18 hours of work over the last 3 days, and the assignment is finally done!
Unfortunately, couldn't post a workable .swf file to this, but here is my artist statement:
The concept for “A Thought” uses the idea of combining drawn components of first animations (the notepad cartoons) and the modern techniques of Flash in an animation with a unique message. The work combines elements of photography, motion, text, drawings, and sound in one, in order to appeal to the viewer. The concept of drawing or doodling on paper in a Flash animation further assists in bridging the gap between the two different eras of animation. While “A Thought” provides an insight into the opinions of the creator of the work, the idea behind the animation is to also raise universal questions from its potential viewers. Thus, the work’s purpose is to provoke a thought or a reflection within the viewer.
While the piece has no specific intended target audience, it can appeal to several different audiences at the same time. Consumerism is an issue that affects all age groups in a modern society, and thus the message of the work is universal. The use of jazz music in the work may appeal to a slightly older crowd, while the photographs of classrooms can attract university-aged audiences. The concept of drawing can be interesting to a younger audience.
The animation was created in Adobe Flash with graphics drawn in Adobe Fireworks and Flash. Some of the central graphics in the work include the dollar sign, a person’s face, and the dollar coin. The most prevalent technique used in this Flash animation is the motion tween. This kind of tween is used to animate instances of graphics as well as text in the work in order to make it more appealing and presentable. Several movie clip symbols on their own separate layers are also used in the work to create the repetition effect (most noticeably the moving background of lined paper and the rotating earth). The work also uses a combination of two separate audio tracks to convey the message behind the animation. Another aspect of the work features stop-motion photography. This is created as a result of placing consecutively taken photos on frames in succession in order to create the effect of motion.
One of the anticipated challenges for this work was the organization of thought and recreation of the speech in form of images. The biggest challenge in reality however, was effectively synchronizing the sound with the motion on the screen. Because there is no way to check bits of sound for each frame, the movie had to be watched over and over again after making minor adjustment in order to perfectly synchronize the sound with the motion on the screen. This challenge was dealt with through tedious work and attention to the detailing in layer construction, because certain motions were used for specific phrases in the speech it was easier to add more detail after the essential “skeletal” animation was laid onto all of the layers/
The assignment further reinforced theoretical material that was taught in lecture and helped secure the knowledge of Flash concepts such as different tweens, action script, and the meaning of symbols in a flash animation. Although the work turned out not as grandiose as perceived in my mind at first, it is a satisfying effort. The work successfully addresses several target audiences with its universal message.
I think the quality of the work in my section was very high. What surprised me the most though, were the storylines and ideas behing some of the animations. Good job to everyone!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Week 8: Evolution of the Music Video
Previously I have discussed the advantage (or some might call it "disadvantage") of living in the digitial era and having everything at your fingertips. The reality is, we don't use the web just to get information anymore. We live, work, and interact within it. The rise of the Internet, and recent introduction of Web 2.0 has enabled average people to create work and use the Internet to broadcast themselves. It has proved a successful medium for broadcasting not only creative work, but sharing thoughts and ideas.
Where is all this going? Well, a perfect example is the evolution of the music video. Considering the fact that some fourty years ago, there was no such a thing as music videos, it is pretty impressive that virtually anyone can make one today without leavinng their house. The music industry has successfully learned to adapt to the new age of browsing, and has captured the potential of the internet music video. In some cases, bands and record labels have even made calls for fans to submit their own music videos to the songs picked by the artist. NY based artist Moby, recently announced a reward for a fan with the best video to the single from his 2008 album "Last Night."
The success behind internet music video is largely a result of the interactivity it enables for the viewer, and the encouragement for them to create their own work to go with someone else's. Videos that look like they are made at home are often created with some sense of satire.
Here's a beautifully done video to one of my favorite songs Fake Empire, by a band called The National:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KehwyWmXr3U
Where is all this going? Well, a perfect example is the evolution of the music video. Considering the fact that some fourty years ago, there was no such a thing as music videos, it is pretty impressive that virtually anyone can make one today without leavinng their house. The music industry has successfully learned to adapt to the new age of browsing, and has captured the potential of the internet music video. In some cases, bands and record labels have even made calls for fans to submit their own music videos to the songs picked by the artist. NY based artist Moby, recently announced a reward for a fan with the best video to the single from his 2008 album "Last Night."
