What Am I Doing

OK, I myself have wondered what on Earth am I doing this and next year in Scotland.

To make things insightful I have therefore drawn a map... a mindmind.

Please see below for an overview of my activities in Scotland... quite a few (considering my age ;o)




Click to enlarge: My activities in Scotland - 2006/2007

Crime Scene Cleaners

As a boy I wanted to become a Police Officer. Therefore, I cut out slips from the TV guide to receive information packages and hopefully.. stickers! My door had lots of Police stickers on them and when visiting London with my parents, they bought me a plastic Bobby helmet to fit with my road agent suit. Oh was I pleased driving around in my skelter (i.e. child's car), wearing my 'uniform' !



UK Bobby Helmet

Bobby

Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was British Prime Minister from December 1834 to April 1835, and again from September 1841 to July 1846. He arranged the organization of the Metropolitan Police Force for London based out of Scotland Yard. As a result the colloquial term for a police officer in Britain, "Bobby", is taken from Peel's name, as is the older slang term "peeler".

Though at first unpopular they proved very successful in cutting crime in London, and by 1835 all cities in the UK were being directed to form their own police forces. Known as the father of modern policing, his Peelian Principles defined the ethical requirements police officers must follow in order to be effective. His most memorable principle is: The police are the public, and the public are the police.

Back to today...

Crime Scene Cleaners

Two 3rd Year student from Napier University in Edinburgh are producing a film called "Crime Scene Cleaners". The profession of a Crime Scene Cleaner - I had never known until now - is highly regarded, especially in the crime-drenched States of Amerika.

According to an article published on CNN (see :Crime-scene cleaner) a Crime-scene cleaner can earn upto a six-figure wage. This career is truly a case of "no guts, no glory." But don't expect much in the way of glory.

Among their tasks: "Cleaning blood off walls and small family trinkets, ripping out stained carpeting, disposing of furniture, dealing with decomposed bodies or the loose remains of murder victims." (As Gospodarski put it, the medical examiner takes the big pieces, the crime-scene cleaners take the rest.)

Right, so much for my next career move ;o)

The film needs a storyboard, and that's where I have been asked to participate...

Storyboarding Crime-scene cleaners: meet Cameron and Ewan.

Next, you will see a few of my first drawings that picture the story of these two cleaners... when visiting a scene of crime at an old, deserted farm house.



Click to enlarge: Cameron and Ewan on the road




Click to enlarge: Cameron getting rid of his gloves



Click to enlarge: Are we there yet?



Click to enlarge: Ewan giving Cameron a glance.



Click to enlarge: Approaching the house



Click to enlarge: The Crime Scene

... to be continued

Does this place give you the creeps.....?

Do You Believe in Magic

The Easter break ahead and no course work for the moment, I've searched for fellow-magicians within Edinburgh.
------------------------


Edinburgh Magic Circle
(http://www.edinburghmagiccircle.co.uk)

Much to my liking I've found the Edinburgh Magic Circle (EMC), that promotes a lasting interest in magic and its allied arts. Its aim is to help improve every EMC members talent in magic and provide a sounding board for new ideas and innovation.

EMC are a group of friends with a shared passion for all things magical, ranging from full time professional magical entertainers to gifted amateurs, from close up magic to mentalism, and everything in-between.

As I have been an active Magician from childhood until today, I dared to ask EMC to consider me for membership.

------------------------


FunCare4Kids
(http://www.funcare4kids.org)

In the meantime I am preparing my Workshop on Magic to be shown in The Netherlands on Saturday 8th of April 2006. The event organized by FunCare4Kids is meant to take 'kids' out of their family homes for a day. Their families all have a member, either parent, brother, or sister, who suffers from cancer. The 'kids' will learn how to perform a Magic trick and thus show their family their crafts afterwards.

The initiative to fly me over to do this workshop has come from my dear friend Hans Zijlstra, currently an organizer of KLM Management Class 27. KLM (i.e. Royal Dutch Airlines) arrange for my flight forth and back. Well done, Hans! And I enjoy broadening these youngster's imaginations.

