(2nd) Day 15 - "DEADLINE"

Oh yeeesss....today was the big day, not just for me, not just for my groupmates, but to every group in MOI Freshman Year. It was the submission of our videos, through Mini-DV tapes (suffice it to say the export of our video went very well). There were all of us, cramped into LT 25, all 58-60 of us. Before the presentation, Alan gave us Peer Assessment sheets which we have to fill in...mind you, I was as honest as possible in filling in that sheet; my group members really deserve plenty of credit. Then, it was the TIME...Ronald's class went first, then Alfie's...I have to admit, everyone has put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears for this project. When it came to Wahidah's class, we were first. Marj was really creative with the subtitles and credits. After the video, I pretty much expect a lot of negative feedback. But, luckily...there was no questions for us after the video. Maybe we did well:). Anyway, when the whole presentation was over, the lecturers made a few announcements: Tomorrow, between 2pm and 2.30pm, our storyboard and scripts have to be submitted, as well as a brief description of our video concept. Basically, all our paperwork. Luckily for me, not all members of every group have to turn up, and Marj, Kez and Joel have all the needed paperwork...so this is where I bow out...
Overall, I have been exposed to what it is like working in a group of people I may not be familiar with and what is like to work on a major project. It really teaches me to be resourceful, how to cooperate no matter the circumstances, and how to tackle my issues with initiative and speaking up. My groupmates are really the most hardworking people ever and while we have our differences, we still have to work our way around each other as our main focus is on the project. So, guys, it really has been a pleasure working with you all...thanks so much...
SAYONARA.

(2nd) Day 14

Today, I went down and booked out the camera (1pm to 2pm) to output our video into the tape Wahidah gave us. I waited for like 30 minutes until I SMSed Marj...and found out that she and Joel are in 3D Lab ALREADY exporting the video...apparently, they already went out and got a camera of their own, and are now trying to output the video into the tape. So I sheepishly returned the camera to Wahidah...but anyway, I think I earn a few initiative points for that, although I didn't realise that people can just get their cameras from other sources. DEADLINE IS TOMORROW...and hopefully, our video is exporting very well...

(2nd) Day 13

Didn't have to go to school today, since there was nearly nothing left to do. However, yesterday Marj asked me to email her five photos of five different works, so I emailed her Digital Media Fundamentals, Creative Storytelling, 2D Art, 3D Art and Ideation. Hope there is no problem with them. She needs photos of our works for-I believe-our credit roll. So maybe she is working on it now....
I have been SMSing Marj all day, asking her if I should go ahead with our 'brief description of our video concept', which is due this Thurs. NO REPLY. Anyway, have to go back tomorrow to output our video to tape...better email Wahidah to book out the video camera for tomorrow...

(2nd) Day 12

Today, it was finally sunny...let's pray it stays that way. We met up with Wahidah so that she can take a look at our video. She asked me if I had seen it since I was sitting rather far away...I said 'yes'...which was pretty untrue cos that video was just mildly edited, and even if I am to see it, what can I do? So, I just listened from my cosy nook at the end of the table. She seemed pretty satisfied with our video...but she said something about 'if the video is too long, the audience will lose interest'. Now all we need to do now is just add the subtitles; I think can add through iMovie (I know that Windows Movie Maker can...I think). Right now, Marj, Kez and Joel are planning to watch 'Notes on a Scandal' here while I watch music videos on YouTube...

(2nd) Day 11-"Always the last to know"

Today, the rain was pretty merciless on us, so I walked into school with wet umbrella, wet socks and wet shoes. Even the hand dryer in the toilet was no help at all. By the time everyone got in after conquering the rain, it was around 1.30pm. So while waiting for Wahidah, Joel, Marj and Kez watched American Idol and random videos on YouTube, I finally discovered the real singers to this one oldie song I fell in love with it (although I am not a fan of oldies): "Always the Last to Know" was NOT sung by Matchbox Twenty as I have previously thought, but by this 9os band called Del Amitri (sounds like some extension from Il Divo) so I was listening to the track over and over again until Wahidah came in. We are going to see her tomorrow concerning the video:)...anyway, we went out to shoot our outro (the opposite of intro...that is, our closing). Unfortunately, Gary wasn't around, so we were fortunate to enlist Andreas's help. Despite some problem with exposure, Kez and Joel gave some suggestions on re-positioning. So, we managed to shoot our outro in 10 mins, and I could rush back home to man-handle my little brother's b'day party...which, by the way, went rather well...except for the part they were making so much noise my younger sister threatened to call their parents...

