Week # 14

Blog Post # 14: Social Media Revolution - Welcome to the Downfall of Organic Human Interaction

I remember seeing this video in my US History 2 class, almost 4 years ago in my senior year of highschool. It seriously, scared the shit out of me (please forgive my language, its just that crazy). I can honestly say there was a time where I did have a Myspace, a Facebook account, PhotoBucket, I had an iPod, I uploaded to Youtube and helped edit Wikipedia pages. I even had an instagram for like a week. I no longer share my info on the internet (I do have a blog, though) but I can see where the world is heading. There is no longer a natural way to talk to another human - we can instantly be transported anywhere in the world via social media. Advertisers are getting off the TV and Radio and getting savvy about FB & Twitter, eReaders are selling faster than paperback books, and everyone meets on the web. Hell, I even met my fiance on FB (we did go to highschool together though so its not that bad). Watching this video in 2010, I remember thinking "what the heck is going to happen in a year or two, where this is going?" I felt a sense of despair. We are the generation of limitless technological possibilities, and yet we sext body parts to each other's phones and share irrelevant info with a million hastags. No more contributions to society, except on FB timelines. This video had such an impact on me that I couldn't t forget it. Plus, I liked the song. haha. The scariest part? This was in 2010 - almost 4 YEARS ago. Can you imagine how much the stats have changed since then? They change daily! Google "social media revolution" on youtube and see for yourselves. Watch this video, and think twice about that next status update.

Week # 13

Blog Post # 13 - Animating Avatar: the Last Airbender

This video shows an old featurette from the show Avatar:TLA that aired from 2004-2008. I know I'm getting a little dorky here, but I am probably ATLA's (& the new show Legend of Korra's) biggest fan. I know anything and everything about the ATLA universe and the animation thrills me even today. This featurette was aired back in 2005 during the first season. It shows the animation behind the four styles of "bending" and the ancient martial arts reflected in each style. The animators had a martial arts master as their reference and supervisor for all the fighting done in the series. In the show, each nation has a style based on a natural element, and this power can be used by those born with the abilities to bend. Air, Water, Earth, and Fire have a style of Chinese martial arts behind them, and the fighting is shown by their nation's reflected style. The animation in contrast to the martial art reference is spot-on, and I absolutely love that its steeped in tradition and emotion. This show is great and if you haven't yet - you should really watch it. Like, now. Do it Now. ATLA is on the internet & LOK just aired its season 2 finale on Nick.com

Week #12

Blog post # 12 - The Art of Motion-Capture (Batman: Arkham Origins)

Most of you have seen how "new" motion-capture technology has helped to create worlds like in James Cameron's AVATAR (2009)  or even as recently with Bruce Banner / the Incredible Hulk in 2012 with Marvel's the AVENGERS. Motion-Capture allows the production team of a film set up and recreate human--like fluidity and movement which transfers to CGI. Instead of animators having to create these movements and actions themselves, motion-capture technology gives the animators a frame with which to work from that creates photo-realistic images on the computer from an actor's movements or facial expressions. With a reference camera, a 3D-camera, and a motion-capture camera, the actors (in suits fixed with dots on major points to transfer information back to a computer) can actually act out scenes without makeup or costume or set, and yet still be in the movie. The game Batman: Arkham Origins is the 3rd installment of the "Arkham" series of Batman games. The first two games were made by Rocksteady, a video game company. Although easily one of the most critically acclaimed video game series of their respective years, a new company stepped in to create the newest one. Warner Brothers Montreal decided to use motion capture technology to really step up the graphics in this game to set it apart from the first two, and I could tell the change in fluidity of the characters while playing the game first-hand. This video shows how motion-capture was used in the making of the game, and shows how well the final product came out. I absolutely love this game, and can't wait to be animating future Batman games one day.

Week # 11

Week 11 Blog Post: Dogs 101 - English Springer Spaniel

In honor of my pup Sophie, who has been recently diagnosed with a tumor and is awaiting surgery. Springers are the "golden retriever" of Europe, and are used as military/police dogs in the UK's subways, armies and forces. These dogs are amazing hunters and very loyal companions. I was originally studying to be a vet as a kid - but I'm squeamish. haha. I also have been learning a lot about animal training /behavior, and would love to be a zoologist. If my art doesn't work out - I've got back up! This video is from a popular show on Animal Planet about the many different breeds of dogs in the world, and whether they'd be suitable for you as a pet. I love to learn as much as I can about the animal kingdom, and apply it to my art. This video is educational not only to dog lovers, but to people who are very bored and have nothing better to do. Love it. Love my pup. Also, Please click this link to help donate to save my dog's leg -

http://www.gofundme.com/5cmvsg

http://www.gofundme.com/5cmvsg

http://www.gofundme.com/5cmvsg

- Thank you!

Week # 10

Blog Post #10 - Thanksgiving Myths

In honor of America's fattest holiday, I put a video from a documentary on the history channel called "Bet You Didn't Know - History of Thanksgiving" which gives us a quirky-but-fun review of the most popular Thanksgiving myths, traditions, and facts. A couple of facts that didn't make the video were:

- When the NFL started in the 1920s, the Detroit Lions made a pitch to start playing a game of football on thanksgiving day
- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924, and has gone on for 89 years since then. It helped department stores kick off their holiday shopping season (most famously - Black Friday)

I thought this video was fun and I learned a lot while watching the documentary. Sometimes myths and traditions get lost in all the stories, hype and hooplah. Its good to get back to the roots of all those historical facts. Woot :)

Week # 9

Week #8 Blog Post - Ted x Sydney

This video is seriously amazing. Most people know Ted as the website for forward thinking in science, technology, sociology, etc. They really like to showcase unusual gifts and skills from "ordinary geniuses" around the world at their conferences. This video is about a 20-something guy from Melbourne, Australia. He has a crazy ability to recreate sounds and make music using only his vocal chords. He even samples his own sounds, and plays them back AT THE SAME TIME - making the craziest music you'd ever hear. & it actually sounds great! You would never be able to tell that these were sounds coming out of a person. Its a great talent, and its informative as well as entertaining. Enjoy!

Week # 8

 

 

Week #8 Blog Post: Walking Dead Makeup Tutorial

For Halloween this year I decided to go as a zombie, and scare neighborhood kids with my family. I used this tutorial video as reference and inspiration for my makeup. I've never been the kind of girl to dress as something cute or provocative for Halloween - for me it's just been all about the scares. I love to get a chance to be creepy and not have other people judge me or call me satanic haha. I'm glad there are other girls who embrace the holiday for what it is, and like to be creepy as well. I foud this video incredibly informative and educational - from a visual effects point. I am very much into FX makeup and face paint for kids parties on weekends. This was a chance to branch out my skills and test the waters. I love that the video is straightforward, and gives detailed explanations with what materials to use, as well as a demonstration on how to use them to create the look, as well as before and after pictures. It was a lot easier than it looked and my makeup was a hit this Halloween!

So here's my makeup, in case you wanted to see it because reasons: