Project Proposal Unit2 what has changed from pp1

Working title: Intersecting Lives

Aims
Intersecting lives is a project based on a merger of two short films through which the author wants to enhance aesthetically the graphical representation of a subject by using digital media and techniques. This project is based around answering the question: “Can an artwork have an alter-ego?”. Which the author intends to answer by researching and execution of a film
The viewer would be observing two films at the same time. The concept of the film is based on a single character having two alternate lives. The main aim of this project is the reconstruction of an art work which in this case is a film. Among numerous ways of reconstruction of a film the author intends to consecrate on storyline, direction, treatment and artistic language.

Objectives
The main objectives of the project are as followings.
 The Usage of different treatments to enrich and furbish the graphical portrayal of the subject
 To explore the combination of 2D layers, Alpha Channels and 3D animation
 To conduct research in the area of direction.
 To achieve ability to express in a new artistic language.

Rationale• Art Form
The author of the project wants to compose two films made with two different techniques, which would then be played simultaneously to the target audience. This would be achieved by playing two movie clips on a projector/ Television.

• Movies Concept
The Concept of the movie is based on a character and his alter ego. This idea was derived from the living style of the main stream people in a metropolis. Inspirited by living in the fast and dynamic environment of London and Athens where the author has spent most of his life. It has been observed by the author that the people living in a metropolis city struggle and is in entropy. These live are influenced heavily by the close as well as wider environmental conditions in which the person lives.


The first movie describes a person who is career oriented and wants to achieve status in the society. He is not the life of the party and is usually found lonely. But this person is highly respected in his career life. His hard work has paid off by reaping him what he has invested in.

In the second movie is the alter ego of the same person is shown. In this life form he is life of the party. He is a failure in his career life and is trying hard to make the ends meet. But enjoys his social success and is popular with the women and friends.

• Why the intersecting lives?
The author is a found philosophy and history. He read a book by Plutarch, titled “Paralliloi Vioi”(Parallel Lives). Plutarch (46-127AD) was Greek historian, biographer, and essayist. In his book he takes examples of famous people from Roman and Greek era and fined similarities in their lives. This notion was at the back of the authors mind and gave birth to the concept of this movie when he experienced life in the metropolis city. Intersecting lives is reverse concept of the “Paralliloi Vioi” it is based on two opposite life styles of the same person. It shows two life paths that a single person can take resulting in two different consequences.

• Treatment and Techniques
The author would rely on two major techniques for the treatment of the video. One being the usage of Alpha channels and 2 D layers and the other is going to be Toon rendering.

Alpha channel is an 8-bit layer in a graphics file format that is used for expressing translucency (transparency). The extra eight bits per pixel serves as a mask and represents 256 levels of translucency. For example, TIFF and PNG are graphics formats that support the 8-bit alpha channel. The GIF89a format supports a 1-bit alpha channel that allows one color on the palette to be translucent. Graphics formats that are native to their image editing application may support multiple alpha channels. (http://computing-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com)

Toon rendering animation (also called “cartoon rendering”, “cel-shading” or “cell-shading”) is a type of non-photorealistic rendering designed to make computer graphics appear to be hand-drawn. Cel-shading is often used to mimic the style of a comic book or cartoon. It is a relatively recent addition to computer graphics, most commonly turning up in console video games. Though the end result of cel-shading has a very simplistic feel like that of hand-drawn animation, the process is complex. The name comes from the clear sheets of acetate, called cels, which are painted on for use in traditional 2D animation, such as Disney classics. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki)

The Alpha channels and 2D layers are going to be used to create the environment of the video. For example the background and the props in are going to be in alpha channels. The characters in the video would be rendered in toon rendering technique.

The Alpha channels are going to be used to achieve a surrealistic style. The author would try to create an out of the world environment. The blending of a 3D character in this surrealistic environment would be used to give it an eye catchy modern look.

