Film: Arachnophobia, 1990, Frank Marshall

Week 11 in the narrative project was marked by a lot of snow(that almost closed us inside the University) and a film that haunt my childhood. The film is Arachnophobia, and although I don't have a fear for spiders the toilet scene always marked my childhood in the creepiest of the ways. Enough of personal confessions for now.
Arachnophobia is a 1990's Comedy/ Sci-Fi film which was based on much earlier Sci-fi Insect films, however it did not scale them much bigger or made them hybrid with humans, it did indeed use them in the more uncanny form, just as they are but by the millions.

So the films commences when a expedition led by Doctor James Atherton ( Julian Sands), a specialist in insect wildlife,  to Venezuela in order to find new species of insects doesn't go quite the way it should. The photographer in the expedition is killed sneakily by a new species of terrifying and hostile spiders, which also embarks with the body back to a small town in California.
In this small town, a new-come family, who swaps the city life for a quiet rural life, does not find the place as quiet as they think. Firstly, the husband Dr. Ross Jenning, played by Jeff Daniels , before moving receives a job offer by Dr. Metcalf, to substitute him, however this same offer is later postponed, when Dr. Jennings is already settle in the small town.
On the way out of the meeting, Dr. Jennings meets Margaret, a neighbour,  and becomes her new doctor, advising her in her health life. However it also coincides with her death by the spider attack, and of other patients seen by Dr. Jennings. This makes Dr. Metcalf blame the young Dr. for what happened.
The last victim of the spider is Dr. Metcalf himself. though before he dies he gives the clue to solve this whole mystery, when he says that he was bitten by a spider.
Dr. Jennings determined to find what really happened to all the victims and their association with spider attacks, hire help by the Dr. Atherton to identify these species of spider, which poison is the most lethal ever seen.

Being a small town in America, everybody is there to help, from the Police Officer to the insect exterminator , played by the funny John Goodman. Jennings and Atherton's assistant
In order to resolve this problem they have to capture a specimen and study it. After the spider being caught, they study it and then they conclude where the spider nest will be, the place also coincides to where the Dr. Jennings lives with his family.
Hastily he goes to his house and save his family, Dr. Jennings is faced with an unusual scenario where thousands of spiders invade their house, they come from everywhere, from the ceiling from the floor from under the doors. Jennings, his family and the assistant run upstairs to the toiletand lock themselves in, and the Dr. is left behind. In an attempt to getaway of the house he tries to go through the front door, where hundreds of spider surveil the area.
Being an arachnophobe himself, he scarily tries to run but he falls from the first floor to the basement, there he has the final encounter with the queen spider who is solely guarding the eggs, as if with intelligence, the spider sneakily attacks him. he regains conscience and fights back. After experience something that he felt in his childhood with the spiders and led him to be an arachnophobe, he has the will to fight back with fire the spider and kill it alongside its eggs.
To finalise the film in a funny way, he is saved from the basement by the insect exterminator.

Arachnophobia is a film which marked my childhood in a creepy way, as it effectively puts her closer and closer to the insect world that always been there, despite how camouflage it may look. As mentioned before, he uses the same elements of the 1950's B-movie , an invasion by insects, however as different as it looks, it does not scale them or hybrid them, they remain the same and therefore create one of the most uncanny feelings.
With a rating of 85% on the review website Rotten Tomatoes, this film is reviewed by Erik Childress from the eFilmCritic.com, as 'The creepiest most entertaining insect invasion I've ever seen', indeed this film connects two opposite genre, Sci-Fi and Comedy, well, where the viewer will not be very scared but also will not particularly enjoy the experience.
The success in the film is driven by a good cast of actors, such as Jeff Daniels, as the arachnophobe Dr Jennings and the hilarious insect exterminator played by John Goodman; but also the use of adequate special effects to drive the narrative, such as the beautifully yet disturbing shot of the spider webs in the wooden house. Which create really suspenseful moments, where the viewer often is jumping on his seat.

Finally, a film really interesting to remember from my childhood, however this time it seemed more funny than ever before!

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Film: Mars Attacks!, 1996, Tim Burton

Last week, and part of week 10 of our narrative project, we watched quite different film, despite belonging to the same Sci-fi genre, it did not belong to the B-movies Golden Era, the 50's. the film of choice was Mars Attacks! a 1996 Sci-fi/ Action/ Comedy directed by Tim Burton and based on a 1950's trading card game.Although not being a b-movie, it is considered a pastiche to them, because not only is based on a 50's Trading Card Game, but also because it refers many times to them.

Mars Attacks!'s main story ( it consists in many small plots with a lot of characters) revolves around a martian invasion set to the planet earth. When these aliens firstly surround the planet with their millions of spaceships, the man in the power, the president of the United States of A, played by Jack Nicholson, is asked to make decision whether to attack the aliens or welcome them to our planet.
Convinced by the Scientist (Pierce Brosnam) that the martian come in peace, the president opts welcome these species, So the American forces set up a welcoming party to greet the martians. having a translator  they try to communicate to each other, and when seemed to go in the good way, something unexpected happens.
As one dove flies pass the Aliens, they kill it and just after they start to attack the humans just like an invasion. Being pressed by the military forces they fly away.
The president horrid with what happen, asks his scientist what happened, who replies that it may have been a misunderstanding, and insists to connect with the  martians again.
When invited to come down again the martians apply once again a little more of their cruel humour, by pretending that they come in peace and then destroy any possible living soul at the site.
In the second attack the scientist is kidnapped and and held as a experiment in a grotesque yet funny way.
The president not knowing what to do, search for a different solution, tired of being tricked he asks for the army's nuclear services help.  However, such a powerful missile does not have any effect on the martians, as they funnily, absorb it with a machine and give to their leader to smoke it.
Proven incapable to defend against the alien invasion the President of USA, finally quits and in a final face-off with the enemy confronts it and gives a touching speech. In which the alien responds with a tear. However this tear is nothing more than another dark humor joke, as the alien is about to seal the deal with the president, he uses one well-known joke of the fake hand, where the device with live of its own attacks the president and pierces him right in the stomach.
Due to what happened, earth is in the edge of being dominated by Martians,  though funnily enough at the last minute it is saved in a rather unusual way. When a young man tries to rescue his grandmother from home which has been invaded also by the aliens. She distracted by our music, hears the grandson, turns and the headphones, come out of the stereo. Giving the Aliens the chance also to listen maybe one of the most horrid songs of the 1950's. Not used to such exquisite sound aliens die with their brains bursted.
And to save the world the young man and his grandmother travel to the closest radio station and put the tune playing. And there it is the world is saved, not from the tune, but from the aliens.

Mars Attacks! is often bluntly criticized as not a really good film, for instance, Peter Stack from San Francisco Chronicle,  states that [In MarsAttacks] ' Hilarity never seemed so tedious', however Jeffrey Westhoff from Northwest Herald, disagrees by saying  that ' When the film's energy kicks in, though so does Burton's flair for black comedy', indeed, this film creates a pastiche of not only the 1950's Trading Card Games, but also of all the other Sci-fi Invasions genres that appeared before, by slightly twist it into a dark  comedy/ action film, full of gags.
In terms of set design, the highly budgeted sets with last of the technologies and the use of CG at its first steps into the world, really adds a lot to the film, cutting the costs of the overall production.
The array of stars starring in this film is immense, from Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Danny De Vito, and many others,  truly emphasizes the idea of high budgeted film with good acting, everything the 1950's b-movies and Sci-fi Films were not known for.
In terms of narrative, and according to Margaret A. McGurk from the Cincinnati Enquirer, '[Mars Attacks!] got attitude, goodness knows; it has stars by the fistful; and it certainly was made with technical skill. What it doesn't have is enough story to fill an hour and 46 minutes.' As McGurk explains this film as a lot of good technical achievements, however it does lack in consistent story-line, leaving the film with a good structure but a weak foundation. Where Burton, used several mini-plots in order to add more interest to the main plot, however he doesn't not succeed.

