Monday 29 November 2010
High On Hope - Trailer
I went to go see this as part of Leeds International Film Festival. What a brilliant documentary! There were obviously some people in the room watching with us that were there at the raves (shouting out and clapping at funny parts!). It was a really good atmosphere :)
Shame I was a bit too young to attend the raves myself!
The Outspoken Showcase
I really want to pop down to the Hyde Park Picture House to check this out.
"This is a unique event showcasing the beauty of D-I-Y in action. The jam packed programme is designed to motivate and inspire us to 'make stuff happen' in our local communities. With a focus on art, music, clubnights, zines, films, photography, blogging and independent business."
I think that for this Visual Language module I would like to do something to help people. Something creative and crafty. Something with DIY ethics.
Bradford Animation Festival
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| My BAF goodie bag (cat not included) |
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| Very official! |
So Tahra, George and I went to Bradford Animation Festival on Friday 12th November.
There were so many wonderful animations to see. Not a massive turn out though! Mostly just us and a few others in each viewing. At least we got the pick of the seats.
Going to this festival didn't give me much help on the technical side. It did however, show me a vast range of animations and their applications in the industries.
I'm not sure if I would go again - it's a lot of money and all of the animations will of been able to view on youtube....
Kn-info :)
Stitch n Bitch - To find local knitting groups and community links
Knitty - For free patterns :)
Craftster - Some really cool knitted projects (as well as other crafts)
Baa Ram Ewe - A local knitting shop that runs workshops
Sunday 28 November 2010
Second Attempt
Bull Dog 2 from Laura Jordan on Vimeo.
This is the improved version of the bull dog stop-motion. The photo quality is better as I got a camera out from the photography department as well as a tripod.
Some stills are too blurry though. More quality control is needed.
iMovie is very easy to use :)
Friday 26 November 2010
Voluntary Action Leeds
Today I went down to Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) to speak with them about volunteering. I still haven't heard anything back from Pyramid of Arts, the administrator has said that they are currently working their way through applications and don't always have vacancies for everyone. So I thought I better sort something else out very quickly.
I spoke with William about possibly working with a women's group, however there are few opportunities for me to work for an organisation that purely deals with women's issues. He said to maybe contact a few places and let him know, as they are always looking to promote new volunteer vacancies.
William found me three possible volunteering opportunities to look over, found from my chosen criteria.
I spoke with William about possibly working with a women's group, however there are few opportunities for me to work for an organisation that purely deals with women's issues. He said to maybe contact a few places and let him know, as they are always looking to promote new volunteer vacancies.
William found me three possible volunteering opportunities to look over, found from my chosen criteria.
- Reception and Stewarding at Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre
- Initial Support Worker at STAR (Surviving Trauma After Rape)
- Art/Music Education Assistant at Music and Arts Production Leeds
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Papergirl Manchester
A wonderful video by a wonderful friend. Check out my legwork :)
Really want to organise a Papergirl Leeds!!!
Bad Things That Could Happen from This Is It on Vimeo.
I love this video. I really want to do something like this.
Handmade Nation Screening
Missed it. Balls!
Facebook said 4pm until 6pm, I got there at 4pm..........nothing!
I went home thinking what the hell just happened? Did I get confused? Was it cancelled?
I picked up a flyer today.
It said 7pm.
Balls!
A good excuse to buy the DVD :)
Facebook said 4pm until 6pm, I got there at 4pm..........nothing!
I went home thinking what the hell just happened? Did I get confused? Was it cancelled?
I picked up a flyer today.
It said 7pm.
Balls!
A good excuse to buy the DVD :)
Tuesday 16 November 2010
Young Curators Project
I have been going to the meetings for the Young Curators Project for the last few weeks. However, I've decided that I will no longer be attending them. I just don't have the time to do the project and my other modules. My schedule is pretty full at the moment, juggling uni, work and a social life. I never get to see my family as it is, I'm stressed out and although I would like to learn some skills in curating, I don't think this project is for me. I don't see my attending the meetings so far as a waste of time, quite the opposite, as I know now that it's not really my thing. I had no passion for it. If I have no passion, I'll never put my full effort into it!
Another thing is that after visiting the Artists Rooms exhibition in Newcastle at the Baltic, I just wasn't impressed. It's all far too political for me. Not in a good way. I'm not a big fan of Damien Hirst, I think it's ridiculous how much money he makes. I wont get into a big rant but the bottom line is I don't want anything to do with a project that makes him even more well known and makes him more money by publicity. Does sticking Damien's name on an exhibition bring credibility? really?