Outcomes
On satisfactory completion of this project, the author is going to demonstrate:
• Practical skills in management of projects.
• Morphing scenes and switching channels
• Experience and ability to fulfill the needs of a client.
• Practical skills in Techniques used for the project.
• Increase background and knowledge by researching in the right context.
• An ability to express the author’s idea into visual art.

Media

• Software

• 3D Studio Max
• Maya
• Adobe After Effects
• Adobe Premier
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Nero CD/dvd burner
• Windows XP



• Hardware

• Fujitsu Siemens Pentium 4 (Laptop with CD Writer)
• Samsung Digital Camera



Methodologies

• The screening
The Author would like to make to videos played simultaneously. Depending on what hardware facility that would be provided by the university on the day of exhibition, the author would decide on how to present the videos. The two ideas that would be finalized with the consent of the course leader are:
• The videos would be screened on two walls on different angles.
• Or played on a screen or a TV where the audience would have the power to change from one video to the other. This would add interactivity for the audience.

• Research

o Visual Research
For visual research the author would use the resources available in the library and would also use internet. Especially research will be made on movies related to film’s reconstruction. Here the author would act upon the guidelines provided by his tutors to concentrate on the right resources to gain maximum benefit in minimal time.

o Contextual Research
The contextual research the author intend to research on the internet and cinema, exhibitions so he can improve his existing knowledge of short film and digital art.

o Technology Research
The author intend to do research in the technological methods and tools used in the developing alpha channels and Toon rendering. This would help him to enhance his creativity to new dimensions.








Risk Assessment

The author will evaluate the project on different stages to prevent possible failure in meeting the objectives of the project. Following are the possible risk that can occur.

• Virus Infection:
The author is going to use the latest anti-virus and keep it updated in order to prevent the infection of virus. Back up copies would be made on external drives and on write-able CD’s to prevent data loss.

• Failure of Hardware:
The equipment used to execute the final presentation of the project would be checked in advance in order to avoid malfunction during the exhibition. Back up of presentation would be taken in two or more forms for example. In the form of DVD and USB external drive.

The other factors of risk like unexpected accidents or health problem are not being considered here as they are beyond the control of the humans.














Timetable
December –
Project Planning
Determining Critical path to reach project objectives
Research on Alpha Channels and blue screen
Research on the 3D modeling
Research on Animation
Research on Concept of Alter Ego
Story boards

January
Experimenting techniques of Alpha Channels
Experimenting and Research in Toon rendering
Script Writing
Researching Sound track and Voice over
Finalizing in Style and Concept

February
Executing the project
Bit budgeting

March – April
Presentation of prototype
Executing the project
Editing

May – June
Final editing
Presentation and reflection







Bibliography
• Web Reference:
• Definition of Alpha Channels Retrieved: November, 2005 from http://computing-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/alpha+channel
• Definition of Toon rendering Retrieved: November, 2005 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cel_shading
• Background and concept Retrieved: October, 2005 from http://www.hdfcbank.com/index.htm
• Alter Ego and 3d characters Retrived: February 2006, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3683260.stm
• Alter Ego in art Retrived: March 2006, from http://www.pbs.org/art21/education/individuals/lesson3.html

• Book Reference:

• Friedlein, Ashley. (2001), “Web Project Management”, Morgan Kaufmann Publisher, San Francisco.
• Nash, John Malcolm. (1974),“Cubism, futurism and constructivism”, London, Thames and Hudson
• Nakov, Andrei. (1975),“The Laboratory Period (1912-1921) of Russian Constructivism”, London, Annely Juda Fine Art
• Mestrius, Plutarch. (unknown), “Parallel lives”, Harvard University Press.
• Roberts, Graham. (2000), “The man with the movie camera”, London, I.B. Tauris

• Movies Reference:
For Background and concepts:
• The Double Life of Veronique (1991)
• Being John Malkovich (1999)
• Fight Club (1999)
• Run Lola Run (1999)
• Octyabr (1927)
• Man with a camera (1929)