Truly, an enjoyable film, to understand the meanings of pastiche in cinema specially in the Sci-Fi Genre , and also to learn that a good film is mainly based on a good story-line, therefore a good script.

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Film: Them!, 1954, Gordon Douglas

As part of week 8 in our narrative project, We watched Them!, a 1950's American sci-fi/ horror film directed by Gordon Douglas, although not being considered a B-movie because of the expensive special effects, it is still a retro- film dealing with problems of that time.

Them! commences when a police patrol finds a girl wandering in the deserts of New Mexico, They decide to investigate, this leads them to a trailer van, where the girl's parents  disappeared and the trailer almost destroyed. With many belongings touched, but only sugar being taken the policemen look puzzled. After investigating the area the only clue of the crime they can find is a lone print which is sent to the FBI in Washignton.
The FBi also looking confused only can assign one man for the job , and he is the Dr. Medford (Edmund Gwenn) and his daughter and assistant Dr. Pat Medford (Joan Weldon). The doctor easily identifies the print as belonging to a type of desert ant.
In order to find out more about the case he travels to New Mexico, later he discovers that this same species of ants had been mutated due to being exposed to chemicals from the atomic bombs dropped in New Mexico, 9 years ago in 1945.
Knowing a lot about this species of ants, Dr. Medford with the help of Police Sgt. Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) , FBI Agent Robert Graham (James Arness), they are able to destroy the ants nest, however not in time to destroy two queen ants which are the true menace.
The two Queen Ants escape, one boards a ship and after killing all the crew, the ship is sunk and the ant dies. The other flies all the way to Los Angeles, where a father and his two children face them, the father is killed and the two children disappear.
In order to find if they are still alive Dr. Medford, Police Sgt. Peterson and Agent Robert Graham, with the support of the army, set a searching team to find the two children.
When the two boys are found, also the ants nest is found, and quickly destroyed, annihilating all the ants and saving the world from this menace.

Them! is a Sci-fi monster film, that firstly uses the atomic bomb subject to spread terror among the audience. Being used as the main cause for the mutation of the ants.
In terms of acting, being a 1950's film the acting was really convincing, and not spoiled by any cheesy moments of low-budget acting.
Not being a B-movie, the budget used in the film wasn't as low, so it helped to create astonishing set designs, completely destructible, and featuring outstanding props of the giant ants, which despite being seen as models, created a really convincing approach to the specimen.
The high budgeted special effects were amusing, creating big scale explosions flamethrower scenes, as well as compositing real live footage with the prop acting.

As Dave Kehr from the Chicago Reader wrote in his review, 'Decently budgeted and atmospheric, it's a sober accomplishment in a cycle that would quickly turn to self-parody.', indeed, the convicing acting, the wonderful set design and the high budgeted yet spectacular for that time special effects created a incredible atmosphere in the all film, and distinguishing the film Them!, from the later not so successful genre imitations that were yet to come.
 Them! is a delight of that time,  and as Dennis Schwartz from the Ozus' World Movie Reviews would state in his review 'One of the better sci-fi'ers to emerge from the 1950s', no only because it was decently budgeted, but also because it had a really interesting script, which ignite this type Sci-fi genre, and was target for many imitations.

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Film: Dracula, 1958, Terrence Fisher

Yesterday, we were shown a film, this time was another horror film, the Dracula, or also know as the Horror of Dracula, the 1958 hammer films remake directed by Terrence Fisher starring Christopher Lee, as the Count Dracula, and Peter Cushing, as the vampire slayer Van Helsing.

