Here's a 4-minute film school vid by Rob Schrab where he talks about drawless animation. It's pretty interesting stuff - mostly using green-screen techniques.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Crooked Teeth !
Don't you just LOVE discovering a cool new song? I was watching this thing about 'Drawless Animation" by Rob Schrab - and he talked about a video he did for a song by the Group 'Death Cab For Cutie' - which is also one of the best names for a band I've heard for awhile too.
I found it on YouTube - and proceeded to watch it about twenty times !
Fantastic stuff - and I SOOO want to make a wee film like this some time !!
I found it on YouTube - and proceeded to watch it about twenty times !
Fantastic stuff - and I SOOO want to make a wee film like this some time !!
Monday, July 28, 2008
It seemed like a good idea at the time...
If I EVER suggest / say / hint / communicate in anyway that doing a film project in a co-curricular way with kids at school is a good idea in future, you have my permission to dunk my head a barrel of piranha fish. HUNGRY piranha fish. Having fist glued a tomato flavored stetson onto me.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Classifying Angelo’s crying
In the last three months I have been learning to interpret the different kinds of crying that Angelo does. Hey – it passes the time when the poor little guy is crying ( far from a pleasant thing – but not as bad as I thought it would be ). Here are some of my findings, in order of severity :
The Houdini Grumble
Largely a thing of the past now. This was a regular when we were swaddling him before we put him to sleep. He didn’t seem to like his hands being restricted, and had an uncanny ability to wriggle out of the tightest of my swaddling ( until I was almost at the point of duct-taping him into a blanket ! ). The Houdini Grumble was the grunting exertion noises he made as he worked his way to freedom.
The Lah
Another one which seems to have largely passed now – though I’m not entirely sure why ! A cry indicating a moderate level of being upset, this was a series of short wails which would sound like he was saying ‘Lah!’. Would be almost cute, if he wasn’t feeling bad !
The Squeaky Lah
A more severe version of the Lah. The extra-loud expelling of the ‘Lah!’ would result in a sharp intake of breath, making a squeaky noise, so the overall effect sounded like ‘Lah ! Squeak ! Lah ! Squeak ! Lah ! Squeak!”. Like the Lah, seems to have gone ( for now – at least ).
The Black Lagoon Special
Angelo is getting pretty beside himself at the point of the BLS. He thrashes around making a lot of snorting / grunting sounds. He does sound a bit like a wee creature from the Black Lagoon ( hence the name – though in all honesty I can’t remember what noises the creature from the Black Lagoon made, if indeed it make sounds at ALL. Maybe
The Banshee
Baby def-con 2. Really just screaming. Not nice at all.
The Machine-gun
You can tell when Angelo is REALLY REALLY upset when you get to the machine-gun stage. This is a weird little stuttering that he does with the cry ( the side-benefit seems to be that it required more breathing power - so the actual noise level diminishes a little ... ), which sounds a bit like an uzi. Just as long as he doensn’t get HOLD of an uzi at these moments – I think we’ll be okay !
The Houdini Grumble
Largely a thing of the past now. This was a regular when we were swaddling him before we put him to sleep. He didn’t seem to like his hands being restricted, and had an uncanny ability to wriggle out of the tightest of my swaddling ( until I was almost at the point of duct-taping him into a blanket ! ). The Houdini Grumble was the grunting exertion noises he made as he worked his way to freedom.
The Lah
Another one which seems to have largely passed now – though I’m not entirely sure why ! A cry indicating a moderate level of being upset, this was a series of short wails which would sound like he was saying ‘Lah!’. Would be almost cute, if he wasn’t feeling bad !
The Squeaky Lah
A more severe version of the Lah. The extra-loud expelling of the ‘Lah!’ would result in a sharp intake of breath, making a squeaky noise, so the overall effect sounded like ‘Lah ! Squeak ! Lah ! Squeak ! Lah ! Squeak!”. Like the Lah, seems to have gone ( for now – at least ).
The Black Lagoon Special
Angelo is getting pretty beside himself at the point of the BLS. He thrashes around making a lot of snorting / grunting sounds. He does sound a bit like a wee creature from the Black Lagoon ( hence the name – though in all honesty I can’t remember what noises the creature from the Black Lagoon made, if indeed it make sounds at ALL. Maybe
The Banshee
Baby def-con 2. Really just screaming. Not nice at all.
