MOI P1 has thus concluded on friday.

It has been good working as a group... and I sure has learn along the way.

Whether be it about myself or more about the softwares...

But what's most important is to improve after knowing more...

Really wanna thank my group mates for such a good group work (:

And Alfie too, for all the encouragements, suggestions and support!

And it's goodbye to year 1 too, I will miss it loads.

That's conclude my posts for all the blog, see you.

Hope Y2 will be off to a good start for everyone! :D

Finished at least half the P1 already, still have CD cover to do, printing of script etc , choosing music, compile and ani fun video fun to do.

Zhiwei

Going to started on the editing part for P1 soon.. so far, the filming part is over, a big thanks to Zhi Yang from ADM.

Probably need more photos, shall need to refer back to notes about it ...

And editing work starts. Jia You people.

`weiru

Tonight we did the filming.

our actor is ZHIYANG from ADM year 1. he did a splendid job.

He fulfills most of our demand.

Next filming time is on this Sunday outside TP, could have a change of location.

We're currently filming in school now.. wait, technically no, but about to...

Why? Cause we're waiting for them most important person - the talent xD

Really wanna thanks the talent for agreeing to be our actor although I don't know his name, LOLS.

So what did we do today? - Shfit all the chairs out of the classroom we are using to film, hahas.

Oh man, for some reason, I dread thinking about having to move them all out again this friday.I guess it's the flu bugs getting to all of us that it's real tiring just to move a little amount of chairs.

I do hope my group mates would take care, drink more water and sleep more - There's still a long way for us to go for MOI P1. And take care too, everyone else, it doesn't feel good to be sick and I know it. :/ And I bet all of us know it too, LOLS. Hmms, seems like almost everyone else is down with flu too, sighs.

- Dear 2d & 3D animation labs, I will learn to like you all lots cause we will have to be staying in you for this one month and spending almost all our time with you two. But yea, you two seems pretty inviting, don't worry. And the bonus is that Flash has been very fun to play with, hope I'll continue enjoying the rest of the moments. -

There, I'll end my long-winded draggy post for today. See ya, DRINK MORE WATER.

`weiru

TOmolo filming the first scene, at night, in classroom.

Need to prepare the list of to dos for our actor.

I was experimenting on the hologram effects by using After Effects. I find it very interesting and fun to try out new things. I think it takes a lot of time and patience to accomplish the effects.


Pei Wen

Just started doing the story board yesterday. Till now, it's only halfway through. got to work harder.

tadas, I am back to blog again... wanted to blog this here: (but I lazy re log in to blogger that day, so today then post.. LOLS)

What I've noticed about projects...

".. the good thing about project is that there's a LOT more things for you to learn as there'll be a lot more unexpected problems you'll face... problems you probably never even know existed!

I guess the good and bad part about it is it's unpredictability - you never know what may happen next!

It may be a surprise or a shock!"

Good if it's a surprise, and well if it's a shock, we'll learn how to deal with it in future then! Each process, each mistake, each problem is a learning stone after all..

And once we've learnt how to step on all the small small stones, or even bigger ones, when we face huge big boulders in future, we won't be so afraid anymore... and things will be easier.

Anyways, we did our presentation on group ideas today and handed up our individual proposals too to the tree-loving man, LOLS. & I really like all the groups' ideas too, LOLS - am SUPER looking forward to watching them all !! (:

So we found out we don't have the need to use green screen at all, kinda disappointed urh, if can use a little, at least can fiddle and play and experiment with it and see what's it's all about exactly..

But we shall have our softwares to fiddle and play with at the moment.. Experimental stages..

Sometimes it's the process that matters, not the end. I'm sure we'll all be learning a lot more in this process..

gambette people!
`weiru (I know I am long-winded, I am trying to cut down :/)

Today is our first group presentation and we got to hear the ideas from other groups. I think all the groups did well for the presentation as well as the story setting, mood boards and storyboards. Each of the groups have their own style and I think Cheryl's group really stands out and pretty cool. It is a "silent movie" with black and white style.

Alright people, lets work hard together!!!


