Plan for my visual essay - unfinished.

Visual essay.


Intoduction -

Music : Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 was my number

This is england style introduction, titles appear in sync with music.

Titles:

A film by Tom Stockbridge
Three pathways
One choice
My Visual essay.

---- Cut to black ----

I thought i had a clear idea as to what pathway i wanted to pursue in my 2nd year before i had even started the course.
Which would of been interactive media. And it probably would of stayed that way had i not been fascinated with what you
create with a camera.

interactive media:

video of me working at computer


Choosing interactive media for tom seemed like the best choice at the beginning of the year. He enjoyed creating website
layouts and portraying his own style. But when it came to building the website in dreamweaver and css it became repitive
and his intrest quickly strayed. The more tom sat there coding in dreamweaver the less likely it became that he would take it further in the second year. Although coding wasnt particulary enjoyable for tom he still thinks it is a worthwhile skill to posess. Being able to create a website for yourself is a valuable skill to posess and enables you to create a web presence for yourself via a web portfolio. But overall tom didnt feel like interactive media offered the same sort of variety and experiences that you would perhaps get from moving, on top of the fact that you have to sit infront of a computer for hours on end trying to work out whats going on with your div tags!

Virtual enviroment:

video : my animation dp2.

I always thought i would really enjoy creating things in 3ds max, and i was right, i did. Yet i wasn't quite prepared for the amount
of time and effort you would have to put into the program and still not recieve the best results! I did however really enjoy experimenting
with models and it enabled me to have a real insight into how much time and patience goes into making animations and games. Unfortunately my
understanding for how 3ds max works was extremely limited and i found that it was a complete uphill struggle for me not matter how hard i tried
i quite literally went from this

insert - picture of me happy > looking like a zombie.

Although tom wont be pursuing animation in the second year, he did manage to grasp a few worthwhile concepts which no doubt can be applied to projects in his second year. well atleast he hopes so!


Moving image :

The first project of the year for me was moving image, and it was the most enjoyable project throughout the whole year. Working as groups to create short films really inspired tom to continue with moving image into the 2nd year. Although we were given
strict instructions with what to include in the film, One shot for the first project and a script for the second, we were able to interpret it
in our own way and add our own individual style to it. And that is what motivates tom the most with moving image, it allows you to create and work on a style. Ive always been a huge fan of british film, Mainly because tom feels that the movies produced dont soley rely on special effects and huge budgets, but portray emotion from the characters for what they are. and i feel that britian has created some of the best film directors in the world such as :

Guy Ritchie, a hugely acclaimed director, and for good reason. Lock, stock and two smoking barrels and snatch really inspire me to want to film. Guy ritchie's ability to film numerous plots which coincide and intertwine with eachother is amazing. He has been able to create incredible originality and trademark style, something which i aspire to have.

Danny boyle is another great british director, and is the man behind the 28 days later franchise, and the worldwide sucess slumdog millionaire. The main thing that inspires me about danny boyles films is that he operates in such a variety of genre's from horror to rom-com yet as a viewer you can still recognise danny boyles style.

Shane Meadows is an award winning director, who has created 7 films since 1996. Raised in nottingham, Shane dropped out of school early and eventually ended up volunteering at an art centre, where he began to learn the skills behind film making. Movies such as This is england and dead mans shoes, are regarded as his best films to date. Dead man shoes was nominated for a bafta for best british film and this is england actually won the award in 2006, along with a british independent film award. Shane Meadows originality and style of filming inspire me to pursue moving image, in the hope that i can perhaps one day, affect british cinema in the same way.

Anna Atkins - V&A trip.

On the Trip to london's v&a museum tom came across the work of anna atkins. Atkins was one of the earliest female photographers, using photo sensitive materials to make a record of her specimens as a botanist. Her work is now regarded as art, with people replicating the same method she used, to create intricate designs. Although atkins work is a type of photography, she has created a style that other people can recognise across all of her work. Something which i can try and apply to my work, so when people view my recordings they know that it is another piece of my work.