Click to see my leaflet underneath (in Dutch):


Willem as Magician Tornaldo, teaching Magic without revealing the secrets

Color Schemas

Found and embedded in this web log entry I have a Color Scheme Tool (courtesy Steel Dolfin Creative).

This is the ultimate toolset to decide on your colors in a web design or poster, not to forget album cover or logo.

Use it - as I will - to your benefit!



Thanks Steel Dolfin for this contribution.

Jury Report Core Subject Entry 2006

Today the jury is to tell me what Core Subject I will be allegeable for on entry to the Second Year.

I have had two departmental interviews:

1 - Film & TV
2 - Graphic Design

The outcome of the jury is .................


(rolling drums)


!!!!...

FILM / TV

...!!!!!


My Number One Choice has been granted to me, I am sooooo Happy





Will start Film & TV after the Easter Break...

And of course I will keep you all updated:

WE HAVE DONE THIS TOGETHER; THANK YOU !!!

Make Your Mind Up

Hello and welcome back to Willem's Weblog!

It has been a while for me to break the radio silence, as I had to recover from a quite intense battle to sit a successful interview over the last few days.

What has helped me, and what will help me in the future, is... I used my Mind ;o)

You'd like to see how my mind is organized?

That's what one calls a 'Mind Map'; A visual diagram representing related ideas, concepts, or tasks in a hierarchical format.


MindMap - courtesy NovaMind

And this web log entry is going to explain in detail the benefit of using MindMaps!

Mind Mapping
...

Cool Features: Branch Proposal System



Mind Mapping and Screenwriting

NovaMind Screenwriting tm has enabled Scripts to be attached on any branch of the Mind Map to record all of your ideas - the character names, their dialogue, camera angles, scene settings and more! By simply clicking on the script button you can start typing straight away while NovaMind formats your text according to the industry standard.



"Everything interesting begins in the mind"


Mind Mapping and ProjectManagement
....

F-Day

Nice... walking up to the College at 7.30am on last Wednesday. I'd be in early - not having slept at all before - to secure a computer onto which I could print my Film & TV portfolio work (storyboards, scripts, photo's of behind the scenes etc.).

I managed to be the first person in and succesfully brought my history in film onto A4 paper. If it weren't for the burning of a DVD...

All pleased with my package of discussion-food I had left the computers to meet Keith and hand him my 'Selling Myself' writing and Film Analysis (see previous day). Then I found out that I had only ten minutes left before the interview with Noe Mendelle but my DVD didn't have sound!

So... rush rush back to the computers and little after 10.10 am I was back with a PAL (previously NTSC) disc with sound. Unfortunate by my delay, I was happily surprised that Reeve, a fellow Film student, had still been chtting away in his interview. So my delay was compensated for ;o)

Yet, Noe kindly asked me into her Office and she fired a series of questions at me. Telling the highlights of my past 36 years on planet Earth was followed by her pencil noting sentences of interest down on paper. She showed interest and I felt the relaxation in my veins. She'd ask if I would not be too old voor the Industry, which I addressed as learning from new generations and relying on my experience. Also, she asked if she could keep hold onto the DVD's I had made for Transavia and my own film (One More Day in Paradise). Along with these two movies I have handed her the complete archived 'how to make film' by that same movie. She is a really kind and open person. Would be great to be working with her...

After twenty minutes I had spoken enough about my motivations and it was time to part. I met with my fellow-competitioners and we drank our first early morning coffee. Reeve has got a very beautiful and professional portfolio. David is a little bit in doubt if he really wants to do film, instead of sculpture, and Vicky lastly felt relaxed.

We have to wait and see until next Tuesday who is to stay. In the afternoon (as I am writing) our three briefs will be marked and returned. Will let you know. Now I am going to doze off for a wee bit and catch-up with my lack of sleep.

Later!

...

Keith Bowman granted me a 'C' (=GOOD) for the three briefs we had been given; the 30 sec. movie he liked the least.

It had been better if I had spent more time on it. I am more graphical than filmic. Although he had had that impression before in our first Film & TV block, he had done away with this judgement at the start of this block. But the feeling hadn't changed. The Film Analysis he applauded for it becoming better each and every submission as did my 'Selling Myself'. I am a hardworking guy, but perhaps not a filmer.