(2nd) Day 10

My groupmates told me not to go to school today, since my sequence was perfectly alright...or is that an excuse to get rid of me? Anyway, while I am stuck at home, aware of the shocking truth I have to single-handedly run my little brother's birthday party tomorrow (although my younger sis is right now sitting next to me working on some pinata), my groupmates decided to reshoot a few sequences (such as the 2D one) so I really wish them good luck...really hard-working lot. Well, we are going to shoot our outro tomorrow...hope our shooting will go well cos my brother's party starts at 4pm...unless my brother can handle himself perfectly till I get home...10 seems an independant age, although Mum will kill me if I left him on his own...just see how it goes tomorrow, and my STUPID COUGH is not going away...still ongoing. My mum said it will strain my lungs over time, so being a natural hypochondriac, I worry. Took a bit of cough syrup already though *coughs*...

(2nd) Day 9-2nd Interim Assessment

Today, was our second interim assessment. We just received the rather cruel tip that our movie has to be in a tape, and not in a DVD-CD. How....our filming spanned across around four tapes; it will be rather hard to put-or squeeze-our completed movie into a single tape. Can that even be done? Well, anyway, we've just presented, and our new idea/format seems to go very well with our mates. But Wahidah said that our links/transitions were far too slow, and there was some problem with our audio. But she applauded our improvisation for that-our subtitles, which we have yet to put in. We also may have to re-shoot a few scenes. To add to the stress, we have sort of a mini interim this Friday. But we are confident that we will be able to do everything by deadline next Wednesday:).

Filming on Friday, 7 March

Happy International Women's Day everyone...well, everyone who's female, that is. I feel really normal...except my cough is still giving me hell. I need soursops now, not oranges...not enough Vitamin C. Arrived late-as usual- for filming today...which is like GASP, cos we were going to film the last part of our video...the conclusion, Oscar-style. Guess my work on the animated caricutures was for nothing:P. Anyway, Oscar came along with us for that special reason. Our conclusion was like Academy-Awards-Acceptance-Speech style, with each of us having an individual segment in which we hold Oscar and thank those who supported us....yadda, yadda...managed to wrap it up in 15 minutes, now lazing around on 6th floor while Marj uploads our footage...

(2nd) Day 8

My cough went up a bit...maybe I shouldn't have laid off the oranges:P. This time, I was sooo late...apparently, Marj SMSed me last night but I only received it this morning: Meet at 11am on 5th Floor Studio to film 2D and 3D Art scenes. MAJOR MISTAKE. Got there at nearing 1pm, so Marj shot the 2D Art scene (starring Kez and Joel; she did around two takes) before we proceeded to E-space to shoot 3D Art scene. Problem is....no Oscar. Okay....so we headed down for lunch at AS/IT School before hitting our Mac-Lab-haunt from yesterday. Will be shooting 3D Art scene after Marj's class....

(2nd) Day 7

I have plenty of blogging to catch up on...this morning, I took my lunch (woke up late), then took my medication, then walked to school. My nose is still running but at least my fever's gone and my cough isn't so bad. I handed in my MC to the General Office...then started walking around trying to find my groupmates. Where are they? I then SMSed Joel...hopefully, my flu has not spread to them. It was then Joel replied to my SMS, saying to meet him and the rest on the 6th floor. PHEW...lucky. So now, we are all sitting in a Mac lab on the sick-I mean- SIXTH floor, just taking a break and not planning to do any shooting. And now my nose is running, and there's a tremendous ache in my right ear...viral infection could have spread to that ear...God forbid I end up like Ayumi Hamasaki.

(2nd) Day 6

BAD DAY....fever escalated to 39 degrees Celsius, and my cough/sore throat worsened. My mum said I CANNOT go to school...oh, great. So, I SMSed Joel and told him about my condition...luckily, my groupmates were most understanding. I spent the rest of the day sleeping and stuffing myself with water and oranges while they re-shot Marj's scene. Hopefully....I am not slowing the group down in any way. Thank God that by evening, the flu subsided...the oranges must have helped. But still, I need an MC, so my mum brought me to a nearby clinic where I found out what I thought to be dengue was really a viral infection of the throat. I could start going back to school the next day...YIPPEE...

(2nd) Day 5

Woke up feeling as sick as hell...still, I dragged myself to school thinking it was nothing. WRONG. My sickness escalated in the afternoon, but still, I know that we were going to film intro. Luckily, my groupmates were most understanding, and we decided to film intro ASAP so I can go home and rest. I knew that after filming intro, they are going to do a retake of Kez's scene...thanks guys, for your kind understanding:).

Filming on Friday, 29 February

Met up with Marj and Kez to shoot my new sequence (I was presenting Drawing Essentials for our video) . So far, the problem of miscommunication seemed to have died down a little, despite the fact I walked out of a negotiation session the day before...hey, I wanted to work on our animated caricutures. Anyway, we went to Bedok Reservoir to storyboard...the taking-photographs method. It was a creative idea on Marj's and Kez's part. After taking the photos, we were to the 2D Lab to arrange out the storyboard photos (apparently, during my tantrum the day before, most of the storyboard has been taken) before Joel (he had the new script ready) came in. We then went to print out both items before going up to check on Oscar, and paint him. Then, Marj went for class, and the three of us started to laze around before realising we could shoot my sequence then. We then went back to Bedok Reservoir, with Gary, to shoot my sequence. We were still shooting the sequence when Marj came back from class (considering the huge problem I AM NOT A GOOD ARTIST and Kez had to kindly give me crash re-course in drawing). By the time we finished shooting, it was too late to shoot our intro like we planned, so we are going to shoot on Monday. We then went back up to spray-paint Oscar before exiting...and so passes the special day which comes only four years...

(2nd) Day 4

Today, the place is abuzz with news of Mas Selamat's escape...I walked into 2D Lab to find my groupmates working on the edited script for our new plan. Kez is working on the script, Joel is typing out lines and Marj is working on the schedule for shooting (planning to shoot next week).
Indeed, four's one big, cramped crowd.
I even heard Joel ask Mal of the other team to be my stunt double. Well, just play along...along three weeks left anyway. It's up to me to deal with current circumstances...and terrorist's escape is dampening me more. All the terminals are full; looks like I can't work on animated caricutures today...

(2nd) Day 3

My groupmates are not here...we are planning to recce rooms for our EDITED interview scene. Hopefully, this time we get one with good lighting. I wonder if we are going to do some filming...or at least draw up the storyboard for the whole video...why am I waiting...lalalala....happily watching goth-metal music videos on YouTube...lalalala...wait, is that Joel outside?...wait, Wahidah just told me that she saw Joel and Marj in 2D Lab...no, wait, they're gone...maybe they will come back...just spotted them in the canteen...man, I am so tired of running around just to look for them:P. Hopefully they'll come back up...getting more sicker, worried and nauseous at the same time, every passing second...can we still make it? Or rather, can THEY make it? Somehow, I just...don't belong anymore...What's new? I commited the major crime of existing...deal with it, mates. Maybe, they were right about me not having any initiative. But how do I know if they need my help at all? They don't seem to be complaining...not aloud. Sure, I honestly see myself as the weak link (as everybody does right now)...I should try to do more, especially for this last round...wait....wait...wait...just caught up with them at the canteen. Apparently, since our intro is too long, we decided to srap the whole thing and go with a pan-around-four-of-us-sitting-on-abench kind of intro. The mass interview thing was also scrapped, replaced with individual interviews, each taking place at a different venues. We will just be showing our works; no fancy stuff anymore. Suffice it to say we are back a t Square 1. Kez wrote and storyboarded out our new plan. We decided to start shooting from next week onwards. This time, handling the camera must be precise to make things look subtle and clean. Ideas for the content include something about opening doors and transitions through zooming. Guess that's enough discussion for now...

(2nd) Day 2

We're having a Subway feast, talking about the Academy Awards...while I am happily watching Justice League on YouTube. Then, Wahidah started talking about our NEW script: Still some problem with the 'student', like, what role does he really play? As she talked, she also shared with us some of her own experiences...benefits of 1-on-1. Anyway, I've just heard that Ronald wants us to storyboard his scene...hmm, discipline. We also decided to revise the visuals and script for our oh-so important interview scene: We plan to do our master shot first, then our individual shots. Anyway, we are now planning out our production timetable for this last round...

(2nd) Day 1

Enter the second-and last-block for our project. Although we have done pretty much, there is a lot of things to be done...or cut down. Our ten-minute video became around 16 minutes long, as we found out to our horror at Interim last week. So, today, we are discussing on ways to edit our script, and edit the script at the same time (Marj got her Macbook on). Anyway, since Joel and Marj are re-doing the scripts, there is , like, nothing to be done, so we are going off and they will submit the scripts to Wahidah by tonight. maybe with the extra time left....I can still work on our animated caricutures for our credits...