Pei Wen

Was trying out the effect for iron man minority report yesterday. I found out that there's another name for those effects, which is also called " futuristic floating hologram effect"

Found a few sites which teaches me skills to create those effects, but are either not reliable(halfway stop) or too advanced to learn.

So have to continue again.

But frankly speaking, it was fun trying out those effects.
I love trying out. ^^ That's why i am going to join video.

In the process, i sorta get the idea on how to do the effect, try it out in the basic manner(simplified).

Noticed thaT both AE and AP can produce those effects.
Hope i will do more breakthrough on the next try.

Zhiwei

Just completed our idea yesterday.

Now is to focus on knowing how to achieve the effects and get ready for presentation.

Thank you gals( Wei Ru and Pei Wen) for the hard work.

I appreciate that very much. ><

Keep on going, i feel that learning those effects will surely add more fun to your life. ^^
May sounds a bit weird, pls pardon me! heehee...

Have to go try out the effect on premiere now...

Have fun till we meet again, take care of yourself too.

Heys, it's Wei Ru here..  Still pretty much overwhelmed with all the recent P1 group discussions but must remember what Alfie said to not stress ourselves out too much.. 

We seems to have forgotten about the fun in the process of working ... I remembered a quote that said "Success lies in happiness", And this is what I interpret it as: to do something well and be pleased with it, first we must be happy to start doing it... 

I have my worries and fears, no doubt .. but I shall not neglect the positive side too, it'll be an experiment, a new learning journey -- a first major step into filming, animations.. And along the way, the may be mistakes, we may stumble over stones but together, we will then learn to pick ourselves up, learn from our mistakes and continue on the way, improving with each step. 

And being asked to work in a group, we'll have each other support, help, companionship and guidance too. I'm sure we'll have lots to learn from each other too, perhaps there may even be quarrels and conflicts along the way, I aren't sure but I believe there'll be something to learn from any quarrels or conflicts or problems we may have. 

So far, our group has planned how our entire video should go but our major problem now is how to execute it and whether it is possible or within our capabilities to do so.. 

We've decided on putting in quite a lot of effects in our video ... 

And we're picking up books from the library to learn more about after effects and also we will need to do research on the effects tutorials online... 

Hence, for the moment, it's personal learning until we next meet on sunday to complete our ppt slides.. 

I hope I'd have a fun time reading up about how they do those after effects for the video but I'm itching to test out the softwares already! - Yes, it is as if I wanna fly even before I learn to walk but blehhs, blame my impatience. 

"If you really want to do something, find the way to do it.." - Alfie, this reminds me of another quote but I can't recall the entire phrase at the moment so till we next meet then/ or rather till I next blog, that is if I remember. 

Sometimes in the midst of doing something, we forget the other important things ... 

Striking a balance, I find it really hard to do so. 

lAST NIGHT I DREW UP A PLAN ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE VIDEO.

ABOUT OUR AUDIENCE< They most probably don't know what MOI is about. If we show them how fun the course is, we achieve the objective.

So i drew up this plan and will have to let my team mates have better understanding and so they won't think of other kind of things. Gotta share with them first....


ZHIWEI

Our group discussed further on the idea today and we're stuck on how to conclude everything and there's so much new info that we need time to digest it all.. things are getting kind of confusing to me :S 

And we ended the discussion with us all left feeling rather overwhelmed, I think. We decided we would take a break first and go home and think of the ending. I'm so glad for the consultation slot tomorrow, I think we really do need it! And I'm so glad Alfie is holding our hands tightly through this too.. I feel like a lost sheep man... meehhh. 

Back to the topic about the idea, apparently I can't think of any ideas right now,H&C is tiring me out, draining my energy.. I wonder how I am going to survive animation and production works for MOI P1 next block... :O

So overwhelmed with MOI P1 stuffs, H&C stuffs and tiredness right now.. 

So I shall be back to doing my H&C first..  ciaos~ I hope my thoughts will be clearer tomorrow... Shall post more details on our ideas and discussions when I am not so tired and my mind can think better... bear with my incohorent ramblings at the moment, thank you. 

