It's raining...!!!!

Yeah,
so it's raining...

I thought I would take the small Canon out, which is lucky because it's actually pouring...........

I have captured some lightning-strikes, and the rain looks good when you zoom the Camera in.

Anyway, just thought I'd quickly note that, don't have much else to say actually...I don't know, I guess maybe the shoots are coming to an end...good news

Tell you what though, there's a lot to do in just Post-Production alone, lots of Compositing and such, and not to mention the 3D Animation Characters....

The idea, I think I mentioned yesterday, seems to be coming together too. Have a think about the Animation Characters doing the Scene, and the real Characters would be about Subtext then, and Metaphors.....but remembering that Daniel the Card-Player is real, (I worked that out earlier this Arvo), so who are the Animation Characters? (Do you know what I mean? Maybe we don't know them, yet!)

Anyway, hopefully the gardens are enjoying the Rain...!

Cheers, Alexandra :)

Hello!

Hi everyone,
Just checking in at school quickly, thought I would show you this awesome photo from the other night!

Great Sunset, isn't it?

I'm shooting again this week, so hopefully the weather stays fine. Tonight it's meant to storm & rain, so I might try getting some shots then too...

After having a Consultation this morning with my Post-Production teacher, I think we resolved the Animation idea. I think that the main parts should be Animation, and then from there, I would start thinking about clever moments where you might see the Character in real-life, sort of thing.

So, I'm going to sketch up some storyboards before I do this (finish it I guess), or we'll see how we go....(?)

Hope everything works out, see-ya....

Alexandra

Deadlines creeping in (time is running out)....

Hey guys,
I said I would write, (and have media up this weekend), well I thought I'd better say Hi. Stuff is mostly ready to be shown, expect honestly I'm still gathering my thoughts, ideas change pretty fast, I'm not sure what to think of everything....
Anyway, hopefully the shoot works this week, and that my Lecturer lets me present a Cut in the week after this, but it also depends on the other students I guess... The Blogger also needs to be ready, so I better get onto it... I've got a notebook / journal for 'an independent film company' as I've told you is an old idea. But if I plan on putting it online (actually) then, like, I wan't to prepare the content, and I keep putting it off and doing other stuff (research & reading) which pushes me along, but the deadlines are creeping up a little too fast....
I don't know, what do you think?
Hopefully I get a grip,
& get a 'Post Documentation' Assignment in tomorrow...
& the Cut, well, (along with other stuff; Blogger & other references I guess), and some control over the Film would be goooood! (Hopefully, I'll get the extra week, and maybe that would be better, because we MIGHT work out the Scenes!....
Cheers,
thanks for reading...
Alex :)

Mid-Semester Break...!

Hello Everyone,

Hope you're all one break as well and having fun, or having fun at school! I've been catching lots of extra shots with the mini FUJI, (no water shots yet), and videos of 'people', so that's good, we're getting more sociable,  and I'm also trying to build the Characters as I go along. I think this can catch some realness or a touch of reality to the performance. People seem almost actually comfortable with the Camera. I've had a lot of people just walk past (without a care for the Camera) and don't seem bothered that I'm there.

I've captured lots of Dogs, and their all gorgeous, and even, I think two kids, (with their parents). I plan to keep the Project within the Community (so to speak), or locally if you'd prefer to say it like that...

Only thing is I've got to find the Story still...I have several starters (and enders), plenty of keying and even Storybook Animation temps, but it's still seems a bit crazy for me, so I guess I don't know what it's about yet. Poker obviously, but reading simply a few pages from that new book I got, 'Zen and the art of POKER', I realised that it could get heavy with the Philosophy, because I'm starting to realise it might be more spiritual for people, then I'd ever realised. (As a kid...) I don't really know how to play Poker myself too well (at the start of the making the Film it was about Blackjack, I guess it still is in some ways, but it would make more sense to see Boys playing Poker together), so I guess that the 'discovery' might be part of it as well.

It's a simple idea I'm looking for, it would be, with so many other ideas swimming around...

Anyway, catch up soon, have a good Weekend............!!!!!!

Aleksandra :)

where is the Future?

Hi, it's Alex,

So it's another week, and boy am I getting tired. I got to sleep in this morning, after about three weeks of late nights, shooting and some morning appointments, it was much appreciated when I finally rose at 2:30 or something this afternoon.

I thought I'd show you a picture of me (as a little girl), in a Locket which I want Sacha to use in the Film. It's also a good way to get a Doll in the picture...

That's me on the left, when I was 7 years old (on a holiday in Poland I think) and on the right is a gorgeous little Baby which is my own little secret....

