Screen Arts 206 - Director
15:49
Taika Waititi
Taika has had a variety of flavours in his film making career. He was first an actor, now a director his flavour is very real and emotive, mixing comedy, horror and heartache into one glorious vision of life.
Taika's first venture into being a director was a short film named 'Two Cars, One Night', which was a narrative between the children of two cars, a boy, his little brother, and a girl. For this he was nominated for an oscar. It was 4 more years until Taika's first feature length film was made, Eagle vs Shark, in which he used New Zealand Comedy Actor Jermaine Clement, and ever since they have been working together in film.
Following Eagle vs Shark, Flight of the Conchords, a popular series about two New Zealanders in america was directed by Taika. Taika then moved back to Feature Films, making the emotive and hard hitting film, Boy.
Taika then rejoined with Jermaine Clement to film the Mocukmentry What we Do in the Shadows, which was an international comedy hit. Following up right after Taika directed Hunt for the Wilderpeople which is slated to release this year (2016).
Boy (2010)
Comedy, Drama, Coming of Age Story
Boy's crtical reponse was good. It attained and maintains a 70/100 Metacritic/Metascore, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 86% and the Rotten Tomatoes audience gave it at 85% (6004 ratings). The New Zealand Herald gave the film five out of five stars, and praised the performances by the tree main actors and said "it's hard to praise too highly the ptich-perfect tone of this movie."
Boy was Awarded
- AFI Fest Audience Award - Best International Feature Film - Taika Waititi - Won
- Asia Pacific Screen Award - Best Children's Feature Film - Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis, Emanuel Michael and Merata Mita - Nominated
- Berlin International Film Festival Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Grand Prix - Best Feature Film - Taika Waititi - Won
- Melbourne International Film Festival Most Popular Feature Film - Taika Waititi - Won
- Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize - World Cinema - Dramatic - Taika Waititi - Nominated
- Sydney Film Festival Audience Award - Best Feature Film - Taika Waititi - Won
- New Zealand Film and TV Awards - 13 nominations, seven wins including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay
Influences
British and Amercan Comedy, 1980s,
NZ Film History Notes
14:44
Movies
UTU
Wild Horses,
Smash Palace
Heart of the Stag
The Quiet Earth
Carry me Back
Sylvia
Vigil
Barnett: Film is the cultural artform of the 20th Century
Larry Parr
Don Reynolds
Gaylene Preston "stuff in our movies, one is a state of seige, the man alone, chooks and policemen"
Nicholas Reid, we have alot of films that are a rural backing and setting. Sylvia, Respasses, Skin Deep, Dominant Masculine figure, an image of a vengful macho type. Heart of the Stag, bad Blood, Wild Horses, Sleeping Dogs, May be presented in a tongue in cheek form. Big gun big cock fast and fun. We don't sparkle, or turn well turnd phrases, the dialog is simple and bogged.
Roger Donaldson 'taste for the masculin melodrama'
Vincent Ward: comes from paiting and theatrical hisotry, affects the way his films are made. image: people fighting on horseback with shovels.
Goodby Pork Pie: George Murphy
MR Wrong, protray something other than victims.
Illustrious Energy, chinese immigrants in central otago.
Task:
Find a new zealand animator or film director whose work appeals to ou.
Provide an overview of their body of work
Choose one film and provide teh following
Name of Film
Year it Was Made
Howe well was it received
Genre
Inlfuence by and influences on.
UTU
Wild Horses,
Smash Palace
Heart of the Stag
The Quiet Earth
Carry me Back
Sylvia
Vigil
Barnett: Film is the cultural artform of the 20th Century
Larry Parr
Don Reynolds
Gaylene Preston "stuff in our movies, one is a state of seige, the man alone, chooks and policemen"
Nicholas Reid, we have alot of films that are a rural backing and setting. Sylvia, Respasses, Skin Deep, Dominant Masculine figure, an image of a vengful macho type. Heart of the Stag, bad Blood, Wild Horses, Sleeping Dogs, May be presented in a tongue in cheek form. Big gun big cock fast and fun. We don't sparkle, or turn well turnd phrases, the dialog is simple and bogged.
Roger Donaldson 'taste for the masculin melodrama'
Vincent Ward: comes from paiting and theatrical hisotry, affects the way his films are made. image: people fighting on horseback with shovels.
Goodby Pork Pie: George Murphy
MR Wrong, protray something other than victims.
Illustrious Energy, chinese immigrants in central otago.
Task:
Find a new zealand animator or film director whose work appeals to ou.
Provide an overview of their body of work
Choose one film and provide teh following
Name of Film
Year it Was Made
Howe well was it received
Genre
Inlfuence by and influences on.
NZ Animation History Notes
13:53
If you didn't have it, you built it.
Animators: Wackos, it's great 'i've found my family'
What makes an great animator? Don't know... keep your pencil sharp.