Anyway, his credits do not steer the decision of being asked into the Film & TV department; that is to be decided by Noe Mendelle... next Tuesday.

My say, I have learn an awful lot... never to be forgotten; Film is hard work and skillful analysis. That I have practiced and come to like.

Tell me More with Less

Fine, the clock has just reached 05.00 am and I am still typing up my Brief Two for the Film & TV department; i.e. the film analysis of the 'Bin~Jip'.

I have a maximum of 200 words that I may use to effectively write down how this film has been constructed, technically from a filmmakers point of view.

Here is what I have produced:

"Bin-Jip" (= empty house) is a love story between a wife (Sun-Hwa), locked away in her home, and a wandering sole (Tae-Suk) who breaks into empty houses. The spectator gets pulled into their evolving love purely by their gestures as they hardly ever speak, but perfectly understand each other.
Kim Ki-Duk reveals Sun-Hwa’s rundown life through black & white modeling photos of her while Tae-Suk enters her house, followed by a glimpse of her with a bruised eye. The husband is portrayed as evil, leaving aggressive messages on the answering machine. His violence, which is repetitively shown through beatings with a golf club (Bin~Jip translates into 3-Iron too), is effectively used to contrast with the tenderness between the main characters.

The camera takes turns between the Point of View of Sun-Hwa and Tae-Suk as we see them photographing themselves in empty houses of fighting couples on holiday. This leads us further into their intimate relationship, hiding from the violent outside world.

Near the end, Tae-Suk moves out of frame totally, leaving his prison guard and us in wonderment if he really existed. Herewith Kim Ki-Duk leaves us with a wonderful dream of empty hearths awaiting a lover to rescue them.

Total: 200 words
----------
Next, coffee and burning my DVD for the interview at 10.10 am today ;o)

I Feel Graphic

Hurray, one interview passed and I feel graphic about it!


Results of the interviews are given on Tuesday 21st of March.

I have just returned from my 2nd choice interview ; Graphic Design.

They asked me all sorts of questions, like would you be disappointed if instead of Film & TV you would be 'left' with Graphic Design?

Of course, I would be disappointed. But not because I would be able to be a graphic designer.

Man, I've been designing all my life ;o)

Anyway, now I have to gear up for tomorrow's final interview with Film & TV.

Also my 'Selling Myself' script has yet again gone through a revision with Keith Bowman of the Film department. So much time and effort spent on getting to know my abilities and aptitudes; I have reached a higher stage of SELF-AWARENESS !

Here is the remake:

--------------------
GOOD: I see my life as a series of challenging missions with ever-increasing levels of difficulty. Making it to the next level is what I am good at, since I can imagine and validate different solutions.

BETTER: Progressing to the next level is what I am good at, for I see my life as a series of challenges that I can use my imagination and creativity onto.



GOOD: From an early age on I have profitably worked for customers with a low budget. Although I am self-reliant, I enjoy overcoming a challenge as a group.

BETTER: From an early age on I have worked profitably for customers in retail and media. I am comfortable working by myself and adapting to team objectives.


GOOD: My critical and analytical skills are continuously improved through work experience and course assignments.

BETTER: By weighing up thoughts and examining perceptions in favour and against I come up with a fitting outcome to new assignments.


GOOD: I believe a better understanding of people will make us reach the previously unimaginable.

BETTER: I make an effort to accomplish that people are understood and motivated.


90 words
------------------

Stay with me tonight to burn the last bit of midnight oil and wake with me in the morning to Get Hired, Not Fired !

Thanks for all moral support.

For Sale

This week there is a SALE.

And the item that is for sale is.... ME!

I have to write a sales pitch of max. 90 words for the Film & TV department, due tomorrow. After previous attempts I have come up with the following:


"I organize my life by completing my tasks before time becomes a constraint. To prioritize between my obligations towards work and social activities, I make sure that the expectations of my employers and friends are met.
To manage change effectively, I challenge myself through education and practice. The fruits of my self-improvement have been transferable knowledge and being able to support people in need. My goal is to broaden our imagination to strengthen the wellbeing of my community and find opportunities for it to survive."