 I don't understand where all the people have gone, that said they would help. I wonder now, if I even actually knew them, because I can't for the life of me remember half the faces or names. (That's not right is it?) Anyway, some series shots I got, using the Continuous Shooting Function on the NIKON D90.

It's a better Camera than you think, and it's actually harder to nut out all the Functions and Exposure controls, compared to later or more Professional models...

I'll catch up soon, and hopefully get around to putting in some Gallery work. (I just can't seem to find the same path as last time...) Have a good Semester Break everyone, I'm trying to, I'm almost feeling awake!

Cheerio...A

Shooting in the Greenscreen Studio

Hi, it's Alex,
    For those of you who want to know, it's pretty hard getting it together to shoot in the Studio. Luckily I remembered to take everything I needed, and became a bit more creative with shots, than expected. I guess you just have to try, and it starts coming together. So far from the bits of Story I've been able to muster, by doing it myself, makes me feel like we're going on a journey somewhere. The Girl (who we're not sure of who she is), is taking the Audience and the Bears somewhere. Even I'm wondering what's going on!!!

I'm going to fully update my Blogger site soon, I'm still getting familiar with moving around, but I've found lots of options, for expanding the online content. There's are pages where you could have different Folios, I could section off the Location photos with other Set Dressing or Cast Profile shots. You can also share photos through some Gallery Site, where I'm thinking I'll post a variety of Photography. From Productions Stills to Cast shots, as well as a selection from the multitude of Locations & Settings available.

The content is collecting quite rapidly, and I can see where the Animation & Composting aspects are coming into it, it's just a bit hard to understand, because I'm sure there's a crazy amount of work to come, which will explain the idea, once we see it actually get composited together...

So, things have changed, but the ideas that were more imaginative seem to be hogging the limelight, so I'm just wondering when I get to see some real faces, or someone that can at least come and focus the Camera for me. It's a bit hard stretching you arm out a couple of metres....

Anyway, hope your weekends are going well too....
See-ya, Aleksandra....

Currently Shooting

Hello!
It's Alex...
Things are looking better, but I'm still juggling Cast & Crew issues, and trying to work out what to do. It's seems to be all up to me, so I've been getting shots of myself (home-video style), having the camera propped somewhere. It could be a cool stream of sequences, of something that's unrelated, but intrigues the Audience's curiosity. The Scenes with the Cast are really important, and I'd like them to be Portraiture style at times, and have picturesque landscapes to accompany, relatively. It's hard to see this happening, when I can only manage to ever talk to one person at a time, so it's not really up to them is it.

Semester Break is coming up, next week, so I'm going to get some Posters, & other Marketing elements started properly, and hopefully I can muster enough content to create a Trailer. I have heaps of extra cutaways, but the Narrative is necassary. I'll have a lot of movement with Titles, but more leading towards creating an impact. Hard and Strong, and a VO that's is going to enthrall the Audience to the Mystery of why all these lives have become strangely interconnected.

Vision, Footage, Edits, more Photos are on their way, and I'm getting pretty ready to finalise some potential  Small Business ideas. At least starting a Website, (which can do on Google, Blogger...), so that should be a good easy start, because they have templates and everything. All I'm looking for at the moment, is something simple that can just put my name out there, and slowly I can add Films & Animations that I've created, and even worked on.

A cool idea I came with, could be some kind of forum board, where people could even share ideas with each other, and this would be seen as honest open content, because the Film Company I'd like to one start, would be about Independent Films, or even Underground Films. Dogma I would sometimes also see in this Category.

In the future, I'd like to work on many kinds of things, not just Directing Films, but also working in TV. This kind of experiences could be as crazy as much as you think is exciting. If you know what I mean, you would get to meet a lot of different and interesting people, as well as work some great shows. Beyond this Animation, Special Effects and even Documentaries still fascinate me after years of exploring them. An new idea is all you need, to get the imagination started, that's when you start getting new ideas for Design.

That's why I think the Film, "A Working Title" could really work if I incorporated Animation, Greenscreen Compositing and elements of Photography. I think there's something to be said, about how these elements could look interesting together, as well as tell their own Story.

Just looking for the Characters at the moment....Hopefully, what I've planned to shoot tomorrow (Card Scenes), happens, because that would take a great weight off the Story. After this, I will be able to think better about the relationship between Daniel & Sacha, or even what it really is. If we don't know about the Future, then you could even speculate that they wouldn't really know each other. But that's really about faith, that how you see things, is how you would expect them to happen...

