Saturday, October 27, 2007

Tin Man

looks like its going to be one sweet miniseries. Its a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz.

But what really caught my eye was this flash presentation thing they made.

http://www.scifi.com/tinman/oz/

Have a look see.

Monday, October 22, 2007

CNY only 1 day holiday

http://www.mmu.edu.my/Academic_Calendar.htm

4 Feb - 10 Feb Week 2 7 Feb - Chinese New Year


sad....next year CNY i cannot go back celebrate....

1 day holiday only...

y dint they put the holiday at cny...

sorry to my family at Sabah, i cant go back celebrate CNY!!!
is not tat i dont wan go back is just i CANT!!
T.T

*plan yr holiday b4 there is no more air ticket*

Sunday, October 21, 2007

kinde MUST C MOVIE Lust, Caution


Lust, Caution


http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/lustcaution/trailer/

The new film from Ang Lee, the Academy Award-winning director of “Brokeback Mountain” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” A startling erotic espionage thriller about the fate of an ordinary woman’s heart, it is based on the short story by revered Chinese author Eileen Chang, and stars Asian cinema icon Tony Leung opposite screen newcomer Tang Wei. Shanghai, 1942. The World War II Japanese occupation of this Chinese city continues in force. Mrs. Mak, a woman of sophistication and means, walks into a café, places a call, and then sits and waits. She remembers...how her story began several years earlier, in 1938 China. She is not in fact Mrs. Mak, but shy Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei). With WWII underway, Wong has been left behind by her father, who has escaped to England. As a freshman at university, she meets fellow student Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom) Kuang has started a drama society to shore up patriotism. As the theater troupe’s new leading lady, Wong realizes that she has found her calling, able to move and inspire audiences - and Kuang. He convenes a core group of students to carry out a radical and ambitious plan to assassinate a top Japanese collaborator, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung). Each student has a part to play; Wong will be Mrs. Mak, who will gain Yee’s trust by befriending his wife (Joan Chen) and then draw the man into an affair. Wong transforms herself utterly inside and out, and the scenario proceeds as scripted - until an unexpectedly fatal twist spurs her to flee. Shanghai, 1941. With no end in sight for the occupation, Wong - having emigrated from Hong Kong - goes through the motions of her existence. Much to her surprise, Kuang re-enters her life. Now part of the organized resistance, he enlists her to again become Mrs. Mak in a revival of the plot to kill Yee, who as head of the collaborationist secret service has become even more a key part of the puppet government. As Wong reprises her earlier role, and is drawn ever closer to her dangerous prey, she finds her very identity being pushed to the limit...

Trailer (1:46)
Drama
Rating: NC-17
In Theatres: September 28th, 2007

Ang Lee (dir.)
Tony Leung
Tang Wei
Joan Chen
Wang Leehom



*i just copy paste only*

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Tips on writing

Hi and good morning. I like saying good morning cause I haven’t heard it in many years and I haven’t had a good one in a long time but I thought today I might. I just thought I share with you guys some of the stuff I know. Now an echo of Mr. Woo is going “take your hippy ideas to someone who cares boy. Try passing the subject then give tips” well Mr. Woo wouldn’t say that but you know… imagination. I hope it can become useful to you.

Well let me start by saying before you write prepare your mind that’s really important nobody can come from the toilet and let out all the stuff he or she thought of in there (I could say dreams but toilet is where I get my inspiration) so pick one thing and start writing.

Another useful tip is something a lot of writers do before writing which is “freefall”(such a cool name ha “writers making everything sound cool pffff”). Freefall is when you sit behind your keyboard or hold your pen with a paper ready and 3, 2, 1, write EVERY LITTLE THING THAT YOU THOUGHT OF IN THE TOILET or if you have got no ideas and you want to get your brain going write EVERY LITTLE THING THAT COMES TO YOUR BRAIN and remembering not to stop . Why? Because one you’ve thought of a fantastic thing it could change the world and you want to record all that but they are all over the place, they are images, they are sound, they are events, they are a whole bunch of crap which if you concentrate on one the other will be forgotten or changed. It’s like a big high way of thought you can’t catch one and tell the others to stop they are always moving. So don’t try to make a story right then and there just write down all the stuff. I know you will read them and they are going to make no sense to anyone but you. Remember use easy English or whatever your easier with. Another case If you have no ideas flowing in you do a freefall for like 10-20 min. one, it will clear your mind of anything like “ oo my girlfriend is bla or ooo I have to meet this guy for whatever what do I wear” you know all that stuff that comes in when your brain is in idle mode. and 2 creates an empty brain to put ideas and mix and match them from what you just wrote.

Looking for creative ideas … wow im turning into a typical mmu lecturer…. Not boring I swear. I just have to say thins ideas are all creative the more thought you put in it, it becomes more creative. Where can you find them? Start from under your nose mmm, lips that could be a great story. The other day found a can left in the middle of an empty parking it could be a story about a sad can that that is used appreciated then left in a place where no one gives a damn about it until someday some poor guy picks it up and melts it to gain 5cents. Or this can could be a metaphor of some real person and the life he or she went through. So observe with full consciousness.

Layout. The way you layout your writing is up to you some people like to start their story (based on an outline or a structure or idea that they had come up with)from start to finish, day after day. Some people like to write a story then keep adding to it until they feel there is nothing more to add. And there may be more I don’t know. But one thing I like to do is I to an out line of my idea like , this happens then this happens then he sees her then he dies but that’s just what happened. So then if one day im in a lonely mood I write about the lonely times the hero has or had in happy days I write the happy days I write about the happy times and the rest in the right mood. And that is how the out line happens.

Foot note : I always record my cool dreams I don’t like sharing them but I have done it for many years. So don’t think I just read some book I’m really hype. Its some insignificant experience that was worth sharing and I hope you enjoyed. Ask me if you have any questions. Good stuff you guys I’m really enjoying reading your stuff.

