Pnut

Bayonetta

2010-01-20T07:03:00.000-08:00

Ok ive played this on 360 so lets get that bit out of the way.
OK, as the video above, easily one of the best action games ive ever played and the more you play the more you actually love it. For anyone who can remember the days of lives and continues in this game ie retro games youll LOVE this game as i do.
With amazing platform segments which there isnt loads but the ones that are there do it to top standard, fight system is better then Arkham or anyother game to date, the crazy moves you perform, the over topness.... its just a fucking cool game.
Scenes where you riding a rocket which feels like Space Harrier, taking down or walking on giant mosters feels like shadow of colouse, this game has it all.
I know what ya thinking, looks like devil may cry, well think if that (and i like the first one of them) was 100X better you have this game because it really is that much better.
This id also to do with the design of the game, we've all seen demon bad guys so they have made angels, keeping that retro feel but also modern is a brilliant design too, the landscapes are amazing the graffics... Truly a all time classic.

But end of this month mass effect 2, then bioshock 2, then aliens vs preditor, then lost planet 2, then deadspace 2... Alot of good games this year.

Album of the Year 09

2010-01-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

Grizzly Bear- Veckatimest

Heard there other work before and liked, but my uncle recommended this album so i thought id check it out.
And what an album it is, Psyc Folk/Indie on Warp lable which in my opinion the best label of our generation.
This album has that pure expression slapping you in the face, with it being beautiful in sound with a bit of a trippy feel and also monged.
It reminds me of Beach Boys Pet Sounds with a modern feel like joy division-esk.
Check out the song if you like then buy the album because you wont be disappointed.

Serious Man

2010-01-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

Ok so on one of mine and louises random doing we decided the cinema would be a cool idea, she mentioned how id like this film and i was like "it coen brothers so it cant be bad".
The reviews are right, this film is brilliant and i was obsurbed all the way through.
The film builds like a western but in comic suspension, the characters are amazing. Also myself being a fan of jewish humour this film just seemed to click.
Anyone who trys to be a good person will love this film, i could connect with the main chatacter so well and im not married or have kids.
All in All, cool as fuck, brilliant camera work, brilliant script, brilliant cast, brillant soundtrack and brilliant film.
2 thumbs up and a packet of crisps

I KNOW...

2010-01-20T06:42:00.000-08:00

So i havent wrote in awhile again, i know...
But heres some things that id like to talk about which i should do.
Well passes the research project which mines on Viral Marketing so expect some of that shit to come on here.
Also working with a great band from Nottingham called Euler, so expect to see alot of that bad boy come on.
xxx

Working on Plethora

2009-11-02T05:55:00.000-08:00

The other week i worked on a short film called Plethora,i got the opportunity to work on this film as the P.A was in fact an old friend of mine.
I did an usual job which was carring a monitor, im not use to working from a monitor never mind carring one but it was enjoyable none of the less.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009-10-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jU3AimFaz0

This weekend i went to see the latest film from Terry Gilliam, The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus.
I found this film entertaining but also i was let down.
The trailer gives too much away so when i came to watch the film it wasnt anything i hadnt seen.
The story was too jumpy, i felt like they tried to squeeze to much in. It was like "real life, flashback, real life, flash back, real life, imaginarium, real life etc etc" there wasnt a flow to the film.
Not enough of the Imaginarium which was a big let down, all the momnets in there are great but not enough and not enough of the imagination being out there which terry gilliam is good at.
But as the film stands beside the above it is good and it was entertaining, i just felt like i was promisssed more.

PRP Idea 1

2009-10-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

The usage of CGI in contempary Cinema, the effect it has on a audience and story?

This idea came about due to the growing use of CGI in cinema, the problem is:

-Is it over used?
With films such as Catwomen where they use CGI cats when the could of easily use a real cat or the new star wars (episodes 1 to 3) where most of the film is CGI.
With use of CGI to this point is it, what effect does it have on the audiences view of that film and will it quickly be dated.

-Are films relying on Effects to sell a film then story?
With films by director Micheal Bay, are these films viewed because of the effects or story and has cinema recently been lacking storytelling as where the effects disregarde the story.

-Is digital technology effecting jobs in the industry?
Now due to digital technology, are jobs being loss in the industry. Such as Stunt Experts are being used less due to digital effects and with James Camerons 'Avatar' where '75% of the Film is CGI and didnt use cameras due to Motion Sensor Pads' will this decrease the jobs.
(BBC.com,James Cameron Interview)

My artifacts could be on surveys on peoples thoughts on CGI and the use, CGI beening what people want to see then story.
Looking at CGI enviroments to Sets and seeing what people think is better.
Making a scene using blue screen and Location and comparing also combining.

I like this idea because i find that CGI is overused and i want to hear other peoples views. I would also like to find a middle ground where the two can be used effectivly and not one over power the other.

Meeting for filming

2009-07-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

Me and danny on tuesday had a meeting with Victoria to film a jamican musician to film him alittle promo video.
This was just a formal chat to meet get an understand of one and another.
This saturday we will be going to trent Bridge for a see him in action.

Script Writing Forum

2009-07-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

The other week i went to a script writing forum with Jools at the broadway cinema.
There where 3 scripts involved which where pretty cool.
This was education because i learnt what actors look for in scripts but also what can help me in script writng from the script writters.

Clarks New Album

2009-07-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Now for you people who dont even know Clark, he is a british electronica artist signed to Warp Records.
Originally called Chris Clark (albums Empty The Bones Of You and Clarence Park) in his early years, then changed to Clark and not only changing his name but his style, producing his Body Riddle album which showed us clark is one of the fine electronica artists. Following that came his Turning Dragon, a dance album which would show clarks ability to put his on turn on conventional dance music and make it something Grimey yet wonderful. With songs such as Volcano Vains (using a missy elliot sample) and Truncation Horn showing a delightful ability to cut vocals and beats together in a way which a prog band would change time singature for a phrase.
Now clark is back with his new album Totems Flair, once again Clark has taken his music to new hights, keeping his grimey sound but also with some songs actually more conventional with lyrics but also keeping it still underground. But with this album you also find it is a mixture of all of Clarks work even when he was Chris Clark huffle together to give another great Clark Album.

Its been awhile/Thing i forgot to mention about last year.

2009-07-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hello, its been awhile since ive written but my computer is what some people say, Haggard, so not been able to write.
Well there was 2 things last year i did which i should of written about but never did,
Doing the Making of documentary for the short film Coffee, this was a really cool experience and with creative controll of what i was doing made it even more fun... but try film people filming in a bedsit can course problems... but all in all it was cool and the professionals where sound.
Also the Kubrick Archieve, which was just grade A sexy. When you are literally infront of the Rear Projector camera with the isis lens on made by nasa to take photos in space with a 0.7 F stop... well its amazing.
Also seeing rushes to clockwork orange and space odyssey clothes, well the list goes on but its awesome.
Just seeing his attention to detail in everything was amazing and insprirational.

Films of importance prt 3

2009-04-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

The last film on my list is Zombie Flesh Eaters 3, now this film isnt for everyone, if you like cheesey horrors that are more funny then scary youll love this.
A grindhouse zombie film made in the 70s and made in italy, this film is the last in the series of the cult classic.
This film is cheesey but funny and it being badly dubbed, makes it even more funny.
If you ever watched darkplace its like that but serious, with bad probs and effects this is a fun film to watch.
If you like cheesey films youll like overwise dont watch it.