Day 15-Interim Assessment

Today was D-Day...we have to present to the whole class our progress. We were the third group to present; our presentation went rather well...except...our video was far too long, even without the scenes we haven't shot yet. Other than the length, we have PLENTY of things to work on. Thank God we have one block left; hopefully should leave us ample time.
*Have to re-shoot our interview scene (issues with lighting, framing, audio)
*My real-life scene after my Animation Fundamentals bit...people were like "what the hell is she doing??"
*Have to shoot our Drawing Essentials and Video Fundamentals scenes...if we can still squeeze them in.
*The fast-forward bit of our 2D Art Fundamentals assignments made everyone dizzy.
*Have to improve our script and produce a storyboard.
*Need to work on a good conclusion.
*More enthusiasm, please.
In other words, it's back to the drawing table. We need to discuss a lot...

Day 14

Wahidah wrote this on the board today:
INTERIM ASSESSMENT-THURSDAY 21/2
Present to class:
*Progress of work on an editing timeline
*Final script (updated)
*updated work schedule
*any revelant materials
*storyboard
We decided to work on editing whatever footage we have in the 2D Lab. Strangely, Joel has not turned up...hmmm....after some editing, we found out our video (especially the intro) is far too long, and we may have to scrap one module. Well, we haven't start filming our edited Drawing Essentials scene...how shall we present our Interim tomorrow?? My groupmates say we do not have to do it in Powerpoint...right? Right now, I just want to work on our animated caricutures for our closing...

Day 13

*We would like the viewers to join MOI because in Year 1, we had/it was...
*What will tell/show the audience that we had/it was...
These were the questions we have to re-consider. Wahidah handed us back our script...with marks on it. We really have to work out our script yet again. Bad news...we don't have a storyboard of the whole thing. So far, the only storyboard we have is of the intro. As Wahidah went on, we learned that our role of our camera was pretty inconsistent, and we need more-say-interesting camera angles. Hopefully our audience still gets it. Another thing was the music video we were planning to do for our Video Fundamentals scene. Somehow, there was something rather irrevelant about the visuals. Then, there was our closing: Too abrupt and not a very smooth exit. She then re-questioned us about our Point-Of-View and camera transitions...do we still want to do what we planned to do? Will our audience still get us? Seems like we have to tweak our script again before we can do more filming. Anyway, we are planning to film our Ideation/Public Speaking scene later, after re-discussing our script. Then, Alfie came in and also told us about transition between the roles of the camera. We are stuck...we have nothing to discuss...time is ticking...well, at least we don't have to present the whole thing this Thursday!! Now, Marj is looking through footage, and Jo is offering to think through the transition part. Looks like we have to postphone shooting Ideation/PS yet again...
*UPDATE* We manage to do some editing on our video, and also shoot our Ideation/Public Speaking scene:) *points victory sign*

Day 12

We're supposed to be filming our Ideation/Public Speaking and 3D Art Fundamentals today. Wahidah showed us how to describe a pan ("Pan from 'shot size' of object down/up/left/right to 'shot size' of another object) and asked our opinions in describing a pan. She then explained that the correct term to use is not 'pan', but 'tilt'. We have to be clear and specific in our camera/visual scripts. She also said that when it comes to zooming, the statement has to be 'A zoom to B' and not start with 'Zoom'. Then, I received the message that my groupmates were on the 5th floor, filming our 3D Art Fundamentals scene. However, at the same time, Wahidah wanted to see my group about our script. Hoping to see her at around 2.30pm, I ran up to the studio and proceeded the scene with my groupmates. We were going to make a 50-cm tall clay sculpture for the scene; we wanted to make a gramaphone but we ended up making the Academy Awards guy-yeah, Oscar. Stayed in the studio all day: SORRY WAHIDAH!! HOPE WE CAN SEE YOU TOMORROW!! Since we were so swamped up with this scene (not to mention our second tape's running out), we have to post-phone our Ideation/Public Speaking scene to tomorrow. Sorry, Wahidah...

Filming on Saturday, 16 Feb

We were supposed to meet at 1pm, but I came sooo late. I walked in on my groupmates with our one-man crew, Gary, watching some animated movie. I found out from Kez that before I came, Joel's part of the intro had already been filmed. After looking through behind-the-scenes footage from a certain Disney film, and drawing up our name boards for the interview scene, we headed down to the TP Library to recce one of the project rooms there. So happen the lighting there was too glaring, so we headed back down to those small tutorial rooms on Level 3. Down there, we realised that we didn't have a clock. Crap. One of our interview frames involve panning down from a clock to Kez's face. What to do? We have to fix up the lighting in the room, with the help of the OHP Projecter there. Then, we went through our lines for the interview scene. After that, we applied make-up since the light may be glaring in our faces while Gary went through his lines.
We started shooting our interview scene, with plenty of bloopers. Time seems to be running out...may have to re-do...now, seems to be going well. I dun think we have time to film our Video Fundamentals scene today. I am not very sure when...anyway, I think our interview scene went well.