Mr. Woo good one with the 50% failing bit. My heart stopped for a like a second there

Monday, October 15, 2007

Fooling Around with Art

hey guys,

Here are some site you can explore when you're bored during the holidays. I'm sure you're introduced to this site that can do this:






There are two more similar site you can play around and unleash your creativity to. the first one i would like to introduce to you is the Cola + Faithless site. http://www.faithless.coca-cola.com/html/start.html. A site that allows you to decorate your very own coke bottle! Here are some samples i did.
Randomly typing (read: slamming) of letters.



Made with 4 letters only... okay it's the letters f, u, c and k.

Next is the Rhythm of Lines by Audi http://www.rhythmoflines.co.uk/. Let your imagination run loose as you paint in this 3D space.


I honestly have no idea what i'm doing... =P

Hope you enjoy those sites. Have fun!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Blog Filling

Hi all. I'm here to fill the empty blog. Lets talk aboouuuttttt.... my trip home! :D
With MULTIMEDIA!

Ok ok here goes. So one of the first things that happened was that my beautiful handgun keychain got confiscated.


Gone. The abang guard first asked me to remove it. So I did. Then I took it out and gave it to him. Then I stood there for a moment thinking 'I'll never see it again.'

Then I said

'Bang, keychain tadi tu boleh ambik gambar skejap? Kenangan.'

Then he kindly gave back, said,

'Soria. Benda menyerupai senjata tak boleh bawak.'

So I snapped a shot. Said Thank You.



Then emoly waited for flight.

Soon it was time to board. A sticky Terengganu fellow sits next to me.


Heres a view from the window.

Then food came.



Then I eat.



Now I know why I dont get invited to dinners.



Done.

When I ate, I saw a kid across the aisle who had a beautiful model airplane. Its in MAS colors and it looks very high in quality. I called an air stewardess and asked her

'I'd like to ask how I can get one of those planes?'

'Its for children only.'

'Oh.'

I wish I said 'What if I'm a child at heart?'



Anyway after arriving Miri, I was looking for stuff to eat in the fridge.

Found this.

Probably one of the bitterest chocolates I've tasted.
Thats all for now.

BAI

Saturday, October 13, 2007

A Note From Mr. Woo


Hello FA people. This is my first posting on a blog, ever. As promised I will post some interesting news and happenings around town, provide advice, plus whatever i feel like writing. if you have something you are interested in me writing about, tell me. Doesn't have to be film related. Also, I will occasionally be asking for *assistance* on some cool projects and the like.

Most importantly, now that i will no longer be your lecturer, I can finally be myself and chill.

As i saw the pictures that Val posted (very nice, thank you, i would like them sent to me, & thank you Wee for the monkey picture, v. nice), I am reminded of the time when i was a student myself, some... many years ago.

My thoughts are: It is a good time to be a student. you are young, inquisitive, have no big responsibilities, no huge issues like job, family, security, etc... here is a time you will meet your first loves, deal with heartbreak and other issues that will shatter or elevate you and for some of you, embark on some crazy adventure. sometimes i wish i could be like that... again. haha...

To be truthful, i loved being a student. that's one of the reasons why i teach. It keeps you young. plus i think most of you guys are cool. not all. but most. you guys seem to be enjoying yourself, and are close to each other, which is good. now is not the time to be a lone ranger if you know what i mean.

Anyway happy holidays to you guys. I have no idea what else to write. but hey, since i am on a roll let me tell you about yesterday.

Last night, i got drunk because my friend wanted to see Resident Evil 3. i knew the movie would suck so we had a few drinks. this is at the Curve. then i realised that i could watch the BOURNE ULTIMATUM instead. so we did. it was an awesome movie. all handheld camera. crazy action, and heart poundingly suspenseful from start to finish. Even though we did not get to see Milla Jovovich kick ass, i had no regrets.

I still might see Resident Evil 3, though. Milla is an unstoppable temptation.

This summer, I saw transformers, simpsons, ratta whatever, die hard 4, knocked up, and a couple more movies. Bourne is the best of the lot. in terms of summer hollywood movies.

BTW I am still marking your papers and must say that in the screenwriting subject, more than 50% of you failed.

That's not true. I'm kidding.

Ok, that's it for now.

I love blondes!

Blondes are super hot.
They look hotter when they are the subject for an art piece



that is made of chewed bubble gums like this





Hope that can somehow inspire you people that disgusting stuff can be cool sometimes :D
If wanna see more of these, check out GumBlondes





Happy holiday people!!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

The Adventures Of Ben and the Egg Yolk

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
What is it?!

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Ooooh. It's an egg yolk.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
In a sink.



My yolk is burst a bits.

Looking For An Actress

Fellows, we are preparing to shoot a movie and we are looking for a Malay girl, 19 to 23 with a innocent face. If you know of somebody interested in acting let her know my email address. It would be a great help. my email address is khatami_a_r@yahoo.com

thanks

Animations worth noting


Dealing with Death


Team Fortress 2 Meet the Demoman

If thats ok with you....




Shayne Ward If Thats Ok With You Lyrics

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Hoot. Holidays in full swing

I show my evil face here once more. <3

Anyways, Val asked me to put up a suggestion of mine so you lot can listen, and it sounds something like this;

Second sems are usually less hectic than the first and third. :)

So maybe, y'know one of these days in this sem (early on hopefully), we could allllll get together to rally as one and create out own animation team which splits from our course. And here I mean everyone interested, even if your art is a little below the notch, cause animation's more than just art;

Writers, Storyboard artists, Background artists, sound mixers, animators, Post production specialists, anyone and eveyone with skill in any section can lend a hand. ;)

More manpower equates more hands to go around the jobs. Come up with something uniquely our own, and imagine how that'll look on resumes, and it'll put the spotlight on us FCMers for once as well. I've seen quite a number of independent teams before this, but mostly small and for selected members, aye. Perhaps we, as this particular batch can work on something all of us can be proud of.