The 1958's Dracula plot evolves Johnathan Harker, a doctor who disguises himself, as a librarian and begins to work in Count Dracula's castle somewhere in Germany. Being welcomed by the host, Dracula ( Christopher Lee), Johnathan is faced by a strange situation a woman who lives in the same castle, runs hysterically into him asking him to help her.
Johnathan becomes skeptical about the Count and his house, this intensifies when on the following night the same woman insists him to help her, and sneakily tries to attack Johnathan's neck. This situation is interrupted by the Count himself, separating the both and attacking the woman, Johnathan's tried to defend her but in vain, as it is attacked by the Count, who is a supernatural and strong being.
The morning after, Johnathan wakes in the bedroom with two marks on his neck, knowing what his happening next, he writes in his diary his story and what he is going to do next, he will try to find Dracula and exterminate him. Running out of time before the transformation, he is only able to kill the woman, living the Dracula free to gather more victims.
After a few days, Johnatan's friend, Van Helsing goes to the same town looking after for his friend, however misteriously, he finds his diary leading to the castle of the so horrific monster.
There he finds his friend already transformed into a vampire, and to release his friend pains he kills him. Although, his friend was now resting in peace, many more victims were to fall to the hands of the Dracula. Van Helsing being an expert in Vamprirism, predicts some of the moves of the count, and after many chases traps him in his own castle, killing him by exposing him to the sunlight, a fatal method to exterminate vampires.

Not reading the book, i don't know if it actually follows through the story, however Alan mentioned that it mixes some characters from other vampire stories, The 1958 Dracula, is a British remake of the American 1931 Dracula featuring Bella Lugosi.
This film in terms of narrative, is quite interesting, as is one of those films that may have more than 3 acts, as it bears 2 stories firstly the arriving, killing and transformation of Johnatan Harker and the latter Van Helsing extermination of the Vampire Count. On one hand, it was interesting to watch so many acts in a film, one the other hand, proved to elongate our perception of the film, for a 1 hour and 20 mins film it seemed much longer.
As the acting is concerned, I do think Christopher Lee impersonation of the Great Count Dracula is amazing, not only he looks sinister but he also, seems of the perfect built and fits well on our visual interpretation of Dracula. Peter Cushing as Van Helsing was also of really high standard acting, and both motivated the audience to watch the film, however the rest of the acting seemed out of a B-movie, with really cheesy moments.

The set design, was outstanding, although in some scenes were visible that it was a studio, the decoration with its strong colours, cluttered design, made the set resemble one of the rooms in any German Bavaria Castle. The use of strong colours really brought an astonishing atmosphere to the all film.

The sound effects were slightly overused characteristic of the 1950's horror films, and sometimes distracting, however when used in the right place added to the whole film's atmosphere.

Finally, one of the scariest shots of this film, was the close-up of Christopher Lee's face, showing his bloodthirsty appetite one of the most iconic scenes in this film.

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Film: House of Wax, 1953, Andre De Toth

Another week in our narrative project, and the respective lecture. This time, as Alan mentioned we moved from the sci-fi films to experience horror B-Movies. So, we were shown the film, House of Wax, a 1953 horror film directed by Andre de Toth and starring a big name of horror acting, Vincent Price.

The film House of Wax tells the story of Prof. Henry Jarrod , hyper-realistic wax figures sculptor, which sees himself threatened by his partner for insurance money, when his partner starts a fire in the sculptor's studio to melt the wax figures, a fight takes place. After a few punches here and a few punches there, his partner succeeds in his mission leaving the sculptor unconscious and at risk of death, will he survive?
A few years later and coinciding with the time that finally the sculptor's partner is about to receive the insurance money, he is suspiciously killed and then thrown down the elevator, the partner's young girlfriend, Cathy, when she supposed to meet with him, she is shocked and returns home, at the home she is attacked and killed by the same serial killer. Cathy's friend, Sue finds her dead on the bed. However, the killer didn't go away and tries to attack Sue as well. She is able to run away from him and hide in his boyfriend's house Scott. But it doesn't finish here, as these two people were killed their bodies were also retrieved from the morgue by the strange killer, with a disfigured face.
After this happening, the long disappeared sculptor Prof. Henry Jarrod with the help of an investor, Sydney Wallace, open a newly-built wax museum featuring Jarrod's sculptures.
Although Prof. Jarrod was a brilliant sculptor, after the several burns in the fire, he is not able to sculpt, therefore he employs some assistants, firstly Igor, a mute and challenged yet strong man, and a ex-convict.
Later he also employs Sue's boyfriend Scott, a young talented sculptor, which can help Jarrod to create even more wax figures.
Sue and Scott visit the wax museum, where she shows an obsession to find resemblances of Cathy with one of the figurines, she goes to the police station to denounce the wax sculptor, though in vain.
Professor Jarrod when he employed Scott his first intentions were to possiblykidnap Sue and make a model of Marie Antoniette with her own body.
This plan works until a certain extent, when Scott realises that something is happening with her girlfriend, and attempts to save her, with the help of the police forces they find Professor Jarrod true appearance and his evil plan. and end it just in time.

