My First Animation Using Keyframes

Title: Where I Belong

MY VERY FIRST EXTREMELY SIMPLE WEBSITE

Click here --> SPRING DREAMING

Additional Information: My very first haiku is the content of the website.

Production Notes

I really enjoyed the entire process of the assignment Portrait of a Person. The pre-interview was very helpful to develop a topic and direction for the interview. The freedom of the pre-interview allowed for a natural and enthusiastic response during the initial interview.

Editing the audio may have been the most stressful and nerve-wrecking task of the entire project. To cut over 20 minutes of audio below 5 minutes while maintain a concise theme and story was a challenge. Every edit I felt may cut something beneficial to the story. I let friends listen to it over and over again and I received some great advice: K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SIMPLE-STUPID). I decided to give faith to the listener that they would be able to grasp the concept without hearing the complete back-story. I continued editing the audio even after the second phase of the assignment. Mainly because adding visuals to the audio altered my approach to the story line.

If I had the opportunity to complete the process a different way I would only to save time from excessive edits. I would prepare my audio to be accompanied by visuals by adding them as I went along. Rather than making my audio piece stand alone then trying to find visuals to add to it. However, I appreciated the way the process was arranged because now I have two semi-independent pieces.

I don’t believe I learned anything “unexpected” in regards to making a film. I welcomed the challenge with open arms. It was pretty exciting to see how multiple elements contribute to a segment of viewing time- it was awesome. I wanted to learn how else to make that second or segment even more fascinating. After learning how the target tracks worked adding additional clips exactly where I intended them to be was a breeze. Actually, I did find a problem in exporting my project. The clips I originally chose were not the clips that played, and some clips did not play in its entirety.

I am happy with the overall flow of the audio piece and how some sounds worked perfectly with the visuals. I could improve on my transitions and my use of text. I would want the text to appear and then dissolve and for them to be a tad bit slower so that the reader can comprehend what is being said. In some critiques of my project I was told that the text were a slight distraction, because they were trying to watch and listen as well as read, which caused a challenged for some. I agree. After re-watching “The Idiot Box” it became a challenge for me as well. I assumed it was easy to digest because I was able to do so in post-production of the piece because I knew what to expect. I had to place myself in the viewers seat and see it “for the first time”.

The Idiot Box: Visual & Audio

Sound-Image

I start my analysis at the height of Marcus and Mike Lowry victory of a “righteous bust” in Bad Boys 2. The music starts very upbeat and full of enthusiasm and quickly turns dramatic as it cuts to a medium pan shot of Marcus as he receives a call stating that his sister had recently been taken hostage, by the very person they’d just defeated. The non-diegetic violin’s chords are strained as the pan is slowed and zoomed into Marcus’s face to show his anger. The sequence quickly cuts to a pan of the police precinct with multiple officers standing around a conference room flustered and concerned; than a quick cut to Marcus sitting down. The ambience in the room is very foggy with a flickering type of glare shining through the scene to accentuate the tension in the room. Every time the images change the sound reacts to it. As the images slow down so does the pace of the music. The shots are arranged in sequential order as well as in order of the present speaker. The speaker or where our attention should be placed in that moment composes the shots. While Marcus is sitting down looking up at Captain Howard speaking the camera is in a high angle position. When Captain Howard finishes stating “Captain Dean, from the F.B.I, informed me that they have pinpointed your sister and her hostage taker over the border of Cuba.” The camera cuts to Mike Lowry’s reaction of distraught from Marcus’s point of view. It then quickly cuts to Captain Dean speaking in a continued high angle shot stating that “The United States does not negotiate with any hostage takers; especially Cuban hostage takers.” The cut then transitions into a subjective shot of Captain Howards’ annoyance of the previous statement. Marcus becomes enraged at the F.B.I’s nonchalant attitude towards the matter and storms out of the conference room; the camera follows him and swiftly cuts to Captain Howard nonverbally suggesting that Mike check on him. Mike Lowry runs after him however his running after him is done in slow motion with dramatic drums beating slowly to prolong the magnitude of the situation. There is a match on action cut as Mike Lowry runs to the door and reaches out to open it. The cuts appear to be seamless as they attempt to get all point of views. This particular sequence catapulted the entire movie to a level of intense anticipation and anxiety.

The Idiot Box: Audio

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This is the audio piece of a two-part project for class.

SOUND-WALK AROUND HARLEM

This Sunday was the African-American day parade so sounds were in abundance. I chose to walk around Harlem; I started at 135th and Lenox Avenue (Malcolm X Blvd), and walked to 113th and 7th Avenue and back to 135th and 5th Avenue. I noticed cars, trucks, and bus engines, as well as the sound of children screaming, and Females heels clinking while they walk down the cement block. As weird as it may be in 2011 I heard a house phone ring and it sounded like the generic "brrriinngg-brrriinng"; I heard this while hearing a front door to a brownstone open- it screeched. In the distant, I could hear marching bands drums beating and symbols chiming, and static music that seemed to be protruding out of an old speaker. In my immediate sound path an older gentlemen was soliciting gold for cash. Walking down Lenox Avenue I heard the usual car horns honking and sirens of all kinds e.g. police, firefighter, and ambulance.

As I approached 125th street there was a mixture of West Indian, Caribbean, African, and Jamaican music they were all on the corner so it was hard to enjoy any of them because of their close proximity and extreme volume. 7th Avenue was closed for the parade so there was a traffic jam going up and down Lenox Ave which consisted of many sounds: brakes that needed to be changed, exhaust pipes dragging, people yelling outside of the windows, a variety of music from every car, and everybody's favorite: crying/screaming babies. In the babies defense the ice cream truck drove by and the song was playing (I even got excited- it's the kid in me) however, because of the traffic jam the car could not pull over- which elevated the babies vocal cords.