Neways, that's just my rambling. Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic, but maybe we can make something work out. Comments and brainstorming appreciated of course.

And yeah. Something slightly risque from my Tablet to you boys and girls. =D


Hah. Jgn sampai batal puasa hang; Tinggal dua hari je ek? XDXD
Enjoy the Holidays, you mad, mad lot! And Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir Batin as well! ^_^

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Woo No More

Hurray lads and lasses!!! No more exams and assignments!!!
Let's relax your bodies now and take a look at our King of Bananas!

MMF2043, 8th of October, Monday morning, FOE Building.
Everyone was excited to see Rong holding a bunch of yellow bananas.
But then seriously it feels freaky to hide the bananas from Mr. Woo!


We signed and laughed before entering the exam room.



For some reasons our friend Alireza looked quite serious.



After awhile, the exam's over.
Mr. Woo looked kinda
sad when we're leaving the room.



As for surprise, we shyly handed those cute looking bananas to him.



I'm glad Shin's dream to become a Princess has finally come true.
(You really should click on the photo to see how happy she was)




For a moment we saw Khai behaved even happier than Mr. Woo.



Later on, our photographer caught Mr. Woo in the act.
(Carlyn, Shin and Rong were the lucky victim 1+ 2+ 3)




As you can see, our friends Ee Yan and Shiew Woei
(victim 4 + 5) have made his day too.




Sorry if these look horny but everyone was quite innocent at first.
Starring Wee (victim 6), Kit (victim 7) and also Gatay (victim 8).



Nah, I'm not horny either. Truly!



After a touching photo session, Mr. Woo looked rather cheerful.



Now, we must really pray that those lovely bananas would help.




Here's a card done by Wee: Mescot of Mr. Woo!



So now, you're not gonna see him anymore in campus.
No more Brokeback Mountain, story treatments or script writing.
I think we're lucky to be his last batch of Screenwritting students.
So let's just wish him all the best for his future undertakings aite!! =)

This Is Interesting



something interesting to c...

ALL 'BOUT BEING YOUNG *Important Notice*

After all the crazy assignments rushing period I believe each of us definitely looked older than we supposed be.

Ever miss the high school days when we look all young and bubbly?

The innocence...

The crazy spirit...

The childishness...

The uniforms...


What about set a night for us to be young and crazy again??

How to be young and crazy you ask???

Well, we cant think any other than

PARTY OF COURSE!!!

And to make us look even more youthful...

"LET'S BE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGAIN!"

- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CHEAP PROPOSAL OF FCM YEAR END HIGH SCHOOL PARTY PLAN

WHEN?
Somewhere around December (Can celebrate Christmas at the same time!)

WHERE?
Some spacious space with dance floor and a stage for band performance

ATTIRE?
Any school uniform as long as you look like a high school student

we're announcing this early so that you people can get your uniforms ready within this 2 freaking months.

so no excuse like cant get the attire eh! >: D



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Let's make that night a young night for everyone!!
Oh and we would like to know everyone's budget first before proceeding.
So yes! Who's with us?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Monday, October 8, 2007

Pool Party

Exams are over, let's have a party. I think with 15 rm everyone, we can arrange it. C block swimming pool! what about tomorrow? let Val know if you like to join. ;)

Exams = PWNED!!

Do I hear screaming all the way from my dark, dank little lair back in Ampang? XDXD Here's to you lot for coming through this sem, and here's for you getting past this sem's FINAL TRESHOLD! *chuckles* (Sorry. Still on screenwriting high) *HIC*


So lets pull out the turntables and 80s Disco Hits, cause we're kickin' it back for three weeks (or so). Hold the booze though; Stoned is not the best state to be in during holidays, but that's just me. Anyone got plans worth mentioning? ;)


Speaking of which, how did you fine, fine lot find Screenwriting? I say Best. Test Paper. Period. *Laughs* No other time in your life may you quote Optimus Prime, Gandalf and Morpheus in a paper and expect to get marks for it. Think I cracked some carpals writing, aye. (To sir; Pleasedontkillme if you find a paper with an obscene amount of Cybertronian mythos thrown in for good measure. There's more to it than meets the eye? ^_^;;
*Slaps self violently and repeatedly*)
Those scratching heads over the question about dark mentors, I know there aren't too many of em, but yeah; Would include Senator Palpatine from the Star Wars prequels, and Ras Al-Ghul or Ducard from Batman Begins. Just a simple FYI. Heheheh.....
I doff my hat off to you, Ming Jin; F***king Awesome Job. Srsly. It didn't even feel like studying, not so much as reviewing characters and stories and how they coincide. Here's to never writing Cliche' plots and One-dimensional characters. EVER. We'll miss you, good man, and no, that is not sarcasm dripping in my voice. I mean it. =3 Keep kicking ass, Sir.


(PS; Go easy on the Bananas. Stuff gets your belly in a Riverdance if you take too much. <3 )

And how of MPD, people? Adverse to the above, it kicked ass of the bad sort. Mine. *Sheepish grin* But Hell, that's over with, and we've got three weeks or so to lay back and not think about it. Then after that, welllll..........*Twiddles thumbs innocently*


Anyways, Boys and Girls....HAPPY HOLIDAYS. Spend em' well, since we'll need to rechage our sanity levels for next sem!

Oh yeah....
Updates?

Finally finished it! =D Thanks to Mama and my maid for advice on skin tones, and little sister on how dark scene should be. *chuckles* So there's my first night scene. Hope y'all digs.

BALIK KAMPUNG. OOOooOooOOooOOoO BALIK KAMPUNG. OOoOOoOooOo......

