finally getting to knock out this project. To be clear, I'm redoing the final project, "I'm a Wizard. Technically this project could work for either since the political statement is basically a public service announcement. so I just wanted to clarify.

http://ae.tutsplus.com/articles/news/simple-cg-compositing-blur-blacks-and-grain/

this is a link the the video that inspired the concept.

Currently deciding whether or not I want to use actual video footage in this project. I'm leaning toward yes since I already have an idea of where to take it. Storyboard coming soon.

This is just a rough version of my typo 3 project but it still gets my point across.

Project Redo 1: This is Not a Digital World

My idea for the first redo is to build off of an idea I had into my typo 3 class. The concept is about the world's depleting natural resources and how things cannot just be copied and pasted like they can in the digital world. When it's gone, it's gone, and we need to slow the consumption process as much as possible by recycling and being more conscious/careful about when/how much we use of these natural resources. I'll post my work from typo 3 to give a better idea of where I want to take this video.

Idea #1 for DVD Menu

First idea for DVD Menu. Idea is for characters from movies to run in (characters will probably change due to redoing projects) Place themselves in the composition, and become buttons. The titles of the movies will appear next to/underneath the characters. The characters wouldn't be the actual ones from the movies, just graphic illustrations to represent them.
Will have to play with actual composition later on.

Project 3 in HD

I'm A Wizard in HD

For Tuesday's Crit

Paperrrr

The paper alternative I found on Tuesday is starting to sound like the best idea. Will get some use out of the green screen.
The storyboard from Tuesday is still relevant except everything will look like paper I won't have to worry about using particular.
I have a few ideas for where to start, but I want the music to influence where I take it. I want it to be more of an interpretation of the music rather than a solid narrative.
Still not sure on the political statement thing.

Here's another story board for one of the starting ideas. Will probably change but best I have so far.

Tues Crit

Have been brain storming all weekend and haven't been able to come up with a concept. Although, I'm pretty sure that I want the video to be based off a Flying Lotus song: Zodiac Shit. My idea so far is to start out walking down the street (or green screen) with camera filming from the side, and at 25 seconds, there is a great moment in the song that I want everything to change into some kind of digital, colorful, boarder line acid trip world (without all the tie dye and bubble letters), and myself explode into particles or something. Not sure about the political statement yet. Have been researching my options and limitations or AE's particle plugins. Downloaded a free trial of particular and form but i don't think i'll be able to render without getting a red X on my movie.
If particles are a problem, I saw a cool tutorial on making footage into paper animation. Might be an alternative.

For Tuesday's Crit

Since Friday I've fixed a few problems I came across when doing the storyboard/animation. First, added a joint to the legs which will allow for much more natural movement when the bird is jumping around. I added some IK constraints (the orange part of the leg in picture 1) to make the animation process a great deal easier.
I assigned vertex groups to the bones so the mesh deformations will make sense.
The beak is now closed and a bit smaller. Head has been shaped up as well.

Project 2: In Progress

Idea for project 2:
Crumpled piece of paper thrown on side of the road. Bird appears and starts pecking at it (as if it was going to eat it or something). "10 minutes later," Bird has made a origami crane out of the paper. "Don't Litter. This almost never happens".

The animation is being done in 3D with Blender. After effects will definitely be used for color correction, text play, and possibly some dust effects. I'll need to find some other ways to get some more use out of after effects for this project.

Just finished a rough animation/storyboard to get a better idea for how much time I'm filling up. I'm thrilled that after hours of rendering, blender did not crash.

Current issues:
Not sure yet how to get a real time preview out of blender. As it is, I always get a faster animation than expected. I can, and have, slowed it down in AE but it's not as smooth as it could be.

Project 2

Starting on new project. Haven't come up with good idea yet. Have a few potentials though. Two involving flash animation so I'm not sure how they will work out. One filming with no idea how I would incorporate aftereffects. I really want to do some camera tracking but haven't yet found an idea to go along with it.

Movie In Progress...

Done.....kinda

Another 4-5 hours in the lab. Got to a good stopping point. I don't consider it quite finished yet.

Motion 4

Been working with Motion 4 the past 2 days. Spent 5 hours on it on Sunday.....then all my work got deleted....Spent 4 hours on it today. Saved this time. Got a little further than last time and tried out some ideas.

Ordered Production Premium CS5! Should be here later this week.

AE CS5!!!

So after traveling all over campus to find a computer with After Effects CS5, or any CS for that matter, I went back to Wey hall to find that the software had just been installed.

I spent what time I could watching and following tutorials (1-2 hours). Almost finished with a pretty shhweet tutorial involving a creepy tunnel and some floating text.

Story Boardin'

I bounced the song and started working on the story board for the animation. Spent about 1-2 hours on it. I'm definitely getting in way over my head on the concepting.

Song still needs some more finishing touches but I think the over all composition is complete.

Project 1: Part 1

Nearly finished with my song for the first project. Spent about 3 hours in Logic. The song is based off of a loop I made on my loop pedal a few days ago. Sounds a hell of a lot like Tell'Em by Sleigh Bells. Here's some specifics...

Software: Logic Express 8

Song Name: Don't Tell'EM 

Key: Probably D minor

Tempo: 139

Instruments: 3 Guitars, Bass (maybe), Hip Hop Sly Kit (played via Axiom 25 Midi Controller), Vocal?

I have a few more songs in mind if I can't find a poem to fit the tone of this one. 

Speaking of which, my brother suggested a poem. It's called "I saw a man pursuing the horizon" by Stephen Crane. Funny, short poem. Cool thing about it is, if my bro hadn't told me it was funny before I read it, I probably would've found it kind of sad.

Here's the poem...

I saw a man pursuing the horizon;
Round and round they sped.
I was disturbed at this;
"It is futile," I said,
"You can never-"

"You lie," he cried,
And ran on.

First Day!

3 hours into the first day of motion graphics. Ass hurts. More to follow.