So, my second brief required me to produce a title sequence for a programme from a list. I chose The Culture Show.
The Culture Show is a weekly magazine show that is on every Saturday at 7pm and it's content has features about what is happening in the world of art, music, fashion, film and performing arts. The current Culture Show title isn't very visually exciting - I have done a review of it, please see the post below.
I began research by looking at title sequence designers and came across Kyle Cooper who produced excellent sequences for films such as Se7en, Mimic and Spiderman (which was also one of the choices on the brief). At this stage I also tried to do a brainstorm... something I'm still not very good at.... so I looked at the definitions of culture and society on the internet, hoping to gather some inspiration or clues.
Next thing I did was to breakdown and evaluate the current title sequence - something that didn't take long as I found it to be quite a 'non-fancy' sequence (again, see previous post).
In the research stage I also went around Manchester and took alot of pictures of visual art and things that are appearing in our cities that have evolved into what our culture is today.
I started to have lots of ideas early on in this brief, especially when I found out that it is called a magazine programme. The word magazine really stuck with me and I came up with alot of ideas where the sequence would evolve around taking the viewer around a magazine layout and the content shown would be what is featured in the show - like it's contents page. So I researched alot of magazines - especially culture magazines like i-D and also just focusing on front covers.
As a musician I also had alot of music type ideas - namely a speaker pumping out music and also driving out the content of the show. As research went on I preferred the speaker idea more than the magazine idea. After a one to one tutorial with Alex we discussed visual ideas and we came up with a scenario where 'I ' would be producing a magazine cover and placing polaroids onto the cover to line up with text - then the polaroids would 'come to life' - and thus would give me chance to edit what I film into those polaroid templates. However she did mention that some other people had similar ideas and I must admit that put me off the idea. We had also discussed making it have a sketchbook feel with maybe some of my doodles from my sketchbook 'wrapping' its way around the polaroids/footage. I kind of liked this idea and it stuck in my head.
Going back to my research in my sketchbook I was once again more drawn to the 'speaker' idea and thought of maybe incorporating a sketchbook feel to it - I then produced a separate 'sketchbook feel' idea.
After the research stage I began to look at what my content should be. After that I went ahead and started filming.
I incorporated both the Speaker idea and the Sketchbook idea together.
I found editing really difficult, especially as we were using Motion for the first time and also because we had, had only one tutorial on it before the Christmas holidays. When I did finally start getting comfortable with using Motion and Final Cut together I found that it was very late on in the process and basically very near the deadline and so I felt that I rushed my project.
In the end I felt that what I had thought of wasn't what I had produced. The only thing that I feel ok on, is that I timed most of the footage really well to the music that I used, which was the intro to one of my band's songs. I chose it because it had a good riff and punchy drums to follow. Looking back now, I think that the song may be too 'heavy' for the sequence and feel of the show.
Explanation of sequence (which I will post up soon!!)
Starts off with a speaker emerging and then as the first beat of the music starts the speaker comes to life. In the beats that follow the title of the show is co-0rdinated with the beats - and this pretty much carries on throughout. I wanted to give the footage I used a sketchbook feel, so tinted them and on some gave them some 'tv noise' to look scratchy and used. I also put in one of my doodles too to give it that feel. The end part of it, with the footage appearing in time to the music and looking like they are 'falling into' the 'Culture Show' title in the background, I did to basically say 'all this is crammed into this show' (I know you'll all know what I'm talking about when you see it - I will post it up soon!)
Overall I think time management was a big issue with this brief. I think that the Christmas holidays threw me off track and I found it hard to get back into working. I also think that we should have had more tutorials on the software that we were told to use - my group still haven't had a tutorial on Illustrator!
Time management and learning about the software will definately be issues I address early on next brief.
Sunday 3 February 2008
Some lovely reviews......
Here are some reviews about things I've seen or heard.... lovely......
