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Category Archives: News
Building 3D Jigsaws
On Wednesday 9th August 2011, three past students from the BTEC National Diploma in Media Production joined me to build two 3D jigsaws of Notre Dame and Capitol Hill. This video is a record of that even, documenting the process, and experimenting with timelapse photography using a Canon EOS 550D linked to a PC laptop to capture 1600 frames. All this a part of the development of the climatic scenes in the feature film ‘Monty’s Quest’.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aidan Carroll, Laura Fegan and Richard Ellison for their help in building the 3D jigsaws and shooting the documentary footage shown in the video.
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The Creation of a M113 Personnel Carrier in Blender 3D 2.58b
This video is a quick update report of a 3D model M113 Personnel Carrier I have built for several animated sequences in ‘Monty’s Quest’. At this point (Sunday 17th July 2011) there are still some 150 shots to produce in animation, so I may still be working on this project throughout the next academic year.
This model was produced in Blender 2.58b.
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Non-fiction books from Gullion Media
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Stripping It Back by Billy Dixon (Self-help/Non-fiction)
Billy Dixon has been described in the media as one of Europe’s leading authorities and commentators on personal projection, communication and team dynamics. He has advised national and international leaders and lists many well-known blue chip companies as his customers. Working extensively in the political, media, sports and corporate arenas has given Billy an insight into winning habits of successful people. It is this experience that Billy brings to all of his presentations. “If it doesn’t work I don’t include it” is his mantra. This practical approach has made Billy a very popular conference speaker where he has been described as inspirational, fun and informative. |
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The Beauty of Black & White Photography
Today was a struggle, almost every hour, but my eyes saw images to capture.
Today had it apprehensions, uncertainties and worries. One by one, I faced the tasks that required to be done. Not pleasant, as many were frustrations brought upon me from outside. One telephone call after another did not resolve the problems but speaking to others did give a better perspective and I felt calm.
Some financial burdens were being imposed that were not of my doing. At one point it felt like goodbyes were due, yet I felt reassured to not give up.
Ebay had proof fruitful last week by presenting a 32 year old camera that had a minor fault of running down its batteries overnight. The solution was to not keep the batteries in the camera and to only install them when the camera was to be used. This camera, a 35mm SLR film camera, was available for just £10. About 5% of its original cost.
So today, having found some extension tubes, I decided to go into the garden and go in close. The films was out-of-date by 5 years. I had loaded about 24 frames of film via a bulk loader. Captured a few images and then processed the film. Processing took 5 minutes in Ilfosol 3 developer, 1 minute in stop-wash, 8 minutes in fixer and then 20 minutes washing. After drying for about half-an-hour, I cut the film into four strips of 6 frames, then scanned them.
Then another phone call came that resolved the finances and as quickly as it had come, the burden was taken away once more. At least we pray.
I decided to ring home and received some more worrying news. Again consolation came from focusing on the images from the SLR camera.
These images in this article are those that I reworked in Photoshop Elements.
Sometimes it is just good to look at the world from a different perspective, to take the mind away from the problems of the world. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
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Tagged 35mm slr, black and white photography, Minolta XD-7, photography
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Panasonic-Camcorder AG-3DA1 and AG-AF100
When it came to produce Monty’s Quest, Canon had just brought out the Canon EOS 500D which gave shallow depth of field due to having a larger chip. The only downside was that that camera only recorded 20 frames per second (fps) instead of 25fps. However, we shot about 60 minutes worth of the finished film using the 500D during the summer of 2009.
A year later Canon released the EOS 550D which extended the camera’s capabilities to include 25fps and manual controls for shutter and f-stop in movie mode. This enabled us to capture images a full 1080p at 25fps for the new material shot in the Summer of 2010.
Panasonic had already released a superb digital stills camera in the form of the Lumix GH1 but the camera was beyond my own budget at the time of shooting Monty’s Quest. It is interesting to now see that Panasonic have gone that extra mile to produce video cameras with all the regular features one would expect on a professional camcorder but now with the inclusion of a 4/3 CMOS chip.
