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Research:

Vehicle Research: Realistic vs Fantasy

Some ideas that came to mind when I was briefed about our vehicle task were the animated movie Cars, all the way to action films such as Fast and Furious, and sci-fi movies such as Transformers. I decided to research further into vehicle physics in movies.

in animated movies such as Cars, not only are Newton's 3 laws largely disregarded when affecting the movement of the cars, but even down to the metal bonnets of the cars that seem to bend and morph, to show their expressions.
In the picture on the right, Lightning Mqueen uses his front wheels as almost like arms, thrusting himself into the air, the bending and contorting of the metal results in higher plasticity and a much lighter look than metal I feel would usually be.

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Cars (2006) Big Wreck. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWQOzDLaOfo [Accessed 15 Apr. 2024].

In movies like "Fast and Furious," I feel they push the limits with how cars are supposed to behave which them this unreal speed and power. It makes the scenes super engaging because you're watching these characters handle cars that are out of this world. There's one part where the cars are faster than planes, and another physics-defying scene where a car brings this huge truck to a screeching halt, and the truck just goes flying while the car doesn’t even budge. It’s definitely showing off strength in a way that’s way over the top but totally adds to the thrill and fun of watching it for the viewer.

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). The 15 Most Ridiculous ‘Fast & Furious’ Action Scenes. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YttMvwMY-9g [Accessed 15 Apr. 2024].

It also brought to mind a recent movie I watched on Netflix called The Other Guys, which had a scene change where it cut away and cut back to view the same car that had magically somehow driven up a whole other car and ramp in height, which most cars cannot drive up over other cars that easily. This movie demonstrates how the physics of vehicles are bent to create humor.

Another film I decided recently to watch was "Shaw and Hobbes", to pick up some tips on how cars are framed in movies for my own vehicle animation. ⁤⁤
What I noticed in these films, that there are a lot of close-ups on the actors' faces to really show the emotion and intensity of the scenes. ⁤⁤This made up about half of all the shots, which got me thinking that my own animation might not be as engaging without some strong characters or expressions for the audience to connect with. ⁤

⁤Then I watched "Baby Driver," a fantastic movie with lots of action and car chases. ⁤⁤What struck me was how Ansel Elgort, the lead actor, managed to make the scenes compelling with just a serious look or a shrug - quite different from the usual loud and intense expressions you see in the "Fast and Furious" movies. ⁤

⁤Comparing these two approaches helped me understand more about shot timing and how different types of shots are used. ⁤⁤For example, some shots really zoom in close, like when a car nearly clips a pedestrian, making you feel that relief when a collision is narrowly avoided. ⁤⁤Or they might use slow-motion to draw attention to a split-second decision, like when a car leaps off a bridge. ⁤⁤It's these kinds of details that can really make a scene stand out.

An amazing slow motion shot here from the trailer of "Shaw and Hobbes".
Having Hattie (Vanessa Kirby) jumping into the skylight midway between a transfer from one vehicle to another was an iconic shot to note down for me.
Having slow motion at this pivotal point and not giving too much away in terms of reading the character's expressions for a trailer shot, really gives more time in the moment for the viewer to feel on edge in suspense and question whether this person will actually make it.

Morgan, C. and Gary Scott Thompson (2019). Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. [online] IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6806448/.

Wright, E. (2017). Baby Driver. [online] IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3890160/.

Maya specific:

This video is a basic but useful video that is about starting to add hair to moddels in Maya, also known as Xgen Grooming.
I decided against going for realistic hair and more for small occational hair in my group project, as it is a previs project, and is a very short shot.
I found for my hair i needed i needed to turn down the scale attribute- which made each hair strand smaller, and also turn down the density scale which reduced the amound of hairs.
I also wanted to replicate how its slightly soft and more transparant hair so i made sure to adjust the tint and transparency.
I have since subscribed to this channel as a means of acquiring more fundamental knowledge from differnt areas within Maya when required

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Create Maya hair - The basics. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN9hxyg9Y-c&t=103s [Accessed 18 Apr. 2024].

I found out about Sir Weide erlier on in the Acedemic year, I found his tutorials very clear and efficient, that not only help solidify my animation fundamentals such as his 'how to animate weight' video but also help me experiment and gain great interest into the creative possiblities of Maya.
His tutorial of MASH nodes was very well explained and designed and helped me tremendously within the creation of my portal for my group project, as well as my PLP project.
I have included this video here as extra foundation and knowledge of how to apply aspects such as 3 point lighting, and how to make the viewport look visually better for playblasts within Maya.
It has served as extra practice and reinforced my understanding of lighting composition in my scenes, helping to understand where light is drawing focus to, or away from, etc.

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). 10 Lighting Setups for Your Animated Shots. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99SWQnpBFTE [Accessed 13 Feb. 2024].