`weiru

Currently we are still working on our ideas. Today we discussed about the structure of the story and how we can improve on our ideas. I think we still need to BRAINSTORM and add more details on it.

Pei Wen

So... we had our presentation of ideas.. or rather consultation of ideas with Alfie today!

&& Alfie gave us a lot of brilliant suggestions to further developed or alter our idea xDD. 

So our rough skeleton now is basically a blur boy entering a virtual world... with different buildings..  and maybe got IM windows popped up and got interactions with us ~ Maybe he could be seeing us doing our work through the web cam etc. (LOTS OF CREDITS TO ALFIE FOR THE IDEAS!! LOLS!! XDD) 

Gotta further discuss and explore all those softwares. We really need to explore and get to know those softwares well and pick up the skills needed.. considering I've no prior experience to animation unless you count DMfun, LOLS.. And only Zhi Wei has taken the animation module ... & we gotta need to depend on Pei Wen mainly for the drawings since Zhi Wei and I both self-confessed we can't draw well.. :X Hope I will be able to pick up the animation skills well! 

& yesterday Alfie taught us more on filming techniques and stuffs, the practical stuffs we needed to know when filming..  (: ~ I didn't know those lights had such interesting names like blondies and redhead, LOLS. 

Need to prepare our ideas presentation for next tuesday too..  need some time planning and management here ..  ok, who's good at time management? Argh. Man, I gotta chilll.. why the heck am I letting a simple blog post stress me up right now?! lols. 

Thinking on the positive side, I am sure it'll be quite fun exploring the softwares which I have yet to touch ! I need your guidance people! (: Let's hope it'll be more smooth cooperations ahead.. we still have a month plus together! 

`Wei Ru. Otherwise known as ghost, LOLS - just kidding .. trying to lighten up the atmosphere, though quite a lame attempt at it -.- , forgive me. 

(P.S. group mates, can I change the font of our blog? Wanna experiment with new fonts (:) 

just reach a rough final idea with my team mates yesterday. We'll see alphi's opinion b4 going further.

Just to let u guys have a rough idea. It's about a blur boy, entering a room full of animation. Sort of like a story like that.

Easy...Easy...><
Ideas don come when you stress want.
Go play more first.
When u rest the ideas will come.

Just got something yesterday anyway.
It's a book!
What's so special about this book...
It helps me improve my knowledge about my interest.
Cost me BOMB! Bom BOMBOM

So when you really want something.
You have a goal.
And that gives your life excitement.
When you get it, you get "flavour".

Got to work harder tomolo for the ideas...

Today sure is a tiring day. --+ + --

~

Zhiwei...

I think it's a real good idea to put pictures around - I go scout for pictures first xDD It really livens up the place xDD 

Had some ideas just now.. but I don't even know if it can be counted as ideas, LOLS. Was wondering if we could use reflections, shadows and bubbles in our video O.O Hmms.. Need to think further though.

Anyways, yesterday had an informal lesson ... Talking about more movie stuffs etc... Gotta confess that I can't really remember now actually. :/ Even though I desperately want to recall it now... Cause I remembered there were funny parts.... RAWR!!! 

And on thursday, we watched the works of those who were freshmen before us - the one I remembered most clearly was the vid where someone said most of his ideas came when he was in the toilet, LOLS - I clearly did not expect a toilet scene, that's why, hahas! There was another one which got me real impatient too - it was a bad example for us and the reason was clearly obvious.. BUT I am so amazed at our current junior's standard..  made me .. more STRESS. And feeling so kanchiong too, cause wanna do video but heard there's shortage of equipment which means must like go chop good equipments first .. yet half of me feel like I too kiasu, overreacting ..... contradicting myself again - sian. 

MEEHH.. I'd put that fact aside first then - do first, talk later. Or rather think of ideas first. Or I'd keep whining and never get started man .. 

IDEEEASSS, I need you!!!! (The redundancy of the extra 'E', 'S' and '!' but I still love using them. -.-) 

I like this reflection painting xDD, obtained from: http://redbirdgalleries.com/artists.php?

id=23

 

- Byes, Wei Ru. 

Alphi recommended us so many movies.

