Aloha!
Well, the first cut crit seemed to go ok. It was almost empty though.
The comments made were alright too - the main criticisms were the unfinished parts that I knew of, and the only thing that really stuck out was they asked for some negative space inbetween a shot near the end - just of nothing.
I didn't really get it at first, but at my week-early-suprise-birthday-party last night, Mike put on The Office to show me what they meant. I think I get it now, but just need to find the right action or object to compliment the end of the film.
I haven't changed anything else more right now, as I am trying to get everything ready for my mission trip on Monday, (this time next week I will be in Zambia, leading people to God, and being led by God) and so I maight be able to think and shoot some stuff by the end of the week, but it is unlikely.
There's time when i get back to finish everything off though...so I'm sure I'll be ok. Production folder is nearly done too. :o) There was an unfair comment at the end, where the tutors said "if this was a real production, nobody got paid" - which is quite off since a few of us have worked so hard and so long on these films...
but I'm not going to let it bring me down!
~breadmaker
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
First Cut Hand In Day
Aloha!
Well, today is First Cut Hand In Day (FCHID). It's always funny (and a little unsettling) to see so many people putting finishing touches on it this morning, or the suprised looks when you tell your peers "no man, it's today, not tomorrow"...
But thankfully, my first cut has been done for a little while. On Monday I swithered whether to hand it in or not, but instead thought "no, let's make this better" and applied some extra effects and post production elements like de-interlacing all the footage, addign the shaky cam and other camera elements onto the bread falling scenes, and also when through my Master audio files and re-mixed the film. Now, it shouldn't pop the speakers during the loud points, since the levels do not max out anymore. It's the kind of jobs that really make the film, but are constantly overlooked while you're making the film, saying "yeah, I'll do that next week" but it won't really happen.
So, all in all I am happy with my first cut - there are still 2 shots missing, but they have been set up so everything apart from the final animation and lip sync is there. This way, it won't be a distraction when it could've cut back to the animatic. The film is looking very polished and aesthethically looks more complete than any other film I've seen in the studio. Whether it will stand up as a good film among my peers on Monday's Crit, will be the true test. I am confident, but also humbled by the help I've had in blending and making it look nice, plus all the favours I've asked for the actual photography and voices...so I won't be arrogant or pretentious come Monday if I have to present it - but quietly confident that the film will entertain and speak for itself to a large extent.
:o) I'll post a report on Monday/Tuesday
~breakmaker
Well, today is First Cut Hand In Day (FCHID). It's always funny (and a little unsettling) to see so many people putting finishing touches on it this morning, or the suprised looks when you tell your peers "no man, it's today, not tomorrow"...
But thankfully, my first cut has been done for a little while. On Monday I swithered whether to hand it in or not, but instead thought "no, let's make this better" and applied some extra effects and post production elements like de-interlacing all the footage, addign the shaky cam and other camera elements onto the bread falling scenes, and also when through my Master audio files and re-mixed the film. Now, it shouldn't pop the speakers during the loud points, since the levels do not max out anymore. It's the kind of jobs that really make the film, but are constantly overlooked while you're making the film, saying "yeah, I'll do that next week" but it won't really happen.
So, all in all I am happy with my first cut - there are still 2 shots missing, but they have been set up so everything apart from the final animation and lip sync is there. This way, it won't be a distraction when it could've cut back to the animatic. The film is looking very polished and aesthethically looks more complete than any other film I've seen in the studio. Whether it will stand up as a good film among my peers on Monday's Crit, will be the true test. I am confident, but also humbled by the help I've had in blending and making it look nice, plus all the favours I've asked for the actual photography and voices...so I won't be arrogant or pretentious come Monday if I have to present it - but quietly confident that the film will entertain and speak for itself to a large extent.
:o) I'll post a report on Monday/Tuesday
~breakmaker
Friday, March 16, 2007
Bread Nose Day
Happy Red Nose Day! :o) Hope you too are proudly wearing your red nose! If not, customise your desktop with this background I made at lunchtime!
Featuring: The Mischeivous Toast!
"It's a Bit of Fun!"
"It's a Bit of Fun!"
~breadmaker
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
RE: Re-Working, Re-Coming Together
Aloha!
Everyday in the studio, I am asked by at least 5 people: "How's bread coming along?"
Same question. Same answer: "It's coming together"
The last few days have seen all the scenes be re-lit, re-shaded and re-animated.
Today, I am trying finish off the final supermarket scenes so that they are all ready. These have been completely re-worked, with face re-tracking, complete overhauls in re-animating and re-timing stuff...it's crazy, but it IS looking far better than before; exceeding my expectations.
I normally dislike doing any kind of re-drafting animation, but the keyframes in After Effects make this a little easier. It is also very rewarding to see the dramatic changes! I should do more passes of animation in the future!
I also got the pictures for the Mischeivous toast last night, so will process them tomorrow and get them up here by the end of the week hopefully...not long 'til the first cut, and I'm hoping to stand out as a 'near-complete' version. ;)
~breadmaker
PS: NEW VIDEOS AND IMAGES BELOW! BE SURE TO CHECK THEM OUT AND COMMENT!
