Diary in my awareness of Nature

Follow up to the flaws spotted

2011-05-31T18:42:00.002+01:00

I took into consideration all the advice my friend, Rudy who does filming and media studies to improve my animation.

After altering the flaws in my animation, I find that the comments he gave very helpful and is very true. I am more caustious now. However, it still requires alot of time and afford to look through the animation over and over again. Due to time constrain, I am leaving some details i want to change to a rest.

Since I have other work that I need to pay attention too as well.

The Sony Vegas Movie Studio Software is very helpful and does a better job than Windows Movie Maker. I am able to directly edit the volume of each character's voice. Also I could add different sound effect on different bar as it is not limited.

Showing My Project to a Media Practitioner

2011-05-30T17:32:00.000+01:00

I did a raft compilation of my animations with background music, sound effect and transitions on Windows Movie Maker.

I wanted to know if this is the compilation could be improved. Therefore, I called a friend who does filming and media.

He wasn't impressed with Windows Movie Maker as it was very inaccurate to do any adjustment for audio volume.

In Addition, I got some comments to improve some parts of my animation that had flaws and wasn't good.

Such as,

1. The timing of voice and illustration would be better if it is synchronize.

2. Character's eyes blinking too frequent

3. To use another colour or stroke for the font so that it does not camouflage with the back ground.
(even thought it's a second)

4. Too many details and information in a scene
(that does not help an audience to capture the information.)

5. Volume for the voices should be edited to be the same.

6. Be aware of voice volume hitting the peak of the audio bar.
(that would cause sound to crack because it's too loud)

Besides that, I was advised to use a trial version of Sony Vegas Movie Studio to edit and produce my movie as it has better quality.

It was them I WANTED!! THEY ARE THE CAST!

2011-05-27T16:17:00.000+01:00

It was Anna Bronowska as Basila, Andre Anderson as Mutusammy, Leslie Gregory as Basilo and Sophie as Rummie the mushroom.

It was not that others didn't have a good voice many of them had such confident and out spoken voice, sounded almost professional. However, as I put the voice with the character, the voice didn't seem to connect with the character. That was my experience of talent scouting. I enjoyed so much as I got to experience being a director to tell them about my story and how I wanted them speak it.

One of the problems that arise from this was the short time I had for myself to edit the voices or for my actors to re-record if some script was not spoken well. I hope to catch up on them next Tuesday before submission on Wednesday.

Character Voice Hunt (The Best Day Ever)

2011-05-26T16:02:00.001+01:00

I set out to scout for the right voice for my characters around college. My participants were 18-60 years old, as many as 15 of them.

After recording their voices with them saying the script, I looped them on the player and heard it accompanying with the animated character. It was such a joyful moment (as though a crowd of choir singing ‘’Hallelujah’’ in the background) after I’ve heard the voice that I wanted my character to have.

Voice Hunting

2011-05-26T09:22:00.003+01:00

I showed my work to robin today and my feedback was that the voices for the characters could be better. At this point, the voices of the characters are I and my sister. I edited the pitch of her voice and mine to match each character. Lowering the pitch if it was for Basilo and Mutusammy, Higher pitch for Basila and Rummie. Robin says that it is not very understandable what the characters are saying.

Reasons:
1. Accent
2. Tone
3. Pitch

The accent for Mutusammy is of an Indian accent. However, it causes the animation script to be unclear to the audience.

The tone for each character might not be suitable for a documentary cartoon animation. I need to learn how other documentaries speak in their show.

The pitch for Rummie and Basila sounds very artificial. I increased the pitch of the voice recording which caused it to have a chipmunk effect. The voices are very cartoon like (alien voice), adorable and funny but that is the reason it is then unsuitable for an informative animation I would like to present to my audience.

Therefore, despite the short of time I would want to scout for talent among people I know for suitable voice, and if they would spare me some time to read the scripts for of the character.

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Study on "The Great Animal Show"

2011-05-25T16:35:00.003+01:00

I intend to do a study on the bbc2 programme Animal Kingdom.

This is to survey and analyse the use of animation even in a documentary programme.

I personally feel that it is a good combination of real images and cartoon drawings and live video.

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Creating the Scenes in Anime Studio Pro. 7

2011-05-20T09:23:00.003+01:00

My task today is to create nine scenes.

Previously, I have created the character making it's lip and eye sync and making its bone movement.

I have created all this in different sheets. Today my task is to put them all in a scene and possibly to make the backdrop too.

I must publish it by Sunday!

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Re-assessing My Animation

2011-05-20T09:04:00.002+01:00

I showed my progress to my tutor. The feedback was learning to eliminate and re edit my scenes.

The important fact is knowing the purpose of my animation. Re evaluating my work if I have captured my target audience.