MPD 101


DVD authoring
DVD. Original name=digital video disc
Later name=digital versatile disc

Why use dvd
Bigger, faster than cds, can hold cinema like video, still photos, computer data
Replaced techlogies such as
Laserdisc , Videotape ,Video game cartridges ,Audio CD ,CD-ROM

DVD Features:
4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, 8 tracks of digital audio, 32 subtitle/karaoke tracks, seamless branching, 9 camera angles, simple interactive features, Multilingual identifying text, Instant rewind and fast forward, Instant search, Durable, resistant to magnetic fealds and heat, compact size

DVD World wide standard
MPEG
NTSC :Canada, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan, United States …
PAL: most of Europe, most of Africa, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, North Korea …

DVD PICTURE resolution (I don’t think you need to memories but just know)
MPEG-2, 525/60 (NTSC): 720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240
MPEG-2, 625/50 (PAL): 720x576, 704x576, 352x576, 352x288
MPEG-1, 525/60 (NTSC): 352x240
MPEG-1, 625/50 (PAL): 352x288

Aspect ratio
Full frame 4:3
Auto letterbox 16:9 to 4:3
Auto pan and scan 16:9 to 4:3
Wide screen 16:9 to 4:3
Dvd works onPc, mac ,dvd recorder




Editing to Picture
Editing : rearranging, shortening or deleteing
Linear editing: imagine how cutting bits of film and taping it together is like that’s linear( tape)
Non linear editing: taking footage of your hard drive (file, cd, dvd)
Audio envelobpe = changes in loudness over time with 4 stages
1 attack. Be big clank!!!! (the noise made by hitting a big bell)
2 decay when the clanck noise quites down
3.sustain when the clank keeps going for some time in the same volume
4. release when the sound goes down to nothing
Just remember ADSR

Non linear editing
Wave form = sound file
Amplitude over time = the dynamic waveform display
Selected region of wave form= defined region
Scrubbing = moving the slider back and forth
Cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, type over = just like they resemble them selves
Marker = is like a book mark in book but for audio so you can jump to a certain spot
Soft passage = low volume wave form
Loud passage= loud wave form
Transient= the highest points of wave form

Editing tips
Cut sound at silent points, just before attack or after zero crossing (zero sound(silent))
No effect during recording, keep it dry tracks (easier to edit)

Transitions
Segue or cut = simply stop sound and image and go to another sound and image
Cross-fade= fade out to another scene or audio
Fade out fade in= fade out to nothing and then fade in to the scene or audio
Editing sound= multidimensional (layers of different sound (voice, effects and all that
Editing picture= one dimension because cut from one scene to another (which is bullshit the reason we are all here is to add effects and more layers of imaging to a video and they say its one dimension my ass)

Things to consider editing speech
Sound go with words
Cutting similar and dissimilar sounds together
Creating emphasis
Room tone (ambience noise)
Fixing problematic tracks with correct action (what the hell if you can fix it there is no right or wrong)
Synchronizing dialogue to picture

Editing sound effects
Same as speech difference is more creating than fixing
Match sound to perspective meaning if its from right then the sound should come from right if far away should sound like from far away
Cut close to attack
Keep natural decay
Don’t layer sfx over dialogue if off screen
Sink the soud precise to the exact frame and test to see where it would be best

Cutting music
Cutting to resolution
Keep tempo
“Repetitibe measures Matching key chords matching style and texture” basicly keep the rhythm intact
Cut to picture don’t mismatch because sometimes audio leads the video and the other way round so keep them going together
And take breaks (hahahahaha so funny… stupid remark)



Malaysian Broadcast System

Objectives
To evaluate tv programs technically
To report technical problems to the vendor for immediate action

Tape specification
Must be betacam digital formatlarge tape not small dv tape
One program one tape
Specific recording for BETACAM = refrence of audio and video signal playback
Color bar 100% luminance 75% chrominance
audio tone 1khz, tone -12DB continuous
video level 1vp-p

Laders for BETACAM recording
00:00:00:00-00:01:30:00 --color bar and tone
00:01:30:00-00:01:35:00 –black no audio
00:01:35:00-00:01:45:00 –slate
00:01:45:00-00:01:50:00 –black no audio
00:01:50:00-00:02:00:00 –ccount down
00:02:00:00 –program start
End
5 second trail

Rejected if
No color bar
No audio tone
No timecode starts
No slate
If Peak level is 100%
If Black level over 2.5%
If it has Chrome leve
If the foucs is soft
If frame jitters
If video is streaking
If its overexposed
If the quality is bad if aspect ratio is not 4:3
Audio 1 channel only may be only chanel 2 is working or maybe only channel 1 is working
Audio Channel cancellation
Distorted audio
Unbalance audio channels

Quality control
1st assessment no problem – report approved
Problem – report goes to film vendor for further action
2nd assessment comparison with first
no problem – report approved
Problem – report goes to film vendor for further action
3rd assessment no opinion- need approval from film vendor to be assessment
no problem – report approved
Problem – report goes to film vendor for further action



Work flow

Activity of video post production
Post-production= all production after recording ends
Including
edit decision list (logging)
editing the picture
editing the soundtrack (synchronization, dubbing dialogue/narration/voice-over)
writing/selecting/editing music
adding visual effects
adding sound effects (Foley, sound design)
adding titles & graphics
mastering (print-to-tape)/exporting

The Flow
view and label
tapes ---> digitizing--->sound design (done In studio)---> editing picture and sound--->add special effects, titles and graphics
and
view log and footage week1--->rough cut week2--->test screening and getting feedback week--->revision week 4--->final cut week5 ---> master to tape and duplicate if needed week6

Editing Process (most important step)
organize your clips : “1 digitizing 2 video log (labeled video)makes life easier.log sheet: must have Date,Speed (SP/LP), Camera, Title of tape, Description of shot/scene (with notes(affects editing decision), time-code (in/out point) Timecode – hour: minute: second: frame, do same for all media like music and sound assemble (like puzzle (sound + video) are put together to create meaning (story)---> composition= making decisions on final cut
linear editing: lay down shot one after another in linear fashion using video switcher still used in live shows
assemble: assembling video and sound from one tape to another while playing e.g. like recording channel changes on tv
insert: when the video and sound are put on the separately from different sources to video tape for example. With keeping previous recordings intact
setup: footage --->controller( video switcher, video mixer)---> tape recorder
video mixer= machine that uses library of footage to edit video in linear fashion
non linear editing system NLE= modern editing method use for post production
data is digitized and stored on HDD