85 words


Although everything is true and it is a healthy way of living my live, something is missing.... This statement is very me-oriented, passive almost.

It needs to be re-written to put forward why someone else (possibly in the Film industry) would like to know and work with me.

Activating the statement (order has changed too):

NOTE: Mind you, Daniel Cini has helped me to formulate my sentences in 'game/film/storytelling' wording. Thanks!


Passive: "To manage change effectively, I challenge myself through education and practice."
Active: "I see my life as a series of challenging missions with ever-increasing levels of difficulty. "


Passive: "The fruits of my self-improvement have been transferable knowledge and being able to support people in need."
Active: "Making it to the next level is what I am good at, since I can imagine and validate different solutions."


Passive: "I organize my life by completing my tasks before time becomes a constraint."
Active: "From an early age on I have profitably worked for customers with a low budget. Although I am self-reliant, I enjoy overcoming a challenge as a group."


Passive: "My goal is to broaden our imagination to strengthen the wellbeing of my community and find opportunities for it to survive."
Active: "My critical and analytical skills are continuously improved through work experience and course assignments."


Passive: "To prioritize between my obligations towards work and social activities, I make sure that the expectations of my employers and friends are met."
Active: "I believe that a better understanding of people will make us reach the unimaginable."

90 words

Great !

Interview FILM and TV

"Hope is NOT a Strategy"
- Donald Trump

"A Strategy is meeting your Opponent on YOUR ground of choosing"
- Napoleon Bonaparte

"A PLAN is a Dream with a Deadline"
- Steven Covley

These quotes made me decide that I will plan my Interview with the Film & TV department next Wednesday carefully, in order to increase my rate of success. Please follow me whilst going through the advise provided to me by this department:

• Interview
  
  
  
  • Be selective
    
    
    
    • PERSPECTIVE
      
      
      
      • Remember, no matter what you've heard or read, your work doesn't stand alone. When they review your portfolio, the memory of your films and photographs will be only part of what you leave behind. Just as packaging plays an increasingly important role in product marketing, you are as integral to your presentation as your images.
        
      
      
    • PREPARATION
      
      
      
      • Before contacting the department, find out what type of art they show. Look at the work of the artists they represent and make sure that your films and photographs will fit into the department's profile and positioning.
        
      • Inquire about the department's current reviewing procedures and comply with the review methods requested. The best way to do this is to ask the department. Methods of review vary. It is important to follow the department's review procedure, especially on your first review. Request a special review only as a last resort, only if you are absolutely unable to comply with the standard review process.
        
      • Find out the name and position of the person reviewing artists' portfolios and write down his or her name with correct spelling. [Noé Mendelle, Programme Leader] This is important for future visits and correspondence with the department. If you expect the reviewers to remember who you are, have the same courtesy and remember them.

Noé Mendelle (in full Noémie)	Head of Film & TV, Reader in Visual Communication, Director Scottish Documentary Institute
Research Interests	I am particularly interested in aspects of narrative and new directions within the documentary format. Particular research themes include women, migration and stories of transgression. Since the 1980s I have produced and directed over 30 films, mainly for British and French television, widely distributed at international festivals and award winners. I also develop documentary networks across countries and continents: "Bridging the Gap" (Scotland); "Constructing Reality" (Europe); "Africadoc" (Portuguese and French speaking African countries).
Outputs:	"Solange...Com Saudades" "Fellini, I"m a born liar" "Eastern Fling" "Turkish Delight"
Contact Details	edinburgh college of art Art & Design 79 Grassmarket Edinburgh EH1 2HU
CV (PDF)	Not available
Campus Location (PDF)	Not available
In addition	The Rest is Silence, Executive Producer: Noé Mendelle, Director: Andrew Henderson [Edinburgh International Film Festival, Industry Screening 2005] Synopsis: The Rest is Silence follows the journey of an anonymous, unclaimed body through its progress from discovery to cremation. The film's focus is not on the body, but on those who guide it through the necessary procedures and the rituals leading to its interment. The progression to a silent state of the person who is now a corpse and for whom all this work is carried out, is the core of the film. Without sensationalising, the film documents events through a series of significant moments that are revealing and poignant. Format: Digital Duration: 10 minutes Budget: GBP 16,000
About eca Film & TV	BA (Hons) courses in film/TV and animation. Postgraduate diploma/masters degree courses available. Studio and post production facilities available July to October including unique views of Edinburgh Castle as a backdrop.
Other Schools	Edinburgh's Telford College Napier University Stevenson College University of Edinburgh

