Extra Credit Lighting a Scene in Maya

1. Spot Light

2. 2 Point Light

3. 3 point Light

Building a Scene in Maya

Third Term Paper

My first two term paper scores were 90 and 90; I will not be writing a third term paper.

Outline of Third Term Paper

Introduction: I will compare fire effects from a low budget indie movie (Clerks 2), and compare it to computer graphics fire effects from a high production studio movie (Toy Story 3).

Thesis: Although computer graphics generated fire is more visually realistic, it could be out of the budget of independent filmmakers. I will explore alternative methods to simulate fire on screen.

Body:

1. How Toy Story 3 created fire in the scene where the gang is about to be incinerated in the dumpster.
     - Used computer graphics algorithms.
     - Mainly made use of lighting to insinuate that the characters are within an inferno.
2. How Clerks 2 created fire in the opening scene.
     - The opening scene was in black and white so color would not be an issue.
     - Real fire was filmed in front of a green screen and later composited over another green screen, so when      the character opens the doors, fire can be seen raging from within.

Conclusion:

3. Although Toy Story 3 had realistic fire effects, the lighting and color of the scene is what convinced viewers that the characters were surrounded by fire. Clerks opted to use real fire over a green screen which looked less convincing. Perhaps if the filmmakers had opted for more of a mood effect, by using lighting and sound, and showing minimal fire, it would have been more convincing.

Second Stop Motion

The previous stop motion I created involved mainly 2D characters. For this assignment, I wanted to create a character that I could move freely in any direction. I started by making a little adventurer out of pipe cleaner. I fashioned his cape out of some fabric that I rubbed in the dirt to make it look weathered. To finish it off, I created a weathered map for him to hold.

The feet were the hardest obstacle to overcome. I decided to leave them as pointy wires, and I wet the dirt outside so that I could pierce his legs into the soft earth. Despite my best efforts, and after endless trials, this was my best result. I tried to make his legs move in all of the main walking positions, but even with the damp dirt, it was difficult to keep the character upright, and in the correct position. I recognize that the stop motion animation could be better, but given what I had, I made it work as best as I could.

What I love most about this stop motion is the setting. I have always been inspired by how easily a world can be transformed by scale, in this case, a little man in a forest made for human sized people.