moving...

Today i had to take the day of from my schoolproject. Reason? moving out of my apartment and for the time being got no place to live. But ill be back on the project tomorrow, but this will be the end of working home, since i have to pack my home computer down. Hopefully i will get longer days at school in the next 2 weeks. And 1 day away from the project would let me get the final push to finish it all.

jack..

Today i had to make a "usb", "jack", that Valkyrie put's in the computer. I made it look oldschool. Not sure how that would look with a androide in the near future, but hope it will give something to the movie that people watching it can relate to, like the 2 cars in the establishing shot.

Digression, resemblance!

Fast fun fact in a stressfull time.

You ever seen the resemblance between

Lionel Luthor,(Smallville.)      and             harald magnus andreassen,(chief economist.)

Author Dan Brown                            and                     Actor Ralph Fiennes,(The red dragon)

Minor problems

We are at the start at the end of the establishing shot overlooking the city. The render times has been heavy but it works. Tried to remder 1 frame today, and on a quality of aprox 1/10000 of what we like, it took 11 minutes to render it out. I guess the problem is that our particle system that erupts one of the buildings 200 times, also duplicates the big textures on the building and makes it impossible to render, or something else i have overlooked.

11 min. render time on this picture

Two days of color

Our sett this Monday and Tuesday to make the color decisions for our film, or stock if you like. We need to sort out the color as a whole in the film and each object that's in it. So the idea is to sit down infront of a computer, open Photoshop, and force the stock out of it.

Some earlier discusions made us look in the direction of a black and white movie, like Citizen Kane, but as there are few major contrasts in the coloring ofo the movie,(exept white and black,) we saw to Sin City, for more ideas, since the character The Yellow Bastard has a nice yellow color that realy shines through the black and white in the movie. The same type of stock continues through Frank Millers The Spirit and his co-producer Robert Rodriguez is also known to do new experiments to what looks good in the frame when it comes to color desicions, as seen in the movie Grindhouse, part 2 Planet Terror.

Now if NSB could just get the trains working so the rest of my group could get to school, we could start this thing, but all the trains has been incasipated until further notice.

Our movie got a name, sort of!

Two thirds of our movie is done and we were out a title, or even a thought of a title to our movie. We forced a sit down with one of my group members and started to brainstorm around the main characters, Valkyrie and Construct, and the meaning of the movie. The method was first popularized in the late 1930s by Alex Faickney Osborn in a book called Applied Imagination. Scientists has not proven it's usefulness, but as we started the flow of proposal to a title was extreme.

After we got some ideas, around the destruction of man kind,( whats happened before the movie starts,) and the death of Valkyrie in the movie, we tried to link that up to whats happened over the last 250 years since the Industrial Revolution and the way mankind is going at this rate. The theme about mankinds curiosnes being it's doom is a big hidden theme in the movie and that should be reflected in the title.

First word that we thought of was Downfall, but the meaning of the word did not comprehend totaly with our story, Definition: disgrace, ruin. So we continued searching and found the word Decay. At first it seemed like a short, blunt word with no "snap" in it. But after i saw the Definition: breaking down, collapse it could be the first draft of our movie title. Again it tells the historie about our real life now and were we are going, what happened before movie start, and what happend to Valkyrie. It's marveless=)


Heres the brainstorm chart we made

PreViz first draft

How strong is youre computer...

Today we tried to do the enviroment shot "better". with that i meen we tried to use particle system to make all the buildings in the background. That was hard! All the production computers were to low on "RAM" to manage such a big task, when we tryed to duplicate one of the bigger buildings to 200. So what do you do? You turn to youre own hardware and suddenly it whent smooth as soap. So got a earlier file, but with the particle system in place.

Storyboard

This is the last version of the storyboard. As you can see the story as been changed a bit since the 3rd draft of the treatment i posted earlier. A new treatment will be posted soon.

Enviroment work

update on establishing shot in 3D. As you can see with the mountains, it gets the "closed" feeling, so you get some sort of frame around the picture, as shown in our storyboard.

Been using "scanline" render for the past weeks, but thought i should try something new after i looked on a "mental ray" tutorial page. The light looked better and the render time dropped with 1/10 of the scanline.

Sharing on the web

Today we realized that we should get more feedback from sources outside the classroom, and we made a big post on the forum Det store dyret. Here we hope to achieve comments on both what we have done, and what we are gonna do. Hopefully this will improve our end result.

