Blog 6: Animation Deconstruction

 

The images above are from the animated movie, The Incredibles. The images can be compared and contrasted based on the elements of color and lighting.

The main hue or color in image one is blackish gray and is represented in the road. The other hues emphasized are red and black on Mr. Incredible and blue and white for Frozone. Similarly, image two uses the hues of red and black on the people, but the main hue is green and brown for the background. The brightness of the characters faces and above in image one is because they are not being enveloped by the shadow of the figure attacking them yet. The rest of the image below is not bright. In image two, the characters are brightly lit but the background is a bit darker. Saturation, or adding white to a color was used in image one where the light is still hitting the top of the two males' bodies. In image two the uniforms are also lightly saturated.

The shadow in image one is of a figure attacking the protagonist and his friend. The use of this gives a sense of imminent danger. Image two also has shadows, but they are instead the shadows of the protagonists. The dark lighting as a result of the shadow of the antagonist gives a sense of danger in image one, but also gives the emotion or mood of despair. The lighting in image two gives a contrasting affinity with the ways the characters are standing. The brightness of the background combined with the green calming hue give the sense of safety, but the characters are in defensive poses. So, the bright green lighting combined with the bright lighting of the characters symbolizes safety and gives a calm emotion. Possible symbolism here also is because the characters are so strong and united, the background lighting was made to be calming so we know the characters will be okay, whatever the danger may be. This also creates the relaxed mood. It was clever how the animators utilized colors and lighting techniques to give you clues to how the scene will turn out.

Blog 5: Storyboard Imitation

  

The director followed the 180 degree rule in the first five shots because generally when the camera position changed, the characters were moving off the screen and the camera followed to an extent. This happened in shot three. Also, the camera was on a dolly for shot four, staying on the 180 degree line.

The director mostly followed the rule of thirds in the first five shots, except for in shot three. The characters move across the screen and are not positioned in the rule of thirds.

The director avoided the rules of 30 altogether because the shots did not jump between the characters. Each shot was essentially a movement shot except for shot two, and the camera moved with the characters but did not jump around between them.

The director broke the rule of thirds in shot three because the characters move across the screen and are not in the rule of thirds. This is okay because they are moving and it does not detract from the shot. It is more so a violation of the 180 degree rule, but it is acceptable because one way to break the rule is to have the characters move on the screen.

Later in the scene, the camera changes tend to get a little jumpy when filming dialogue between characters. The director did not really break any rules with it, but the transitions between shots could have been a little cleaner. It is okay for this particular movie, however, because it's making fun of King Arthur and it is not meant to be the best movie out there. The movie did not have a lot of money to work with, so the director may not have been the greatest possible. Overall, the scene is good minus this small issue which is a minor detraction from the scene.

Blog 4: Song Deconstruction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy0fIyongdI

NEEDTOBREATHE'S "More Time"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1QMmWlOmEQ

NEEDTOBREATHE's "Lay Em Down"

The songs I chose for the assignment are "More Time" and "Lay Em Down" by NEEDTOBREATHE. The two songs are different, but they have some similarities. I will discuss the lyrics, melody, and musical quality.

Seeing as "More Time" and "Lay Em Down" are different songs, they have completely different lyrics. However, both songs are somewhat about having hope in the situations you are in, so there are some similarities in the feel you get from the lyrics.

Also considering that these are different songs, they have different melodies, or a different tune you hum. The harmony in "Lay Em Down" makes for a happy and upbeat mood, whereas the harmony in "More Time" makes for a little bit darker mood.

The rhythms in both songs are regular because neither song has a crazy change in it. The intensity of both songs are similar because neither songs are particularly loud or soft, but both are more accurately placed somewhere in the middle. Both songs stay in the medium pitch range, but at one point in "Lay Em Down" the pitch goes up high. "Lay Em Down" has a timbre that is more simple seeing as part of the song is just clapping hands and stomping feet. "More Time" does not have an element similar to this, so it is more complex. Neither song is ever slow, but more of a moderato in terms of speed. However, "Lay Em Down" speeds up a bit more than "More Time" does, and "More Time" is a little slower than "Lay Em Down" at times. "Lay Em Down" is a little bit more strangely organized because it does not follow the typical song structure, but it is also not a typical song. "More Time" is a normal pop song, and therefore the organization is more ordered and typical.

I find that I like "Lay Em Down" more than "More Time" overall just because of the message in the song. It's more about letting go of your issues, whereas "More Time" seems to be more about a relationship. "Lay Em Down" is also less poppy and has more of a Southern rock vibe which is different from your typical songs on the radio, and "More Time" is a pop/rock song. I like songs that are a little bit different from what you normally hear, so "Lay Em Down" is better in my opinion.