Day 11

"Okay, I know most of you have to re-arrange your schedule to fit the...getting the equipment," Wahidah said today...okay fine, similar to that. but good news is today our visual script seems to be doing well. We just pass her lecturer Amanda Ma's script and I think we'll be doing well. We are planning to film our Animation Fundamentals and Communicating Design Ideas scenes today...if we can get a camera...WE HAVE NO PLAN B!! I told Marj I will go ahead with doing up the credits/animated caricutures to save more time. We feel we have nothing to discuss today...everything seems to be going well. Looks like our script will be doing just fine...Joel just walked in with the edited visual script. Wonder if I should work on the credits now...hopefully we are successful in borrowing the camera for filming...Wahidah should be coming over soon to check on our script before she can approve...wait, Joel and Marj just went off to get the camera *waits for their return*okay...apparently, the uncle will not let us borrow...well, at east marj is saying something about having a camera. Now they just went back out to get a tripod...okay now they're back with the tripod...still waiting for Wahidah...okay, she says we have to give her a note on what we are doing on Monday (we are planning to do our 3D Art scene) and Tuesday. We will be filming later for Animation Fundamentals and ComDI, and tomorrow, we will be shooting our interview scene. I have just been asked to bring make-up for tomorrow-foundation, powder, eye-shadow and lipstick...wish us luck, and ciao!

Day 10

I wish to express a big thank you to Gary, our one-man crew who assisted us in Boat Quay while we were shooting our photos. Wahidah had taken a look at our visual script. She made some red markings on it, and she went through the whole thing with us: who does our interviewer represent, what mood we want to put forward, our visual aspects for a few modules, etc. She did mention that there were some 'nice turn-around of events' and she liked our idea for presenting our Video Fundamentals. However, she was hinting that we need to improve our visual script a lot. For example, our Digital Photography Fundamentals needed to show photos in both Auto (which we never use in the module) and Manual. Luckily, Marj and Kez volunteered to go back to Boat Quay to do that. After she left, we started discussing. Seems we have to go back to square one; our Drawing Essentials was too casual, so now we are thinking of enlisting Ronald's help. Basically our original idea which we have stuck with needs a total revamp. Not to mention we have to do more re-scheduling of shooting/filming. Thank God at interim assessment, we can still be in production or pre-production. But that will cut down on editing time. We need to cut down after we calculated our video will be 12.5 minutes long. Now discussing on how we want to re-do our Drawing Essentials scene. No, wait....maybe redo just the Drawing Essentials part, and the interview part and the visual script...maybe all is not lost.Now discussing how to make our interviewer-Gary- sound like our audience; make him sound like a secondary school student with a 'young' voice. So now it's a bit of a shift to asking the interviewer about his origins. Now re-doing the script and planning out our new Drawing Essentials scene...CAN WE MAKE IT???

Day 9

As I stepped into class today, Wahidah explained that by interim assesment, we do not have to produce a rough cut of our video. In fact, we could still be in production or pre-production then. And we cannot rent out our video cameras until next week. What the hell...we are too advanced. We may have to re-schedule some of our shoots. Not to mention she is still rather unhappy with our pre-production. I know my groupmates are most hard-working, and hopefully we can get it done. She then asked Raj's group to present their work (they apparently gave her a 19-page visual script) and from there, she started telling us about a 'shot list'. I think it's what the scribe records as he stands next to the cameraman, such as timinig, tape shot description and number of takes. She also gave us how a shot should be run, especially commands and countdowns. Not only that, we may not have to do in-camera editing but may have to edit on paper (play the camera and pick the footage we want, and write it down). Is she trying to say we cannot use editing software at all??? Overall, we really have to be organized with our work, as we have to apply such things in future works. True. So later, we drew up a shot list (see how hardworking we are) while I sketched out our animated caricutures for our credits/closing. We also looked through the footage we took on Day 8.
Right now, my groupmates are drawing up a two-columned visual script, waiting to go to Boat Quay to shoot our Digital Photography Fundamentals scene; take pictures of us taking pictures. :P. Hope it goes well...

