Gaming 29/7

current ingame UI design on the right and startup screen on the left. going for an enchanted forest theme with the actual levels being in the rainbow kingdom

Research 29/7

Submit to dropbox by 5pm friday, word document format. I still need to add the skills/attributes to my cv and finish my portfolio website. at least my cover letter doesnt need any more work

Research 28/7

Time to think about an online portfolio to add to my CV. Wix or wordpress perhaps? 

3 CV's, 3 cover letters and LinkedIn profile due friday in the dropbox. If i do it by tomorrow, i can hand in and not have to come in to campus on friday. Email Kathryn the cover letters before class tomorrow.

Gallery layout idea so far, I should come up with a logo also for the top left.

Screen Arts 28/7

Documentaries - Animated

Waltz with Bashir(2008)

Ari Folman was the writer and David Polonsky was the art directer/illustrator. Folman was in the Israeli army during the 1982 Lebanon war and began interviewing men he served with to help fill in the gaps in his memory. He was already a documentary filmmaker before he began interviewing therapists, comrades and a tv reporter. He discovered that he had blocked out a Palestinian refugee slaughter by Christian Phalangist gunmen and the Israeli Defence forces did stop them. There was a protest of 400,000 people in Tel Aviv at the time. He decided to use animation for the documentary due to the fact it was using memories, hallucinations nightmares and dreams as source material. There was a total of 8 animators, 4 illustrators, 1 after effects artist and 1 editor used.

It took 4 years to make with a budget around $1.5mil and brought in $2.3 mil at the box office. There was no rotoscoping and Maya was used for specular turning points. The movie switches to real footage at the end to force home the point that it was based on real events.

Tower(2016)

This documentary by filmmakers Keith Maitland and Sarah Wilson covers the 1966 massacre at University of Texas, using animation to recreate the events due to not being able to get permission to film the actual locations. They began production in 2012, interviewing 20 survivors and first responders, narrowing this down to 8 to write the script. They found actors that looked like the survivors at the time of the massacre to act out the interviews. They created a basic film set in their backyard and then rotoscoped over the footage. Post production was used to add in the geographic features.

The actual filming occurred in 2-3day chunks over the span of a year then handed off to the 18 person animation team, who animated 12 frames per second over the next 18 months. There is 14mins of archival footage in the final film. The animators were given reference iPhone photos from the campus so they can match the backyard shot angles.

Drawing 27/7

More work on comic due in 2 weeks. Need to stop procrastinating and get it done instead of messing around with trying to get the render farm working.

Gaming 22/7

Preliminary game-flow chart

• Make a title
• Colour Party
• Who is the game for
• Ages 6 and up
• What is the game play style
• 3D, Round based colour matching game
• What is the goal(rewards/gratification)
• Saving your friends via unlocking each character using in-game points accumulated each round

- Logline: Chase the Rainbow, Stand Still to Survive

- Who are your main characters and what are their motivations(what do they want/need).

    The main character is Archie the fox. His friends have been captured by a wizard and taken away to the Rainbow Lands. Archie has to save them and bring them back home to the enchanted forest. Opening scene is the kidnapping and Archie discovering his friends are missing. The game begins with Archie in the enchanted forest facing the Rainbow portal and the first round begins when he steps through. When Archie fails to reach a safe colour, he falls into a vortex and is teleported back to the enchanted forest.

    

- What will stop them from achieving their goal and what makes this game compelling.

    The wizard has used his magic to set traps in the form of falling floors. Only one colour in each floor is safe so Archie must navigate his way past each trap by standing on the correct colour when the timer runs out. Each floor trap is slightly harder than the previous, with more colours to navigate. My hope is that the pick up/put down aspect of this game coupled with the bright cartoony graphics and increasing difficulty each round will make this game into a "just one more go" kind of game.

Research 22/7

Cover letter draft so far.

Dear Zoe 

I am writing to apply for an Internship at Runaway Play after I found your studio on the New Zealand Game Developers Association website.

I am a second year Bachelor of Screen Arts student at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill, with a focus on 3D Animation and Game Design for my degree.

As part of my final year, I am looking to achieve 100 hours of internship and I believe that Runaway Play would give me the industry experience that I am looking for. Runaway’s belief in avoiding the “crunch” workplace atmosphere and ethical approach to producing games that are not designed to be addictive, are ideals that I agree with strongly and would love to incorporate into my career as an Animator and Game Designer.

