One of the areas in which you're weak (or maybe just reluctant/risk-averse) is your 'creative development'. Sometimes what tutors mean by this can seem mysterious, but people like me just want to see a student really exploring an idea before committing to it finally. I suspect you like getting things done right first time - which is strength in some circumstances, but the first year experience is about finding new ways to approach creative problems - and being open to new ideas, skills and strategies for making work. The point of this speech? Well, I suspect that somewhere, you're probably already polishing your 'thumbnails' into finished pieces, but that would be a mistake, because what I'm looking for from you George is much more exploration via thumbnails - alternate views of your three scenes, in which you play with perspective, pov and style. For example, your tree-top city... what are those abodes made from? They look very pre-fabricated. So what's your visual concept? What work have you done in regard to the ethnicity of the people who live in them? Which 'real world' culture are you borrowing from so you can deal with all the details - the shape of the windows, doors etc. Yes, the book gives you some broad brushstrokes, but as the concept artist you've got your artistic licence (and you shouldn't be afraid to use it!). I think you need to be much bolder in terms of scale too - for example, right now in your thumbnail of the treetop village, it all looks rather humble and cosy, when as an environment it could be an 'IMAX spectacular' and truly 'otherworldly' (as opposed to the Shire from LOTR). I'd like to be able to understand your rationale for depicting these scenes in the way that you are - colour values, textures, shapes - and everything in between.
Re, your written assignment - aargh, George! No first person remember! The focus of your assignment sounds promising (though I can't help feeling that, in terms of production design Tim Burton's Batman would give you much more to talk about, as that visual concept borrows from Expressionism etc). Remember, you're writing 'evidence-based' assignments, which means the points you make about the relationship between production design and story need to be corroborated and supported via quotes and illustrations - just ensure that about Batman Begins there is enough written (and published reputedly) to give you the raw materials necessary to construct a credible argument. Your essay will also need to define 'production design' and 'visual concept' in general terms before you apply that understanding to your chosen film. You will need to demonstrate that you understand the role. On myUCA/Space/Unit Materials there are two resources that deal specifically with production design and film, so I encourage you to familiarise yourself with them before you begin the write-up of your assignment.
Oh - and those reviews, George. I do not want them to appear the day before the crit. Cramming is stupid, because it prohibits any kind of useful feedback.
OGR 08/11/2011
ReplyDeleteHey George,
One of the areas in which you're weak (or maybe just reluctant/risk-averse) is your 'creative development'. Sometimes what tutors mean by this can seem mysterious, but people like me just want to see a student really exploring an idea before committing to it finally. I suspect you like getting things done right first time - which is strength in some circumstances, but the first year experience is about finding new ways to approach creative problems - and being open to new ideas, skills and strategies for making work. The point of this speech? Well, I suspect that somewhere, you're probably already polishing your 'thumbnails' into finished pieces, but that would be a mistake, because what I'm looking for from you George is much more exploration via thumbnails - alternate views of your three scenes, in which you play with perspective, pov and style. For example, your tree-top city... what are those abodes made from? They look very pre-fabricated. So what's your visual concept? What work have you done in regard to the ethnicity of the people who live in them? Which 'real world' culture are you borrowing from so you can deal with all the details - the shape of the windows, doors etc. Yes, the book gives you some broad brushstrokes, but as the concept artist you've got your artistic licence (and you shouldn't be afraid to use it!). I think you need to be much bolder in terms of scale too - for example, right now in your thumbnail of the treetop village, it all looks rather humble and cosy, when as an environment it could be an 'IMAX spectacular' and truly 'otherworldly' (as opposed to the Shire from LOTR). I'd like to be able to understand your rationale for depicting these scenes in the way that you are - colour values, textures, shapes - and everything in between.
Re, your written assignment - aargh, George! No first person remember! The focus of your assignment sounds promising (though I can't help feeling that, in terms of production design Tim Burton's Batman would give you much more to talk about, as that visual concept borrows from Expressionism etc). Remember, you're writing 'evidence-based' assignments, which means the points you make about the relationship between production design and story need to be corroborated and supported via quotes and illustrations - just ensure that about Batman Begins there is enough written (and published reputedly) to give you the raw materials necessary to construct a credible argument. Your essay will also need to define 'production design' and 'visual concept' in general terms before you apply that understanding to your chosen film. You will need to demonstrate that you understand the role. On myUCA/Space/Unit Materials there are two resources that deal specifically with production design and film, so I encourage you to familiarise yourself with them before you begin the write-up of your assignment.
Oh - and those reviews, George. I do not want them to appear the day before the crit. Cramming is stupid, because it prohibits any kind of useful feedback.
oh - sorry, forgot to say that your OGR is presented suitably professionally - so thank you.
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