Films of importance prt 2

2009-04-16T15:04:00.000-07:00

Thenext film im going to talk about is The Man Who Know To Much, alfred hitchcocks remake of his own film.
This is classic hitchcock surspense thriller, with one of the end scenes in the albert hall with an assignaion but the music playing goes with the scene.
About a couple whos son gets kidnapped, who? and why?
I dont want to talk about this film much because its hitchcock and if you havent seen it watch it... youll not be disappointed.

Films of importance

2009-04-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

One of the films of important films of this term, American Beauty.
I forgot how good this film is, ive recently realised how much of a homage it is to 50s cinema, trying to bring a technicolour look.
Also the films story is well written, the idea is brillant and the characters are memorible. Taken the concept of quiet surburbia but also a begging like the classic film Sunset Blvd.
This film helped me with my project this year, trying to adapt an 50s feel into a mondern day film.
This film is all about Kevin Spacey, probably his best role. His character is so true i see myself being simular when i go through a mid life crisis.
If you havent seen this film do it, its brilliant and i believe anyone can like it.

Fall Out 3- My holiday journey

2009-04-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well due to it being my birthday during the holiday, ive spent time playing one game i bought, which is brilliant in so many ways "Fall Out 3".
This game is set in the future where everyone lives in vaults due to a nuclear holocaust. You are the character who you generally make and the game starts with your birth, then going through you teenage years in a vault which noones leaved but on when you 18 your farther lives and you go to follow.
There are also loads of side misssions that deal with slaver, regional, history and many more.
This game ia brilliant gameplay and narratively, with over 80 hours of gameplay and over 100 places to visit, this game takes you to a whole world.
This games ideas (even through lots of the concepts take from the over films and games) this game can be taken in so many ways and could work as a film.
The multiple choice also makes the game be what you make of it and everything you do has an effect over the overall game.

CBS- Promotional video

2009-04-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

Through this holiday i have directed a video for CBS and a seat belt called "Bump Belt".
This was organized by my friend Janet Star Chu, she had been metioning it about her working with an important client.
During with production we have ahd problems with equipment and crediting (which the credits was never solved), but all in all it was an easy and simple production.
Standard advert filming, we found we had more control then we thought.
The bump belt is a seat for pregnaut women, this was a filming where you have to consider that shes pregnaut and that you dont want her to over do it.
As i said, the production there really isnt nothing to mention except for the problems due to the company.
Also ill be working for another local client making a short film there web page, this is a clothing company.
Also be working on the short film Coffee which will be going to cannes film festival.
Last but not least ill be filming a football tournament, which was organized by Janet.

Production File

2009-03-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

Background/ Concept

At a time of a bad break up and watching a lot of 40s and 50s films such as Casablanca, Gilda and various film noirs such as Sunset Blvd, The Third Man and The Killing, I was thinking to myself “what happened to great films like this”.
So I decided to do something I normally don’t do a romance film (you could say my FMP at college was but it focused on domestic violence but to the point where the character loves her treat much he hurts her) like Gilda or Casablanca, one more on story and one a male audience can watch.
Mixing this with my recent break up (where I did want to still be with the person) my idea came to write about an ex coming to collect some old things and get the characters back together came together.
Two key inspirations to develop this was the book ‘Directing- Film Techniques and Aesthetics’ by Michael P. Rabiger which said to develop things that have happened to you and change it so its not the same and to a story.
The other was Simon Perkins when I had a chat and he explained that the great directors start off with simple ideas when they make shorts and he said what makes a good short is a good scene/Situation.

Preproduction

Instead of writing a synopsis, I actually found myself writing this film, all came together and I just started to write it.
First Script:
(Wide Shot of door)
*Knocking*

^guy goes to door and opens door^

(close up of each character)
Guy-Hey ^small smile^
Girl-Hey ^Small smile^

^guy gestures for her to come in^

(wide shot)
Guy-Your stuff is over there, I’ve boxed it for you.
Girl- Thanks

^guy moves to kitchen area^
(wide shot of kitchen)

Guy-Want a drink?

(Medium Wide)
Girl- Yes please, what do you have?

(cutting between characters)
Guy-Whiskey? Rum?

Girl-Can i have a rum please?

^pouring the drinks^

(wide shot) - keep same shot for awhile to create a sense of awkwardness
^handing the drinks over^
*Silence*

^girl will been having finger gestures on the glass and will slowly drink the drink^
Guy-How you been keeping?
Girl- Ok, been living with my mum.
Guy-How is your mum?
Girl- She’s fine, got a new job as a teacher.
Guy - nice.
(medium close up)
Girl-How about you?
(close up)
Guy - Ok, be better with you.
^guy knocks drinks back walks to refill^

(medium Wide)
Girl- Please

(Wide)
^Refilling Drink^
Guy- What? You think it’s easy for me?

(close up)
Girl-You think it’s easy for me?

^the guy walks to look out the window^
(wide shot with girl in the background)
Guy- Well it was you who walked out

(close up)
Girl - But it was you who was the jerk.

(medium wide)
^Turns around^
Guy- Me... It was you that...

(close up)
Girl - Please can we not argue?

(Wide)
*Silence*
^girl looks around^
(shot of keyboard)

(Medium wide)
Girl - You been playing a lot recently?

(close up)
Guy-Yeah, it’s my only escape.

(medium wide)
Girl- You used to play a lot for me when we first met.

(wide shot)
^rubbing his finger on the keyboard^
Guy – Well, it’s not just my looks that were going to seduce you.

(medium wide)
girl-*laughs* ^smiles^
(close up)
^guy smiles^
(medium wide)
Girl - Play something like you use to.

^guy sits and plays^
^she’s smiling^
(cutting between the two)

^she gets teary^

Girl - I must be leaving.

(medium close up)
^he notices^
Guy-Wait..
^walks to her^

(medium wide)
^looking at each other^

This is where ill have the monologue, i going to write a few these next few days.
^they kiss^

(Fades)
(shot wide of both characters)
^Girl is hugging up to him, smiling^
(camera pans to picture of them together in frame)
(fades)
THE END.

all the credits at the start of the movie homaging classic cinema.

Then after speaking to Jools who gave me some tips, he told me to make the male character more reluctant and not to get them back together at the end and to imply that they do, which goes well with my idea of the credits at the start like 40s and 50s films do.

For a few weeks we worked with a director and actor who help us understand how to use actors and understand our ideas better, I have already had experience with actors from doing Drama at GCSE where I directed a lot of the plays I did.
(second script page
While this was happening I was searching for actors on Starnow.com
I got a reply from a local actor Charlie Osborn who worked in short films before and a feature length film; she also lived locally which made expenses not a problem.
We got in touch via emails and she seemed interested in the project but then one day never got in touch and didn’t answer.

By this time I got in touch with my grandma to film at her house and as the setting suited a dinning room to kitchen.
After knowing that Charlie wasn’t going to act I decided to turn to two friends, one who has done drama and another who hasn’t but is very sarcastic so I thought id try.
With us 3 and my cinematographer we went to the shoot with 2 lights (which the flood didn’t work) one flood and one spot, one Sony VX2000, one tripod, one k6 microphone with pistol and boom and a box for a prop.
Knowing it was going to be for a pilot the idea of this shoot was to film 2 minutes, to use the shoot as a test to know when I do come to film it I know the problems and what to look out for.
My idea is to film it again 3 times, one using VX2000, one using z1 standard DV and another in HDV, in doing this I can choose my favourite version.
My idea is to film it again 3 times, one using VX2000, one using z1 standard DV and another in HDV, in doing this I can choose my favourite version.

Love in D Minor

2009-03-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

Frame Forge

2009-03-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Proposal

2009-03-25T20:22:00.001-07:00

The brief was to create/produce a 6 minute short film involving 2 or more characters.

