Interactives5-followupproject

HAND,PIX&BLOGGER

After completing the 'BrainOperation' Interactive project I decided to construct another of my own interactive in the form of an 'interactive portfolio'....

...I done this to practise with Flash/ActionScript. It allows viewers to navigate through some of my selected work. You can look at my hand drawn work, photo's and links to my my online Blog & gallery. Allot of the buttons are invisible so look out for 'back' text...

HAND,PIXandBLOGGER by ~teebiebaby on deviantART

For the main picture I used some Christmas wrapping paper... I was wrapping some Christmas presents and noticed the highly reflective surface on the reverse side. I taped a piece onto a door, pushed my face onto it, screwed up the paper abit and took the photo. I edited me out of the photo. I thought it worked quite well... and considering I couldn't get a raw image like this through using PhotoShop adds to the sense of the image being totally unique.

T.

Interactives4-TROYSBRAINOPERATION(SUBMITTED)

TROYSBRAINOPERATION

Here is my finished effort... the voice are so dumb dont judge me too hard...

BrainOperation by ~teebiebaby on deviantART

Interactives3-InteractiveHeadsplat

WORKFLOWDESIGN2

EVALUATION
When given this project my instinct was to freeze up as previous experience's with Flash didn't go my way. However I approached it with a fresh head and accepted what I might be able to gain from being able to use this software. I knew that I needed all my scenes, buttons and sounds ready so got on with those. Before the main 'find a character' screen I'd have a main screen, on that you can select 'me', from there the next screen would be of my brain which you can click to bring up the 'find a character' screen.

AM I HAPPY?...
Considering that I'm not used to this program I found the development quite painful. However my persistence paid off as I figured out how to program the navigation of my project. Ive always liked this picture and it feels great to know that I programmed behaviour for it to be interacted with. Taking the creation a level further in turn helping me develop another format for my design work. This project has taught me the most so far and has proved useful in helping me to understand Flash&ActionScript.

Interactives2

TASK

Produce own intercative narrative, using FlashCS3/FlashActionScript.

THOUGHTS

Hmmmmmmm? Flash?..... erm?... not too great on Flash, but this gives me a perfect reason to get kinda good with it.

Ive always wanted to interact with some of the characters I draw. This would be the perfect oppourtunity to do so. I chose this picture because its full of weird characters and would be fun to record all the voices.

HEADSPLAT-TroyBrowne

CONCEPT

Interactive Image. The idea would be to select a character out of a busy crowd, they will say something and you'll be able to go back and select another.

WORKFLOWDESIGN1

T.

Interactives1

Action VS Interaction

Most parts of my day are spent interacting with some sort of interactive computerised interface. I wake up to my mobile phones alarm, I scramble, half asleep try and interact with the snooze button as quick as I can. The kettle goes on(interaction most important) Then wake up to some breakfast comedy on channel4. I'll be flicking over and adverts and programs urging me to press the red button and visit this certain website...

(Television now boasts its interactivity services. It lets you pause, record and re watch missed programs. With all this choice and so many users, an easy-to-use interface must of been of high importance to the developers)

OK... so Ive left my house... I'm Interacting with my phone again to get the MP3player on. Mobile phone technology nowadays allows you control allot of created content such as video, images, music etc all with a user friendly control system. Because of the mass popularity of mobile phones, mass accessibility was priority for happy users

The most important Interactive in my life is the PersonalComputer. It allows you to create written documents, write programming, create sound/music files, create&print imagery, create video, prepare presentations... etc.

Which brings me on to the Internet. Most of advertisements on the web is someway interactive. Rather than watching advertising on screen it allows users to engage with a subject in their own direction and on their own terms, in turn creating a successful interaction.

T.

OneShotShortMovie2

DAY2
...because we couldn't cut scenes, the thought of having physical cuts seemed more interesting. Because of where we were(apartment block) the elevator doors seemed to act as perfect physical cuts between the different floors. Elevators go either up or down and we all tried to capture that in a narrative sense. Someone suggested relationships and the different levels in which you engage with the person your in a relationship with;

At the start of a relationship (first contact) things are good, laughing, flirting, intimacy etc.

The middle part of a relationship it could have turned abit sour so maybe there are arguments, fighting, trust issues etc.

The last part of any relationship is sad for one or the other, crying, begging, guilt etc.

CONCEPT
a man would get into a lift and go down to the ground floor. He would encounter three characters each displaying a level of engagement with his or her partner.

