how it will interact with the people viewing it and the landcsape it lives in.

Pictures and articles as below....check check it out!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.aloveletterforyou.com/?page_id=198
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/apr/18/graffiti-philadelphia-street-art-signs

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16 May 2010

This is crazy, pure clever. By a dude called Doug Cunningham, who has taken an album and animated to it, with pure surrealism and some clever ideas and at times a complete leave of reality! I really like the soundtrack and the use of different styles (old hip hop characters) on collage type backgrounds and embedded films. Really cool, you need 45 minutes of pure concentration to give it justice and need to watch it a few times to really appreciate it, but definitely worth a watch. Be warned it has the marmite effect but I am a fan!

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14 May 2010

Team logo

Me and Karl for obvious reasons, decided to call our team........."Northern Monkeys" and this is my idea for a team logo! what do you think?

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20 April 2010

NEW BRIEF - GROUP GANTT CHART!

Picture of the group Gantt chart we did with Dave for the new brief "Manchester Postcards".

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13 April 2010

Creative Block :(

I wish I had done one on how to cook a steak, bake a cake, in fact anything other than Robin Hood Tax!!!!!

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6 April 2010

Review - How to Train your dragon

Went to see this film today with Louis and we both loved it! It had all the elements of a beautifully filmed live film and they realised this amazingly with animation. It had ambience, great lighting and a believability......I was completely drawn in. Of course it did help having the 3D element and it was in fact the first film I have seen in 3D that actually worked. I have found that a lot of films have been brought out in 3D and it has been pointless and unnecessary, but the whole element of speed and flying was definitely enhanced wonderfully through the element of 3D.

The dragons, were amazing, me and Louis came away wanting a pet one, they were shown to have cat like qualities and the use of eyes as a point of communication was very effective. It is all about the eyes!!!! There is a lovely part when they make friends as seen on the clip above, and the dragon decides to share his food with the boy. It uses alternative communication brilliantly and reminded me of when you feed a baby and have to use head gestures to get the point across. Such a simple idea, but it makes me wonder would I have thought about that! There is such a lot to take into consideration to make a piece beautiful.....I need to watch more films....is that possible!!!!!

I am a bit of a sucker for a tale of mythology and action and a all ends well tale, but even without this I loved the film, because I think you would have to have a hard unchildlike heart to not be drawn in. It had all the style of a film epic with great panoramic views and music and it showed how far and fast CG is moving. My favourite moment was when there had been a massive explosion and the ash flew around the cinema, the lighting was low and the sound almost completely silent and the ash was floating around your head. It was tres tres cool!!!!

So a definite thumbs up for this film....go see!

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A film made just for me!!!!!

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

It won't allow me to embed but check it out a full length animation in 3D about OWLS!!!!!....."Legend of the Guardians" and it even comes out the day before my birthday....made for me. Check the link and you will know what I am talking about! So exciting!

Happy Easter all xx

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22 March 2010

Cool!

I love this album cover. Great colours, and love the use of line to create the movement of the waves and the jaunty angle of the boat and the typography lends this to a young demographic. I also really like the use of texture in the cover, the sky in particular and this sort of style I think lends itself really well to my infographics piece. Shall have a play around!

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Abandon Normal Devices (AND)

Was emailed this on facebook and thought it may interest some people in case you are at a lose end this easter!

FESTIVAL OF NEW CINEMA & DIGITAL CULTURE
Cumbria & Lancashire 15 March – 10 April

Abandon YOUR Normal Devices this Easter 2010!
- It’s time for you to get involved
Call for volunteers
After the groundbreaking September 2009 launch, the playful, experimental and relentlessly curious Abandon Normal Devices (AND) festival arrives in Cumbria and Lancashire for Easter 2010 with another cutting edge programme of New Cinema and Digital Culture.

For venues such as Grizedale Forest in Cumbria, the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster, the Harris Museum in Preston and Towneley Hall in Burnley the AND Festival team are now recruiting festival, film & new media loving volunteers from all backgrounds that are keen on getting hands on, supporting us during the run-up and delivery of the festival. If you love the buzz of festivals, have some time to spare during 15th March – 10th April, are over 18, friendly and enthusiastic we would love to hear from you!

The roles available for volunteers include: stewarding, ushering, information assistance, festival promotion, supporting the recording and documentation of events, helping with install and de-install of artworks, assisting with set-up and clearing of events, and carrying out market research.

