The Movie Project

What I have chosen to focus on for my locus project is to showcase all my practical effects and movie props into a short movie

Title:

Sam and Ewan vs Everyone

Plot:

The plot is basically me and my friend Sam out of nowhere going insane and on a rampage, slaughtering our classmates in ridiculous gory fashion.

Practical Effects (in order):

Throat slit
Knife throw
Heart ripped out of the chest
Gunshot Wound
Neck Snap
Head Stomp
Eye Stab
Hole in the chest
Face Slash
Stunt Dummy
Gunshot to the head
Stunt Dummy (Again)

Production Process

First I’ll write a list of practical effects to use in the movie and then draw designs on how to build and pull them off.
Once all the effects are sorted out, I’ll draw a first draft storyboard of the whole movie and even time each scene based on how long I want the shot to last for.
I’ll conduct a series of tests on each effect, testing various materials and techniques, this is so I can be prepared for when we finally make the movie so we can know what to do at certain times
For each effects test, I’ll buy the right props and equipment for each test and even make a test video and each one will go to my youtube channel.
I and Sam will go round our group (or possibly around campus) and ask any friends or classmates to partake in the movie, mainly as a victim in the movie
To prepare each actor for the scene they’re partaking, I will sit down with each of them and go through what I want them to do, how they’re going to do it and walk through the procedure of the effects that are going to happen to them (if they’re playing a victim)
If necessary I and Sam will book filming equipment to use to help in our production and even ask classmates (not partaking as an actor) to help out behind the scenes
We’ll film each scene in the right order, except for the beginning which will be done last
After each shot, I and Sam will look over the footage and see if we’re satisfied
I will do the editing, put each scene in the right order and adding in the right sound effects
I will show the whole movie to the cast and crew
I will prepare for the final show by planning to premiere the movie in a dark room for people to watch and even make posters and trailers to advertise the movie
After people watch the movie, they’ll see all the props on display with screenshots from the movie

Cast and crew:

Sam Cottadiyil Issac (Himself and Co-director)

Ewan Gill (Himself, Co-director, writer, editor, FX artist, storyboard artist, producer, makeup artist)

Anonymous Camera operator

Victims (in order):

Megan Atkins (Throat slit Victim)

Caitlin Norman (Knife in the head Victim)

Emma Don (Heart rip Victim)

Helen Coulton (Gunshot Victim)

Alex Smithson Swain (Neck snap Victim)

Megan Evans (Head Stomp Victim)

Peter Korakakis (Eye rip Victim)

Martha Tambini Cooper (Armchop Victim)

Emma Don (Hole in the chest Victim)

Abbie Evans (Face slash Victim)

Daniel Jones (Gunshot to the head Victim)

Actors (not victims)

Alis Joscelyne (photographer)

What is the movie supposed to be like?

It’s supposed to be violent, but with a more comedy theme with over the top effects, nonsensical action, and (if we’re lucky) intentionally bad acting.

I want it to be a movie thats supposed to be stupid and over the top, while it has a dark theme showing two students mindlessly killing people, I don’t want people feeling disturbed watching, I just want people to enjoy the silliness of it and appreciate the practical effects and techniques I used for it.

A perfect source to compare this to, one with the same idea, a dark setup but a funnier delivery.

This video is titled “The Slap Part 2”

Glass Work Shop (26/2/19)

On the 26th of February, I started glass workshop

First I was given a tutorial on how to cut, sand, clean and glue the glass, once I was given the instructions I needed I started making my model, a glass hand.

First I drew out each piece in my notebook.

IMG_5632 2.JPG Next, I took the glass and drew the right measurements of each piece on the glass then using a glass cutter I cut out each piece and arranged them in the right order, next I took some thin wire, cut it and used it to create the details in the fingers and thumb and using glass glue to secure them, next I cut more pieces of glass identical to the original pieces and glued them on top, once they were fired in the kiln I was able to hook the fingers on the hand. I was happy with the end result.

The Hand

On the 29th of February, I started work on my silicone hand, first I had to measure the right quantities of water and alginate for the mold, next I had to create a container for my hand and alginate so I made one out of old milk cartons and it taped them together

next once the water and alginate were mixed up I poured the mix into the container then I placed my hand inside and waited for the alginate to dry, after 13 minutes I managed to pull my hand out of the mold, for the fake bones I found some old wooden sticks, snapped them, sanded them circularly, sprayed them white and stuck them together.

Next, I mix the silicone with red pigment until it turned pink, once it was ready I poured the silicone in the mold and made sure that there weren’t too many air bubbles, then I placed the bones in the correct place. After 24 hours I cut the container open and Tore off the alginate after cutting the excess silicone off the hand it was done, IMG_5634 2.JPG I was pretty happy with the end result.