Now i really can't take movies or series already, especially english title. Feel like throwing up!

Can only watch jap music video now

Zhiwei

Throw up picture source: www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/.../Henry/throw_up.jpg

Monday have to present ideas right.
2 ideas individually, on how the video is going to look like.
Sort of like proposal format for each idea.

AHhhhh.....no time for other things!

Saw the previous batch of MOI project 1 work.

The first few were great. I remember the first one with Gary needing a toilet urgently, there's a scene which shows the door gate opening by itself, the music fits the scene perfectly!

But i noticed something. most of the juniors like doing hilarious work. Like making the whole show looks funny. I have seen quite a lot of that, i rarely see something more about a topic, like maybe sports, or about music.

The part where all of us have to take note of is to not do something too unbelievable. Like the news girl and alien one. That one isn't very convincing to watch, because the aliens are animation. Unless they are real aliens, then we will be intrigued. I guess...

And i can't believe the juniors at only year 1 can do their project 1 work at professional standard! There is this group with 4 person, one guy in the toilet, say what, "ideas come from toilet" that group. And their work are like lord of the rings one. like real movie like that. Donno how they produce that.

Will we learn those visual effects?

Don't have much practical work to do either, most are theory for project 1. Theory,theory n theory!!! Feeling restless already.

Zhiwei

Everyone have a choice.. it's whether they want to choose or not ... 

Finished watching Persopolis today in class and this was the message I remembered more clearly... 

And we also watched 11:14 today ... cleverly interwined, that I got confused quite a number of times while watching it - I was like - wait, what was the other scene that thing appeared at? and huh? just now got that one meh?.. 

And woah, the way it puts it message across, one word - WOW. 

No one's innocent, everyone's guilty in the end... Though throughout the movie I was thinking - What a coincidence. LOLS. 

It is so amazing how the show affected our heart subconsciously...  I didn't even notice it was taking away the pity from us the more we pity somebody .. O.O come to think of it, it sounds scary how one film can invade your heart so stealthily.. hehes. 

Another tip from Alfie today was to not encourage your viewers to be late, by making the starting an important part of the whole film! 

Okays, going off already.

- Signing off, Wei Ru. (that reminds me, did I remember to sign out the other time? Bleh :P) 

Today, Alfie showed us a movie called "11:14" and I thought that it was awesome. I kept wondering how are all these people related? What do they all have in common? etc.. And once it was over, I was surprised, and shocked, and loved it at the same time.

It is a brilliant history lesson about how events can intersect. As a matter of fact they even put an actual intersection in the movie to demonstrate how each person's life collided with each other person's life.And everything culminates at exactly 11:14. I think it takes a lot of work to make a movie of a series of events viewed by different people. I like how they plan the events and the storyline was great.


Pei Wen

In the midst of doing the proposal now... but I needa more research to back up my suggestions ... RAWR. Can plain observation be strong enough facts? I guess not...  And I really really feel like sleeping, have been tired out by other matters this few days.. I'm too easily affected by my emotions .. Shall not procrastinate and exercise self-discipline, it's an inner battle that exists within most of us ... let's let self-discipline win! How easy it is to say things but how hard it is to carry out... 

Well, let's talk about what we did in lesson or rather what thing Alfie "fed" us with today.. 

Basically, he talked about research and stuffs again - like what is the thing we really need to do - to reach out to the audience... 

I am getting lazy to continue typing.. shall end with a quote from Alfie which I think is so true... 

"Sympathy is the easiest emotion to manipulate."

After all, all human beings have a soft side, a humane side, right? 

Nighty Nite, whatever it means, LOLS. 

- Another Alfie statement - To be like a lizard and observe our surroundings! LOLS! But But But too bad, we can't rotate our eyeball that much, ROFL! 

Today i'm really messed up!

But decided to do things one by one.

There's final assignment, 2 ideas to think of. Then there's the exercise to be handed up tmolo. And the blog to update.

Ok. So have already finished the research exercise.

I think the exercise is quite fun only after completing it. Felt a sense of satisfaction.
But i'll c what alphi will say...