Anway, wish me luck, tomorrow's going to cold (7ºc-min), so I'm looking forward to see if there are any interesting surprises!

Have a good night guys...
Alex :)

Good Weekend Everyone ???!!!

Hope you've all had a good weekend, there's been some mixed weather, so I got some shots of the street when it was raining...can't wait to see how the turned out. Well, anyway, the next week is going to be busy again, with the Camera Equipment coming over, hopefully we get some important scenes done.

I remembered how I wanted to shoot the Card Scenes using the other Cameras as well, sort of making it like a multi-cam scene, but some may be security or even a 'ghost' watching on. I've finally made a Cut of the Scene we shot last weekend, it seems to be coming together well, but now I'm not sure what's going on between Sacha & Daniel. I mean I really should know! Don't you think...

People seem to be really mysterious at times, as if I shouldn't whisper another word, when other times, they're all open ears to my musing and babbling about more new ideas about the Film. It will be fun to really edit, once I get my mind wrapped around all the shots and cutaways.

Really...there must be an easier way. Some of the music I've got will be interesting, I'm just waiting for a 'visual' clue to get me going. Later, I can rely on Music and Atmospheres to enhance the Film and Sense of Journey. but this will be seen more as a fine-tuning process.

For the time been...there is an element (even a small Character) that will really get this story going...

Wish me Luck, & have a good Sunday night!!!

Alexandra :)

a few more photos...

Here are some more Photos I've taken recently...

Busy 'transferring' footage into FCP, so I'll start showing some moving clips soon enough. A tutorial shouldn't be too hard to follow, heh?

Anyway, catching up on sleep from last weekend, all week, so my brain is ready to edit something. It's getting close...

The above shots are going to be interesting to see, because they based around 'playing with light' so there can be many metaphorical things to say, as well as accompany with some suitable music...

Some night shots look pretty spectacular when you let subtle nuances of colour play a role...

I just need to get some of these ideas onto the Panasonic P2, so they can appear properly in the Film...

Some more Sunset shots, it's really amazing to see how light and colour can play an important part in the image, without anything else been said, or distracting us....

Anyway, I'll give an update, to let you know how the weekend is going...

Alex :)

Things R coming Along...

Hello People!

Resolving my ideas slowly, so that's good, still haven't done much editing, but am organising things and getting notes down. I'm not sure what to do from there...there are so many different shots, you need to be sure what it's for.

I've picked up some basic computer books the library had withdrawn, so I think it'll get me going for Web ideas. At least getting ideas down onto paper seems to get the ball rolling. I'm not sure why I get stuck before anything has even happened, and before you know it, there's like 5 hours of footage to use!

Strange isn't it?

My initial compositing idea, I had hidden at the back my mind seems to be in control of things, funny really...

I remember now telling people different things, as if there really are several stories going through. For example, the Funky Bar at one stage was only going to be used for Back-Plates, same as the Local Cafe, yet when I was talking to people it was always about Casting. I never worked out the problem, and still can't...

I mean that's all okay, some people got told they'll be a voice when others are Acting in it, and I need to formulate all my ideas so I can work out who or what all these Characters are. I'm sure it'll be funny at the end of the day, once it all makes sense...

So the status of the Project I think is good, but there you go, I'm also rather confused. I mean to say, I think I'm not getting much done, but am shooting all the time, so it's good that I like the idea as it's coming along, even though I can't see where it's going...

I can't wait myself to see what it looks like, when I get all those crazy thoughts I had on the day, together into some coherent structure. It needs a Narrative, (a strong one), but it also needs Narration, so I think it's about mixing these ideas as well as those to do with actual Technology and Sound Design, and Cinematography, because it would express how life is harmonious like this...

Anyway, there's for a bit of Philosophy for the end of the Day...
C-yas...Alexandra

End of the Weekend...!

Hello!
We got a scene done, and I think it's starting to make a bit more sense to me. We shot a scene between Daniel and Sacha, just as and extra skit scene, (that could be included earlier on in the Film). It would be more of a Scene compared to the others in the sense that you can see it 'existing' as a scene or as you might see a skit. (Always quick or circumstantial). Here the twist and turns begin, because you really start seeing ideas flow more, once you have something to look at, and it should come full circle...

Anyway, I'm sure things will start coming together, and I'll work out how to show some sequences of the actual film, so you can see the 'work in progress'. I'd like to show you some Animations I did during my Film & Television Degree, because that's where the Animation ideas might be based from....

That's a different story really, I need to get properly online so I can get into the Previz part properly. So a bit of strange concoction it's turning out to be after all...


