class evaluation 6/1/14

5/28/14

so this is it. the last blog i will ever write. i took this class by mistake actually. I went to the wrong interview at the wrong school and got more than i bargained for. but you know what, that was the best mistake i have ever made. i discovered al my hidden talents and my love for films and art just enhanced. being a complete newbie in this field, there were times i was thinking of giving up but i didn't. i stuck through it and learned everything i needed to know. i was determined because i knew i can do whatever i want to do in life. being in this class made me realize there is more to art than just drawing with pencil and paper. theres so much in this field that you can achieve and anything is possible. 

i loved everything about this class! well, for the most part. what i loved most was getting to do what i love most with the most amazing people i have ever met, everyday. coming here made my last years of high school tolerable. the friendships i made i will never forget and the knowledge i gain on art will help me so much in the future. 

if i had to pick what i least liked about this class, it had to be the numerous of projects. but mainly, i didn't even mind them. Some of the projects we were assigned i was really excited about! but then others i had no motivation to do. 

My most favorite project had to be the final project. this project let me show my creativity and how serious i am about adventuring into the horror industry. For most of my videos, i tried to maintain that "scary movie feel". I had so much fun making up a story to go along with the theme. but if only i had better actors lol.

my least favorite project would be the fighting scene. i'm not very fond at working with different angles but i tried to capture the movement to the best of my abilities. 

so my instructor huh? well, where do i begin. we've have our share of tough times with each other but she was honestly one of the best teachers i ever had. What i loved most was that she worked us to the best of our abilities because she believed in us. like she really cared about our future and i respect that a lot. i will never forget you Ms. Licata. 

there were many valuable things I've learned about this class. I've learned a lot of things about being responsible and professional. i also learned a lot of technics involving time management skills and organizations. but most of all i gained friendship. being with these dorks for two years really made us into a family. 

i really do think this class will help me in the future. with all the things i have learned through out the years really made me into the artist i am today. hopefully when i adventure into illustration and design, i will remember everything i have learned and will learn. 

i honestly don't think this class needs any improvement. i enjoyed every day and every experience i had. 

dear ms. licata,

theres so much that i have already said in my last entry, but i sincerely want to thank you for everything you did for me these past two years. you really showed me that i can do whatever i want in life when i set my mind to it. thank you for giving me a chance to be in such a wonderful and talented class room. as you know, i didn't mean to take this class but you obviously saw something in me that i did not see. i really expanded into a better artist because of you. i will never forget these years. i hope you have a great future and i wish you luck in everything you do! 

try not to miss me too much,

Jessyca Evans

blog3 article response 5/18/14

blog 3
Jessyca Evans
5/13/14

http://www.scriptmag.com/features/script-tip-pets-in-movies-how-can-a-pet-cat-or-dog-improve-your-characters-and-plot
this article is titled, "Script tip: pets in movies- how can a pet improve your characters and plot?" and the title is self explanatory. in this article it explains just how important a lead pet role can ell the movie immensely. this technique can do two key techniques to improve any caricature. it can make a predictable caricature seem new and the pets antics can provide invaluable plot twists in your story.
while reading this article i learned how helpful having a pet in a story can really make it seem. some of my favorite movies have lead pet roles and that may play a part of why i like them so much. i also learned how to write about your own plot with a pet in it at the bottom of the article which i thought could be very useful.
some opinions i have regarding this article is that i thought it was very eel worded and easy to follow. also i liked how they provided more than just one example and proved their point to make it a valid statement.
the only question i have is that i wonder how many people think this is a true technique. do directors think this way too?

blog2 article response 5/18/14

blog 2
Jessyca Evans
5/13/14

http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/has-life-in-the-age-of-casual-magic-made-moviegoers-numb-to-the-amazing/single-page
this article is titled, "Has life in the age of casual magic made moviegoers numb to the amazing?". this article is about how there is no incentive to filmmakers working in science fission and fantasy to actually craft something that pushes the envelope i terms of narrative. first it gives an example witch happens to be my favorite person of all time, Tim Burton. and his movie, Alice in Wonderland 2. it explains how it was an awful movie but the animation and video effects were outstanding. they're showing you 200 million dollars worth of visual effects which translates from culture to culture, distracting away from the actual movie.
while reading this article, i learned that visual effects play a key role to having a movie be a hit or not one at all. i also learned that the audience perspective means a lot to the visual aspect of a film as well.
an opinion i have about this article is that i don't agree with this statement. i feel as though people tend to focus more on the story and don't pay attention to all the little details put into it. if the movie has a good hook, it keeps you interested on whats going to happen, not just on the background and the effects happening in it. i also thought this article could have provided more examples to back of this theory.
one question i have while reading this article is if this is a real thing, why isn't there alterations in solving this problem?

