King Tut(orial)

Yes, well...first week back at uni, still trying to understand what I`ll do this year. Until I figure things out, I`m just trying to go through a few things I`ve heard about today, see if I can get some basic info and a taster/teaser.

So...it seems like I`ll have to invest some serious amount of my time getting my head round ProTools. I`ve found a tutorial series, but of course, it`s going to take more than that.

Also, since I chose Moving Images (previously known as the infamous Audio Visual pathway), I will have to face my greatest fears: working in a team and getting good at communicating my ideas (preferably, in a convincing way)...if that isn`t every (former) Humanities student`s nightmare, I don`t know what is...

I do what I can...part 5

Well, here we are again...this is the spot for Comedy Cluj Film Festival and you can find it on the festival`s blog (unfortunately, only in Romanian for this year). The ending reads: `What of a world without laughter?`

Publish Post(er)

A month or so ago, a friend had kindly pointed me to this page of the NUS site where they advertised a poster competition for the National Student Survey`s annual campaign to get feedback for universities and prospective students from students. So, since I`ve had had enough of the summer lazy days, I thought I would give it a go (two, actually).

Both attempts make reference to popular culture icons. The strapline for each poster is based on the assumption that the public can draw from a diverse range of (personal) meanings attributed to these images and thus interpret the message in several ways. For instance, the Campbell soup poster and its strapline "Open Up"  play on the idea of keeping one`s opinions (or grievances) for oneself, or "Be Heard" (as the previous year`s winning poster suggested). On a more playful note though, the image of soup in a tin brings about knowing smiles (hopefully) from students acquainted with the eating habits of student life.

 

The Uncle Sam reference is pretty in-your-face. Alright, so it is a bit of an Uncle Sam turned Uncle Jack! We all know that piercing gaze and that commanding (and demanding) no-nonsense attitude that thinks he should have your feedback not because he is asking you nicely....noooooooo...but because he DESERVES it...and besides, it is your duty to do so...hmmmmm, maybe it is a tad to martial of an image to conjure up for such a campaign!

Simply put: just a mild case of cartesian anxiety! part 3

BBC Documetaries - The Power of Nightmares

...talk about constructing through discourse an image new realities...myth creation in action!

I do what I can...part 4

COMEDY CLUJ: http://www.comedycluj.ro/

The Comedy Cluj site...still under construction, but getting ready for the event. I have been taken up by the volunteer coordinator as a collaborator for the site so, besides writing some of the material, I am taking my turn in coming up with suggestions for layout, spell-check, etc.

I do what I can...part 3

So, what`s new? Well, I`ve been doing some translations for film subtitles for Comedy Cluj and also done some more writing for the official website (www.comedycluj.ro). The site is still under construction, so you`ll have to take my word for it for now...I`ll leave you with the event`s mascots. Happy fellas!

Thought bubble of the day...part 2

I watched Bill Maher`s film, Religulous, and while the host was interviewing a guy called Dr. Andrew Newberg, I thought to myself...hmmm...he looks familiar. And indeed, he is not a new face to me, I`ve seen him on What the bleep to we know? and a BBC documentary called God in the Brain. What I find absolutely intriguing is the idea of biologically breaking down the idea of god, the chemical and anatomical make-up that facilitates our perception of some sort of transcendence, or presence or all the other forms people have associated with divine nature. And I must admit it, I like the idea of bringing the haughty perception of God to the same level as other feelings such as ...say...love, the need for protection and certitude, etc because it takes away a poweful means for legitimising a lot of crazy stuff by people who - consciously or not -abuse the incontestable magnetism of this idea. Let`s face it, if the guy who threatened you you`ll suffer the consequences of your not living according to his (questionably) moral standards, would tell you it is his own voice that assures him of your demise, and not that of a high and mighty being, you`d laugh in his face. Plus, it will re-light an interesting conversation I had with a friend a while ago (at the cinema, over a popcorn and during the commercials!) over consciesness, the big deal that we make of it (come on, we think it is the reason why we are chosen by god or...providence or how you want to call it, to reign supreme, to explore new boundaries to...bla bla bla, you get the idea!) but that it is merely a mutation, an accident almost of evolution. From a survival point of view, it is really a crappy thing to have, since it doesn`t really get you far, and we can all agree it is not always easy to live with it and the angst it brings along. So, will have to chit-chat more on that one...