Review: The Culture Show – Title Sequence
The current Culture Show title sequence lasts a mere nineteen seconds and is not filled with fancy motion graphics. Instead, what we see is The Culture Show title in its’ Calvert style font on the current background of diagonal black and turquoise stripes. Presented on big poster size, rectangular boards, these have been placed around a city location and filmed.
Edited in time to the music, we see the boards on walls amongst other posters, on art gallery buildings, next to theatre show advertisements, at a bus stop and on walls outside nightclubs, amongst nightclub revellers.
I think the designers went for the simplistic approach and the piece basically says; Culture is all around us everyday in everyday situations.
I wasn’t particularly impressed by this title sequence and I don’t know if they made a sequence intentionally uninteresting so that it didn’t take away focus from the actual content of the programme, or if they were trying to be clever and arty. Either way, the only thing that I remember from the sequence is the actual logo – the title on its’ striped background.
Review: Arcade Fire – Manchester Evening News Arena
Having missed their previous gig in Manchester, which, was at the better venue for bands, the Manchester Apollo, I knew that, as a big Arcade Fire fan, I didn’t want to miss out the next time around, even though, as I found out, it was at the less atmospheric, less ‘band sound’ accommodating venue of Manchester Evening News Arena.
It was Saturday the 27th October 2007 that Arcade Fire started, what would be an amazing set, with a song off their second album ‘Neon Bible’. ‘Black Mirror’ is an atmospherically dark song, constantly building in instruments and vocals to a rousing shouty chorus, and an excellent opener – well, I thought everything was excellent… but then I am a massive Arcade Fire fan!
Their set was visually stunning as well. They had their Neon Bible logo in the middle above the stage all lit up with neon lights. They also had circular screens – two either side of the neon bible – and occasionally the faces of the band members would be projected onto these as they played – camcorder style. There was a theme of red, black and blue colours too. At one point there was video footage projected each side of the stage on vertical long columns and the way it looked was like a reel of film being shown.
Watching this band in action is amazing. Apart from the string section – two violinists – the other members of the band were multi-instrumentalists; swapping instruments here and there depending on what song they were performing. And when they were playing – the energy and effort and feeling put into each song was so strong and they worked together perfectly.
As well as the usual drums, guitars and violins on stage, they also played the keyboard, synth and there was also an organ and a megaphone was used in one song.
Front man Win was a strong character to watch and his wife and ‘co-front person’ Regine, had everyone singing along with her and she was fun to watch.
The highlight of the evening for me was when they played ‘Wake Up’. The first few bars with the guitar line and the drums and then having every single person in the arena sing along to the ‘ahs’ at the beginning while it was lit up, was amazing and sent chills down my spine.
Although I would’ve preferred the more intimate venue of the Apollo, or even better, the Manchester Academy, I am glad I didn’t miss this gig.
Review: Tegan and Sara – the album ‘The Con’
The name ‘Tegan and Sara’ rang a bell when I was reading an article, an interview with the front man of a band I highly regard; Jimmy Eat World. Jim Adkins was listing his top albums of 2007 and one of them was The Con by Tegan and Sara. Spurned on by this vaguely recognisable name, I began to research it and find out more… and eventually obtained a copy. Having at first seen the video for the first single off the album, ‘Back In Your Head’ on YouTube, after watching it I thought ‘Ok, it’s poppy, a little electro and quite like the band Kings Of Leon, who’s album ‘Because of the Times’ I love, so I thought I’d give the rest of the album a listen.
Starting off with the first two tracks ‘I Was Married’ and ‘Relief Next To Me’ I noticed just how well produced this album was.
As I listened on I noticed that some of the songs aren’t even over two minutes long, but what they do deliver is either a straight up, hook laden one and a half minutes or under two minutes of smooth, pure vocal harmonies on top of a simple guitar riff and moog synth with either jazz or straight rhythm drums. The other songs that are more than two minutes, build on either of these components and what I got to hear was dynamic song writing, with the quieter parts in the right places perfectly complimented by rousing, crescendo choruses and more hook laden riffs, melodies and harmonies.