This film is a landmark for horror films, because it marked a new era in the Horror cinema in a period of the remakes were being used and reused, it was so different to its script, using a more uncanny approach to horror.
In terms of lighting and colour in the film, as Jeffrey Anderson wrote on his review of the film, 'House of Wax is not particularly scary or suspenseful, but it is a lot of fun and effectively creates an atmosphere of dread using bright colors and shadows.'(Anderson: 1997), indeed the film is not as suspenseful as maybe films of that time, but yet it uses high contrast shadows to create an uneasy feeling, specially inside the wax museum when it is difficult to distinguish the figurines from real people.
One of the things that this film doesn't show is blood and gore, maybe because it was not censored in the cinema at that time, but as John Puccio stated for his review of the film in DVDtown.com, this film 'relies largely on atmosphere for its frights' (Puccio: 2003), House of wax is a blend of different creepy athmosphere, one instance we are presented with a empty foggy street, where the world is not awake to witness the pursuit of the serial killer and its prey, or on the other instance, we are inside the wax museum at night, silenced and scared by the stillness of the wax figurines.

The use of 3D, shows the advance of technology in film which has been neglected until very recently in cinema, however in this film the subtle use of it, with objetcs being thrown at the camera while fighting, or a more explicitly the use of the paddleball man advertising the opening of the Wax Museum, at the time may be a really efficient way to amuse the audience.

P.S: To watch a blue and magenta version of the 3D, Please click on the video and and use the youtube site. 
Overall, a really good film, full of nice athmospheric scenes and astonishing special effects, that despite being a remake of the 1933, The  Mistery of the Wax Museum, it took the horror cinema to a next level. being a atarget once again for remakes.

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Film: The Day the Earth Stood Still,1951 , Robert Wise

This week and part of the narrative lecture, we were shown classic Sci-fi movie, which is often considered a B-Movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still. This film is a Sci-fi Classic and considered one of best sci-fi's of all times. It was directed by Robert Wise and starred actors such as Michael Rennie as the Alien Klaatu and  Patrica Neal as Helen Benson.

The plot of the film starts when a so tranquil American society is invaded by an UFO of an alien race, this happening calls the attention of people, television, army and even the president. While in many films, this invasion is a hostile one, in this one, the only alien invader, Klaatu, assumes a friendly approach, by not only assume an human appearance, but actually to help the human race to evolve in a better. However, the stubborn humans associate Klaatu with an hostile invader and defend against his harmless device. In the same UFO, is Gort, a Robot which is programmed to destroy the all earth if Klaatu fails to transmit his message to the world.
Taken to observation in an hospital, Klaatu asks the scientist in service to help him transmit this important message to the all leaders of the World, though the scientist helps him, it just proves impossible as they would never seat at the same table. Klaatu worried about not being able to inform the world  manages to escape and blend himself with humans, to find a better way to give the information.
Wandering around in the night, he finds a pension to stay for a few days until he can find a better plan, in there he meets Helen Benson, and her son Bobby.
Bobby being a fanatic about sci-fi, and assuming that Klaatu is a FBI agent, draws interest in knowing him better. From time onwards, both of them become good friends. One one hand, Bobby gets fascianted by all the stories Klaatu as to tell, on the other hand, Klaatu is rewarded by asking bobby to show him a bit of the human world.
Meanwhile, Klaatu asks Bobby if he know who is the most intelligent person on the planet, where the kid replies that he knows Professor Jacob Barnhardt, where his mother works.
in order to achieve his mission Klaatu reaches Prof. Jacob and presents him with the part of the situation, after he asks the prof. to gather the most intelligent people of the planet.
Despite, the so well- planned plan does not go the way they want, where Klaatu after long time hidden his found again by the army and shot dead in the middle of the street. However, Helen Benson helps him to get his mission back on track, when she meets the Gort and says some magical words.
The robot itself, saves the alien and helps him to complete his mission, where at the end of the film,  Klaatu explains it is good that the human race is evolving and knowing new means of combustion, but if by any chance, these same means are used to endanger the other races sharing the Universe with humans, he has order to annihilate the planet Earth.

