Plan B - Discovery Project

So for my discovery project, I have decided to completely switch up my entire idea.  In my previous post about this project, I talked about how I was going to produce a song, record it, and shoot a music video for it.  However, due to time constraints and writers block, I have decided to completely switch up my idea.  

I'm sure most of you have seen an awards show so hopefully you all will understand what I will try to explain.  So in the awards show, before a presenter presents an award, they introduce the nominees right? What I will be doing for my discovery project is to create a video for the introducing of the nominees.  So for instance, in the Much Music Video Awards, the presenter will talk about a category they are giving an award for.  Then, it will cut to a video, usually with cool effects that introduces each nominee.  Then the presenter will announce the winner and they go up and collect their award.  Sounds confusing I know, but this example will make it more clear (0:15 - 0:46).  

First off, this was a random video just to show you what I'm talking about.  I do not like Avril Lavigne nor do I listen to her music.  Now that that's out of the way, I am pretty excited to work on this idea.  Although I'm very far behind as most classmates are finishing up, I know I will and can get it done.  I have many different effects in mind that I want to put into my video.  

All in all, I know what I'm going to do now so I just have to do it.  I have about 3 weeks to complete this project so it will be interesting to see how I will work under the pressure.  I know most of my classmates are nearly done, but I also know that I am capable of pulling this off.  It'll be like real industry timing.  In the real world, I'm sure I'll have to do more stressful time constraining projects than this in shorter time.  Anyways, less talking and more doing!

Graffiti Magazine Spread

In last term, we had to do a project in which we needed to construct a two page magazine spread, focusing on typography.  We had many different topics to choose from and I ended up going with "graffiti".  I chose this topic because I grew up and still listen to hip hop and in hip hop, graffiti is considered one of the four elements that make up the genre.  I also like graffiti because most artwork is very diverse because everyones still is so different.  Once I had my topic figured out, it was time to plan and design.

For this assignment, I used Indesign as the program makes it much easier to layout and design projects such as these.  After getting all my research and content figured out, I just needed to place things where I thought would look good.  This process to me was the hardest as the options are just so endless that I couldn't make up my mind.  I had three other concepts that I made but finally came up with the finished final layout and am really happy with it.  

Choosing "graffiti" as my topic, it was hard to find a good balance between looking too "crazy" and hard to read, and being too "clean" and not having that graffiti type feel.  I decided that being legible was the main priority over having that "crazy" graffiti look/feel to it and being too hard to read.  Overall, you want your audience to be able to read your article, otherwise there is no point in having it there.  I like the layout I created for the article page as it is easy to read, however, it still does have the "graffiti" feel to it.  The typography used for the pull quotes, as well as the pictures give it that "street" feel.  The finishing touch that I added was the spray can marks which I feel added the perfect edge to the piece.

Overal, I am really happy with the way the project turned out.  I was very unsure at first how I was going to be able to pull off this project without looking too clean or too crazy, but I feel that I pulled off the perfect balance.  

Motion Design Project

This is one of my projects I did for my Motion Design class.  I started by finding an image for the ice texture to make it look more realistic.  I then built my hockey arena around it in Indesign.  Once I had all my background put together, I then added the goalie in front of the net.

I also made the puck in Indesign by using the ellipse tool and adding a bevel effect to it.  The effect makes it look 3D and real.  Once I had the puck, goalie and background made, I then took it into After Effects to make it come to life.

The process was pretty easy.  I basically just key framed the position of both the puck and goalie to interact with one another.  To make it look like the puck was shot into the net, all I did was key frame the position as well as the scale to give it the effect that its being shot into the distance.

This was a fun little project for this class, and there will be lots more to learn so I'm definitely excited and ready.  I will be posting my next assignment shortly.

Kings Crowned Western Conference Champs

Dustin Penner celebrates with his team
scoring the OT winner in Glendale, AZ

It's been 19 years since the LA Kings have gone to the Stanley Cup Finals, and now they are back looking stronger than ever.  It's been a very impressive run for the eighth seed team, defeating both the number one (Vancouver Canucks), two (St Louis Blues), and now sixth seed (Phoenix Coyotes) to birth their first Stanley Cup Final since Wayne Gretzky lead the Kings back in 1993.  

I have been very impressed with this team all playoffs.  The addition of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were, to me, very questionable as they're past doesn't reflect well on them.  However, the need to add toughness and grit along with skill definitely helped lift this team to a whole new level.  Without these two players, the team would never have made it even to the playoffs.  Their captain in Dustin Brown was struggling and on the brink of being dealt.  The addition of those two key players helped elevate everyone else on the team and basically dominated each and every series. 

Darryl Sutter is an amazingly talented coach and he yet again proved that to the hockey world.  Before taking over the Kings, the team was under-performing, lazy, and showed very little heart as their season looked to be over.  However, once Darryl stepped in, his leadership and coaching abilities pushed the once hopeless team to now the Stanley Cup Finals.  

It has been very fun watching this team play, and look for them to win the cup in six games against the New York Rangers.  It will be a very tough battle as the Rangers are an extremely tough team to play against, however I really do feel that this year the cinderella story will unfold.  Kings in six, you heard it here first.

Discovery Project

For my discovery project, I decided to record a song and shoot a music video.  I chose to do this as working on music is one of my favourite pastimes.  Also, shooting a music video will allow me to use the skills I have learned in my classes like video editing as well as motion design.  I was very eager to start this project as this was the one and only time we were able to do whatever we wanted.  However, now being already at week 4, things haven't been going the way I planned.

Writing a song takes time and concentration.  Sometimes, writing a song just won't happen no matter how hard you try.  You basically get whats called "writers block" which is what I have been having for the past two weeks.  It has come to the point where I might just have to use a song that I have already made, or use an existing song from an artist.  If I can't write anything by monday, I will have to resort to to using different material.

Shooting the music video will be tough as well, however since I already know what I want, it shouldn't be too hard to do.  I got an idea from a McDonalds commercial for the main effect I want to use in this video.  Basically, in the commercial there are a set of hands that pick up a happy meal box and there is video footage playing on each side of the box.  It will definitely be a challenge to set all that up and work magic in after effects, but I feel like I am ready for the challenge.

Well, thats all I have for now.  I really hope everything goes smooth from here on out but I still have confidence that I will be able to finish my project in time.  Thanks for checking my blogger out, and I will be back shortly with more!