The success behind internet music video is largely a result of the interactivity it enables for the viewer, and the encouragement for them to create their own work to go with someone else's. Videos that look like they are made at home are often created with some sense of satire.
Here's a beautifully done video to one of my favorite songs Fake Empire, by a band called The National:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KehwyWmXr3U
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Week 7:Third time is the charm? Not really...
This year's Nuit Blanche was anything but amazing. A lot of people were complaining after the last two years about crowds, long walks, and a generally low impressiveness (is that even a word?) factor. The promise for this year was a general improvement but the result left myself and many asking for more. Less road closures, longer walking distances, and really dissapointing set-ups made a night on the colder side of the thermometer hardly worth leaving the house for. In fact many installations looked much better in the information booklet than in real life.
The thing I most looked forward to, was Blinkenlights. The projects in Europe were a great success, and Toronto's installment promised to razzle, dazzle, and amuse. According to the brochure it should have looked something like this:
the result however turned out to be a major dissapointment:
I'm not sure if it was the fact that the two buildings were curved, or the huge ramp blocking half of the view from up-close, but the images depicted were hardly recognizable (if at all). Not even a game of low-resolution, indistinguishable PONG on the wall of City Hall, could made up for the lackluster spectacle of this year's Nuit.
The thing I most looked forward to, was Blinkenlights. The projects in Europe were a great success, and Toronto's installment promised to razzle, dazzle, and amuse. According to the brochure it should have looked something like this:
the result however turned out to be a major dissapointment:
I'm not sure if it was the fact that the two buildings were curved, or the huge ramp blocking half of the view from up-close, but the images depicted were hardly recognizable (if at all). Not even a game of low-resolution, indistinguishable PONG on the wall of City Hall, could made up for the lackluster spectacle of this year's Nuit.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Week 6: Doodles
A possible idea for my flash animation assignment could be based on doodles. The first forms of animation were notepad drawings with pages constantly flapping. I am considering making my assignment a new take on the old technique. The idea came to me as a result of watching people around my classes. At one point or another everyone doodles. Whether it's just a small drawing of a stick person, or an elaborate sketch, people devote a lot of time to drawing in their note books. I thought that I could elaborate on the idea of doodling to create an animation with a storyline.
Here is on of the examples I found on the internet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooCRGT8IoiY
Here is on of the examples I found on the internet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooCRGT8IoiY
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Week 5: Cd Cover
The assignment is in! Mine just so happened to be on an Alberta-born Cadence Weapon, whom I got to see perform live at the UofT frosh (hence the close-up pictures). If you have not heard any of his music check the link out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL3Qeot5KvE (warning: explicit lyrics)
The submitted work is a concept design for a CD cover featuring an Alberta born rapper Cadence Weapon. The pictures for the design were taken at a live performance during the University of Toronto orientation week, where Cadence Weapon was one of the headlining artists. The artist performs and produces music with DJ Weasel, who also appears in the background of the design. “The Youth Crew’s Back” is the name of one of Mr. Weapon’s latest, most popular songs. The CD design was created in mind with the single “The Youth Crew’s Back” or as a possible idea for a future album with the same name. The objective of the idea is to convey to the listener the unique sound of Cadence Weapon that comes from a combination of rap singing and electronic music. Another point of the design is to promote the potential buyer of the CD to attend a live performance by Cadence Weapon. The target audience for this design, and the potential CD are persons between the age of sixteen and twenty five. Cadence Weapon’s music would appeal to that demographic, and that is the most prominent demographic at his shows.
The design was created in Adobe Fireworks. The polygon lasso tool with a feather edge was used to cut the images of Cadence Weapon and DJ Weasel from two separate pictures, followed by a scaling down of the images to an appropriate size. The amplifier in the background had also been outlined with a lasso tool and then inverted in order to select the whole background, which was then adjusted to less saturated tint. The colour of the amplifier also appears in the text. The text for “The Youth Crew’s Back” had been converted into a bitmap image, rotated and then blurred in order to look more realistic on the speaker in bottom left corner of the design. The letters of the “Cadence Weapon” title were also converted into bitmaps and moved to create more symmetry and alignment between the two words.