Day 8

We shot some of our intro today. Shot Marj walking, me taking bus. We did that in the morning before coming to school. We rented out the school's camera and I brought my own DV tape (hopefully it's not given to the school by accident). We did have to do a couple of takes for each part as I observed. For the Bus part lasting just a few seconds, we took over 30 minutes to shoot a desired result. We also redid the video pan of our 2D Art Fundamentals work. When we went to class, we showed Wahidah what we have taken. Even showed her our edited schedule and even our four-columned visual script. WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE NEVER SATISFIED? She-die,die-wants a two-columned visual script. But anyway, she seem pretty happy with what we have done and she told us to plug in the Firewire so she can see it more clearly. i wasn't very sure how that went as I was collecting my 2D Art work. But when i came in later, my groupmates were playing around with the visual effects to bring out the white balance in our footage. After a while of stoning, we went up to the 5th floor to shoot our Drawing Essentials scene. In it, the camera focuses on me drawing in my sketchbook before panning to Joel and Marj talking. Then, I interrupt and present my own work. Kezia was to be our camera man. We did encounter the common problem of me not talking when it's supposed to be my cue, leaving Joel and Marj most befuddled as they tried to talk some more. We wrapped it up in around 15 minutes and went back to class. But by then, class was finished so we went over to the 2D Lab to do our two-columned visual script (although we have already gone ahead with production) and search for a song for our Video Fundamentals scene (we are planning to do that MTV style). We finally agreed with an old tune (not going to reveal what that it:). By then, Joel and I had to rush to our next class. Will be shooting our Digital Photography Fundamentals scene at Boat Quay tomorrow.

Day 7

Got my Mac today!! Today we presented to Wahidah our progress....she doesn't seem happy. Now we have to adjust our content. What objective we want to put across. What feeling/atmosphere we have to emote. Discuss, discuss, discuss. Have to draw up a visual script/storyboard....and we are not allowed to do any filming until we gave up that!! luckily Kezia came in with a storyboard of our intro YAY!! Anyway, Joel managed to get his hands on the equipment form and we can start loaning out our needed equipment. We discussed a bit more on how to present our Animation Fundamentals, 3D Art (we'll be doing a clay piece), and especially Drawing Essentials, after realising we have not included it in our schedule. Due to time constraint, we have to shift our filming dates and adjust screen times for our on-camera appearance. 

After Design History and Culture, I rushed down to 2D Animation Lab where i saw Kez and Marj writing up the visual script draft. and adjusting the schedule. Will be shooting part of intro later. Wish us luck. 

Day 6

Presentation 1 Day. Time to get graded. We thought our content was good...until we saw the other groups. We got feedback that we need to include some sort of a timeline and make a list of the resources we need. So after presentation, we discussed like hell:
* How to improve our content- we realised that some groups, including us, started out with fast forward. So we decided to slow-mo our tracking to school (part of intro). Maybe since we slow-moing it, those making way to school (me, Marj and Joel) should have some sort of EPIC music, like making dramatic entrance, then cut to Kezia, normal speed, in classroom. Silence. Comic Effect:).
*We decided to start filming next Monday:).
*For presenting 3D Art Fundamentals, we decided to do Joel's sculpture, We decided to make it 50 cm only. We need plenty of materials. Got Zaihan's permission:).
*We need to start planning out our resources...what we need. (SOMEONE GET RONALD!!)
*We then recce rooms for our interview part. After class, we sat in 2D Lab with Gary discussing which rooms to recce, while stoning at the same time. We recce Studio 4 in Arts Space, CDI Seminar Room, and Alumni Lounge. AL got very good atmosphere but we cannot use:(. But Studio 4 and CDI Room not too bad.
* We returned to 2D Lab, supposedly to work on our storyboard, but we somehow ended up stoning instead. Meanwhile, Marj and Joel planned out the schedule while Kezia typed it out on Powerpoint. After which, she printed out and distributed to all of us. Stone some more. Then, at around 7pm, Kezia volunteered to work on the storyboard herself at home (or rather, when she's in KL for Chinese New Year) and we all went home.
This is the schedule we have planned out for ourselves:
* 11 Feb-Borrow resources and equipment
* 12 Feb- Shoot part of intro (me taking bus and Marj walking)
*14 Feb- Meet at Joel's place to film him taking cab
* 15 Feb-Shoot ComDI and Animation Fundamentals
* 16 Feb- Shoot our Digital Photography Fundamentals module at Boat Quay near City Hall
* 18 Feb- Shoot 3D Art Fundametals, Ideation and Public Speaking
* 19 Feb- Do the Survivor part of our intro...and try to edit as much as we can.
* 20 Feb- Touch-ups/amendments
* 21 Feb-Interim assessment
That's all for now...GONG XI FA CAI!!!