Film/Animation Influences, Social Issues:

Wall-E

Climate Change:

Wall-E is one of my favorite animated films. It was made by Pixar in 2008.
I feel it makes strides at addressing a big problem our world continually faces which is climate change. This movie is set in a future where Earth is a desolate place. I think Wall-E is beyond just a robot children's film - I think it really could be giving us a glimpse of what might happen to our planet if we don't take care of it. I will explain below how the Wall-E film shows the problem of climate change and how the movie uses its pictures and narrative to talk about how we treat our planet and what might happen if we don't change.

A bad future:

In Wall-E, we're shown a future of Earth that’s very sad to see. It’s a world almost empty of life and covered in piles of trash. This imagery is sad for me because it suggests that this desolation is the result of humankind not caring enough for the planet. The film makes the connection that if we don't change our actions, our world could end up in a similar state. This movie goes way beyond just showing the effects of climate change like rising temperatures or the melting ice caps. It paints a picture of an Earth so damaged and polluted that humans had to leave it behind. This part really makes me stop and think about our environment and how we manage our resources. Wall-E uses these scenes of a dirty, baron Earth not just to visually entertain, but to remind us about our care for the planet.

Wall-E and Consumerism:

I think the film also shows us aspects of how buying too much stuff and not caring about the environment can lead to big problems. In the movie, there's this huge company called 'Buy-N-Large' (the 'BNL' Logo). and it seems like they make all the things people use. This company is a big reason why Earth has become so full of trash. It's like the movie is telling us that when companies only care about making money and people only care about buying new things, our planet suffers. This has seemingly distracted humans far away from the damage they have done to the earth and even themselves, and isolated them in their own little synthetic space - out in space.

The film really makes us think about how our love for buying things can hurt our world. We see how all the trash piles up, and it's because people keep buying and throwing away stuff without thinking about where it all goes. This is an obvious warning to me. We have to be more careful about how much we buy and how we throw things away. If we're not, we could end up with a planet that's too full of trash, just like in the movie. I feel these aspects of this film to society result in people being more likely to think about whether the companies they support are doing more good or bad for our planet Earth.

An amazing and in-depth read:
Anon, (n.d.). BNL: the embodiment of our worst nightmares regarding capitalism – Digital Patmos: Vol 1 Issue 1. [online] Available at: https://digitalpatmos.com/vol1issue1/2017/11/22/doreen/.

Humans without Nature:

Another big problem in this film that I find very conflicting is that people have lost their connection with nature. Everyone lives on a giant spaceship and the people don't know what it's like to feel the ground under their feet or to breathe fresh air. This shows us how easy it is for them to lose touch with their origins when they don't see it or feel it every day. The people in the movie are so used to their life out in space that they don't even consider Earth anymore. It's like they don't remember that it's where they originally came from.

This part of the film is really important for me, not only because personally, I am a supporter of green living and a vegan, but because it's like a slight warning to all of us together. We shouldn't forget about our connection to the Earth, our mother. Right now on Earth, we still have beautiful parks, oceans, mountains and forests. But if we do not consider our actions, we could easily lose them. To remember how amazing our planet is and take care of it, and if we cannot make everything last forever, be aware and make it last as long as we can. We shouldn't wait until it's too late and we end up like the people in Wall-E, living far away from nature and not even remembering what it feels like.

The movie is trying to tell us that our relationship with the Earth is important. We depend on it for air, food and water, and it also depends on us to keep it healthy. What if we lose our connection and balance with nature, and if we stop caring, we might not work hard to protect it further? To me that's a scary thought, and something that I think the film, Wall-E, wants us to think about.

Concluding:

To me, the film feels like it's more than just a story about a cute robot. It seems to be a reflection of what might happen to our planet if we're not careful. The movie paints a picture of Earth that I think is pretty sad: all covered in trash and not a pleasant place to live anymore. I think this is a warning about how our actions today can and most likely will affect our future on this planet.

One positive thing I noticed about Wall-E is that even though it shows a grim future, the film shows a sense of hope at the end for humans. It suggests that we could possibly fix our mistakes and maybe make our world beautiful again. But the film also seems to usher people that we shouldn't wait too long to start taking better care of our planet.

I feel like Wall-E isn't just trying to tell us a children's story. Instead, it's like the film is asking us to look at ourselves as humans, consider what we really want from our future, and how we are treating the Earth. It leads me towards the view that we should all be more mindful about how we use things, what we buy, what we rely on, and how we can help keep the planet and nature sustained. After all, our planet is currently our home, and it's only up to us to protect it. So I think, to take an important point from Wall-E, it hints that we should start thinking about these environmental things now and make changes before it's too late.

IMDB (2008). WALL·E. [online] IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/.

Brazil - the dystopian dream

"Brazil" and Its Commentary on Social Issues

I think the film Brazil, directed by Terry Gilliam back in 1985, is more than just a futuristic and dark film; it's an intense view of social issues that are still around today. This movie cleverly imbues dystopian-like settings throughout to explore problems like class division and consumerism, as well as the impact of an excessive bureaucracy on individual freedom and on mental health. A classic and over-the-top creation in my eyes and it was created by Terry Gilliam, Tom Stoppard and Charles McKeown.