I do what I can...part 2

Long time no post, right? (I bet you are asking yourself, my dearest non-existent reader, why am I talking to myself and constantly acting like I have an audience...I stopped wondering about that a long time ago...). Thanks to a good friend from Cluj, involved in organising a comedy film festival, I got to do some work. Working on some English translation for the festival`s promotional materials. Should they like it, I might make it to the official site of the event (fingers crossed!). Just in case you are bored to death and have nothing else better to do, here it is:

"Step right up and prepare yourself for sheer comedy delight with Comedy Cluj International Comedy Film Festival! Emerging from foamy waves of film passion and ready to wash away those grey tedious afternoons, Comedy Cluj aims high on the laugh-o-meter, making its public burst into laughter with a heavy-duty artillery of 70 fire-cracker comedies. Oh, and on a more social note, Comedy Cluj provides a gathering place for film aficionados/enthusiasts/lovers, critics and everyone in-between from all corners of the world can meet and exchange musings.

We are here to…

- give you a taste of cultural diversity that will leave you coming back for more…

- lure films and audiences from around the world

- give you a taste of a bewildering range of comedy sub-genres (satire, parody, romantic comedy, opera buffa, black comedy, sit-coms, absurd, etc) leaving the public with a highly sophisticated palate and eye for the best productions.

- take out the middle man, providing an environment for unmediated/direct interactions between film creators, producers and distributors

- give the home comedy production a gentle nudge, or a kiss, if you will, that would wake it up from its present slumber

- put the Charisma back into Comedy, enticing viewers of all ages – a special attention to all of the hip youngsters – to feel its evergreen appeal

- take our shot at placing Cluj and Romania on the glitzy map of cultural, artistic and cinematic hipsterdom."

I do what I can...

Whaaaaat? I told you I`m guinea pigs...less! So I do what I can and with...whom I can. Good thing I still have me.

I don`t know about acting (haven`t tried it for some years now...might consider a re-run for this year with the Drama society at NTU...who knows!), but trying to make an expressive face for a few seconds in front of the camera...some lights, some props, some spice added to it...I get the cinematic trance! Now, if I could only link the trance to the narrative and conceptual, and striking a balance...then I might be actually DOING something, instead of just coming up with ideas I keep postponing.

Memo to me: if you keep posting some of these images, it would be a good idea to talk more about why you keep making them...or simply mock yourself, that`s good too!

TranSLATE 2

Nae Caranfil`s E pericolo sporgersi. Simply brings a smile to my face so I have to include it here.

-And now you want to show me your vinyl collection, or what?

-I understand you are making a pass on our girls, right?

-Have we met before?

-For your sake, we`d better not! That`s all I`m sayin`...

-You want something from me?

-Yeah! I want you to leave this girl alone! She`s mine.

-Which girl?

-You know all too well. The one that`s just left.

-So, you`ve been listening?

-No...but I know she`s been here. Why...just because we allow you in our town to do your service, you think you can have a go at our girls?

-For now, the only one having a go is you...at me!

-HEY! Watch it! I`ve done three years of boxing as a kid, if you`ll tick me off I`ll make you bleed!

-Be....careful what you say. I`m wearing a uniform and that might spell trouble for you.

-I`ve tried to argue with you from man to man, but is seems like you don`t want to...

-Maybe you want to meet the rest of the patrol?

-Maybe you want to meet my brother, who is into karate...there`ll be blood, I tell you!

-Maybe you need a beating up!

-I tried to argue sensibly with you...

-You want a fight?

-Be careful...

-Fight?

-If you touch me, I`ll break your glasses you son of a bitch!

-Who do you think you are, talking like that about mum?

