Laura-Can't-Read

2012-01-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas present!

2011-11-29T05:47:00.000-08:00

MY 'lovely lovely mother'...(I hate that advert!)...always begs for ideas for xmas, and I never really NEED anything and hate wasting money, but hate getting money, because it will go on bills and boring stuff. So i've asked her for some things for stop motion. She knows bugger all about it but fair play to her she does her research and has got me some special clay that takes forever to dry out and is used for models. In typical mum fashion - she couldn't wait untill christmas. So now I have that to play with! Not fussed about getting a fancy camera to use, my dad has a good quality camera that will do just fine, but I will be looking into getting a shutter remote to make the process easier! I already own a huge green screen so won't need to book the room out and can work in my own time....after the research project is done!!

Been working hard!

2011-11-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Been working hard on my Research project!! Completed all of the sections except the review summaries, discussion, conclution and bibliography but I feel good about it! Going to try to get it handed in within the next couple of days and some feedback.
Got a B (2:1) on the Start-up Factory essay which i'm quite pleased with!

In other news - Been working hard on my stall and it's all paying off! Did a local christmas fair and met a woman and her brother who make keyrings etc from recycled plastic. They're developing a brand with characters created by themselves, and are interested in animation, virals, and also jewelry and other stuff! So we swapped details and hope to collaborate soon!
Here's a picture of my stall, it was huge!!!

Just a warning!!

2011-11-29T04:51:00.000-08:00

I've posted this on facebook, and i'm not sure how many people read these blogs but my house was broken into in the middle of the day when everyone was in. I've also heard that another house was robbed on the same street the same day (Mansfield Road) but not sure of details. They got 2 laptops, phones and wallets etc and my housemate now has a broken hand. It's an 8 bed house on a busy road so these people obviously don't have many concerns! I'm scared to sleep there now as my bedroom door dosnt lock properly (we have been on at the letting agents for ages!!) but please be careful everyone!!!

Client Project

2011-11-29T04:27:00.000-08:00

My plan all along was to work for Lynden School, who i've been involved with all year, however, whilst they've offered me a few briefs, (promotional video for the cheerleaders, showing what they did with recent funds awarded etc), many of them involve the help of the children (help filming and with ideas for the video etc) and although im sure I could work around this, i'm not sure the work they're after will be suitable for this project. I haven't totally discarded this plan, but have looked at other options for back-ups.

Another possibility iv'e looked into is a competition, there are loads avaliable online and the appeal of these competitions is having more freedom to be creative and use different media - something I feel I could do with exploring a little more. There's also the added bonus of prizes and for your work to get seen by lots of people within the industry. I've signed up to a few competition sites and have been looking at stop motion animation, moving image and motion graphics.

The third plan is to make a promotional video for Rising Sun Campers, a local company who specialise in modifications of camper vans. Thier services include:
Full Camper Conversions
Part Conversions/ Day Vans
Elevating Roofs/ Poptops
Promotional/Show vans
Rock N Roll Beds Supplied and fitted
Professional Re-trimming- Front Seats, Rear Seats & Rock n Roll Beds
Carpetting Sevice (Full van or part van)
Plylining
Unique Nightscene LED's
Dealer Level Diagnostics
Lowering for T4 & T5 supply & Fit
Genuine VW Side Windows Fitted and supplied
Window Tinting
Full Custom Re-Sprays
Colour Coding
Accident Damage Repairs
Carbon & Vinyl Wrapping
Split Charge systems & Leisure Batteries supplied & fitted
In Car Entertainment- Speakers, Reversing Cameras, Flip down monitors/ Head units, Sat Nav, In Van PC's
Alarms, Remote Start, Electric windows & Central locking.
Vans for Sale

I will be doing this video anyway whether it's for my client project or not, but luckily they don't have any time scale, it's just something they feel would be better at promoting thier services than having to navigate around thier website and it makes it more personal if they're in the video.