Frustrated actors, who get their frustration out on the page.
Len Lye, scatched directly into film stock. Made a film with sound prewar. International Artist, pushed fowards and showed things that wouldn't become mainstream until much later.
Fred O'neil. Stop motion pioneer for new zealand.
Flare on the Sun
Sam Harvey, wanted to add competition to the animation in auckland. Harve Productions. Animated Commercials.
John Ewing, a disney animator, with a hankering to see the world. Moved to New Zealand.
Dick Frizzel
Plob Morow
Murray Freeth, no animation being done in christurch, after training under british animators. Came home to new zealand to make Cumie the Cloud. Pulled animators from all over the country.
Euan Frizzel, the Wizard of Wallaby Wallow.
Hairy MacLary
Blue Pencil, predates animator, news paper cartoonist's background. Blue Pencil = doesn't copy when plated for printing, turns up white.
Computers
Bob Senhouse, 1986, the Frog, the Dog and the Devil.
Pat Cox, producer of Foot Rot Flats, a Dog's Tail. Murry Ball's news paper comic.
John Sheils, 3D animation, and Brother Michael, Red Scream, CG Film.
Fane Flaws, the Under Water Melon man.
George Port, making software for Euan Frizzel. Prototype of Meet the Feebles. Helped work on Heavenly Creatures, just him and a single workstation. Ran the digital side of Weta Workshop.
Richard Taylor, running Weta Workshop, practical effects with 3d animatoin.
Motion Capture, Andy Serkis, a performer guiding the digital performance.
Andrew Adamson, directed shrek. Started in NZ. Broke alot of the rules because he didn't know the rules. DIdn't come from disney, did things out of instinct.
John Ewing, sort out for work wth Steven Speilberg. Said no, 'we can't possibly handle that'. Barry Pierce 'look, why not?".
Brent Chambers.
John Ewing, Barry Chambers, Freelance Art School
'I think we've reached the stage, where if you can dream something, you can do it" Ian Taylor
'dont worry about the limitatoins of technology... ...write software that's your vision"
Dean Lyon, relative clean industry, pushes what the government wants, creativity, technology, in some ways, the bio field. 'Just as good for education, as entertainment'
Jamie Canard 'Soup' stop motion movie. Beyond Woolie Valley.
Capper Brothers (guy), the Pen, Jermaine Clement. New Zealand Flavour animation.
Mario Wynands, video games, Sidhe Interactive.
Greg Page, 'crapmation' try capture hte energy for something. Just go for it.
Animators: Wackos, it's great 'i've found my family'
What makes an great animator? Don't know... keep your pencil sharp.
Frustrated actors, who get their frustration out on the page.
Len Lye, scatched directly into film stock. Made a film with sound prewar. International Artist, pushed fowards and showed things that wouldn't become mainstream until much later.
Fred O'neil. Stop motion pioneer for new zealand.
Flare on the Sun
Sam Harvey, wanted to add competition to the animation in auckland. Harve Productions. Animated Commercials.
John Ewing, a disney animator, with a hankering to see the world. Moved to New Zealand.
Dick Frizzel
Plob Morow
Murray Freeth, no animation being done in christurch, after training under british animators. Came home to new zealand to make Cumie the Cloud. Pulled animators from all over the country.
Euan Frizzel, the Wizard of Wallaby Wallow.
Hairy MacLary
Blue Pencil, predates animator, news paper cartoonist's background. Blue Pencil = doesn't copy when plated for printing, turns up white.
Computers
Bob Senhouse, 1986, the Frog, the Dog and the Devil.
Pat Cox, producer of Foot Rot Flats, a Dog's Tail. Murry Ball's news paper comic.
John Sheils, 3D animation, and Brother Michael, Red Scream, CG Film.
Fane Flaws, the Under Water Melon man.
George Port, making software for Euan Frizzel. Prototype of Meet the Feebles. Helped work on Heavenly Creatures, just him and a single workstation. Ran the digital side of Weta Workshop.
Richard Taylor, running Weta Workshop, practical effects with 3d animatoin.
Motion Capture, Andy Serkis, a performer guiding the digital performance.
Andrew Adamson, directed shrek. Started in NZ. Broke alot of the rules because he didn't know the rules. DIdn't come from disney, did things out of instinct.
John Ewing, sort out for work wth Steven Speilberg. Said no, 'we can't possibly handle that'. Barry Pierce 'look, why not?".
Brent Chambers.
John Ewing, Barry Chambers, Freelance Art School
'I think we've reached the stage, where if you can dream something, you can do it" Ian Taylor
'dont worry about the limitatoins of technology... ...write software that's your vision"
Dean Lyon, relative clean industry, pushes what the government wants, creativity, technology, in some ways, the bio field. 'Just as good for education, as entertainment'
Jamie Canard 'Soup' stop motion movie. Beyond Woolie Valley.