blog1 weekly comments 5/18/14

blog1
Jessyca Evans
5/13/14

this week i learned how lazy i am when it comes to projects. i learned I'm not very good at keeping time and i always put it off till the last minute. however, i learned some skills that would keep me on task, such as focussing more on my work. i tend to shy away from task and projects and started and i would start another one on top if it. recently I've been handling one task at a time and I've been experiencing a better outcome. i feel as though this technique will help me more into the future as well.
what i would like to learn more about is just how to manage time properly. is there even a way? I'm sure everybody has there own way, but whats the most effective form? i would like to know this because it would help me out in college and future references.
my link of interest this week is the debate on how ecigs could be allowed in non smoking areas or not. where i live, this is a very highly talked about topic that causes a lot of disagreements around the area. if you haven't heard of this yet, hers an article to keep you updated!
http://guardianlv.com/2014/04/electronic-cigarette-increasingly-being-banned/

blog3 article response 5/4/14

blog 3
Jessyca Evans
5/1/14

http://www.raindance.org/1short-film-cliches/
this article is titled, "13 short film cliches" and the title is self explanatory. in this article it gives you the most common ideas in films. they describe a cliche as a phrase or expression that has been used so often that it is no longer original or interesting; something that is so commonly used in books, stories, etc., that it is no longer effective. they give a list and explains how each is intact a cliche. the list consist of clowns, black and white films, silence, filmception, films abut filmmakers, the older generation, children, dysfunctional families, canibalisum, post-apocalyspe, cheesy scores, very long short films, and all around disappear/death. 
i learned while reading this article that its hard to come up with original and new ideas without them being cliche. with this article some tips i don't agree with. such as black and white theme for films. i feel like thats not a common idea and only a few movies can pull it off. also silent films are very rare too and not a lot of films are made like that anymore.
i thought this article was well organized all though it could have provided examples and more information about every category.
i don't have any questions regarding this article. 

blog2 article response 5/4/14

blog 2
Jessyca Evans
5/1/14

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/cgi/pixar-makes-painterly-cg-new-research-could-change-the-look-of-their-films-95205.html
this article is titled, "pixar makes painterly CG: new research can change the look of their films." and the title explains it all. in this article it explains how film makers could achieve more expressive rendering styles that disregard the perfect boundaries of computer graphics rendering and mimic traditional painting techniques.With this new technique, an artist can paint 2D illustrations over a handful of the CG keyframes (one every 10 to 20 frames), and the software will fill in the hundreds of inbetweens while maintaining the desired painting style. 
while reading this article i learned that this could be a huge break through in animation and could change a lot of work in the industry. being a fan of animation, i wouldn't mind this method unless the work gets worse. if the animation stays or gets better then its perfectly ok. 
some opinions i have while reading this article was that i thought it was very well organized and i liked how they provided examples and videos for us to look at.
my only question is that, when do they think this method will be in use and will they ever come out with an animated movie afterwards?

blog1 weekly comments 5/4/14

blog 1
Jessyca Evans
5/1/14

this week i learned about video manipulation. how you can create these cool action shots without actually doing the action. its all about angles and how to place and cut them properly to create that perfect illusion.
what i would like to learn more is how to use these angles and place them into two cameras at the same time. i feel like it would be a lot smoother and easier to edit without the hassle of doing the same action twice.
my link of interest this week is the new Game of Thrown's tv series. i feel like this series is well put together and really captured that video game feel. the animation is awesome as well. it really puts you inside the game. if you haven't heard of it yet, check it out in the link below!
www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones‎

blog3 article response 3/16/14

blog3
Jessyca Evans
3/11/14

http://nofilmschool.com/2014/03/a-cheap-easy-way-to-create-a-professional-looking-infinite-black-backdrop/
this article is titled, "a cheap and easy way to create a professional looking infinite black back drop" and again the title is self explanatory. while reading this article i learned that achieving this effect is pretty easy and less compacted then it looks. i learned you need to start out with a black background or any solid color. lastly i learned that lighting is the key essential in achieving this effect. without the proper lighting the effect would fall out of place.
some opinions i have while reading this article is that i really liked the examples. i think however they should have provided clearer steps on how to achieve this look.
the only question i have is what sort of environment is best to achieve this effect?

