Character Design: Concept idea

  

This was an idea I had for a piece concept art, I like the vintage Polaroid look I managed to achieve. However, I would like to go back and improve this a bit before using it in my character bible.

Lighting and Rendering: Photometric Lights

Lighting and Rendering: Ambient Occlusion

Beauty Pass

Occlusion Pass

Final Edit

Lighting and Rendering: Mesh Lights

Lighting and Rendering: Physical Lights

Midday

Sunset/Sunrise

Collaboration Reflective Statement

At the beginning of the project I felt that I contributed to the ideas and got our project off the ground. Although I  wasn't the director I feel that all of us in the group were being too nice to each other, which I feel slowed us down a little, which meant that we didn't get to some more important tasks. I believe that despite my absence around the middle of the project due to work, I still fulfilled my roles given to me. When it came to my communication with my group I could have done so more, which I think would have helped us move along more. Overall, if I were to do this again I feel that I could have worked harder and communicated more. As a group I think we could have focused more on a simple idea and focus on making that idea great, rather than being overly ambitious.

Collaboration Film List

1. The Hero's Journey: Tron
2. Authorship in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
3. 3 Act Structure: Scream 
4. Archetypes: Tron Legacy 
5. Non-Linear Film: Fight Club
6. The Breakdown of two opposing characters: Rush Hour
7. B-Movie: *Missing*
8. Exploitation Cinema: Mad Max Fury Road

Film Review: Mad Max Fury Road - Exploitation Film

(Fig 1: Movie Still)

Exploitation movies are usually low budget and low effort in order to keep pumping them out for easy profit. These movies usually take formulas from other genre movies and use excessive violence, sex and drugs, giving the audience what they want and can't get in other films. However, this has made it know for how poor its cinematography, cardboard characters and limited character development as well as arcs. Despite this 'Mad Max: Fury Road', born from a the previous films that were a part of the exploitation film genre, has taken exploitation film and renewed it for the better. 

(Fig 2: Movie Still)

The films plot stems from the 'Women in Prison' sub genre of exploitation films which started around the 1900s. In the film the antagonist, Immortal Joe has 'prize breeders' (or wives) that have escaped from the prison immortal Joe created with the help of Furiosa. The film manages to take such a controversial topic and make it feminist. Firstly, the wives aren't saved by a 'knight in shining armour' but by a strong figure such as Furiosa. Secondly, over the course of the film we see as the wives are transformed from prisoners to the hero's that bring a new beginning to the wasteland. Lastly, these characters are important in aiding the protagonists as well as expressing individuality and their own goals. 

All the previous mad max movies are a part of another sub-genre of exploitation film, Ozploitation.
Miller created a franchise out of this sub-genre known for it violence and chaos which kept increasing with each new release. However, with 'Fury Road' Miller does not conform to the stereotypes of the genre, he demonstrates great cinematography and uses practical effects paired with CGI, without losing the realness that we see in the original films. 

Lastly, the plot is very simple but also very gripping. The plot essentially consists of trying to get to a safe haven while also being chased by the antagonist, getting there finding out it no longer exists and then returning to the start so that the protagonists can gain more power than they had when the film began. Although, simple the events along the way are what keep us watching.

In conclusion, the film while having its roots in the exploitation genre of film, it manages to take the past and use it to its advantage, as well as being more than just any modern blockbuster.

Illustration List:

Fig 1: http://cinemayward.com/review/mad-max-fury-road/

fig 2: http://www.otherworldsaustin.com/blog/2015/8/7/think-mad-max-fury-road-is-a-great-film-youre-wrong-heres-why

Film Review: Rush Hour - Characters

(Fig 1: Movie Poster)

Personal History:

Lee 

He is a detective from Hong Kong who was called over to Los Angeles to help a Chinese Diplomat find his Daughter who has been kidnapped. He is a more serious character that is highly skilled in marital arts.

Carter

He is a wisecracking LAPD detective known for being reckless. The FBI want Lee out of the way so assign the LAPD to do so, which leads to Carter becoming Lee's babysitter.

Personal World View:

Lee 

Lee is very serious about his work and wants to help. Despite knowing that the FBI doesn't want him there he is still determined to help find the little girl.

Carter 

Carter loves being a detective and was inspired by his father to be one. However, his methods are reckless. He feels like his detective skills should be used for helping on the actual case rather than taking care of Lee.


Inherited World:

Lee 

Lee's inherited world is Hong Kong and working for the police there until he is called over to Los Angeles

Carter

Carter's inherited world is Los Angeles and working for the LAPD

Wants/Needs: 

Lee 

Lee wants to be able to work on the case since he was personally asked, but he needs access to the information and leads that the FBI have.


Carter

Carter wants to work the case because he believes that he is up for the challenge, but needs to get rid of Lee so that he can focus his attention on the case.