Capper Brothers (guy), the Pen, Jermaine Clement. New Zealand Flavour animation.
Mario Wynands, video games, Sidhe Interactive.
Greg Page, 'crapmation' try capture hte energy for something. Just go for it.
Top 10 Films
20:48
Cloud Atlas
Cloud Atlas is an epic story of both length and scope. It tells the story of many lives and has amazing cinetography and music that strikes a deep cord in me. It is a story where people arn't perfect, they're broken, and they learn to be better throughout their various lives. In a world that seems very much like our own, they're still people that we can relate to, still having the similar issues we see everyday of morality and empathy.James Bond - Casino Royale
All of the james bond movies speak to me. He's the man's man, prepared and ready for anything with a confident swagger. But it's the points at which it gets tough, at which any man could quit, broken and in pieces, is where he gets back up and kicks ass. Though I love most of the Bond Films, Casino Royale brings it into post modern, showing a broken man that isn't perfect as the hero, who grows as the film goes on, and experiences terrible loss.
The Matrix
The Matrix is a story about humanity in abstract. Pushing our love of freedom, of the hero, of the reoccurring story of the fateful stranger that comes when in need. Neo is a relatively normal person, with greatness thrust upon him, a fantasy many have that we are unique and powerful even when in a static form. The post apocalyptic feel I felt was perfect and complex, the filming was beautiful and the characters felt well rounded and diverse. Though trinity felt like she didn't really develop as a person apart from a male relationship, I felt it was her character as she had delved into her destiny, and her destiny was to guide and motivate the stranger hero, neo.
2001 Space Odyssey
2001 Space Odyssey is beautiful and the forrunner for all now comming Sci Fi in this era. The first huge budget scifi film, it is full of beautiful tech that was dreamed of by it's creators, and a warning of our own weaknesses and fears. It is full of nuances, but focuses mainly on the story of an astronaut dealing with his Malicious AI and the Obelisk that people arn't sure of what it actually means. IT is an experience.
The Quiet Man
The quiet man I first watched as a young child, and it's complexity awoke me. Though it is a typical love story, it has dimensions of post modernism where it shows actual people dealing with real things, rather than a hero and a villain. It is a beautiful story of a broken boxer, ashamed of having taken a life in the ring, going back to his childhood home and trying to build a life, and when that finally comes, it starts to fall apart again, but this time he has the strength to hold on to what he loves.
An American Tail
A beautiful tale of growing up and moving to a new place, the main character has gotten lost on his adventure moving from Russia to America. The child loses his niavity and learns beautiful lessons from those along the way. A feel good movie with character learning along the way, with tons of feeling.
Mouse Hunt
Idiots learn that the intelligent mouse in their house isn't such a terrible thing. But they're idiots, and hilarity ensues along the way. Beautiful photography, awesome actors and beautiful music. And the animation of the mouse or the mouses' training is just beautiful.Mary Poppins
Beautiful animation, songs and characters. Mary Poppins is a magic world, close to our own, where our dreams can come true, and learn or have fun along the way.
Treasure Island
As a child, Treasure Island was one of the most memorable movies I can think of. Strong acting, beautiful filming and locations, and the fantasy of pirates, with amazing actors. Post Modernish again with how the supposed villain is just human, not evil, nor good, showing a complex side that isn't often shown in a pirate film.
Movie Type Talley
Post Modern Characters: 4
Twisted Fantasy in a world akin to our own: 4
Moral of the story: 9
I definately see that I love a story of adventure, of the progression of a character and growth of a person, showing a broken and complex situation. Not flat or one dimensional villains or heros.
Cloud Atlas: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Science Fiction, Mystery, Period Drama, Fantasy, Adventure
James Bond
Action, Thriller, Spy, Adventure, Crime Fiction___ Adventure
The Matrix
Action, ADventure, Science Fiction, Fantasy
2001 Space Odyssey
Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller
The Quiet Man
Comedy, Drama, Romance
An American Tail
Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Animation, Family, Musical
Mouse Hunt
Comedy, Black Comedy, Family, Slapstick
Mary Poppins / Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Comedy, Musical, Drama, Family
Treasure Island (1990)
Adventure
BSA226 Character Specific Concept Art to look forward to
13:55
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| http://zilochius.deviantart.com/art/Dieselpunk-Mask-MK-V-with-hat-428958049 |
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| http://zilochius.deviantart.com/art/Dieselpunk-Bounty-Hunter-7-426774901 |
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| http://zilochius.deviantart.com/art/Dieselpunk-Shock-Trooper-MK-III-1-441219206 |
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| http://genocidalpenguin.deviantart.com/art/Dieselpunk-Mecha-14761648 |
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| http://steampunkd.tumblr.com/post/2540179567/pandrewshaner-dieselpunk-mecha |
The following is from Call of Duty Black Ops II, but I dislike the simplicity. The rivers and tiling though on the leg is beautiful.
