Why use cardboard?

One of the threee main points is that its all recylceld materials. everything i used has already been discarded from it original purpose.


The second point is the cost, i have little to no budget and the material costs of using wood or plastics is hight total cost of uysing plastic modling for the whole project exceeds £200 without considering mistakes or alterations. The total cost of using cardboard is less then £10 when all the glues and sealants are considered.



Simple paper can be turned into amazing things, the only down side is its lack of strength card has the same versatility but with far more strength.








"Learn how to make cool functional furniture with cardboard! Gomi Style is a DIY lifestyle and design show created by San Francisco Bay Area makers, artists and engineers using found objects, recycled materials, and technology."


"homemade cardboard thompson that transforms into a tommy gun"


Home made replicas of all the Halo 3 weapons.


A puddle jumper built from scratch using Stargate screen shots for references.

instructables.com

http://www.instructables.com/



This website is brilliant for anyone who wants to make anything from a jet engine to film props. i have been a member of this sight for a while and its a good recourse for making anything. all the content is user generated and they give step by step walkthroughs of the process they used to make it as well as downloadable PDF instruction books for members. At the end of this project i will PDF the instructions of how i made my guns and upload them to give back for the help i got from there.

Cosplay

There are a wide range of skill levels in the people that do "Cosplay". allot of the costumes made are really bad (i only have room to talk now i have tried making things myself) but some are really good especially when its not just the big blocky props but latex and rubber costumes.

Raiden - Metal Gear Solid 4














Samus Aran (Varia Suit) - Metroid Prime

Stargate: Behind the scenes

http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/07/02/the-sci-fi-digital-press-tour-report-part-two/

I have watched though 314 episodes worth of behind the scenes footage and besides the mental headache i have i also know so much more about the way its made. Each episode of the bonus features is done by two of the production crew (e.g Director, director of photography, special effects artist, set designer e.t.c) and they talk about there specific are of work for that episode. Some would say that i have ruined the seres for myself but i think i can now appreciate it more now that i know how much is real and how much is added later. It is a good job i like Stargate because other wise i dont think i could have watched so many hours of bonus features.











So much work is put into the costume design for background extras and the whole departments just to direct the extras that are walking around the sets.









Though it totally ruined the illusion it was amazing to see the set for what they actual are. Seeing the physical set let me see and better appreciate how the shots were done.








Seeing the direction and support for the main actors was also good making sure that there comfortable even when that have to film in a pool of water for hours on end. Seeing the actors that are monsters or villains wondering around set with drink reading a script is a bit surreal after being a fan of the show for so long.















Seeing the parts that are filmed on location is the most interesting and illusion braking. scenes were thee completely alone, shot that people would just assume were simply the actor running though a wood. The were parts that went though how the lighting in seemingly well lit outside shots was changed to make a scene more professional looking.

Monster's Vs aliens in 3D

This film was on my "To watch" list yesterday i went to see it, i had to go to the Vue cinema on Kirkstal road because the one in the city center was only showing the film in 2D. The new type of 3D that it is made in and that i previously mentioned on my blog i also mentioned in my dissertation and have been waiting a long time to see. I was not disappointed it was the best 3D i have ever seen by far on top of that i loved the film, the animation, the story and the dialog. The overall experience is something i have not had in cinema since i was a child.

If you are going to go see the film then stop reading Im going to start with a synopsis then mention one or two rough things about the film in general but if your going to see it dont read on.



A meteo hits woman named Susan Murphy and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government base where she meets a collection of monsters also captured over the years. As a last resort General W.R. Monger convinces The President to free the Monsters and send them to fight the aliens and save the world.
















Hugh Laurie ... Dr. Cockroach Ph.D.
Funny evil genus, every monster film needs one it being "house" was a little off putting at time but beside that he did so well.

Seth Rogen ... B.O.B.
Every comedy needs a fool and bob did it brilliantly.

















Rainn Wilson ... Gallaxhar
Gallaxhar made a brilliant villan.

Will Arnett ... The Missing Link
An bit of a ladies man-thing with an ego problem.