I decided to make my short film homage 40’s and 50’s cinema, films such as Casablanca and Gilda. I wanted to bring a classical feel in contempory cinema as most films rely on special effects or story twist and not honest good simple story telling and I feel this is what cinema is lacking these days.

Concept

I came up with the idea of a couple that had broken up and the female in the relationship comes to pick up some stuff.

I liked this concept because it’s a situation which happens but no one likes and conflict it easy to come about.

I came up with this idea because I had not long came out of a relationship with someone I cared a great deal but we lived together and conflict always happened afterwards.

There was no synopsis stage because I just sat down and wrote it.

First Script:

Key-
^-body actions
*-Noises
( )- Camera

(Wide Shot of door)
*Knocking*

^guy goes to door and opens door^

(close up of each character)
Guy-Hey ^small smile^
Girl-Hey ^Small smile^

^guy jesters for her to come in^

(wide shot)
Guy-Your stuff is over there, ive boxed it for you.
Girl- Thanks

^guy moves to kitchen area^
(wide shot of kitchen)

Guy-Want a drink?

(Medium Wide)
Girl- Yes please, what do you have?

(cutting between characters)
Guy-Whiskey? Rum?

Girl-Can i have a rum please?

^poring the drinks^

(wide shot)-keep same shot for awhile to create a sense of arkwardness
^handing the drinks over^
*Silence*

^girl will been having finger jesters on the glass and will slowly drink the drink^
Guy-How you been keeping?
Girl- Ok, been living with my mum.
Guy-How is your mum?
Girl- Shes fine, got a new job as a teacher.
Guy-nice.
(medium close up)
Girl-How about you?
(close up)
Guy-Ok, be better with you.
^guy knocks drinks back walks to refill^

(medium Wide)
Girl- Please

(Wide)
^Refilling Drink^
Guy- What ya think its easy for me?

(close up)
Girl-You think its easy for me?

^the guy walks to look out the window^
(wide shot with girl in the background)
Guy- Well it was you who walked out

(close up)
Girl-But it was you who was the jerk.

(medium wide)
^Turns around^
Guy- Me... It was you that...

(close up)
Girl-Please can we not argue?

(Wide)
*Silence*
^she the girl looking around^
(shot of keyboard)

(Medium wide)
Girl-You been playing alot recently?

(close up)
Guy-Yeah, its my only escape.

(medium wide)
Girl- You use to play alot for me when we first met.

(wide shot)
^ribbing his finger on the keyboard^
Guy-Well its not just my looks was gonna seduce ya.

(medium wide)
girl-*laughs* ^smiles^
(close up)
^guy smiles^
(medium wide)
Girl-Play something like you use to.

^guy sits and plays^
^shes smiling^
(cutting between the two)

^she gets teary^

Girl-I must be leaving.

(medium close up)
^he notices^
Guy-Wait..
^walks to her^

(medium wide)
^looking at each other^

This is where ill have the monologue, i going to write a few these next few days.
^they kiss^

(Fades)
(shot wide of both characters)
^Girl is hugging up to him, smiling^
(camera pans to picture of them together in frame)
(fades)
THE END.

Script

"HATE IS A VERY EXCITING EMOTION" (ONE SCENE ONLY)

Guy is waiting, reading a book '1001 ways to get your Ex

back, male edition'. Looking at the time.

Knocking at the door. Puts book away and puts another book

on the table, opens a page.

Answers the door, ex girlfriend there.

GIRL:

Hey

Guy character Reluctant from here.

GUY:

Hey

Girl walks in.

GUY:

Your stuffs over there.

Girl walks to boxes, starts looking through them. Guy in

kitchen.

GUY:

Want a drink?

GIRL:

Yes please, what you have?

GUY:

Whiskey or Rum?

GIRL:

Rum please.

So how have you been?

GUY:

Ok, yourself?

GIRL:

Yeah, got new job, which is hard

these days with recessions and

everything.

GUY:

Yeah great.

Guy makes drinks and puts in on a side near her. Guy

pretends on reading book.

GIRL:

Wheres my limited edition 'In

Rainbows' vinyl?

GUY:

Well i have it because i bought it.

GIRL:

Yeah, but for me.

GUY:

Well you wouldn't even like

Radiohead if it wasn't for me.

GIRL:

Thats not the point is it?

GUY:

No, but i have a turntable and you

don't, plus I'm a bigger fan and

its limited edition... find one on

eBay.

GIRL:

Whatever, have it on CD anyway.

Silence for a few seconds

GIRL:

So you been playing a lot?

Looking at keyboard/piano

GUY:

Yeah well its my only escape.

GIRL:

You use to play a lot when we first

met, then you only did it when i

was at work.

GUY:

Well i didn't want you interfering.

Girl chuckles

GIRL:

Play something like you use to?

GUY:

Why?

GIRL:

Just want to hear something nice

thats not on a CD which i can hear

all the time.

GUY:

Guy starts playing a melodic romantic tune, girl after

awhile starts getting upset/overwhelmed. Guy not reluctant

from this point.

GIRL:

I should leave...

GUY:

Wait i forgot to mention what

happened to the Harrisons.

GIRL:

Why what happened?

GUY:

Well Johnny day last week, well

because they where married for 40

years and Gilda bless her couldn't

take it and made her go delirium,

shows what can happen when your

without love.

GIRL:

Yeah, I'd better get going.

GUY:

Ok, ill see you out.

GIRL:

Ohh, I'm having a birthday party

next week on Tuesday at the 'Dog

and Bone' if you want to come?

GUY:

Yeah, i might pop down, depends if

I'm busy.

GIRL:

Ok, see you later.

GUY:

Yeah, see you

Treatment

As this is a homage, im having all the credits at the beginning of the film (like in 40’s and 50’s cinema) and just having the end at the end. This will also work well with short film and the size of my crew.

I also using two lights to light my film (that’s not including the general lights in the house) because this gives a good contrast but keeps everything well lit as I found out when me and the cinematographer did a lighting test in a studio.

I would also like to get a lot of pans and tracking shots as they where more commonly used back then.

Cast and Crew

Jack Boyles- Producer, Writer, Director, Editing and lighting.

Oliver Bartman- Cinematographer, lighting

Danny Peachy- Sound

Antony Whitton- Soundtrack/Composer

Charlie Osborn- Actor/ Female

Daniel Wignol- Actor/ Male.

Location

I’ve decided to film this in my grandma’s has as it looks mature and it has a dinning room and kitchen next to each other.
I unfortunately have no location shots as my grandma has been busy but my frame forge is pretty damn accrete.

Research, Romance Films

2009-03-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

As my film is homage of 40s and 50s romance films but in a modern times and setting, i researched old and modern romance films.

“love stories, or affairs of the heart center on passion, emotion, and the romantic, affectionate involvement of the main characters (usually a leading man and lady), and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus. Oftentimes, lovers in screen romances (often romantic dramas) face obstacles and the hazards of hardship, finances, physical illness, racial or social class status, occupation, psychological restraints, or family that threaten to break their union and attainment of love. As in all romantic relationships, tensions of day-to-day life, temptations (of infidelity), and differences in compatibility enter into the plots of romantic films.

Romantic films often explore the essential themes of love at first sight, young (and older) love, unrequited love, obsessive love, sentimental love, spiritual love, forbidden love, sexual and passionate love, sacrificial love, explosive and destructive love, and tragic love. Romantic films serve as great escapes and fantasies for viewers, especially if the two people finally overcome their difficulties, declare their love, and experience life "happily ever after" - implied by a reunion and final kiss.