My chosen practitioner - Shane Meadows

"The vast majority of Meadows' films have been set in the Midlands area. They recall the kitchen sink realism of filmmakers such as Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, with a post-modern twist. He has a relaxed directing style, encouraging the actors to ad lib in order to create a better sense of reality. Much of the content of his films is semi-autobiographical and based on his experiences in Uttoxeter. Twenty Four Seven was inspired by his youth, both at a boxing club, and also playing in a local football club. Despite some huge losses, the club's coach never lost faith in them. A Room for Romeo Brass was also inspired by his youth. After Paul Fraser — his best friend, neighbour and future writing partner — had a bad accident and was bound to his bed for two years, Meadows instead hung around with some of the town's more undesirable characters. Dead Man's Shoes is based on the more unpleasant side of his youth in Uttoxeter. It was inspired by a close friend who had been bullied, developed a drug problem and then committed suicide. He said "I couldn't believe that, going back ten years later, he had been totally forgotten in the town — it was as if he had never existed. I was filled with anger against the people who had bullied and pushed the drugs on him, and with despair at what drugs had done to that small community".

Five of Meadows' films were shown at the 2007 Flourish Festival, held annually in Uttoxeter, to mark the release of This is England.

His second feature-length film, Twenty Four Seven, won several awards at film festivals, including the Douglas Hickox award at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Screenplay at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. Dead Man's Shoes, his sixth film, and third starring Paddy Considine, was nominated for a BAFTA for Best British Film. His seventh film This is England,won the British Independent Film Awards 2006 for best British independent film. Shane was presented with the award by Sylvester Stallone and used the occasion to announce that he was to be a father.This is England also won a BAFTA for Best British Film."

Experimenting with adobe after effects.

Over the past couple of days I have been experimenting with adobe after effects for the first time with the intention of creating an introduction for my visual essay. I have still got a huge amount to learn but im pretty happy with my first try.



My second attempt using a different concept :



My third introduction, following a this is england style.



My final introduction. I further developed the "this is england" theme.

My job as a director - Moving image Evaluation.

For our moving image module, each group were given a script for a short film. The script my group recieved is called "herds".


Everyone in our group was assigned a role, which we then attached tasks to. As Director, my job was to create storyboards of each scene, create risk assesments, edit the script according to my own interpretation and, along with the producer, make sure everything goes to plan. Our group turned out to be really organised and everyone had completed there set tasks over the easter holiday, aided by the use of a facebook group, which allowed us to keep in contact and updated. We had managed to get in contact with an actor, find a suitable location and get hold of extra's enabling us to film as soon as we had got back.

The group were really enthusiastic about starting the filming, so we set dates for the camera equiment to be taken out, organised what days we would need actors and extras and made sure we were still able to use are designated location.

I feel I worked well as a director, talking through scripts with actors so they knew exactly what I was trying to portray, working alongside the cameraman to make sure the shots conincided with what we were trying to achieve with the script, and generally making sure people were doing what they were suppose to. We came across very few problems on the day of filming, down to the good orginisation of the group. I think the only real minor we had is with lighting where We were trying to create a party scene using a disco ball, which worked well in casting colour throughout the room, Yet unfortunately the room appeared really dark on the camera.

Within a couple of weeks of starting filming we had already got all the raw footage we needed, leaving just the editing left. My final task as director was to over see the editing to make sure it reflected the script. A complete edit of "Herds" was completed over a couple of days working it and ready to be uploaded to recieve feedback from peers on what could be changed to enhance the final outcome. After making slight changes to certain scenes we were done!

Overall I really enjoyed this moving image project. And I dont think I can really find fault in anything we did over the few weeks. I think this is mainly due to being so organised as a group and setting dates and times for each task to be completed by. This project has allowed me to have an insight into how the film process works and it makes you realise how many minor details must be thought before the camera is even turned on. I think I may of slightly underestimated how much pressure is on the director when the camera starts rolling, with people wanting to know what they have to be doing at that exact given time, ButIi found the whole experience really enjoyable and has done nothing but back up my reasons for wanting to pursue moving image into the second year.

Herds :

Justifying my script edit.

The main character, Monty, is a bit of a social oddball, in the sense that he finds it difficult to relate to people in social situations. This ultimately makes
his interaction with another person quite awkward and he doesnt pick up on other... peoples reactions towards him.

Therefore is had to change the dialouge from the orginal script so it would better suit the character we are going to portray. Because Monty cant socialise very well,
I wanted to make the script reflect that, so i tried to make the dialogue between the two characters quite awkward and non linear. But at the same time trying to
remain in sync with the original script.

Updated script

1.
1 EXT. Street. DAY 1
Monty is walking down a road and notices a flyer on the floor. In Monty's mind it has details for a party on it but when the camera zooms in on the piece of paper it is blank.

Monty looks up. Then the camera chops through scenes showing Monty getting ready for his party.
TITLE: Herds

2 INT.PORCH.

Knock on door.
Monty attempt's to look through letterbox when door suddenly opens.