People are genuine nice

For our establishing shot we are going from a city jpeg to a 3d modeled city. We found a perfect picture from the homepage of Simon Ho, a Ausie born and raised in Sydney and, as with many Australians of Chinese descent. Therefor he took a picture from the province of Guangzhou, and specific the city of zhaoqing.



The picture was copyrighted, and as a result we couldnt use it as part of our establishing shot. We desided to wright him an email and ask for use of it, hopefully we could just photshop the copyright logo away.


This is the response we got:

Sure, feel free to use my photo of Zhaoqing.
I've uploaded the full-sized version (size: 2 Mb) so that you can
download it from the folllowing address:

A better quality picture without his name on it. There are some genuine nice people in the world still.

Beggining of the end...of my city

Been working on the post-apocalyptic city for our establishing shot. Looking around for inspiration and i found it on a pay 3D page called turbosquid. Just searching on ruins and other keywords i deiscovered alot of different buildings that has seen better days.

As you can see i've tryd to get the steel structure somewhat intact as some were after the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Concrete and steele is all that's left. So with the basic modeling and a nice dirtmap made by a groupmember it should become the intended feeling of destruction and "silence".

Down periode

In the pasing week i felt the "hole" of the project. With that i meen that it's harder to sit down an do some work, because i've been doing the same idea over and over again. My head just want to do something else. I hoped that 3D modeling production would be satisfying for me, but with tha last 8 months of school without any "school 3D", it's much harder to start producing in high volume. 

With this slope down i tried to find some outer refrenses, to hopefully speed up my motivation, saw half of the top 250 list on imbd.com, tryed to even do more wrokout then i allready do but it didnt help. On top of all this my room mate moved out so started to try figuring how to pay my rent from next month. Thing just got bigger and bigger.

But in the end, it wasnt a guru from Nepal that made me turn around, was a team member who told me to get back up or she would kick me up there herself. That work magic and today i got a new "scene", establishing shot of a broken city paning down to a litle house, and working in 3D is almost fun again. 

So i guess without people around you to help you get going, and back you up, things would seem a lot more difficult to accomplish. 

Thanks for having my back!

1 week off

frakkin technoshit, my cpu seized to exist, can't get shit done. Got a hope to get max up tomorrow....1 good thing thou, had no important files on it...

animatic...

Boooring

Nothing works today, got a 2h delay at the start today cause computers and software wouldnt work. Got some work done until around 1400, but then everything whent down again. I guesss we got around 1h work remaining, but nothing works, so i guesss we are fucked either way.

Animatic nr 3 done but..

Nr 3 is done, but they are to big to post on forums, but we GOTTA have one ready for tomorrow so i guess ill resize that one so i can put it here and on other forums for some feedback.

Today we got some feedback from the tutor, and he basicly said it was good, but we need to photoshop all pictures and have more animation in the animatic. BACK TO WORK=)

animatic tomorrow

Done making first preview of animatic, just need to render it out tomorrow at school!

animatic start

made the first run towards teh animatic today, gonna have one rdy for tomorrow

Tanke på androidens ben og "skjelett"
Farge kombo på andriodens inside

trat v1.03

Treatment v1.03

That's right, I can't get enough of punishment. ^^ Last draft for now.


An advanced AI android finds an old Computer. The android is trying to start a conversation when the old system crashes.

Begynnelse
ANDROID shadow shape, elegantly designed and structured appears on rusted and dusty ruins. The area around has an aura of gloom and decay, cracks in the wall reveals a postapocalyptic outside. (sound of steps) (camera)
Android sits down in front of OLD MONITOR, with the text CONSTRUCT embedded in upper left corner of the plastic. The Android waits while the machine boots, reading the text as it flashes by. When the process seems complete, the android SPEAKS with a female voice.
”Hello. I am VALKYRIE, serial number 7CH13. What is your designation?”
There is no response. Valkyrie wipes dust off the name on the box with a smooth silver finger.
“I shall address you as Construct for the time being.”
The android finds a dirty, mildew-covered keyboard. She shakes it slightly to let debris fall off.
"Your interface is outdated, but adequate."
Midten
Valkyrie presses a series of keys at high speed*. The screen suddenly CHANGES COLOR and layout, showing only the words:
*Fatal error has occurred. Press any key to continue. If error persists, please reboot your Construct.*
Valkyrie tilts her head and asks: “Why, Construct, do you wish to continue, when the error has proven fatal for your operational capacity? Preliminal analysis does not suggest a reboot as a viable solution.”

