(work in progress kinetic type animation)

Hi blog. I missed you. How are you? I’m well.

Since last we spoke, fingers to keys to whatever goes on in your little computer brain (LIE! — new computer is a badass bohemoth of RAM, Graphics Cards and HD capacity), I have been busy.

I parted ways with the writing department momentarily. Over the summer I completed the last of my art history credits, took 2 other classes and worked 2 jobs and purchased aforementioned Mickey Rourke of a computer (The Wrestler version Rourke because, being a PC, it is ugly, and potentially virus-ridden, but does have muscle) for a cool $750. I payed out approximately a quarter of my soul to the corporate restaurant where I worked in order to pay for the damn contraption.  I broke up with my boyfriend, cried for a week straight, atoned for my sins and got back together.

I moved into a new apartment, one where the kitchen is not perpetually splattered with the remnants of my roommates’ carnalism. In the Fall I took 3 motion media studios. I way underestimated the magnitude of work that would come from 3 studio animation classes, but somehow I survived. And I have a lot of work to show for it. Take a look-see!

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This was for Concepts in Motion Media class. We were assigned groups of 4 that had to create a seamless animation conveying the 4 seasons. My section was Summer, and I chose to do a hand-drawn frame by frame animation capturing what I feel is the carefree essence of Summer. Basically, this animation is everything that my 2012 Summer wasn’t.

This was another Concepts in MOME project. We had to make a 15-sec network identity for our choice of channels. I chose IFC because I love their weirdness and I’d love to work for FGA (the company that does their branding). And I love Portlandia. And Arrested Development. And The Whitest Kids U Know. Thusly this animation was birthed.

For my final Concepts assignment, I had to create either an eHarmony commercial or a PSA for the Peace Corps, Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity or Red Cross. I chose the Peace Corps because I’ve always thought serving with them would be a life-changing opportunity. Though it’s not my favorite piece out of last quarter, it was probably one of the coolest ones to work on. All of the languages in this animation were recorded from my classmates. I feel very fortunate to be able to attend school with such a diverse student body, and I couldn’t have executed this project (without paying online voice actors) without them. Yes, that is my voice you hear at the end, and I cringe a little ever time I hear it… This was also my first time working with 3D objects in AfterEffects. A bit lame for the fact that I simply used the CC Sphere built-in plugin, and no real 3D modeling programs, but W/E. Emphatically.

Now this was fun. I put this off a lot to work on other things, but going to Tybee Island and the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium to the footage for this title sequence was nice. I went to Tybee and to the UGA Marine Center, which is way out by The Landings, by myself.  All in all an introspective and well-spent day. Sometimes it’s nice to do things independently, you know? I think that’s important. Being alone, doing things alone. Not all the time. If anyone wants to go back to the Aquarium with me though, do holler. It’s nice and cheap and the nature walk out back is beautiful.

Well, this was supposed to be an infographic. I’m not sure how informative it is to non-Monty-dwellers. Or to non-MOME students, for that matter. But doing some more comping and hand-drawn animation was great. It’s something I’d like to become excellent at. I have a long way to go…. This was a collaborative project with Sarah Beth Hulver, MOME junior extraordinaire. Go check out her work.

Lastly and MOST IMPORTANTLY, I ain’t gotta fuck with Ray Ray’s broke ass no more. Wait, no, that’s not right… MOST IMPORTANTLY, I’ve joined the writing staff of SAMT SENIT, a zine produced by a group of SCAD students focusing on the Millennial Generation. We met our fundraising goal and raised over $3k during the Winter break and now we’re having our launch party on the 19th from 6-9pm at DeSotoRow Gallery! PLEASE if you are an illustrator, writer, computer/web whizz or any other type of interested party, support us and if you want to get involved that’d be great.  I will be spamming my internet world up about this stuff from here on out.  Here are the links to SAMT STUFF:

SAMT SENIT web site
Twitter
Facebook
Partayyyy Event Page 

I’ll be updating this blog a lot more from now on, as my Writing & New Media grade depends upon it. In related news, I’ve become active on Twitter, which I never really understood until I got a smartphone (iPhone 5, yes, I’m a proud Apple parent and this Megatron PC I’m typing on is like my red-headed stepchild who does all my motion media dirty work) but now I’m up on the whole @ and # thing. Look for those symbols tattooed on — did I mention I got a new tattoo??!? — my body, probably my fingers, in the future. (No.)

As for my classes right now, I am taking Nonfiction Writing II, Writing & New Media, and Design for Motion. I’m pumped about all of these classes. Although from my understanding, Design for Motion will leave me limp, ragged and sagging from a weather-torn clothing line due to its heavy workload. Well, bring it on, Design for Motion! I got my spirit fingers and I never met a Photoshop assignment I didn’t like!!