Music Video

This project was to create a music video of my choice.  The music video took about two weeks to create.  My group (Jordan and Darby) wanted the music video to have cinematic feel to it.  Some challenges along the way that as a group we faced were; not being able to all be filming at a specific time and we had some actor issues to coming to the "set" all at once.  All the way I learned that communication is everything. Without it we wouldn't have been able to create what we did. I was given feedback that it was really well done and looks like this would be something a college student would create if not better. Next time I would change some of the editing in the end to make it fit the beginning and then also make my own song to have people come in and help create. My overall opinion about this music video is that it went really well. 

Movie Trailer 

Our project was to recreate a high school movie trailer. My group (same as above) chose to recreate The Breakfast Club. The video took about a week and a half to film and edit. We would have gotten the video done sooner, but we did have complications with some of the actors due to extra-curricular activities.  Along the way I really learned that storyboards are really important. I couldn't imagine how this video would have turned out if we didn't use them. Feedback I was given was that it was well done. Next time I would probably use a different location and older looking actors. My overall opinion about this video was that it was good, but I feel like it could have been better.

Short Film

Our project was to create a script to then crete a short film out of. This took about 3 weeks to create. Some challenges along the way was that we had a group member who wanted to do everything, but was a slacker actually filming. She got actors and everything, but claimed she was too busy to film and couldn't for the first I'd say week and a half. I offered to film for her, but she said she wrote the script so she has an eye for what she wanted. Along the way I learned that you have to take charge even if you are really shy towards people you don't know. Overall, I wish to do a different short film. 

Class Reflection

This semester I used my class time to my befits. The times that I got done early with my project I went around to other groups and in a way joined and helped them out with ideas. I would also look on youtube for ways to make my video look better. To enhance my video if I finished an hour early, I would ask others for opinions that they might have and then also go on youtube for inspiration in editing in a certain way fora different kind of video.  Out of class I do other videos on the side, I just chose not to post them anywhere unless it's perfect. 

My areas on strengths are editing and filming. I maximize this strength by creating more and more videos so I can get faster at editing and see what kind of shots that would work for future films that I produce. Improvements for me is probably getting my ideas out there more instead of holding back what I would have to say

Summary

The most thing I loved about this semester was all the people around me. I feel like we were all a kind of family. No one was excluded in anything. The best video I created would probably be the music video. I liked how that turned out. I would change only one thing about this class. Have the students chose who they want to work with because they probably know who they do and don't want to work with. For example, a group member who is controlling might work for some people, but not for others.  I learned so many things this semester. I learned a lot having to do with editing and working with certain people. One goal next year would be able to just create better projects than the year before. My final thoughts about this class was that it was awesome. I loved being able to come from a long day of learning to video class (not that I'm not learning). It was really relaxing and I always felt comfortable here. I also loved our video teacher Mrs. Smith. She really cared about each and every student, which in all my years of school have only seen her and another teacher do that. :)

Animation end of the year

Technology 

This past year I got the chance to learn how to use different programs in this class. I used photoshop, Maya, After effects, and Illustrator. My favorite one to learn about was photoshop. I feel like this program will be the most useful in the future for my career. It was also fun and easy to use. I got to learn short cuts more the second semester, which made my project management skills better than before. 

Collaboration  

This year in animation, I had to learn how to collaborate with others. This was a good skills to learn because in almost any job you have to learn how to collaborate in a positive way. Working with others can help the final product of what you are trying to create. I didn't have any problems collaborating with others. I listen to every idea that others had and then said my input. 

Communication 

This year in e-com we had to communicate a lot, not only in animation. I realized when you communicate with others you collaborate.  It's important to communicate with your group members and others around you in order to do the best that you can. I personally was good at communication with not only my group, but with others. I got some ideas from a different group that I wouldn't have if I didn't not communicate with them. Communication is important because you have to talk to others just to be social and in most times for a job. 

Project Management

I learned project management by getting my things turned in when it is due. I did a lot better this semester with this skill. This is very important because a lot of jobs have deadlines. Most companies will even fire you if you do not meet deadlines. Along the way, I did face a couple of challenges with this. I needed more time with projects. I also couldn't come in this semester after schools due to soccer practice and or games. In the mornings, I was in other classes asking for help. 

