I'll post some of my thoughts on NM3208.
Positive:
This module has probably taught me to be independent. Very. I have to learn the softwares all on my own. I had the most hands-on experience just for this module.
Negative:
Although I learnt to be independent, more help would not hurt. I feel that more tutorials on the softwares should be given to those who are not familiar with them. We simply have too much things to do for this module from doing the assignments to learning the softwares completely on our own. Those who are unfamiliar with the softwares, like me are in such a disadvantage situation. Oh well, no use hankering on these issues. Life, itself is not fair. Those who are efficient in these softwares have an advantage over others.
Thank goodness the semester is coming to an end. And I don't have to worry about squeezing the hell out of my brain anymore.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Final group project: Music video production
For the final group project, we have to produce a music video based on the theme that we chose. I teamed up with Edmund, Jamie, Samuel and Weiwei for this project.
In our brainstorming phase, we came up with many themes, from peace to love. We decided on theme of slavery. It is about a student being a slave to his studies and exams. We hope to show to the audience that there is life more than studies and making them to reflect on the unfortunate around him. It is a direct comparison of the differences between a student and a homeless guy.
Our song, "Enslaved" is written and produced by Samuel.
The initial scenes are scenes of the student and a homeless person doing daily mundane things. At certain points, the video would show 2 frames simultaneously depicting the story of the student and the old man. This is for the first half of the video where the general tone of the MTV is slow, dark and sad.
In the prelude before the second, the 2 would meet and chat. This is where the student realises his difficulties are minute as compared to the homeless man. From a slow piece of music, the rhythm and tempo picks up to a livelier jive. This signals a change in the attitude of the student, where he realises that his stress is nothing as compared to the old man’s stress of finding a home. That is when the student realises that he can choose to be free. He can choose to be away from all the books that used to tie him down.
The majority of the shooting was done at Samuel's place. We also went to Northpoint, Yishun Central and East Coast Park to shoot the other scenes. The beginning of the filming was hectic as we took quite some time to set up everything. However, as we get the hang of it, the rest of the filming was a breeze.
As the shooting progressed, we also faced some problems such as the unavailability of locations. As a result, we had to make changes to the original script. One example is the jetty scene. When we scouted the place before we went to shoot, the green tent was not set up yet. We didn't expect Mas Selamat escape to affect us too. The tent was there for the military personnels to keep a lookout for him. We were initially denied the chance to shoot at the jetty as it was supposed to be a cordoned area. However, after some assurance that we will not include them in our video, they let us finished the shoot.
Other problems that we encountered are like the lighting conditions. There were some areas that were simply too dark for us to shoot. Therefore, we had to change our plan on the spot and shoot other scenes to replace the original scenes.
Below is the lyrics of "Enslaved":
1st Verse
2nd Prechorus
For the work never ends
And my rest is now
O give me a hope
A light or a voice
To God on high I cry
Set me free
2nd Chorus
The chains on my feet are big and ugly
It's making me feel all young and trendy
ENDING
In our brainstorming phase, we came up with many themes, from peace to love. We decided on theme of slavery. It is about a student being a slave to his studies and exams. We hope to show to the audience that there is life more than studies and making them to reflect on the unfortunate around him. It is a direct comparison of the differences between a student and a homeless guy.
Our song, "Enslaved" is written and produced by Samuel.
The initial scenes are scenes of the student and a homeless person doing daily mundane things. At certain points, the video would show 2 frames simultaneously depicting the story of the student and the old man. This is for the first half of the video where the general tone of the MTV is slow, dark and sad.
In the prelude before the second, the 2 would meet and chat. This is where the student realises his difficulties are minute as compared to the homeless man. From a slow piece of music, the rhythm and tempo picks up to a livelier jive. This signals a change in the attitude of the student, where he realises that his stress is nothing as compared to the old man’s stress of finding a home. That is when the student realises that he can choose to be free. He can choose to be away from all the books that used to tie him down.
The majority of the shooting was done at Samuel's place. We also went to Northpoint, Yishun Central and East Coast Park to shoot the other scenes. The beginning of the filming was hectic as we took quite some time to set up everything. However, as we get the hang of it, the rest of the filming was a breeze.
As the shooting progressed, we also faced some problems such as the unavailability of locations. As a result, we had to make changes to the original script. One example is the jetty scene. When we scouted the place before we went to shoot, the green tent was not set up yet. We didn't expect Mas Selamat escape to affect us too. The tent was there for the military personnels to keep a lookout for him. We were initially denied the chance to shoot at the jetty as it was supposed to be a cordoned area. However, after some assurance that we will not include them in our video, they let us finished the shoot.
Other problems that we encountered are like the lighting conditions. There were some areas that were simply too dark for us to shoot. Therefore, we had to change our plan on the spot and shoot other scenes to replace the original scenes.
Below is the lyrics of "Enslaved":
ENSLAVED
1st Verse
The chains on my feet are cold and heavy
It's making me feel all old and achy
No I have got to press on till he is happy
Until the day when I am set free
2nd Verse
I wake up each day with chores unending
I finish each job with some more coming
No I have got to press on till he is happy
Until the day when I am set free
Pre chorus
For the work never ends
And my rest is now
Enslaved but I yearn to be free
O give me a hope
A light or a voice
To God on high I cry
Set me free
Chorus
The chains on my feet are cold and heavy
And my rest is now
It's making me feel all old and ugly
No I've got to press on till he is happy
Until the day when I am set free
3rd verse
The chains on my feet are cold and heavy
It's making me feel all old and ugly
Until the day I choose to be free
4th verse
I wake up each day with chores unending
To finish each one is joy overflowing
I will not press on because I am happy
Until the day I choose to be free
It's making me feel all old and achy
No I have got to press on till he is happy
Until the day when I am set free
2nd Verse
I wake up each day with chores unending
I finish each job with some more coming
No I have got to press on till he is happy
Until the day when I am set free
Pre chorus
For the work never ends
And my rest is now
Enslaved but I yearn to be free
O give me a hope
A light or a voice
To God on high I cry
Set me free
Chorus
The chains on my feet are cold and heavy
And my rest is now
It's making me feel all old and ugly
No I've got to press on till he is happy
Until the day when I am set free
3rd verse
The chains on my feet are cold and heavy
It's making me feel all old and ugly
Until the day I choose to be free
4th verse
I wake up each day with chores unending
To finish each one is joy overflowing
I will not press on because I am happy
Until the day I choose to be free
2nd Prechorus
For the work never ends
And my rest is now
O give me a hope
A light or a voice
To God on high I cry
Set me free
2nd Chorus
The chains on my feet are big and ugly
It's making me feel all young and trendy
I will not press on because I am happy
Until the day I choose to be free
ENDING
Assignment 4: I am a superhero (Final version)
This is the finalized version for this assignment. We added in a music effect and the titles and credits to make the transition smoother.
Assignment 4: I am a superhero
For this assignment, the theme is to create a movie with at least one superpower effect i.e. time freeze.
Here's how our original story was:
The objective is to move from a static movement video to a full motion picture and to create the special effects in the video.
There must be a reasonable plot to the theme. I paired up with Weiye for this assignment. We decided that we are going to use time freeze as our superpower.
Below is our storyboard:
Here's how our original story was:
1. Alarm clock rings with a calendar showing an exam on one of the date.
2. The protagonist wakes up and with just a snap of his fingers, his room is automatically tidied up by itself.
3. He rushes to school as he is almost late for the exam.
4. On the way to the exam venue, he suddenly feels very thristy but he forgets to bring money. He sees this poor guy about to buy his drink from a vending machine. He freezes the time and takes away the drink.