The future of digital filmmaking is becoming more exciting. I look forward to my next digital feature film production and using a camera such as the Panasonic AG-AF 101.
For an excellent site for seeing these cameras in use visit Phillip Bloom‘s webpage.
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Sintel
1,860,580 viewers have seen Sintel, the 3D animation produced using Blender 3D 2.5. It is a great movies and really shows what can be produced in Open Source software. The Sintel Open Movie DVD box is worth getting for the addition tutorials and the actual scene in Blender format. This invaluable resource will be used to help develop Monty’s Quest to the next stage.
Enjoy Sintel and we will bring you more up-dates both with the way our film is moving forward and how this amazing 3D software is developing.
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Tagged 3D animation, Blender 3D 2.55, Sintel
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Sintel Documentary.
This is the newly released documentary by Blender Foundation, directed by Ali Boubred, covering the development and production of the new Blender 3D animation, Sintel. You can see how the project uses Blender 3D 2.5 Beta to produce this wonderful 17 minute production. The documentary lasts 58 minutes and 27 seconds.
Find out more by visiting the Blender Foundation and official Sintel websites. You should also download the latest version of Blender 2.55 Beta.
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Slieve Gullion recce for ‘Monty’s Quest’
Yesterday, I drove around Slieve Gullion scouting out for locations for ‘Monty’s Quest’. The above video is a collection of hand-held shots I took with both the Canon EOS 550D and the majority with the Canon IXUS 100 (the more wobbly of the collection).
The music is ‘Simulacrum’ by Project Divinty.
The film is in pre-production stage. I have met up with the crew and will be seeing the cast on Thursday to begin to firm up dates. All being well, we should have this years live action footage finished by 1st August.
Also, Ally McKenzie has been working away on the ‘Making of…’ documentary, so we hope to have something for you to watch fairly soon.
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‘Hidden’ arrives.
First prints of ‘Hidden’ arrive.
26th June 2010
It has been with some great expectation waiting for the first copies of ‘Hidden’ to arrive. There is great joy at seeing your new creation finally in your hands but also some niggling frustrations when everything is not quite as you want. Each first print has brought about the same wave of emotions both positive and negative. On this occasion, mostly the emotions were positive, though there are a few things I would still like changed, mostly minor. But this also gives me opportunities. One such, is the chance to get a final proof read done by another writer who has offered to look over my work. So I am looking forward to hearing her response.
Effectively, this means that there will be a further wait of a couple more weeks before ‘Hidden’ will be finally launched but I think the wait will be worth it.
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Donations for ‘Monty’s Quest’
Monty’s Quest Sample Scene 002 from George Kingsnorth on Vimeo.
We are looking for donations to help towards finishing the shoot this summer.
Hi Folks,
Above is a scene taken from the digital feature film, ‘Monty’s Quest’, we began filming last summer.
The film is an amateur production made up of contribution in time by students who have this year completed their BTEC National Diploma in Media Production. To complete the film, we plan to shoot again this year, between 26th – 31st July 2010, to generate a further 20 minutes of the story.
To be able to achieve this we require a further £700 to cover the cost of Employer’s Liability & Public Liability Insurance. Last year students and I found the funds through our own pocket. However, this year things are a little tighter, so we are would like to ask for donations to help towards raising the necessary funds.
If was can find 140 people who would be happy to donate £5 each then we will have met our target.
Alternatively, if we can find 100 people to donate £7 or 70 people to donate £10 we will also meet our target.
During the filming of ‘Monty’s Quest’ the students also shot a documentary of the production. Ally McKenzie and Erin Neary have graciously offer their time to edit the piece over the Summer. By donation £10 and e-mailing me you address, I will keep you up-to-date with how the film is progressing and will send you a copy of the film on DVD once it has been completed (we estimate sometime next year due to the amount of animation we have to produce).
If you are happy enough to donate £20 or more towards the project, we will also give you a credit at the end of the film, under the thanks to section.
All funds raised over and above our target of £700 we will donate to the Southern Area Hospice Service in Newry.
Monty’s Quest – Scene 25 from George Kingsnorth on Vimeo.
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