blog2 article response 3/16/14

blog2
Jessyca Evans
3/11/14

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/04/creativity-habits_n_4859769.html
this article is titled, "18 things highly creative people do differently" and the tittle is self explanatory. it explains how creativity causes you to view things in different ways. i took interest in this article considering i can relate to creative minds. while reading this article i learned that creativity works in mysterious and often paradoxical ways. i learned inspiration and ideas often rise out of no where. lastly i learned that creative thinking requires a lot of cognition but is still distant from the thinking process.
i agree with what this article has to say. some opinions i have to add are that i enjoy the examples it supplied and the word choice. made the article seem very feel organized.
i have no questions towards this article.

blog1 weekly comments 3/16/14

blog1
Jessyca Evans
3/11/14

this week i learned about stop motion. i learned that theres a lot to it rather than jet taking pictures in different positions. its very time consuming and takes a lot of determination. lighting is a huge effect cause one change can mess the whole thing up.
what i would love learning about more if time management. whens the best time to start filming? what happens to the production?
my link of interest this week is the new series on television called Bates Motel. the first series is on Netflix if your interested. this series is a spin off of the movie Physco directed by Alfred Hitchcock but the setting is modern day. i really like the story behind Norman and his mother and how really "physco" they can be. if you're interested i provided a link that tells more about it!
http://www.aetv.com/bates-motel

blog3 article response 3/2/14

blog3
Jessyca Evans
2/26/14

http://www.awn.com/news/autodesk-rolls-out-cloud-based-3d-character-generator
this article is titled, "autodesk rolls out cloud-based 3d character generator" and this title is also self explanatory. i learned while reading tho article that there is a new easy to use animator generator. i learned that its a lighter version into animated caricatures. also, i learned that you don't have to start from scratch to make a caricature. they provide you the faces and you work with them, which i find way easier.
some opinions i have while reading this article where that they should have provided more information and provide how to get this generated at home.
the only question i have is, when does this come out?

blog2 article response 3/2/14

blog2
Jessyca Evans
2/26/14

http://blog.animationmentor.com/11-lighting-tips-from-the-lego-movie/
this article is titled, "11 lighting tips from the LEGO movie" and its pretty self explanatory. i learned that lighting is a key component in the making of animated objects into real life. i learned that when you want to do photorealistic lighting on inanimate objects you have to think realistically. lastly, i learned that if you want to go extreme its always good to push your bun dries and just go for it.
some opinions i have while reading this article is that they should have provided more examples and techniques.
i have no questions about this article.

blog1 weekly comments 3/2/14

blog1
Jessyca Evans
2/26/14

this week i learned more about lip syncing and putting together a mash up video. i have never done one before but when i did my first, i learned that it wasn't that hard. i also learned that preparing for a project, makes it more difficult for me than actually just going with the flow when i do one. i know its different for others but for me, I'm a very indecisive person and i feel like my best ideas just come to me instead of thinking about them for hours and hours.
what i would love learning more about is how to make a video mash up more convincing. and how can you find the perfect lip syncing in video footage's?
my link of interest this week is my favorite trailer recut that makes the shinning look like a family fun film. its really good and well done! if you never watched the shinning, you would never realize that its a horror film.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s40Q6ODSI8

blog3 article response 2/16/14

blog3
Jessyca Evans
2/13/14

http://www.showmetheanimation.com/index.php/hook-audience-crucial-first-seconds/
this article is titled "how to hook your audience in those crucial first seconds" and the title is pretty self explanatory. 3 things i learned about reading this article is that you need to know who your targeted audience is. also, give your audience something new. it keeps them interested and they continue to watch. lastly, create curiosity and suspense. those are big factors in your opening scene.
some opinions i have about this article i that i thought the article had really good pointers and things that i may want to use in future films of my own. also it provided good information in every tip they listed.
the only question i have regarding this article is that what are some examples? it would be nice to see some imagery with the tups the provide.

blog2 article response 2/16/14

blog3
Jessyca Evans
2/13/14

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/movies/lego-movie-creators-strive-to-blend-familiar-and-strange.html?ref=movies&_r=1
this article is titled "towards a kingdom without kitsch" and its about the new lego movie. legos have been around for a long time but this is the first ever full length feature film. 3 facts i learned while reading this article was that the setting is about an ordinary man who discovers something extraordinary about himself. i learned that the film is entirely stop motion. and lastly i learned that it needed to be "digitally perfect" so it could appeal more interesting and less amateur.
some opinions i have about this article is that what made them what to film a movie like this in the first place? and is it directly pointed towards children viewers? over all the article was well designed and i liked the examples.
i have no questions towards this article.

