Two weekends ago,

April 26th, 2010

I assisted a stylist called Josie at a photo shoot (below). No models, just clothes such as the ones you see in catalogues or online like this.  It was for Toast’s menswear.  They had some really nice coats and shirts.  I do like menswear.  I did a lot of ironing and steaming, which my mum would be proud of.  Then Josie let me did a little bit of styling but I was pretty rubbish.  Good thing she took over.  It was a long process.  She’ll take her time arranging each item of clothing using toothpicks, crumpled paper and pins before she shoots it.  Usually half an hour each.  The experience definitely made me appreciate the clothes I see on catalogues.  I’m enjoying the various things I’m doing at the moment.  I wonder what’s next.

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Also here’s a recent YouTube discovery.  I love Lady Gaga’s Telephone, but this cover is incredible!  Nancy has a sweet voice and the guy who can play many instruments is crazy.  I love his enthusiasm.  Enjoy.

So I went snowboarding…

April 12th, 2010

for the first time at Praz de Lys and it was awesome.  It wasn’t so great at first as I fell a lot and this was mostly caused by the button-lifts.  Those things are nasty!  I’ve seen people use this on tv/films and they made it look so easy!  Anyway, in the end I wasn’t so bothered about falling and aching muscles, and I’ve got bruises that I’m rather proud of.  I definitely own that beginner’s slope.

Sorry for the lack of updates.  So many self-initiated projects to finish but have been busy in pursuing internships/jobs and other things.  Haven’t been too successful… but I get to snowboard!  One more tick on the list of things-to-do. A big thanks to Siobhan for organising everything, Beanie, Brownie and Billy for driving and thank you to Niall for being a patient teacher. I even had a great time being tucked into a minibus with 16 other people and skiing gears. Good times.

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If you’re Miriam, don’t look.

March 18th, 2010

but I know you will.

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Ident #1

March 8th, 2010

Still no sound but this is what I’ve done. Not sure if I should tone down the grain effect but I’m happy with it at the moment. Logic Pro isn’t working so I’m going to have to settle in using basic audio in AFX. Never done it before but we’ll see. Ooo I love doing sound. During the final year of uni, my friends and I had a whale of a time foley-ing. Sometimes we left the recording studio in a bit of a mess… The atmospheric background sound for Hannah’s, “The Predatory Habits of Yetis” was the noises I made haha. It’s a good little film! Check it out. Maybe I should pursue this as a career. Hmm…

Playground love

March 6th, 2010

I meant to be away from computer because my eyes are starting to burn but I feel like posting something really cool to share like this.

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pics via Behance

How amazing are the interiors?  I want to see the real thing.  They’re done by Maria Yasko who based the design on Tove Jansson’s famous Moomins.  I’ve probably mentioned I went to Finland a few posts ago but still haven’t uploaded our Helsinki adventures.  Unfortunately, it didn’t include going to the Moomin Museum in Tampere (just outside Helsinki).  I don’t know much about the Moomins except for the early mornings I used to spend, watching the cartoon before school.  However, I’m currently reading Moominpappa’s Memoirs.  You never know, I might be hooked.

Gosh, I’m super tired and it’s only 8pm.  Too early…

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pic via ffffound!

Showreel, Jobs fair, mag and list

March 5th, 2010

I’ve been trying to get Flight of the Conchords tickets last night and this morning.  No luck…and you know what bugs me?  Those people who buys tickets just to make profit (big rip off) on ebay.  Ooo…aaargh…uuurgh…  Anyway, this is the FINAL final showreel of 2009.  Seriously… I can’t help myself. Perfection is my weakness.  I did this before I went to the Wired Sussex Media Jobs + Skills Fair yesterday.  It’s basically a fair with career recruitment stalls, course stalls, CV/covering letter/interview workshop and panel sessions of people who are already in the industry giving advices.  It was really good!  I get to network a little (really have to work on that.  I’m shy to new people okay, but that’s no excuse).  Made a new friend who came all the way from Bath!  That is dedication.  I was there from 12.30 – 19.30 that went really quickly with my head filled with so much information that I had to put them into, what it seems to be a never ending list of things to do.  It’s going to be a busy week, starting today.  I’m very excited though that there’s still hope.

Off the topic, in the Computer Arts March 2010 issue, I found this!  I was chuffed knowing that I helped to make Flöjtelös (Whistleless).  Also, it so happens that the screenshot they’ve published is the tiger scene.  The first shot I worked on I think…  I did those stripes!  What’s a tiger without stripes?  Just a big cat.  Oh I miss working in that small studio and eating lunch on the rooftop with Chris.  I dream of being in a small team studio…preferably Manhattan…doing whatever cool things I’ll be creating. Then at the end of the day, take the L train back to my dream rented flat in Brooklyn.   Hey, I can dream!

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One more thing, I’ve finished animating my own ident but with no sound!  My silly Mac can’t take Logic Pro or even a small external HD.  Not sure if it’s a RAM thing or what, but it was a pain to even import sound so I’m going to have to ask Mac people what’s wrong with it.  Okay, I better act on my To-Do list and I will leave you with this BBC article on the art of list making.  I can totally relate to Adolf Konrad’s packing list but he is a step ahead by colouring his listed items…

Brought to you today by…

February 26th, 2010

the Super 8 effect, the Blur effect, and the Wiggler. Just a few things that I’ve learnt these past few days.

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So it’s been a busy week for me.  After an awful start, I decided to take my mind off things and do my own project.  Making my own idents.  If the BBC and E4 can have them, so can I. Would be great to have my own tv channel but I’ll just stick to idents for now. So, the above image is a screenshot of what it looks like at the moment.  The initial idea was that it’s going to look like a grainy b&w footage from the 1950s or Georges Méliès’ Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon – 1902). However, while looking for tutorials in how to do this sort of style, I came across the lomo and Super 8 effects which I found to be very cool. I’ve used Flash to build the UFO, Photoshop for the objects and AFX for animation, composition and effects. Give me a day to finish up without sound and I’ll upload it.

NOTE: I feel cheeky to use Video Copilot’s 8mm frame footage.  One day soon I have to find my own 8mm film. I thoroughly recommend Video Copilot. They’re one of the best AFX tutorials on the internet. Free too!

Just found this awesome website. It’s a big archive of idents. Haven’t looked at them all but channel 4 always have the best idents. My favourites are the american diner and the roller coaster one. So calming that I wish I’m on that roller coaster. Check them out. Oh yah, there’s a UFO one. I guess I’m inspired.

Couldn’t sleep…

February 14th, 2010

…until this has finished.  I’m not sure about the pose.  Just trying to be a better painter.

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New version

February 13th, 2010

…of my showreel.

I just replaced some clips with new ones.

UPDATE: I’ve updated a different showreel… The last one for 2009. I’m serious.

The Bear

February 12th, 2010

He doesn’t seem too happy…

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