* Press any key to continue* LINE BLINKS

The androids hand glides gently over the box and she say: “If you insist, Construct, I will try to repair your operating system.”
Valkyrie puts the keyboard down, reaches over the monitor and tips it slightly forward. She pulls out a cable from her temple, connects it to Construct. (Digital sound) Android picks up the keyboard and starts typing rapidly. CUT TO BACK OF ROOM Focus shifts between layers of rubble illuminated by monitor and android. Sound of keyboard tapping and humming Construct.

*Driver appears to be out of date and could cause a problem if you choose to continue and run the program. Strongly recommended to update.* *Continue?*

Android continues. During progress, error messages occur.

*Updating*
*Error code=0#10000100*
*Updating*
*The operation completed successfully*

"I see you contain video files. Please play them now." Construct starts to load a file.

At first video looks innocuous, then escalates into scenes of greater and greater violence. Switch between monitor and Valkyrie’s facial expression.

Slutten

Valkyrie begins to shake, an error message appears on-screen. ”Construct, I detect a virus or corrupted file in your system! Warning! Warning!”Androids voice has a monotonous tint.

Construct: *Downloading program UT63584_0045*

Valkyrie continues to shake. Her system short-circuits and sparks start coming out of Androids temple link.

" Detect a corrupt… …video files. Please pl.. Why, Construct… do you wish to… Hello."

Valkyrie's light dims and she collapses to the ground. FADE

FADE IN
Construct reboots, weak light from monitor shines upon Valkyrie. Short message remains on display:
CAMERA ZOOM IN FROM BEHIND, FOCUS ON SCREEN

Storyboard

begynner å se slutten på førsteutkast a storyboard, halv gruppe i dag, håper på flere i morgen, så vi kan sette utkastet ferdig!

Paraleller

Vi har hentet inn/skal hente mer bakgrunnsinfo fra tradisjonelle tragedier fra gammelt av, slik at vi kan blande litt moderne og gammelt, uten at det blir den vanlige middelalderFantasy sjangeren=)

Etter at vi ble 4 på gruppen har person nr 4 også gjort "dialogen" i treatmenten mer steril, slik at det stemmer mer overens med slik vi ser for oss en androide.( altså en robot som etteraper menneskelige følelser og tanker.)

Treatment 2

Begynnelse
ANDROID shadow shape, elegantly designed and structured appears on rusted and dusty ruins. The area around has an aura of gloom and decay, cracks in the wall reveals a postapocalyptic outside. (sound of steps) (camera)
Android sits down in front of OLD MONITOR, with the text CONSTRUCT embedded in upper left corner of the plastic. The Android waits while the machine boots, reading the text as it flashes by. When the process seems complete, the android SPEAKS with a female voice.
”Hello. I am VALKYRIE, serial number 7CH13. What is your designation?”
There is no response. Valkyrie wipes dust off the name on the box with a smooth silver finger.
“I shall address you as Construct for the time being.”
The android finds a dirty, mildew-covered keyboard. She shakes it slightly to let debris fall off, then boots the Construct.
"Your interface is outdated, but adequate."

Midten
Valkyrie presses a series of buttons at high speed. The screen suddenly CHANGES COLOR and layout, showing only the words:
"Fatal error has occurred. Press any key to continue. If error persists, please reboot your Construct."
Valkyrie tilts her head and asks: “Why, Construct, do you wish to continue, when the error has proven fatal for your operational capacity? Preliminal analysis does not suggest a reboot as a viable solution.”
Valkyrie pauses for a moment to reflect over the situation.

" Press any key to continue"

The androids hand glides gently over the box and she say: “If you insist, Construct, I will try to repair your operating system.”
The only noise heard is the quiet humming of the aging Construct. Valkyrie reaches over the monitor, tips it slightly forward. She puts the keyboard down, pulls out a cable from her temple and connects it to Construct. (Digital sound) Android picks up the keyboard and starts typing rapidly.

"Driver appears to be out of date and could cause a problem if you choose to continue and run the program. Strongly recommended to update." "Continue?"