Now have to focus on the final 2 ideas. KK... So final two ideas have got to be what kind of animatics will attract new students to our MOI course.

So i have to go and looks for ideas.

Just realised that there are only 2 ways of doing animatics, which is drawing your own drawings and filming it, another is to get videos from sources and edit it.

Is there other ways?

Today, we got the chance to watch a documentary called "Bowling for Columbine" which is created by Michael Moore. I think it was a good movie but there are various reasons as to the gun violence in America, mostly being the breakdown in morals that parents should instill in children but are too busy with trying to keep up financially in this greedy society, also the media (news, video games, movies, music) influences people more than they think, and also laziness- school officials need to do something when they see people being picked on, its part of their job to help ensure the well being of their students and the lazy people who don't keep up with their guns or fails to properly secure them enough to be able to have a underaged person easily take a weapon from them.

Personally, I think the messages that he was trying to convey are:
1. Guns are too easy to get in this country
2. The difference in criminal activity between our America and other countries such as Canada (who has virtually no crime).

Signing off,
Pei Wen

4th day of MOI P1, Alfie talked about what to focus on for both our assignment research and also about some commercials to us again today .. can't really remember much about the commercial part because the documentary we watched after that left a deeper impression on me. 

"Bowling for Columbine" (hope I didn't spell it wrongly.. lols) is a WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY, A MUST WATCH. That's what I think but everyone have different opinions... so you may not agree. 

Even though I have yet to complete watching it, it was heart wrenching and really struck my heart too... the topics talked about were so true.. close to heart yet far from heart at the same time... it's about teenagers .. yet it's about killing with guns - and obviously teenagers or maybe most teenagers in Singapore can't kill with guns, because it is banned here and we have no idea where to get them... (from what I know) Many thoughts ran through my mind while I was watching it.. too overflowing that I can't recall them offhand.. 

On the other hand, not much research done for P1 yet but at least I have started.. better than nothing. 

TADAS ~ CIAOS ~ xD Have a good night people, sleep tight! (: 

- Wei Ru signing off. 

Ok

So yesterday victric was back.

Still look so young. Looks like japanese to me.He's a humorous person.

Anyway, he mentioned bout the personal potential or characteristic that are already in each of us. Saying it's going to be the style of how our work will come out. Like maybe if you're fun, your work is fun. Sad, your work is sad.And saying bout doing some breakthrough out of your original style sometimes. doing fun if you always do sad film.

And the friendship thing.

And the critique thing and many more.

CXan't really remember the lesson. Do drop me comments if you remember any part of things i missed out.

Ok, Must remember to change blog skin by the end of this week.. 

I really do not know how to link other blog links with this current blog skin ... 

We kick start off the day in school with Victric Thng's short films in LT 25, fortunately no one seems to be late.. 

Enjoyed watching all the short films, especially those which I don't really understand. 

Loved the Mole one and the first one a lot, okay I admit I'm biased because that cantonese factor and it being filmed in Hong Kong are two of the reasons I like it too.. LOLS.. and how it's so spontaneous plus I like that theme. xD (OK, I know I like or rather have an interest in almost everything but still...) 

During lesson, Alfie talked more about filming and introduced more shows to us, I'm dying to watch them all, curiousity overwhelms me yet time and money is limiting me at the moment... We shall plan it properly so we won't overspend money on watching shows and also have enough time to watch all... train up our planning skills! 

He gave us some notes today too about arguments, knowing and not knowing and basically how researching helps in all these... Have to admit, I have yet to finish reading it..  I must say the start of the notes really grabbed my attention ... I certainly do love a good arguments, though it may give me a headache at times.. it must be a rational argument though! 

After that, we got to watch Eternal Sunshine in a spotless mind today - Loved it! (: Especially loved how they went roaming around his memories... 

Need to start research really really soon for MOI P1... 

- edit: Signing off, Wei Ru, whoOps. 

Okays, I am the last in the group to blog for today... or rather for the day before (sorry for posting after twelve :/ - Nowadays, I'm usually online only after twelve) so I guess you all pretty much know who is blogging now, hahas. 

I had a good time reading the posts of my two group mates and it certainly helped in recapping what was taught today.. 

