Snow at Uni

Hey guys not looking good here, just looked on the My Uca site and I think its closed, it says severe weather announcement but i think theres a typo because it says closed 18th November but the announcement was posted today so im 90% sure but someone else should have a look :) If I dont see you, all have a good christmas and new year.

The Grimey UK

I just wanted to add up some images which I found whilst browsing the net. I've been searching, looking for old and derilict childrens playrooms/nurseries. The thing is I came across some more pictures from the UK which may help with my station concept. It's funny how I was looking for something else but just happened to come across these images that just might help.

Have a look at the Kingsway tramway tunnels from central London.

Love these images, they are all really grimey and dark. Its good to look at buildings and places once they have played their part in history.

I like the light source in this image, the blue which comes through the door in the right of the image. I picked these images to show what the good old British stations possibly look like.

If you get a chance, have a look at the website in the link below. Some seriously amazing but creepy images from abandoned places all over the world. Even though they may not be for you, have a look anyway because they are interesting images. http://www.guerillaphotography.fotopic.net/list_collections.php

Timelines and Places - Moscow Metro

Whilst having a look at some of my feedback noticed a comment left by Phil which was in context to where and when my station scene would be. This is something I've been thinking about over the last couple of days. The concepts in the post before were only ideas of how a camera angle and layout could look. So in this post I'm looking deeper into placement of the station. I searched up some images from the Moscow metro in Russia.

I really like the image above because it reminds me of my second concept sketch. I also love the lighting because I feel it contributes massively to the rest of the image. It is these orange, yellow and shades of red which create such a great atmosphere.

This image has the best perspective of the ones chossen throughout this post. A good example to follow when trying to create a good perspective throughout my final scene

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What I really like about these images are the fact that the elegance of the structure contributes towards the eerieness of the image. These examples show the Moscow metro, and how grand it is.

A few concepts for subway/abandoned train

As you can see in previous posts, one of the scenes I may be attempting throughout this project is train station. Not just any station, but a train or subway station without the presence of people. I want to create an eerie atmosphere by using natural and man made lighting.

The first image was the first idea of an old subway station a bit like the ones in Fallout 3. I used a pen to try and create a scene which could show an example of how and what the layout could look like.

This image is missing the most vital part of the train station which makes it successfull. Within this image you will notice that I have not added a train. It has been my job to experiment trying to find out the best possible way to layout and capture a shot which gives off the right mood. In my opinion, I really like my first presentable attempt. After running through rough sketches I finally presented myself with this idea. Next step is to take it into photoshop and give the the tablet a go. Maybe then I can get some emotional lighting throughout the scene.

The next two images, although train/subway stations are slightly different in comparison to the first. the next two images were more experimenting of ideas, finding out a good angle and object placement.

So as i said before, within this image I try to achieve something a bit more dramatic. I added the bench into the foreground to give me a good perspective, the train and pillars in the middle and the beams and ceilling in the background. What i really wanted to do in this image is create an abandoned, empty train, doors half open, very dark and mysterious. I want most of the lighting to come from the other side of the train coach so it leaves a small patch of lighting that brings your focus onto the empty bench. Obviously I will track back through my reference images looking out for points of interest within the station. I like this idea, the only problem may be the time I have. I'm willing to give it a go, I shoud'nt think it will be that hard, i actually feel excited about it.

So the third and final one of my images for now is another idea using a train but from a different angle. In this image I tried to focus mainly on the train but use the rest of the image to give information on its emptiness.

Although not my favorite piece, with work and better use of space this image might grow on me. We shall see over more development stages throughout the project.

Final Fantasy; The Spirits Within - essay?

Some people say that the un-success of Final Fantasy spirits within was down to its relation towards the Uncanny Valley. The final fantasy series has always been well known for its epic storylines and amazing CG cutscenes throughout each of the games. In 2000, square decided to take it to a new level and make a film with a photorealistic characters based on the final fantasy world.
When looking at this movie we can see that the theory of the uncanny valley is most prominent when looking at the movement of the characters. If we look closely we can see that the characters also lack realism in facial movemtent, especially within the eyes and mouth movement. Probably two of the most difficult things in animation is trying to correctly syncronise a characters expressions and facial movement(lip syncing). Other examples that have suffered from this are; Polar express and Beowulf. These also have come across similar problems. Polar express for instance had some children reduced to tears as the computer animation was too creepy making it un-familiar to them.

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The two images below which I had mentioned, the first is the Polar Express with Tom Hanks and the Second which is below that is Beowulf with Ray Winstone. Take a look at how Uncanny they look. In fact I'll add an image of Angelina Jolie from the film because she looks unusual.

