Mini-thesis...
It looks like I am going with the mythology idea for my mini-thesis, and yesterday I started experiment with prototypes of the animation part of the project. It will be cut outs of very thin birch plywood, for the animated characters and the background. Yesterday I made the head of one character (possibly a fisherman near Kualoa Ranch or something):
Someone apparently stole my saw, so I couldnt use the big sheet of wood I had bought (which is great cause it really has a lot of wood grain to it). That is why the piece of wood this is on is not very textured. But imagine it being very very wooden looking. This particular one I painted with acrylics, though in a few days I am going to experiment with wood burning to see if that gives it a more ancient natural look.
More recent films...
I try to keep up with my viewing log, but sometimes get behind.
Yesterday Poornima, Dave, and I went to the NYU Bobst Library and watched the McLuhan documentary. I had expected it to be something completely different than it was (something that he himself had produced), but it was very interesting seeing the collection of interviews and speeches by him. I didn't agree with everything he said - but it made you think and I'm intrigued to go back and view the other 4 videos in the series.
Tonight there was nothing good on television, so I watched the movie Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow. I had wanted to see this when it was in the theatre, but I think I was in school or something at the time, cause I never made it. Anyways, I recalled the amazing looking trailer to the film. It had this feeling of science fiction films in the 1940s, which makes sense since that is aprox the period the story takes place (circa 1939). When Kerry Conran set out to make this film, he had been inspired by many classic films and comic books. It's actually kind of funny, since the names of the characters are pulled right out of a really really bad comic book. Overall the story is nothing special, but the reason to watch this film is for the outstanding visual effects and style that they obviously went into painstaking detail to create. Though despite the lack of a really deep story, it still moves along rather quickly for a film that comes in at 106 minutes long. For style, it's going into my dvd collection.
I am so behind on my viewing. I have about 30 dvds I acquired recently that I need to watch. Hopefully I will find some time this weekend, since the L train isnt running and I am likely stuck at home - working out my "mini-thesis" ideas.
mini-thesis ideas...
I've been looking into a few of my ideas for the mini-thesis and wanted to pass them by you all. They are from completely different ends of the spectrum, but I find them quite interesting.
1. The first is to take a look at Hawaiian mythology and its affect on people living within the Hawaiian islands (there are many gods, goddesses, and ancients myths that haunt daily life in Hawaii). Growing up in Hawaii its something I always believed in and often it affected my choices (even as an adult it still does).
2. Another Hawaii based idea, would tackle the huge crystal meth problem in Hawaii (and could culminate into something like an animated PSA).
3. And in a completely different direction, recently I had been looking into the neurological/sleeping disorder narcolepsy and its affect on the individual diagnosed with it, as well as the environment that individual is in (since often it can be triggered by simple emotional responses).
4. I'm also very interested in environmental issues dealing with the ocean and our beaches. Also trying to think of something that I could do with that. There are many ways this could go. For instance, one thing that I have been looking into recently is this system that will be tested in Brazil soon. They are going to be harnessing the power of the ocean waves to create energy. This is one means for creating energy without polluting the oceans further.
I know I really need to think more about the question I am trying to answer...but wanted to get some thoughts your way to get feedback.