• Prepare your portfolio appropriately
  
  
  
  • Selection of best visual work
    
    
    
    • which you feel represents
      
      
      
      • your personality
        
      • and creative abilities
        
      
      
      
    
    
    
  
  
• EDITING YOUR ARTWORK
  
  
  
  • Your portfolio must be well-edited, and you may not be the best judge of your own work. Since it is often difficult to be objective about your own films and photographs, you might have someone you respect view and critique your portfolio prior to showing it to the department. [Ask Daniel] This will ensure that the work you show is your strongest work.
    
  • Limit the number of films and photographs you are showing to no more than twenty prints. You might even consider as few as ten prints. The main objective of your first visit is just to introduce your work to the department. Make the experience of looking at your work as pleasant and positive as possible so that you can come back.
    
  • Present only one thematically unified or otherwise cohesive body of work. If you have more than one body of work to show, show your strongest work first and trust that your success will allow you to present your work again.
    
  
  
• PORTFOLIO DESIGN
  
  
  
  • Your films and photographs must be presented in a professional manner. Choose only finished prints for your portfolio. Never show work prints or unspotted prints. Always show your best work. Plan your portfolio carefully. A good portfolio should have continuity and provide viewers with a clear idea as to what your vision is. It should be organized by subjects or different (photographic) styles. Horizontal and vertical images, as well as different size prints should be organized and grouped separately. Black and white images and color images should also be grouped separately for easier viewing.
    
  • Your work should be presented in an appropriate portfolio case or shipping case. If you are presenting your work to the department, it is best to use a case specifically designed for fine art film or photography.
    
  • Your window overmats should be well cut, with clean straight lines, and look as good as possible.
    
  
  
  

• If you have any short films,
  
  
  
  • ideas for films
    
    
    
    • or short scripts
      
      
      
      • bring a copy
        
      • and be prepared to talk about it.
        
      
      
      
    
    
    
  
  
• INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION
  
  
  
  • Start off on a positive note, make a complimentary comment about the department or the artworks on display. Thank the reviewer for taking the time to look at your work. Briefly introduce yourself and your movie or photographic history. Keep it short, because your work is more important at this stage.
    
  • Assume that the person looking at your work is a professional. Don't insist on white gloves or make a fuss about the handling of your work. If you are overly concerned, handle the work for the reviewer. Always keep in mind that you want to make it as easy as possible for the reviewer, so that you will be welcomed back again.
    
  • Don't interfere with normal business that might be going on during the portfolio review. Never interrupt a sales effort or impede a possible sale. Before you begin your presentation, let the reviewer know that you understand the importance of normal business, and that you will not mind an interruption if something comes up.
    
  • Listen carefully and don't hesitate to take notes if necessary. Try to identify the reviewers favorite films or photographs. You might want to show them again on another visit.
    
  • Keep your questions to a minimum. Try to eliminate negative responses from the reviewer, and always avoid questions that can be answered with a "no." Your main purpose in showing your portfolio is to have the department become familiar with your work.
    
  • If you have arranged for a thirty-minute appointment, time your presentation so that you will be ready to walk out the door in thirty minutes or less. Stretching your appointment, unless the reviewer requests it, will do you more harm than good.
    
  • Be on time for your appointment. Timing is one very important for a successful portfolio review.
    
  
  
• COMMON SENSE
  
  
  
  • Be friendly, positive, polite, and courteous. Avoid being rude or inconsiderate. Keep in mind that you are asking a decision maker to help you. Through your words and actions, indicate that you place great value on that person's time and opinions. Are you making his or her job easier or more difficult? Have you visited the department before? Do you know anything about current programs, new directions, or the history of the department? [Research !!!: Brochures, CV, Film Productions, etc] You should learn as much as possible about the department before your review. Show them that you know and care about what they are doing. Remember that when asking a department to work with you, you are asking it to care about you, and invest time in you. You are also asking it to be your business partner.
    