Other stuff...

2011-10-31T17:18:00.000-07:00

I've dropped on to a few random jobs to be honest lately. It always seems to happen to me... So anyway i'm friends with a professional tog who is internationally published and he decided it was time I began styling his girls. Probably because I have an actual vortex of clothes.
This is his website: http://dave-therave.com/
He mentioned this set up in his blog (below) and since then i've had togs and models from all over the show wanting me to tell them what to wear!

So here's a few pics from the first shoot I styled. You may recognise some of the clothes! Please be warned there is mild nudity...

Circle, Square.

2011-10-31T16:37:00.000-07:00

Alum-na-na-naiiii

2011-10-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

After my video crashed due to space issues, I decided to make a few logos/video openings in after effects. This means I can make a few smaller videos and hopefully my problem will not occur again! Need to get my hard drive fixed ASAP!! I went for a corporate look so that it's versatile and easily editable. I did a square themed one and a circle themed one. If I finish my essay early enough i'll hopefully get a couple more done. If not, I think my favourite is the circle (friendlier shape?!) but i'll submit both. Waiting for them to be viewable on Vimeo then i'll post them up.

Alumni

2011-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

For my video i'm going to be using the images provided by Alumni, and some from thier website, as obtaining footage from places such as the labs, would prove difficult, and I prefer to work with after effects anyway. It's been a while since I last used it so would like to get back into it.
My idea for the video, as far as theme goes, is going to be the benefits and services that are avaliable to members who register. (discounts at alton towers, madame tussauds etc). Alot of people i've spoken to have gone for the cancer research theme, and whilst I agree this is a good route to go down, as many people are effected by cancer, I wanted my video to be more upbeat and positive.
Ill be combining text, logos and photos, and using colour as it looks more exciting, however i'll try and keep it a bit smarter than my usual style, as I need people of all ages to be able to relate to it.

My stall!

2011-10-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

I've been making things for a while now, and over summer this somehow progressed into a stall! So far i've done events with, Cancer Research, Doorway, Love Parks Week, Jewelry Party nuneaton, and Doodle craft group. I have been very busy!
Links to the craft group and my Facebook site are below:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1469230946

http://www.doodlenuneaton.co.uk/index.html

I'm always looking for new ideas, and have been considering combining making things with video. For example a short animation/animated poem, sold with a matching necklace.
Example possible necklaces:

Other examples:

Miss Read :)

2011-10-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

So i've been working at Lyndon School in Solihull. I initially started purely as cheerleading coach last year, but seeing as I had to stay around in the school all day, (cheerleading is an after school club), I was offered work exprience in the classroom. Since getting to know me and what I study etc, I was then offered the opportunity to work in the media department, and have been running workshops with small groups of students. It's been really enjoyable! They seem really pleased with what i've done so far and i'm considering the school for my client project.
As well as video work, I also enjoy art such as painting, drawing and making things. I have been working in the arts department and have been offered the chance of being a resident artist. This would envolve creating my own works within the school allowing students to watch, discussing these with students and holding workshops. I'm pretty nervous about this one as I usually prefer to do my artwork in private, but I think it's a really good opportunity.

I feel sick.

2011-10-24T07:16:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for inspiration. I feel incredibly sick today, this hasn't helped but I enjoyed it. I think it's been done using lots of layers, stop motion animation, 3D and after effects. Could be quite an easy thing to do in a collaboration, but doing it convincingly would prove to be very difficult.

http://motiongraphics.nu/experimental/butterflies-feat-john-malkovich/

2D animation - South Park

2011-01-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

My biggest dream ever is to work for Trey Parker and Matt Stone on South Park. It's my favourite animation style in the entire world, so I decided to check it out. I knew they began by using construction paper, in a cut-out animation style, and had worked it out for myself that when the TV series began, they would be animating using computers...but was shocked to discover that they actually use 3D software, in order to keep the handmade look about the characters, however, it's still animated in a 2D, jerky style.
Here is a link explaining how South Park was developed, and is made today.

http://www.spscriptorium.com/SPinfo/MakingOfSouthPark.htm

Can't help but completely and totally agree with this dude...