Class Division:

In Brazil, the division between social classes is clearly presented. This is evident in scenes like when the high-class are dining out, which is abruptly disrupted to shield the wealthy customers from the background chaos and flames affecting the lower classes. The film highlights these moments to show how societal structures often protect the privileged while leaving others vulnerable. This serves as a critical observation of our current society's tendency to maintain and even enforce class divides.

As can be seen in these examples from the film, the wealthy are simply having their vision of the explosions blocked by the staff, as if it wasn't even happening...

Consumerism:

The film also addresses the issue of thoughtless consumerism and its environmental impact. The world of "Brazil" is one where consumer goods and bureaucratic processes have overtaken huge aspects of life, leading to environmental degradation and a loss of connection to a natural world. This mirrors our current situation where consumerism often overshadows environmental concerns, leading to pollution and climate change.

Psychological Impact of Societal Norms:

Brazil delves into the psychological effects of living in a society where individuality is suppressed by an overwhelming and nonsensical bureaucracy. In this film, the lead role and protagonist, Sam Lowry, represents a common man trapped in this system, his dreams and desires possibly squashed by the weight of social expectations. I feel this film could suggest the idea that when people are forced to conform to rigid social norms, it can often lead to a sense of loss of identity, which is a significant issue in modern society.

The Role of Dreams and Personal Aspirations:

Interestingly, the film explores the concept of dreams and their importance in providing an escape from the constant societal pressures. However, it also shows the danger of losing touch with reality, as seen in Sam eventually descending into madness. This reflects on the importance of balancing personal aspirations with societal responsibilities and the consequences of ignoring either one.

In conclusion:

I think Brazil shows an extreme side to various social issues. It makes us imagine uncomfortable truths about our society; the widening class divides, the consequences of consumerism, the nature of work, and the psychological impact of societal pressures. The film serves as another reminder alongside Wall-E, that these issues if left unaddressed, could lead to a dystopian-like future.
Usually known for his comedic works with Monty Python, Terry Gilliam in my opinion here has created a film that stands out for its utilization of a mix of dark humor and surreal imagery, but Brazil not only entertains it also educates, making us ponder the direction in which our society is headed.

Gilliam, T., Stoppard, T. and McKeown, C. (1985). Brazil. [online] IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088846/.

Split

"Split," directed by M. Night Shyamalan, takes us into some deep issues like mental health, the effects of trauma, and living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The main protagonist and antagonist in the movie shows us many different sides of himself, as many as 23 personalities, which really makes you think twice about DID, especially since he's not shown in the best light. This way of showing him might make people wary or even lead to not treating people with DID properly if they don't really get what's going on in the film.

The movie also suggests that going through tough times can make someone grow in ways they might not expect. For example, in "Glass," which is the next movie, there's Mr. Glass. He's not physically strong, hence the name, but he thinks he's really smart and wants to be like the bad guys in comic books. There’s also Donny, who Bruce Willis plays, who believes that after surviving lots of bad accidents, he can now sense when danger is near and nothing can hurt him.

These stories kind of hint that people who've been through a lot might have some special gifts. But the way it's shown might not always hit the mark. It often puts these characters in situations that seem more like something out of a storybook than real life, showing why it's so important to think about how we show serious topics in movies and TV. How we tell these stories can really change how we see real people who face these challenges every day.

IMDb. (2017). Split. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4972582/.

Absolutely anything

"Absolutely Anything" is a comedy where Simon Pegg plays the lead. The film dives into big questions about whether it's really beneficial for someone to have complete control over everything. How much power should an individual really have?

In the movie, Simon Pegg's character finds himself in a crazy scenario where he can do anything he wants. It's not all just for laughs; it actually gets you thinking about what people truly desire in life and how hard it is to bring everyone together to tackle the major issues that affect us all.

As the story unfolds and Pegg's character begins using his newfound abilities, we see how quickly things can spiral out of control when someone has the power to change anything they don't like. Initially, he uses his powers for personal gains, which leads to chaos and complications around him. This part of the film really questions the allure of having such power.

It's portrayed humorously, but the film teaches a serious lesson about the complexities of absolute power. It suggests that even the best intentions can lead to unexpected and often messy outcomes when someone has the ability to instantly change the world. Watching this, you start to reflect on real-life leaders and the careful consideration they must exercise when making decisions that impact everyone. This makes "Absolutely Anything" more than just a comedy; it's a thought-provoking look at the responsibilities that come with great power and control.

Also greatly appreciated the ending, which showcased their storyboarding process, including the shot direction and scene details.

Jones, T., Jones, T., Scott, G., Adams, D., Pegg, S., Beckinsale, K. and Bhaskar, S. (2017). Absolutely Anything. [online] IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727770/ [Accessed 11 Aug. 2023].

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