A Time of Bonding

Having sent our edited script as of yesterday, today would be the day where Lecturer Wahidah would give us her honest opinions and comments of our script. She commented that we had faced problems discribing the camera movement; an example would be like mid shot of Yi Chuin's face pan down to her legs, instead it should be mid shot of the face of Yi Chuin ,tilting down to mid shot of legs. She noticed after going and looking through of other group's script, they too faced this problem. So she actually posted us a question and asked us individually of how we would describe if a camera were to take from the top of the tree and down towards the roots.

Indeed, most of us said and discribed as pan down to the roots of the tree. She corrected us and said that it is actually discribed as mid shot of the leaves of the tree, tilting down to mid shot of the tree trunk. We didn't know the term tilt as we didn't learn it before. She emphasized that knowing the difference between panning up and down and tilt up and down is actually the basic for videos. She told us that foreigners of the west also are facing this problems and we should not follow them repeating the same mistake.

After telling the class, she then returned back to commenting of our script. She asked that why would we have to make a new storyboard in frame 35 when we can actually take the storyboard done from video fundamentals, which i agreed with her after much thought. She also mentioned things like:

• showing things alive (not really sure though )


• giving them a glipse of what we are doing during class


• making the shadow of the puppet quite obvious in the scene where the computer would be shown, the shadow would get bigger and clearer.


• making people not noticing the puppet at all in the beginning but only notice it towards the end


• what's the relationship with us and the puppet?

She also said maybe the puppet realise that it is not wanted so it decided to help us carry of things or don't disturb us. Lecturer Wahidah also mentioned making the puppet very alive where we could actually interact with the puppet or even let the audience know that the puppet wasn't supposed to come out of the painting at all. She also said the puppet is a clever fellow which never comes out whenever Yi Chuin is around.

As for the audio, she commented that we didn't have to write things that the audience would actually know, goes to show that meaningless speech can be removed or replaced. She said some of our conversations between the lecturers were weird. Sort of wanting us to like ask one question and answer one question. She also did mention the part when i was suppose to grab hold of the camera when Yi Chuin is still talking, she said that Yi Chuin should talk like as though she is going to talk non stop where i actually just grab hold of the camera to interupt her. Stating that we must be more conversational from the way we look.

As the lesson ended, we loaned out the camera. Straight away headed off to the 3D animation lab to do the animating of the door. It turned out well, just that we wasn't sure what colours would fit the door and had a problem in choosing with the texture too. Visions came running to my mind, that the door would actually turn out well in the end i believe. We didn't really start on animating the stone yet as everyone was busy doing DHC assignment.

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Take note: Please read all my blogs with expressions. Never!! I repeat NEVER read it with a monotonous tone, if not you may fall asleep after reading it. Read it with expressions and you may fly to cloud 9.

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However, both Yi Chuin and I used our time wisely and approached Mr. Ronald today. We showed him our sketchbooks and being him as usual gave a funny but cute expression. I personally feel that both Mr. Ronald and Mr. Alan has this animated look or an animated character. We sort of used Mr. Ronald's money to buy pockey and three ice milk tea.

To Mr. Ronald: Thanks for the treat.

We had a hearty chat among ourselves. Not forgetting that Vaani was there too. While chatting, we also waited for Mr. Alan to be out of the HereAfter HD room. We managed to convince Mr. Alan and Mr. Julian to help us in our production.

To myself: Good job Vivien, you indeed have proven yourself worthy and good convincing skills.
I replied: Yeh.. I sure do know about it.

Oh my human! When they actually agreed to help us, i believe both Yi Chuin and I were touched man. No doubt they said they will help us on our production but we have to take note that they would actually be free on monday. And NOT FAIR!! Mr. Alan can take leave after monday. Haha. Just kidding but i also really want to have a break too man, have been sleeping late nowadays. But i know it must be tiring for them to having to see the Final Year Project presentation, being busy for the past few weeks.