2011-01-10T18:17:00.003-08:00

A rather harsh critique...

http://www.iambetterthanyourkids.com/

These have got me SUPER EXITED!!!!!

2011-01-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

A camera on your face! Just wondering if they have them with perscription lenses...I would save a small fortune in contacs.

Buy the You-Vision Video Glasses at the Photojojo Store!

Hello everybody!

2011-01-10T18:09:00.000-08:00

I have been neglecting my blog, and i'm sorry. Here is a gift:

Punctuation Police

2010-05-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

The main inspiration for our film.

my group film

2010-05-27T10:31:00.001-07:00

Funny

2010-05-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

Now all of my works handed in, I suddenly have a desperate desire to make flash quizzes, 3D models and films...like completely well want to.

3D Studio Max

2010-05-27T09:29:00.001-07:00

I wanted to create a children's superhero...so searched for childrens hero's, and came across an article claiming that children's favourite breakfast Cereal (in America) was Lucky Charms. I really liked the little Leprechaun character on the advertisments. My birthday is on St.Patrick's day and I thought a Leprechaun would be an unusual and interesting idea.
I started to do some research into what belongings a Leperchaun might have, and there wasn't much...thankfully! But what I did find was very interesting.
'A leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, who enjoys partaking in mischief.'
I wanted to combine the classical folklore depiction of a leprechaun with his gold, lucky charms and mischievious ways...with a more modernised image of the obscene guinness drinker who steals from people.
First I needed a layout for my 4 rooms....and I thought a lucky 4 leaf clover was a perfect way to set my four rooms.
Room 1 - Leprechauns are said to have a pot of gold, which is promised to any human who manages to keep them in sight. So I decided to have a Treasure room, with a couple of pots of gold coins and treasures.
Room 2 - The bedroom. I didnt know what he would sleep in, and it's been suggested that a cot-like bed would be most suitable because of his size, but I thought this was slightly patronising an opted for a bed with a clover covered duvet. I also had a 'Lucky Charms' poster on the wall.
Room 3 - The Rainbow Reflection Room - this is for relaxation time, and when he's been particually mischievious and needs to reflect on his bad behaviour. It contains a yoga mat decorated with clouds, and a big rainbow.
Room 4 - The Beer garden. He like Guinness. It contains 2 Guinness posters, a table and chair made from bark, and some pints.

Flash Quiz

2010-05-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I wanted my flash quiz to be quite a hard quiz, because most quizzes i've seen online have been quite silly and easy, and I like silly and easy...but thought i'd try a change. I really like watching National Geographical, so thought i'd make a quiz about space, using a simular layout and style. It's not amazingly interesting to look at, but I think it holds your attention enough to keep the audience focused on the real point of the quiz...the questions! My target audience is people who are interesed in space and/or people who like a bit of a challenge and want to learn something. I want to encourage people to learn by themselves.
I decided to change the colour of the answers as you hover over them, so that you know where you're clicking, and I then added a clicking sound.

Flashy

2010-05-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

?

2010-05-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

Why is it only the really boring pretentious magazines and newspapers, that are left on trains? Do the readers believe they're leaving some poor sod like me a wonderful source of education and enlightenment?...

One shotty!

2009-12-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

Based on a scene from 'That 70's show'
I filmed and I was awesome.

Discussions for a film idea... in 4 Languages from Peyman Salehi on Vimeo.

My seccond ever film! London.

2009-12-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

considering it's my 2nd ever film...I don't actually think it's that bad.
I did everything myself...except the sound for the TV. I wanted a cute, very home-made childlike effect, which is why I chose to reccord someone makeing the white noise, like a child would.
Having more expirience, I would love to do a re-edit.
It's based on london.