Title track ‘The Con’ combines a simple vocal and guitar verse with an amazing heavy drums, synth, vocal harmony chorus. More of this formula is shown in songs like ‘Burn Your Life Down’, ‘Nineteen’ and ‘Dark Come Soon’.
Chris Walla who is a member of famous Indie band Death Cab For Cutie produced this album. This album also features the drummer from Death Cab, Jason Mcgerr, as well as bass duties fulfilled by Hunter Burgan from AFI and ex Weezer and The Rentals bassist Matt Sharp.
Tegan and Sara are twin sisters from Canada. Much emphasis is put onto the facts that not only are they sisters, but that they are both lesbians. Unfortunately, through reading some articles about them, some magazines/reviewers think that this is their major selling point, and always list this first before even starting to review their songs – a point not even worth mentioning as it should be their song writing abilities – the ability to make you feel happy in one and a half minutes to a song that you can relate to – that is their main focal point and the key to their success. The Con is the fifth studio album from the girls and an album that shows that they have staying power.
This album is one of the best that I have heard in a long time and I’ll definitely be looking at getting their previous releases. Thanks Jim!
Review: The Culture Show – Title Sequence
The current Culture Show title sequence lasts a mere nineteen seconds and is not filled with fancy motion graphics. Instead, what we see is The Culture Show title in its’ Calvert style font on the current background of diagonal black and turquoise stripes. Presented on big poster size, rectangular boards, these have been placed around a city location and filmed.
Edited in time to the music, we see the boards on walls amongst other posters, on art gallery buildings, next to theatre show advertisements, at a bus stop and on walls outside nightclubs, amongst nightclub revellers.
I think the designers went for the simplistic approach and the piece basically says; Culture is all around us everyday in everyday situations.
I wasn’t particularly impressed by this title sequence and I don’t know if they made a sequence intentionally uninteresting so that it didn’t take away focus from the actual content of the programme, or if they were trying to be clever and arty. Either way, the only thing that I remember from the sequence is the actual logo – the title on its’ striped background.
Review: Arcade Fire – Manchester Evening News Arena
Having missed their previous gig in Manchester, which, was at the better venue for bands, the Manchester Apollo, I knew that, as a big Arcade Fire fan, I didn’t want to miss out the next time around, even though, as I found out, it was at the less atmospheric, less ‘band sound’ accommodating venue of Manchester Evening News Arena.
It was Saturday the 27th October 2007 that Arcade Fire started, what would be an amazing set, with a song off their second album ‘Neon Bible’. ‘Black Mirror’ is an atmospherically dark song, constantly building in instruments and vocals to a rousing shouty chorus, and an excellent opener – well, I thought everything was excellent… but then I am a massive Arcade Fire fan!
Their set was visually stunning as well. They had their Neon Bible logo in the middle above the stage all lit up with neon lights. They also had circular screens – two either side of the neon bible – and occasionally the faces of the band members would be projected onto these as they played – camcorder style. There was a theme of red, black and blue colours too. At one point there was video footage projected each side of the stage on vertical long columns and the way it looked was like a reel of film being shown.
Watching this band in action is amazing. Apart from the string section – two violinists – the other members of the band were multi-instrumentalists; swapping instruments here and there depending on what song they were performing. And when they were playing – the energy and effort and feeling put into each song was so strong and they worked together perfectly.
As well as the usual drums, guitars and violins on stage, they also played the keyboard, synth and there was also an organ and a megaphone was used in one song.
Front man Win was a strong character to watch and his wife and ‘co-front person’ Regine, had everyone singing along with her and she was fun to watch.
The highlight of the evening for me was when they played ‘Wake Up’. The first few bars with the guitar line and the drums and then having every single person in the arena sing along to the ‘ahs’ at the beginning while it was lit up, was amazing and sent chills down my spine.