The Machine-gun
You can tell when Angelo is REALLY REALLY upset when you get to the machine-gun stage. This is a weird little stuttering that he does with the cry ( the side-benefit seems to be that it required more breathing power - so the actual noise level diminishes a little ... ), which sounds a bit like an uzi. Just as long as he doensn’t get HOLD of an uzi at these moments – I think we’ll be okay !
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Bad Family Art Assignment
My good pal Hix is publishing his RPG 'Bad Family' ( formerly known as 'The Lucky Jones' ) and he asked me if I would help by contributing some art for it. Hey - I'm up for helping out a pal in a artistic way - and seeing as it was the holidays and I would have the necessary time, I was up for the challenge.
Seeing as Matt has put his contributions up ( and a fine collection of images they are too ), I thought I'd do the same.
Hix gave me a number of starter ideas to work from - and this is what I came up with :
1. A little girl being taunted by the tree she's scared of climbing.
I had initially worried that the tree looked a little too evil - but Hix had way more problems with the tree's non-pointing hand ( at first it was wrapped around it's tree-like belly ). Got it sorted in the end though !
2. A grandfather being pursued down the highway by cops, cars and helicopters
I had to change this to a grandmother as Matt had done a grandfather in a hi-tech wheelchair. I like the grandmother better !
3. A drunk mother trying to deliver a lecture to her kids
I went for only the one kid. I thought the sermon on the horrors of soda-pop while wasted out of your head was a nice ironic touch.
I fair degree of work here, but time well spent I think ! Hix liked 'em I think, and I'm looking forward to seeing them in print !
Seeing as Matt has put his contributions up ( and a fine collection of images they are too ), I thought I'd do the same.
Hix gave me a number of starter ideas to work from - and this is what I came up with :
1. A little girl being taunted by the tree she's scared of climbing.
I had initially worried that the tree looked a little too evil - but Hix had way more problems with the tree's non-pointing hand ( at first it was wrapped around it's tree-like belly ). Got it sorted in the end though !
2. A grandfather being pursued down the highway by cops, cars and helicopters
I had to change this to a grandmother as Matt had done a grandfather in a hi-tech wheelchair. I like the grandmother better !
3. A drunk mother trying to deliver a lecture to her kids
I went for only the one kid. I thought the sermon on the horrors of soda-pop while wasted out of your head was a nice ironic touch.
I fair degree of work here, but time well spent I think ! Hix liked 'em I think, and I'm looking forward to seeing them in print !
Monday, June 30, 2008
So the Prophecy was true...
You heartless bastards ! You can't do this to me ! I have a child now ! A CHILD !!!
( Now it this post should make a lot more sense ! Thanks to Jenni and my Mum for pointing out that the picture had vanished ! Jeesh ... )
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Groan...
I have never been so consistently tired in my life.
I am so behind in everything.
It's report season at school.
I am almost single-handedly running the school film production ( THAT was a great idea ... ).
And yet - when I sit down with my wee boy, bounce him on knee and he smiles / gurgles / laughs - it is all worth it.
I am so behind in everything.
It's report season at school.
I am almost single-handedly running the school film production ( THAT was a great idea ... ).
And yet - when I sit down with my wee boy, bounce him on knee and he smiles / gurgles / laughs - it is all worth it.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Think about the logistics !
It was probably not the best thing for my sleep-deprived mind to see, but you really owe it to yourself to watch this brain-mangling piece of animation I just saw on BoingBoing. It is just amazing. I hate to think of how long it would have taken to do ...
In other news - Angelo is smiling a lot more now, which is quite an amazing thing to see as a father. He had his first jabs this week - which he didn't like AT ALL. Poor wee guy.
To all those in the 48 Hour film comp - I salute you ! I am sad that family matters keep me from the competition this year ... and also happy about the same family matters as well. Rest assured - you haven't seen the last of Rebel Faction !
Give 'em hell for me !
In other news - Angelo is smiling a lot more now, which is quite an amazing thing to see as a father. He had his first jabs this week - which he didn't like AT ALL. Poor wee guy.
To all those in the 48 Hour film comp - I salute you ! I am sad that family matters keep me from the competition this year ... and also happy about the same family matters as well. Rest assured - you haven't seen the last of Rebel Faction !