Day 5

Today, we were given briefing on what we should have in our Powerpoint presentation tomorrow: How we organise/plan and our design-cum-visual-layout. So, we decided to work on our Powerpoint presentation first, before Marj opened up her GarageBand software on her Mac, and we tried to create music for our video. After that, we felt that we have no modifications to make, so no discussing, and just watching retarded videos on YouTube. I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU to Alan who happened to walk in with my Digital Media Fundamentals CD in his hand (he seemed to be rather grumpy about it...he must have put in a lot of effort to retrieve it SORRY ALAN!!:). I said my thanks, and we all viewed the contents of the CD together (I want to show my DMFun work in our video because I am pretty proud of what I did, plus I got an A!:). However, a few things did not play properly or show properly...especially my Butterfly!! So, team-mates, this is my Butterfly:


Yeah, you can all start laughing now...still waiting for Alfie to say if he found my Creative Storytelling. Presentation is tomorrow....wish us luck:).

Group Meeting on 1st Feb

Had group meeting yesterday, to discuss what to put in our Powerpoint Presentation:
What's going to be our theme, message, objective, graphic style. In other words, share our progress in the presentation. We basically have to tell potential candidates for MOI about what we do. For graphic style, decided to put animated sequence, interview, photos, text, yadda, yadda...
We can do a skit. Jump from body to closing. Have credits roll, with dancing caricutures. That will be all for now:).

Day 4

We got transferred to a new room today. We were shown excerpts from two more documentaries- Capturing the Friedmans and Bowling for Columbine. While Capturing the Freidmans is made out of Cloverfield-style video footage and family photos, Bowling for Columbine involves more of director's hands-on experiences and interviews. Two rather diferent styles...Anyway, after that, our lecturer gave us the outline of today's class: What is our format going to be like, what is our graphic style, what's going to be in our Powerpoint presentation on Tuesday (basically, everything we've discussed), and what is our theme/message/objective. So, being very hardworking, my group got down to serious business. We assigned roles first; Joel is to be in charge of equipment and being scribe, Marj is our group leader and other scribe, Kezia helped with rough sketches/storyboards, while to also help with the editing/software/technical stuff and me, to deal with the editing/software stuff. We will also help generate ideas. Finaaly came up with group name: Press to Exit (after getting inspiration from that exit button next to the door). During discussion, this is what we came up with:

Intro/Opening: Apparently, no one approved of my 'rotate out from black and then have dancing caricutures' idea; they say save it for conclusion. I then came up with the story-like idea of having the first few shots like trailing Marj as she walks into school. Then slowly, Kez and Joel threw some bits in and then, we decided....first part of opening, have flashing photos of projects, to give something like a preview. Then, the shots after that will have three of us going to school in different ways, with the fourth member waiting in a classroom. Rather movie-style.

Format/Body: Something like a group interview, where the interviewer's voice is heard but he/she is not seen. Interview, bits of flashbacks, present modules, heckle one another, candid moments, yadda yadda...

Conclusion: Dancing caricutures and flying titles against black. Enough said. May put a video at the side, like they do in movies, when the credits roll...

That's all for now. *yawns* Have no class tomorrow, but have group meeting at 9am. Hope to 'chiong' everything before presentation on Tuesday...something tells me I should give up, something tells me I should listen, something tells me I have to let go...

Day 3

We did nothing much today...just went back to LT 25 to watch excerpts from documentaries, such as Making of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, some Mount Everest investigation, and Fog of War. We were shown those clips so that we can gain some knowledge on how our final product should look like. Then we were shown opening/closing sequences from shows such as Shoot 'Em Up, Hostage, Monsters Inc, Iron Man and a few more I can't remember:P. Ronald then told us that as much as our content has to be good, our intro and conclusion has to be just as excellent. In other words, our work has to be consistent throughout. Alfie added that next to concept, we cannot over-see the technical parts; camera angles and exposure are just as important. Getting some brain juices flowing...
After that 'cinema' session at the LT, class was over and we all went to the canteen. I was desperate for some discussion with my team-mates but they somehow insisted I post my ideas on my blog. Wonder if that's a good excuse to get rid of me...
Well, here are my ideas, team-mates:
Intro: Do it like Monsters Inc. I am still stubbornly sticking to the idea of having the title rotate out from black. Title then flies out of the frame, and caricutures of us come flying in one by one, as in to introduce ourselves (we can use Flash or Photoshop for these animated caricutures). Like, after the title, then one caricuture comes in, with his/her name, then next one makes 'grand entrance', like push aside and yadda, yadda...music for this can be very mysterious...