Then on the 3rd of June, I began progress on a new and more realistic hand, to give it a better color I bought a silicone pigment in flesh tone, so then I did the same process as last time with the alginate, then when I mixed up the silicone with the new pigment and poured it into the mold and just like last time placed some “bones” inside, after 24 hours I took the hand out of the mold, this hand was shorter but I felt it was a huge improvement from the last one and looked freakishly realistic.

Dummy

On the 21st of February, I started construction on my stunt dummy as part of my locus project.

Shopping list:

A long sleeve black shirt
My old pajama pants
old socks
cheap rubber gloves
an old grocery bag
Old newspaper
A lot of duct tape

The torso

For the torso, I wore the black shirt and gloves and covered myself in duct tape as tightly as possible (except for the elbows), I also taped the gloves on. to remove the shirt I cut along the front then I taped up the semes.

The legs

For the legs I wore my old pajama pants and socks and covered them in duck tape with the socks attached (except for the knees) remove the pants I cut along the sides and I taped up the seams.

The head

For the head, I wore an old grocery bag on my head and tape around the forehead and chin and managed to pull it off.

Assembling the body

Once each body part was made I tipped at the seams filled with newspaper and Taped each section together, then dressed the dummy in my clothes

(Me and Dummy)

Aluminum Casting (12/2/19-13/3/19)

On the 12th of February, I started aluminum casting. First I was given a tutorial on how to create sand molds. Before casting I had to measure the object I was casting,(I cast both my polystyrene and foam-core poster board hands)

Next, I had to create borders to surround the object and hot glue them in place, next I had to create the sand, for this I had to mix 700g of silicate binder and 14kg of silica sand and mix them using a mixer, once I mixed it just right I poured the mix into a container,

Next, I started filling in the borders with sand, once it was completely covered I had to make sure the top was completely flat.

Next, I used a tank of co2 to make the sand solid and even poked holes in so it can surround the inside, then using a coin I carved in small circles on two edges to prepare for the next pieces, I also created a smaller sand mold, this one was for to pour the metal into, by building a smaller border and a plastic cup I was able to create a smaller mold to glue to the top

Next, I flipped the pieces onto the other side and covered them with sand and sprayed co2 on them, next I took both pieces, covered them in graphite and lit them on fire.

Next came the pouring to do this we had to heat up the aluminum and wait until it got to 1200 degrees, then I gently and quickly poured the metal into my molds and waited for them to cool down.

Finally, the day came for me to break the hands out of the molds by breaking apart the barriers and molds, I was pretty happy with the end result.

My Locus Project

On the 18th of February, I presented my locus project idea

My idea was to make fake body parts like in movies and tv shows, for the presentation I went over what kind of body parts I was going to make, what kind of materials I was going to use and what my contexts were.

The body parts I aimed at making were hands, feet, heads, D.I.Y fake blood etc and the materials I was planning of using were silicone, latex, ballistics gel, and clay and for molding materials, I was planning on using alginate, plaster, and latex.

The inspiration/ context for this project came from Leonardo Da Vincis’ anatomy drawings, the La Specola exhibition, and Back yard FX.

Leonardo Da Vinci’s Drawings

I chose Da Vinci’s drawings because, for some of the body parts I wanted to make, some wouldn’t rely on casting molds and instead be sculpted by hand, and I would use his diagrams as a reference.

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La Specola

I chose this because it inspired me to not make all of the body parts normal, I wanted to make various versions

Infected
Decaying
Muscle skin
Etc

Backyard FX

Backyard FX was a D.I.Y tutorial show on Youtube that focused on making Hollywood style effects, props and costumes for cheap prices, I chose this because I’ve always been interested in prop making especially horror related, so I feel this project will give me the chance to experiment with various materials for molding and crafting.

Heres a playlist of they’re old videoes:

Roland Barthes’ Toys

For this assignment, I’ve been tasked with writing up a reflection on Roland Barthes’ essay on ‘Toys’ and his views on them by paraphrasing his words, seeing if I agree with his analysis and finding evidence to support my own argument

What Are his views?

Barthes sees toys as being an obscure representation of adult life, meaning their sort of a representation of adult life, meaning their sort of a transition for children becoming adults, he says this is because of the set up scenarios (e.g Easy bake oven= Homemaker, Plastic doctors tools= Doctor, science equipment= Scientist, etc.) He even says that the child playing with the toy is seen as a user, not a creator.

He also states that most toys have readymade solutions that don’t fully strengthen they’re imagination and creativity (e.g a toy based on a movie already has its own set up and story and character name, A toy spaceship is just a toy spaceship and god knows what occupation Barbie has now, etc) unlike LEGO that does the exact opposite, sure they do sell construction sets with ready-made scenarios, instructions and even characters but that’s really just a suggestion some buy the sets for either the parts, the figures, they’re collections or just to build their own creations, LEGO is unique because its about taking a bunch of bricks given to us and making something new out of it. In fact when the creators of LEGO were selling theses set they became so popular they decided to just focus on the building bricks instead of they’re original wooden toys, that’s part of what Barthes is saying not many toys give kids motivation to expand their imagination there just filled with limitations, manufacturing limits and creative scenarios not made by the kids. The only limitation LEGO has is the imagination of the user.