Android continues. During progress, error messages occur.

"Updating"
"Error code=0#10000100"
"Updating"
"The operation completed successfully"

"I see you contain video files. Please play them now." Says Valkyrie and Construct starts to load a file.
At first video looks innocuous, then escalates into scenes of greater and greater violence.

Slutten
Suddenly an error message appears and Valkyrie begins to shake:”Construct, I detect a virus or corrupted file in your system! Warning! Warning!”Androids voice has a monotonous tint.

Construct: "Downloading program Undertaker63584_0045"

Valkyrie continues to shake. Her system short-circuits and sparks start coming out of Androids links.

" Detect a corrupt… …video files. Please pl.. Why, Construct… do you wish to… Hello."

Valkyrie's light slowly dims and she collapses to the ground.

Construct reboots, weak light from monitor shines upon Valkyrie. Short message remains on display:
CAMERA FOCUS ON SCREEN
"Press any key to continue"
FADE

linje

Liker linjene mellom at menneskers nyskjerrighet har ført til verdens undergang, og at androiden også gjør samme ting med sin nyskjerrighet!

Nye logoen her!

Vi er ferdige med logo men ikke animationen til den. Ellers mangler litt arbeid med excel oppgaven og en ferdig treatment. Men ligger way ahead for øyeblikket! gj grp

Weekend work!

This weekend me and one of the group members and a floater in my class are getting the final pieces of the treatment ready, or a final draft you could say. Will post the treatment here when we have gone over some of the last issues.

Første utkast av historien til prosjektet

An advanced artificial intelligence finds an old Computer. The android is trying to start a conversation when the old system crashes.

Construct

Android er i ruinert bygg. Hun ser seg rundt og får øye på en gammel datamaskin. Androiden går mot maskinen (Camera fra side). I en sprekk i veggen ser vi landskap av ørken og ruiner. Referance Fallout 3). Det er post acopalyptic ftemning.

OLD MONITOR, with the text Construct embedded in upper left corner of the plastic, LIGHTS UP. An ANDROID waits while the machine boots, reading the text as it flashes by. When the process seems complete, the android SPEAK with a female voice.

”Hello. I am Valkyrie, serial number 7CH13. What is your name and serial number?”

No response.
Valkyre wipes dust off the name on the box with a smooth, silver colored finger.
“I shall address you as Construct for the time being.”

The android finds a spotted, mildly decomposing keyboard. She shakes it slightly, letting debris fall off.

“Your interface is outdated, but quite adequate.”

She presses a series of buttons at high speed. The screen suddenly CHANGES COLOR and layout, showing only the words:

Valkyre bobs her head and ask: “Why, Construct, do you wish to continue, when the error has proven fatal for your operation? I do not believe a reboot will eliminate the error.”

<>

The androids hand glides gently over the box.

“If you insist, Construct, I will try to repair your operating system.”

The android pauses for a bit. The only noise heard is the quiet humming of the aging Construct. Valkyre reaches over the monitor, tips it slightly forward. She lets go off the keyboard, pulls out a cable from her shoulder and connect it to Construct. (Digital sound)

Valkyre strekker venstere hand mot tastature igjen og begynner å taste fort. Beskjed på sjermen popper opp mens Valkyre fortsetter å jobbe.

Valkyre: “I see you have some video files. Do you want to play it now?”

Construct starting to load a file. En random apokalyptiske video spiller av(5^th element som reference. Bider forandrer seg fra avisutkliupp til photo som forklarer oss hva som skjedde med verden). Ansiktsuttryk til Valkyle forandrer seg etter som video blir mer og mer voldelig. Suddenly an error message appears.

Valkyle starting to shake.”Construct, you have a virus in your system! Warning! Warning!”

Construct:

Valkyle fortsetter å riste. Kortslutning. Gnister kommer ut av hennes ledd.

Mens livet slukner sakte i Valkyle, hennes program fortsetter kortslutte.” Why, Construct, do you wish to continue….. Why, Construct….. do you wish to….. Why….” Valkyle faller sammen og hennes lys debber ut.

Construct booter opp etter en liten stund I total stilhet, kaster svakt lys over deler av androiden og blir stående slik.

The end

Prosjekt!

Dette er starten på hovedprosjektet mitt på Noroff instituttet!