Man in lift - Steven Bailey - 'Impatient operator' - Tense, fidgety, sighs allot, interaction between characters.

1st floor - Laurel Plain-Jones - 'First contact with partner' - Happy, laughing, arranging to meet up again, compliments.

2nd floor - Troy Browne - 'Middle part-Argument' - Angry, shouting/cursing, threatening.

3rd floor - Jacqui Pickup - 'Last part-Breakup' - Crying, debating breaking up.

Camera - Realexis Christofides - Shoot limited space, don't move camera.

STORYBOARD

FILMING

Filming was an issue as a caretaker was doing his rounds when we were filming, so on a couple of occasions we were interrupted by vacuuming. Our 'performances' wasn't too bad however the time in between floors was too long and not much was going on. We were interrupted again at the bottom by a guy waiting for the lift, which highlights the importance of having control over a set.

LEVELS (SUBMITTED EDIT)

AM I HAPPY?

To be honest... not really. I don't think the characters expressed enough, the level of engagement with their partner. In all not enough was happening. The physical cuts was the best input however if we'd utilised this further I think the outcome would have been more interesting. A way we could have done this would to have had each floor make a significant impact, by possibly having more than one person on each floor... maybe a crowd of people all at the same levels of engagement with their partner IE; first floor, doors open and 20 people are there, all flirting, laughing and joking with their soon-to-be.
I feel that this project to be quite 'closed' due to the short time frame in which we had to work with and minimal allowance on camera movement. Allot of our ideas were shot back to suit the requirements.
I haven't finished thinking of new concepts for this brief and intend to work on my own over Christmas.

T.

OneShotShortMovie3

DAY2 - cont...
A quick experiment for 'one shot'. Our group decided to throw 20 balloons over the side of a 6 storey staircase and film from both top and bottom positions.
For this experiment I wanted to have a narrated story told. Something sad, as when I watched the balloons falling I realised a calming feeling. The balloons gave me the idea for a story about a child's birthday, told from his slightly older sisters point-of-view.I decided to make my own soundtrack on Fruityloops I considered the mood of the footage and thought a toy box sound would be ideal. Id have the story dialogue overlaid.

'BALLOONSTAIRCASE' experiment

OUTCOME?? Poor camera quality, not enough balloons.However I thought the sound worked ok... sound quality was an issue as I recorded it using my crappy laptop and crappy laptop mic, but hey Im only playing around.

T.

OneShotShortMovie1

TASK
We were asked to produce a 2minute short film. Using only one angle we were asked to produce content using either 'Meeting' or 'Irritation' as a title.
GROUP
Laurel Plain-Jones, Jacqui Pickup, Realexis Christofides and myself.
CONCEPT
We all decided that 'Irritation' would be our title. We realised the importance of irritating with everything we shown in shot. Irritate with the angle/viewpoint, irritate with the content etc...

After brainstorming we decided to have an aggravated situation with the camera out of view of it. An argument of some sort but only picking up the sound.

The irritating angle would be shot behind a bench, between the slats on the backrest, reducing the viewpoint and annoying the audience.

The scene would be of a girl sitting on the bench with her back to the camera, her phone goes off (so brings the annoying interference a mobile phone has on audible technology), the girl answers and is quite obnoxious, meanwhile in the background a group of people are having an argument. The girl (whom is face-less) sometimes blocks the view of the argument hopefully irritating the audience further as they (audience) normally plied with explanation are given none and is continually getting blocked from working out whats happening for themselves.

STORYBOARD
SUMMARY
The filming was really funny to act out as Laurel and I were the 'arguers'. It was hard to keep a straight face whilst making up things to argue about. I was happy with what came out and feel we considered 'Irritation' into everything we shot.
However for some reason the cameras settings were wrong and the footage was shot in frames and lost all the sound, factors that will be highlighted from the start of the next project.
Deborah (lecturer) thought it worked well and understood all the 'irritation' factors we included.

ByPassenger - submittedEDIT

After reviewing my previous edit I decided to edit my version of the footage without the use of transitions/effects. I prefer this version because the visuals are a little more coherent and I taken more time to synchronize the music with the scene change. Other parts I like are the speeding up & slowing down of the footage to coincide with the music.

T.

Bypassenger (submittedEDIT) TroyBrowne

Music - AphexTwin - ZiggomaticV17

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 8 - BypassengerWords

A MAN BORN READY TO WORK
DRESS SUITED TO GENERAL OFFICE ATTIRE
TEXTBOOK TIE, TEXTBOOK BLAZER, SHIRT & TROUSERS.