blog1 weekly comments 2/16/14

blog1
Jessyca Evans
2/12/14

this week i learned more editing skills in premiere. i learned more about using audio correctly and putting videos in just the right spot. i also learned to use my time efficiently. theres a lot to do for it and you can get carried away very easily.
what i would love learning about is more lip syncing. and how to correctly match up the audio together perfectly. its really so difficult to put to audio clips together.
my link of interest this week is about zombies. the walking dead is back on and thats all iv been about lately! so this article gets top 5 reasons a zombie apocalypse can happen in real life.
http://www.cracked.com/article_15643_5-scientific-reasons-zombie-apocalypse-could-actually-happen.html

blog3 article response 1/26/14

blog3
Jessyca Evans
1/26/14

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-paramount-digital-20140117,1674529,7040663,full.story#axzz2r2rynbcW
this article is titled, "end of film: paramount first studio to stop disturbing film prints" and the title is self explanatory.
while reading this article i learned that in the first time in film history, paramount pictures has become the first major studio to stop releasing movies on film in the united states. i learned some other studies might want to abandoned film as well. lastly i learned that digital media instead of film is the easier and less expensive route to follow anyways.
some opinions i have about this article is that it was very well put. also they should have added insight quotes from directors on this huge topic.
i have no questions towards this article.

blog2 article response 1/26/14

blog2
Jessyca Evans
1/26/14

http://www.carlosbaena.com/resource/resource_tips_planning.html
this article is titled "tips and tricks > planning case study: incredibles" and its about tons of tips about the making of the incredibles.
while reading this article i learned theres so many materials you could use that we have learned in our class! such as storyboards, layouts, film footage reference, personal video reference and thumbnails. i learned there was a lot of before planning and usage of different drawing techniques on what works better for the film. lastly i learned being an audience perspective is just has important. it needs to look good for the audience to understand as well.
some opinions i have while reading this are that i really liked how he added a lot of examles of actuall footage. also when reading it, it sounded easier to follow.
the only question i have about this article is that what was he to this film? like what was his role? he never really specified that.

blog1 weekly comments 1/26/14

blog1
Jessyca Evans
1/19/14

this week i'm still learning how to use my time wisely. theres so much going on that its difficult to produce films. i've learned the process of it all is very time consuming. lastly i learned about lighting and all that involved with it. theres more to it than just a bright light.
what i would love learning more is how to film with different lights. I'm not so sure how to use light in appropriate places yet. also I'm still not good with writing scripts yet and i could improve.
my link of interest this week is a new advertisement technique for horror movies coming into the theaters. this one is for devils due and it got over thousands of views in just a day. it really does look like an awesome movie! go and check it out for yourself!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUKMUZ4tlJg

blog3 article response 1/19/14

blog3
jessyca evans
1/19/14

http://www.raindance.org/how-to-turn-that-passion-for-scriptwriting-and-filmmaking-into-a-reality-fast/
this article is titled "how to turn that passion for writing and filmmaking into a reality." its about tips to make you a great film director!
while reading this articled i learned that time management is a huge part of filmmaking. i also learned that having your own style is also what makes a great film and makes you more creative.
some opinions i have are that they should have added examples and more facts about each section.
i have no questions about this article.

blog2 article response 1/19/14

blog2
jessyca evans
1/19/14

http://www.fxguide.com/featured/heads-above-the-vfx-of-sleepy-hollow/
this article is titled, "heads above the VFX of sleepy hollow". its about the new tv series sleepy hallow and the vfx production of it all. while reading this article i learned that this series it actually animated! i also learned that it took a lot of people to create the caricature of the headless horseman.
two opinions that i have while reading this article is that the should have added more information. i felt a little lost. also i really enjoyed the videos they provided.
the only question i have is when this show starting again in the next season?

blog1 weekly comments 1/19/14

blog1
jessyca evans
1/19/14

this week i have learned how stressful this whole filming process really is. i learned that i really need to manage my time well and get everything prepared on time. the production process itself takes a lot of efforts. its more than just holding a camera and pointing it at the actor. although theres a lot of work involved, it was still so much fun and i loved it.
what i would love learning more about in the future is more about the camera. i would also love to learn more about better ways to write a script because i was a little lost when i had to make mine.
my link of interest this week is a link about one of my favorite directors, Alfred Hitchcock. he directed so many great horror films of the 1990s. if you never seen one of his films i advise you to check him out! his movies really brought horror and elements of story to the film industry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock