Blog Assignment #8 - Scene Deconstruction

The theme of the movie is vigilante crime fighters "The Saints" have taken it upon themselves to wipe out the mob bosses and crime lords at the highest levels of criminal organizations in the name of God.

I would say the the this message is conveyed very actively because of the characters storming the courtroom giving the speech why they are there and carrying out the execution of a man who they say fits within the persona of those they wish to find and destroy.  While warning any others that if they are same that they will be coming for them.


In terms of shape we see our here characters all have a similar facial/head shape in that they are triangular giving you the sense they are of the same mind.  Our villian in the scene contrasts this and has a very round/circular shaped head.  Looking around in the scene you can see that the courtroom they are in is very square and rectangular from the shape of the room to almost every piece of furniture within.

The Lines created by the furniture and room fixtures create focal points towards characters faces and actions. So do the characters with pointing the guns at who the speak to or about as they give their speech to the crowd of fearful people.

The space at times can feel more open as they pan throughout the courtroom and as it moves with the characters as they address the whole room.  We also see at times the use of flat space as the characters give the speech and they take up most of the frame with very little to nothing to steal your attention away from them.

Lastly I feel the rhythm of the scene builds tension more and more as the scene goes on.  We start with a simple shock of the courtroom being taken over as characters convey their intentions.  Then the fire alarm is set off and all this is happening as the music slowly builds up throughout the scene.  The viewer is brought to the edge of their seat as we get closer and closer to the inevitable execution.  I even sense that the director is speaking to the audience in a way when he shows the father tell the girl in the courtroom that she must watch this as it will all be over soon.

Blog Assignment #7 - Animation Deconstruction

Mr. Burns being sinister.

Homer Simpson cheering in victory.

The Color and Lighting in the two pictures are in high contrast to each other. The hue in each picture are very different, in the Burns picture we see a darker color in the background as opposed to the calming blue surrounding Homer in his picture.  We can also see that Mr. Burns is dressed in darker colors giving him a more villainous portrayal and Homer is in put in a bright white shirt to give him a sense of good or purity.  In these photos you can also see lighting and shadows playing a part in what we think of the characters.  Mr. Burns has the shadows on and around his face as he laughs giving him a real sense of sinister actions and Homer is almost basking in light from head to toe as he cheers in victory.  The angle also plays a part in how we feel about the character Homer has a more neutral angle that can help us relate to him and share in his victory where as Mr. Burns and the very low angle he's in gives him a power as he lays out whatever evil plan he is cooking up.  I think that there is an absolute sense of fear that overcomes the viewer when looking at the Mr. Burns photo and the Homer picture brings the audience in as we would all cheer in unison as we celebrate being victorious along side Homer.

Blog Assignment #6 - Storyboard Imitation

  

In these shots you can see that the director used the rule of thirds perfectly even the solo shots of the characters in the beginning of the scene are off set to make sure that the characters are in the sweet spots for the rule.  I'd also say that the use of the 180 degree rule is being used well throughout the scene though the characters movements towards and around one another do create new lines that the camera does seem to follow.  The one rule that I'd say gets broken more than others is the rules of 30.  The director seems to use more extreme percentages and angles when cutting from one shot to the next.  In conclusion I'd say that the director(s) did a great job making the scene feel fast-paced and more realistic by giving us more drastic changes in in angle and depth as the fight scene unfolds as it tends to bounce back and forth on who is winning the fight.  It seemed to give it a extra layer that enabled the viewer to get perspective on both characters as opposed to a neutral ground stance on the fight.

Blog Assignment #5 - Song Deconstruction

The song is One.

U2 Version : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZ4ammawyI

Listening Framework (U2 Version)

Johnny Cash Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8d_8fM6PQc

Listening Framework (Johnny Cash Version)


Starting off by talking about the Lyrics of the song and how the two singers Bono and Johnny Cash
differ. Bono's voice tends to be higher pitched and more emotional where as Cash's voice was more
monotone and consistent throughout the song. The melodies differ just in that Cash's version is
consistent and not very deep. U2's version adds more and more depth as the song goes on with more
instruments becoming prominent in the song. Another difference between the two songs is the overall
speed. You can get a sense of the U2 version speeding up over time as the song goes on, but with Johnny Cash's version it's the exact same all the way through. I tend to like the U2 version of the song more just
because it does feel deeper. All the instrumentation really works well together to give you that complete
song. I don't feel like that about the Johnny Cash version, I do like it, it's just that it very simple and
gives the message within the song a blunt point in my opinion.

Lab iMovie Assignment

Here's really bad video to watch.  Enjoy!

Lab Animation Assignment

The Epic Slap Fight... of Doom!

Blog Assignment #4

In this scene from Matrix you can hear audio used in many ways.  Right from the beginning you hear Agent Smith and Neo aka Mr. Anderson throw their guns away with very little echo telling the audience that they are in a small enclosed area.  We also hear constant buildup of the music in the background helping us feel the growing tension between the two characters.  Throughout the scene as the characters go blow for blow against one another we can hear the Speed and Loudness gain as their kicks and punches land with more ferocity. The breaking of the concrete pillars and shattering glass also stands out as they destroy the environment around them.  In the scene we can also hear an Emotional aspect to the music, such as when our hero is thrown to the ground or against the wall we have very sudden stops in the fast-paced music causing the audience to feel worried for the protagonist.  The music and sound in this clip are extremely important to setting the mood for the audience.  