Leadership

This year I learned to everyone can be a leader. I also learned that a leader is not someone who takes charge and wants to do everything themselves. I leader is someone who is on top of everyones job, but not excessive about it. They get the job rolling and have all the skills in the above paragraphs. It's important in any group to be a leader because it will help your final project. The only problem I faced was that a group member who thought she was a leader did not like to listen to other ideas from the group.

Strengths and Weaknesses

My strength this year was creating the finial project. I'm not the best at the animation part, but I got to use my video strength in creating this project. I was not able to edit in this project, which I was bummed because I thought that I would be doing it. There was a lot of mistakes on the editing part. I wanted to fix it, but another one of my group members decided "it doesn't matter we need to turn tis in" even though we still had two days left. My weakness like I said before was the actual animation part like making the spider turn and a certain way (in my final project).

In the future

This class has helped me with all the valuable takeaways. The most important one for me I would say is communication. It taught me to share my ideas, even if I have never talked to the members ever before. I will differently use how to use the green screen in the future for my future for video. I will also use how to do special effects in order to create an amazing project that stands out from others. 

Change

In this class, I only would change one thing. Deadlines. For someone like me (not good at animation) it takes me longer with all the keys and what not. I think that's the only change I would say. 

Summary

In conclusion, I enjoyed having this class with some of my friends. I made some new friends in this class that I would have never if I didn't have this class with them. I don't regret taking this class because of somethings I could take out of this classroom to apply to my strain (entertainment)  that I want to take the next years and in college. 

In this short film, Mickey is going through a glass mirror. It is impossible for someone to go through a mirror and enter into a different world. In a new world there are items that move around that wouldn't actually be moving around in the real world. The Writer in this film is expressing a fantasy throughout a dream. Again, it is impossible in real life to be able to go through a glass mirror and enter a new world.

In this short film, Mickey is getting bounced up and down on a moving chair. It is impossible for a chair to be able to have a face with arms. Also the chair can't physically make someone jump up and down. The writer made it seem that that the chair had emotions and didn't want Mickey to be standing/sitting on him or her.

In this short film, Mickey is jumping rope with the telephone cord. It is impossible for a telephone to be be alive and have eyes and hands. Also the telephone can't have arms and be able to move them up and down like jumping rope. The writer made it seem like he telephone was able to produce actions and was able to have fun with Mickey.

In this short film, Mickey is dancing with the cards and having fun. It is impossible for cares to have legs and to be able to get up and walk with Mickey. Also cards can't dance. 

In this short film, Mickey is standing on a foot rest. It is impossible because the foot rest has eyes and is walking away with Mickey on it. It also had emotions, but is impossible because foot rests can't have emotions. 

Video Reflection

Basics 

In this video class communication is key. I found that I used communication well during this semester, getting other peoples opinion and also giving my opinion to others. Communication and collaboration skills are very similar. With out communication then you wouldn't have any collaboration skills. My project this semester  was defiantly all over the place due to a concussion lasting a couple months. I got very behind in video and animation because of all of the set backs and effects concussions give you. My technical skills were good. I used the 6 shot system in all the videos that I made. Extreme wide shot, wide shot, extreme close up, close up, over the shoulder, and medium shot are the 6 different shots that I used in video. The sound was an easy fix when editing. Before editing you have to film and if your audio is not on then you have to restart your whole project. I only had the problem once. Lesson learned. Once in editing I could turn my sound up or down to match my voice over so that it would flow better. Lighting wasn't a problem for me. Lighting is a good key for filming because you want to be able to see your interview person with no shadows or glares on them. Editing in premier pro was different then it was last year. It was quick to learn and most of the tools are the same. My overall experience with feature stories and news stories was okay. I still liked to o it but for sure I want to go into entertainment to get the audience more involved and to feel. By doing video it made me be more experienced for the years yet to come.

This semester in video (final video)

The project that I was working on was a video about a student made movie. It took 3 class days to work on this. Some challenges that I faced were creating voice overs. It took me a while to figure out what exactly to say in my video. Along the way I learned how to edit faster and make my b roll volume quieter so it wouldn't over power my actual interview. Feedback that I was given was to make more voice overs because it seemed like one person was talking for to long and the viewers would lose interest. I would add more voice overs if I could. My overall thought about this project was that I put in the best work that I could in the last final project.