Give 'em hell for me !
Friday, May 09, 2008
There's a market for this ?
Saw this on Boing-Boing - toy road-kill. Complete with plush intestines and innards popped from it's tire-marked corpse.
I like it - though I'm not sure that I'd get one for Angelo...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Shadow adjusting
I was really worried that Shadow wasn't going to adjust well to Angelo. In the past she has been REALLY freaked out by babies. Wall-hugging-low-to-ground-run-a-mile-the-moment-they-make-a-sound FREAKED OUT. I was worried that she wouldn't take well to something else other than her getting a lot of our attention ( as pretty much SHE'S been the baby for the last four years ).
I've been really surprised at how well she's been coping with the change so far. She's actually been pretty patient with waiting for attention, and with Angelo crying ( far from running away - she'll usually get in her wee 'cat-tent' and watch with an interested feline bemusement ). She'll even give him an experimental sniff now and then , before beating a leisurely retreat to somewhere else near-by.
The only time approaching a 'serious' incident was the first day Angelo was home. We but him in the bassinet, and Shadow jumped in too - not knowing he was there. Shadow did a double-take of Warner Bros intensity and promptly ran for it !
I think she's still trying to figure out exactly WHAT Angelo is. I'm just glad she hasn't been traumatized or has run away or something equally distressing for me !
And - as this photo shows, she's not adverse to taking advantage of ole Seraph when he's been beaten with the fatigue club !
I've been really surprised at how well she's been coping with the change so far. She's actually been pretty patient with waiting for attention, and with Angelo crying ( far from running away - she'll usually get in her wee 'cat-tent' and watch with an interested feline bemusement ). She'll even give him an experimental sniff now and then , before beating a leisurely retreat to somewhere else near-by.
The only time approaching a 'serious' incident was the first day Angelo was home. We but him in the bassinet, and Shadow jumped in too - not knowing he was there. Shadow did a double-take of Warner Bros intensity and promptly ran for it !
I think she's still trying to figure out exactly WHAT Angelo is. I'm just glad she hasn't been traumatized or has run away or something equally distressing for me !
And - as this photo shows, she's not adverse to taking advantage of ole Seraph when he's been beaten with the fatigue club !
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Disturbing implication
Viva and I went to the Baby Factory to buy a pram the other day. We suffered from the WORST add-on sale I have ever encountered - we got some kind of pram 'sleeping-bag' thing, but then no-one could seem to work out the routine for actually clipping it into the freaking pram. Calls were eventually made to reps. It was a long drawn out affair - one which I would have terminated after around 5 minutes, but which Viva clung on tightly till the bitter end.
During the intervening time I wandered hither and tither around the store, clutching the baby capsule with the soundly sleeping Angelo - looking at the various baby wares housed within. Eventually I came to the mobile section,
I noticed an offering in this arena from the Sesame Street providers. It was a pastoral scene ( in as much as you can get a SCENE in a mobile anyway ) consisting of two sheep / lambs at diametrically opposing sides of the rotational circle, and in-between them - a baby version of the muppets Elmo and Cookie Monster ( they were wearing nappies ).
Fair enough I thought.
Then I noticed that each monster clutched something in their furry little hands. I looked closer.
Elmo had a rather large carrot. "The nutritional angle" thought I, "Well played Sesame Street Corp."
My eyes searched out what Baby-Cookie-Monster might be holding. "Surely it won't be a cookie - now that they have been a 'sometimes food' by the man. Perchance a cabbage ... or grapefruit ?"
A turn of the mobile 'axle' revealed all. Baby-Cookie-Monster held a bright yellow baby chicken to his fuzzy blue chest.
It took a moment or two to process the information.
What was being said here ? Cookie Monster ( surely the muppet character MOST associated with the act of ravenous, bestial eating ) is holding a LIVE BABY CHICKEN.
... is he going to EAT the live baby chicken ? Mashing it up in his pac-man like jaws until the giblets spray out in a bloody parody of cookie crumbs ?? Will Baby-Cookie-Monster be deaf to the plaintive 'peep-peep-peep' of the chicklet - begging for mercy ?
Shouldn't Baby-Elmo have the baby chicken and Baby-Cookie-Monster have the carrot ? Just to be safe ?
I could well be reading too much into this ( and sleep deprivation isn't helping matters one iota ) - but it's a disturbing implication none the less.
Just look at the crazy little bastard ! Look at that twisted Hannibal Lector grin ! You just KNOW he's going to start chewing on that chick's head and it's brains are going to fountain out it's beak ! Get it offa him for the love of all that's holy !
During the intervening time I wandered hither and tither around the store, clutching the baby capsule with the soundly sleeping Angelo - looking at the various baby wares housed within. Eventually I came to the mobile section,
I noticed an offering in this arena from the Sesame Street providers. It was a pastoral scene ( in as much as you can get a SCENE in a mobile anyway ) consisting of two sheep / lambs at diametrically opposing sides of the rotational circle, and in-between them - a baby version of the muppets Elmo and Cookie Monster ( they were wearing nappies ).
Fair enough I thought.
Then I noticed that each monster clutched something in their furry little hands. I looked closer.
Elmo had a rather large carrot. "The nutritional angle" thought I, "Well played Sesame Street Corp."
My eyes searched out what Baby-Cookie-Monster might be holding. "Surely it won't be a cookie - now that they have been a 'sometimes food' by the man. Perchance a cabbage ... or grapefruit ?"
A turn of the mobile 'axle' revealed all. Baby-Cookie-Monster held a bright yellow baby chicken to his fuzzy blue chest.
It took a moment or two to process the information.
What was being said here ? Cookie Monster ( surely the muppet character MOST associated with the act of ravenous, bestial eating ) is holding a LIVE BABY CHICKEN.
... is he going to EAT the live baby chicken ? Mashing it up in his pac-man like jaws until the giblets spray out in a bloody parody of cookie crumbs ?? Will Baby-Cookie-Monster be deaf to the plaintive 'peep-peep-peep' of the chicklet - begging for mercy ?
Shouldn't Baby-Elmo have the baby chicken and Baby-Cookie-Monster have the carrot ? Just to be safe ?
I could well be reading too much into this ( and sleep deprivation isn't helping matters one iota ) - but it's a disturbing implication none the less.
Just look at the crazy little bastard ! Look at that twisted Hannibal Lector grin ! You just KNOW he's going to start chewing on that chick's head and it's brains are going to fountain out it's beak ! Get it offa him for the love of all that's holy !
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Things I have learnt about parenting - No#1
When changing a baby - make sure that they stay in the MIDDLE of the change table. That way they can't kick you in the stomach / testicles with their surprisingly strong little legs.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Funny thing said of my sister
My sister recently got hold of the PS3 game 'Rock Band'. She heads a band in her flat called 'The Perverts' ( which is a great name for a all-girl punk group ! ).
One of the other band members on their cash-flow
"Yeah - we were doing pretty well ... but then G spent every cent she had on a small hat."
Ain't that true of life ?
I thought so.
One of the other band members on their cash-flow
"Yeah - we were doing pretty well ... but then G spent every cent she had on a small hat."
Ain't that true of life ?
I thought so.
Commodore Ryan
Just finished this ( while Angelo was having a sleep ). The proportions aren't great - but I'm still fairly pleased with it.
Ryan and Slake have some kind of history. While being on opposite sides of the recent conflict between Albion and Atlantis they have a respect for each other as able warriors and leaders.
I repeat - there's a story in here somewhere !
Monday, April 07, 2008
Freak Angels ( nothing to do with Angelo ! )
I've been meaning to recommend this for a bit now - just didn't get round to it.
Warren Ellis ( 'Transmetropolitan' ) is writing a free web-comic called "Freak Angels". It's up to issue 8 ( each issue being 6 pages or so ) and I'm really enjoying it so far.
It had me hooked on the very first few lines :
"23 years ago, twelve strange children were born in England at exactly the same moment.
6 years ago, the world ended.
This is the story of what happened next."
You should check it out.
Warren Ellis ( 'Transmetropolitan' ) is writing a free web-comic called "Freak Angels". It's up to issue 8 ( each issue being 6 pages or so ) and I'm really enjoying it so far.
It had me hooked on the very first few lines :
"23 years ago, twelve strange children were born in England at exactly the same moment.
6 years ago, the world ended.
This is the story of what happened next."
You should check it out.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
10 Things about the kid
1. His name is Angelo Mario. 'Angelo' is what my sister would have been called if she had ended up my brother. 'Mario' is my dad's name ( so Angelo is not named for the internationally famous, Gorilla-bashing plumber - it's just an added bonus ).