My very first film...awwww!

2009-12-13T10:39:00.001-08:00

hahahahhahaha found this out a while back...made this a few years ago now!
It's ridiculous and very jumpy, but give me a break I was only little!
Edited on final cut.

chicken test.

2009-12-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

I've been intending to make another pixelation before my presentation, but have had trouble getting at a comp, plus I should finish my other work first! But I did a little test to see if after effects could actually function enough on my shitty laptop for long enough to create a short animation. Kinda tedious, would be alot easier on premier but I believe; 'shake what your momma gave ya'...is the appropriate phrase.

chick from Laura Read on Vimeo.

A happy female chappy

2009-12-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

If you check your emails regular, you probably read, or just deleted the forwarded email from Flatpack Festival?
Well I decided to give it a go and was really happy with the replies, so thought i'd do some of that bragging thing...haha!

(images have again, been odly cropped by photobucket, but clickety click for the full picure)

First Relpy:

Seccond reply:

(also, he didnt actually put the PS...I was just feeling good about myself and thought i'd push my luck...sorry.)

Pixelation/stop motion

2009-12-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Extremely basic, but my group clearly thought I was a bit mental, so pretty much phased me out and chose a bit of paper over my big bag of toys...fair play to them tho. I'm used to it nowadays. I began making my very own video, but the camera I was using shut down on me and I was real annoyed and gave up. Not a very good work ethic, I know, but with 3 projects on the go and a damn essay I can't do...it kind of got a back seat, even tho it is one of my loves.
I did, however, 'push the boat out' a bit (haha! don't excuse the pun, I think it's amusing), and created my titles using masking on after effects, because I missed using it, and thought it made it a bit more interesting.

Laura + Potato's big adventure!

2009-12-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

Did this the other day, just for fun.
It's become very popular since I uploaded it onto Facebook, and I guess it counts as a creative project so I thought i'd share it here.
It's not inspired by anything.
I was just, yet again, avoiding the damn essay.
(oh yeh an for some reason its cropped the images but just click them!...I think)

Breakfast time...

Walk in the park with a sun umberella!

Visit to 'Uncle Spud' for some pocket money

Went to the seaside to see the baby ducks swimming in the water.

Went to the zoo & held a baby chick!

Shopping in the city.

Discovered a crime!

Solved the crime!

Went to some club an got wasted...

Had a lovely bath

Storytime & bed!

Hope it made you smile.
(PS: Don't tell Ann (Hampden/Sandby) I have a pet snail!!)

One Shot

2009-12-07T16:04:00.000-08:00

Made my own this weekend.
Sony DSR PD150 using a wide angle lens.
The idea started when I was looking at mine and my flatmates rooms, with both doors open, and realised that her bedroom layout was like an exact mirror image if my room. (I'll get around to adding a photo) I thought it looked cool from where I was standing and wondered if we ever did our hair for example, at the same time, in the mirrors opposite the walls, like if you fold a piece of paper in half, cut out a shape, then open it to create a new, symetrical shape. I it was pretty cool.
Then I remembered seeing the music video created by Michel Gondry for the track 'Sugar Water' by Cibo Matto (chekkitout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9auBn6Jys), and I thought this was simular, and it was created in one shot. (I figured this out eventually after going mad and scribbling lots of crap diagrams and useless notes...)
This is one shot...doubled and played backwards in a split screen. There are no cuts, promise.
I know were menna keep the camera on a tripod, but fuck it, this is my own video.
Not the best quality, EXTREMELY shaky, but my house is home to two puppies, I had to walk backwards up + down stairs aware of them at my feet, with a heavy camera...and this was more for fun. It was fun. Took us just 3 shots to get a useable one. Extremely easy edit. Funny tune created on garageband hahaha. I think for the minimal amount of effort shooting/editing wise, that this is a pretty cool little idea from the genious, mr gond.
I'll probably use this concept in the future now that I have gotten my frazzled head around exactly how it was done.
cool then, looksy ere...