Time management 

Due to my concussion I was held back and was not able to complete most projects. I couldn't work on my projects because most days my headaches got so bad I would have to leave school early. When I was able to stay after school I had to work on animation because of the fact my teacher was failing me because I wasn't able to complete most of his projects and it took me a lot longer to do than it would if I didn't have a concussion. I also had my parents by a new laptop and get all the programs that I would need for animation and video,  so I could work on them over the weekends. I even had a doctor note and an athletic trainer note to extend work times and other restrictions that was given for me. Overall, this semester was a mess, but I was lucky to finally be concussion free recently so I got my final project done on time because I now could. I know that next semester all of my work will be turned in on time with no exceptions. 

Strengths 

In video my strengths were the technical side. This is having to do with the different lighting, 6 shot system, sound, and camera work. I'm also good at editing fast. I maximize my strengths by running into problems and then asking others around me for their input to help me and then I now have a new strength. 

Weaknesses 

My weakness in video is time management for sure right now and also voice overs. I just don't know how to make my voice sound up beat and preppy so it would be interesting to the viewers. I definitely would need to improve, which  I will next semester, project management. 

Overall

I loved being able to relax and do video because after a long day of learning I want to do something I'm interested in doing. If I could change anything like I said I would finish my project on time and good quality of work. This semester I was able to learn new tools premier pro, sound (getting the audio levels to match), and also how to create a feature story and what to say and what not to say. For instances not to say "I'm here sitting with (name) and likes photography, but instead say (name)shares his passions about photography. I've probably said this a million times, but to get all my projects in on time because I have no excuse. My final thoughts would be that I'm very excited to learn about entertainment and just start out fresh once we come back from break. 

Communication Portfolio Reflection

Ice Cream Model

  
In the ice cream animation we used a program called maya. I learned a lot of new things. I learned how to bullion, cut tools, short cut keys, how to make objects bigger and smaller, how to move the objects up and down, and to move them side to side. I also was able to figure out how to change the colors of objects. I could also download a picture and put it on an object, which that was really cool. I learned how to do this project by following the directions of the teacher and experimenting with new things. I picked this project because I liked how it turned out and it looked normal. I think this one was my best projects I have done this year. My strengths in this project was having an idea in my head and being creative. My weakness were making the ice cream scoop, but I got it figured out. I improved by asking people for their help and then helping other people with the information that I learned. I'm going to use what I learned for future projects in maya. If I could change anything I would make more things in my ice cream shop to make it look legit. Overall, this was the most fun out of all the projects that we did this year. 

Hammer Time

  I created the Hammer faster than I thought I would. I also created the hammer in Maya. I learned to make a hammer head. I learned to do a cutting object which was really cool for the hammer head. I learned to do this by experimenting all the different tools. I picked this project because even though it didn't look the best I tried to make the hammer head look perfect. My weakness for the hammer was the handle. Somehow it looked curvy. I didn't know how to fix it without restarting the whole thing. My strength were the hammer head to line up all the vertices to look the same on both sids. I improved by learning to take less time to make things. I'm going to use what I learned for the next thing I do in maya. If I could change anything, I would change my hammer so it would be straight. Overall, this was a good learning experience.

Pen Final

  For my final before the christmas break we created a pen. I learned how to make all the different edges and different tools to use to make it look identical to an actual pen. I learned how to do this by also messing around with a bunch of different tools. I picked to do this project because I chose to take it a step further and add a picture of my idol and have it look as if he was holding the pen in his hand. The project was to just create a one with a floor and a couple side walls, so there wouldn't be any black when we render out the project. My strengths were creating the pen cap and my weakness was the pen, but I got it done and it looks great. I improved by doing my own thing and testing up tools. I'm going to use what I have learned with other things I do in Maya or anything like Maya. I would probably have a video of the pen instead of screen shots. Overall, I got this project done with very few mistakes. 