Reese Witherspoon ... Susan Murphy / Ginormica
The hinge pin of the film being many things, the main character, the main story point and the emotional anchor of the film.
Insect-o-saurus had no voice so no actor with credit, i brilliant fluffy version of Godzilla


The special effects were really nice too especially considering the animation was done in in the Dreamworks animation style. i cant say wether the explostions and the falling debris would be such an impressive effects had i been watching the 2D version.

The 3D was best after they had stooped "showing it off" make a point to have it coming at you in the begging to make sure the audience got the moneys worth of the new experience.

Keeping up to date with films (PART 2)

http://www.mercuryseries.com/

Edward Borman, a lowly government office drone, finds himself trapped, when the deadly Mercury Men seize his office building as a staging ground for their nefarious plot. Aided by a daring aerospace engineer from a mysterious organization known as “The League,” Edward must stop the invaders and their doomsday device, the Gravity Engine.

I watched the trailer and it looks like something i made, i will properly not see it at-all ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I6iGbPRi4U

The FBI teams up with a formerly-institutionalized scientist - who was performing experiments on the fringe of real science - and his son to investigate weird crimes that are seemingly part of a larger pattern, and may be connected with a global company called massive Dynamics.

This film might seem interesting but i dont feel compeld to see it and i wount be seeing it at the cinima.





When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they’ll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them.

Seems an interesting story idea and i admit that at the end of the trailer i did want know what the robots killing for.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/9/hd/

Keeping up to date with films (PART 1)

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/sleepdealer/
This film looks realy interesting and bound to have nice special effects this is on my watch list.

"Mexico. The near future. Memo Cruz has always dreamed of leaving his tiny village and heading north. But when he is ultimately forced to leave, Memo finds a future so bizarre - border walls, shantytowns, hi-tech factories, remote control drones and aqua-terrorists - that it looks a lot like today."


http://www.apple.com/trailers/summit/push/
when i first heard about this film i was sold on the idea simply because of it being a superpowers thing but after watching the trilor i dont feel in any rush to see it.

"A group of young American expatriates with telekinetic and clairvoyant abilities hide from a U.S. government agency in Hong Kong."








I keep changing my mind about this film, when i first hear about it i figured it was going to be rubbish but after seeing the first trailer (the one in the link) I decided i had to go see it when it came out, later a saw a second trailer that made it look rubbish. so im torn i think ill keep it on my "to see" list but at the bottom.

"Dragonball: Evolution is based on the popular Japanese manga created by Akira Toriyama, whose work spawned best selling graphic novels, video games and a phenomenally successful television series. The live action adventure centers on a team of warriors, each of whom possesses special abilities. Together, they protect Earth from a force bent on dominating the Universe and controlling the mystical objects from which the film takes its name."


http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/battleforterra/

I love the concept of this humans being the invading race against aliens but i dont like the look of the animation seem too childish (not yet rated so it might be for children lol) ill wait till its out on DVD.

"The film tells the story of Senn and Mala, two rebellious alien teens living on the beautiful planet Terra, a place that promotes peace and tolerance, having long ago rejected war and weapons of mass destruction. But when Terra is invaded by human beings fleeing a civil war and environmental catastrophe, the planet is plunged into chaos. During the upheaval, Mala befriends an injured human pilot (Luke Wilson) and each learns the two races are not so different from one another. Together they must face the terrifying realization that in a world of limited resources, only one of the races is likely to survive."


http://www.apple.com/trailers/summit/astroboy/hd/

I never saw the cartoon or the comics so i might be missing his "epicness" looks like kid ironman, if it gos anything like gadget-boy then i might have to destroy the cinema to save the rest of mankind. Definatly a kids film i wount be seeing it till its on DVD though it seems more impressive in the first teaser.

"Astro Boy is about a young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Tenma (Nicolas Cage). Powered by positive “blue” energy, Astro Boy (Freddie Highmore) is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and the ability to fly. Embarking on a journey in search of acceptance, Astro Boy encounters many other colorful characters along the way. "

RealD: The New 3D

The glasses them selves are Disposable polarized 3D glasses made to work with the new 3D system manufactured by RealD and Masterimage.