In my case Richard mention, I could have a longer version and shorter version for a different context.

At the moment, my work is more of a comedy and documentary.

However, I have mention that I would like it to fit into a cook show. I have to decide if I want to make it a cook show instead or sticking to the script I have, which is a documentary animation.

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The Initial Voice Recording and Estimating Animation Lenght

2011-05-19T20:42:00.003+01:00

To make things get moving, I used the help of my sister to read and act like the script of the animation.

After recording it, I edited the pitch to suit each character. Lowering the pitch for the male characters and increasing the pitch for the female characters. This process took a very long time. As I need to edit some of the bad sounds on Audacity, audio editing freeware.

After completing the sound editings, I played them all in their proper sequence on the media player. Through this process, I could observe the raft length of the whole animation.

It was 6 minutes long.

I decided to remove some of the lines in te script to shorten the animation as it would be very unhelpful for children or even adult to sit and watch an animation for 6minutes since average attention span for children is about 10 minutes.

After removing some script it became 4 minutes.

I'm still not happy with the length. I will need some advice from my tutor of what they think of the length of my animation.

Producing the Script

2011-05-19T20:41:00.002+01:00

The time is ticking away. I realise, I really need to finalise the script for the animation I intend to produce.

I sat with my best friend to write down the script for the animation. I seem to can't get things right and need some decision making help.

I manage to finish the script. The crazy and lame jokes are from her just to make the animation not so boring. And the factual bits are compilation from researching about basil on the Internet from various sites.

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2011-05-06T11:01:00.000+01:00

Learning how to use softwares.

seeing tutorials in youtube.

One Month Count Down to Dateline

2011-05-03T20:15:00.002+01:00

It is now one month to out FMP submission.

I went to Ealing library to look at some books. I am finding drawing method, colour and tone experiment for my illustration.

I came across a book that wrote about how to draw vampires, werewolves, witches and zombies. What interested me was the colour, tone and shading for eerie scenes.

I realise, I need to experiment with colours and tones using the filters in photoshop to provide best effects for my animation have them.

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My research for animation in tv programmes commercial purpose

2011-04-30T23:36:00.004+01:00

Alright, it has taken me two days to search the link up that was for not copying the link down on my notebook .

I have been watching several bbc documentaries while finding the one that Richard showed me and It has been fantastic. Absolutely fantastic documentaries that have been produce. They were all documentaries on birds. Not helping for plants but over here I am learning the style documentaries are shot for producing documentaries and I think It's just so brilliant.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/European_Starling#p00gfxrh

another great documentary.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vtz42/Johnny_Kingdoms_Year_with_the_Birds_Episode_2/

Undergo of the 2nd Animation

2011-04-29T01:23:00.004+01:00

In conjunction with the stretch of holiday, I resulted to consult my tutor for feedback that I can work on during this holiday.

It so happens Richard saw a documentary on BBC that was related to my field.

Working hard before the next bank and royal wedding Holiday!!

2011-04-28T02:00:00.003+01:00

updated my sketch book with photos of basil time- lapsed in college.

New ideas of making the Chef series.

Designed a brand for my show.

Brand name: Garden of Eden

Concept: Extracted from creation story in Genesis.
Where plants are created therefore loved by human race and God Himself.

On my independent time after returning from college,

I used the stage that I have set up for my shadow play theature,

captured shots of my shadow images and compiled my

pictures of the shadow animation into a short-clip.

Making shadows on the grass.

2011-04-25T16:15:00.004+01:00

It's after the Easter break, for the whole afternoon I did 28 cut outs for the silhoutte short clip I am planning to produce.

The idea of making silhoutte animation came to me as I wanted very much to incorporate the skills I have learned from my 2 stage of my course. I was doing a shadow puppet animation on genesis. For that assignment, I remember that I couldn't complete it as I was very new to animation and did not have more ideas to add to it. It was very awkward and not smooth flowing.

This short clip would be a revise version of the previous animation and the ideas will be used as an introduction to the Food Series of this TV programme. The 30sec. silhoutte animation will then be insert at the beggining of the programme as an introduction to the cooking series.

Dust Dust

2011-04-14T09:44:00.002+01:00

I'm going for an interview at Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge for interview. Did some simple animation work this week with toon boon.

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mushrooms

2011-04-07T08:36:00.002+01:00

I did some work on mushrooms today. it was to argue its benefit and causes to trees. After hearing feed back from robin I realise that my approach is too friendly. My mushrooms look too appetising instead of harmful. Therefore today I will need to do more studies on plant parasites instead of just mushrooms.

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I've completed my Animation-Try-Out!

2011-04-04T03:07:00.004+01:00

Please let me know which is better?

the slower version

the Sepia background and faster version

cheers!!