Mr. Ronald had no choice but to do what he preaches which was to help us act once Mr. Alan agreed. But i know deep down in Mr. Ronald's heart, he already wanted to help us act right. We showed Mr. Ronald the storyboard. One thing funny was when both Mr. Alan and Mr. Julian arrived to the scene, Mr. Alan actually took the picture of him in the storyboard. Not to worry Mr. Alan, you are as cute as ever. Mr. Ronald commented that since three of our members are majoring in animation, more animation should be seen in the production.

Mr. Julian , Mr. Ronald and Vaani left soon after. We continued talking to Mr. Alan, showing him the storyboard where he actually commented on it that the door could be done in After Effects or even in flash. Adding on that we can actually draw the background of the flying camera shot and of the door opening as well. Where we can actually add the background into the door when it opens. One thing i learnt or rather notice was the challenges of taking the scene when Ting Yu is running. I didn't expect it to be so tough after hearing what Mr. Alan has to say. He mentioned where we could used the blue screen, green screen and other HD equipments just to take a perfect shot of Ting Yu running in sequence, not forgetting having Ting yu to run on a running mill(not sure what it is called) as well. He commented that the idea was interesting but we should have at least test it out before really deciding to do on it. He also mentioned when the part Ting Yu will be running out of the photos and running towards Video fundamentals room, where Ting Yu could actually be animated but gradually becomes the real her upon running into the room. I personally feel that the idea was fresh but not sure whether we would have the time.

Likewise, same as Yi Chuin, i too have a poor memory so i couldn't really recall the whole conversations that we have discussed through. But i do recall them saying that they have a meeting on friday so the interim assessment may have to be on thursday instead. Not forgetting that Mr. Alan actually told us that no doubt it is a long way to go or rather we have plenty of time for the production but we shouldn't do last minute work.

We then headed to Tampines mall to meet up with Aaron and Ting Yu for dinner. It was amazing i tell you. We went to the open plaza where i actually thought it was a place for gangsters or gangsters' lovers. Haha.. Just then i saw Ting Yu and Aaron right inside the plaza man. Aaron actually asked me to try sitting on something which i don't dare to try, in fear of being flunk off with the almighty strength of Aaron i guess. Anyway, it ended up where Ting Yu sat on the thing and Aaron pushing her. Gosh! It was such a memorable sight where you could see Ting Yu smiling. It was like a dream come true for all lovers i guess, but the sad thing was i couldn't take a video of it. However, i managed to take a video when Ting Yu was spinning and Aaron was like out of the picture. Sad man what a pity.
This is the ending product:


We headed to have our dinner. Haha.. the amazing part was we never let the art of spirit died down in us even as we have eaten finish our dish. We actually used our remaining food to make an image. I actually make a peacock with the help of some cabbage and a square meat thingy and as for Aaron, he made a person holding a ballon.

Here it is:

After eating, we headed off to the ARCADE to relieve stress mah horz. It was fun man. However, we ended up being injured. It was so funny man, i actually blocked the goal with my bag and you can just imagine then. After that, not sure why but Aaron asked me to enter this mini snoopy car. Which was so lame but i didn't know why that i actually went in. Man oh man.. it was fun though having to see a 1.55 m lady sitting in this small car. Everyone was looking as they past by i supposed. When we were walking at the interchange, we actually swing our hands like as though we are primary school kids and on top of that we sang some songs. Haha.. But i really miss my childhood days come to think of it. I was more carefree. and didn't have to think of anything. Guess what.. You think we have stop here?

No way man, we actually headed to Ting Yu's place and played eye spy with my little eye. Gosh~! Yi chuin always give the toughest thing to see. Good lo. Haha and i on the other hand always give the easiest one like as though they could read my mind. We also played with Ting Yu's rabbit. Aww... So cute and also saw her younger days photos. Haha, which was cute too. Aaron was drooling on it though. Don't know why. After that, looking at the time, since it was kind of getting late so we decided to head back to our home sweet home where i got to see my cute 7 hamsters. Haha. Today was definitely a bonding time for all members man. It was AWESOME.

ATTENTION: Interim assessment to be change to thursday instead of friday

That's all folks. Hope you have enjoyed reading my blog and is in cloud 9 now.

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