3d movies as most people know them use Anaglyph 3d were two layered colored images are show and viewed though two different colourd lenses. The new version i only just understand so im giving you the WIKI version of the expenation:

"Polarization filters
In stereoscopy, two forms of polarization filters are used: linearly polarized glasses and circularly polarized glasses.
With linear polarization, in order to present a stereoscopic motion picture, two images are projected superimposed onto the same screen through orthogonal (at 90 degree angles of each other) polarizing filters. A silver screen surface is required to preserve the polarization and compensate for light loss (since one eye views one frame while the other eye sees nothing). The projectors can receive their outputs from a computer with a dual-head graphics card. The viewer wears low-cost eyeglasses which also contain a pair of orthogonal polarizing filters. As each filter only passes light which is similarly polarized and blocks the orthogonally polarized light, each eye only sees one of the images, and the effect is achieved. Linearly polarized glasses require the viewer to keep his head level, as tilting of the viewing filters will cause the images of the left and right channels to bleed over to the opposite channel. This is generally not a problem as viewers learn very quickly not to tilt their heads. In addition, since no head tracking is involved, several people can view the stereoscopic images at the same time.
In using circular polarization, two images are projected superimposed onto the same screen through circular polarizing filters of opposite handedness."

Reald's statement:

"RealD is the global leader in 3D technology, leveraging 30 years of expertise to create the most stunningly realistic and enjoyable digital 3D experience in theaters worldwide, cutting-edge visualization tools for professionals, and technology for tomorrow's 3D TVs and other display screens today.

Wherever visual media is delivered, RealD has a solution to make the experience more lifelike, immersive and engaging.

The impact of digital 3D on today's moviemaking has been compared to the introduction of color film when there was only black and white. To make this a reality, RealD pioneered the first wide commercial deployment of stereoscopic projection systems for digital cinema and works with partners worldwide to create the most powerful 3D experience audiences have ever seen."

I am off to see Monsters vs aliens in the new 3D this afternoon to judge for myself how good it is. i will blog about the 3D and the film later.
.

3D: Artificial Lights

3D light test, will make my final decision about the style of light when i have the final shots.











I made a set of light some were designed on real lights some my own and some from Sci fi.

(A) - Common garden light design.
(B) - Stargate Atlantis cove lighting.
(C) - Lager surface basic shape lights.
(D) - Stargate Atlantis External wall light.
(E) - Stargate internal wall light.
(F) - A collection of lights patterned like Interface layout 1.
(G) - A collection of lights patterned like Interface layout 2.
(H) - Halo 3 symbol light.
(I) - Simple ring light
(J) - Simple box light.
(K) - Stargate Atlantis column lights.


I have also done a couple reflection test to see how the light travels and how much of the shape and glow reflect and refract.
The layout of the light will strongly depend on how my final shot is best lit.




These are the light from Stargate atlantis for though who haven't seen them.

3D: HAL

First time i modled this i did too good a job becaus i made it exactly like HAL 9000 but i wanted an erlyer version so i have to block him out a bit and retro him up.



The texturing is only half done but i wont finish it till i have filmed so i can match it to the room.

Amazing how a couple wires and screws make it look older and more like a prototype.













I have set up all the render layers already and soon as i have my footage to align too its a quick alteration away from being rendered.


Labeled "H.A.L 2.0.0.1" a bit cheesy i know but thats what i like.

3D bits

Just realised i havent been puting up any images of my 3D work. Will take me a bit to conver them all from .tiff to .jpg so i can upload them but heres a couple.

Every good secret base needs a big red panic button. The effect of the light passing though the semitransparent cover is a WIP












One prototype star trek warp core, it will be more obvious t anyone who has seen a warp core when it is animated.





Simple wall socket, good laboratory need many and unlike the room im using a laboratory would have them at desk hight.











Some stationary, computers or not you always need a pen or a ruler or a rubber.











Top Secret files to just be around the laboratory. THX1138 seemed like a good film number to me...THX1138 being a film made by George Lucas, George Lucas himself has hidden this title in many of his films.











Crate version 1. Its just missing a crystal lake sign and a nice dark corner to wait in. Crystal lake for anyone who dosnt know it is were Jason "friday 13th" is guarding.












Drainage pipe, not an important part of the set but a little background bit. there are hundreds on small elements of CG in films that are not noticed but would be missed if they weren't .