Editing Dialogue
learn the language of film = combination of image and sound with system and syntax eg starting on master shot and matching similar angles

understand story teller= knowing the story and answering who what why when where and how (components of a story) eg close up shows the character “who”
“story= a way of packing info so it’s easy to understand”

find theme= what is the story about? Camera angle lighting (mise-en-scene) If editor doesn’t know the theme he can’t make it work

pursuing invisible art=having cuts that are invisible by cutting in action and such things

editing the basic dialogue sequence= know your footage, arrange and label, begin with master shot and watch the actors performance

new shot = new info so tell it with the write shot eg. new character use medium close up so you can answer who and where and cut with matching angles



Movie Trailer

the success of movie = posters and trailers
trailer=1-3 minutes, shown mostly before other movies in cinema
function= to attract but not to spoil the movie for people
some trailer use special shoots for trailer such as psycho, terminator 2

Trailers have
1green band= the green screen before the trailer showing the target audience
2logos= companies logos
3voice over= narration “one man ….. with one desire….. one destiny” you get the picture
4music= popular music or from other movies to give mood and familiarity cause no music has been made for the movie yet (load of crap)
5cast run= a voice over or text or just images that is shown to show the stars even producer if well known
6billing block = the cast and crew printed at the end
6main title= the main title “ transformers……. Coming soon”

Trailer houses= companies that make trailers. Market research is conducted the footage is given to trailer house from the studio to make the trailer

Trailers are
Made before the highly anticipated movie to attach viewer
For games too
Cliché because it is efficient and effective
May be rearranged to mislead and maximize the effect
Always aware of how much they give away
That breaks these forms like x-men trailer which is a realistic talk by senator against the mutants

Teaser is
Mini version of trailer 30sec



Editing Aesthetics

On screen reality= spatial and temporal relationships

Maintaining spatial and temporal=continuity

Film space = spatial relationship between the actors, Eye-line match; shot/reverse-shot, composition, camera movements eg CU of legs falling into water cut to LS of ocean

Time= order of cuts, compression (changing mise-en-scne to show years have passed), expansion (longer on screen than in reality eg the punch in matrix 3

Continuity= comparison of shots eg ECU to MCU then to LS not from ECU to LS, screen direction if the character is moves to the his right the camera moves to screen right. 180 degree rule by keeping camera movement with in 180 degrees of the focal point. Use cut away with a neutral angle if you want to break the 180 degree rule eg show another part of the scene between changing the shot to the other over shoulder shot

Jump cut= when character is walking screen right and reaches the right of screen and the next cut he is in the left of the screen moving still to right.

Cut on action= cutting right before an action like drinking or taking a puff of cigarette
Parallel cutting or crosscutting= cutting between two or more shots

Flash back/ forward= a break in the continuous flow of time and space of the narrative

Montage= the juxtaposition of brief shots to create an idea, an emotion or a situation, or shows the passage of time. Eg. hulk showing some flower at some point to bring peace and tranquility to the scene
Graphic possibilities= what the picture looks like
Rhythmic possibilities= based on rhythm and tempo



Type In Motion

Type in motion=type moving through space and time. In order to convey a message beyond the meaning of the work the type represents.
Legibility- the message conveyed through movement of the type
Medium= in what will the medium be seen
Context=where will it be seen

Meaning
Denotative- specific meaning (straight forward meaning)
Connotative- implied meaning (meaning behind it)
Intonation= animated according to its words or the way the actor says it
Characteristic= case, face, posture, width, weight, scale eg. when type is in upper- case it is shouting to you
Distortion=transforms words into symbols and images. blur, crop, fracture, blur and fracture, Specialty
Elaboration= creates emphasis color, negation, subtraction, repetition
Support= what help support the meaning that is intended to be given line symbol shape image audio

Time frame
Linear=like a type in a movie with beginning middle and end
Non linear= internet button
Components= layered, sequential. Simultaneous. Dynamic juxtaposition
Hierarchy of sequential structure= type dominant, image dominant, audio dominant or a mix
Transition=cut, fades, dissolves, wipe
Rhythm and pace= rhythm is an action that recurs regularly and pace is the rate of the rhythm
Film tv title sequence= usually at the start of the movie when the director and the cast and crew are named with types with the title



The Language of Editing


Editing = coordination of one shot with the next, the process of putting different shots to create an easily understandable story. The art of juxtaposition of shot to create meaning and impact
Juxtaposition= to put different shots together, especially in order to show a contrast or a new relationship between them.

Choose and select-->decision making-->composition-->final product

Raw footage= material on tape and file which the editor needs to work on

SMPTE time-code=the society of motion picture and television engineer = 00:00:00:00 hour:min:sec:frame

Frame= a frame is one of many images of a film

Shot= single uninterrupted roll of film with beginning middle and end

Take= a shot may have many takes for editing purposes from different angles or with different emotions

Cut away= a shot taped for transitional use eg showing the street outside the coffee shop in friends

Master scene= or master shot is the shot with all the scene in view

Cut= between two shots or when one shot ends and another begins

Trimming= the process of fine-tuning the transitions in terms of timing

Fade = fading of a shot to another

Wipe = a cut that seems to wipe the last shot away to the new shot

Dissolve = a cut that the previous shot dissolves to another where at one moment it seems two
shots are mixed together

Key= A key is the replacing of part of an existing picture with a portion of a different video.

