MCMXCVII

DESIGN IS THINKING MADE VISUAL // tiffany . xviii . canada . GBDA student {UW}

[autiffany]

My part for the animation

[autiffany]

Character Creations/Alterations

[autiffany]

Assets used in my storyboard

fur coat

fake tag

money, rock, spot light, “poof” cloud

cracks

thought cloud

[autiffany]

Mini Blog #3: Group Ideation and Storyboard

Dialogue:

Jonathan: (cont. from previous scene) “... that I could only assume was fake” “and they’re like ‘Look we bought it today! Isn’t fabulous?’” “and I’m like ‘Oh my god. What kind of friends do you have that enable you into such stupidities.’”  Aaron: “It was great. It was so good” Jonathan: “So you paid a $100 for a stupid fake fur coat...” Aaron: “It was real!” *laughter* Jonathan: “No it wasn’t. Don’t kid yourself”

I am in charge of the third section of the animation. We plan on using cell animation to bring our story to life. We were inspired by animation videos online by Domics and other online artists. We decided that the simplistic style would be best to portray our story since it won’t distract from the plot. In addition, it would enable us to be more creative with how we portray the story.

We plan on using Photoshop to draw the cell animations, and we are going to transfer them into AfterEffects to edit and animate it. Since I’ve never animated before, I’m hoping to learn how to consistently draw a character and also distinguish characters using features. 

[autiffany]

Mini Blog #2: Textual Statement & Logline

Part A: Project Statement

     Life is like a balloon, is a short melodramatic film depicting the lives of three different balloons. Balloons are usually pictured in vibrant and fun settings, and I wanted to show them in a different light. The concept of the film is focused around the idea the popular saying “[Your] life is like a balloon”. To capture this metaphor, I documented balloons amongst humans in different settings and scenarios. The film is comprised of three storylines because like humans, balloons can grow and die in various ways. The film to appeals to the emotions and depict balloons feeling and living in situations that people can relate to. 

     To help portray balloons as a metaphor for life, I was inspired by words like fragility, companionship, adventure, pressure and variety. One balloon is depicted as a companion to a person, feeling their happiness as well as sorrow. Through a variety of close-up and medium shots, the viewer becomes an observer of the story. For the clip of the smudged balloon, I used rack focus to feature the girl being sad with in the background to mirror their emotions. Another balloon is portrayed with a girl living a lively and playful life. Medium and long shots were used to show its bright environment. Since the balloon represents adventure, the balloon floated out of the frame to leave its story open-ended. The final balloon is shown in a party getting battered from its hectic surroundings, symbolizing how humans suffer and collapse from pressure and unhealthy environments. To convey stress and tension, the blue balloon was centered in the frame of medium and close-up shots. In the beginning, the balloons are shown together to represent that although people may seem very similar and ordinary, their stories are what make them unique. 

     Since balloons were the main focus of the film, I centered them in the frame in medium shots and made them fill most of the frame for close-up and extreme close-up shots. Although humans were alongside the balloons, I avoided focusing on their faces to concentrate on the balloons. For the clips depicting girls walking with balloons, I filmed the back of their heads instead. In addition, I kept the transitions simple with match cuts and a few dissolves and fades, to prevent distraction from the main plot. The match cuts were used to make the storylines appear intertwined with one another. For instance, I matched the movement of hands in the scenes with the girl reaching for the doorknob and the girl receiving the balloon to created fluidity. I also transitioned between similar shots such as a close-up to a close-up to connect the scenes. Fades to black were used to show the end of the balloons’ lives.

     Balloons are often seen in moments of celebration and bliss; however, I chose to depict them in different lifestyles and environments. Instead of the typical portrayal of them in nostalgic and playful stories, they were featured as decorations and accessories alongside humans in relatable scenarios that they’d likely be seen in. Nonetheless, I made them the main focus and gave them emotions that everyone could empathize with, so the viewers could see themselves in the same situation. Like balloons, our lives are short, and we grow environments that affect us tremendously, but how we choose to live our lives reflects the impact we have.

Part B: Logline

Life is like a balloon is a melodramatic short film that follows three balloons as they go their separate ways to different destinations and experiences, symbolizing the temporariness and impact of human life.