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| https://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 |
Akin to Diesel Punk and Steam Punk, recently I've found that the connection of the old west and steampunk is called 'Cattle Punk'.
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| http://takbotikbalang.tumblr.com/post/34159903829/steampunk-makabo-why-not |
The detail on the cogs and machinery is excellent above.
The rust on this piece is beautiful.
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| Unknown artist This sculpture is beautiful in it's design using objects to depict human physiology |
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| http://artofmo.tumblr.com/page/2 |
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| http://www.bjornhurri.com/ |
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| Unknown Artist |
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| Unknown Artist |
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| Unknown Artist |
Iwo Widunlinski makes beautiful organic machines, this is an amazing find.
BSA225, BSA226 3D Thumbnail Silouettes
23:28
Testing WAALLEEE with materials (Mia Material X)
Toon Rendering
Silouettes for BSA226
Silouettes for BSA226
BSA225 / BSA226 Rough Draft
03:59Iron Envy
Log Line:
A bored robot envies other's firearms, after getting his own he finds it's harder to show off than he thinks.
Characters
Main Character: J1-M, a robotic cowboy. He is jealous of others and wants to show off, self conscious and wears dirty rags. His body is scratched and rusted, beaten by the sand.
Side Characters: Duplications of the main character's model.
Sherif: Leaning against the wall, wearing tidier clothes and no poncho, head hidden as he rests, foot against the wall.
Two Cowboys: The ones walking away at the start, showing their hips and the shiny guns on them.
Rough Draft / Thought Train
--Scene 1--
J1-M sees the two gun laden cowboys walking away, envious of their shiny metal.
Sees the gun store and walks in.
'Kaching'
Walks out, with his new gun in hand.
Holds high and waves around, spinning the drum.
He then sees the sheriff standing outside of the town jail.
Flustered, he holsters his weapon and strides off to the edge of town.
--Scene 2--
J1-M gets to edge of town, and puts a bullet in the revovler.
Looks around, a tumble weed bounces in the wind, getting stuck on bushes.
J1-M spins the barrel and aims, fires.
Click (nothing happens)
Worried he looks down the tube, and clicks 4 times.
Hmm
Loads 4 more bullets. Shrugs, spins re aims, fires.
Click
Frustration.
Taps gun, spins, fires.
Click
FRUSTRATION
Opens showing the empty slot, looks around fervently for something.
Sees an old bent, malformed odd looking bullet.
Forces it in.
Spin grinds, forces it to spin, fires. Explodes in hand.
BSA225 Environment Blockout and Reference
22:52
Beginning to think out how big the town is, below are some reference and some basic progress.
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| from http://www.frommers.com/slideshows/818417 |
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| http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-old-wild-west-cowboy-town-usa-image11268156 |
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| http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-old-wild-west-cowboy-town-saloon-usa-image11234588 |
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| http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-monochrome-old-west-sheriff-s-building-image4291522 |
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| http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-old-west-cowboy-town-wild-usa-image44043064 |
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| http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-old-wild-west-cowboy-town-justice-image12338329 |
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| http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-old-wild-west-cowboy-town-usa-image11143739 |
BSA226 Concept we Look Up to
21:55
From my sketches, stating with looking for a silly janitor, I ended up finding a derpy robotic cowboy.
Humanoid Robots are interesting to me, giving the availability for more obvious emotional response with extreme expressions from screens, posable parts etc. Also, akin to other Humanoid robots, such as the movie Robots, taking the vehicles of the suggested age helps reinforce the setting and feel of the story.
Aaron Beck has inspired me for a long time, his work is very mechanical but also organic, giving form to these organic creatures that sometimes can look blocky, boring and clunky compared when created by his peers, he manages to make them feel alive or even malicious.
BlueSky studios developed the movie 'Robots' for Fox. Their abstract anthropomorphic designs are based off real life designs of that era but are human enough that their emotions are clear and clean.
Humanoid Robots are interesting to me, giving the availability for more obvious emotional response with extreme expressions from screens, posable parts etc. Also, akin to other Humanoid robots, such as the movie Robots, taking the vehicles of the suggested age helps reinforce the setting and feel of the story.
Concept Art that inspires me:
Aaron Beck has inspired me for a long time, his work is very mechanical but also organic, giving form to these organic creatures that sometimes can look blocky, boring and clunky compared when created by his peers, he manages to make them feel alive or even malicious.
Ben Mauro is a similar style to Aaron Beck, but has a much more organic feel to his designs.
Craig Mullins is a renown concept artists who has made art for all mediums. From Fallout to the Matrix to Halo to Jurassic park,his style of textured and loose art but accurate and full of life are beautiful.