Untitled from Laura Read on Vimeo.

boo!

2009-12-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9auBn6Jys

look at this its wicked.
It relies on the 'one shot' theory, but consists of 2 shots alongside each other, played forwards, then in reverse, meeting in the middle.
The girl is 'brought back to life'
I'd like to try something simular, I don't have the time now because I have to write an essay, which is a shame because if you don't know already...I hate essays.
Anyway i'll stop bitching for now, and inform you that I plan to create a simular piece over xmas. Maybe for a client if I find a suitable nest for my little eggy idea.

Essay pooey poo.

2009-12-03T13:18:00.001-08:00

Essays are the biggest waste of time. My friend is in his last year of 3D at some other uni, and has never written an essay for his course!
Literally I don't get it...it's driving me crazy it's not fair i'm really rubbish at this i'm gonna fail at something I don't desire to learn! If I could do English good I would of studied it...well I wouldn't cus I reckon it's boring.
Why do we have to use all that technical jacooni aswell?! If I can explain something in my extremely primative talky...why should I worry about making myself sound all professorish? I'm sure they're slowly turning us into robots who all write the same.
Well I can't be bothered to be a robot. It's not fun like in cartoons and Rocky 4.
'HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAULIE!'
haha.
wicked.
Well i'm sure it's not the teechers faults we gotta write this ting yo. Just procedure.
Booooring!

The One Shot

2009-12-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

My group are lovely amazing people but I just dislike group work.
My ideas are often complex and difficult to explain, or take alot of planning and the use of props/set. This is how I enjoy working. I like everything to be interesting and beautiful. I adore colour correction. I used to work alot with my brother, as he would just do as I say. I think maybe i'm quite bossy.
I cannot physically wait to get my FREEEE (ner ner neeerrr) computay with the adobe creative suite included :P then I can just lalala work all in my very own sweet time.
I'm pretty used to using Final cut, I havn't actually used premier yet, but I hear they're pretty simular. My best friend in the whole wide world, however, will always be after effects. The big grey tarmaccy box with the little yellow togglies. It's beauytiful. If a physical embodiment is ever created, I would marry it like them weirdos that marry thier dogs. Even if like a 10 seccond clip is about a gozillion KB. But everyone has thier faults. I propper need to learn more about exporting an file types an that. The boring stuff...
Do you reckon that's somebodys job? Literally just knowing all the file sizes an types an what to export everything as so it's the best quality for the size file you need....I bet michel gondry has someone for that. But actually I bet he dosn't because he's a genious.
(If you're actually sad enough to read this...i'm not this annoying in real life (well I don't think I am anyway), i'm just avoiding the essay...all makes sense now don'tit!)

Pixelation

2009-11-21T16:47:00.000-08:00

I've never heard Stop Motion called Pixelation before, and when I heard people talking about thier projects I just heard 'Photoshop' and assumed it would be editing a still photo, which is cool, I propper need to learn more about that kind of thing...but when I got to the lesson and discovered the project, and especially when we were shown the video for Sledgehammer, one of my favourites, and the work of the Quay brothers, which I love...I almost wet myself with exitement.
As luck would have it though, it was group work which I dread dread dread. My group were lovely wonderful people, but they completly looked at me like I was mad when I was asked for any ideas. So I decided to shut up, and we did this simple thing which was cute. I'll just have to make it look it's best on photoshop, with a cheeky bit of after effects thrown in there. I'm still gonna be working on my own though.
Stoked that i've learnt that Photoshop thing where you adjust all of the images at once, that's awesome isn't it!

dedication to my essay

2009-11-21T16:45:00.000-08:00

Why am I in the library at this silly time. It's creepy! I feel like Harry Potter or something, I need an invisiblity cape and a lantern. I'm gonna go to the flat, get me some and come back. If anyone wants to play Wizards in the library let me know.