Initial Story Line SCRAPED !!!

2011-04-04T02:03:00.008+01:00

I've been praying very HARD for a new story line!!!!

and I DID got a new one.

I'm not going to use Mr Mutusammi and his mystical magnifying glass anymore. The initial story line was Mr Mutusammy could see the future and the present from tree parasites with his magnifying glass. The story was meant to show how human tend to carry unnecessary burden such as bad habits in life, which are similar to parasites and Mr Mutusammy accidentally had a peek of vision revealed before his eye as he examines the dead tree with his Magnifying glass. The tree slowly dies like human being getting burden and becoming sad in life and finally dies bitterly. Even as I write this again I feel so sad, so down and so bored. I decided not to narrate and illustrate this story anymore!

So, My new storyline would be a song base animatics sequence. Showing a scene of trees that are ill and dying, very ugly and choked up with parasites and insects. When the light comes all the parasites flee for their life! Because all of this parasite are like darkness in life and when light comes darkness must flee. I shall keep the story revealed till here.

finally! I'm more excited to make an animation for this story line!!!

LORD! Thank you so much....HUGS!

Catch Up Work (Persepolis)

2011-04-02T13:14:00.008+01:00

I've started writing my findings about Persepolis, the animation I watched many weeks ago. It came to me that I finally manage to get an idea out from it. I really enjoyed watching this animation. I remember watching it until 3 am in the morning all the credits and behind the scene that was in the DVD but as usual if you let the hype die off you tend to forget how great the movie was. I saw snippets of the anime online again, and I just realise that I'm forgetting to learn THE STYLE AND CREATIVITY this animation had!

Keep on going!!

Completion of the kew Layout I did

2011-04-01T17:40:00.000+01:00

I was eave dropping while doing my sketch in college today. During tutorial Karen warned others not to do high school style which meant don't just try to fill the pages out. BIG Big titles and no description and brainstorming. HAHahha!

I have to critically view what I just did and hope it does not fall into that category. Put your thoughts and finding I have gained from Kew Gardens!!

My pages are Bleeding!!!

2011-04-01T13:04:00.003+01:00

This is crazy news!! The very pretty sketch book I bought from CASS ART is not suitable for watercolour painting unless I am ready to stick pages together for cover up. MY BAD for thinking 110gs paper thickness is good enough. NOOO! It bleeds and is suitable for pencil and pen only. GOOD JOB PAmelyn!! HAHAHAa....Solve your own problem now.

Water Colour Day

2011-04-01T12:40:00.002+01:00

I started to put down things I got from Kew Gardens.

I realised that I did a grave mistake, which is wanting to make my sketch perfect. It caused me to be a little behind time.

I also realise I use a lot of time with animation and exhibition that are not heading me to my objective.

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Stumbling to a wall.

2011-03-31T02:39:00.002+01:00

I jumped to my sketch book when I woke up this morning knowing that I am behind time!!! Behind time *echoes*

I put my hands together and started putting a good layout of my kew garden introduction.

I'm facing a lot of problems which I need to correct.

First of all is my story line. I still can't settle in what I want my story to be.

Second, I am struggling with my researches. I realize my researches are very time consuming and pointless.

Conclusion is the researches I want to put down in my sketch book are not benefiting, not bringing any good to my animation.

I need a restart!!

bamboo graphic tablet

2011-03-25T03:29:00.008Z

Today has been a graphic tablet day, my hands are soaring now. I have been practicing and exploring my graphic tablet since morning did various digital editting. I did a short animation for my kew garden story about two hours. I hope to refine it on monday. Then I had to help my sister with a brochure for her saturday event. I spend the whole afternoon thinking of a concept to present this brochure. When my sis came back at night she feel that the colour didnt suit the theme and the colour would not attract the black british that has a african taste. So I had to re edit. Finally finish 3am in the morning. I cant believe I took such a long time to design a brochure using art rage and photo shop . I think probably the programme have to wait every now and then. I am relatively new to art rage as well. There I guess my conclusion is practice makes perfect I need to keep drawing with these softwares.

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knowledge the creator

2011-03-22T01:26:00.001Z

Got some idea for my animation story line. Time to put everything together!

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sunday

2011-03-20T07:49:00.001Z

Forgotten to take shot of my mango. The trip to brand and advertising museum was helping to increase general knowledge of how packaging has change over the years. I came across a telescopic art display. Would like to make one of this for my produced work. I think I will give myself ample time to finish it.

