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3d Project

Maya Lighting project

Redo of the stop motion fall

Lighting a scene in Maya

The pictures included in the paper

The Nexus of Art and Science

Art and Science

Marvel has created some of the best science fiction movies, that have undoubtedly defied the laws of science while somehow incorporating laws of physics. These movies wow people with their talk of alternate universes and their ability to explore the world and push the boundaries in ways no one thought was possible. This, in turn, widens our spectrum. Letting our imaginations run wild in a world where anything seems possible. Thus, we let ourselves imagine and create and through these movies, we find ourselves new realities and opportunities to create something new. This has been seen through years of cinematic, where fiction and unrealistic ideas or realities have been made true. Particularly, you can see this in Marvels’ latest movie: “Avengers: Infinity War”. This movie deals a lot with science and physics so when we look at how this movie applies those two pieces to the puzzle, it is important to realize its effect in the real world, as well as how it came about in the movie side of it too. That being said, I intend to focus on three main points from the movie. This includes; when the perception of the real world was changed with the gemstone of reality, the different spaceships (how they travel through space) and the size of Thanos compared to all the other characters.

To begin, it is important to touch on the fact that “Infinity War” was not the first movie to touch on perception being altered or changed. Though it is one of the five major stones used in this movie, the idea is far from new. Countless other movies have led the way in the staging of an alternate reality and the fact that we now have virtual reality headsets is definitely a sign of how much of an impact movie media has on the real world. You see Thanos (the main antagonist of the movie) has the power to mess and warp reality so that is exactly what he does. He uses that gemstone to help take out the people who come against him. For example, he let Gamora live out her reality when he allowed her to kill him but you see it wasn’t real. It was merely a way to mess with her mind. He also turned Mantis (a member from The Guardians of the Galaxy) into a pile of string on the floor as well as turning Drax into blocks. To create the look that they were trying to achieve when they planned these scenes, they had to pay attention to the physics and science behind it. When Drax was turned into stone, he had to fall like a stone and when Mantis was turned into a string, then she had to fall like it. The physics and science behind these movies help us pull off scenes like this and in turn, we then are inspired to create new uses like VR which is like the gemstone of reality.

It is also important to look at the science behind how the spaceships move in this movie and how they have changed through the years. Maybe it is just the creative view of the creators but I feel like we can look at the science behind spaceships. Especially when we look at how they are designed and how they travel through space. Looking back through the various eras of space exploration used in movies, we see the different ways movies have displayed spaceships. They can come in different sizes, shapes, and forms. This can then affect the way they travel. Looking specifically at the spaceships shown in “Infinity War” we can see how size and shape change the way that specific ship travels. The first ship we will look at can be seen in the picture below, it is shaped like an ‘O’. When analyzing the way it moves, I noticed it reminded me of a hamster wheel if that hamster wheel was able to fly. It floats up instead of being pushed forward by exhaust like the spaceship of Guardians of the Galaxy. There is a big difference between the way the two spaceships move considering the Guardians of the Galaxy spaceship is shaped after a more traditional look compared to the ‘O’ looking one. These are two spaceships that look completely different from each other as well as move in different manners. This influences how toy makers make their products so when the latest movie is released toy makers realize that they constantly have to stay up to date. Trends always change and movies help influence these trends so when a movie is inspired to recreate traditions then people trying to stay relevant change as well. That is why it is important to realize that science influences movies and movies influence the real world even with things as basic as spaceships.

The last point we will look at is the comparison of Thano’s size to everything else. Now, this is a big science and physics technicality because when you have someone who is supposed to be as big as Thanos then there are big differences in movement. When it comes to his movement and the movement of baby Gamora. The film creators have to size to scale so when you compare Gamora’s size to Thanos then obviously there is going to be a major difference. That is something that the creators of films need to focus on because if they unrealistically display an already wild idea then it’s a lot tougher for an audience to get into the movie. That’s when they have to use physics to help create this untouchable figure because Thanos isn't supposed to move the same way all the other smaller characters move. The idea of an untouchable being is something that has been translated into the real world though. We fear to have someone so powerful that they can not be stopped and in a way that stems from movies. We are a world that fears things that we can’t control so when we have movies that heighten that fear then it just adds more fuel to the flame. Especially when the movie displays these untouchable objects in a realistic way because it makes it seem like much more of a reality. The influence movies have on us is powerful so when they actually stay true to science and physics then the realism is enough to have an effect on us.

Science and physics have influence in movies and movies are influential in our lives so when you look at a movie like “Avengers: Infinity War” then you can see this. When you take into consideration the reality gemstone, the different types of spaceships and Thano’s size compared to other characters. From each of these, we can dissect them and pull out the science behind them as well as how they have influenced the real world.

Outline #2

Title: The Laws of Physics in Avengers: Infinity War

Thesis: I will discuss the laws of physics in Avengers: Infinity War and explain how Physics impacted and applied to different aspects of the movie

I. Introduction

A. I will just introduce the movie and explain it a bit Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

B. Thesis Statement: In Avengers: Infinity War is a science fiction movie that deals with a lot of adventures in outer space and other high-intensity actions that use different laws of physics so I will just explain the times they display different laws of physics in a correct manner and when they do

II. First Point - The gemstone of reality

A. In the movie, there is a gemstone that messes with how people perceive the world

1) It can alter reality so it can turn them into whatever Thanos imagined

2) Can create a whole new world with different outcomes

B. When they were at the world that had the bargainer

1) When Yondu was turned into rocks

2) When Nebula was turned into string

III. Second Point - Traveling through space

A. How a spaceship moves through space

1)The different types of spaceships

B. The bad alien's spaceship

The guardians of the galaxy spaceship

IV. Third Point - Thanos size compared to the rest of the characters in the movie

A. When he is compared to Gamora

B. When he is compared to the hulk

C. When he is up against Ironman and Spiderman

V. Conclusion

A. Summarizing how physics and laws were used in the Avengers: Infinity War

Stop-Motion Character Animation

This animation was honestly a bit tougher to complete because the stuff animal I used was hard to position. Kia (the dog) didn’t really have good support so she couldn’t stand up by herself so I decided to try the angle that is supposed to look like she was walking regularly but I did have some struggles.

The story board

Stop Motion Animation

For this stop motion project I am going to use my friends stuffed animal as my puppet basically. The basis of this film is going to be the theme of a “Good Boy” since the stuffed animal is a dog. I am going to try to keep it as simple as I can so Kia (the name of the dog) is basically going to be looking at the camera and then I’ll probably cut to a slide that says “sit” then he’ll sit and I’ll give her a treat. I feel like it’s a pretty simple idea but I need to make sure not to over complicate it. I plan on completing this project with as little props as I can so I’ll use a camera (most likely my phone) string, and probably tape. I’ll use the string to get the dog to stand up and then I’ll use the tape to keep track of where the dog position is at. After doing my reference video, I realized it would probably be so much easier if I just do it on the floor. That’s what I think I am going to do now. I'll just film from above to make it look like it is straight up and down.

Reverse Video Reference

Science Fact or Cinematic Fiction?

Jacqueline Vela

Professor Seneshen

Psyh-23

02 October 2018

Reality or Creative Fiction

Have you ever heard someone say “that’s not even realistic” while watching a movie and then having someone else counter with “it’s a movie, what do you expect?” We realize that movies and tv shows aren't necessarily realistic and that is clear to see when you actually review the work. When you compare the laws of physics to cinematic fiction it becomes easy to distinguishing the flaws in many movies or tv shows. If you pick one law to look at and compare it to movie moments or tv shows then it doesn’t take long to realize how it doesn’t always follow with the laws of physics. Especially if you focus on the Path of Action and then look at a show like Looney Tunes, or movies like Space Jam and The Fast and the Furious then you can see how the Path of Action is not followed.

As children, we have all had those shows that would make us laugh so hard because of their ridiculous jokes and stunts. Looney Tunes is definitely that show. It has stunts that are just not physically possible and in no way does it display the laws of physics in a correct manner. For example, if you take a look at the episode that features the Road Runner and the Wild Coyote then pointing out the flaws in the path the Coyote takes when he is pushed off a cliff is obvious. To help distinguish the flaws, it would be beneficial to know the actual meaning of the Path of Action. The definition for the path of action is very simple so basically the path of action is the trajectory of a moving object. In the example from Looney Tunes, the coyote is pushed straight off the edge but instead of falling in an arched shaped fall, he falls straight down. That goes against the laws of physics and it’s Path of Action rules. If Looney Tunes wanted to follow the correct path then the wild coyote should have fallen in a steep arc. That was not the case for this episodes stunt, it may get a couple chuckles from children, but it does not properly display the Path of Action. This just goes to show that cartoon shows, films and games are unrealistic.