As mentioned in the previous two entries, today is just day 2 of MOI Project 1, Alfie taught us about research, he cited examples of previous mistakes found in television shows and also those made by seniors due to the lack of research or the negligence of certain important aspects of filming production ...  how important the planning process is, for even if one part is screwed up, it can result in undesirable aftermath.

We learnt that we cannot be slipshod and have to be extra careful .. because if you are not, you may even lose your life on set ... though the case he mentioned was not serious to that extent yet..

In my case, I fear that my own clumsiness may bring about misfortune to other crew members... need to try to be much much much much more careful now, guess this will be a barrier I will have to overcome whether be it video or animation I choose because accidents happen anywhere. Though I do I fear I am not able to..  

Overcoming fears, it's all part of growing up I suppose. 

He also talked about how group work benefits research, after all many hands make light work and also how when one mistake slips the eyes of one, another may still notice it... 

And so he spent almost 2 hours of the 3 hours lesson talking about it and I sure thought the case scenarios for the mistakes were the most interesting parts to listen to.. but of course, it's not just all about hearing, we would have to learn from their mistakes to and in this case, not follow after their footsteps! 

Of course, we also watched some video clips which have been uploaded by Pei Wen! I found the m all really interesting, more fascinated with the watercolours one though... hehes. 

And in case you haven't guess it, this is Wei Ru, signing off... (: 

Research, Research, Research, Here we come! ~ 

 

- P.S. I still find it weird blogging for school.. 

Randomness: Wondering if I spelt Alfie's nick name correctly... O.O 

- Am I supposed to type formally for this blog? I feel half awkward typing half formal, half informal... LOLLLS. 

(To me, this post seemed very short but when I read it on the blog website, it seems like I was too overly talkative as usual, whoOps.) 

LOL! Zhiwei here ... Signing in.

Ok.

Today Alphi Emphasized on the importance of doing research on work/project/assignment/etc...

In the past, i always thought that "hey! com'on!!! Research is useless. So theory-based! Give me a break..."

But now i know that research is not always looking into your books and sticking your eyeballs to the pc for information. It's much more than that, it includes going out to experience new things which you've never experienced before.

Like going to Zouk to find out the atmosphere of pub and according to the experience, use that in research to create the correct form of message to answer to audience.

Of course, when doing research, DON'T STOP AT ONLY ONE PUB, GO TO MANY OTHER more pub to enjoy! Then find out the SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCE of pubs and identify key points, also pick out the REQUIREMENT TO SUIT the project you are doing.

At the same time of researching, PLAN.

Very important. Planning and organising is an important skill which MANY CLOSE 1 EYS TO. They often neglect the importance of these skills which can ENHANCE THE SMOOTHER FLOW OF WORKING PROCESS.

Always TAKE NOTE OF THE FACTORS which can AFFECT your PROJECT. NEVER COMPROMISE any thing

Research is about identifying factors which will affect the project

Understanding of topic and giving the correct response

Aiding in efficient planning and organising



AH!hhhhh....huuu!!! So hard to absorb everything. Stomach cannot take it

Sign off by

Zhiwei

Day 2

Second day of our MOI project 1..!! Alfie explained to us about how a successful researcher is being done. We need to be very careful when doing research such as getting the facts right. He also explained what an animatic was about. It is scanned versions of storyboards to give you a rough idea of what the action would be. Some of the shots are sort of computer generated.

Here are some of the examples about animatics videos





Signing off,
Pei Wen

Heyheys, this is so weird. First blog entry for MOI Project One! And the three of us are here ..

Let's introduce the group members, namely Zhi Wei, Pei Wen and Wei Ru. (:

Anyways, what we did today for the start of this module was:
Briefing at LT 25, formed our groups through "lucky draw". - Well, actually it's not "lucky draw", Alfie - our lecturer for this module, chose our group for us. LOLS!

And we were also briefed about our assignments, one which is THIS - blogging about our learning process and development. In addition to that, we also got to know more about our final project of year one... a very important one.

That's all, see you! Bye Bye!

- Signing off by the three of us!