Polything

To create the polything I used Maya. This was the very first project I did in maya besides making random shapes. I learned about different lightings to use to create the best shadow of the polything.  I followed step by step instructions provided by my teacher to create the polything. I picked this project because it was the easiest to create in maya. It took me 10 minutes or less to create this. My strengths was being able to turn this project in on time. My weakness was figuring out how the lights worked. I improved by mastering how to do lighting. I'm going to use the lighting with other projects even outside of maya. Lighting can be used with almost everything. I wouldn't change a single thing about this project. Overall, this was quick and easy and a fun way to learn about lighting. 

Glass 

Recently I created a glass. I really like how it turned out because it looked almost real. I learned a new thing where we had to use a stenciling type of tool to create this. I learned this by following some directions, but mostly I did it on my own with the help of a couple people. I picked this project because it didn't completely look all that bad. I mean... I'd drink out of that glass if it were real. My strengths were making the bottom of the glass look skinny as a glass would look like. My weakness would probably be the color I chose it looks too blue for a glass. I improved by learning new tools. With the things I learned I also made a salt shake. I would change the color and make it look like there is liquid in the glass. Overall, It was a cool concept to learn. 

Polything

The scope of this project was to create a cube and bullion it out to make a polything in Maya. I looked up the directions on google classroom. I followed step by step and ended up getting this project done really fast. I would have never thought to use the cylinder shape to complete this project. What I did was first create a sphere and made sure all the measurements were exact. I put the cylinders inside the sphere and made them pop out in the middle, back,front, and both sides. Using bullion, I basically cut out the shapes from the inside and ended up with the final product. I had to put some lights to get the polything to have shadows. I then created the texture of my polything and I picked the color purple. My final thing to do was move the lights around each time to then take a screen shot of the polything.


  Along the way, I learned the principles of how to bullion shapes into other shapes. I was able to help out a few people around me also create this project because they couldn't quite get it. Instead of telling them to look back at their directions...

Overall this project was fun and really easy. I learned new things and better tools to use in maya. 

Multi-Layer Project

  The scope of this project was to create three different parts to then make it look as it would go into one. I first decided to make mine an ocean multi-layer because I figured that no one else in my class would have thought about doing that. Once I got started on making the water, I looked around and saw that other people had the same idea. I had to figure out how to make each of my layers move and the different speeds I wanted them to move in. I wanted my background layer to move a lot slower than I wanted my front layer. The back layer made it look as if it was far away, so it made since the farther away then the slower it would move and visa-verse. I started to create on my front (beginning) layer sand at the bottom and make the whole project look at the bottom of the ocean. I added some fish and other creatures to make it look a part of the ocean. Some of the fish really didn't make sense that it was at the bottom of the ocean. For example, a Dolphin wouldn't really be at the bottom of the ocean depending on how deep the ocean waters got. Now I am nowhere near as skilled as I would like to be. I could have gone all out on this, but we were on a bunch time limit and I really didn't know how to do a lot of things on Photoshop to make my project look kind of more real meaning it looks like I drew everything (which I did), but it would be cool if the dolphin looked better. 
   
   My project editing was spot on. All I had to do was move each scene all the way down and then set a keyframe. While creating the Multi-layer project I got to learn new things. I mainly learned all the new things in photoshop. I learned a bunch of little shortcuts that helped me get my project done faster compared to if I didn't know the shortcuts. Technically I had no problems in the hardware or software. It all worked out smoothly. 

  My collaboration with other classmates worked out well for me. I asked others around me to help me out to create my project. That leads into teamwork. I also helped a couple people around me with ideas on what to draw and I also even drew a turtle for someone else's project (even though it wasn't good.. I still helped her out). My deadlines are probably the weakest for me as long with some of my other classmates. It takes me a little longer to figure out all the different buttons and to plan out what I want to be able to do. I do come in every now and then before and after school to try and work on it outside of school hours. 

  If I had to do this project again I would probably figure out a way to make my project come alive so it wouldn't look plain. I would still have the idea of doing the bottom of the ocean. My experiences for my next project will help me out because I learned a bunch new shortcut keys to make my project go faster. My general thoughts about this project were that it was okay. I didn't love what we had to do, but I didn't hate it. Personally, animation is not one of my strong suits and I'm trying to do my best.