Polar Express

The next few images are from Beowulf. Beautiful Animation within this movie but it still suffers from the same problem as Final Fantasy.

Angelina Jolie rigged up ready for shooting the movie

Look at the image above, compared to the image below the matching of their faces is very similar but still drastically different at the same time. Pull two images of her together, one in CG and one real life then we can see the change almost immediatley.

Although very shiney, I personally think this is some of the most amazing photorealistic work I have ever seen. I could almost fancy her :).

In this last image, Beowulf himself. Also a superb piece of work to create this character. The hair and the water/sweat on his body is amazing. Still, the character still lacks something which allows us to accept them.

Maya Short Films - Kiwi

Kiwi - 

Whats really funny about this short animation is the fact its really quite sad. All the poor little Kiwi wants to do is be like other birds, be able to fly, fit in. The little Kiwi finds itself under so much pressure that it goes to the extreme just to experience flight. When you see the Kiwi 'falling in style' it gives you warmth. That Kiwi cannot fly, the fate that awaits doesn't compare to the few minutes of pleasure he gained from making its dream come true. This is why I really liked this animation. The Kiwi must know at the end of the journey its life will end, this shows some things are more important.
Even though the Kiwi isn't real, the piece towards the end of the animation nearly killed me. When the Kiwi sheds a single tear of happiness and disapears into the mist. Really well made with good animation and brilliant use of story telling through the animation.

The Undercity

I came across a good website which displays a good set of reference imgages from lots of different underground places scattered across the world. As one of my main ideas was to do with abandoned subway, these images will come in usefull because I think they represent what I'm looking for when creating a final scene.

http://www.undercity.org/ - Here is the link to the website, have a look you'll find some more interesting images.

 

 

 

The image above has great lighting. the light source higlights one specific area of the subway isolating it from the rest of the scene. 

 

 

 

All of these images have one thing in common. They all have an amazing lighting source. This makes the scene. Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a brilliant, creepy atmosphere. I can only imagine  how scary it would be to walk through one of these places.

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The video is from Silent Hill 3, I found this when looking for videos that showed eerie subways and tunnels. If you have a little while take a look and see the scary gameplay from this chapter in the game. 

Fallout 3 - an appocolyptic landscape

Fallout 3, what can I say. I'm not going to tell you how great it is, even though it is. In the post I want to show some images I found influential throughout the project so far. The images show desolate environments throughout America. Places usually so full in life and character. What happens when a place so close to home becomes so un-familiar.

 

 

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The Uncanny Valley

The Uncanny Valley, what can I say. I never knew what this was until one of the lectures the other week but it makes perfect sense. The Uncanny valley tells us that when specific things hold human characteristics it causes a response of revulsion by the human observers. The chart below shows how a humans likness towards an object changes as the object becomes more human.

The chart shows that when the human likeness of an object becomes more familiar to us we become more cautious. At the bottom of the chart is a zombie and a prosthetic hand. These are below a corpse because these lifelike objects move, therefore we are more aware of them.

The video below is about six minutes long, but shows how the Uncanny Valley is related to video games and the effects it has on the player. This puts the Uncanny Valley into perspective, a must watch to anyone not sure, well anyone really 

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Architectural Styles - Time Periods

This post is just to demonstrate that research is needed to create a scene. Through this post I will show different time periods were different arcitectural styles differ from others. I am trying to find a style that I like, hopefully by looking at the Renaissance period can give me an idea. 
Whilst in the libary I decided to have a look into the section on Architecture. I picked up a few books which displayed what styles came from which time periods.

- Greek
- Roman
- Romanesque
- Moorish
- Gothic
- Early, Middle age Gothic Tracery
- Renaissance
- Baroque
- Rococo
- Neoclassical

The list above are a few styles from a time period of Architecture. I have been looking at these styles in order to figure out a way of creating a correct scene. What I dont want is a building fromthe Renaissance period with a 40 inch HD television, It would not be correct.

Greek -

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 Roman -

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Romanesque -

Moorish -

                                        

Gothic -

Renaissance -

So just a few examples of different styles to consider. What I will be looking further into is a traditional style of house, maybe from the victorian/tudor time period. We shall see.

Repulsion

Repulsion, a 1965  directed and written by Roman Polanski. Catherine Deneuve plays a young and beautiful women called Carole trapped and afraid of making a commitment to anything of a sexual nature.
Carole shares a flat with her elder sister Helen within the city of London. Carole's dislike in men is enhanced by Helens lover, Michael, who potrays himself as a womeniser. Although very beautiful, Carole is very reserved and has no interest in having a relationship or men to be specific. Carole begins to feel un-easy when she finds out her sister Helen is going away for a few days, leaving her home alone. This repulsion of sexuality can be seen in the movie as an attractive young admirer of Carole seems to be trying to win her over, but his attempts are a complete failure as she pushes him away.

