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November 30, 2005
November 28, 2005
NYC Subway Graphics - Thesis Inspiration
The NYC Subway Graphics, seen over Thanksgiving break, inspired a possible stylized mouth animation set for Machinicon (thesis character). Ideally this would be automated animation triggered by audio input, to avoid tedious cell animation.
November 18, 2005
Viola sensibility - morning sanctuary
This morning I was walking my spiritual advisor and pondering Bill Viola’s thoughts from last Wednesday. My mind was still cloudy with dream fragments and I noticed something beautiful near our feet. It is very likely that I would have missed the water droplets, refracting light on a magnificent iris, if I had been ingesting a triple latte and listening to my favorite opera. I’m so grateful to have had that moment of reflection, before I neurotically ran back to my house to get my camera. It was an experience, in Bill’s words, that I "needed to share."
November 17, 2005
Dr. Ira Lochinkop - Thesis Narrative Context
I’m attempting to put a conceptual wrapper around my Technophiles Anonymous thesis and believe I have a strong narrative solution. The following is a 90 second (+/-) draft introduction that would be triggered the moment a “guest” steps into a large crate. Studio lights illuminate what appears to be a recently unpacked ornate wood and glass device...
MC (National Geographic style) VO:
Please be seated and thank you for turning off all communication and photographic and recording devices.
(Lights dim and visuals begin, once the viewer is seated.)
Humanity is facing an unprecedented crossroad with technology. Never before have we experienced such accelerated use of digital devices.
(Time-lapse photography shows urban locations with people rushing, text messaging, and fixated on their mobile devices.)
Mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, Tivo, and iPods are pervasive! Emailing, video gaming, text messaging, blogging, instant messaging, and chatting are changing life patterns in both subtle and profound ways.
Evidence of this emerging epidemic is abundant and raising awareness of media consumption and technology use is essential; if we are to lead successful, healthy, and meaningful lives.
(Close-up images of suburban and private locations with people consuming media, text messaging, and playing video games.)
Dr. Ira Lochinkop anticipated the potential for addictive behavior to technological devices over 40 years ago. His radical theories and inventions were scheduled to be demonstrated in the 1964 World’s Fair.
However, his unexpected and tragic death ended his life work and plans for public intervention.
(Archival footage of inventions, world’s fairs, an expansive laboratory, a warehouse on fire, and mourning widow at a funeral.)
Thanks to a generous grant from the Mentsh Foundation for Technological Lifestyles, Dr. Lochinkop’s visionary mid-century invention has been fully restored the University of Southern California’s Interactive Media Division.
(Images of Mentsch foundation, archival USC footage, and exterior of Zemeckis Lab.)
Fade to mechanical face / database entity named “Machinicon”...
November 05, 2005
Kuleshov Effect & Visual Interface
Victor Kuleshov studied the psychological and narrative impact of adjacent sequential imagery. Modern editing techniques capitalize on this visual phenomenon with what is commonly referred to as the Kuleshov Effect. His experimental films demonstrated that contiguous or contrasting images could substantially change the perceived performance and meaning of a filmic sequence.
I’m currently exploring how Kuleshov’s concept may translate to the subjects, participants, and characters in my thesis. Below are three visual comps that investigate, in David Lynch’s words, the “immersive and illusionary world” I’m attempting to create. In this case the “world” is a dark and magical booth interior with layered graphical elements (visible in the pepper’s ghost interface).
Composition #1 (above) shows the subject surrounded by visual elements that represent various themes/behaviors. In this case the thematic iconography may “slide” in and out of the frame from the edges. This visual organization may exist for the participant in the Q&A session(s).
Composition #2 (above) is a similar organization with the subject’s color saturation set to zero. This potentially helps merge the participant with his graphical world/context. A dynamic approach to such an effect could also provide a visual and/or emotional arc to the sequence.
Composition #3 (above) enhances the immersive quality of the visuals through light manipulation. As related iconography appears the lighting in the booth would be manipulated. This technique would visually imply that the graphic elements share the same space and emit colored light that is cast on the subject. I’m fascinated with this concept as it suggests “real world” physical properties to a visually augmented “virtual” space. Manipulating coloration/light as a function of they system (i.e. MAX/MSP) would offer a similar effect without permanently altering the captured video.
November 04, 2005
Media Transport
November 02, 2005
Media Delivery
