Cancer research lift

If anyone would like to come to this event, feel free to let me know at uni or just leave a comment here.
It's in Dartofrd next saturday, and along with tons of other epic events, i'll be attempting to squat 550lbs. for charity.
it should be a fun day, and if anyone would like to come along, just let me know.

PS. if you can't come but would like to make a donation, again, let me know and that can be arranged. Thanks guys n girls.

The Stepford Wives

This was a real shocker to me, I wasn't at all familiar with the story of the film, and had no idea what to expect. In the end, this definitely made it a far more interesting experience, as i thoroughly enjoyed this film.

The undercurrent which was popping at consumerism was very noticeable, and as Phil mentioned, there were dialogues which almost seemed like commercials, another way to pop at consumerism.

this made me very happy, as it links to my essay in some way. George. A. Romero's original Dawn of the Dead, was a very strong stab at consumerism, when the zombies, couldn't even tell apart from ripping the heads off of their loved ones, knew that they had to be in the mall: it was where they needed to be, they didn't know why, they just had to be there,

and to a lesser extent, computer game release: Dead Rising, in where again, the zombies have no reason to be at an abandoned mall, yet endless hordes of the creatures infest every corner.

I was quite shocked at when the main character saw her double. As mentioned, this is said to be a bad omen, a sign of imminent death if you will. although we don't know for sure what happened to her original body, was she killed? was she taken elsewhere? we, get an eerie sense that it doesn't matter.

The most disturbing part of this for me, is the men. what man in his right mind would want this?

it's really weird. The men are so devious and conniving in this movie, i felt ashamed to be one watching it.

look at this vacant stare. imagine coming home to your partner, only to gaze upon an emotionless face for ever. shudder.

I had a very silent walk home after watching this, and the image of the eye-less android wife was flashing in my head constantly. it was very disturbing. although, it has definitely helped me grasp the concept of uncanny. when the android malfunctions, it becomes slightly comical, much like when most uncanny things are revealed.

All in all, the film gets a thumbs up in me, i may follow this up with a more in depth look, I'd like to think a bit more about it first.

CAN EVERYBODY PLEASE WATCH THIS

James Rolfe, internet celebrity and movie critic finally words my deepest frustrations

tree texture #2

ok so this one went far better, and took less time, reason probably being that it was a more defined image in the first place. Anyway, here are the before offset and after shots as usual.

you can barely tell the difference! :D

i know, i know, this isn't exciting blog material, and don't worry, I won't be posting every texture i decide to buff up, but my last project i posted very little, so i feel the need to post everything to make up for it.

tree texture #1

Now i know this could get confusing but out of all of my concepts that i like, there is going to be some form of bark texture, so i thought i'd knock out a few of them, so i have a nice variety to choose from when it comes time to texture my scene.

this is before offestting

this is after offsetting, this was quite a tricky one, as the tones were all over the place, i actually spent a good hour on this one, and enjoyed it to be honest, i'm actually considering making a video tutorial on how to do it, as i really used every single tip Phil gave me effectively, ALTHOUGH, this was a strongly lit piece initially, so the end result wasn't fab. hey ho, keep on at it

Essay idea

Okay, so i spoke briefly with Phil about this already today, but if anyone else had any input it's always appreciated and returned.

I wanted to talk about the uncanny relationship that director and writer George. A. Romero established with the public when he invented the cannibalistic zombie.

originally zombies known only in voodoo folk lore as Nzambi, were nothing more than trudging trance like beings who were mentally and physically incapable of doing anything.

it was when Romero looked into this and many of mans deepest darkest fears that he eventually invented the flesh eating zombie, which later became the super zombie (the kind we see in films now with super agility, strength and intelligence).

Phil said something interesting, that i should discuss in both ways how a zombie can be both uncanny and then on the other hand not. some films are so point blank, that they blow the uncanny aspect out of the water e.g. Return of the Living Dead (Tarman). if anyone has seen this film, they'll agree, that zombies trudging along with no back story or initial introduction, moaning ''braaaains'', is completely ridiculous and is not uncanny.

this is just ridiculous

however, those who have seen a film such as White zombie (which stars Bela Lugosi, MY ABSOLUTE ALL TIME HERO OF CINEMA, and if you don't know who Bela Lugosi is, please please please check him out....children of the night!) will know that, when a loved one becomes something else, someone else, and are not necessarily parading murderously, it is far more thought provoking and chilling compared to the before mentioned.

so it's going to be a tough one, but i think a bit of research will be in order to make it count. Tom Savini (make up artist for Maniac) also will be a big name in the essay i feel.

now this is what i call a zombie flick!

part 2

blogger gets funny for some reason every time i want to put a bulk of images up...oh well.

this one is pretty lame, it was the first one i drew, it's literally just the raven perched in a well shadow contrasted room. nothing really exciting. sorry #4 this is where it ends for you.

this one is one of my favourites also. its the window bursting open after the raven has flown in, or perhaps before? anyway, there's going to be a major sense of direction with this one, and some intense lighting will definitely to the trick.

this one is by far the most likely to end up as my final piece, although I'm still debating whether or not to have raven in it, i most probably won't although i reckon i could knock one out in zbrush over the Xmas break. anyway, its from the ravens perspective, and is looking into the fire lit room before entering, it is cold and rainy outside and the trees are blocking some of the image. i like it.

this again is a piece that I'm fond of, however what with the time restraint i have and limited maya skill, i think it would be wise not to use this piece. it is the raven sat above the fireplace with the strong wind blowing everything and the fire to the left although the raven seems unfazed.

I'll be doing a few concept pieces in the week of the ones I'm most likely to use and hopefully Alan can can give me some pointers on how to make it easier for myself. fingers crossed.