Seattle Pt. 2

Busy Busy Busy

I started my new job at Laser Pacific so I have been a little busy. My schedule has been back and forth with training, but I promise soon to finish the Seattle video blog and get one up introducing everyone to my house and whatnot. I asked about pictures and cameras at work. They will be getting back to me on that one.

toodles.
<3

Jamie in her hall - creepy

Trip to Seattle Pt. 1

Working on blog comfy style.

Yup, this is totally what I look like then I am hanging out and bouncing to music while working on my next blog. Once again I live in a place that has no chair, so my office consists of my computer pulled up to the end of my bed. Even as I write this I am laying in bed fairly far from the screen, which has made me love universal access. I know mac was trying to help people with vision problems when they made the zoom in feature, but I wonder if they thought of me, the lazy girl, when they created it. Did they ever suspect a girl who loves to lounge would be in bed too far from the screen and in order to blog she'd have to zoom in? Probably not, but thank you anyway apple.



SEE! I'm totally working. I just happen to also have a high regard for comfort.

Adventures with 3D Movie Maker

While in Seattle, Zack showed me an old program he had when he was younger called 3D movie maker. I had fun with it, though it was surprisingly difficult to be accurate. This was what I ended up with.

Back to LA

I am glad to hear people are enjoying my videos. Therefor it is likely you will be glad to here there are more to come. I just got back from a visit to Seattle. I got to spend Labor Day weekend up there with my sister and good friend Peter. I took lots of video and pictures, so there is a Seattle edition blog on it's way. In fact, it might be a two part-er.

Also I am about to move in to my new place and I have some more job interviews coming up. Hopefully I can get some footage of that so you can all keep track of me. Thanks for watching :)

Day 4

Day 3

Psycho Killer

Currently has no audio due to Google being too efficient and copyright law :(

The Drive Pt 1

Packing the Car

MOVING TO LA

For all those of you who may be interested. I will attempt to video blog my trip out to LA. So stay tuned for updates and fun videos of me driving a really really long way :)

ok. So its been a few months.

I am currently teaching Photoshop at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Its been just fine, but I need a bigger city and I would rather do animation then teach. So I'm on the hunt. Wish me luck.

As soon as I get any new animating done I will post it. I am in the process of figuring out Maya and maybe Flash if it ever get less hot and I can stop yelling at the tutorials. My brain just doesn't work when its this hot and people on the computer telling me what to do when my brain doesn't work makes me angry.

The animation will come. Give it time.

HURRAY for new posts!

Yes I know. I know. I haven't posted in a VERY LONG time. Thought I would just let everyone know that The Furry Revolt did make it into the Milwaukee Short Film Festival and will be playing at The Times on June 10th.

Also I am still selling DVDs for $10. If you would like one please just email me.

As for the future, I am submitting to a bunch of festivals still. Yesterday I sent off to try to get into Ottawa. Cross your fingers.

My piece also made it into the Juried Exhibition at MIAD for all of the best thesis's. As soon as the exhibition at MIAD closes I will be posting the finished piece online. I know you have all been waiting patiently. Just a little longer or you can just buy one from me :)

Thesis Exhibit - The Furry Revolt

I decided not to show any more progress until after the Senior Thesis Exhibit opens. Please come and see the finished product.

Mini-Tools of the Agrarian Revolt

New Demo Reel

Cat Scene

In this scene the cat gets away, Lou Lou hears a noise and gets worried.

Bandage Scene

I did it. The bandage scene is here and I for one like it very much. I think I will be pulling some frames on the one squirrel's nod to speed it up, but that's about all I'm going to change.

Next scene

This is the next scene I am working on. I figured out a way to make my job a little faster with green screen. We'll see if it's gonna work. I'll explain my process when I post the results.