I decided to walk towards 7th Avenue to get a glimpse of the parade and in route I heard a police radio with the dispatcher stating, "What is the address?" I heard many excerpts of peoples’ conversation many were laughing or asking the person on the other end of the phone to speak up; I gathered that assumption from the constant "huh's" I heard. I saw many birds fly by and I thought I would be able to hear their wings flap but I did not. However, I did hear baby birds chirping. During my walk I only heard four different languages- Spanish, French, Arabic, and some mixture of English and the Jamaican language. I heard the wind constantly because it was very windy. Other sounds I heard: keys moving, glasses touching at a restaurant, the chain on a bike, feet stomping, pom pom shaking, whistles blowing, and the hooves of horses. Amongst all the other sounds were the constant "aye yo miss" from guys. The cutest attempt for my attention I received today were from three boys ranging from 7-11; they stopped right in front of me and sang the chorus from Chris Browns song "YO". That was the perfect ending for my sound walk. :-)

Artist Statement: La Bella Confusione 5/26/11

As an artist I am discovering what drives me is love and happiness. Whether it is my own joy or someone else. I have found my eyes gain pleasure in other peoples happy experiences. I attain joy in learning, and my art of still photography will allow me to teach. In taking this media class I have become more aware of my ability to see, think, and live in portraits or pictures; subtle descriptions paint a masterpiece in my mind. My art will allow me to live these mental pictures that make up my thoughts. I find that pictures describe my emotion to the most accurate assessment. I feel many emotions at one time. However, I always pride myself on seeing the bright side, being positive, and sending like energy to others and throughout my life.

I want my art of combining pictures into a whole (editing films and photography) to describe a feeling, idea, thought, or experience that makes one joyous. I intend for people to be able to grasp the feeling instantly and be able to immediate feel the emotion; by just seeing it and understanding, relating, feeling and experiencing it the positive way I intend. I want my future work to clarify La Bella Confusione that is my mind. I want love, harmony, happiness and peace. I still believe the children are the future. However, in learning media I’ve found that it is best to find my path before I can guide others. I also believe that the best way to reach the children is by understanding what lay before them; which I am in the prime position to grasp as an ‘adult’ as well as relate to the children in a manner they can fully comprehend. I intend to further my work in compiling needed information to live life to the fullest and expressing them through my art.

LAB CLASS THOUGHTS

I enjoyed the lab class very much! It allowed me to experience software programs that I wouldn't normally have access to explore. Cassie was very helpful and patient in dealing with first-time users. The Media class should have lab as the main course and lecture as a supplement. I learned more hands-on in lab then in listening to the professor read off a powerpoint in lecture. Overall the experience was enjoyable.

THANK YOU CASSIE!!!!

Facebook Dreaming By Ameena & Hearan

Facebook Dreaming from Queen Mena on Vimeo.

Museum of the Moving Image

I participated in the voice over as well as the flipbook presentation. I was very intrigued by the way voiceover or ADR (Automatic Dialogue Replacement) works. My group reenacted Babe… my line was “ she called us all the same.” I wanted to use my own phrase but it was still fascinating hearing my voice while watching Babes mouth move. It was quite an experience hearing myself for the first time publicly. I did not know how difficult it is to convey emotion to a moment that one is not physically experiencing. I commend voiceover actors and actresses for their ability to manipulate sounds. 

The video below is an illusion exhibit. It shows how strobe light can be used to see a "moving image."

Another exhibit I found intriguing is the sound effects presentation. This was by far the coolest exhibit beside the video posted above. I had no idea that sound effects were over exaggerated. For water rushing and slapping against a boat side they combined the sound of a lion roaring and actual waves with the actors panting. Foley(s/p?) was used in some of the Titanic sound effects. They used an elephant wailing to represent the sound of the steam pipe screeching to its terrifying fall unto the people below. They even used the sound of a rifle shooting to give the impression of the suspension cables snapping. By using the sound of an elephant wailing it gives the emotion of despair and heartache, which fit perfectly to the editor who was trying to convey the same feeling when the steam pipes fell. However, as a viewer you are unaware that you are hearing an elephant wailing you perceive the sound to be that of a pipe breaking, or suspension cable snapping. This tactic adds to the viewers involvement emotionally into the movie. Which results in the viewers and filmmakers happiness.

Stamp Art Assignment

"Love Always Shines Everytime: Remember to Smile"

PHOTOSHOP EXERCISE

My First Photoshop Experience....Squash Person...lol

A day at Hunter: The Invisible Student

Her journey begins.

Even though they are together she feels out of place.

Her day seems never-ending.

As she goes unnoticed in a crowded  aisle.

She decides to sit alone.

ARTIST STATEMENT 2/14/11

I am passionate about the children and our future! The need to want to give an outlet to our inner view of true life's meaning and purpose is my motivation. The material the media exposes to such young minds frustrates me. I want to inspire the youth to be more then what society shows them that they can be. I intend to assist children and the youth to utilize and become more in tuned with their creative side. My motivations lie in the potential of a child and the expansion of our mind. My studies in cultural anthropology opened my eyes to wanting to help our outlook on life. I believe in a loving harmonious planet.

I first became intrigued in media through music. I later found amusement in editing, documentary filmmaking, and photography, which I intend to use as my medium. I enjoy traveling the world and gathering knowledge that contribute to the quest of my specific niche.  My constant admiration to media making is in the skills and techniques of storytelling. I want to make art that makes people smile, laugh, think, appreciate, act effectively, and give motivation to achieve. I intend to be extremely influential in the lives of the children, who are our future. I see myself helping the world- positively!