The image above shows the pair on a date. Actually Carole having a meal until she is interupted by her admirer, Colin. As you can see, Carole seems to be looking towards the table, ignoring the fact she has company. A little further on through the movie, Colin kisses Carole which drives her into a crazed frenzy were she scrubs her face and teeth trying to erase any trace of Colin. 

When her sister takes the trip to Italy with her lover, Carole finds herself losing her job after shortly losing her mind. She is tormented by wild fantasies. Unfit, she barricades herself within the appartment, were her state of mind causes her to become even more cautious than ever.
Her admirer proves to be as persistant as ever, Carole rejects his calls which provokes him into coming round to the flat. Her hallusinations are worse than ever. She is able to see the cracks in the walls appearing before her eyes, she is a wreck.

This scene is after Carole murders Colin. She funs through the block of flats running from the cracks. She is pulled into the wall by hands which appear to be grabbing her in a sexual nature, her worst fear.

When I watched this film, one of the things I had noticed was how strange the flat was.
The flat is very silent and creepy. Within the four walls of the  flat are alot of superstitious objects which play a part in her life. Most of the objects are reflective, you see Carole looking into the mirror alot through out the film. Their is also a scene were she looks into the kettle, fixated onto that very object.

One of the cruelest scenes towards the very end of the movie is knowing that Carole's fate isn't going to be a good one. In the last scene, Helen and Michael arrive home and find the most horrific of scenes. It is after this when Michael carrys Carole out of the flat that we presume that he is taking her to the police or to a mental hospital.

I must say, after watching his film from start to finish, I can honestly say I have never been more afraid of beautiful women. To think that anyone could be capable of this makes me cautious and creeped out. The scary thing about this movie is that it could have been real, their are people in the world like Carole. 

Idea 2 - Train Stations

Train Stations are another place which is very public nearly all of the time. I have spent a far share of time travelling from one place to another on the train and have never not seen anyone appart from once.
One year me and several of my friends went on a charity raising event, it was our mission to get as far away from school without any money and then back again within 24 hours. Even to this day I dont know how but we managed to get all the way up to the Lake District. By the time we got there it was too late to catch the train back so we decided to stay up there for a few days, not to waste the harsh journey. We came back on a Sunday but found it impossible to travel as most of the trains were not running, only a replacement bus instead. After begging the train guards to let us on we managed to make our way back to London. The last train was at twelve in the evening which we only just managed to cathch. What we did'nt know is that the train only went to Gillingham. This is were the story relates to the post. At one in the morning all of us were stranded outside the station waiting for the next one at five in the morning. The scene of the streets and station were amazing. It was pitch black with not a single noise. It was very creepy, I never saw one person that night. Then at four in the morning the train guards finally let us in from the freezing cold so that we could walk down to the platform. Again, I had never seen anything like it. The station other than me and my friends was desserted. Not even a single train ran through for about an hour. It felt wierd, like we wasn't supposed to be there, like we would get into trouble.

When you take away people from a place such as a train station, it creates an atmosphere un-familiar which makes it uncanny. Becase the place you once knew as safe and familiar is no more.

Below I have added images from trainstations all around the world which have people within them Below these images will be more images but this time without anybody around, see the difference in atmosphere as you take away the most important part from a scene.

 

The images above contain a number of people, the next images contain no people, these stations have been closed or abandoned which is why you can see no public.

 

Very strange, an empty train is another place where people are usually seen in abundance. Within this image there are no people, the train is deserted, creating an eerie feeling throughout the image. 

A very clean station that seems to be desserted. Although it is clean it still gives you an eerie feeling.

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Three of the previous images above are in place to show abandoned tube stations. Stations above the ground with no people around a very creepy but below the ground in a tube station, it seems the atmosphere changes. 

Ok one more thing to the post. I decided to have a closer look into things that I find an influence, for this post I looked into Fallout 3. A perfect example of an eerie subway tunnel within the game. The game is made up of hundreds of these creepy subways which link each of the towns and cities. Getting from A - B though isn't easy. The video below demonstrates a creepy atmosphere amongst the tunnels making it inpossible to get through without having a fright. Ignore the anything within the video that isn't the environment. what I am looking at is the subway. Take out all of the monsters and how creepy would it be to walk through here.