HE WAKES. HE LEAVES. HE WORKS.

HIS LONELINESS TICKS OVER IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND.
PUSHED ALONG AUTOMATICALLY BY THE FACE-LESS GRIND.

HE ONLY MOVES WHEN HE WORKS BUT WHERE IS HE MOVING TO?

HE IS A BYPASSENGER OF LIFE AND IT BLURS AROUND HIM.

HE NEVER REACHES TO GRAB IT BACK AS WELDED TO HIS HAND IS HIS PEN
AND WELDED TO HIS SUIT IS HIS DESK.

CLOCKED IN, PAUSES A GLITCHED FREEZE-FRAME IN TIME
REAL TIME WHIZZES BY FAST FORWARDS UNTIL THE END OF HIS LINE.

HE IS A BYPASSENGER OF LIFE AND BLURRED LIGHT IS NOW AROUND HIM.

T.

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 7 - GroupEfforts

INDIVIDUAL EDITS.
1.REALEXIS http://realexis.blogspot.com/

Looking at this version shows the adaptability of the footage we shot. The mood is totally different and the music gives the whole thing a lighthearted approach. More versions are available at Realexis's blog.

2.STEVEN http://00stevebailey00.blogspot.com/

Again, the mood changes to a more depressed view of the footage. The music is paced well with the visuals. The 'ghost' filter makes the conclusion of death more apparent.

3.LAUREL http://www.angry-biscuit.blogspot.com/

Great atmospheric music.

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 6 - StopMotionEvaluation

AM I HAPPY?
Yes Im very happy with my edit. One thing that Im really happy with is that the outcome came close to my expectations in the development of the project. The photos worked well & am happy with a majority of the angles we chose. Thanks to Realexis for his thoughtfull approach and intermidiate knowledge of his camera.
A great part of this was being given the chance to link the mood of visuals with the mood of a piece of music, it has helped me understand the important relationship between the two.
Its been an amazing introduction to the type of projects I'll be practising whilst on this degree. It satisfied all of my creative needs and it feels good to be tested on my creative adapability as my usual medium is still image.

NEGATIVES???...or what to work on.
Not much, but if I had to say something I'd highlight the importance of defining clear roles and organisation. So if I was going to work on a simular project in the future I would show enthusiasm towards being responsable for angles and direction of a project, there were alot of ideas coming out and it was slightly confusing satisfing everybodies input. However having the chance to produce our own edit given back the chance to place out individual mark on the footage.

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 5

'ByPassenger' TroyBrowne edit1.

Music - CombiChrist - Im Happy Anyway

Well here is my edit of the shots we taken. I called it 'ByPassenger' because 'the office guy'(well played by StevenBaileyLOL!) seemed be a passenger of work, 'bypassing' through his life.

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 4

DAY3 -
...ok, so we all met up again to get the reminder of the scenes shot. We knew where we wanted to get (the graveyard) and improvised with the environments to get there. Because of where we were(in the middle of the impatient Nottingham) we encountered abit of attention from onlookers. Mostly weirdo's thinking we were doing 'weirder' things than them.


... I feel happy with the scenes. We got some good images, however because we were happy with what we saw coming out I feel we may have rushed slightly so that we could see the outcome sooner. Overall I think it may show that we applied thought to our outcome.
Cant wait to start bringing it together via Prem(each of the group are going to have their own edit).

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 3

DAY2 -
...so we got together with all our bits we needed to bring, we met round StevenBaileys apartment for the 'waking' scene. To be honest it seemed abit porno, 4people in a bedroom, 1 lying on the bed, a camera, a tripod?....lol
We planned to film up to where the man is about to leave the underground garage. As we moved from location to location we decided between us the best camera angles, considered mood and improvised with light conditions.
Filming went smooth and turned out to be a laugh actually.
I liked the shots that came out, however I think in the future I'd try and manipulate environmental lighting to coincide with the 'mood' I wanted to express.

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 2

CONCEPT - OFFICE GUY
Man wakes up in his bed. Fully clothed(office attire). Gets up and leaves home. Goes to car park. sits at desk. He carries out paperwork which makes him and the desk moves along through the city ending at the graveyard.... where he dies...

RESEARCH FIELDS -
Thing that come to mind - 'Vordhosbn - AphexTwin'



This music Video has used stop frame animation techniques. Its moody, sketchy and goes perfect with the music even so, towards the end 'hi hat' or 'snare' shows on the screen respectfully with the beats in the music.