Layout/Concept: We can do like this INSANE...we kill one another...like one person presents, and then gets killed by the next one, then at the end we all come together in one frame, shocking viewers...OKAY BAD IDEA...Anyway, I am thinking present in this order: Marj, me, Joel, Kezia (save the best for last *wink,wink*) Opening shot can be in a room, and then pans down to back of Marj facing her Mac. Next shot, is the back of the Mac, then track up, Marj looks over, and starts speaking. Let's keep the ideas we discuss yesterday guys, they seem pretty good (how to present certain modules, animations at the back of presenter). However, being a loyal/stubborn type, I still want to put in some animation slides (do u guys remember?) since to show some Animation Fundamentals and comic effect...unless you guys are okay with dumping all that on my part since I'm persistent:P. Marj, please remember my back-up plans just in case I don't get my Creative Storytelling and Digital Media Fundamentals back:P. Or like I said before, make up for it with some Flash. Stupid me...

Conclusion: We can do it like Monsters Inc; Caricutures of us next to credits (isn't that breaking copyright law?) or we can make our caricutures dance next to the flashing credits. Or, we can make a small video window at the side, with credits flashing or rolling next to it.

I guess that will be all for now...and by the way, KUDOS to Marj and Joel for neing our scribes, and Kez for being such an excellent idea generator...we so rule!

Day 2

Day 2. Found my thumbdrive at the print shop. Asked Alfie and Alan if it was possible to get back my Digital Media Fundamentals and Creative Storytelling as soon as possible. Anyway, went to class where we saw one another's blogs.
Then, it was back to more discussion on how to present out modules in our video. We considered scrapping presenting Communicating Design Ideas at first, but we brainstormed further and came up with having some 'live demo' of generating a collage mindmap on a whiteboard. Then we discussed on how we were going to present 3D Art Fundamentals. One of us came up with the idea of making another 1-metre tall sculpture together, but we eventually came to this rather comical set-up of one person doing a bit of the sculpture, then leaving, then another person come and remove/add some parts, so it is like a groupie thing. Another module we contemplated over on presenting was Drawing Essentials. In comes in another idea of another 'live demo', hopefully dragging Ronald into it. Then, we also discussed on how to present 2D Art Fundamentals (painting another 1mx1m piece was so out of the question!), maybe doing a pan of our works. Technically, we may end up mashing our '2-minutes-per-person' timeline up into something else. As for the animation part, we thought of doing little animations in the background while a person is presenting (i.e. a stick figure falling off a building). Wonder if we can still put in some Flash animated slides:P.
Then, our lecturer posed to us this question: What do we want to convey to our audience? After some discussion, we came to the point that we just want to tell our audience about what we do in Moving Images (from my team-mates' view, some of them had no idea what they were in for when they signed up for the course) and how fun we can be.
Then, a little bit more discussing (we were thinking of mashing Ideation and CDS Public Speaking in a comic 'before-and-after' moment) before going off. Hope to get more somewhere tomorrow...

Day 1

Natalya Thangamany here. This is the first day af two-months-long sheer grit and hard work, commencing on my MOI (Moving Images) First Year project. Here's the gist: Create a short documentary on our works from our first year.
Today, we had our briefing by Alan, guy in charge. Then we proceeded to our classrooms, where we started forming our groups. I first wanted to be in a group with three other mates, but due to some discussion, I was eventually 'transferred' to another group. So far, we seem to be hitting it off quite well. As soon as this project was announced, I pretty much had a good idea on how I wanted the video to go, so I shared my ideas with my team-mates. Ideas included the layout for our introduction, putting in snapshots of our work, and putting in little cute animations/pictures for humourous effect. I figured out that we will need Photoshop, Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects for this project.
We carried on our discussion during break, as in who will present what subjects. We then realised that we have to get back as much as our works as possible. Deciding on getting as much as we can by this Wednesday, we continued discussing how we are do our 2-minute long presentations. Overall, I think we are getting off to a good start. All we have to do is to get our projects from previous subjects back, as much as it.
So, I went home, opened my pencil case....and find out to my utmost horror, my thumbdrive is missing. Oh, snap.