2. Other names that were considered were ; Orlando, Marco, Vito, Tarquin-Durwood-Alan, and Squiglet.
3. His mum nicknamed him 'Snuffles'.
4. He has received 4 toys since he was born ; a blue elephant, a small lion, a dangly spider and a multi-coloured / multi-textured inch-worm. His dad has played with them all much more than he has ( which is 'not at all' ).
5. No matter how tightly his dad swaddles him, he always seems to get at least one arm free through his incessant wriggling.
6. His eyes have a blood-shot ring around them at present - giving him quite a 'Damien' look.
7. He can say 'Lah' - but only when he's really distressed.
8. He managed to kick himself in the bollocks once when he was being changed. He didn't seem too bothered about it. That could work out to be quite a party-piece.
9. His first lullaby was "Still Alive" from the 'Portal' video game ( sung by dad ). He seemed to puzzle him somewhat.
10. Apparently there has been some debate in the Wellington gaming community as to whether he's going to be a :
a) Pirate
b) Robot
c) Ninja
d) Cyborg
- kid. My money's on 'Robot'.
2. Other names that were considered were ; Orlando, Marco, Vito, Tarquin-Durwood-Alan, and Squiglet.
3. His mum nicknamed him 'Snuffles'.
4. He has received 4 toys since he was born ; a blue elephant, a small lion, a dangly spider and a multi-coloured / multi-textured inch-worm. His dad has played with them all much more than he has ( which is 'not at all' ).
5. No matter how tightly his dad swaddles him, he always seems to get at least one arm free through his incessant wriggling.
6. His eyes have a blood-shot ring around them at present - giving him quite a 'Damien' look.
7. He can say 'Lah' - but only when he's really distressed.
8. He managed to kick himself in the bollocks once when he was being changed. He didn't seem too bothered about it. That could work out to be quite a party-piece.
9. His first lullaby was "Still Alive" from the 'Portal' video game ( sung by dad ). He seemed to puzzle him somewhat.
10. Apparently there has been some debate in the Wellington gaming community as to whether he's going to be a :
a) Pirate
b) Robot
c) Ninja
d) Cyborg
- kid. My money's on 'Robot'.
Friday, April 04, 2008
El nino
So I'm a father now. It is a strange and wonderful thing. I have a little boy ! He came into the world VERY quickly - at 8.32, on Wednesday the 2nd of April.
Viva and I were both born on a Wednesday as well. And don't you love the exponential curve of his birthday ?
2 / 4 / 08 ??
Cool or what ?
'Death From Above' is not the venue for much of what I want to say / show about my son ( man - it is weird saying that ... 'my son' ! Sheesh ) - so if you want to see the little guy ( name in process of being decided - we have a short list ! ) - then I urge you to make the long and peril-filled journey to his blog page, where there are some pics waiting for you !
Right - back to the hospital !
Viva and I were both born on a Wednesday as well. And don't you love the exponential curve of his birthday ?
2 / 4 / 08 ??
Cool or what ?
'Death From Above' is not the venue for much of what I want to say / show about my son ( man - it is weird saying that ... 'my son' ! Sheesh ) - so if you want to see the little guy ( name in process of being decided - we have a short list ! ) - then I urge you to make the long and peril-filled journey to his blog page, where there are some pics waiting for you !
Right - back to the hospital !
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Captain Slake
Here's a wee sketch that I managed to salvage over Easter. It was pretty crappy before - but I dialed back the far-slung sci-fi and turned it into more of a steam-punk thing. After the sketch was saved I put it through photo-shop, where I experimented with different levels for highlights and shadows. It could do with a background - but hey, don't look a gift post in the mouth !
So ... Captain Slake. Yup - he is a fish. A fish in a mind-linked battle chassis. He's the head of the security detail protecting the ambassador from the technocracy of Atlantis. I imagine that Captain Slake is the hero of many adventures above and below the waves ... and the suit chassis is legendary piece of ancient technology from before Atlantis sunk beneath the waves.
There's a story that deserves closer investigation here somewhere ...
Monday, March 24, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Critical Mass 4 - Litter
Finally ! This took a long time to finish, I'm not sure why - not as many text boxes in this one for a start...
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