Internal and External traits:

Lee 

Internal - Determined, Quick-thinking, Instinctive

External -

Carter

Internal - Determined, Comedic, Fast-talking

External -

Flaws: 

Lee 

Due to how he was treated by everyone when he arrived in LA  he has trouble trusting Carter at certain points as well as being dismissive of Carter.

Carter

Lacks a lot of seriousness, which is why he can be so reckless. He is the kind of person to act first ask questions later, which in some situations doesn't work.

Overall Story Arc:

Lee 

Lee's story arc can be seen as a man v world. Lee comes from Hong Kong to a new place he has never been to before, Los Angeles. In this new 'world' he is then dismissed and kept in the dark about the case he has come to help with. However, as Lee and Carter grow closer as friends it helps Lee achieve his goal.

Carter

Carter is a carefree guy that loves being a detective. He thinks the FBI are interested in his detective skills, but only need the LAPD so that Carter can keep Lee busy. Although, Lee and Carter had there troubles they realise that by working together they can solve the case themselves.

Value Changing in a Scene

By the end of the film Lee and Carter are friends and the ending scene is the two of them on a plane to Hong Kong so that Lee can show Carter what it's like.


Illustration List:

Fig 1: https://www.amazon.com/Rush-Hour-Jackie-Chan/dp/B0039OEV86

Film Review: Scream - Three Act Structure

(Fig 1: Movie poster)

The Start (Ordinary World): Woodboro pre murders

Inciting Incident: Casey Becher Dying

End of Act 1: Sidney is attacked by the murder and Billy is arrested under suspicion

Mid-Point Act 2: Randy is talking to Stu about how anyone in town could be the killer, then the school gets closed because of the recent incident which leads to the principle being attacked and killed

Start of Act 3 (Race to Climax): Stu decides to throw a party to celebrate that the school is closed, Gale and Dewey go to the party, Sidney's friend Tatum is trapped in the garage and killed

The Climax: Sidney has sex with Billy, He gets "stabbed", people leave the party to go see the dead principles body, Killer chases Sidney

The Denouement and End: The twist of who the killer is gets revealed, Sidneys dad is tied up, Killers are stopped

Illustration:

Fig 1: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1074316_scream

Film Review: Fight Club - Non Linear

                                                          (Fig 1: Movie Poster)

'Fight Club' Directed by David Fincher is an amazing film known for its twist and non-linearity. The film starts with at this point an unknown person holding a gun in the narrators mouth. The narrator then says some dialogue which then cuts to the events that lead our protagonist to the beginning scene. 

(Fig 2: Movie Still)

The protagonist of the film is the narrator, he lives a very dull life and suffers from insomnia. The film then cuts to the narrator going to different support groups to help with his insomnia. The film uses these support group meetings to show the passage of time, by having the narrator listing which days meant which meeting. 

(Fig 3: Movie Still)

Once the protagonist meets Tyler Durden his life starts to spiral. The film jumps around a lot at points sometimes it will be to show the passage of time or to give the audience certain information. For example, the scene where the protagonist breaks the 4th wall and explains Tylers jobs. Also, there's a scene where Tyler is sleeping with the films love interest Marla. However the way it is cut suggests the passage of time. Then we get the events in between which leads us back to the beginning scene.

Illustrations: 

Fig 1: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/

Fig 2: http://www.hollywood.com/movies/fight-club-facts-for-the-superfan-60277119/

Fig 3: http://www.filmsufi.com/2013/08/fight-club-david-fincher-1999.html

Collab Contributions: Editing/Compositing and Rendering

These are some examples of t tasks I did as the Editor/Compositor. 

(Title card, Font provided by Tom)

(Credits, Font provided by Tom)

(Lights turning on and off)

(I Rendered this wrong, the clip is only 9 seconds long)

(Compositing in the lamp to maintain the continuity)

(Ending shot)

(Same problem with this one, I rendered it wrong. This clip is only 6 seconds)

(Shot 5: Fixing facial expressions)

Before 

After

When Tom gave me his part of the animation something went wrong and the robber character lost his facial animation, so I went back and add it in. 

Collab Contributions - Rough storybord

At the time Meg had a lot of pre-production work to do so me, Tom and Juan all did a rough storyboard so that meg could apply the style we wanted over the top.

Collaboration Contributions: Animated Logo

Designed and created by Megan, animated in after effects by myself.

Collab Contributions: Animation

Collab Contributions: Moom Poses

Lifeguard 

Swimmer

Old lady

Robber

These poses were from before we all decided that we were going to focus on one skit rather than having two. In the end we decided to go with the robbing skit because it was our strongest idea.

Collab Contributions: Rendered Objects

Renders by alfie gunter on Scribd 

These are the props for group project that I modeled, except for the Iron which Megan did. Uving was split between me and Juan. I UVd the Clock, Iron, Lamp post, lamp and Phone. There were some issues with models such as the crowbar, so once they were fixed with help from Alan I redid the UVs because I had the up to date version of the model.