  • To become a successful professional artist takes more than good artwork. To succeed, you must understand the business of art, create a good portfolio, and master your portfolio presentation. You can and will become a successful visual artist if you have good timing, some luck, and the desire to become successful.
    
  
  

Printmaking

More on Printmaking today, as we have progressed with carving into the wooden plates.

The following images show you my intermediary results, enjoy!



First prints!



I cut away the shape of the main minor in my first print.



Now I had a 'stencil' for use of masking off the black print on a new white paper.



Where the 'stencil' is put, there will be no black paint coming onto the paper.



See, the resulted print; no main minor.



Next, I have masked off the other minors to allow for the main minor to be printed on paper with a dark brown color.



Voila, a main minor in brown and the black background with the other two minors.

NOTE: the guy at the very right did need a pupil drawn in his eye, as I had lost the tiny wooden pupil from my wooden plate. The magic restored...

----

The weekend is devoted to my acceptance to the Second Year of the Art College... it might mean that the web log will be low on my list of priorities.

Not to worry, I'll catch up with you later and keep you informed!

Carving

The last two weeks of Term Three we will be Printmaking on Thursdays and Fridays.

This is actually quite a beautiful craft!

See underneath picture of us receiving instructions by our tutor Sara Ogilvie.



Instructions on the printing wheel.

Our first personal attempt to print has been with (black) paint rubbed onto a wooden plate.



I then covered the paint rubbed side of the wooden plate with a piece of A3 size paper.



Now I was able to either draw, push, or rub images onto the paper that would touch the paint, i.e. it would be printed.



As an image I looked up the newspaper and found this nice couple of a barber and his customer, receiving a haircut.

Needless to say, I didn't opt for the usual pens, brushes, or pencils. Instead I use sandpaper and maderine/orange skins to cover pieces of the picture.







The sandpaper would give a texture to the hair parts, whereas the fruit skin would texturize the faces of the two men.

And these are the first prints, resulting from my 'experiment'.






With hairclips

Next, we had to carve bits out of the wooden plate and thus make an imprint.

In line with my process of carving I decided I would use images of carving; the Underground.



courtesy http://www.ta.tudelft.nl/coalpage/Ondergrondse%20technologie/webplaatjes/transport/transport.htm

I will cut out the lighter areas of the picture in the wooden plate and thus have those areas show white on my printed paper. Tomorrow I will add an image of the Underground network to this print using different colors.



Underground network

Out of it will result a collage of Underground imagery.

Let's call it a day.

Film Building Block

It is Wednesday, my day in the Film & TV department as usual and they have given me their comments.

------------------------

Ad BRIEF ONE: movie of still images showing 'what Sunday means to me'

I have handed in my 30 seconds movie, it has been accepted as such, but.....

COMMENT: I have to expand the movie over 30 seconds to include more 'breathing space' in the thing and to include 7 days instead of 4 which i had now.

Good, but can be Better seems to be their slogan ;o)

-------------------------

Ad BRIEF TWO: Critical analysis of a film (max 200 words)

Also I have typed up underneath analysis of the movie Bin~Jip:

BIN~JIP (Kim Ki-duk, South Korea, 2004)

On opening we see a fragile sculpture of a woman in front of us as if targeted by our golf balls, by which Kim Ki-duk foreshadows repetitive domestic molest of a wife (Sun-hwa). She lives an empty life, hiding indoors, no dialogue, ambient light or sound. Our point of view changes to that of an observer, witnessing non-obstrusive break-and-entry of empty houses (i.e. Bin~Jip) by the therefore sympathetic main character (Tae-suk).

Conflict is introduced when he blocks the departing husband with his motorcycle. The camera follows the escape by the wife with the motorcyclist.

By taking photographs of themselves in front of residents' family pictures, they create an imaginary life. The camera's view-finder is always pointing to the audience effectively making us their participant, rather than an observer.