In the 10 years that I worked as a Shift Manager for Hell Pizza, I learnt how to collaborate in a team environment with a variety of personalities and problem solve issues as they arose, while providing top level customer satisfaction at any opportunity that I could. I believe my skills at motivating my co-workers and achieving performance targets while adapting to the ever-changing job requirements, would benefit your studio. A desire to up-skill and a passion for art lead me to return to study, where I have been gaining industry standard experience using the Adobe Suite and Unity. This involves the production of short animations and game levels all the way from concept to completion, within the set deadlines and specifications set out by my tutors, something that I feel would translate well into the studio workplace.

In support of my application I have attached a copy of my CV. It shows that I will bring important skills to the position, including:

• Experience with Unity, Maya and the Adobe Suite

• Communication and Responsibility 

I would enjoy having the opportunity to discuss my application with you and how I could use my skills to benefit Runaway Play. I am looking for a paid/unpaid internship and am flexible with my availability in 2021. 

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Becca 

I mostly just need to add CV skills and then I feel the base letter is sorted. Need to do some more research for the other two companies to personalise a copy for each of them.

Research 21/7

Assessment One, word docs, emailed to kathryn by 5pm 31 of july.

Need to keep adding skills to my linkedin profile, and find a third studio/workplace to write a cover letter to.

Screen Arts 21/7

Documentary Auteurs

Documentaries are films that re-tell Real Life events without changing the events or subjects for the camera. Selecting the topic, editing and sound are all classed as manipulations although how much of this is acceptable is still debatable. Documentaries were previously called "educationals", "actualities", "interest films" or "travel films" in the late 19th century. The term documentary is credited to John Grierson in 1926.

Objectivity vs Subjectivity

Nanook of the North(1922) is considered the first feature length documentary, following a year in the life of "Nanook", an inuit hunter. Filmmaker Robert J. Flaherty directed the inuit to pretend he knew nothing about modern times and to re-enact the traditional routines like hunting walrus with harpoons.

Dziga Vertov declared "cinema was poisonous and dying" and created the 1929 documentary Man with a Movie Camera.

Ken Burns is known for making historical, large miniseries docs that cover a single topic and creating a sense  of movement in still photographs by panning over and zooming in on the details. His style can come off stodgy and very stiff. He is a prolific documentary maker whose works include:

The West(1997)

The Civil War(1990)

Jazz(2001)

The Vietnam War(2017)

Michael Moore is known for making scathing/comic riffs on his subjects. He take son controversial topics, has a liberal political pov, and being a part of the story. He made Roger and Me in 1989 with a budget of $140,000, and it took in $7.7 million at the box office. It was only after news organisations questioned the documentary that he re-labeled it as a movie. He won the Best Documentary oscar in 2003 for Bowling for Columbine(2002). His documentary Fahrenheit 9/11(2004) cost $6mil to make, took in $222.4mil in the box office and examined President George Bush's response to the Twin Tower attacks in 2001. He was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature oscar for Sicko(2008).

Michael Apted is a film maker known for directing TV, movies and documentaries. Some works include Enigma(2001) and The World is Not Enough(1999).  In 1964 he filmed Seven Up! which examined the lives of 14 british children from various socio-economic classes. Every 7yrs he checks back in with them. He has made 9 episodes so far, and 63 Up was released in Jan 2019. They didnt anticipate a series so the subjects never signed contracts, which has meant over the years 2 participants have dropped out and 1 has died.

Gaming 15/7

One Pager

Moodboard: https://pin.it/2PZNEbn

Know your game

     - Make a title

    - who is the game for

    - what is the game play style

    - what is the goal(rewards/gratification)

Make your logline a punchy, 1-2 sentences that embody the essence of your game. Who are your main characters and what are their motivations(what do they want/need). What will stop them from achieving their goal and what makes this game compelling.

Game writer

    - concerned with the narrative of the game

    - will work with the lead designer

    - character motivation/powers/arc

    - creatures/enemies

    - storyboard

Use flow charts to map and organise the game flow.

draw.io for the flow chart.

Research 15/7

Homework

Before class next week, 3 business/organisations I plan to approach and research info about them.

- contact person

- what the company does and what you could do for them.