Maria's tutorials

The structure of these tutorials was quite different. Groups of 4-5 students we had a discussion with the tutor for 1 hour almost each group. Maria gave us 3 cards to write 3 answers in order to help the conversation flow. Every card was referring to question.
1st question: what captured our attention in our project?
My answer here was: The concept that captures my attention is the experimentation to recreate an artwork. The reason that this issue is important to me is because it makes me feel the freedom of changing style and treatment to something unknown and new.
2nd question: How this will be visible in your work?
My answer was: This issue will be visible via the presentation of two different treatments of a movie at the same time. The audience will be able to notice and even compare the two treatments.
And 3rd question: What kind of problems that are we going to face for this concept?
The answer here was: a- the short time that is available for the execution of two movies (the direction, the script, the 3d modelling, the animation have to be done by one person). This problem I think can be solved because I am used to work with tough deadlines. The other problem is that to making a film with your well-known skills is not so difficult but to find out a new treatment for a film cannot be forced to fit with the timelines so easy. I don’t like just to make a cut-and-paste solution to be ok with a course, but to gain something out of it.

Maria’s feedback was satisfying because actually didn’t want to change anything from the project but just added some other ideas. For instance I could make the objects or characters pass from one screen to another real-time. Whenever this pass is happening then the treatment of their appearance will change to the standard of the movie.

My feed back for Maria’s tutorial is that for one more time was very helpful, creative and optimistic even though am a fan of the strict critic. These turorials motivated me to work harder. I liked that we had the chance to change ideas and ask question during the conversation with the classmates.

ESSAY MADA2

Submitted by: Emmanouil Kanellos.
Student Number: KAN0569862
Unit Code: MADA2
Unit Leader: Andrew Stiff
Course: Masters in Digital Art



CAN AN ARTWORK HAVE AN ALTER-EGO?


Abstract

In the following short essay the author of this project has discussed the theme and the research of the project. The project is addressing the question ‘Can an art work have an Alter-Ego?’ The author tries to discover a new language of expression via art. The medium chosen for this purpose is the animation movie. For this purpose the author has done some research in specifically in the areas of direction, animation, rendering and artistic movements. The author intends to conduct experimentation with the video technique in order get the alter–ego of the art work. He has given examples of earlier artist who had worked on such projects and based his research on their work. These artists have experimented by using different art forms and different new for their era techniques. Taking influence and using them as a guideline the author is exploring into new boundaries. The research work is mainly based on study of books, websites and movies and examples of the work relevant to the project are quoted.



Research Question

"If you have the chance to be somebody else who would you like to be?" The etymology of Alter-ego is: alter (Latin: other) ego (Greek: self, I). In other words if a person is not satisfied with his current conditions or way of living in the society in most cases he looks up to another person real or imaginative. What if we transfer this concept in the art and specifically in the film making arts. Since the video as a medium can be more narrative. Therefore if we take a video as the artwork and then experiment with the contents, then the remake of the video would be one of its possible forms of its alter-ego. Reconstruction of a movie can be made in many ways. The author intent to conduct research on four main areas: storyline, direction, treatment and artistic language and answer to the question: “Can an artwork have an alter-ego?”


Critical Literature Review
The key resources of the project are:

Ladommatos, Andrew (1984), “History of Art”, Cyprus, O.E.D.B.
This book contains a historical and aesthetic contact of all the periods of art, from the ancient art till today. It contains information painting, sculpture, architecture and modern art. Moreover analyzes briefly every style and movement and helps the reader to continue his own research on the specific area.

Maudsley, Nigel (2003), “Research Methods and Principles of the Digital Moving Image”, London, London Metropolitan University
This is a technically based book which aims to make the reader discover different techniques of video editing and digital effects by tutorials of editing software such as After Effects and Premiere.

King, Mike (2003), “3d Moving Image production”, London, London Metropolitan University
Dr King explains different techniques of 3d animation from the basic to the experienced. He covers a field of 3d modeling, 3d animation, 3d texturing and 3d rendering. It can be very helpful for the beginners.

Nash, John Malcolm. (1974),“Cubism, futurism and constructivism”, London, Thames and Hudson
This book contains information for three unique movements of the 20th century. Very informative for the reconstruction of art issue. European and Russian artists saw their theme from another ankle.

