Wk2 Journal - Visual Thinking
Reflection
part 1:
I was doing a 3D environment project for a demo reel and I constantly felt worried and anxious about it, because it was supposed to be of a very high quality. The problem was that I was trying to express my vision without fully conceptualizing it in 2D first. As a result my mind was stuck in a sort of a limbo where Id constantly could not decide on every little detail and how to make it feel in harmony with other details. I had a vision for the project as a whole, but did not visualize small details like wallpaper color, floor decorative color motive or the exact shape of Victorian detailing. I was obviously worried of my peers and mentors judgment on how slow my progress was going, so I made a mistake of isolating myself instead of sharing my thoughts with others to figure out the solution. I just felt I can do it myself, but turned put to be too much to handle. I have learned from this experience that such projects could not be handled efficiently without a detailed 2D concept that have most of decisions locked in.
part 2:
Georges Méliès (born in Paris in 1861) was one of the very first film directors, who innovated the medium with special effects and editing techniques such as double exposure, split screen,dissolve technique and an in-film product placement. As a person of many talents he was also a successful illusionist earlier and during to his involvement in film and a creator of an automaton, as well as as producer, writer, director, set designer and actor in 500 films he was able to produce between 1896 and 1912. He exercised a variety of genres in his films: dramas, documentaries, short films, political debates, but, most importantly and unlike any one in his time, he made fantasy and science fiction movies. In addition, he was also one of the first directors to produce colored films, that he colored himself. This extraordinary film director had to over come a variety of conformities and barriers put in his way. His father was a shoe maker and was against financing his interest in staging and theater and insisted on him becoming a shoemaker. After enduring work in his fathers factory for a few years, he sold his shares and took a risk of becoming a full time, successful illusionist, even eventually buying his own theater and becoming a success at that. He later took a risk again by selling his assets and becoming a film director, but could not get the camera so he modified an Animatronic into a camera. He went against a conformity that film was a documentary device and focused on fantasy. Eventually, in 1912 no one was interested in fantasy movies and ,ironically, he had to sell a significant portion of his films out of desperation to a shoe company which melted it into the shoe hills. Even though a significant majority of his work was lost and George Méliès forgotten, he is considered now as on of the most important filmmakers. Fortunately, his contribution was recognized by the French government in 1920,after almost ten years of poverty and obscurity, he was awarded with with Legion of Honour.
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Bibliography:"Georges Méliès." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 ,Sep. 2016.
Sketch (Visual Thinking)
Sketch of an entire speech on "This virtual lab will revolutionize science class". Tried to do all in one monochrome color and apply tips from the text on Moodle, such as fonts that carry mood or frames that add interest.
September 2016