5. He makes his way to the exam hall.
6. He takes his exam but he does not know the answers.
7. He stops time and changes the name on the exam papers (which belongs to the guy whose guy is being taken away) to his own.
8. Results Day.
9. The poor guy manages to outscore the protagonist.
10. He fails the exam.
11. The morale is not to abuse his superpower.
This was supposed to be our original plot. I shot the home scene on my own while we shot the school scenes together in school. However, the shots were not consistent so we decided to shoot all the scenes in school in one day.
We planned to film in school on a Saturday. However, to our horror, most of the classrooms were locked. We spent much of our time looking for an unlocked room. When we did mange to locate one and start our filming, a guy came into the room and told us to leave as there will be a class later.
Another round of search began. We found another room but with two people studying in it. However, we just continued our filming. As the filming rolled, we had difficulties shooting the exact positions and moments of the time freeze.
As we do not have enough time, we decided to improvise our script. We removed the home and the exam scenes. Instead, we concentrated on the vending machine part.
Assignment 3: My Valentine (Stage 4)
Here is my final product for this assignment. I used Windows Movie Maker to make this movie.
During the tutorial presentation, the class suggested to change one part of the movie where I'm standing outside the door to another direction. This is because it looks like I'm inside the same room as my girlfriend.
During the tutorial presentation, the class suggested to change one part of the movie where I'm standing outside the door to another direction. This is because it looks like I'm inside the same room as my girlfriend.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Assignment 3: My Valentine (Stage 2)
Stage 2 of this assignment is to keep refining it. Due to E-week, I have to report my progress on the blog for my classmates to comment on, instead of physically in the class.
As I do not have some of the photos yet, I drew some of them to make up for it. I would take the photos as soon as possible.
Here is my edited story board with photos and drawings. I will also add in the descriptions on the setting, transitions, effects and sound/music for each frame.
Setting: 10 years later, there was a primary school gathering. The guy managed to meet the girl once again. It will be a series of photos of that gathering.
Setting: The next series of photos will be of them having the good times. I will also show the significant events/days during their courtship such as Valentine's Day, their birthdays, Christmas, their overseas trips and their anniversaries.
Transition: I will use the fade effect.
Setting: The next series of photos show that not all goes well in their relationship. They quarrel over almost any thing. It will show the sad and turbulent period in their relationship.
Setting: The next few shots will be that they settled all their indifferences and quarrels and they still love each other. No matter what comes their way, love prevails.
As I do not have some of the photos yet, I drew some of them to make up for it. I would take the photos as soon as possible.
Here is my edited story board with photos and drawings. I will also add in the descriptions on the setting, transitions, effects and sound/music for each frame.
Setting: This is the drawing that the guy gave to the girl when they were in the last year of their primary school education. They have a liking for each other but they never tell each other so. The drawing is a way that the guy shows his liking for her.
Transition: It will slowly fade in from the back.
Effects: It will have an effect of film age (old) to show that the drawing is very old.
Music: I'm still on the lookout for a suitable song/music. At the beginning, it will have a more soothing type of feeling.
Setting: 10 years later, there was a primary school gathering. The guy managed to meet the girl once again. It will be a series of photos of that gathering.
Transition: It will appear diagonally (cross out) to signify that their paths cross once again.
Effects: The photos will ease in and ease out on the two main characters. I black out the other people to elevate the couple's status.
Music: It will be one of a cheerful tone since they managed to see each other again after such a long time of separation.
Setting: The next series of photos are depicting the dating period of the guy and girl before they are officially a couple. It shows the activities that they have done together.
Transition: I will use the circle effect to show that they have come full circle and they have the chance to be together now.
Effects: I will probably use ease in and ease out.
Music: I will be using some soft music here.
Setting: At Istana Park. After a period of dating, the guy decided it is time to ask the girl to be his girlfriend. I will show some more shots of him doing so.
Transition: I will use the heart-shaped effect to show that love is in the air.
Music: Soft music.