[autiffany]

Project One: Video Portrait (Final)

Life is like a balloon…

[autiffany]

MINI BLOG ONE: Ideation & Storyboard

c Storyboard

[autiffany]

MINI BLOG ONE: Ideation & Storyboard

b Mind map

[autiffany]

I decided to make two moodboards. One represents the life of the balloon, and the second represents the end of a balloon’s life.

Links:

http://wallpapercave.com/wp/dnUKM92.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/46/41/2c/46412ca72970bfeec9520753792b9fb8.jpg

http://media.gettyimages.com/videos/young-girl-releasing-balloon-in-field-tilt-up-video-id135925517?s=640x640

https://gimmeges.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/distant-sky-with-high-clouds.jpg

http://65.media.tumblr.com/c1710bd3059d36653aff26ffd855f7eb/tumblr_inline_ncnnma8RsH1qznaa6.jpg

http://www.sarahmichellerupert.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/theBalloonPop-webdetail-640.jpg

https://kellyvandever.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/time-clock-fotolia_3450509_m.jpg

http://www.lbruning.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_0696-.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3a/c6/20/3ac6204b6b07fbc57f205132aaf2ecdc.jpg

http://assets.dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/floating-red-balloon-bench.jpg

http://balloonacyonline.com/n/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/image001-2.jpg

http://www.drawhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Pretty-white-dining-stools-by-the-white-wall-with-clock-and-window-decoration.jpg

[autiffany]

MINI BLOG ONE: Ideation & Storyboard

a Research

a. A balloon can be made out of light materials such as rubber or latex. They are usually inflated with air or gas such as helium or oxygen. When deflated, balloons are typically very stretchy and small; however, when blown up, a balloon appear very full and lively. Balloons can appear in a large variety of sizes, shapes and patterns. Balloons made out of foil can have very detailed designs.

b. The first balloons were made from pig bladders and animal intestines. The Aztecs used cat intestines to create balloon sculptures to present as sacrifice. In Western society, rubber and foil balloons have been used for celebrations throughout history. The first rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824 while experimenting with various gases. However, they weren’t manufactured until the beginning of the 20th century. The art of twisting balloons into animals and different shapes began in between the 1930s to 1940s. In the 1970s, foil balloons were introduced as they held their shape better and could have more designs. Nowadays, balloons are used around the world for decoration and celebrations. In recent years, there has been a cut in balloon sales since they are potentially damaging to the environment. Balloons have played a huge part in my childhood. I remember going to birthday parties and looking forward to bringing balloons home. Though balloons are temporary, they brought such a unique excitement. I’d always tie my balloon to the railing in my house and keep it there until it fully deflated. I was always heartbroken whenever I accidentally let go of my balloon, and it’d float to the ceiling or into the sky.

c. Balloons have a nostalgic factor as they remind one of their childhood. They’re very bright and youthful when inflated. The way a balloon floats off into the sky, is a reminder that the sky isn’t really the limit and that there’s so much more out there. In a way, it can represent how one can reach great heights. Balloons can also be seen as a metaphor for letting go. Some see the act of letting go of a balloon as letting go of one’s childhood and youth. Balloons have a very youthful and whimsical aesthetic. For instance, in the movie Up, the use of balloons gives a wistful feeling and remind one of their childhood. The balloons seem very childish, but many are used, they are very strong. Balloons can also have a very abrupt end. Besides simply deflating, they pop very easily and very loudly. In a sense, it can represent how lives can end in a bang and have a huge impact. However, as playful and colourful balloons can be, they are also an environmental hazard. When balloons reach a height of approximately 8 km, the latex of the balloon will freeze and break. Since most of the balloons are chemically-treated, they won’t biodegrade and can last for months. They are also very dangerous to animals especially sea animals. Balloon debris are often mistaken for food and can get lodged in their digestive tract which can lead them to starvation.

d. I think a very whimsical and youthful style would work well with a balloon. I imagine a lot of long cuts and bright lights to represent an inflated balloon floating. The use of primary colours as well as sepia would help create the feeling of nostalgia. To create a wistful mood, I’d shoot outdoors. Wide angled shots can be used to show the balloon floating into the sky. However, for the scenes of the balloon deflating or popping, shooting indoors would help create a confined and uncomfortable feeling. Very short cuts and quick pacing would be used to represent the end of a balloons life, as they pop very quickly. 