UGHHH its gone 2, ive been here since half 11 and ive written 52 words. I can even show you a print screen to prove im not exagerating. I think the way I talk has improved though, i've been using some rather big mature words...on facebook. I don't think anyones impressed by them either. I don't think I was made for essays. I like this blog thing though.

2009-11-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

this is the sorta stuffs what I likes. haha.
trying to work out exactly how this was created.
I did something simular using a green screen/colour keying...but this is way cuter.

whiteboard/pixelation

2009-11-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

This is siiiiiiiiick!!! A combo of pixelation and the whiteboard animations we did.

this could be improved, as when they step behind the whiteboard, you can see the split between the three layers...the wall/whiteboard, the person, and the animated white panel.

Creativecow!

2009-11-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hello!
Just incase you care, I thought i'd just go on about www.creativecow.net
it's propper cool, it's got tutorials in written and video form on just about anything media related. If you learn easier by watching like me, I suggest the videos. I've learnt 99% of what I know about A.E and F.C.P on this website and also on youtube actually. I'm not saying i'm awesome at it yet or anything but I just love it and if you're passionate then you actively have to search and experiment until you figure out how to get the effect you were after. You'll probably find yourself overwhelmed with new ideas as you discover more and more. Theres millions and billions of things you can do with a programme like A.E, so it's not like someone can sit you down and teach it all...

2009-11-03T12:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.donniedarkofilm.com/

This is the moooost perfect example of interactive narrative ever! I love it!
It's the website for the film 'Donnie Darko' and I think it's really clever, you dont only use your mouse to interact but also your keyboard. Its also not just simple images either, its like motion graphics and pop up boxes. It's clever also, because if you havn't seen the film you'd be desperate to, but if you've already seen the film you actually get more details from it and want to watch it again.
I reeealllly really don't have time to learn how to make something like this, so for now i'll just have to make do with what I can actually figure out and make the best of it! (Help!)

2009-11-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

This link takes you to: Living Galapagos which is like an interactive educational film.
It's kind of like a documentary, but you can pick which part you want to look at. I love the initial idea of having a map of the area, with pinpoints to click on, leading you to videos, interviews and photos. I've never really seen anything like this, and if I get into it I think i'd actually offer the idea to clients requesting things like video fliers, as it will interest viewers because it's not often used. It's also more convinient, as the viewer can just select what they want to see, rather than maybe watching the whole video, and losing interest. So this project has actually shown me a new option for video...wicked.
I already had an idea for my project but now i've got a few more and I dont know whether to change my initial idea. To be honest i'm not really loving this project because it's not my real passion although I really want to get into it as it's going to be very useful and broaden my skills which is always awesome. It's one of them things where you just have to sit there and keep trying stuff till you figure it out. I wish I had a bluddy laptop! :(

2009-11-02T12:16:00.000-08:00

I've been looking into camera tricks that could be useful for the one shot project, and found these!

How clever!?

One shot project

2009-11-02T11:58:00.000-08:00

I'm not actually doing 'The One Shot' project at the minute, but i'm propper exited for it because i'm most into film and i've been thinking about things I could do.
I think it's more fun to work with a brief like this because you have to be creative if you want to come up with something really good. When I was thinking about simular things i've seen, I remembered a music video by my favourite director; Michel Gondry. It uses the idea of one shot and camera editing and I think it's amazing. I'd love to do something simular.
Here it is!

pinhole cameras

2009-10-07T05:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first multimedia lesson and we created pinhole cameras from beer cans. I did this last year, during my foundation art and design course at college, but we used a flatter surface (I think it was a biscuit tin, but I suppose it's alot easier for a bunch of students to get hold of a beer can, rather than a biscuit tin...), this time things didn't work out so well. The images were often under/over-exposed, however, I thought the curved images created from the rounded shape of the can, were far more interesting than a flat image, just not as practical.