Chroma key= the keyhole is made up of every part of the image that is a certain color. Concept of the blue/green screen. Like flash backs

Luminance key (Luma key)=It carves the keyhole based on brightness level. Like over exposes the scene to cut to the next or vise versa
Element of editing

Motivation= the reason to make the edit

Composition= camera angels position of camera and the mise-en-scene. Principle of cutting, timing (when to cut) and pacing (how long or shot a shot must be). Space(showing area where?) and compression (make it less boring by compressing time)

Sound=impact of editing sound to accompany the images. Sound can prepare the audience for a change of scene, location, situation, emotion, and time period. Rhythm of the sound/music VS rhythm of the shots/images.

Continuity= story telling with image and sound without distraction by maintaining spatial
continuity (180degree rule, eye line match, screen direction, match on action). Temporal continuity with controlling frequency and duration

Alternatives to continuity= graphic and rhythmic possibilities which relays on visual elements like shooting only round objects. Montage using metaphor juxtaposition of shots to create mood




[NOTE:]
Hope its useful for you guys just one thing: if you ever see "
à ", it's actually an arrow " --> " ... for some reason it doesn't wanna change to normal.

Good luck for the exams.

A touching video

This is what we would do after tomorows exam.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

MPD example paper~~ :D

Hey peeps!
I've just got an example exam paper for MPD from Irwan Heee~~

here is the link to download the pdf file >>> http://www.sendspace.com/file/3xbl6x

some retarded pages are upside down I wonder y =/

Bloody MPD

How come no one's talking about MDP MPD eh?
Is it because it's bloody boring, dull, make no sense and uhhhgreeee???



anyway just a cute clip wanted to share with you peeps





aint he lovely <3

How I memorise screenwriting attributes

Why, by associating Metal Gear Solid 3 with them of course! It's sad to see such great epic stories in games have to be omitted from film studies just because ITS A GAME.

HERO
KAKOI!~

Naked Snake, *is gay for him* @__@

He has a lot of mentors which help him in his mission and encounters many tests, allies, and enemies during his operation. His other mentors are other members of his military unit, FOXHOUND.

The innermost cave is a giant fortress called Groznyj Grad and he encounters the Shadow, Colonel Volgin in there.

After Granins defeat, Snake discovers that he was merely a tool in the government. He is forced to kill his Mentor just because someone else made a mistake.

His elixir is this dark experience and he later quits FOXHOUND.


So the point of this post is to stress how awesomely badass Naked Snake is, bye.

Examples Screenwriting

This will be good... if we use the same examples for SW tomorrow... e.g.


For Heroes...
  • John McClane (Bruce Willis in Die Hard(s)) - Catalyst Hero, Unwilling at first, but quickly changes that, deals a LOT with death, plenty of sacrifice and action but no growth in terms of personality, which is why we love him. Can also be categorized as an Anti-Hero, but for that I'd recommend
  • The Man with No Name (Clint Eastwood in Good, Bad, Ugly etc.) The best Anti-Hero, also classified as Loner Hero who prefers not to re-join the society, again LOTS of action, death dealing, a bit of sacrifice and practically no growth
  • Frodo Baggins is a very Group Oriented Hero (or for that matter the Fellowship as a whole), very unwilling, lots of growth and sacrifice and equal sharing in action

For Mentors...
  • Gandalf (Grey or white, whichever u prefer) - god within, acts as Herald when he gives Frodo the damn ring, provides motivation, plants all kinds of information and is a Continuing Mentor as well as Shaman
  • Q from James Bond(s) - Inventor Mentor, small role but also a huge Gift Giver (DB9)
  • Doc (Back to the Future) - same as Q, also Comic Mentor, Continuing Mentor, Fallen Mentor, gift giver
  • Ra's al Ghul/Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson in Batman Begins) - Only Dark Mentor I can think of in popular movies, trains Batman then turns into the first shadow

For Shadows...
  • Sauron (LoTR) doesn't actually exist in physical form, but is the main Shadow
  • Saruman (LoTR) can be a Shadow or can be a Threshold Guardian who keeps messing around a lot, tests everybody a lot, helps Frodo and his pals recognize their strengths
  • #4 of Mentors
  • Lex Luthor from Superman/Smallville would be a Trickster Shadow (if there is any such thing)

For Threshold Guardians...
  • All the unknown side-kicks, bodyguards, who have protected the Shadows till now, prefer to get killed with a single chop and get out of the frame as dramatically as they can with arms flaying in the air
  • But seriously, Saruman is a Threshold Guardian

For Heralds...
  • Gandalf was a Herald at one point...
  • Can't think of any other clear-cut herald

For Shapeshifter...
  • Probably the best shape-shifter would be Kevin Spacey's Roger "Verbal" Kint in The Usual Suspects, but i guess most of you haven't seen that movie.
  • Gollum is a great shape-shifter both physically and psychologically

For Trickster...
  • All comic side-kicks... the book uses examples of some we haven't seen... in modern movies, they'd be like
  • Do not put one of the comic-duos from movies like Rush Hour, Dumb and Dumber... they're BOTH Trickster Heroes
  • Eddy Murphy is NOT a Trickster, he's a TRICKSTER HERO, same goes for Johnny Depp in Pirates
  • But Donkey from Shrek is a trickster


That's All Folks!!! Anything else, lemme know

Painful

Fellows, it's painful to read slides of video post production... full of mistakes and misunderstanding... childish explanation... and UGLY DESIGN! for god sake it's supposed to be faculty of creative multimedia!! it seems the hero has not learned from her journey...

I have the elixir of life...

I wanted to be selfish, but then I decided that sharing is caring =)

Below you will find the past year paper for Screenwriting. This is only the 2nd year this subject exists so yea there only is one paper so far...

http://h1.ripway.com/jasonaw/screenwriting_06.pdf
(right click and "save as")

It appears that only 2 things need to be covered, archetypes and the heroes journey?!?!?

Then what Ali Khatami has shared is everything there is to know then xD

Please let me know if you have trouble downloading so I can upload it elsewhere.... cheers.