Rocketwerkz

jobs@rocketwerkz.com

- video games, help with concept art

Animation Research Ltd

vacancies@arl.co.nz

- 3D modelling, animation, Unity work

Runaway Play Games

Zoe Hobson

zoe@runawayplay.com

- animation, concept art

Screen Arts 14/7

Jane Campion film samples in Upstage

Top of the Lake

The Piano

An Angel at My Table

She certainly has almost a feminist approach to her characters, using brutish stereotypes for her male characters, and strong women leads.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/31/77/f83177ee48e5e054666c475282fa00ba.jpg

https://www.sidewalkfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Piano.jpeg

https://posteritati.com/posters/000/000/008/022/an-angel-at-my-table-md-web.jpg

Research 14/7

CV + completed linkedin profile

Finally added a profile pic, cover pic and the about section to my linkedin profile.

Drawing 13/7

Default comic lettering should be size 10 font, all caps.

Suggestions from Chris

- add a narrator to help tell the story ( david attenborough style?)

- take supermarket photos for the background/background reference

clock inspo for a "timelapse" panel. Love the way it spirals to show time passing.

3D Animation 10/7

Final post for this class this year. I am not happy with my final work, I didnt spend nearly enough time on it due to various reasons including my own poor time management, and not recognising I needed help earlier. At this stage I am just hoping to get enough to pass so that I can learn from my mistakes and improve on them for next year(providing I decide to/am able to carry on). Im sorry Rachel, I am as disappointed in myself as you are and I will try my best to not let you down in future classes.

Gaming 8/7

Character/Game idea

colour dropper - player has a set amount of time to pick a colour to stand on, all other colours drop out causing player to lose if they are not on the right one. Time to choose reduces as player survives longer.

    - they know the colour and have to find it or

    - colour picked is random(game is completely luck based)

birds eye view, mobile/tablet? tap and hold/drag to move. 1st round highlight the area the player needs to stand and the chosen colour. cutesy wee character - animal or chibi person, cartoony or painterly style and bright colours with soft edges.

Smart Goals

S - Specific - Do: set real numbers with real deadlines. Don't: Say "I want more visitors"

M - Measurable - Do: Make sure your goal is trackable. Don't: Hide behind buzzwords like "brand engagement" or "social influence."

A - Attainable - Do: Work towards a goal that is challenging but possible. Don't: Try to take over the world in one night.

R - Realistic - Do: Be honest with yourself, know what you are capable of. Don't: Forget any hurdles you may have to overcome.

T - Time-bound - Do: Give yourself a deadline. Don't: Keep pushing towards a goal you might hit "some day."

Research 8/7

Networking

- connecting with people

- building relationships with others in the industry

- getting your name out there

- finding the right people to get in touch with

- learning more about your craft

Where to network

- conventions

- conferences

- Armageddon

- Comic Con

- NZGDC 

- workshops

- E3

- career expos

- studying

- online

    - social media

    - discord

- work

- digital portfolio

-Timing - right place right time

- Something to give

- ask for advice

- build relationships through expertise

- got to invest the time to maintain relationships

- not always a direct contact that can be useful

Research 7/7

CV Formatting

1 - contact details(name, number, linkedin, email, website)

2 - academic history

3 - work/work experience (dates, company, skills)

4 - referees (last 2 jobs worth)

1. What is an internship?

• On-site work experience that is directly related to your identified career goals.

• The duration of the internship should be agreed upon in advance and is short-term e.g. 100 hours maximum.

• The emphasis of the internship is on gaining experience and learning to apply skills to a ‘real world’ industry environment which should include the guidance/oversight of a mentor or supervisor.

• Internships can be paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time.

2. Why complete an internship?

• Gain valuable insights into and experience of your chosen industry.

• Gain a competitive edge for your post art school job hunt.

• Opportunity to “test drive” a selected field and assess potential e.g. do you enjoy the work, hours, culture etc.

• Opportunity to apply skills and knowledge in ‘real world’ environment.

• Formation of valuable professional networks that may support your career aspirations in the future.

3. What do you want to do?

• Why do you want an internship?

• What do you hope to gain from the internship experience?

• What is the level of responsibility you are seeking and why?

• What daily duties would you like to be involved with?

• What skills do you have to offer?

• What personal attributes do you have to offer?

4. Where do you want to do your internship?

• The first step in deciding where or with whom you want to do your internship is researching the field.