This film is considered one of the best of Sci-fi films of all time, because everything about is just great.
Although, critics often question if this film belongs to a b-movie type of film, the finesse of the graphics and the quality of the script show otherwise.
The plot is so preciously written that everything seems to be in place to engage the audience until the end, it uses well-known term in cinema language, the macguffin, as it doesnt reveal Klatuu's message until the end of the film, which just makes audience engage in the rest of sub-plots easily.
In terms of set design, this factor is often seen in many b-movies where the cheap set designs speak for the pictures, however I do think the in The Day the Earth Stood Still is not outdated at all, although not very expensive sets, they are not also any cardboard models of buildings.
The sound of design, was mastered perfectly to fit the picture, the use of the theremin, to create a spooky yet sci-fi sound and atmosphere to the film, is something to absorb and use in my narrative project.
The acting was really convicing, I shall say that Michael Rennie's version of the Alien was much better Keanu Reeves one in the recent remake, And I shall say that if I ever taught of an alien with an human look it would definitely look similar to him.

Overall, a astonishing film, and really useful to understand the cinema language used insci-fi films, something to take in consideration to my narrative project.

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Film: The Quartermass Xperiment, 1955, Val Guest

Last week and part of the narrative project lectures, we were shown a british b- movie, where by watching it we would be able to find the differences between the British and American versions of B-Movies.

The film shown was the Quatermass Xperiment, or the Creeping Unknown for the American audience, this film is a sci-horror British B-movie directed by Val Guest.

Quatermass Xperiment's plot starts when a a strange object is seen by a young couple, this object happens to be a Missile/ Spaceship sent by the Prof. Quatermass. Being aware of the strange happening Police and Fireman hurry to the landing site, to find that two members of the crew disappeared and the other is barely alive.

Taken to the hospital under supervision, this third member of the crew undergoes a state of metamorphosis transforming into a horrible monster, to satisfy his needs he starts to attack people and animals and retreats from the world, Inspector Lomax, the man in charge to find this monstrous thing, is not fortunate to find until they meet at the last part of the film.

Set in a really familiar place, the Westminster Abbey, the Alien monster is ready to scavenge again, however this time the inspector is ready to capture it.

After beating the monster, Prof. Quartermass realises that Aliens had evolved into superior being and have a different way of trying to capture the human race, however Quartermass is more than ready to carry on his experiment again.

As some people may know Quartermass Xperiment, at first, was a BBC Sci-fi series, that later became a film, and recently was remaked in 2005.

Quartermass Xperiment the first hammer film which set the beggining of British cinema in the realms of sci-fi and horror, has became a landmark in the same genre.

This reputation was earned by different factors, according to Kim Newman, a reviewer for Empire Magazine, 'The Quatermass Xperiment benefits from its documentary-style approach, menacing score, and some sterling performances.', indeed this film although being a low-budget film, has some really convincing acting, not only by the main actors, but principally by the muted survivor of the space rocket, who by not speaking gives shivers down your spine when looking at his poorly state, ho overtime will transform and that only in the last part of the film will reveal its true form.

In terms of set design, being a low-bugget film much is not to be expected, not a perfect use of lighting neither special effects is used, however, in my opinion, this film is successful make the audience of that time or even of today with an uneasy feel and chilling feeling.