Background

Was talking to Val the other day after Ali's complaint that he can't read the text properly, we thought of creatively solving this problem.

Depending on your screen resolutions, we might divide the screen estate minus the actual blog into areas that you can fill in with your own art.

Call it collaborative art or whatever, I thought it was an interesting idea... list your screen sizes so we might decide on the lowest common denominator and get on with this.

Any other suggestion might be entertained as well.

WTH






if anyone'd like to continue this, you can ask me for the .fla haha

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Attention Please~~

Hey~~u guys know that mr. ming jin is quitting MMU right? We here plan to have something creepy yet memorable stuff for him. We might getting him a super BIG and LAME teacher card or a poster of him (holding a banana XD, if u realized he likes banana). Does anyone have any idea? He will be at the exam hall for the screen writing paper and this is his last day in MMU....c'mon guys...do something to make him melt into a puddle :D




Okiedoke. Time to get ready for our last two paper...(falling asleep over the keyboard...)

TODAY

Today wake up very lately and lazy to read on any notes of moral notes anymore (even i didn't read much also)... then had my lunch and continue my dream.

2.30pm go to school lazy lazy like that, then look on the exam paper. @.@ Wow... What the dut dut dut dut...... (dut = words that's been censored). It is totally different from the tips ler... what the dut dut dut... T.T Finally I can cool down myself and answer those question can answer by common sense. XD

After exam, come back to my "house" (which is cyberia house), whole housemates are playing "Perfect World" (I'm playing also, but it crash with my system so keep erroring T.T).

Suddenly i miss those day without "PW"(Perfect World). We sang song, we Dota together, we CS shooting each others, we played Chinese chess, we Chor-Dai-D, we lepak, we crazy.....

Now all of this are disappeared. We do sing, but sing a bit then play back PW. We no need Dota again cause busy leveling in PW, We no need CS also because leveling also, No need say play chinese chess, even Chor-Dai-D also didn't play already, we lepak awhile outside keep mention wan to back home leveling, we are now only crazy on PW.

No life already. Haih~~ hope it will be better after holidays.

Moral?

Moral exams are just over. What can i say? i say the tips are so misleading that half of the predicted scope is not covered in the test. What a practical joke to pull off... geez

Here are some questions that i think is NOT even a moral-related question.


True Or False:
Males dominate the majority of the world's population.
(my answer: false)

Question: In terms of what? Numbers? Political Power? Strengh? or is it your own opinion?

According to the survey on infidelity rates, cohibiting couples experience almost twice the rate of infidelity of married couples.
(my answer: false)

Question: Okay... Why are we supposed to remember facts and statistics on a MORAL paper?

In controlling their population, China practices the policy of three children per couple established in 1979.
(my answer: false)

Question: This is so general knowledge... -.-

According to Kant, a maxim is a subjective rule that is used by an individual in making decisions.
(my answer: true)

Question: i think it is just an extract from our notes somewhere... but then again, this question will be asked if we take political science or philosophy or something.


Short Answers:
Define and give two main causes of sound pollution. (What?)

What is the difference between active and passive euthanasia?

List 4 symbols of the Sikh identity.


I know these are the things you can read out of our notes but tell me... is it a moral subject suppose to cover? or are they facts and knowledge we can read elsewhere?

Do & Donts

Dude... 2 things...
  1. Spell-check
  2. Organize

    and

  3. Don't bombard
Benny... make an animation for this one as well.... keep it funny

ARCHETYPES *Summarized*

Fellow classmates, here is the summary of Archetypes. Hope you find it useful but don't miss to read the book. It's really great and fun book! Our lecturers wasted the screen writing class...

- Ali -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HERO

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION
A Hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others
The Hero archetype represents the ego’s search for identity and wholeness

DRAMATIC FUNCTIONS: AUDIENCE IDENTIFICATION
The dramatic purpose of the Hero is inviting the audience, in the early stages of the story, to identify with the Hero, to merge with him and see the world of the story through his eyes.
Hero needs a unique combination of universal and original qualities, some of them conflicting.

GROWTH
Another story function of the Hero is learning or growth.

ACTION
Another heroic function is acting or doing.
The Hero should perform the decisive action of the story, the action that requires taking the most risk or responsibility.

SACRIFICE
Sacrifice is the Hero’s willingness to give up something of value, perhaps even her own life, on behalf of an ideal or a group.

DEALING WITH DEATH
At the heart of every story is a confrontation with death.

CHARACTER FLAWS
Interesting flaws humanize a character so we can recognize bits of ourselves in a Hero.
Flaws also are starting point of “character arc” in which a character develops from condition A to condition Z through a series of steps.
Like all the other archetypes, the Hero is a flexible concept that can express many kinds of energy.

WILLING AND UNWILLING HEROES
It seems Heroes are of two types: 1) willing, active, gung-ho, committed to the adventure, without doubts, always bravely going ahead, self-motivated, or 2) unwilling, full of doubts and hesitations, passive, needing to be motivated or pushed into the adventure by outside forces.

ANTI-HEROES
Simply stated, an Antihero is not the opposite of a Hero, but one who may be an outlaw or a villain from the point of view of society, but with whom the audience is basically in sympathy.

Two types:

1) characters who behave much like conventional Heroes, but are given a strong touch of cynicism or have a wounded quality

2) tragic Heroes, central figures of a story who may not be likable or admirable, whose actions we may even deplore

GROUP-ORIENTED HEROES
They are part of a society at the beginning of the story, and their journey takes them to an unknown land far
from home.
Their story is one of separation from that group (Act One); lone adventure in the wilderness away from the group (Act Two); and usually, eventual reintegration with the group (Act Three).

LONER HEROES
In contrast to the group-oriented Hero is the loner Western Hero
Their journey is one of re-entry into the group (Act One); adventure within the group, on the group’s normal turf (Act Two); and return to isolation in the wilderness (Act Three).