Friends of the National Film Archive. (1963), “A season of the films of Sergei Eisestein : 1st October 1963-13th October1963”, London, National Film Theatre
A tribute to the artworks of one of the most important constructivist filmmakers and his revolutionary techniques. Descriptions of the radical black and white movies such as October, Potemkin, Que Viva Mexico etc








Content

Exploration is an in built characteristic of human nature. We try to explore either to reach our goals or because we are curious. The mystery of the unknown has always charmed us. To satisfy this curiosity people take risks and experiment. This in-turn leads us into development and guides the society to evolve into civilization. If we did not have this curiosity and the urge to explore and develop the society would stay static in primitive age. But because of this characteristic, humans live in houses, travel on the seas skies and space, use electricity, use computers, and have found cure to diseases by using variety of medicines, there is variety in what we eat and different styles of music and art. In art, artists experimented and used different techniques, material and mediums to find a new language of expression. This gave birth to new movements.

I think that when experiment is successful it leads to development. Artists used to take a long time to make one step of an artistic movement to another. Classic art was going on for hundreds of years and the same happened with the Christian art. Then Renaissance, Neoclassicism, Baroque, Rococo lasted half century to a full century each. In the 20th century every movement last for a few years and in the 21st this evolution has been even faster and reached to the point that an artist has the chance to experiment a lot of different styles in a life time.

An experiment of different styles is also the aims or the theme for my project. Through this course I want to find out a new language of expression, a language which is more influenced by art as a medium of expression. Coming from an advertising background, where things are driven by the needs and the demand of the customer, what I was missing is the freedom and liberty of expression which fine art offers. This was something that I urge to experience and I guess that forms the base of my motivation for my master in digital arts. This in turn has helped me to open my horizons in something almost unknown to me. I try to find my alter-ego artist. I have taken this issue and made this as a theme to my project. I am trying to answer the question “Can an artwork have an alter-ego?" where I make two movies - an animation movie with the knowledge I already have and another experiment movie where I have the liberty of experimentation and I investigate the freedom of fine art and find a way of expression of its alter ego.

To achieve this goal I planned in unit 1 of this course, I would greatly benefit by and understanding what other artists have done related to the reconstruction of art and at the same time developing the skills I need to execute this project. Artists in the past have developed different ways to 'see' a theme. For instance the symbolists replaced real objects or situations with symbols to express an allegorical meaning. I also developed a better understanding of Cubist movement. The Cubists analyzed the objects of their theme and re-assembled them presented another reality in an abstract form. Pablo Picasso said : ‘ I draw the objects the way I think not the way I see’ (cited in Ladommatos. 1984, p139). One more movement that wanted to escape from the solid imitation of reality is the Surrealism. Andre Breton founder of this movement gives us a fine definition of the surrealistic language of expression: ‘I think that in the futuristic combination of two conditions who seem to be dissimilar, the dream and the reality in creation of an absolute reality – a super realism or surrealism.’ (cited in Ladommatos. 1984, p140)

In my project the experiments of another way of expression will take place in the 3d animation field. Moreover after researching different techniques in 3d animation movies I have come to a decision that for one of the movies am going to use a rendering technique that I have not used before. This is the quite modern technique and is gaining popularity. It is called Non Photorealistic Rendering (NPR). The reason I want my renderings to be NPR is because it gives a mainstream mood that I think fits better to one of the movies. Cel-shaded or Toon rendering is the most common of the artistic rendering styles of NPR, makes the rendered works appear hand-drawn like comic strips and traditional cartoons. Toon rendering has also its tricks in animation that I am exploring.

Coming from a more technological based and advertising background I had a total different view for art and animation. So in the beginning I had a hard time in understanding art perspective. I think my research and observations has helped me and now I have a much better understanding of this prospective. Things have started to make more sense to me but there is still a lot to learn. Andrew Stanton director of ‘Pixar’ animation studios in an interview explains why a director should see an animation with artistic eye and use the computer as a tool:

As animation seems to be moving to a more technically based medium, I think one of the most powerful things is to have both an artistic background and technical knowledge. With animatics you have to be able to draw well and know the computer. For directing, you have to have a writer's sensibility and artistic background. Learn the technology but don't let it get in the way of what has made animation so great in the days when there were no computers. (Andrew Stanton, Pixar's official web-site www.pixar.com).