At the following dates and locations:
15–19 March Lancaster
26–28 March Preston
1–3 April Grizedale Forest Park, Cumbria
8–10 April Pennine Lancashire, Accrington, Blackburn & Burnley

Volunteering is an excellent and fun way to meet new people, gain new skills, share
your skills and experience, gain insights into the industry and enhance your CV.

We welcome applications from across the region!

If this sounds interesting to you please download an application form from our website www.andfestival.org.uk and send your details to tor.townley@folly.co.uk

Applications will be accepted up until near to the festival, however we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Training and Induction sessions will be arranged.

Please sign up for our newsletter on www.andfestival.org.uk to stay in the loop with
latest news on AND. If you’ve got any further questions, please either email tor.townley@folly.co.uk or call 01524 388 550.

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Bob Dylan and Robin Hood Tax

I think I may go for Bob.....it has the message for the cause, he has purposefully used really general reference points so the song is both iconic and lasting!

Other ideas include;
Isley Brothers - Harvest for the World

I posted this on Facebook and got a huge variety of suggestions including Grandmaster Flash - The Message and Nine Inch Nails - The Hand that Feeds You, but definitely to wordy and not suitable for my stand up and fight in a merry way, folky vibe!

Posted it to the Robin Hood Tax page and they had a vote and are all in favour of the Bob Dylan idea, so I reckon that's my tune!

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Download Storyboard Templates

Hi I am probably way behind the rest of you all with this as I usually just hand draw my storyboards or use post it notes, but here is a link for free to download storyboard templates. What is quite cool is that they do HD templates and have different size areas for writing scene info down etc.

http://www.printablepaper.net/preview/storyboard-letter-16to9-2x3

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21 March 2010

HELP PLEASE!

Right so i have been working on my infographics piece and it is very green, natural organic in style, has the spirit of robin hood all over it......flying arrows, trees, acorns into oak references, merriment and needs to be generally jolly, as this is the style of the Robin Hood Tax. But I am completely stumped with the audio. I need a basic background music, to which I can put sound effects. Any ideas merry folks???? I am stuffed if I can find any sort of starting point with this one.

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19 March 2010

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL STUDENTS!!!!!!!

Hi all,

In my capacity as Student Rep, Dave has asked me pass on a message to you all about his concerns with FRIDAY ATTENDANCE!!!

He has emailed everyone with a timetable of the next few weeks in which we have workshops which are imperative to our next brief Unit 5!

The turn out for the sessions so far (there have been 2) has been quite poor and people who are not attending are going to struggle when it comes to the next project. It is also unfair on Dave and the students who have been attending for him to have to go through these sessions again.......so come on guys.......pull ya socks up!!!!!

Below is a copy of the timetable:

12/3 Digital Video Workflows
19/3 DVD Authoring Workshop I - basic showreel
26/3 Film Language - cinematography, sound & editing

EASTER

16/4 DEADLINE for Unit 4
23/4 Brief for Unit 5
30/4 Camcorder Workshop
7/5 Final Cut Pro - basics
14/5 DVD Authoring Workshop II - advanced interactivity
21/5 Studio production
28/5 Studio production & Unit 5 Deadline

If for some reason you haven't received the email with this timetable on, then please email Dave with the correct email he can use to relay important information!!!!
David.Griffiths@themanchestercollege.ac.uk

Cheers guys....over and out!

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HELP............WHERE FOR ART THOU????????????

STU....ALEX,

if either of you are reading the blog today can you tell me where my pile of stop motion drawings of the owl flight for the "YOU" brief are?!?!? They were in a box but that is now empty and i have looked everywhere but alas to no joy! Really need them as got a few drawings I need to add to make the piece work.......cheers guys. I am gonna be here all day now til 5pm or I will be in on Monday.

Many Thanks xxxx

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18 March 2010

Studio Diary - A Paid Design Job!!!

So have just been commissoned by my local pub to create a poster for a band night. It has to be black and white and I have a few logos that need to be included but other than that I can do what I like. It is a poorly paid job, but paid all the same.....my first £20 for my work (well not 100% true but keeps the poor student designer image up)!!!! :)
I'll keep you posted with my progress but it'll be all about thirds, contrast and lines I think although may throw in a character or 2!

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Review - Shaun the Sheep

Have just watched this with Louis and I completely forgot how amazing this is. With reference to some of the points made by Barry Purves it shows the art of the gag set up really well, but what I love most is that like watching a good silent movie you hardly notice it has no speaking in it. This is due to amazing music, the tempo tells the story so well and for example there is a very definite sound when Shaun has an idea etc. Also the use of expression or the thought process can be seen really well, so it goes to show there are times when less is more and the need for a language based narrative is totally unnecessary.