Although I would’ve preferred the more intimate venue of the Apollo, or even better, the Manchester Academy, I am glad I didn’t miss this gig.
Review: Tegan and Sara – the album ‘The Con’
The name ‘Tegan and Sara’ rang a bell when I was reading an article, an interview with the front man of a band I highly regard; Jimmy Eat World. Jim Adkins was listing his top albums of 2007 and one of them was The Con by Tegan and Sara. Spurned on by this vaguely recognisable name, I began to research it and find out more… and eventually obtained a copy. Having at first seen the video for the first single off the album, ‘Back In Your Head’ on YouTube, after watching it I thought ‘Ok, it’s poppy, a little electro and quite like the band Kings Of Leon, who’s album ‘Because of the Times’ I love, so I thought I’d give the rest of the album a listen.
Starting off with the first two tracks ‘I Was Married’ and ‘Relief Next To Me’ I noticed just how well produced this album was.
As I listened on I noticed that some of the songs aren’t even over two minutes long, but what they do deliver is either a straight up, hook laden one and a half minutes or under two minutes of smooth, pure vocal harmonies on top of a simple guitar riff and moog synth with either jazz or straight rhythm drums. The other songs that are more than two minutes, build on either of these components and what I got to hear was dynamic song writing, with the quieter parts in the right places perfectly complimented by rousing, crescendo choruses and more hook laden riffs, melodies and harmonies.
Title track ‘The Con’ combines a simple vocal and guitar verse with an amazing heavy drums, synth, vocal harmony chorus. More of this formula is shown in songs like ‘Burn Your Life Down’, ‘Nineteen’ and ‘Dark Come Soon’.
Chris Walla who is a member of famous Indie band Death Cab For Cutie produced this album. This album also features the drummer from Death Cab, Jason Mcgerr, as well as bass duties fulfilled by Hunter Burgan from AFI and ex Weezer and The Rentals bassist Matt Sharp.
Tegan and Sara are twin sisters from Canada. Much emphasis is put onto the facts that not only are they sisters, but that they are both lesbians. Unfortunately, through reading some articles about them, some magazines/reviewers think that this is their major selling point, and always list this first before even starting to review their songs – a point not even worth mentioning as it should be their song writing abilities – the ability to make you feel happy in one and a half minutes to a song that you can relate to – that is their main focal point and the key to their success. The Con is the fifth studio album from the girls and an album that shows that they have staying power.
This album is one of the best that I have heard in a long time and I’ll definitely be looking at getting their previous releases. Thanks Jim!
Saturday 2 February 2008
Everything from my old blog.......
Right guys, below are my previous blogs from my previous blog account. Why I have changed it, I won't say, both because it's boring and I can't be bothered to say why. There should be some videos there, but they aren't really that interesting.... But you haven't missed much, and what you have missed is pasted below... see, full circle....
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Porn for Media Designers.....
Hello... thought I'd check out Drawn website first thing today, and saw something beautiful.....
The Wacom Cintiq 12WX graphics tablet...
waaaaaaah if only I win the lottery eh?....
Posted by Helmosneakers at 02:06 0 comments
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Tonight, Tonight.....
T'was a good day at Uni today. Started doing some research into my new brief, which is to produce a title sequence for a programme/film. I'm still undecided between The Culture Show and a News at Ten type of programme. I fear that if I do choose the news programme that I may just go all out 'The Day Today'/'Brass Eye' on it... but that's no bad thing - Chris Morris you are a genius. But The Culture Show seems a good 'un, although it seems to be the choice of the class and I'm thinking 'I wanna do something different'... but probably won't...
So yes, I have just started looking into title sequences and watching a few on good ol' Youtube. Kyle Cooper (Seven, Spiderman, Mimic, HP Printer adverts) is a Genius - master of title sequences, just like the amazing Saul Bass - see, I have done my research!