Another person on the project said something to me the other day which has stuck with me. He said "Wow, this project is so big it could really count as all of our PPD module or even as the live project too" Now, I'm not sure how true this is, but I have so many things I want to do for PPD, I just can't sacrifice them for the sake of a project that would look totally awesome on my CV.
As I said, it's just not me.
Another thing is that after visiting the Artists Rooms exhibition in Newcastle at the Baltic, I just wasn't impressed. It's all far too political for me. Not in a good way. I'm not a big fan of Damien Hirst, I think it's ridiculous how much money he makes. I wont get into a big rant but the bottom line is I don't want anything to do with a project that makes him even more well known and makes him more money by publicity. Does sticking Damien's name on an exhibition bring credibility? really?
Another person on the project said something to me the other day which has stuck with me. He said "Wow, this project is so big it could really count as all of our PPD module or even as the live project too" Now, I'm not sure how true this is, but I have so many things I want to do for PPD, I just can't sacrifice them for the sake of a project that would look totally awesome on my CV.
As I said, it's just not me.
Knit Club
I've been wanting to set up a stitch and bitch group for ages. So, when meeting up with an old friend for tea and cake, my friend Sofia and I decided we would do just that.
Check out the facebook group here.
Things to do:
Check out the facebook group here.
Things to do:
- Find a venue with lots of lovely tea and cakes
- Think of a catchy name
- Decide on a day and time that suits most people
- Find some special guests i.e. Mums and Grandmas that have endless knitting skills!
Mola Mola Project
The Mola Mola Project
"About Mola Mola Project
A New Experience of Motion Picture
Going through the history of cinema, one might come up with questions like;
- Is there any other way to see movies than theatre or video monitor?
- Why all movies have fixed aspect ratio?
- Can there be other media to print images?
- etc...
To find answers to these questions, mariko and dokko Littlething started Mola Mola project in March 2007. Our first task was to reproduce Praxinoscope, a pre-cinema device invented by Emile Reynaud in 1877. The result satisfied us enough to discover the possibilities of motion pictures in quite different ways from today. As our project proceeds, we hope to offer you a new experience of motion pictures.
On the other hand, however, we're not collector-minded retro maniacs but explorers of a pure essence of entertainment with an expectation for the harmony of sound and vision."
"About Mola Mola Project
A New Experience of Motion Picture
Going through the history of cinema, one might come up with questions like;
- Is there any other way to see movies than theatre or video monitor?
- Why all movies have fixed aspect ratio?
- Can there be other media to print images?
- etc...
To find answers to these questions, mariko and dokko Littlething started Mola Mola project in March 2007. Our first task was to reproduce Praxinoscope, a pre-cinema device invented by Emile Reynaud in 1877. The result satisfied us enough to discover the possibilities of motion pictures in quite different ways from today. As our project proceeds, we hope to offer you a new experience of motion pictures.
On the other hand, however, we're not collector-minded retro maniacs but explorers of a pure essence of entertainment with an expectation for the harmony of sound and vision."
My first phenakistoscope!
To make you own phenakistoscope on howcast.
Papergirl Manchester
Papergirl Manchester version 1 from Tahra O'Regan on Vimeo.
Oh how I love my bike :) and of course, my friend Tahra xx
Oh no!
Flip book FAIL!! from Laura Jordan on Vimeo.
Please ignore the fluffy dressing gown.........it's really really REALLY cold in my flat :(
Monday 15 November 2010
Thaumatrope
History:
The invention of the thaumatrope, whose name means "turning marvel" or "wonder turner," has often been credited to the astronomer Sir John Herschel. However, it was a well-known London physicist, Dr. John A. Paris, who made this toy popular. Thaumatropes were the first of many optical toys, simple devices that continued to provide animated entertainment until the development of modern cinema.
How it works:
A thaumatrope is a small disc, held on opposite sides of its circumference by pieces of string. An image is drawn on each side of the disc, and is selected in such a way that when the disc is spun, the two images appear to become superimposed. To spin the disc, one string is held in a hand, and the disc is rotated to wind the string. Then, both strings are held, and the disc is allowed to rotate. Gently stretching the strings will ensure that they continue to unwind and rewind. This motion causes the disc to rotate, first in one direction and then in the opposite. The faster the disc rotates, the greater the clarity of the illusion.