The biggest challenge in creating the design was selecting an appropriate colour scheme. The design was not intended to be colourful but it wasn’t supposed to look bland. Colour of the amplifier was used in the text to make the CD design more appealing to the eye. The text contrasts perfectly against the dark background.
The design was important not only in exercising Fireworks skills, but also using creative judgment about what would make it look most attractive. Selection and arrangement of the pictures that would eventually make the design is as important as being able to put the images together. The image meets the objective of attracting the potential listener and creating a first impression of a young energetic artist that Cadence Weapon is. Though the design uses subtle colours it successfully addresses the target audience with the detail and the action in the design.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL3Qeot5KvE (warning: explicit lyrics)
The submitted work is a concept design for a CD cover featuring an Alberta born rapper Cadence Weapon. The pictures for the design were taken at a live performance during the University of Toronto orientation week, where Cadence Weapon was one of the headlining artists. The artist performs and produces music with DJ Weasel, who also appears in the background of the design. “The Youth Crew’s Back” is the name of one of Mr. Weapon’s latest, most popular songs. The CD design was created in mind with the single “The Youth Crew’s Back” or as a possible idea for a future album with the same name. The objective of the idea is to convey to the listener the unique sound of Cadence Weapon that comes from a combination of rap singing and electronic music. Another point of the design is to promote the potential buyer of the CD to attend a live performance by Cadence Weapon. The target audience for this design, and the potential CD are persons between the age of sixteen and twenty five. Cadence Weapon’s music would appeal to that demographic, and that is the most prominent demographic at his shows.
The design was created in Adobe Fireworks. The polygon lasso tool with a feather edge was used to cut the images of Cadence Weapon and DJ Weasel from two separate pictures, followed by a scaling down of the images to an appropriate size. The amplifier in the background had also been outlined with a lasso tool and then inverted in order to select the whole background, which was then adjusted to less saturated tint. The colour of the amplifier also appears in the text. The text for “The Youth Crew’s Back” had been converted into a bitmap image, rotated and then blurred in order to look more realistic on the speaker in bottom left corner of the design. The letters of the “Cadence Weapon” title were also converted into bitmaps and moved to create more symmetry and alignment between the two words.
The biggest challenge in creating the design was selecting an appropriate colour scheme. The design was not intended to be colourful but it wasn’t supposed to look bland. Colour of the amplifier was used in the text to make the CD design more appealing to the eye. The text contrasts perfectly against the dark background.
The design was important not only in exercising Fireworks skills, but also using creative judgment about what would make it look most attractive. Selection and arrangement of the pictures that would eventually make the design is as important as being able to put the images together. The image meets the objective of attracting the potential listener and creating a first impression of a young energetic artist that Cadence Weapon is. Though the design uses subtle colours it successfully addresses the target audience with the detail and the action in the design.
Week 4: TXT in the modern world
Bell: A recent advertisement for Bell Canada, uses text to encourage the purchase of new cellphones with Instant Messenger options. The fonts here are designed to simulate the ones a person might see on MSN Messenger or in the text messages for their phone. The selling point of this ad is the awareness and familiarity of the viewer with the given font.
Wicked The Musical: A poster for "Wicked" features slightly pointy fonts with a lot of angles. Come to think of it witches are pretty pointy themselves: pointy hats, pointy fingers, pointy noses, pointy broom sticks, etc. The font use here is effective in creating a gloomy feeling of witch presence and thus selling the ad.
Nuit Blanche: A relevant (more on Nuit Blanche in later posts) topic of Nuit Blanche has a minimalistic yet eye-catching poster. The use of typography here is effectiv in making the title of the event slightly bigger than the rest of the text and thus grabbing the attention of the viewer. The text is tightly knit together create a specific effect. The font used in this design is minimalistic as well, which only adds to the effectiveness of the poster.
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