Old Block / New Block

Dual purpose post here.

First, we finished second block on Friday at school. It ended one crazy week of single-parenthood with a two-part final on Friday (scores 98% for modelling, 92% for animating/rigging), and Michelle returning on Saturday evening. Normalcy restored!



Second, we started block three today. I couldn't believe it when we had our first assignment at 8:30am, and it was due at 12:30pm! This guy's serious! So, here you have it, my first composited video. Compositing is the art of compiling multiple pieces of footage into a single scene. The above video is comprised of:

• a still photograph of the mountains (with a poorly defined sky)
• computer generated clouds
• a computer generated waving flag
• a computer generated helicopter (not animated)

We took the four elements and combined them into the bit you see above. This was a lot of fun, but underscored that the people who make this software are artists, not interface design experts. These programs do anything you could think of. Just don't expect the same set of button clicks in any two places.

Overall, I see lots of potential for fun this quarter (and immensely hard work). Putting the helicopters into the scene, I imagined them swarming in for an attack on Daryl Hannah (i.e. "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman", modern version). So much to do, so much other stuff to do that I'll never get to it!