General Research

I wanted to do some general research into how body language can be used to betray information. Below are some examples of how the words to music have been turned into physical representations of words.




Above is a sketch from Lee Evans, he usually ends his live tours by acting out the words to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by queen. It is very entertaining to watch but also shows how certain gesturers can convey the message. (Also notice he does not just use his arms and legs, but his facial features help to tell the story.)

Similar to the Lee Evans sketch, the above video shows someone acting out out the words to the song "Torn". He conveys the messages from the words by only moving his body and changing his gesture. He then changes back to the original position between each part.

3D Animation Module

Back to University for the last term, I knew we had to undergo more 3D so was looking forward to seeing the brief. We have to essentially create an animated 3D Character video sequence, betraying emotions and feelings through the use of body language.

The video has to be 30 seconds long, a very short amount of time. Making it sound very simple but actually meant it would be more difficult. Ensuring enough emotions are betrayed in the space of time, that make sense and are understood by the viewer will prove to be difficult, but as always am ready to take on the challenge.

I started thinking about how emotions are betrayed with body language, such as using the hands and other body parts. Or even how simple movements of the face can show a persons feelings or what they are thinking at that time. I wanted to look in detail about how life is given to in animate objects e.g "Pixar's Lamp" Or how cartoons betray characters emotions.

After watching the videos shown in class, it was amazing to see how certain expressions mean totally different things to different cultures. Such as nodding the head and the well known "Thumbs Up".

I just hope that my 3D Skills we be able to let me create what will be imagined in my head, as I find 3d quite hard to work with. (As I specialise in 2D.) I must just make sure that research is done into the subject area I choose and all the small details are betrayed well within the end product.

Plan of Action for next week:

• Find/Record 3 videos of different types of body and facial language, (inspiration for creating our own versions.)
  
• Start experimenting with the "Biped" skeleton, to get a better understanding of how the to create body animation.