Things I found - 'Bolex Brothers - The Saint Inspector'



There were lots of examples of stopmotion, just putting that in the YouTube search brought up hundreds. So I searched theBolexBrothers(ref:'SecretAdveturesOfThumb').What I liked about this is how it relied on good character design, visual details and SFX to set the entire mood of the story. It keeps you guessing what the entire context of the story is.

Things I found - 'Ray of Light' - Madonna



Great example of a stopmotion techniques.

STORYBOARD - OFFICEGUY
I produced a storyboard.
ALLSCENES -

Pixelation&PeopleAsPuppets 1

Task - Using DigitalCamera(CanonPowerShotS3iS) produce 320frame animation. Thinking about mood,framing,timing frames per second,ViewPoint,Content,Narrative,LightConditions.

Group - LaurelPlainJones, Realexis Christofides, StevenBailey, TroyBrowne.

DAY1 -
Got together with the group and brainstormed. Ideas came out to do with Illusions,Fighting,Teleportation.... we tried to develop a reason for the fight... having a reason for a fight then turned into all of us wanting to have some sort of loose story told. We all had a laugh walking around the city centre thinking of crazy plot lines. We were all trying to think of an animation with inanimate objects moving around with living objects. There was a idea involving a man doing magic at a desk which was moving round the town. I liked the idea of the desk moving round with a person stationary behind it which made me come up with the idea of a man at an office desk moving from AtoB. A majorityof the group liked the sound of it and we all pieced together the details.
We all sat down and organised what will happen in the story, what we'll need on the day of filming. We designated what each would bring the following day.

"I liked how we all thought of an idea before jumping into shooting, we planned ahead and even thought of a 'message'. The group is good and are all confident in our abilities, we communicate well and have all had input to the final idea"

WhyMeForMultimedia?

I'd say Ive had a development in 2dimensional work, but have loved all the other forms of expression too... film, music, design etc and have wanted to work on all forms of expression...

MultimediaArts has all my own prospect paths and thats why I chose it, I feel I can combine my 'artist' background with the technical aspects of MultimediaArt/Design and produce some quality work/prospects.

T.

BeerCanPinHoleCamera

One beer can, One hole... and some photo stuff.

Task, to take a picture of something.

Bright day exposure time=4secs.

The pinhole camera we made would expose the photographic paper to a fish-eye lense type image with a gritty, surreal edge.

I taken a picture of a war memorial at the graveyard opposite Waverly.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/0a13daf0-5fbe-4b84-b153-44d4471f3299/tree

The image came out quite well.. looks quite ghosty, which may have something to do with the crusifix silouette and the grainy quality. I like the image, and with digital taking over its good to see traditional methods still have alot to offer.
I combined the first image with something out of my portfolio that (i thought) suited the mood of the original.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/9ebda2f9-05ed-41c9-8039-2e13f4297f40/tree2


... more of my photography can be found at;

T.

WhiteBoardAnimation

One camera on tripod, One whiteboard, One whiteboard marker, Five students.
Task; to get the box over the tree... simple.lol

120-frames=20secs of animation.

This was a basic project but turned out to be quite effective.... we were all having a laugh doing it and the final outcomes were funny too.

I was surprised how good the animations came out considering the lack of organisation involved, this was expressed... but it worked.

Thought that it could work on any wipe-able surface(glass,window,mirror,tiles) ...
tried this;

....dont think it worked that well, but maybe with some different animatable sources(characters,objects)

T.

MyGallery (preUNI)

Ive created an online gallery. Its all the work I done before starting University. I posted an online gallery so that people could view it and hopefully get some exposure (long shot really...) However it has paid off, the website that hosts my work ('enips') is producing a book (like a coffee table art-book) and has asked me feature in it!

...tell me what you think.

Also I posted my work on 'yougofurther' (UCAS-run student website). There was a competetion to have your work exhibited at the 'UCAS Fair' (London 7-11-07 Manchester 27-11-07), with the possibility of winning a MacBook! I entered with;

http://www.yougofurther.co.uk/exposure/gallery/entry/NEW-STUDENTS-MAY-RELATE.aspx

...my work was shortlisted and with that will be exhibited and I find out if I win the MacBook today (fingers-crossed!!!!).

So if anyone reads this who ever thinks about posting their work, I'd say, do it!
.....you ever know what could happen!

T.