Whilst researching I came across a minty mint website - http://drawn.ca/
It's a blog/showcase for up and coming artists and many that are established but I haven't heard of. Amazing for inspiration and ideas. There is so much talent out there and this site showcases it - I discovered Meomi on it - check them out, so cute!
Also had an awesome Contextual Studies lesson with Monsieur DeVere about Surrealism - which came from Dada don't you know ;) Showed us some clips showing the different art styles we have been studying. Good lesson. Shame it was followed by me having to stand in the rain for 20 mins waiting for my bus... oh well.
Tomorrow is the Student Rep meeting, where hopefully some stuff will be sorted out for my fellow peers.....
Also I apologise for the appalling Emo background and general layout of my blog currently. I am in an experimenting phase as someone showed me how to create my own background and put it up... so sorry, hopefully all will be sorted out soon.
Safens people
p.s. Kirk is a vehicular menace.......
Posted by Helmosneakers at 15:26 0 comments
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Let's see.......
Reeto, have uploaded my animation onto Photobucket, so here it is for your viewing pleasure... or not.....
obviously I know now that you can upload videos straight onto blogger.... but I wanted to do it the long way round.... as usual.......
Posted by Helmosneakers at 14:25 0 comments
At Last.....
This past week saw me finish and present my first proper college assignment. The project was to produce a 30 second or so animation about my least favourite subject: myself (which, I know, begs the question, why the hell did I set up a blog about myself... but I have done it as part, and to support, my course, so... ner). Anyhoo, back to matters at hand, I finally presented my animation on Wednesday 21st November and got a Pass! Hurrah!
This Unit was more about the design process so I made sure my sketchbook displayed all my ideas from start to finish, and all of my drafts. I made my animation to look like a journey through my life so far, kind of a timeline if you will. I started with the Hong Kong flag (where my parents are from) and moved onto the flag of Holland (where I was born) and moved onto a path showing Manchester (where I moved to and grew up in starting from about 1984), to where I used to live and where I live now and things I like.... but all done in an arty or so way. Starting with the flags gave me chance to work the colours together and gave it a starting point. When I finally figure it out, I will post it up on here and you can all have a look and see what I mean... or just a laugh at how silly it looks! I found this brief to be enjoyable (woohoo I'm making an animation, go me!), and frustrating (getting used to the software - Photoshop and Final Cut Pro - and getting it to do what I wanted was time consuming). Also from this task I made the mistake of not managing my time better so, yes, some parts were rushed and I think it shows in my animation, but I know this is something to learn from and do better next time.
In other news I have Critical Studies work to catch up on and I have started to use my sketchbooks more, mainly for doodling, but you never know, one of those little pics may be used in the future.
This past week, again on the Wednesday, saw the band I'm in play at gig at the Retro bar in Manchester, with our good friends and awesome band Married To The Sea from Liverpool. MTTS were as usual on form, playing their indie/poppy/happy riffage to our delighted ears.
A good set from them with an excellent mix of songs and an awesome cover of Fugazi's 'Waiting Room'.
So it's not been a bad this past week, though it has come to me becoming ill - chesty cough, sore throat - bad end to a not bad week.... oh well :)
Posted by Helmosneakers at 13:27 0 comments
Monday, 29 October 2007
First Post!!
Hello people,
Here is my first post.
On here you will find my randomness, ramblings, roamings, reviews, etc.
Hope all is well!
xHx
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Porn for Media Designers.....
Hello... thought I'd check out Drawn website first thing today, and saw something beautiful.....
The Wacom Cintiq 12WX graphics tablet...
waaaaaaah if only I win the lottery eh?....
Posted by Helmosneakers at 02:06 0 comments
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Tonight, Tonight.....
