WEEK 2 DAY 1 & 2 : Freedom and Liberty Project Production.

For this project we decided to split the different roles and then combine our different types of work. Our plan for this project was to overlay animation over film. In order to do so Imi would film and Lea and I would animate. We decided that we wanted to represent someone who has schizophrenia and then overlay animation to symbolize the freedom of the mind compared to the film where the character would look like they're suffering from it.

In order to create this final project Imi filmed and edited as fast as she could so that we could then animate over it. While she did this Lea and I drew storyboards and discussed what we would animate exactly and the style of animation we were going for. We decided upon adding to the image instead of completely changing it. Adding symbols and colourful patterns coming out of the characters head to portray the freedom of thought.

We animated using ‘Flash’ which we then exported into ‘After Effects’ to be able to key the background and overlay it over the film. We overcame a few of difficulties trying to combine both because we realised that most of the scenes which Imi had edited were only about two seconds long which wasn't enough visual time to animate. The film which she edited was great and we didn't want to make each scene longer because having short scenes added flow and tension to the film. Lea and I decided to face this and animate more simply so that the spectator has time to see the animation. This was quite a struggle however I am happy that we managed to overcome this. I do think, however, that if each scene had been  longer we would of been able to create better quality animations and thus make the movements less simple.

WEEK 1 DAY 3: Freedom and Liberty Project Critics on Ideas

After all of the research that I had done, I had so many different ideas that it was difficult to explain my main concept. However once I had explained it, my tutor didn't agree with this kind of freedom. He said that since there is a restriction there is no freedom and so I need to formulate my idea from a different point of view and somehow overcome this restriction.

WEEK 1 DAY 2 : Freedom and Liberty Project Idea Development

On the second day I started to formulate my ideas, and in order to aid finding the right idea I brainstormed. I thought of everything that could mean, symbolize, and be freedom and then I broke it down into more personal responses.

For this project I wanted to work in a group because I thought that it might be interesting to combine film with animation. I decided to work with Imi Riley who works in TV Broadcasting and Lea Choukroun whom is also an animator.

We then all stared our research. Strangely all of our research orientated towards mental or physical illnesses or special cases. We watched a couple of documentaries on ‘Youtube’. One about a young girl called Genie who is a Ferrell child. She had been locked away in a room since she was a very young child and was finally free, however being locked in a room had given her many restraints both physical and mental and now that she was free she needed help re-educating herself. http://youtu.be/hmdycJQi4QA

The second documentary that we watched all together was one about schizophrenia and it’s various forms. I then did some further research into schizophrenia; I looked at all sorts of different case studies to further get an understanding of its different forms and how it affects the mind. At this point we were thinking along the lines that schizophrenia is the unconscious revealed and so you are free from your mind however at the same time you are a prisoner because you cannot control your thoughts anymore. I liked the idea of using this opposing concept. 

WEEK 1 DAY 1 : Freedom and Liberty Project

We began the day by watching a short film called 'The Naked Rambler'. Our tutors wanted to show us the different kind of freedoms and liberties that exist by focusing on nudists and their drive towards their motive. Throughout this film we see the restraints that these nudists go through and how much they suffer to find freedom.  I thought that 'The Naked Rambler' was extremely original and very well filmed. The cameraman knew exactly when to film and so he managed to document extremely precious and personal moments for each of the characters which make us understand them as characters and their motives.

After this film we all got together to speak about each character and their drives towards this type of freedom. We were then asked questions about freedom to help us towards this project. When do you feel free ?

I thought that it was quite difficult to answer this question because for me being free means there has to be restrictions which you manage to get through to feel free. For me freedom is a feeling and cannot be physical unless you are physically locked-up / incarcerated.

WEEK 2 DAY 3 : Title Sequences Final Crit

The final critics went really well. It was the first time that I had animated from scratch on a program so I was happy with my own results and improvement in only just two weeks. I absolutely loved this project and I think I shall continue to animate using software as I was pleased with the results and enjoyed taking risks for the project.

My group especially enjoyed the title sequence of  'Mere Jeevan Saathi' and they thought that it was extremely original. The opinion was that this title sequence was preferable to the 'Pulp Fiction' title sequence. Next time I shall try and improve this and make both projects just as strong.