My Argument

After reading his analysis on toys and reading his strong views on them, the question is “What do I think of his views?”

First off I wouldn’t necessarily say that certain toys would reflect a Childs future, thats not really how it works, no one knows what they want to be when they grow up. It takes time to learn, experience, make mistakes and take risks. The main purpose of toys is to entertain, meaning they’re not meant to be taken too seriously. Toys are just meant to be happy distractions so a kid doesn’t have to think about his/her future just yet.

I would also make another analogy on imagination restriction by comparing toys with ready-made solutions to nature

What I mean by this if a kid is given a type of action figure (e.g a superhero, a spaceman or transformer, etc) they’re creativity is mostly restricted, however if a kid is playing in a park or forest they’ll find imagination almost everywhere they’ll climb trees, play hide in seek they’ll even use a stick a sword, a wand or a gun, some kids might even find inspiration to make their own toys.

The point of this is nature can inspire more children than manufactured toys.

Conclusion

I’m not saying manufactured toys are completely limiting children’s imaginations, in fact, kids have lots of imagination even with these kinds of toys, I’m saying kids need to allow their minds to expand, to challenge their thinking and imagination and by doing that, they could create something amazing.

Reflection on Folklores II

For this week we were going to go further in re-writing objects, this included taking the narrative that is presented to us about an object, mapping it out to reveal ideological narratives and re-write the object with our own narratives found during our mapping.

First, the subject we talked about was “Absolut Vodka” and how it was advertised through mythologies and how people created satires to show what it was “really” doing to people. For the advertisements, they’d often set up either a simple or dramatic scenario and use part of the products name for a corny tagline. (e.g Absolut Perfection, Absolut Self-control, Absolut Idol, Absolut Power, etc)

For the next part of the lecture we focused on another object and it’s mythology and re-designed it. The object we focused on was “Washing Machines”, First we read through a few pages of Ellen Lupton’s Mechanical Brides: Women and machines from home to office, in this she wrote about various advertisements on washing machines and many other home appliances,

Next, we analyzed for the “Wizard” washing machine by looking at its own folklore and see what message they’re trying to say

Screen Shot 2019-02-13 at 22.07.48.png

We all came to the conclusion that this ad is an exaggeration because:

No one would really gather round in excitement over a washing machine
It says that it leaves you free to do other things but it could be referring to woman doing other kinds of chores
This ad was most likely aimed at the woman (due to the time period)
It’s hinting that the machine will

We also talked about Levittown, Levittown was a small suburb in New York, it had affordable houses, a carefully controlled community and every home came with a stove and a TV, however, it was an exclusive neighborhood for only Caucasian people to live in.

Finally, each of us had a task of creating our own washing machine AD with an alternate narrative. (we had a choice how we made it, I drew it) For me my set up was a 1950s kitchen with a woman under pressure washing the dishes while keeping an eye on a stopwatch, meanwhile various machines such as the washing machine, oven, and smoke alarms go off, while all this is happening her husband is outside lying on a hammock relaxing, also her son is standing behind her, pulling at her dress calling her name while she’s stressing.

Reflection

During this lecture, there were a few things I didn’t know about such as Levittown and how it was an “exclusive” neighborhood, I also didn’t know how exaggerating the washing machine ADs were mainly how exciting they made them look, like a big event.

The Pinhole Camera Project

On the 28th of January, I started working on the pinhole camera project, first I was given instructions on how pinhole cameras work, next I learned how to use the dark room with the chemicals and photographic paper.

Once I was given the instructions I and my team started thinking up ideas on how our camera would work, how small the pinhole would be and how long we were going to expose it to light. Once we made our camera we took it outside and took a picture of the science building, we tried 5 or 10 seconds

I also took some of my favourites pictures and decorated them, simply by drawing over them with tracing paper and using a light exposer to create a new image of both the original and drawing

(My Collage)

My Smart Light Idea

For my smart light my idea is for it to have multi purpose

Including:

Adjustable brightness

Automatic burglar lights

Multi colour flash notifications

(Eg green for text, blue for Facebook, red for email)

Inspiration for this idea comes from The smart light I found on Kick starter

The light has been tested for various conditions and was given positive feedback

Features include:

• Flash Light

• 3 Flash Light Modes (Flash, SOS, Quick Flash)

• Colour Changing Atmosphere Lamp

• Motion Sensor Enabled Night Light

• Bedside Lamp

• Magnetic Back Handsfree

• Emergency Light

• Waterproof Design

• Rechargeable Battery