-And why are you acting tough?

-You`ll see what I`m made of...

-Why did you hit me?

-Who....who hit you? Me...?

-Yes, you...you wanted to hit me. Why did you want to do that. Why?

-D....don`t make me loose my temper!

....

-You damned Bucharest scum!

TranSLATE 1

A hilarious fragment from Cuibul de viespi (Wasps`Nest), a film based on one of Alexandru Kiritescu`s plays. Probably sums up pretty well all one can say about Romanian sense of humour and the Balkan....ehrm....charm. I know it is hard to incorporate all the savory linguistical bits but...here is a somewhat valiant attempt (hopefully):

-You got the braids? Thank heaven and all of the saints! Put them there. And you? Why are you daydreaming? Get a move on…destination: braids! And get the incense burner.
-What incense burner?
-What incense burner? What incense burner? The one we use for the braids! Now go and fetch it for me….WAIT! But don`t get me the wrong one or I`ll use it on your head!
-Alright…
-WAIT!!! Bring some incense too.
-…
-WAIT!!! And make sure you don`t bring some coals instead….WA..
-WAIT! I get it! Don`t patronize me!

-You deserved that, you rascal!
-I`m late because I had to queue.
-Queue…huh? Nein! You be smooching…
-Ma`am?
-Mit soldiers!
-Wha…? You are out of it…
-Insult you me? Gypsy! You little cat! Lazy bones! Ptttt!
-Calm down you two. What`s this all about?
-She should leave me alone, coz I`m an honest girl, not like her… silly old bat!
-Wass? Gehn zum Teufel!

-Requiem it is…but a lucky one!
-Sis…did you write the (remembrance) list?
-I did.
-Read it!
-Ana, Grigore, Tinca….puuuuuuut that down theeeeeeeeeere!....Didina, Tina, Gherghina…
-Don`t stand about to see what an fool she is. She is from Caracal, she can afford it! But you are from Transylvania, right?
-I get this sort of humiliation even in front of the servants!...Balasa, Androne…
-….and all their relatives…I say, let Zamfira know how much you`re worth!
-Tase, Marghioala, Ionicica…
-What? You`ve listed all the boors from Tase`s family? Devil take them! God rest their souls!
-Arghirita, Sofronie, Marita…
-Marita?
-Yep!
-On Margareta`s remembrance list?
-Aham.
-Vanda`s mother…
-Aham.
-Where`s your brain, sis?
-Oh, gosh! You`re right! You`re so right! It`s because of that debauched woman that we got into all this trouble! Ptttt! It`s not within our nature….to curse and all….but she deserves it! May she turn into dust…may God and the virgin Mary turn her into dust!
-I`ve never cursed anyone in my life, and I won`t do it now! But may I see her buried without her shoes on, oh Holy Mother and Saint Filofteia! The Lord gaveth unto us, the Lord taketh!
-What is it?
-Hit my back! Whooooooah…you almost knocked me down!
-Well, you were coughing real bad and…

Time for a bit of maritime!

Loredana Groza`s Copiii Sirenelor (The Sirens` Children)

After a sea accident, the crew of a ship is lured by a covent of sirens. But after all, it turns out it ain't a bad thing at all.

Copiii sirenelor, sung by Loredana (Romanian singer Loredana Groza) and Loredana (three years old) is featured on Nana Nanino, an album aimed at children between the ages of 1 and 5 years, released by MediaPro Music on September 2007.

The music video, full of delightul animation, has been realized at Romanian studio Videorgy.

(Source: http://dekku.nofatclips.com/2007/12/loredana-copiii-sirenelor.html)

You ROtoscope my world! part 2

And a second draft of the same animation. I added some colours now and tweaked it...I think I`m beginning to see a flicker of potential here...just enough to encourage me to keep going and try out new things during this holiday...just what the doctor ordered!

You ROtoscope my world!