Everyday in the studio, I am asked by at least 5 people: "How's bread coming along?"
Same question. Same answer: "It's coming together"
The last few days have seen all the scenes be re-lit, re-shaded and re-animated.
Today, I am trying finish off the final supermarket scenes so that they are all ready. These have been completely re-worked, with face re-tracking, complete overhauls in re-animating and re-timing stuff...it's crazy, but it IS looking far better than before; exceeding my expectations.
I normally dislike doing any kind of re-drafting animation, but the keyframes in After Effects make this a little easier. It is also very rewarding to see the dramatic changes! I should do more passes of animation in the future!
I also got the pictures for the Mischeivous toast last night, so will process them tomorrow and get them up here by the end of the week hopefully...not long 'til the first cut, and I'm hoping to stand out as a 'near-complete' version. ;)
~breadmaker
PS: NEW VIDEOS AND IMAGES BELOW! BE SURE TO CHECK THEM OUT AND COMMENT!
Friday, March 09, 2007
"It Takes 2's Baby..."
Every now and again, you feel proud and rejuvanated by a day's work. This shot is a sneak-peek at the other 58 seconds I completed today, of animation tweaking. The keyframes are now in 2's, and the shadows and backgrounds for most of the film are now completed :o) ENJOY!
~breadmaker
Thursday, March 08, 2007
New Pics
Aloha!
Here is those background tests that I promised....each one has many adjustments to it, using Photoshop's adjustment layers, blurs and shadings. I would really like some advice or comments on how to make them better, and blend nicer. Here's a few I've done so far...
It's been a hard week trying to obtain these images and then process them. There's a few "thank you's" to be entered later, since this kind of design-eye is a major thing I lack...
Enjoy!
Here is those background tests that I promised....each one has many adjustments to it, using Photoshop's adjustment layers, blurs and shadings. I would really like some advice or comments on how to make them better, and blend nicer. Here's a few I've done so far...
It's been a hard week trying to obtain these images and then process them. There's a few "thank you's" to be entered later, since this kind of design-eye is a major thing I lack...
Enjoy!
~breadmaker
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Bad day
Ray Charles would've had a hard time performing without his backing singers.
And Jeremy Clarkson would have a hard time presenting Top Gear without a car.
These two, seemingly unrelated facts collide with the next installment in the humorous but tragic tale of making Bread.
Yesterday, Helen and I took a trip to IKEA in Cardiff so I could sneakily take pictures using my camera phone of the kitchen displays, so I could modify them to be my backgrounds. However, the car decided to smoke from the bonnet upon entering the car park and we dashed out before it exploded.
Thankfully, it didn't actually explode. But we were out anyway.
We got lunch, tried to take the pictures and they weren't going so well. As I'd feared, price stickers were everywhere blocking all the good shots and there was actually a few staff on the floor this time (a rare find in Ikea) so I was unable to take any decent pictures that would be useable. I suppose as well it could've been hard to get copyright for images I'd taken against company policy.
We spent most of our day in the car park, dejected, before then towing back by rope later that night. Towing isn't fun. At all.
The car isn't a write-off, thankfully, but will cost a wee bit to get it fixed!
And so, I will now have to spend next week touring some freinds' kitchens to get the backgrounds I need...but I also feel that then they will be a better quality for the prints I will have to supply the university with.
All in all, things are going to be better....I just wish it didn't take a dreadful day to work that out.
Back to the drawing board, finalisng my dissertation and sending out showreels to pass the time...none will be wasted.
~breadmaker
And Jeremy Clarkson would have a hard time presenting Top Gear without a car.
These two, seemingly unrelated facts collide with the next installment in the humorous but tragic tale of making Bread.
Yesterday, Helen and I took a trip to IKEA in Cardiff so I could sneakily take pictures using my camera phone of the kitchen displays, so I could modify them to be my backgrounds. However, the car decided to smoke from the bonnet upon entering the car park and we dashed out before it exploded.
Thankfully, it didn't actually explode. But we were out anyway.
We got lunch, tried to take the pictures and they weren't going so well. As I'd feared, price stickers were everywhere blocking all the good shots and there was actually a few staff on the floor this time (a rare find in Ikea) so I was unable to take any decent pictures that would be useable. I suppose as well it could've been hard to get copyright for images I'd taken against company policy.
We spent most of our day in the car park, dejected, before then towing back by rope later that night. Towing isn't fun. At all.
The car isn't a write-off, thankfully, but will cost a wee bit to get it fixed!
And so, I will now have to spend next week touring some freinds' kitchens to get the backgrounds I need...but I also feel that then they will be a better quality for the prints I will have to supply the university with.
All in all, things are going to be better....I just wish it didn't take a dreadful day to work that out.
Back to the drawing board, finalisng my dissertation and sending out showreels to pass the time...none will be wasted.
~breadmaker
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