After their arrest, Tae-suk - and therefore Kim Ki-duk - shows his expertise in hiding, staying out of our view as that of the prison guard. This dance of the unseen climaxes at the point where the wife kisses her new found lover over the shoulder of her husband.

Reflections in mirrors, no spoken words and close-ups from behind of the wife urges us to seek. An illustrative example of film's believability.

COMMENT: I should find the Building Blocks by which this movie has been constructed. So, for example, if a climax is reached, what techniques did the director use to get to that climax. So, rewrite... again ;o0

------------------------------

Ad BRIEF THREE: selling yourself

... following soon ...


Wow, I am learning it the hard way...

Land in Sight

With next week being my last week in Sculpture, I had to boost my life-vest made out of stone...

After the carving and the polishing with veils and sandpaper, I have rubbed 'wax' into the brittle stone's surface.

As you can see from underneath picture the part which has been waxed (right) is much darker than the part which has not yet been waxed. Also the contrast between the 'inflatable' part and the 'ribbons' on top is increased and therefore more interesting to the eye.



Click to enlarge: stone-carved life-vest with wax

Finally, I have found 'luxury chamois leather' car polishing towels, that I can use as seaweed.



Car-pride Chamois leather

These nicely structured, natural textiles are to be colorized by putting them in the pan with spinach for them to become more 'greenish' and I will pamper them in SEAWEED foaming facial scrub of the Body Shop.... mmmm, don't you love it to be seaweed?



Body Shop: Seaweed

Humaterials on Easels

As part of my 'personal painting project' I have been painting 'humaterials' (see Humaterial).

Today has seen the light of the Wine & Woman humaterial.

The response by my teacher has been; "painting is not your strong point".
Well, you be the judge of that ;o)




Click to enlarge: Wine & Woman

Appearance

I have discovered 'Revolution' with which I can start to make a computer game. Revolution is a magnificent development environment for multimedia applications, and the company that has made it is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Right where I live momentarily. How lucky can one be!

Now that I have reached the game development stage, I'd like to show you my first window of the game 'Appearance', which I am about to build in the next couple of months. Erwin Vreeman has helped me in the early stages of conceptualization with his cartoonish images. He's a real professional at drawing and has a good feel for humor. Thank you Erwin!



Example of first game window

Appearance is all about our appearances, the way we look.

This game, that starts out from a dress room, guides the player through the world of clothing; what to wear.

A game assistant, your tailor, will help you find the right clothes, provided you tell him your eye color, hair color, and skin color. In addition you will have to face the mirror and a figurative image will be made of you. Next, the game will calculate by means of color analysis what clothes would fit you and what clothes would make you look bad.

The more handsome you choose to dress, the more you will be given by the jury in the end of the game, where you will have to walk the catwalk.

Fancy playing 'Appearance', stay tuned as I will share with you the complete development cycle of this innovative computer game!

Better get dressed...

NOTE: To build games on my Apple Mac computer I have decided to use Mac-friendly software that would deploy games cross-platform (Linux, Mac, Windows, Unix).

These are the software packages I will be using:

- Adobe Photoshop [http://www.adobe.com]; to create still images.
- Revolution [http://www.runrev.com]; to actually build the screens and navigation throughout the game.
- Apple Quicktime [http://www.apple.com/quicktime]; to make movie clips and sounds that bring the game experience to life.

Machinima

Machinima is making film in the 3D space of a computer game.

By treating the game’s point of view as a camera, the gamespace becomes the set, the game characters turn into film actors, and the gamer gets to be a director.

I will meet with Hugh Hancock, Director of Strange Company, based in Edinburgh, on Monday 13th of March 2006. His company is highly involved with machinima, and therefore a very interesting person to get to know (and work for...).

Film Front

On your marks, set ..... GO !



Roadrunner.. as always closely followed by Mr. Coyote

Today the interview dates have been announced for my entry into the Second Year at ECA.



2nd Choice: GRAPHIC DESIGN

Tuesday 14th of March 2006 at 01.50 pm in Zoe Patterson's Office.

To bring:

Approximately 10 projects / pieces showing creative thinking, ideas, and drawing skills. Must include your graphic design work. maximum of 2 sketchbooks / idea books. Verbally prepared for questions such as: "Why should we pick you?"