Talking about the 3d animation area is important to note an interesting exhibition that took place in Proud Gallery in London between 8th -28th of October 2004 which is related to my research – ‘The Alter Ego exhibition’. In that exhibition on-line video gamers met each other’s alter-ego in the form of 3d characters in a 3d environment. The reporter of BBC Jo Twist notes:

Virtual people are to step offline and reveal themselves in a "real-life" photography exhibition.
The Alter Ego display shows what kind of virtual characters people choose to be in online games and 3D worlds. (Jo Twist, news/bbc.co.uk)


Another source of my development is the environment provided by the university and the faculty in-charge of running our course. For example our tutors have given me very useful references for reconstructive methods in film-making; I researched them and found out some interesting aspects. One of these film makers is Sergei M. Eisenstein. I have learnt that he lived during Soviet Revolution era and he is a good example of the artists who tried new methods in their artworks. He was famous because of his style and the camera angles especially with his movie "Potemkin". After this movie Eisenstein had new project called "October", where he tried out a different artistic language with experimental montage and new cinematic ideas. The authorities didn't like the movie though and the film critics were bad too. In jump-cut online issues professor Murray Spebber notes that when Eisestein asked about his freedom of style in his movie October he described it as : “the first embryonic step towards a totally new form of film expression”.(cited in ejumpcut.org from Jump Cut no 14, 1977, p14-22)

In conclusion I would say that this project helps me to look into the unknown and quench the thirst of my curiosity of the art and experimentation in the medium of digital arts. I found this year a great opportunity of artistic experimentation and research.



Bibliography

Arnason, H. (1977), “History of Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture”, London, Thames and Hudson

Brion, Marcel. (1966), “Art and Romantic Era”, London, Thames and Hudson.

Friends of the National Film Archive. (1963), “A season of the films of Sergei Eisestein : 1st October 1963-13th October1963”, London, National Film Theatre

Gray, Camiella. (1971), “The Russian Experiment in Art 1863-1922”, London, Thames and Hudson

King, Mike (2003), “3d moving image production”, London, London Metropolitan University

Ladommatos, Andrew (1984), “History of Art”, Cyprus, O.E.D.B.

Lucie-Smith, Edward. (1975), “Movements in Art since 1945”, London, Thames and Hudson

Maudsley, Nigel (2003), “Research Methods and Principles of the Digital Moving Image”, London, London Metropolitan University


Nash, John Malcolm. (1974),“Cubism, futurism and constructivism”, London, Thames and Hudson

Roberts, Graham. (2000), “The man with the movie camera”, London, I.B. Tauris

Saunders, Dave. (1994), “The World’s Best Advertising Photography”, London, Batsford

Web

www.pixar.com
www.wikipedia.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk
http://www.pbs.org
http://www.ejumpcut.org/
http://blackboard.arts.ac.uk/

storyboard

Tutorials 08-04-06

I will publish here the tutorial report sheet and the feedback from the tutor.
WORK TO BE DISCUSSED - BRIEF DESCEPTION
-the progress of the project
-Last time we finilized that the research answers to the question :"Can an artwork have an alterego?"
-New ideas and experiments

CURRENT ISSUES/THEMES/INTERESTS - THESE MAY BE PRACTICAL, THEORITICAL, PROFESSIONAL
-3d modeling
-3d rendering
-Developing the story

SPECIFIC STRENGTHS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
-Improvement in 3d toon rendering
-Learn some animation techniques
-Listen feedback and make improves

TUTOR'S COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Need to develop a composited set of images so we can discuss the whole work.
Start developing and editing timeline.
Explore what animation is - visual quality.

3d characters' progress (female)

3d characters' progress(male)