Less Red Light

I redid this scene. I am much happier with the results. There still seems to be a bit of as problem with the red flashes, but they are much fewer and I think I can fix that in post. Need to finish animating before I get there though.

bizarre red lights

For this shot I needed a larger depth of field. This gave me a longer exposure. What I didn't know is for exposures 1 sec. or longer sometimes random scattered red light gets in. So on a few stills of the last scene there is a bizarre red light. I did the scene twice before I figured out what caused this. Third times the charm. Shorter exposure. Hopefully everything will still be in focus. I'll post it again once I get it right.

Scene 2 again

I redid scene 2. It's a little better animation now and has improved lighting.

Scene 2

Lou Lou get scissors.

Post Color Example

All of the feedback I received on color choices agreed; they like the original colors of my animation. With Zack Goehner's help I did this slight variation on those colors. This has slightly heightened blacks and gold and a small vignette. This will be the look of the final piece.

Scene #1

Here is the new version of Scene #1. I put a temporary vignette on it. This will be imporved later during post, but I wanted something on there to represent that for now.

Scene 1 test

I did a test of part of the first scene. I figured out a couple of things.

1. The head tilt doesn't come off as a tilt. I should just scratch that.
2. I need to hold the look to the side.
3. Generally, need more pauses.

Motion Control

I put together the poor man's motion control. I used a tool rest from a metal lathe. It's nothing fancy. I can only do forward and back as well as left right. It does what I need it to. I did a test shot to see if it works and it seems to be alright. I'm just thrilled it works at all.

Test Shots

Alright so the trees are painted, Lou Lou has shoes, and the lights are all in place. I did a test shot and I put some different post effects on it. I really would like some opinions here.
1. Original/ Unchanged
2. Desaturated
3. Desaturated with color added (color may change with scene)
4. Original with color added (color may change with scene)

1.


2.


3.


4.

New Recording

I had the pleasure of working with Mark Metcalf for my voice over work. He is a great actor in the Milwaukee area and was kind enough to help out on my project. The session was very fast and easy. Mark seemed to share my vision as to what the poem was suppose to sound like. This is the edited version that I am quite happy with. Hopefully soon I will find someone to collaborate on so I can add a musical score to the soundtrack as well. I'd love your opinions on this one. Thanks everyone.

Lou Lou's First Step

I needed to do a motion test with Lou Lou to see a few things. First, I had not yet used the nice camera and I wanted to see if it would work. Second, I needed to see if the rig I made for Lou Lou would hold her upright and how well I would do so and third... can she walk?

Here is what I learned
1) her rig needs to be a little more stable
2) her tie downs need to be shorter
3) I need a remote for the camera
4) I have to be careful with the tree leaves, they are easy to bump
5) I have to find ways to hide the rig better

I was a down and dirty test, not nice by any means but I learned some stuff before getting too fancy with they animating. Better tests are coming. Just wait.

Studio Set-up

I have my studio mostly finished. I need to block off those windows and do some touch-up on the sets but its pretty much ready to go. I will be recording audio this week. After that is all edited and dope sheeted I can begin animating. It's all so exciting.

Puppet Motion Tests 10fps

These are rough motion tests I did to make sure the puppet worked right.

The Poem

Meet Lou Lou Mae, she’s all sugar and spice
Though towards small creatures she’s not very nice!
She sticks them and squee-zes, prods them and pokes--
She’s really quite cruel. To her it’s a joke!

Her guinea pig Jack puts up with so much--
Treatment so heinous, he now needs a crutch!
You can’t comprehend what her dog did withstand,
Daily torture and pain all by her hand!

Lou Lou attacked the squirrels with her shears --
Naked tails resulted, well that and some tears
They had their revenge one night in a jolt:
Militant mammals, a furry revolt!

They brought torches and shovels and shavers and rope,
For poor Lou Lou Mae, there was really no hope!
She was tied down and tortured, never let go,
They sure took their time, revenge nice and slow!

So please remember all you good girls and boys,
Fish are our friends and ferrets aren’t toys

working animatic

Thought I would share some of my progress with my adoring fans. Enjoy the pictures.