Visit to The Tech Museum And Walt Disney Family Museum

VISIT TO TECH MUSEUM: STAR WARS 

I was very impressed on the attention to detail on all the maquettes, customes and weapons. 

They were carefully crafted to make the audience believe in a very fantastic world.  

However, the robotics area got more of my attention. It is very interesting and mind blowing how people apply such futuristic technology from Star Wars into medical instruments.  Those instruments are to help people with no legs, no sight or other genetic problems. Nowadays, we are seeing many tools in development taken from films like Star Wars. I think that filmmakers, story tellers and engineers could benefit from one another if they all imagine things to benefit humankind.

VISIT TO WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM

As a BFA student, we visited the museum with all my classmates. I been there before and every time I go I need to see Mary Blair's artwork. It always amazed me her simplicity to approach art. I took many pictures and one of them is on her work area. Other things that really like to see is the making of Disneyland. Overall, it is always nice to see other artist's work to see how they think and how the solve problems.

Creating Stereoscopic 3D Images

My first two term paper scores were 80 and 80

My first two term paper scores were 80 and 80; I will not be writing a third term paper.

Recreating Cameras and Lights in Maya

Original picture

Building a Scene in Maya.

Outline of the Third Term Paper

1. Introduce how explosions are created on Avatar and Cars 2.
A. Introduce a brief history on visual effects.
B. Show how explosions are approach on live action and animation.

Thesis: Regardless on what medium the film is produced, whether is animation or live action, visual effects are approach very similar.

2.  Introduced a synopsis on the film Avatar.

A. Explain how Avatar uses a variety of visual effects, but explosions are very predominant and important throughout out the film.

B. Show Example.
Through out the film, there are many battles in which explosions take place.

C.What makes the explosions real is the 3D simulation and sound effects. They are animated and composited in the same way an animated film is done.  

3. Introduced a synopsis on the film Cars 2. 

A. Explain how Cars uses explosions throughout the film.

B. Show Example:
When McQueen is been chased there are some explosions that look real.

C. The explosions are so real because of the use of 3D simulation and sound effects.

Conclusion
In both, live action and animation, visual effects are widely used to make the audience experience excitement, mood and story beats. Almost all visual effects, such as explosions, are done or edited on the computer. Explosions are so elaborate and dangerous to do in real life that they must be done in 3D. The process of making explosions is the same for both, animation and live-action, but the compositing and editing is different. This proves that explosions are produce in a similar way regardless of the medium in which the story is being told.

Stop-Motion Character Animation

Process:

I used wooden craft sticks and tacks to construct a simple human rig. Then I placed it on foam so its more stable when I move it. I used a scarf as the blanket and linen for the bed. 
I also model the cat and dog using clay. After I had all the characters and a simple set I folded a napkin to resemble the character's pillow.
I shoot everything with my ipad and I used garageband and imovie to put the footage and sounds together. 

This is the back of the rig placed on foam.

This is the rig as seen on the film.

Cat and Dog were made using clay.