Many romantic films do not have fairy-tale, wistful-thinking stories or happy endings, although love serves as a shield against the harshness of the real world. Although melodramas and romantic comedies may have some romance in their plots, they usually subordinate the love element to their primary goal - to provide humor or serious drama.”

(filmsite.org,2009, American Movie Classics Company)

This is relevant as it’s the general ideology and concepts that follow all romance films. This is an overview of romance films and what traits I should be looking for in mine.

Classic Romance Films

Gilda (1946)

One of the main inspirations for my film, Gilda is about a gambler (John Ford) who ends up working for a gangster who owns a casino. Then the casino owner ends up getting married to a lady by the name of Gilda (Rita Hayworth), which you find out that the gambler and Gilda once use to be a couple.

Even though this film also can be classed as a film noir (gangsters, pessimistic male character, femme fatale) its more of a romance film as the story is about these 3 characters, there trust and there relationship with one another.

I found this romance film interesting because of this triangle character relationship, the gambler is friends with the casino owner, Gilda is married to the owner, she still likes the gambler, and the gambler still likes her, yet the owner doesn’t know there past. Also the relationship between Gilda and the gambler is intriguing, they both have a lot of hate for each other, they both are horrible to one and another but it’s because there still is love there, as Gilda says herself “Hate is a very exciting emotion”.

This film inspired me because of the relationship between the two characters; I wanted to get this reluctant character and this tension between the two in my film, because in relationship there is tension.

Casablanca (1942)

Possible one of the greatest films of all time, Casablanca is about a bar owner (Humphrey Bogart) ends up seeing a girl (Ingrid Bergman) he use to be in love with when he lived in paris during the early years of WWII, he finds out that she is married to a revolutionist with a name for himself.

This film is amazing because of the story, romance and a war conflict. Also not to forget the roles of the character, Humphrey Bogart (which I like to say is the coolest man in Cinema) playing a tough yet heartbroken character, Ingrid Bergman the sympathetic woman. The two characters together create one of the best relationships in cinema history.

This film inspired me because once again the characters, the reluctant yet heartbroken male with the sympathetic female. One scene stuck out from the rest, the scene when she visits him and they are falling out but have there one last night together. This scene is what i was going for, tension and arguing till they both realise they still want each other.

Modern Romance films

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind

Is about a guy (Jim Carrey) trying to get his memory erased of a girl (Kate Winslet) due to the girl has done it to him. During the process he realises he doesn’t want to erase her and tries to stop it.

As some people regard this film as a ‘Chick Flick’ I would disagree due to the fact the story and the way the film is done (with Gondry’s signature transitions between scenes) appeals to more than just the female audience.

The whole concept of this film is fascinating, also the way its done where scenes intermingle with each other or bits of scenes disappearing etc makes this an emotional yet confusing ride.

This film is inspirational to my film because of the concept, your hearts broken and you hate the person but you remember the fun times, you realise you love them and even though what ever has happened you still have some feelings for this person and you cant deny love.

American Beauty

American Beauty is about one guy (Kevin Spacey) who is dead but goes back to how he ended up died (already you can tell how this is inspired from classic films, this one being Sunset Blvd), who is going through a midlife crisis and decided he wants to change his life, as his wife (Annette Bening) wants to be successful and ends up cheating on him, but he finds his daughters friend attractive.

This film is great, it does what Stanley Kubrick ‘Lolita’ did but in modern times. A taboo love story, full of affairs and also something we can relate too. Kevin Spacey is amazing in this film and I watch thinking... That’s going to be me when I’m that age. This also does like many other have done and set it in American Suburbia (which is great to say director Sam Mendes is actually English), to show what really happens on the other side of close doors.

This film is inspiring because it does what I want to achieve, Homage of classic cinema in modern day context. The Cinematography gives it the mood of classic cinema like film noirs as the Art Direction gives it that old Technicolor look with its bright primary colours.

I Believe that classic romance films where more Epic, there characters got you involved and there stories tend to be simple but on an Epic scale. As for modern day romance films (if there not some chick flick or Rom com) tend to rely on story innovation and taboos. For another example of a taboo romance film (which is another homage) ‘Brokeback Mountain’ which is about gay cowboys, a taboo subject as cow boys are seen as a big tough all American Cowboy, also recently ‘Australia’ which is an attempt to bring back epic romance.

In order to be successful I need to find a mid point of these two, bringing the subject to a modern concern but also give it that simplicity story telling. Also the look of the film is key to give it that mood and feel of an old film which ill but to lighting and colours.

Interesting Sound Clips

2009-02-06T05:14:00.000-08:00

Twin Peaks- Red Room

Reverse acting so when its reversed again it goes forward but sounds weird. This technique originated in french surrealism in the early 20's.

2001: A Space Odyssey.

The music (Gyogry Ligeti) and the drones of the Stargate.

Saving Private Ryan.
I believe the sound design is key in this film to make it seem real.

Script writing

2009-01-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

Some friendly tips from the BBC on writing Scripts.

Writing a Script

Maybe it’s a funny incident that happened to you, maybe there's a political statement that you'd like to make or a painting that has inspired you…whatever the spark, you need to start by getting it down in writing.

Where to start? Before you become too caught up in the ‘correct’ way to do it, jot down a brief description of the story you want to write. Once you've captured your idea onto paper, then you can visit the innumerable sites created to help writers turn raw ideas into workable scripts (for links to writing organisations and websites.

Once you have received tons of encouragement and suggestions, you need to turn the description you have into an outline or a more technical treatment. The terminology can, at this stage, get confusing, as different approaches to early development are referred to in different ways (such as outlines, synopses, treatments). Don’t get too hung up on which way to go at this stage, as the essential thing is to develop the idea into a structured story that will work as a screenplay.

At this stage, you can start showing your work to other people and getting feedback (ideally from people working in film or television, but you can always use your friends and family). Rework the idea and think about what makes it cinematic. Who are the characters? What is the plot, the premise, the theme? When these components have come together in your mind it's time to put your story down in script format.

Formatting a script is not an 'exact science' but, as you will find, there are industry standards. Production companies and directors are used to scripts that look a certain way, so it is worth getting to grip with industry conventions early on. For links to websites that provide script formatting tools & software.

It is always worth reading your favourite film scripts for examples of how it is done. There are many sites that can help you track down a free copy of a screenplay online.

Sticking to industry standard formatting makes your work look more professional and it will also help to give you a rough idea of the length of the film. Standard formatting roughly equates to a page per minute.

The script format is really only the start and you will need to continue developing your project, responding to criticism and absorbing new ideas into your script. If you are working with film and/or TV professionals, it’s very likely that you will go through a number of drafts. Visit the numerous websites for writers and scriptwriters, if only because writing is often a lonely task and it is healthy to connect into a network to share tips and suggestions that may assist you in the creative process. You can also get feedback on your story via some sites. For scriptwriting organisations.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/filmmakersguidewriting#writing)

I also for christmas got the book, Writing for electronic media, which i plan on reading soon but i need to Directing, film techniques and aesthetics too. So ill keep posted on nice tips from them.

TAKE IT EASY YOU CRAZY CATS.
XXXX :)

Films of importance during the first term prt 4

2008-12-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

The next film i actually believe is this directors one of the best films... Deathproof by Tarantino, i personally think this is Tarantino third best 'Directed film', with Reservoir Dogs second and Pulp Fiction first.
But first theres one thing i want to clear up... Can people stop going on how original Tarantino is, he's a damn good director (but i would say he's a better writer then director) but he is a homage director... He is paying homage to classic films and his ideas are directly lifted from something else.
Example in Jackie Brown, how the job scene shows you it from the different perspectives, this is taken from the film The Killing by Stanley Kubrick which is a robbery shown from the different gangster.
Anyway back to Deathproof, Im a big fan of Grindhouse horrors, Zombie Flesh Eaters, Basket Case etc and this film is one the money if you like it.
As the film didnt do aswell as it should of but i think that is because people didnt get it, as i kept arguing this point with my ex (which wouldnt surprise the ex lol) that its good film and she didnt get.
This film is complete Grindhouse, scenes that have no point, cheesey dialogue, cheesey acting (with Kurt Russel up there with some of the greatest slasher characters), girls and cool death scenes, which is what grindhouse is about.

That is probably my favourite death scene in any film, its a scene that makes you scream YES!!!
That scene is a grindhouse death scene, for example when her face is on the wheel you can take that from the banned film Happy Birthday To Me, which is hard to get and was a Beta Max classic, not so much VHS, but all banned films where easy to get Beta Max.

I had to add this scene in because as i was saying about Gilda, this scene is sexy, even though she is wearing short shorts... It is just very sexy and i believe the cinematography adds to this, the low wide shots and when she is on the fall, the movement of the female character and cutting just makes this scene very sexy... And of course the song.

There is another reason why the film is great, homage to stunt men, as the character is an ex stuntman but also the fact Tarantino has used stuntmen and paying homage to car chases like Bullet or Vantage Point.
It also mentions about C.G.I in the film but the important thing is C.G.I doesnt make car chases exciting and this is what this film does, it reminds you why C.G.I is over used which is about time because ive felt C.G.I has ruined some points in cinema.

(DONT WATCH THIS IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE FILM)

All in sll its not everyones taste but to the people who get this film, they love, i love it, my dad loves it, my mum loves it so if your a horror fan and a proper horror fan and none of this 'I know what you did last summer' shit, then youll take your hat off to this film.

Films of importance during the first term prt 3

2008-12-28T05:38:00.000-08:00

My next film is Billy Wilders film noir classic Sunset Blvd, one of coolest and greatist films of all time... well i would say anyway and there will be alot of people who would agree with me.
With one of the most iconic opening scenes in film history, the main character died in a pool, with his narration and then goes back to explain how he was died.

Also the great thing in this film, is plot of Hollywood and how one minute your the biggest thing and then your nothing, being used and then suffering afterwards.
This film is great, with the ending scene being as landmark as the first. Its another film that buts you in that place and your just focus on the film.

I film i recommend to anyone, its a classic and its just a great film.

Films of importance during the first term prt 2

2008-12-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

The second film of importance to me this year has been the film noir classic Gilda, even through it has the traits of film noir... Crime, drama, its more of a romance film.
This film starring Goddess Rita Hayworth, this film made her the goddess that she is.
One of my faviourite things in this film is the characters, the condition and there relationship together.
I love how the film builds, as the film goes on you find out more about these characters and this keeps you hooked.
The cinematography and lighting also make this film one of cinemas pleasures, the two scenes below are two scenes that stick out and have what David Lynch refferes to as the 'Eye of the Duck' which is the scene that is just beautiful... Basically.

Now this scene is beautiful, not just because of Rita even through she does make this scene more sexy.
The tracking camera and how it just focuses on her, you get the feel that you are watching her perform in a documentary way... i like this technique because it makes you focus on her more, the beauty of her and the amazed of her singing.
In this scene, if your a male you are on the same lines of the character Johnny.

There isnt enough scenes like this in cinema anymore, scenes that are sexy but sexy in the seductive way... not just some woman with a short skirt or her breasts out.
I love scenes like this, that braodway, singing on stage... Classic cinema.
This scene is great for the fact that its just long shots of her dancing, it gives it a real and gives a sense of stardom.
This is probably not for everyone taste... espacially for those who dont have a passion for film or dont like film because its black and white, which sorry if you are one of them people and your doing audio/visual then once again i cant stress the fact that you shouldnt be on this course, but this film does what good films do... Puts you in a place, when your watching Gilda you are in that place and you will be focused on the film.
I recommend this to people who have a passion for film or for you fellows who have a girlfriend and she wants to watch a romance film, this is it because its a romance film that is good and not some chick flick film that is just boring and unoriginal.

Films of Importance during term 1 prt1

2008-12-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

As i spend alot of time watching films, this term theres been a few films that have that make say... i wish i could make a film like that, but taking that into account pushes you more.
First film and one of the all time Epic classic, groundbreaking and one of the greatist films of all time (if not the greatest) 2001: A Space Oddessey.
Stanley Kubricks epic great and i would say one of cinemas complex film and for how big it is aswell, has everything you want in a film. Beautiful and provocative, Normal and surreal... it truely is breathtaking piece of work.
When this film was made, noone knew what earth looked like from space so they used there imagination, which looks like a photo of the sky but warped (a fish eye or pin hole effect) but you can tell its earth.
Then there was the sets, which where built on rotating wheels to create a zero gravity sense.
Also for you people who know Stanley Kubrick, it looks great, sets, shots, use of music to create atmosphere or emotion.
Also the great Stargate/Monolith scene, which is beautiful colours and visual effect to send you into a trance and thia was in a none digital era, so think about it in that seanse
Also this film has, which i believe is the biggest time jump in cinema history... which is the dawn of man to 2001.
For you people who havent seen this film, especially Audio/Visual, See this film, buy this film and if you dont like it... then you have issues, i know thats very opiontive but i get like that sometimes and i believe if you want to be in the media industry theres somethings you have to like because they simpley did and still do something great.

This scene is prime example of this films beauty of this film, the imagery of space and the ships with the song Blue Danube that just gives you a sense and atmosphere of space and zero gravity.
This is one of them scene that just makes me smile and ever time of think of it i want to watch the film.

This is one of my favourite scenes of all time, for a scene to use these effects and artistic look and make sense.
I recommend this film to everyone.

Cheesey or Bad films that are great because of that reason.

2008-12-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

Know i love my serious films... god sake i love Lynch, Kubrick and Meadows, but theres times when you all you want to see is a bad or cheesey film.
My first example is "Loch ness terror", i was in asda and in the middle of all these blockbusters was this film, the cover itself caught my eye. I read the back and it says how nessie is in canada which it got there by subterrian tunnels and is terrorising the locals.
But james murphy (played by a guy from charmed... i believe he was the angle that turned bad) a cryptozoologist is hunting down nessie because it killed his dad. If thats not one of the funniest storys ever, then i dont know what is.
The C.G.I is terrible, the acting is serious, make up effects are terrible and theres scenes that make you laugh for the reason its terrible, like the scene when james pulls out equipment which hasnt been mentioned and is pretty much impossible for him to get.
This film cost me a fiver and ts been a great buy, it makes me laugh and its every you want in a poor film.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OjclQLxyJFk

My other film that i think is great for cheesey reasons... Cliffhanger.
This film makes me cry of laughter, the story once again when you say it is brilliant, a guy who is good at rock climbing, loses confidence because he drops his friends wife, then gets involved with terroism when he thinks hes helping people.
The opening scene when he drops his friends wife is cheesey and it does make me laugh... even though its ment to be serious. With the line "Your not gonna die" said by Stallon in his epic way.
It has everything that can go wrong on a cliff happens in this film except a bear, thats why i would only remake this film and add a bear and a extended ending.
But with scenes where he goes under ice takes his top off and swims underneth it... brilliant, he would die but he doesnt.
Slow motion in this film makes it funny aswell, theres one scene when he's sliding down a cliff and stallons face is soooo funny.
The end fight scene takes place on a helicopter thats being holded by a ladder... Genius.
Once again i find this film great because of its cheese and generally being an obscure story.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bhtIlZCy_UA&feature=related

Now some of my fellow students might know of the exchange shop in old market square, this is a great place for dvds, they have good films for dirt cheap.
But there also another great thing, terrible films from the price of 50p and the film Alien Intruder was found and bought bu my friend.
This is possible one of the worst films ever made, this is the prime example of how not to make a film. It just is bad effects, acting, story, i mean so much... but still if you want a good laugh this film is on the money.
The best thing is that it stars Billy Dee Williams A.K.A Lando, now if you dont know who Lando is then you shouldnt be on this course... Im not joking either... all im going to say is "Star Wars".
This is about an alien that has taken over a ship, a rescure team of prisoners have to rescure them. But when in hyper sleep the alien starts to contact them, which when they are in hyper sleep it will be a famous genre for example Film Noir.
Basically in a nut shell its a bad speices (which was bad enough) but made years before.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D4dDYpYfVTY

My point is, people need to stop looking at films seriously all the time. As i said i love serious films, i make serious films but you cant beat a bad film or a cheesy film... my list could go on but i dont want to drag it and 3 is the magic number.
Also the film today that are terrible are not good terrible and i think some people should adopt this terrible style of film maker where its that bad its good.
I know most people will see this blog and be like "what the hell is he talking about?"
But for the few people who know... you know what im talking about.
Lets just take films for what they are and that means enjoying them because there terrible.
XXX

journal of working process and my finale thoughts.

2008-12-11T20:51:00.000-08:00

Before the weeks I’m about to write about we was going to do the documentary on a recovered heroin user, but several attempts to contact him he never answered.
7.11: As we were trying to find a new subject Rosie, contacted us on how she talked to a graffiti artist how would gladly be our subject. This day I, Joe and Chris started getting basic plot, story and questions.

9.11: This day we started our proposal, getting our story, plot and how we were visual approach to the documentary. Also Joe did a rough story board storyboard. Our meeting go well because we all come with a decision as a group and everyone is listing to each others ideas... 100% group effort.

11.11: Met with Nathan and saw his workshop, told him our ideas and our intentions. As we was at the workshop me and Chris was looking around and doing the recce forms. When we went back to Chris’s we completed our proposal and the PowerPoint, chase was the one who made the proposal as Joe written the proposal and I did a new storyboard that include time codes etc.

12.11: Was the day we did our presentation for our proposal, this went very successful and i think Chase did a very good job in his speaking; he was clear and very formal.

14.11: This day Chase and Chris got all risk assessment forms done and signed.

17.11: All equipment was booked and handed in risk assessments, we start filming on the 19^th.
19.11: We went to the workshop to film him do a graffiti piece that was a character representation of himself. As i approach the filming with a spontaneous view, it made the filming interesting as it made me think more about what shots i wanted and how i didn’t know where he was going to go made it a challenge to stay on him.

20.11: We went around town to get external shots of graffiti and other work he has produced around town. We went to blueprint, oh my gosh and Russel youth centre. Today I did a little bit of filming but Joe wanted to do some so i let him try it out too.

24.11: Filmed the interview, this was in his house. I filmed a standard talking head. Our idea doesn’t involve showing him and what footage we have we can zoom in the edit to only show parts of his face I.E lips, eyes etc.
6.11: Today we captured all the tapes.
27.11-4.12: All edits kept deleting due to files being corrupted.
5.12-10.12: Chris was editing, we was all there to put ideas across and if Chris didn’t know how to do something i was there to help as I’ve been editing through the summer holidays and I’ve used the software a few times before.

11.12: Today, I edited the making of, had some trouble with this as one file would let me use the whole clip. I also started working on the DVD menu, which was quiet tricky too as ive only used this programme once before and that was about 2 years ago.

The finish product i think is good, looks like how i imagined it with slow fades to create the way graffiti is done in motion. All the interview bits we have chosen are relevant and have a point and the images correspond to them.

The only problem i have with it is that it seems to drag a bit, i believe the way to solve this problem is to make it shorter or have less of repetitive imagery.

This project was good for me as it reminded me how to use the Adobe Encore and the spontaneous filming approach. This is a good technique to have, the ability to capture that moment as its happening in its true honest form.

I like the fact that I wasn’t directing (which is normally what I do), it was less pressure on me but still a creative opportunity.
I think as a group we have done well, we all put our opinions but it was always a group decisions and if one person but a good point across it we would all agree. As a group we was very discursive and we found just us talking about ideas was better than storyboarding, all we did was make notes on the good ideas.

I have enjoyed the filming aspect and the group i have worked with, as we was friends anyway but i hadn’t worked with them, it was good to see how they approach situations and as they hadn’t been practical media course i think they did very well.

Character Study

2008-12-11T18:15:00.001-08:00

The subject our documentary is on Nathan Bainbridge A.K.A Small Kid or Kid 30.
Nathans age is 30 and was born in a small town on the outskirts of Oxford. He has his own small designing company called Small Kid Designs which Specializes In: Printed design and illustration, Custom Designed Canvases and more.
(smallkid.co.uk)

Nathan attended at Portsmouth University on an Illustration course, after university he found out there not a lot of opportunities in this industry. After sometime he moved to Nottingham, getting involved in the rave scene, making his own in drum and bass nights and meeting new people arranging nights. Through this he got designing flyers for the drum and bass night ‘Detonate’ and this is when he realised away of making money out of his designs.

Nathan believes his creative came from his mum who did lots of paintings and his grandfather who was an architect.
Nathans involvement within the graffiti scene came from a Nottingham graffiti artist whose graffiti name is Creeks. In doing this he found his style, Character paintings

Nathan now does graffiti work for the Nottingham council, commercial works workshop and more. This gives him funding to do his own work and also commissions, which still keeps him interested in this art form.

Recent main influences are flying fortress, Jeremy Fish and Sam Flores, but he also admits that he looks at other artist and not just graffiti artist.

Shot in the Dark

2008-11-13T05:58:00.000-08:00

I choose this shot because it has a jesus feeling to it.
The darkness gives the viewer a sense of captivity and loneliness, the characters posture also shows this.

Bacon

2008-11-07T04:21:00.000-08:00

This picture by Sir Francis Bacon, doesnt mean alot to me but it does in the way it looks. Im not the person who can get emotions from art i like or i dont... But when i first saw this picture i was amazed by the religious view of dark. This pope like figue in a dark and unsettling atmosphere is an intresting and original look on religion as normal religious pictures are colourful.
But the contrasting colours and smugged effect is inspirational to me as a way of looking at film, as i like dark films.
It speaks to me in a sense of trying to immatate or use as inspiration on how my films look... not emotionally attacted.

Bonjourno

2008-09-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

Longtime no see peeps,
I have currently been working for beth sholme holocaust centre editing film, this has gave me some nice experience and also has been a inspiring job.
Ive edited interviews with kindatransport survivors, which is for there new exhibition. I recommend everyone go and see it, its in laxton.
Due to this i havent been able to start writing my shorts, as i get in quite late and all i want to do is chill.
But i plan on putting ideas together for Mandy mates with (hopefully) my friend who enjoys creative writing and does socialogy (which both points are good)
I also recommend to anyone who hasnt seen it yet... There Will Be Blood.
Its a masterpiece, has an golden age of cinema feel which i like alot, with a kurbrick atmosphere which everyone should like and if they dont then they are fools. PTA has shown his skills in film making and story telling (adapted from the book OIL). With Day-lewis showing us he's still the man and with Radiohead Jonny Greenwood composing the score, with beauity and huantingness that makes the film an Epic... And we dont get enough of the Epics anymore.
XXX

New film idea

2008-06-01T08:38:00.001-07:00

An idea that has been kicking around and which will be aimed for the horror film festival at Broadway, Night of the Hornets (working title).
This is going to be an old school b-movie/grind house horror, its going to be cheese, its going to have crap acting, its going to have a ridicules amount of blood and its going to be stupid but serious at the same time, HOW HORROR FILMS SHOULD BE.
I'm sick to death of these horror films like I know what you did last summer? and the rest of these crap horror films.
I will try and pay homage to the great horror films such as evil dead, zombie flesh eaters, basket case and Happy Birthday to me.
The film is going to be about a couple how go to a hotel, only to find that a group of hornets attack, lying eggs in your mouth to then turn you into a zombie.
Sounds stupid and makes no sense, but isnt that what makes horror films any good.
Still on planning stage but it will come together nicely.
Also expect to see you horror character classic too.
XXX

Reactable

2008-04-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is the instrument of the future, no more syntheses, no more midi keyboards. This is the reactable, a sound modulator which is controlled on a table using blocks, sounds stupid right, its until you see the bad boy in action you think "thats Cool".
As i'm a instrumentalist myself for a band i see this piece of equipment going far and they are said to out at the end of this year, which i cant wait and i'm willing to spend as much money as possible because they are worth every penny.
Heres some youtube links:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vm_FzLya8y4

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zodf6_YGujo&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s7QE5tHFwTg

Renoise

2008-04-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

During my brief time back ive been playing on a software called "Renoise".
This is a new way of making music, instead of using specialist hardware, you use your actual keyboard as a keyboard.
You also can change the samples, effects to how you want and also you can put samples in, with a mixer so you can get speaker panning.
I have written a few tracks (using the demo which is free), but tried to buy the actual version but couldn't sort it out, soon as i do, ill let you know my myspace.

www.renoise.com

Cheers

Film Ideas

2008-04-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Through the holidays, i've been coming up with ideas.
I've came up with four ideas:
The Wild East- Revenge/Post modern western, male character helping a female character (friend) from peers who take advantage.
Dead Man Shoes meets Straw Dogs meets True Romance.
Zombies Up- Horror/ Comedy, basic zombie film how people are trying to survive holding in a building but with british ways of things. Using references from old zombie movies and games.
Shaun of the dead meets Evil Dead.
Mandy's Mate's- Social Realism, A look at todays society through the eyes of an alienated drug user, the idea of being young and getting old, friendship, loss of culture, ignorance, etc. (my personal Faviourite idea) Uses quoets/refferences to Hunter S Thompson and Bill Hicks.
Human Traffic meets Fear and Loathing meets Bill Hicks.
(No Working Title)- A female who wakes up doesnt know where she is or who she is?
Then she finds theres monsters, everything will have a part in the twist.
Silent Hill meets Mulholland Drive meets Momento.

Tell me what you think to these ideas?

2008-03-03T13:12:00.001-08:00

Last Week on second life

2008-03-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

As I've not enjoyed my time on second life, it is an good piece of media to advertise or any other business. You can get people to in a sense viral market your product or tell people about you business.
For someone like me its only good for talking or doing stupid thing which you have to pay for when you could go out and do it. Also talking to people, i would rather do that on Windows Live Messenger because it leaves me free to do what ever i want on my computer and not walk around a silly place.
I can see why people go on it, but its not the type of thing I'm interested in, i would rather play a online video game.
From my experience as well, not much people are very talkative, i tried to talk to some people and they have non of it. Some people where pretty cool and had good conversations on music and films, which was good to hear other people theories on films and there opinions on music.
I can at least say I've tried it, but all and all i its not something i can get into and i found myself forcing myself to go on it.

Thrid week of second life

2008-02-22T05:45:00.000-08:00

Ive once again second life is boring me and i find it irritating. People dont talk, it crashes and its doesnt interest me.
I the only interesting thing ive done this week on it is going to a different location but i found it still boring.
At the end of the day its just people around chatting rubbish, doing stupid stuff with there avatar and its funny or clever... Its just sad.
Last Week coming, YES.

Half Way Second week on Second Life

2008-02-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Through this week on second Life ive just been having conversations with people. I found myself spending longer time this week as some conversations got interesting.
Ive also found how people are rude and sometimes dont want to talk to you or be your friend.
This week has been more interesting but still not finding it the most exciting thing ever.

One more thing what i dont like about the star sign.

2008-02-13T17:10:00.001-08:00

Im not selfish either, i like to share, i always share and i dont like people who dont.

Star Sign (self identity)

2008-02-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

Im a Aries, the ram which is the first sign of the zodiac.

Whilest research my star sign on wikipedia i saw abit on the personality. It say:

"Postitive: Adventurous and energetic Pioneering and courageous Enthusiastic and confident Dynamic and quick-witted

Negative: Selfish and quick-tempered Impulsive and impatient Foolhardy and daredevil

Likes

   * Action
  * Coming in first
  * Challenges
  * Championing Causes
  * Spontaneity

Dislikes

   * Waiting Around
  * Admitting Failure
  * No opposition
  * Tyranny
  * Other peoples advice"
I believe this explains me very well, the only point on there i can say i dont like is " other peoples Advice", as i do like to hear what other people say.
This has made me think about my star sign and if a ram could be a good avatar or have something of a ram.

Weblink: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aries_%28astrology%29

The list of me

2008-02-13T16:06:00.000-08:00

Personality
Funny
Creative
Lazy
Colourful
Caring
Adventurous
Chilled Out
Friendly
Annoying
Not Bothered About Most Things (Easy Going)

Interests/Influences
Music/ Radiohead, Can, Aphex Twin, Beethoven
Film/ David Lynch, Sam Rami, Stanley Kubrick

Hobbies
Playing Guitar
Playing Keyboards
Chilling Out
Listening To Music
Watching Films

Self Importance In Life
Having Fun
Enjoying What You Do
Family
Friends
Having A Comfortable Future

This is a list I’ve written is me, its four thing I believe what shapes our Self Identity and what comes into my head.
This helps me understand myself and shows me what to look for when im designing my Avatar and its Enviroment.

Self Identity to Me

2008-02-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

After researching into self identity ive found its our personality in basic terms but also what builds our personality, family, friends, interests, experiences and other such things.
Ive also found that media and branding has a big part, people feel the need to consume and make there possessions apart of there personality due to celebrities they idolize. For a good example is pop music, the spice girls for example influenced a generation of girl power to young girls.
Another interesting point is that our idols and general ideas change through time, so this also means our self identity we would of had a few years ago or days ago could well be different.
With such virtual world such as Second Life etc this has gave us a new way of looking at self identity. This gives people a alto-ego concept, this makes them look into there self and identify it with something else.
Self Identity to me is my keyboard, as music is one of my great passions in life. Ive also had experiences with my keyboard that will stay with me and have shaped me into the person i am today. Basically music has had the biggest impact on my life.
I believe music is going to have a big part in my identities work.

Self Identity

2008-02-13T06:27:00.001-08:00

Though researching self identity I've found its about understanding and knowledge of there own self, this can be through psychological, physical and social attributes. Attitudes, Habits, Beliefs and Ideas also influence our Self Identity.
There are three key points of interest in Self concept, Learned, Organized and Dynamic.

Learned- Through our life time we change and re change our ways and perspective due to experences and repeated experiences. This has a great effect towards our identity. Also relationships with people change our identity.

Organized- Orderliness and harmony makes us organized, then organization gives us Consistency to our personality. This makes personality dependable.

Dynamic- Gives the person the consistent s in life that gives us our stance in life and the direction for behaviour we take.

In basic terms its looking deep within your personalityand knowing the existences of ones self.

Mulholland Drive (search for Self Identity)

2008-02-13T06:02:00.000-08:00

My favourite director is David Lynch, in 2003 Lynch wrote and directed a film called Mulholland Drive.
This film deals with the idea of Self Identity, searching and knowing it. For example the first three quarters of the film about how an woman gets amnesia, she ends up tagging along with an up coming actress where they both try and find out who the woman is. Then the last quarter of the film the characters kind of switch roles (in the sense of which character has the power over the other character).
Without spoiling it for other viewers im not going to give away plot twisters and etc (as its a complex film and i wouldn't like to spoil the entertainment of trying to know what happens in the film) but this happens because of the searching for identity, the first three quarters is about searching for identity and as the last quarter isn't, it still is because of the twist and the reason why the characters power switches.

I thought this was an interesting to mention, the whole idea of searching for identity and for other students who haven't seen the film but would be interested.
If you haven't seen the film, i would recommend you do but your going to need to spend some time thinking about it and watch it a few times... Its All In The Mise en scene.

2008-02-13T02:41:00.003-08:00

First Week on second life

2008-02-13T02:18:00.000-08:00

After my first week on second life, i still think the same and that its for sad people with no life.
I spent alot of time persuading people to live there real life, but people seem to think that second life is real. S o i asked them what you can do on second life and the answer where short or my simple reply was "but you can do that for real?"
The only good thing for second life is sad people with no life and companies that wanna go on the internet , advertise or get people to buy there stuff.

2008-02-07T11:08:00.000-08:00

2008-02-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

Second Life (first thoughts)

2008-02-07T10:49:00.000-08:00

I started second life this monday, to be honest i think its crap and sad. Obiviously the people who go on this are people who have no life, hence second life.
I found my computer struggled to run, but it was ok after awhile.
My favourite part of second life was making my character, the only reason is because i made him look like Sloth with pink skin and green hair.
All in all im not impressed i 'have' to do this but i will carry on as expected.

Screaming Lights (write up)

2008-02-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

I know i was only meant to do one picture, but i thought 3 was better.
The first picture is my fairy lights in my bed room, this screams colour because theres so much pink but also diffent tones of pink due to the lighting and glare.
The second picture is of my friends pillow that has lights changing colour. This picture screams colour because its completely black but what colour you see is bright. This picture works well because of the black and it makes the colour stand out more.
Last but not least, the third picture. This picture is of a small LCD light on a set of small pc speakers. This has the same effect as the second picture, darkness with big lights.
None of these pictures have been tampered with, i wanted to be as basic as possible and show you do need to mess on photoshop to get good effects.
My favourite picture is the second picture, because the pillow was changing colour as i took it so you can see two different colours together which i think give a charming effect.
These pictures where inspired from the Radiohead artwork there latest album In Rainbows, which the artwork is black with bright paint colours splashed and squashed on top, the darkness with bright colours make the colours me pleasing and brighter.
Please let me know what you think?
*)

Screaming lights 3

2008-02-01T07:14:00.001-08:00

Screaming lights 2

2008-02-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

Screaming Lights 1

2008-02-01T07:10:00.001-08:00

3D Max

2008-02-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

Recently ive been using 3D max. At first this software was tricky but after awhile i started to get use to it, ive done the name, octopus and just started the tree.
The creative control on these softwares are great and allow you to accomplish many different things.
I not long downloaded blender, if anyone knows how to use this software please let me know?

Two References to my Pixalation

2007-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

There was a mobile phone advert that had different heads with a jack getting plugged in. This was one of our inspiration but instead of heads we used objects.

The other inspirations was an example we got shown of this woman movin around and doing different poses, but she is stilll while she moves. We like this idea of static movement so we decided to do that.

Single Shot (evaluation)

2007-12-04T08:15:00.000-08:00

This has taken me awhile to actually write up because i dont own a pc or laptop.
First thing we did was think an idea that would work well, not be long after rememberance day we decided it would be good to use this. Coming with the idea of a man putting a rose on a grave with everything black and white with the rose being red.

We decided to go to the old newark (polish) war graves.
We set the camera as we did because we wanted the subject to walk on from negative space, to put the flower down on the grave so the audience will be shocked to the rose red.
Also with the graves being in a deep shot, it tells the audience that this one grave is important to a family as the other graves will be to others. It makes the audience then realize why we remember.

To have black and white with the colour we had to go on colour past, then click on the rose to get the same colour. This created a problem because you can see red on the subjects hand, this was to do with the low quality camera.

I believe this piece of work went well, it was nice, simple and effective. It has a good meaning and has something that most people can relate to, making this work show maturity.

One Shot Film

2007-12-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

Summary (Lev Manovich)

2007-11-15T09:19:00.000-08:00

This is the first chapter in the book called ‘The Language Of New Media’ by author Lev Manovich.
This chapter basically listed what new media is, he starts this by saying in general what new media is, for example computer games, animation, internet etc. Then he says what new media would be in TV, shows shot in digital video and edited using digital editing workshops. He also mentions about feature films that are animations or digital compositions. Then he adds about general photographs, text and other such digital compositions that can be printed on paper.
Then he basically says that new media is anything that uses computer for distribution and exhibition. Then he adds about photographs that are on CD-Roms, electronic books and websites are also new media and anything done on analogue isn’t.
He then says how we are going through a new revaluation of computerization to produce, distribution and communication, saying that its allowed us to communications in storage, text, sound and all other medias that communicate with people.
He then gives us a brief history on computerization, how the first computers started off as calculators for governments or big companies. Then computers shifted to storage, photo, sound, movie making etc. This adding to what new media is.

This chapter is yet short but is a good introduction to the book, he writes his information formal and easy to understand. There’s not much in-depth description on this chapter, but other chapters that I flicked through give information more in-depth and in a easy way to understand.
As this chapter is only a starting point, he gets the point across in the way of basically saying this is new media, giving examples of his points that are very logical.

Reflective Practice

2007-11-15T08:55:00.000-08:00

This is about the reflective practice ive done while ive been here. The reflective practice ive done while im here is how i would like to start doing my own work in my own time, i like working in groups but sometimes theres ideas that not everyone agrees with, so i would like to do my own ideas.
If anyone would like to help, give us a call.

pixilation (write up)

2007-10-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

First time we got together, we decided just to test how to do it and how fast we need to walk. This was an experiment just to try everything.
The next time we met was the footage you see on my perivous blog. This was enjoyable and we went in knowing what we was going to do and how to do it.
Editing was a solo thing, i basically added alittle effect (polorize), i added this effect because it gives it a graphic novel effect. I then added my own music.
Our aim was to have a short music video or advert style pixilation.

pixilation

2007-10-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

ME

2007-10-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

Hello,
Im Jack a.k.a P-Nut, the best P-nut in the world, FACT.
Im interesting in music, bands like radiohead, can but also anything... Really like jazz, classical, ectronica ect. I play keyboard and guitar.
Im also interested in film, david lynch, shane meadows and the film that made me love film and make me want to be a director EVIL DEAD. I like to make films that so a dark side of life.
I like to go out and have fun, play games and enjoy life... you only have one life make the best of it.