Work Cited

Grummer, By Arnold E. "The History of Balloons." Balloon HQ.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

Wickman, Forrest. "Why Do We Celebrate With Balloons?" Slate Magazine. N.p., 13 Nov. 2011. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

"Balloon." How Balloon Is Made. Advameg, Inc., 2016. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

@MittenDAmour. "Balloons – A Metaphor or Something More?" Pretty Feet Pop Toe. Wordpress, 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2016.

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // final

My group had produce an animation that combines the word grow as well as Edgar Allen Poe’s Alone. Although the concepts are very different, we managed to create a piece that fluidly unified the two. By utilizing different compositional concepts including size, space, colour and shapes as well as models such as the balancing centre, triangles and inverted triangles, we were able to develop a piece that not only exhibited how one grows in loneliness but also emphasizes isolation. 

The use of compositional factors and visual elements helped enhance the eeriness and isolation of the animation as well as emphasized the peculiar and darkness of the word grow and Edgar Allen Poe’s poem. The different sizes help highlight certain shapes and enhance the solitary mood of the piece. It also helps develop hierarchy in the piece. In addition, the use of space creates a feeling of isolation as the negative space allows the viewer to focus on the positive space. The monochromatic colours also add to the eerie and lonely mood as it highlighted shapes and darkness. Since the colours were all grayscale, the lonely and eerie mood was enhanced. We chose to use charcoal instead of black to produce a ghostly feel to the animation. Moreover, we used simple two-dimensional shapes rather than three-dimensional to highlight the simplicity and create an spooky mood. The shapes merge and transform into one another in an abstract and fluid manner. These compositional factors also help establish hierarchy within the animation. The contrast between the white and black not only enhance the eerie mood but also captivates the audience and brings attention to the main shapes of the animation. Moreover, the minimal amount of shapes within the frame allow the viewer to focus on the dominating movement. Since there is only one visual cycle featured, it enhances the word and the poem by creating a feeling of isolation. 

Different compositional models were used throughout the animation to strengthen the plot and mood. The animation started with a white circle placed on the balancing centre, which builds stability and structure as well as added strength and cohesion. It also added an eerie effect and enhanced the lonely mood of the piece. The inverted triangle compositional model is also featured during the spotlight animation, which produces a feeling of unease. It helps direct the viewer to the main focus of the animation and isolate the shapes. Upright triangles are also present in the mountains. They help create a story arch by forming a rise and fall within the frame. In addition, the triangles have a cyclical structure and keep the viewer’s eye contained in the frame and unifies the composition. The mountains also appear in threes, which create a cyclical movement and the appearance of balance. 

Overall, the compositional factors, visual elements and compositional models are used throughout the animation to create an eerie design and enhance the feeling of growing isolation. Through unique and abstract movements, these characteristics work together to portray both the word grow and Edgar Allen Poe’s poem, Alone, in a unified and fluid manner.

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // shapes ( eclipse + first iteration of melting )

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // complete ( circles got squished )

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // shapes created

[autiffany]

Mini Blog Assignment #5

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // combined storyboard

[autiffany]

Assignment #3 // Independent Research & Ideation

Action Word: Grow Poem: Alone by Edgar Alan Poe 

The poem seems to be about an adult reflecting on their dark childhood. There’s a melancholy and sorrowful mood. The poem consists of rhyming couplets that create a rhythmic pattern and flow. The poem mentions nature quite often creating a scenery filled with plants and wildlife. However, the poem’s dark and sombre tone of the poem contrasts the initial positive emotion of the word grow. When one first pictures the word “grow”, one may think about plants growing; nonetheless, alongside the poem, the word grow exhibits a different meaning. Instead of a plant growing healthily, I picture a plant growing with weeds and turning brown or even dying. Since the beginning of the poem mentions spring and the ending mentions fall, I imagine the growth and death of nature during those seasons. I imagine warm autumn colours along with monochromatic colours as they bring out the dark and somber tone of the poem as well as the feeling of growth. In addition, the growth could represent darkness growing within.