Oh no, I just typed a long post for today and when I clicked submit, they said I was not signed in and everything was gone. Everyone, please remember to save save save! But its ok, I will try again... so here goes.   (calming down) (:

Today was consultation day for Groups 1,3 and 5. My turn will come tomorrow as I am in group 4.

Thus, I met up with Vivien and we discussed amongst ourselves our character design and helped each other out. Drawing together, I am able to see how others stylise their drawings in a way very much different from the way I work. Vivien gave me tips on drawing my characters according to measurements so that my character will look more accurate in different angles. 

I had given my charcter with a more stylised look and a simplified drawing style.

We also discussed Vivien's animation as she was facing difficulties coming up with her finalised character. What I realised was her problem was that she tries very hard to folow as closely as possible to her chosen character in real life, and by doing so, there is not much space for developement and her character looks very realistic.It was always a pleasure seeing these beautiful drawings.

There is no harm in having a realistic drawing style, however as she had other cartoony characters in it too, and the characters looked very different in terms of their styles, as though they came from different animations and thus did not fit in very well. Also with the given timeframe, I fear that there will not be sufficient time forher to animate and it will be a challenge trying to keep the consistency with all the details in her character.

Thus, with abit of persuation and exploration from diferent sources, we were able to come up with a character that had more personality to it and was easier for her to handle.I really hope our discussion today helped her. 

During our lunch break, I saw the old man from the drinks stall working, upon closer observation, he had interesting features to him with his spectacle sliding down to his nose revealing his tiny eyes and drooping cheeks which gave him a personality of his own and I wanted to take a snapshot of him to use as reference to my character design. After that, I went to the Muslim stall to buy food, and the Uncle donned in a white cap also looked very interesting with a white beard and friendly look.

Suddenly, everywhere I looked I was thinking of my charcter design. I guess I was slowly getting closer with my animation. Thus, I went after class and asked the Uncle from the drink stall if I could snap a shot of him, he was really embarassed about it and took some persuasion before finally allowing me to take his picture, and his whole family got excited about him, commenting he will be a new star. It was a rather amusing expereince. But also, I got rather embarrassed by it all too and didn't have the courage to ask the Muslim shop Uncle anymore.

I guess, these are all part of being an animator and I hope I'm on the right track.

Initially, I was feeling rather demoralised with Project 3 as my skills are very limited.

Today,I showed my character designs to Vivien, TY and Yichuin too and they gave me helped me with valuable feedback and advice which I really cherish. Thus, I hope to push myself further for this animation project as my way of saying thanks for the encouragement they have given me. 

Goodluck to you all too and don't give up!

Day 3-23April

Today we had to answer the 10 question given to us to help us understand our story better.

When you start embarking on these questions, you start to really think in depth on how your story really goes, the message you want to bring across to your audience, your execution and objectives.
I stat to realise that what I thought I already knew was actually not enough. The questions really help you go along way, and thus, they have to be answered with lots of thought and brain power.
I hope what I came up with is of substance. So, here goes.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

Brief Storyline:

A young Kangaroo adopted by a family 10 years ago saves the owner one day when he was struck unconscious by a fallen tree in a storm by alerting his wife.

Full Story:

A farmer who suffered serious head injuries after being struck by a falling tree branch was rescued by a partially blind kangaroo who is being hailed as a hero.

Lulu the kangaroo banged on the door of the family's home in Morwell, Gippsland in southeast Australia after discovering the farmer lying unconscious in a field.

According to Rural Ambulance Victoria paramedic Eddie Wright, the man had been checking his property for damage following a severe storm when he was struck by the branch.

Wright said that if Len Richards' family had not found him so quickly, he might have died.

"The kangaroo alerted them to where he was and went and sat down next to him, and that's how they found him," he said.

Richards was taken to an Austin hospital.

Richards' daughter Celeste said, "Lulu and Dad are very close and she follows him around, but we all just love her so much."

About ten years ago, the family found Lulu in the pouch of her mother who had been killed by a car. The authorities allowed them to care for Lulu and adopt her because she is missing one eye.

The Australian Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has urged the family to nominate Lulu for its National Bravery Award.

"From my point of view, it's a darn good story, and I would hope Lulu is nominated," said RSCPA president Dr. Hugh Wirth.


This News Report has been provided by the Animal News Center, Inc. ©2003
Animal News Center, Inc. http://www.anc.org

Credit:http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20030922/006885.html


1. Who are you telling the story for (primary audience)


Children aged 7-10

2. What reaction do you want?

Love animals
Recognise the intelligence of animals.
Heart-warming.


3. Is the narrative omniscient (all seeing) or restrictive (viewed from a single perspective)?
(If the narrative is restrictive, whose viewpoint are you using?)

Omniscient

4. List the important events of the story.
About ten years ago, the family found Lulu in the pouch of her mother who had been killed by a car.

Kangaroo and Dad are very close.

The farmer had been checking his property for damage following a severe storm when he was struck by the branch.