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advertising museum

2011-03-19T10:42:00.001Z

WWalts with bashir takes you to a documentary and memoirs of a palestine soldier. The style of how he reveal the story stars the main actor lost his memory of the war but has flash back of nightmares. He then discovers it by meeting other peers where they would tell their to seek his

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movie night

2011-03-18T02:21:00.000Z

i watched persopolis!

brilliant animation that has inspired me.

have not seen a story told in this way.

so simple. so open. so political. so personal. so genuine. so hilarious.

wednesday morning before going to college

2011-03-09T11:04:00.000Z

advertising

a diary of things to do in kew garden

-bee / butterfly at the beginning

-the towers

- the musuems

- ducks

- lakes

- path ways

- the crawleys

-badger

an idea just popped up. Should I also make a fake sketch book and real sketch book

one saying what really is at kew gardens

and one with additional make up location in the kew garden.

Kew Garden Again!

2011-03-09T07:10:00.002Z

I went to Kew Garden from 1-5.30pm again.

This time I explored the north of the park which we didn't really manage to discover yesterday.

Somewhere near the river bank I decided to draw and colour a plant. I was inspired by the botanist illustrators in the Marianne North Gallery and the Sherleywood Gallery Exhibition to use the colour pencil medium. I took about one hour to finish just a 6x6cm picture of that plant. It was nostalgia of me going for art class in my high school, back from My Favorite Art House times.

I initially wanted to use water colour, but I left it at home so I had a good start using colour pencil to practice my precision.

2011-03-08T07:17:00.000Z

Thanks to Odile from St Helens I have a free pass to go in to Kew Gardens with my sister today.

It was so fun. Manage to meet up with Odile during her lnch break. She explain to us so much on the plants we pass by . Really love one the pine cone trees we saw. It was so interesting. We really enjoyed the orchid glass house, palm glass house and many more. We went up to the tower and it was so scary whenver there was a bump on the see through floor. My body forgotten that it once was not afraid of height.we went to the marianne north gallery last before we head off for home.

Day 1 - Work to Do

2011-03-05T14:24:00.001Z

College was exciting and anticipating today. We were waiting for our brief to be given to us and further instruction on our final major project. The topic is symbiosis but it is only as a guide line and nobody should have a single word of that on the brief that we are going to write for our project that will be handed in to the invigilator.

I had some ideas that was in the back of my mind as I was dreaming and thinking of the topics that I chance upon a few weeks ahead. For the whole second intake, I was in a limbo and delusion of where I was heading to. I was learning something but I couldn't see the excitement while I was doing to it. Perhaps I became bored and feel a little down of not knowing where I am going in this art industry. I made so many mistakes in not putting more effort in my work, which led me to a referral. I need to do more research and not just base on my own idea if I wanted to become a good illustrator and art practitioner. Now I began to compare my life with my other friends, Christians and non-Christians. I realise, I need to motivate myself because even the bible asked us to be good stewards and to excel in all that we do. Not having a goal is simply wasting my life away. I rather make small impacts than noting at all.

My ideas came about when talking to a botanist in church who works in Kew gardens. She often inspires me with interesting demonstration of the science experiments on fruits and tells me about her research project working in Kew Gardens.

I am inspired by the comments and feedback I've received from a university interview. It was rather heart breaking, but I am grateful being told the truth so that I may change. I am happy I was told I had more fine art work than illustration, that, I need to do more research on illustration. I need to communicate the concept to the viewer and not just merely what I like, what I think is nice. Therefore, for my final major project I want to communicate a concept well to my viewers, and I want to be consistent in findings and research. I want to have done my homework.

For the Final Major Project, my broad subject is Kew Gardens. I wanted to narrow down the project to something achievable and realistic. For this project, I intend to illustrate a book, design a website and make an animation. I have spoken to Richard, who gave me some ideas. He gave some suggestions such as an illustration on Kew Garden's History, designing leaflet and brochure, and guided tour map, etc. I plan to do my research on this given suggestion on Saturday.

For this project, I have also spoken to Karen. The suggested subject I could research on is a botanist illustrator Haacke. She also introduced me to a movie called spirited away. Although I have watched that animation before I would want to watch it again. To gain a different understanding and seeing it from an art student and having nature (Kew Gardens) in my mind. I also got a write up on the film. . I don't find the write up exactly useful except to know some critical writing style.

Some of the incident is poorly explained because it was written by an American, who knew very minimal of Asian culture. Therefore, it was merely guessing game for her, but I did enjoy reading it. From the movie, I realize the only major thing that I have to learn is being inspired to make animation.

That is it for now. My new checklist would be finishing some referral work and continue my research on Kew Garden's history, and the botanist (haacke) Karen introduced. I also would like to make a visit to Kew Gardens on Monday. I want to do some research before hand before going there. Also, I need to go to Ealing Broadway to buy a sketch book.

God please continue to show me the way.

in Jesus name, Amen