Character & Narrative, friday october 17th and onwards

Modelling/animating

While Mat was explaining I started to entertain myself before we would start with the assignment for that day. Earlier this week I found a zombie rig from the move Hotel Transylvania. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and create a movement that isn't as realistic as I've always been doing. I thought using a zombie as subject for this is a great first step to do this. I started discovering the rig and start posing it and after a while Mat came with the tip to look up for reference (oh well duh, we've been doing this before as well, how could I not think of this? Stubborn ass). I came already to the conclusion that I don't like this rig as much as I love Mery, but I'll try to make it work anyway.

Then after introduction was finished the assignment for next week is to model two objects, the first being a truck (with the use of the guide provided on estudio) Because I like many polygons for some reason, my truck consists of many, many more than the example provided, but I like it anyway, I didn't add any more detail to the truck like windows or doors because it would take way too much time (and since it's not in the assignment I left it as it was) 

After that I paid attention to Mat explaining hypershade and that's when I thought, hmm better pay attention since I'm a shit when it comes to shading. I played around a bit with different shaders and created a low poly environment because I thought it would fit the look of the truck a bit. (it reminds me of those 90's computer games. copy paste a tree and alter it a bit.)

The other half of the assignment was to model an object you have close, so I modelled my tea mug. I chose this mug because this way I can play around again with UVmapping, trying out the different options of mapping again. (and trying to replicate a pattern in photoshop is always fun. Even though I failed miserably) 

I'm still not a 100% sure about the choice of shading. I tried to look for some help on the internet on shading ceramic objects but it didn't exactly come out the way I wanted it to. Maybe look a bit better for tutorials on that the next week.

Acting up: Lyrics.

I haven't chosen my definite lyrics yet, but I'll post the ones I have right now down here. Better start sketching some ideas this week. This way I can also do research on tone of voice and style of performance, which I should be doing if I want to stay on schedule. Another thing I can try and research on is the character design when I know for sure what lyrics I'm using. Since I want to push myself a bit further this semester and I really want to model and rig again, I better be more on time this time round.

Also. Make a planning Danique, gosh.

Bike - Pink Floyd 

I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like

It's got a basket, a bell that rings and

things that make it look good.

I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it 

(chose this one as one of the first because it makes me laugh a lot and it makes not much sense)

Holland Road - Mumford and Sons

So I was lost, go count the cost

Before you go to the Holland Road

With your heart like a stone, you spared no time in lashing out

And I know your pain and the effect of my shame

but you cut me down you cut me down.

(Maybe a performance type of animation with change of tone and emotion: calm-loud)

The Son Never Shines On Closed Doors - Flogging Molly

She said she never shines on closed doors,

I open to find only hurricane blow.

Take me away to the fields of may

Because the Son never shines on closed doors

(I only felt something on the second and third line, but after a while I feel a bit "meh" about this one)

What's Left Of The Flag - Flogging Molly

Then the rosary beads count then 1, 2, 3, fell apart as they hit the floor

In a garb of black we must pay respect to the color we were born to mourn

Walk away me boys, and by morning we'll be free

Wipe that golden tear from your mother dear, and 

raise what's left of the flag for me.

(Since it's always sung in a upsweeping manner, I felt excited about this one, I was thinking about how the objects used in the lyrics can be possibly used to play with camera angles in an animation.)

Jugband Blues - Pink Floyd

It's awfully considerate of you to think of me here

And I'm much obliged to you for making it clear

that I'm not here

And I never knew the moon could be so big

And I never knew the moon could be so blue

And I'm grateful that you threw away my old shoes

And brought me here instead dressed in red

(I got a bit of serenade-y feel from listening to this so might be something like that?)

Fat Old Sun - Pink Floyd

When the fat old sun in the sky is falling

Summers evening birds are calling

Summer's thunder time of the year,

The sound of music in my ears

Distant Bells

New mown grass smells so sweet

By the river holding hands

Roll me up and lay me down

And if you sit, don't make a sound

(again a bit serenade-y, recalling memory kind of feeling. Performance like.)

The Sick Note - The Dubliners

Dear sir I write this note to you to tell me of my plight

And at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight

Me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly grey

And I write this note to say, why Paddy's not at work today

While working on the fourteenth floor, some bricks I had to clear

Now to throw them from such a height, was not a good idea

The foreman wasn't very pleased, he being an awkward sod

He said I'd have to carry them down the ladders in me hod

Now, clearing all the bricks by hand, it was s very slow

So I hoisted up a barrel, and secured the rope below

But in me haste to do the job, I was too blind to see

That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me

(The story is very funny, something like slapstick came to mind. Maybe skip the first verse since it'll be too long otherwise.)

The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel

In the clearing stands a boxer

And a fighter by his trade

and he carries the reminders 

of ev'ry glove that laid him down

And I cut him till he cried out

in his anger and his shame

"I am leaving, I am leaving"

But the fighter still remains

(Not really sure what I thought when writing this down. A scene came to mind but on second thought it might not be as much "lip-sync worthy")

Wing$ - Macklemore

I was seven years l got my first pair

And I stepped outside

I was like, "Mamma, this air bubble right here, it's gonna make me fly"

I hit back-court and when I jumped,

UI jumped, I swear I got so high

I touched the net, "Mom, I touched the net"

This is the best day of my life

(always liked the song of its emotion and message. After watching the videoclip I realised my idea for this was practically the same as the music video so I might scratch this.)

Sin - Kontrust

One forbidden touch, and one drink too much

Different skin felt, my possessions melt

oh I don't regret this kiss, such a short time bliss

Man I need so much more, nothing will be like before

Will I stand right here forever?

In the middle of nowhere.

Talk to me

Should I stay or will you leave?

Talk to me

I think of her but you don't think of me

Talk to me

(Personal environment, speaking out own thoughts, frustration taking over?)

Let's Talk About Me - Alan Parson's Project

Let's talk about me for a minute, 

Well how do you think I feel about what's been going on

Let's talk about me for a minute

Well how do you think I feel about what's gone wrong

Let's talk about dreams, I never learned to read the signs

Let's talk about what it all means, I never seem to have the time

Let's talk about you and your problems

All that I seem to do is spend the night

Just talking about you and your problems

No matter what I say I can't get it right.

(A person screaming out their frustrations comes to mind...)

Movements - The Solutions (솔루션스)

You are like a shining star upon the sky

Like a feeling of a little smile

Hard to be unseen everyday to all

But get attention everywhere you are

You're on a planet spinning out of control

But never falling down on way you go

I'm gonna keep you close in way you are

I'm going everywhere you are

(It seems like I have a thing for serenade-y kind of songlyrics, don't I? But yeah, that kind of setting comes to mind. Also, movements might be really big, animated, fun)

Little Italy - Little Comets

Left wing, savoir faire

Ageing flicks of my thin brown hair

Like an elegy, soaking me

Drenched in the language of social mobility

But I don't seem to mind,

the gruesome link between

people and time

It's an enemy telling me

The wheels of profit

are circling in the opposite

Life don't animate

just creeps up on you slowly

Surely holy water

flows just as normal water does?

In Little Italy I re-adhere

(I really like the lyrics but on second thought I don't think I can do something with this visually)