This is not the only example of physics being used in an incorrect manner. The Path of Action was also used in an improper way in the movie “Space Jam.” This movie is also another product of Looney Tunes so naturally you can already expect the same comedic jokes and tactics. In this particular movie, it takes you to a basketball game that is just out of this world. All puns intended, the characters from Looney Tunes take Michael Jordan to outer-space in order to play a basketball game. The idea in itself is already outrageous but when it finally gets to the pivotal point in the game, that’s when you see this law get really twisted. The first mistake starts when he basically floats through air for longer than what should have been possible. Then when these make-believe characters decide to jump on him he still manages to stay in air. If the path of action really was being followed then his airtime would not have been as long. As well as the fact that he managed to continue to float through air when he had two huge “aliens” hanging on to him. The error did not just end there though. It was seen one last time when his arm magically grew to an outrageous length. That was fine until he decided to shoot the ball and instead of his hand making and arc like after he released, his arm just falls straight down. Looney Tunes is meant to be a comedic show or in this case movie but it does not help the fact that most people disregard movies as too fake. If we want to believe movies than simple rules like the path of action should be followed.

In this last example, I am going to use a movie that is known for its’ over exaggerated stunts. The Fast and the Furious series has multitudes of stunts that are not possible in the laws of physics. In this particular movie, Vin Diesel decides his best escape route is to drive the car straight out of the top floor to the building next to them. Then he decides to pull the same stunt one more time and floors it out of the second building to then land in a third building. This stunt itself is one that is extremely unrealistic but they decided to try to make it happen with the help of movie magic. The only problem with this though was that their paths of actions were not exactly correct. The angles that they used are just a little too unrealistic. If it were actually following its path of action then the cars angle wouldn’t have been as straight. It would have fallen more at an angle. Resulting in it falling lower in the building. This unrealistic stunt didn't follow it’s path of action making it seem more unrealistic in the movie.

There are many movies and tv shows that make it easy for us viewers to find movies believable. Cartoon shows like Looney Tunes make it easy to distinguish the wrongs in their stunts. Movies like Space Jam and The series of The Fast and the Furious deny so many laws of physics. Therefore, it makes movies or tv shows unbelievable. Especially when you focus on a specific part of physics like the path of action of a specific object. I gave multiple explanations of how these various examples denied physics specifically the path of action. That’s why it is easy for us to find the difference between facts and cinematic fiction.

Outline for the FirstTerm Paper

Path of action and spacing

1. Wild coyote getting pushed off the cliff

The coyote is seen climbing back onto the cliff but when he finally stands up and then the road runner comes up behind him and pushes him off them you can clearly see the mistake. Although it was used as a comedic gesture the path the wild coyote takes on the way down is not correct. He is pushed off the edge and instead of falling in a parabola shaped motion, he falls straight down. Which is just not the correct path of action. If it really followed the path of action then the wild coyote wouldn't have fallen straight down. If it wanted to be realistic than he should have fallen in an arc shaped pattern from the cliff and he wouldn’t have been shot straight out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq_bjaI0NTo

2. Space Jam Dunk

In the same sense, you can see the wrong use of path of action in the movie “Space Jam.” In this particular part of the movie you can see that Michael Jordan starts to “dunks” from around half court. It clearly not following the path of action, I mean in some ways it could be but overall it does not. Michael Jordan would not have been able to stay up in the air for that long. If he was actually following the path then his arc wouldn't have lasted that long. It is also important to note that his arm does not take the path of action when it suddenly elongates to reach the basket. It is really flat. If they were actually trying to follow the path of action than Michael wouldn't have been in the air for so long. He also wouldn't have continued to fly through air when he was hit by those cartoon characters. We also have the issue with his arm. That

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S9W9xZikkA

3. Fast and the Furious 7 (Car jump)

We all know The Fast and the Furious series has outrageous tricks that really does not follow laws of physics (sometimes) so this is just part of that very long list. This scene shows a car jump. Basically Vin Diesel floors it so he can make the jump in a car from one building to the next. Then he proceeded to jump to another building after that first one. It look sort of arced shape while it falls to the next building but when you look at where it falls the car should’ve landed further down if it really want to be accurate. You can see that it doesn’t exactly follow the path when he jumps from the second building to the third. The arc pattern really isn’t arced, it has more of a straight line pattern. That’s why it really isn’t following the path of action because it doesn't follow the proper path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3J9yYnKLA0

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