• Identify and analyse a number of options.

• Decide if there is a match between the needs of the workplace and what you want to do.

• Investigate who hires interns.

• Network and talk to people who are connected to the field you are interested in.

5. Make contact with people.

• Contact businesses/organisations directly and ask whether they employ interns. Call, send an email, or write a letter.

• If a workplace does not have a formalised internship programme this does not mean you shouldn’t inquire about the potential to undertake one with them.

• Ensure you are prepared with all the information (e.g. your proposal) before you start contacting businesses/organisations so you are in a position to send this to them in a timely fashion.

• Don’t let rejection discourage you or take this personally. The workplace may simply not have a place for you at the time—ask whether they could keep your details on record and notify you if any opportunities become available.

6. What are you proposing?

• Your proposal might target a specific project you are aware of (from your research).

• Your proposal might target a particular position you are aware of (from your research).

• Be as specific as possible so that it is clear what you would like to do and what you have to offer.

• Target your proposal to address the specific opportunity you are seeking.

7. What to include:

• Your proposal should include a clear and concise description of what you offering and how the workplace will benefit.

• Discuss why you are the person to do this for the workplace concerned.

• Include dates of availability and whether you are seeking a part-time or full-time position.

• State whether you are seeking a paid or unpaid position.

• Your proposal should include a CV that details your strengths including academic qualifications/achievements, participation in groups/committees, research experience, work experience and how these experiences translate into skills you can offer the workplace.

8. Where to send your proposal and how to follow up

• You need to ensure your proposal reaches a person who has the power to employ you—so ensure you do your research prior to sending.

• Organisational maps, websites and other associated documentation can help you find the names of these people however if in doubt—ask.

• Follow up with a phone call or an email within a few days of the receipt of your proposal.

• Be persistent but not pushy!

• Thank the workplace for considering you even if they do not wish to employ you. Remember they may think of you again if another opportunity arises.

• Ask if they would be happy to receive another application/proposal from you at a later date.

Cover Letter formatting - Keep to one page

1 - Contact details

2 - Date

3 - Dear name of contact person

4 - Re: Job desc/job listing number/internship dept

5 - Introduction of yourself. 

        - currently a student studying in 2nd year towards a BSA in Gaming at SIT(dont use contractions in actual letter though)

6 - Why you are writing and why you want to work there. (do the research and personalise to their company)

7 - What you can offer the company. (outline relevant skills and experience with specific context)

        - attributes

8 - What you are looking for. (availability, areas of experience, paid/unpaid)

9 - Conclusion. ("CV and portfolio attached")

10 - Thank them for their time and consideration

11 - Yours Sincerely (or Yours Faithfully if you started with To Whom It May Concern, not appropriate in a cover letter)

Drawing 6/7

Self portrait for comic book - any style. After exporting I have noticed the face is out of proportion and needs fixing.

Screen Arts 7/7

Jane Campion(1954- )

One of Australasia's most acclaimed film-makers. She is known for her feminist themes with strong female leads, original visuals, non-linear editing and narrative ambiguity. Her film Peel(1982) won the Palme d'Or for best short film in the 1986 Cannes Film Festival. Her film covering Janet Frame's life, An Angel at My Table(1990) claimed second prize at the Venice Film Festival. The Piano(1993) won the Palme d'Or Best Original Screenplay Oscar and was nominated for the Best Director Oscar in 1994. Top of the Lake(2012) got her nominated for an Emmy for directing.

She was born in Wellington, studying Anthropology at Victoria University before travelling to Australia and Europe to complete a Diploma in Arts. She is the second women ever to be nominated for Best Director at the Oscars for The Piano. She is also the only woman to ever win the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Sofia Coppola(1971- )

She is a director, screenwriter and producer. She appeared in many of her father Francis Ford Coppola's movies as a child and studied Photography at the California Institute of Arts. She is known for her long takes, close-ups and languid camera movements, exploring themes of alienation and ennui, and being an outsider that critiques celebrity culture. 

Some films include:

    The Virgin Suicides(1999)

    Lost in Translation(2003)

    Marie Antoinette(2006)

    The Beguiled(2017)

She wrote the screenplay adaptation of The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides which won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture for Lost in Translation in 2004 and the Cannes Best Director Award for The Beguiled in 2017.