Setting: The next series of photos will be of them having the good times. I will also show the significant events/days during their courtship such as Valentine's Day, their birthdays, Christmas, their overseas trips and their anniversaries.
Transition: I will use the fade effect.
Music: Soft and soothing music.
Setting: The next series of photos show that not all goes well in their relationship. They quarrel over almost any thing. It will show the sad and turbulent period in their relationship.
Transition; I will use the shatter effect to show their relationship is on the brink of breaking up.
Music: Sad music
Setting: The next few shots will be that they settled all their indifferences and quarrels and they still love each other. No matter what comes their way, love prevails.
Transition: I will use the heart-shaped effect again.
Music: Soft music
Assignment 3: My Valentine (Stage 1)
For this assignment, I am supposed to create a simple movie using photographs and the movie must have a love theme. Here are my sketches for my story plot:
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Assignment 2: Just Another Day
For this assignment , I have to design a simple webpage.
Theme: Create a web-based visual narrative of any simple daily/weekend activity/event.
I am supposed to select a simple activity, take as many pictures as possible, build a story around the pictures taken and create a webpage using lots of images and a little text. The main challenge of this assignment is to keep the images and html files under 180kb. Therefore, I have to compress the images to very small sizes and not compromising the clarity of the images.
This is how my webpage looks like:
I am supposed to select a simple activity, take as many pictures as possible, build a story around the pictures taken and create a webpage using lots of images and a little text. The main challenge of this assignment is to keep the images and html files under 180kb. Therefore, I have to compress the images to very small sizes and not compromising the clarity of the images.
This is how my webpage looks like:
I arranged the photos in a film-strip form. It is aligned to the left. The story goes like this:
1. One day while strolling along Marina area,
2. Whoa... what are they doing? Ahhh they are practising Falungong. Wait... are they allowed to do so in public areas?
3. "Eeeee!! What are they doing?" These two ladies must be wondering.
4. But don't worry. The government is always around to watch over them.
5. Moving along the area, I saw an oasis. The solution to a hot day. Ice-cream!!! Let's have some!! Yummy!!
6. With the ice-cream in my hand, I proceeded and saw this monument to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during the war. Salute!
7. A minute of silence for them.
8. Ahh another landmark of Singapore... The Esplanade aka the "Durian"...
9. Care for some "durian"?
10. Oh my... it's going to be dark soon...
11. Just a blink of the eye, it's night time... I'm so lonely over here... Someone pull me away from this misery...
12. Time waits for no man. Cherish it.
Assignment 1: Dreams
For Assignment 1, I have to design an A3 size poster for a play titled Dreams.
Theme of the play: Surrealistic experimental play about lost opportunities and dreams of a young Singaporean. It is a story about a person who sacrificed his/her life for someone else's future. The tone of the play is dark comedy.
I am supposed to develop my own story for this play.
These are my thumbnail sketches of my concept.
This is the the final product that I developed from one of my sketches.
Comments from the class are:
Theme of the play: Surrealistic experimental play about lost opportunities and dreams of a young Singaporean. It is a story about a person who sacrificed his/her life for someone else's future. The tone of the play is dark comedy.
I am supposed to develop my own story for this play.
These are my thumbnail sketches of my concept.
This is the the final product that I developed from one of my sketches.
Comments from the class are:
- The big black stripe at the top is too chunky and awkward
- The male figure is not that clear
- Alignment of the words at the bottom can be changed
Possible improvements suggested by the class are:
- The black stripe can be replaced with more details of the play
- I should draw a more prominent male figure to clearly indicate the figure is a male
- The words at the bottom can be aligned to the right.
I would be posting the improved version of the poster soon. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions on how I can improve my poster, please feel free to comment. Thank you.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
NM3208 Blog
Once again, it's blogging time. This time round is for NM3208. Please feel free to post your comments and leave me any suggestions that you have in mind. I welcome any input from any one. Thank you.
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