AGNEW opens the door, Monty slips past him

MONTY
Err....Yes err It's a bit quiet though better be early than be late thats what I say

Monty walks over to the sofa and takes a seat clutching a bag on his lap.

AGNEW
Hello?

Agnew sit's down opposite.

MONTY
No reason we can't crack these open though is there?

Monty takes two bottles from the bag and a bottle opener. opens one and passes it too Agnew.
He drops one of the bottles onto Agnews lap soaking him. Monty then starts timidly patting agnews lap with the end of his jumper.

AGNEW

what are you doing? who are you?

MONTY

ah, kitchen roll thats more like it

Monty walks over to the kitchen and wraps a few pieces of kicthen roll round his hand.
And proceeds to pat Agnews lap.

AGNEW

Ill do it!

3
INT. KITCHEN. NIGHT 2
Monty takes a swig from his beer bottle.

MONTY
I better eat something. Must not reach my peek to early.

AGNEW
Who told you there was a party?

MONTY
white bread?

Monty grimaces.
he then walks to the fridge and opens a pack of ham and starts to eat the slices.

Agnew stares in disbelief.

MONTY
mmm

AGNEW
is this a joke?

MONTY
i thought this was a party, you dont seem to be very happy

AGNEW
Do we even know each other?

Agnew begins to show anger in his voice

Monty puts down the ham, wipes his mouth with his hand and trys to shake hands

MONTY
Monty

AGNEW
seriously?

Monty picks the ham back up and carrys on eating it.

AGNEW
I think someone's having you on Monty

MONTY
Erm Having me on?

AGNEW
Told you there's a party and sent you this
address

MONTY
i had an invitation

AGNEW
But there isn't a party

MONTY
it said party

AGNEW
there isnt a party and i dont know who you are.

Monty sits and chews.

MONTY
are you sure?

3 EXT. DOORSTEP. NIGHT 3
Agnew holds the door open and Monty exits

4 EXT. STREET. NIGHT 4
Monty turns and stares back at agnew. Agnew shuts the door.

MONTY
thanks, i had a great time, well ill see you later

Monty stares up and down the road

5
EXT. DOORSTEP. NIGHT 5
Monty knocks on the door. an old lady opens it and stares up at him.

MONTY
its err a bit quite here

The END

Animation Evaluation.

For the Virtual Enviroment project we were asked to create a haunted roller coaster ride. From the beginning i was struggling to come to terms with 3ds max and spent hours upon hours reading tutorials and watching video's to enable me to get to grips with the program. Not only was I struggling with Animating my ride, 3ds max kept crashing when I attempted to render it or change anything significantly, which in turn made the program incredibly frustrating to use and dedicate time too. Although once i had finally managed to come to terms with the program, it gave me a huge sense of achievement when the final animation was complete and I really feel that given the concequences of multiple crashes and error's with rendering that I have created something quite good.

The main concept for my animation was based around what I am afraid of. Therefore I made the design claustrophrobic and dark, a fear alot of people can relate to, and tried to avoid creating open spaces where possible. I didn't want to just have skeleton's jumping out at you, I wanted to create an atmosphere, using light and sound to the best of my ability. I also didnt want to just make the user jump, I wanted to give them a sense of impending doom, which I tried to establish with two of my scare scenes by having the walls close in with spikes. In regards to the entrance of my rollercoaster ride, I kept the design simple so it was as if it was an abandoned warehouse, that if you would choose to enter, you would be doing so at your own peril. The materials I used for the models were quite grungy/dungeon oriented, with dirty concrete walls inside and green discoloured brick on the outside. Which helps create an atomopshere for the user. Throughout the process of the design I was documenting existing haunted roller coaster rides, which inevitably helped me establish an idea of which way I wanted to go with the design. Which in turn enabled to get my idea's down on paper to use as a reference when it came to modeling in 3ds max.

This, by a long way, was the most challenging project I have done so far and really tested my ability to learn. Each step in the design process required a large amount of work, wether it be sketching idea's or material mapping on 3ds max. I feel there is alot of thing's I could of done better, the main being the cart design which I feel I could of been alot more creative with if I had the time. I also feel that with such a time demanding project your time management skills have to be good in order for you to maximise your design's potential. Unfortunately I underestimated the time required so I dont feel like it was the best of my ability. Having said that I really enjoyed creating 3d models, applying materials and creating sketches of the object before I modeled them and the experience will aid me in future projects.

Animation - Haunted dungeon

Haunted dungeon - Animation project from tom stockbridge on Vimeo.