T'was a good day at Uni today. Started doing some research into my new brief, which is to produce a title sequence for a programme/film. I'm still undecided between The Culture Show and a News at Ten type of programme. I fear that if I do choose the news programme that I may just go all out 'The Day Today'/'Brass Eye' on it... but that's no bad thing - Chris Morris you are a genius. But The Culture Show seems a good 'un, although it seems to be the choice of the class and I'm thinking 'I wanna do something different'... but probably won't...
So yes, I have just started looking into title sequences and watching a few on good ol' Youtube. Kyle Cooper (Seven, Spiderman, Mimic, HP Printer adverts) is a Genius - master of title sequences, just like the amazing Saul Bass - see, I have done my research!
Whilst researching I came across a minty mint website - http://drawn.ca/
It's a blog/showcase for up and coming artists and many that are established but I haven't heard of. Amazing for inspiration and ideas. There is so much talent out there and this site showcases it - I discovered Meomi on it - check them out, so cute!
Also had an awesome Contextual Studies lesson with Monsieur DeVere about Surrealism - which came from Dada don't you know ;) Showed us some clips showing the different art styles we have been studying. Good lesson. Shame it was followed by me having to stand in the rain for 20 mins waiting for my bus... oh well.
Tomorrow is the Student Rep meeting, where hopefully some stuff will be sorted out for my fellow peers.....
Also I apologise for the appalling Emo background and general layout of my blog currently. I am in an experimenting phase as someone showed me how to create my own background and put it up... so sorry, hopefully all will be sorted out soon.
Safens people
p.s. Kirk is a vehicular menace.......
Posted by Helmosneakers at 15:26 0 comments
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Let's see.......
Reeto, have uploaded my animation onto Photobucket, so here it is for your viewing pleasure... or not.....
obviously I know now that you can upload videos straight onto blogger.... but I wanted to do it the long way round.... as usual.......
Posted by Helmosneakers at 14:25 0 comments
At Last.....
This past week saw me finish and present my first proper college assignment. The project was to produce a 30 second or so animation about my least favourite subject: myself (which, I know, begs the question, why the hell did I set up a blog about myself... but I have done it as part, and to support, my course, so... ner). Anyhoo, back to matters at hand, I finally presented my animation on Wednesday 21st November and got a Pass! Hurrah!
This Unit was more about the design process so I made sure my sketchbook displayed all my ideas from start to finish, and all of my drafts. I made my animation to look like a journey through my life so far, kind of a timeline if you will. I started with the Hong Kong flag (where my parents are from) and moved onto the flag of Holland (where I was born) and moved onto a path showing Manchester (where I moved to and grew up in starting from about 1984), to where I used to live and where I live now and things I like.... but all done in an arty or so way. Starting with the flags gave me chance to work the colours together and gave it a starting point. When I finally figure it out, I will post it up on here and you can all have a look and see what I mean... or just a laugh at how silly it looks! I found this brief to be enjoyable (woohoo I'm making an animation, go me!), and frustrating (getting used to the software - Photoshop and Final Cut Pro - and getting it to do what I wanted was time consuming). Also from this task I made the mistake of not managing my time better so, yes, some parts were rushed and I think it shows in my animation, but I know this is something to learn from and do better next time.
In other news I have Critical Studies work to catch up on and I have started to use my sketchbooks more, mainly for doodling, but you never know, one of those little pics may be used in the future.
This past week, again on the Wednesday, saw the band I'm in play at gig at the Retro bar in Manchester, with our good friends and awesome band Married To The Sea from Liverpool. MTTS were as usual on form, playing their indie/poppy/happy riffage to our delighted ears.
A good set from them with an excellent mix of songs and an awesome cover of Fugazi's 'Waiting Room'.
So it's not been a bad this past week, though it has come to me becoming ill - chesty cough, sore throat - bad end to a not bad week.... oh well :)
Posted by Helmosneakers at 13:27 0 comments
Monday, 29 October 2007
First Post!!
Hello people,
Here is my first post.
On here you will find my randomness, ramblings, roamings, reviews, etc.
Hope all is well!
xHx
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