Anyway, hope you all had a good week and weekend, mine was pretty productive I would say. Next week warnings though, there are a few storms expected, so narrow escape really....!

Alexandra.... :)

Gangster Animations & Fairytale Settings ???

Hi!
It's Alexandra,
I picked up the equipment yesterday, as you know, and the weather has been really good, except for gusts of wind. But the shots I'm getting look colourful and stuff, so that's good. So the scenes are been looked at basically, because a lot of the ideas I've gotten up front are actually related to Animation (or Compositing) whereas the Actor (People) things seem to hold a small portion of the Story.
So what I'm really trying to work out, is how to balance the Story, so that the different ideas come through, but it's a complex task I guess. The Characters could really meet anywhere, so the Locations are changing a bit there. I'm thinking that if I'm open with the scenes to some sense, and the Location changed, well then make up for that with the Animation part.
This however would be planned and related to the actual Story, so I'm not sure why I'm not getting it ????
I've got probably enough to think about Animation,  but then I can't resolve the Story, if I still have to get stuff with people.
The Casting I have to admit is a bit muddled, because one of our friends, who was playing the Antagonist (Chocka) is acting a bit psycho, and I would like to maybe get someone older for that role anyway. Then Chocka would be Sacha's father, and it would work for the Story more.
Hopefully we get some dialogue from people, even if I have to keep adding alternate streams, and start adding some talking there. (I mean I could do that anyway, as well.) See why I'm getting confused? Hopefully the answers will come one day!

Here are some photos from the last little batch of photos (still trying to think of some underwater stuff). Anything would be cool...

We've been getting great sunsets, for like the ending of the Film, or a Scene. It could have more meaning I'm starting to think. The really important things only need some recognition, otherwise you might be overdoing a simple idea, yet the Tree outside our window, really seems to be a good idea. (Interesting isn't it?)

Here is my little Teddy. I think he's a cute Character, who you'd see in Daniel's Flat, but for some reason he gets out somehow and witnesses some interesting things himself...

So there you go! Hope the rest of your weekend is eventful, and probably catch up early next week...
Alex :)

Hi Quickly...!

Just stopping in to do some Data Wrangling, so I thought I'd say that photos are on their way. A new picture of me too, so you can get a better idea of what I look like. Things are going well, still not sure myself how to get around Blogger properly, I'm sure I'll work it out, but yeah, more to the point you'd want to see some online ideas for Web Sites and maybe some Marketing ideas.

I've been thinking about these heaps, I guess it's been hectic so it's hard enough to write a simple note down on a piece of paper sometimes...

My philosophy is the more the better, and if it doesn't make sense, then you probably wouldn't do it. Or include it as an idea. Merchandising for example can get wildly out of hand, but it would be cool to consider this as an idea, because there could be a lot of cute connections to the Film. This is what got me further thinking about Animations & Compositing, and keep thinking that it might be the proper resolution for the Story. But whether to mix certain scenes and how, is now another question.

I did work out how to download the photos from the waterproof mini-stills camera! Here's some proof...

Some Night Time Photography (near our House)...

I'll probably have to organise the photos and clips a bit, as well as the Story (I guess) or Stories, but I'll show you a series of them soon enough!

Alex...

Story Update & the Future...

Hey, it's Alexandra,
Still a lot of changes going through my mind, it seems to be simplifying in one way, but by incorporating other platforms, well I can't even finalised simple things like flowcharts and post scheduling because the shoot is totally up in the air. Meanwhile, I've been looking into what I might do next year, because that needs to be thought about this time of the year. I think I've settled on Digital Design, because you can do all sort of things, including Animation and probably some Web Design. I picked up a book about Dreamweaver, so I'm going to have a flick through it. I'd like to at least design some kind of Website for the Film, even if it doesn't go on-line, but there are heaps of short-term offers where you can keep a Site for a year or something. So this could be interesting to see, especially while I'm marketing the Film, ie Festivals and getting the DVD out to as many people as possible.

So, part of the Story's resolution comes from the research I did on Demon Rabbits (because of the Bunny), and I thought that a group of friends could be having a pass away conversation out the front of a Church, talking of Demon Rabbits, and joking about Bunnies. Things start going weird, and my impression would be that the Church overheard this conversation, and say freaked out or something. (As the Demon Rabbit actually refers to a Cathedral in France somewhere, in case you're not sure.) Well there's a strange path to go down, but hopefully I get the answer to some strange riddle that's actually taking me around in circles.

I'll chuck some more photos I've taken, tomorrow hopefully, and some of me too...
Alex :)