Although the thaumatrope does not produce animated scenes, it relies on the same persistence of vision principle that other optical toys use to create illusions of motion. Persistence of vision is the eye's ability to retain an image for roughly 1/20 of a second after the object is gone. In this case, the eye continues to see the two images on either side of the thaumatrope shortly after each has disappeared. As the thaumatrope spins, the series of quick flashes is interpreted as one continuous image.
One example of a thaumatrope has a tree with bare branches on one side, and on the other, its leaves. When spun, the tree appears to be full of leaves. Another example has a bird on one side, and a cage on the other. When spun, the bird appears to be in its cage. The bird-cage pair of images were used on the first thaumatrope, and is the most common one seen on thaumatropes today.
What became of it:
Most pairs of thaumatrope images were pictures that did not imply motion, such as running animals or dancing people. A thaumatrope could only take two images and merge them, essentially creating one still image from two. The phenakistoscope was a great improvement on the thaumatrope, creating one moving image from several stills, and became the first optical toy to create a true illusion of motion.
via courses.ncssm
The invention of the thaumatrope, whose name means "turning marvel" or "wonder turner," has often been credited to the astronomer Sir John Herschel. However, it was a well-known London physicist, Dr. John A. Paris, who made this toy popular. Thaumatropes were the first of many optical toys, simple devices that continued to provide animated entertainment until the development of modern cinema.
How it works:
A thaumatrope is a small disc, held on opposite sides of its circumference by pieces of string. An image is drawn on each side of the disc, and is selected in such a way that when the disc is spun, the two images appear to become superimposed. To spin the disc, one string is held in a hand, and the disc is rotated to wind the string. Then, both strings are held, and the disc is allowed to rotate. Gently stretching the strings will ensure that they continue to unwind and rewind. This motion causes the disc to rotate, first in one direction and then in the opposite. The faster the disc rotates, the greater the clarity of the illusion.
Although the thaumatrope does not produce animated scenes, it relies on the same persistence of vision principle that other optical toys use to create illusions of motion. Persistence of vision is the eye's ability to retain an image for roughly 1/20 of a second after the object is gone. In this case, the eye continues to see the two images on either side of the thaumatrope shortly after each has disappeared. As the thaumatrope spins, the series of quick flashes is interpreted as one continuous image.
One example of a thaumatrope has a tree with bare branches on one side, and on the other, its leaves. When spun, the tree appears to be full of leaves. Another example has a bird on one side, and a cage on the other. When spun, the bird appears to be in its cage. The bird-cage pair of images were used on the first thaumatrope, and is the most common one seen on thaumatropes today.
What became of it:
Most pairs of thaumatrope images were pictures that did not imply motion, such as running animals or dancing people. A thaumatrope could only take two images and merge them, essentially creating one still image from two. The phenakistoscope was a great improvement on the thaumatrope, creating one moving image from several stills, and became the first optical toy to create a true illusion of motion.
via courses.ncssm
Friday 5 November 2010
Things to Do
ANIMATION PROGRAMMES 2010
World Animation Award Part I
Tue 9th Nov, 6.30pm
Town Hall
One of the favourite events in the Film Festival, the World Animation Competition now takes place in the spectacular setting of Leeds Town Hall. This year’s competition is in two parts – there is so much amazing animation to share – and you can see both a double bill price of £10 / £8. Part one includes The Boy Who Wanted to be a Lion, a delightful ochre-coloured animation from the UK in which a reclusive little boy retreats even further from the world after a trip to the zoo. Another highlight is the ectoplasmic Ci sono gli spiriti, a half-remembered dream of nocturnal walks around empty rooms where the spirits converge.
World Animation Award Part II
Thu 11th Nov, 6pm
Town Hall
One of the annual highlights of the Film Festival and a programme that is always packed with wonders, the World Animation Competition presents a second hand-picked selection, from the serious to seriously crazy. See gems from new talent such as the highly imaginative Greek animation The Happy Life, in which an absorbed graphic artist unwittingly draws himself into an animated prison. This half of the competition programme also includes the astonishing Oscar winning toon-town action movie Logorama, a hugely inventive and spectacular shoot out between renegade trade marks. You can see both World Animation Competition programmes for a double bill price of £10 / £8
Draw Yourself
Wed 17th Nov, 6pm
Town Hall 2
A simple conceit has given rise to this beautiful little film, small but perfectly formed. A windowglass tour of the world proposed to children too young yet to read or write; they simply take a place in the frame by drawing a picture of themselves. These pictures are then animated in imaginative little vignettes before the film moves onto the next children somewhere else in the world. It’s the story of each and every one of us, of what we once were and the difficulty of remaining as we once were.
Wednesday 3 November 2010
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