Well, did I say I`ll have guinea pigs for today? WRONG!!! So, I had to go for plan B in order to avoid feeling utterly useless this day. And plan B was...try one of the following:

- light saber effect

- rotoscope animation

- blue screen

After trying to set up, act out and manage not to fall over doing the blue screen shtick, I came to the sensible conclusion that trying a bit of rotoscope action would be safer (though not for my poor eyes, and, as it turns out, for my nerves, given the fact that I don`t have a digital pen, so I had to get it done via...ah....you`ve guessed it...MOUSE). A few hours later and many clicks and drags away...here is a first draft. So imperfect and lacking in potential it makes me want to cry but I`m still going to post it, for no other reason then for the sheer effort that went into making it (yes, even in this un-glamorous state it is).

I got the BLUES(creen)!

Ohohohoho!....I got myself some new guinea pigs...I mean, part-time actors and volunteers and hopefully, tomorrow will be a good day...for experimentation! What I would like to try out is the blue/green screen effect, and, possibly, the split screen effect too.

Random fantasy

Yesterday I decided I should break free of the vicious circle of laziness that seemed to overwhelm me and try to mess about with something to make me feel a bit more productive. So, I thought about some of the books I have already mentioned in my earlier posts on film architecture and special effects and thought I should try out something. The main idea was to take some everyday items, like pins, perfume bottles, tin foil, a bottle of wine, a candle, and use their surface, their texture, different angles to give the impression of some sort of a setting. So I took some photos initially, but then I decided I should give videos a go to, and so after an afternoon spent on editing and finding an inspiring score (Arnold Schoenberg`s Pelleas and Melisande), I came up with this:

Strike a pose

Well, there we are then...I`m back to my bookwormish ways again, this time, bringing you seeds of boredome from the land of haute couture. I always like some inspiring reading on some area of study/craft I haven`t thought of as particularly befitting my dreams of intellectual and artistical megalomania that turns me around and makes me develop a temporary obssession for the driving, underlying, subversive concepts that animate it. Yes, for it is not so much the outcome that has swept me off my feet (although, heaven forbid one should neglect that...it would be rude, wouldn`t it?) but the processes by which these have been generated. That elusive creative process as they call it, but, to put things in a bigger perspective so as not to get lost in the mumbo-jumbo labyrinthine world of creative individuals` minds, it is the decidedly more complex picture of social transformation, especially on the psychological level, that is more fascinating to observe.

And, got to love Youtube, a 1990 documentary of British fashion matron, Vivienne Westwood.

Paris(h) the thought!

Not to give in to the image of the decadent French (except, if they insist we do) or to equate jazz, bohemian lifestyles, l`amour, etc etc with Paris but...who would mind this sort of stereotypes being heaped unto them? Sepia....yes, please! And by all means, when you are not filming naked or laced flesh...all cameras on Deneuve...sure winner!

Brainiac

And another conference for today...I definetly will subscribe to the University of California Youtube channel, I don`t care what happens to my reputation (sic!). Now, Dr Ramachandran was a bit of a familiar figure, since I previously have seen him appear on a BBC Documentary called God on the Brain. This conference (rather boldly) takes on the question of what is it about art that gets us...with a few jokes sprinkled at the end of the conference about the struggles and ineffectiveness of philosophers while dealing with this issue (though this is sort of a common practice within academia, if you come to think of it, a bit of teasing of your - usually Humanities- colleague).

Interesting points made about the idea of hyperbolae and selection, and the link between enjoyment and pleasure derived from something that `touches` you and the idea of activating, stimulating the brain...almost like the idea of the importance of the process, instead of the actual end point.

Ping-(S)Pong

`A pre-eminent voice for liberal Christianity, John Shelby Spong was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2000. His admirers acclaim his making contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary lay person—he's considered a champion of an inclusive faith by many both inside and outside the Christian church. His challenges to the church have also made him a target of hostility, fear, and death threats. Calling himself "a joyful, passionate, convinced believer in the reality of God," he seeks not to create a new religion, but to reform the church he loves. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion & Society" [1/2005] [Humanities] [Show ID: 9117] `