Blog Assignment #3

Read "Brainwashed" by Seth Godin at changethis.com

Acknowledging the Lizard:

The lizard part of the brain tells us to conform and work within the parameters that are drilled into our minds as the right way to do things.  It fears being laughed at above all else and attempts to suppress our creative urges.  We need to acknowledge the the lizard part of our brain but then ignore it so that we can  go forward and be creative.

Ship:


Ignoring the lizard part of our brain and be willing  to reinvent yourself.  Be the person who gets things done and acquire rare skills. Make and create things that people really desire.

Make Art:

No rules or instructions, creating art enables us to connect to other people at the most basic level.  We take risks even though people my not like it or they may laugh at our efforts. These risks we take are what lead us to being rewarded when when creating and showing our art to people.



Thinking about these layers and how it may be connected in these blog assignments. I start to realize that I have had to acknowledge the lizard part of my brain many times.  I can proudly say that I was able to ignore that part of my brain and do what is necessary to get the job done.  Creating new characters that people perhaps laugh at or find uninteresting, yet I've be rewarded with people enjoying the characters and their stories.  I think that these assignments help me with the creative process by fine-tuning all my ideas.  I also think that overall it will help me with my future decision making when it comes to my future courses that call on me to be more creative.  Perhaps one day I'll be able to takes these aspects and apply them to what I hope to be doing professionally one day.  Attempting to create something and give it to the world so that even one person out there can be effected in a positive way would be a wonderful thing.  Making (my) Art and having the courage to  "Ship" it seems much more attainable after reading "Brainwashed", and I am looking forward to what my creative future holds in store for me.         
   

Blog Assignment #2

Part I:
Finding Your Howl
The full story can be found at www.changethis.com

Johathon Flaum's article FIND YOUR HOWL can be summarized as a story of a wolf named Mumon trying to find his howl after being born in captivity. In the beginning Mumon the wolf  is released from captivity and back into the wild to learn the ways of living as a wolf in the wild. Through his journey Murmon meets with other animals that help show him that life's circle is necessary and to not be sorrowful for killing and death.  In the end the wolf not only regains his howl but we also learn that  people need to live their own lives and do the things that we are meant to do in life.  This  I feel is what the author Flaum is trying to get across as the lesson to be learned.

Part II:
One of my favorite quotes is an old Italian proverb:  
"Once the game is over the king and the pawn go back in the same box."

I am going to talk about why this proverb has meaning to me.  First, let me start off by giving a little background on the subject.  In the game of chess the king is the most valuable piece and pawn is the least valued.  In the end, no matter the outcome of the game, both pieces are placed back in the box from which they came. That saying means a few things to me.  Some say that it's a metaphor that when we die we all end up in the same box or "coffin," but to me it also means that when the game is not being played we all become the same people without titles, without ranks. I also see this as all of us being pieces on someone's gameboard other than our own.  They use us to gain what they desire. No matter if we are the pawn or the king, we are used as they see fit.  Lastly, it reminds me that life can be viewed as a game of strategy where we the player must make smart decisions with the moves we make so that we can protect and gain what is important to us.  We may not wish to lose what is most important to us (our "king"), but is it alright to keep it safe at the expense of all of our pawns?  We all have risks that we are willing to take, and in doing so, we may lose some of the pieces that we have. I do think that one of the most important things to do is to look at each and every one of your pieces closely. When you put them away in their box, what you may have thought were all pawns may actually turn out to be kings and what is important to us.


- AZ

Character Creation : Kalex Gaul

The elements of the Jedi Master Kalex Gaul character:

Color:

The calm blue ocean best describes the color for Kalex.  Because of his Jedi teachings and he's always able to keep things from boiling over and his emotions in check.  It also has significance because he fights for the Galactic Republic as he carries their standard into battle.








Light:

 I chose this picture for Kalex's lighting because it shows that while he is the center of attention he has many, many fans.  He works towards goals that are for the betterment of all the people and because of that he is definitely treated more or less like a rock star.








 Shape:

The bursting light of the Sun in the picture symbolizes Kalex Gaul's not only great power but the fact that it tends to give off feelings of it radiating from him.  The radiating power has a warmth and goodness to it. It feels like no evil could ever overtake something so pure.

Character Creation : Darth Fade

The elements of the Darth Fade character:

 Color:                                         

The Blood Red Moon symbolizes the rage, murder, and mayhem that Darth Fade exhibits when attempting to accomplish missions on behalf of the Sith Empire and certainly when dispatching his personal enemies.

Light:                                              

Always the shadowy figure, Darth Fade always maintains a high level of secrecy about all aspects of this life.  Everything from his real name to where he comes from is a great mystery.  He is also always seen wearing a mask to hide what rumors say is a disfigured face that is due to a run in with a nemesis of his known as Jedi Master Kalex Gaul.

 Shape:

The Sphere most symbolizes Darth Fade because of his uncanny ability to fend of and defeat any attackers no matter the direction they attempt to attack from.  At times it almost seems as though Fade has an impenetrable shield all around him.  This makes him a formidable foe no matter the time, setting, or place.

One of my favorite Super Heroes

One of my favorite super heroes would have to be Batman.  His stoic demeanor and vigilante attitude towards fighting criminals appeals to me.

Below you'll find a good example of this criminal interrogation tactics that show just how effective he can be at getting the information he needs to stop Gotham's super villains.