WEEK 2 DAY 1 AND DAY 2 : Title Seqence Project

During the two days we had a sound tutorial and we also had to carry on with our title sequences. For the Pulp Fiction title sequence I did quite a lot of test shots to be able to get used to Flash and decide what I wanted to produce. I changed the material idea to having a material background and then having everything else in a simple black and white graphic theme so that the names would stand out.

Fig 1 : Style Sheet for Pulp Fiction Title Sequence (2014) Authors Own

I decided for my Bollywood title sequence I would team up with Jason Shobo whom is also an animator. He was completely on board with the idea of turning the 'Mere Jeevan Saathi ' into a video gamed title sequence. He contributed more in depth ideas as to inventing a story within the video game itself which was fun to animate. He also helped with the sound design. I did not have any problems with the creation of the second title sequence as I was used to Flash by this time it was both quicker and easier to create than the 'Pulp Fiction' title sequence.

Fig 2: Creating Title Sequence for Mere Jeevan Saathi (2014) Authors Own

LBM WEEK 1 DAY 3: Title Sequence Crits on Ideas

For this day we had to choose a thriller, a spaghetti western and a Bollywood film and create different storyboard ideas based on research and interpretation of the film.

For the thriller film I chose 'Pulp Fiction' by Quentin Tarantino, I decided that I would recreate different scenes and have the characters pacing in and out of the title sequence to reveal a little bit about the characters and so that the title sequence would have it's own story.

Fig 1 : Storyboard Pulp Fiction Title Sequence (2014) Authors Own

As for the whole look of the title sequence I wanted it to look quite graphic with a mix of texture and different kind of fabrics to give the title sequence character.

Fig 2: Material Ideas (2014) Authors Own

For the spaghetti western I chose the film 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' (1976) I decided that I would produce a typical western scene which would be quite graphic looking using Flash.


For my second title sequence I decided that I would choose the Bollywood film as I do not watch Bollywood films often and so I thought that it might be quite a fun and a different experience to produce a title sequence for this particular genre. After watching 'Mere Jeevan Saatchi' I decided that this would be the title sequence which I would produce as the storyline of the film reminded me of a 'Pac Man' game as the characters are always chasing after one another throughout the film. I thought it might be quite interesting to convert a Bollywood film into a Pac Man themed title sequence.

LBM WEEK 1 DAY 2: Title Sequence Project: FLASH TUTORIAL

Today we were introduced to our two week project which is to create two different title sequences for either a thriller, a spaghetti western or a Bollywood film. We could create these through any kind of possible technique. When I first thought about this project, the first film that popped into my head was 'Pulp Fiction' by Quentin Tarantino. I watched the film title sequence and thought that the title sequence didn't represent the film in it's entirety. I decided that I absolutely needed to create a title sequence for this marvelous masterpiece. I then went onto a website called 'the Art of the Title' ( http://www.artofthetitle.com/ ) and watched as many different and varied title sequences as I could to get a broad idea of the different looks I could give to mine.

In the afternoon the animators were given a choice of having a Flash tutorial which I attended. I was amazed by everything you can do in Flash. I decided that I would take a risk and create my title sequences using the software.

LBM WEEK 1 DAY 1 : Title Sequence Project

For the first day of coming back from the Christmas break, we were introduced to a typography design day and the importance of a title sequence in a film.

We started off the day by looking at different title designs for different films and analyzing the typography. How does this title design fit the film ? What type of film do you think this is by the typography of the title?

Our tutor Chris taught us the importance of representing your film through the title typogaphy. You want your spectator to guess what kind of film you are showing. You want to attract viewers to watch the film and you also want the title to mean something and represent the film.

 A title sequence's main function is to import information to the viewer; such as who is in it and who made it ... It also sets tone and prepares the viewer for what they are going to experience. The main things that you need to consider when creating a title sequence are:
- Legibility
- Fit for purpose
- Emotional response
- Pace

In the afternoon we were given the task of designing three different film titles through typography. 'Finger Of Guilt', 'It Came from Outer Space' and 'The Shop Around the Corner'.
I found this task quite difficult because I wasn't sure how to represent films that I had never seen before. Through the summary lines of each film I managed to imagine what kind of film it was and finally managed to come up with different title designs.