Lulu the kangaroo banged on the door of the family's home in Morwell, Gippsland in southeast Australia after discovering the farmer lying unconscious in a field.

Richards was taken to an Austin hospital.

If Len Richards’ family had not found him so quickly, he might have died.


5. Which aspects of the setting of the story are important (time of day… location… period of history…) and how do you intend to establish these important elements

Setting of story.
Location: southeast Australia –A farmhouse in that area.




Credit: http://www.simplyhomes.com.au/wp-content/uploads/image/morwell1.jpg




Photographer: Wayne Taylor

Credit: http://www.theage.com.au/national/arsonists-relit-devastating-gippsland-fires-20090202-7vrj.html



Period of history: Modern Day 2003

Weather: stormy with lightning

Time: Sunday Morning
(Breakfast on table)
(Rain and wind)

Clothing Of Man: Windbreaker


6. What traits of the characters in your story are important and how do you intend to establish these traits?


Dad:
Loving- spends time feeding and playing with the kangaroo.
Careful- always checking household appliances if they are working properly.

Mother:
Observant- always looking at the Kangaroo’s behaviour.

Kangaroo:
Close to the Father- follows him around the house.


7. In what order are the important events (step 4 above) covered? Is it a strictly linear sequence of events in time, or does the story contain any flashbacks or other interruptions to the sequence of events?

Linear sequence. 

8. How does the story flow, does the pace change? Does it contain a surprise? Consider your answers to 1 and 2 above when making your response.

The story flows from incident to incident in chronological order.

The pace is leisure and calm in the house but things get rough once he is out.

Surprise 1: When the kangaroo behaved strangely to attract the family’s attention.
Surprise 2(Climax): The farmer’s wife went with the kangaroo and got a shock to see the husband lying unconscious under the tree.

Last scene: The farmer back from hospital.

9. How will you use sound to help all your responses to 5-8 above?

I am using :

-calm background music when the family spends time with the kangaroo.
- intense music from the part where the farmer faints.
-rough rain and dramatic music when there is a storm.
-urgent music when the kangaroo calls for the family’s attention.


10. Does your story need dialog?
(write out the dialog)

There will be minimum dialogue.

Dad: I’ll go check on the farms. Enjoy your breakfast.
Mom: Your windbreaker is behind the door! Be careful!
Daughter: What’s that weird noise?
Mom: It’s Lulu! Better go take a look.


End


This is the end of my blog for today,
I will be working on the learning contract.(:
Thank you for your time.

Day 2-22 April

Today we had to present our ideas to our little group and try to remember every member’s story and present it to the class later on.
We had fun listening to everyone’s stories.
During presentation, most of us had a hard time remembering exactly the flow of each story, furthermore, there are three to retell and it was quite a challenge.
Initially, I though the session was just to share our finds with the class and widen our horizon. I assumed that what we will be learning from this experience is how each individual views the definition of weird in the stories they presented.
What I didn’t realise about till our lecturer mentioned was that with each retelling of the story, one can see the factors that left an impression on the listeners. Through this, I can also see how differently others view stories and events as compared to my own viewpoint all along. I can have a better grasp to the events in which are more crucial in bringing out the story.
At the end of the sharing session, I gained another important experience from sharing. That is the reaction of a large group of listeners. I am able to see how others receive my story and compare to the reaction I want, whether it tallies and make adjustments accordingly.
Lesson was quite enjoyable today and I particularly remembered two stories which I feel are very disturbing. One was a girl hanging herself on the tree during Halloween and people though it was a prop. Another was the 72 years old woman who was pregnant with a dead foetus for 60 years.
Remembering these stories help me see my own viewpoint from my classmates when I recall back and retell the story in my blog and I believe some of these concepts will come in handy in brainstorming sessions in the future.

Day 1-21st april

 
Today was the start of Project 3. We got into little groups and Alan passed us groups a weird story each to brainstorm the approach as to whether a video or an animation piece will best bring out the story.
Thereafter we were given a set of questionnaire to help us determine the possible scenarios in which we will have to take note of that will in turn affect our animation.
There were questions like spotting our target audiences, the kind of reaction we are going for and the important factors such as sounds and events that makes up the animation.
Everything had to be taken into consideration to create the animation. We had to show all our results later on and show how we are going to portray the above questions and incorporate it visually into our animations.
I was amazed by the scope of the areas we have to consider when we first saw the paper as there were many new points mentioned that I never really cared about in the past or saw the importance of it. For instance, I always though having a target audience does not really matter as I hoped the animations I create can be for a wide group regardless of the young and old. But through the exercises and explanation from the lecturer, I came to realise that this decision is very important and marks the direction of the style and in many ways makes the decision to sticky matters one will come across from time to time.
I never really thought of the reaction I would want from the audiences too. Knowing it now, I plan my events according to the reaction I would like and it just makes the whole story idea more interesting.
Today’s lesson was a valuable experience. Although I was quiet, many thoughts were flowing through my head. And I appreciate these learning processes.
Tomorrow, we will have to come up with a few weird stories and apply these steps. I look forward to applying these questions to my new found weird story.