And who can resist a laughing sheep :)

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Studio Diary - Bits and Bobs

Just going through some of my bits and bobs and found this in my photos. It is my mood board for the "You" Brief. I started out as a mood board and it slowly became more of a picture or piece of art but I wanted to call it a mood board as I felt it really captured what the whole feel of my piece was to be like. Anyway feel free to comment or critique constructively! Although probably won't change it :)

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Review - Barry J C Purves Lecture

So yesterday we had the honour of hearing a talk by a world class and highly experienced animator Barry Purves.

He started off the lecture basically saying "to be an animator you will need PASSION and a PASSPORT" and from his wide experience animation is basically dying in Manchester and the UK. He talked about the closing down of 2 big animation studios in Manchester alone this year (Cosgrove Hall and Hot Animations) and how even Channel 4 has stopped commissioning short films. So OK that was a bit of a downer type of start to the talk and I did for a second feel my heart sink a little, but then he continued to talk and by the end of the lecture I was feeling just as excited and passionate about what I do and maybe a little bit more determined than when I walked in.

Barry Purves has been in the business since 1978 and he started his training in Cosgrove Hall and worked on the likes of Chorlton and the Wheelies, Wind in the Willows and for me most impressively DANGERMOUSE.......one of the cartoons of my youth :) His career has taken him all over the world and he has won numerous awards for his short films. He is an author and also a director and one can tell from his lovely "lovie darling" way of speaking and his big booming voice that he started his career on stage.

I loved his answer to Kitty's question when she asked "What software do you mainly use" and his answer to this was to show us his hands! Yes he is very old school and uses mainly puppets and stop motion these days. It was nice to have someone who has seen so many changes in the industry talk and relay his wealth of knowledge, especially as I am really interested in exploring more old school ways of working.

He showed us first a great little animation called "John and Karen" which is about a couple who have had an argument and the man (in case a polar bear) is trying to make amends with his girl (the penguin) and how this unfolds....clip below.

He talked about simpleness and how this piece could have worked with 2 actors and still have been good but because with animation you are in control of everything and can bring a new dimension and metaphor to the scene it can be made really really rich! I liked the way he talked about using every element in your design as I like to do this (or so I hope I do) and he said that everything we place there has to be there for a reason......(reminds me of Alex and her make each mark purposeful)! He also talked about silence and stillness and how when he started he just wanted to make everything move because he could, but it is the still moments that can speak volumes.

Another thing he talked about was showing the human thought process. We watched Mary Poppins and her talking umbrella and he explained why this umbrella was so important to the viewer as it was expressing Mary's unexpressed thoughts and emotions. It is the understanding of the human thought process that keeps the viewer locked to a piece of work. For example the bit in King Kong when after he kills the T-Rex and he moves the jaw back and forward just to check if he is still alive. These little moments of insight that make something special.

Here is another piece of animation he showed us:

He said this piece showed the art of a good gag! Where timing is important but most of all having that moment when it is left to the viewers imagination. The lift scene in particular was a good example of this. He talked about being non-literal in our work and finding a good distance with this. Being purposefully weird is what I think he meant here. He said we need to be credible in our metaphors to show something that is credible and honest and how we can use an artificial situation to give a message.

Oscar Wilde "Give a man a mask and he will tell you the truth"

If we show a different view or perspective in our work we can really make a message hit home in a more direct and honest way than if we tell it straight. This is funny to hear regarding animation as I once had a very talented homoeopath say the same....there is power in metaphor indeed.

To end the talk he said,

We need to be passionate and know that whilst it isn't easy it is the most rewarding job in the world. Our passion will evoke a reaction as it taps deeply into the human psyche when they see something brought to life. We can liberate ourselves with animation and should use all the elements around us to bring a story to life. We need to be story tellers and performers to get the most out our characters and you have to LOVE IT.

Really enjoyed this talk as when he had finished I completely caught his passion for his work...he was very contagious, but that is maybe just me and my susceptibilities!!! But he did mention he would be really happy to come and do a workshop, day, couple of days even a week if we could arrange it with the tutors....so what do you say Alex, Stu, Dave...please please please!!!!!

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Sorry Alex!!!!

Sorry Alex for not being in today, but I am on such a roll with this brief that the only sensible option was to continue here at home....cos I has my tings all set up nice!!!!!

My only proof of this Stu and Karl will be my amazing storyboard on Monday when I come in on my day off to get started on the computer (well that's my plan). So eat them words boys!!!!!!!

Alex will you be in on Monday to go through my storyboard?

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