CATALYST HEROES
Central figures who may act heroically, but who do not change much themselves because their main function is to bring about transformation in others; useful in continuing stories such as episodic TV shows and sequels.


MENTOR: WISE OLD MANOR WOMAN
A positive figure who aids or trains the hero
All those characters who teach and protect heroes and give them gifts.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION
Mentors represent the Self, the god within us, the aspect of personality that is connected with all things
Stand for the hero’s highest aspirations
Often former heroes

DRAMATIC FUNCTIONS TEACHING
Teaching or training is a key function of the Mentor
Mentor
also learns from the hero.
GIFT-GIVING: Mentor
also temporarily aids the hero, usually by giving some gift
The gift or help of the donor should be earned, by learning, sacrifice, or commitment.

MENTOR AS INVENTOR
Sometimes the Mentor functions as a scientist or inventor, whose gifts are his devices, designs, or inventions.

THE HERO’S CONSCIENCE
Some Mentors perform a special function as a conscience for the hero.

MOTIVATION
Another important function of the Mentor archetype is to motivate the hero, and help her overcome fear.

PLANTING
A function of the Mentor archetype is often to plant information or a prop meant for the audience to note but forget about until the climactic moment

SEXUAL INITIATION
In the realm of love, the Mentor’s function may be to initiate us into the mysteries of love or sex.
TYPES OF MENTOR

DARK MENTORS
The power of the Mentor archetype can be used to mislead the audience.

FALLEN MENTORS
Mentors are still on a Heo’s Journey of their own, going through all the stages of a hero’s journey, on his own path to redemption.

CONTINUING MENTORS
Mentors are useful for giving assignments and setting stories in motion.

MULTIPLE MENTORS
A hero may be trained by a series of Mentors who teach specific skills.

COMIC MENTORS
A special type of Mentor occurs in romantic comedies. This person is often the friend or fellow office worker of the hero, and is usually of the same sex as the hero who gives the hero some advice about love.

MENTOR AS SHAMAN
Mentor
figures in stories are closely related to the idea of the shaman: the healer, the medicine man or woman, of tribal cultures. Just as Mentors guide the hero through the Special World, shamans guide their people through life.

FLEXIBILITY OF THE MENTOR ARCHETYPE
The Mentor or donor is not a rigid character type, but rather a function, a job which several different characters might perform in the course of a story.

INNER MENTORS
Internalized Mentor archetype that lives within the hero as an inner code of behavior
The energy of the Mentor archetype also may be invested in a prop such as a book or other artifact that guides the hero in the quest.

PLACEMENT OF MENTORS
Although the Hero’s Journey often finds the Mentor appearing in Act One, the placement of a Mentor in a story is a practical consideration.


THRESHOLD GUARDIAN
Powerful guardians at the threshold, placed to keep the unworthy from entering.
Usually not the main villains or antagonists
Hired to guard access to the chief’s headquarters
Also they might be neutral figures who are simply part of the landscape of the Special World
They may be secret helpers
Placed in the hero’s path to test her willingness and skill

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION: NEUROSES
They stand for our internal demons: the neuroses, emotional scars, vices, dependencies, and self-limitations that hold back our growth and progress.

DRAMATIC FUNCTION: TESTING
Testing the hero
One of the most effective ways of dealing with a Threshold Guardian is to “get into the skin” of the opponent.

SIGNALS OF NEW POWER
As useful Allies and early indicators that new power or success
As a source of strength
Ideally, Threshold Guardians are not to be defeated but incorporated (literally, taken into the body).
Heroes must learn to read the signals of their Threshold Guardians


HERALD
A new person, condition, or information that shifts the hero’s balance, issuing the challenges and announcing the coming of significant change (delivering the call to adventure)
It may come into play at almost any point in a story, but is most
Frequently employed in Act One

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION: CALL FOR CHANGE
Announcing the need for change

DRAMATIC FUNCTION: MOTIVATION
Heralds provide motivation, offer the hero a challenge, and get the story rolling

TYPES OF HERALD
Positive, Negative, or Neutral figure
A Mentor frequently acts as a Herald


SHAPESHIFTER
Its very nature is to be shifting and unstable. Its appearance and characteristics change as soon as you examine it closely

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION
To express the energy of the animus and anima, a complete set of both male and female qualities which are necessary for survival and internal balance

PROJECTION
These projections of our hidden opposite sides, images and ideas about sexuality and relationships, form the archetype of the Shapeshifter.

DRAMATIC FUNCTION
Bringing doubt and suspense into a story
A common type of Shapeshifter is called the femme fa tale, the woman as temptress or destroyer

MASK OF THE SHAPESHIFTER
Like other archetypes Shapeshifting is a function or a mask that may be worn by any character in a story


SHADOW
The energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of something
The Shadow can also shelter positive qualities that are in hiding
The negative face of the Shadow in stories is projected onto Villains, Antagonists, or Enemies

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION
Represent the power of repressed feelings
Stands for psychoses that not only hamper us but threaten to destroy us

DRAMATIC FUNCTION
To challenge the hero and give her a worthy opponent in the struggle

MASK OF THE SHADOW
Like other archetypes the Shadow is a function or mask which can be worn by any character. It can express positive as well as negative aspects


TRICKSTER
Represent the energies of mischief and desire for change
All the characters in stories who are primarily clowns or comical sidekicks

PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTION
Natural enemies of the status quo
They cut big egos down to size, and bring heroes and audiences down to earth.
By provoking healthy laughter they help us realize our common bonds, and they point out folly and hypocrisy.
They bring about healthy change and transformation, often by drawing attention to the imbalance or irrationality of a heavy psychological situation

DRAMATIC FUNCTION: COMIC RELIEF
The need for balance: Make ‘em cry a lot; let ‘em laugh a little.

TRICKSTER HEROES
A catalyst hero with all the expressions of a Trickster: Bugs Bunny
Tricksters are often catalyst characters