1st Choice: FILM & TV

Wednesday 15th of March 2006 at 10.10 am in Noe Mendelle's Office.

To bring:

Be selective and prepare your portfolio appropriately, i.e. selection of best visual work which you feel represents your personality and creative abilities. If you have any short films, ideas for films or short scripts, bring a copy and be prepared to talk about them.

Regarding the 'competition', 5 First Year students will be interviewed for 12 seats available.

1. Vicky R. - her 1st choice
2. Reeve R. - his 1st choice
3. Willem van H. - his 1st choice
4. David M. - his 2nd choice
5. Owen R. - his 2nd choice

However, another 150 students apply from outside of the College to enter straight into the Second Year. Of these normally a 50 make it to the interview too.

Grow Old

"What to become if you grow old?"

Isn't that what you are asked when you are still a youngster in primary school. Well, I can inform you, this same question is asked in the Art College for me to answer.

In a nutshell, I have been asked what I would like to be studying / practicing besides the Main Elective (which I hope will be Film & TV for me, or Graphic Design).

I have chosen (in order of preference, 1 being the most wanted) to be studying at the beginning of Term 3 (starting 18th of April 2006):

4-weeks of
1st) Photography
2nd) Digital Imaging

In addition, I have chosen to be studying at the end of Term 3 (ending 30th of June 2006):
4-weeks of
1st) Drawing for Design
2nd) Drawing for Sculpture

Also for these choices one has to be fighting for a seat, as there are more students than seats available.
Hopefully due to good marks in the 1st choices I stand a chance to get my electives.

After Term 3 my First Year at the College of Art will be completed and I will enjoy a Summer of sun and excitement ;o)

1 2 3 Action

This Wednesday I hand in my three Briefs for Film & TV.

Brief One - 30 Seconds series of still images that show what 'Sunday' means to me.

Storyboard - What Sunday means to me
01. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock ticking... One sees an Alarm clock.
02. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock rings!!!
03. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock silenced... One sees a hand silencing the Alarm clock.
04. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock ticking... One sees the Alarm clock, again.
05. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock rings!!!
06. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock slapped... One sees a hand slapping the Alarm clock.
07. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock ticking... One sees the Alarm clock, yet again.
08. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock rings!!!
09. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Alarm clock smashed to the floor... One sees only darkness. (non-violence ;o)
10. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: birds whistling... One sees PAN-UP from darkness to white.
11. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: birds whistling... One sees NO clock!
12. INT. BEDROOM - MORNING SFX: Loud church bells !!!

Brief Two - Analysis of a film or TV program.

...

Brief Three - Selling Myself


The best example of having to sell yourself was recently shown in a UK TV series called "The Apprentice". Sir Alan Sugar(CEO of Amstrad) would select from a manyfold of candidates, the ONE that outperformed the rest. I have read the book that has come with the series and formulated my own elevator pitch as can be read below:

First attempt: About Me

Sourcing from my strength to communicate visually, I consult people and businesses to get their messages across for their success.
I am capable of producing stills and video describing time, space, sound and vision to evoke emotion as intended. However, I will always apply integrity despite interest as demonstrated in my documentary about teenagers with a heart defect. Having studied and practiced Business Economics, Information Technology, and Art & Design, I make informed decisions, balancing risk with results. I stretch my comfort zone to reach goals, preferably as a team.

Total: 90 Words (ca. 30 seconds)

COME ON! The brief says - NOT SKILLS, BUT ABILITIES ann APTITUDES.

Second attempt: About Me

I am committed to issues in life that matter most; relationships, support, and innovation. I have developed from an eight-year-old junior magician and fun shopkeeper - to pay for my magic tricks - to the educated decision-maker I am now thanks to my tutors, international friendships and family. My strong belief in self-improvement has rewarded me with opportunities such as an invitation to Los Angeles’ Magic Castle, consulting companies like Shell and Philips about their communication systems, and acceptance to this art college. What someone imagines, I can help to establish.

Total: 92 Words (ca. 30 seconds)

Better...?