Being a British film , many things it derived from its fellow American horror/ sci-fi style, one of them being the use of a different accent, the use of main landmarks to center and clearly in what place this film is from. In terms of styles, british culture being different from American, the whole film has a meaning in his core, which such films like Frankenstein, or Elephant

equally bear. In Quartermass Xperiment and for my whole surprise , is the first time I see a Scientist/ Professor as the villain, as the monster who will sacrifice people for his own studies and where the sacrificed crew members, have no choice to turn into aliens.

Also, I found the last part of the film really intriguing, although the perfect setting for a sequel, I found how cruel a human being can be when the only thing he is thinking is his pride.

This type of ending from that time ownwards, has turned into an cinema formula to create sequels.

Overall an enjoyable film, and really useful particularly for my narrative project, in which British b-movies are being used as main reference.

Watching the trailer now, I realised how cheesy and underdeveloped it looks, surely to take in account for our animation.

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DVD: Gnomon Workshop: James Hawkins

 

Yesterday, while doing my maya tutorials, I decided to switch on a Gnomon Workshop DVD, to inspire me when doing my own little work.

The choice of the day was the James Hawkins DVD, where he shows his process when doing character design. I found fascinating the overall process.

 

For someone who doesn't know, James Hawkins has been in the Concept Art industry for over 8 years, specialising in characters, weaponry, and veihcle design for many companies.

His process starts with Photoshop, where he sketches out ideas quickly, by using photoshop he alters the sketch over and over again in different layers and when satisfied with the outcome he merges the layer. this technique never occured me but I'm willing to try, as it is a easier way to come up with different variations of the same sketch.

In the DVD, it also shows him struggling with the design, frustated with small bits, etc, which relates to any concept artist. When having a good sillhoutteted character, he sends to his art director, who points out any changes or not.

When the overall design is correct, he begins to add details and more details into the sketch, I found that he is crazy about detail, and that only favours his designs making them unique.

When a few hours of details are done, he uses a technique that he developed called "dirty modelling", mentioning that he didn't have any course in architectural drawing, he uses 3DS Max to create the different views of the character by using the same technique, dirty modelling means blocking out the shapes not worrying about geometry, or memory comsumption by Max. Although this same models may not be used by the modellers in the companies, they help visualise the character much better.

After a few hours of modelling, adding details, and adding spikes :), 'because spikes are cool'. he has the model pretty much in a final stage, after it takes a few renders, sends them back into photoshop, and starts to add even more detail on the renders, until he gets to a final stage, where he is happy with the drawing/model.

This seems a pretty straightforward tutorial, but what blew me away, is as he explains all the technical tools he uses either in photoshop and 3DS Max, he also gives an insight about his career, and how difficult can be to enter a company, he mentions how to start to publish your work either in Concept Art or CG Communiy forums, the importance of making contacts and how to develop your own style.


Truly a insightful DVD, which will inspire and open people's eyes about the industry out there, echoing what Alan is often saying to us.

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Comic: Bad Kids Go to Hell, Matthew Spradlin & Barry Wernick

Firstly, I would like to thank Matthew Spradlin and Barry Wernick for giving us this comic and also Tutor Alan, who carried all the way from America.

Being a long time since I read a comic book, I was excited to read this one. The plot is set in a newly-built library, where detention students from Crestview college are sent to spend a week of the detention period. These students are Megan, Tarek, Craig, Tricia, Veronica and the later arrival Matt, all students sent by Dr. Day to spent their weekend inside the library doing research work.
Dr. Day seem really straightforward at first, but with the time we realise that Day knows the students from Crestview very well and he knows their psychological problems that could lead them to kill each other.
According to Veronica, a Goth-like girl, the library where they stand was built in the same site, where once a native american called Rainwater, fought for his land and home. This struggle was later stopped when the power of money threw him out of his land. Veronica also mentions that the people behind this, were the parents of the students closed in that library.
Being aware of the story, the students begin to experience strange happennings, So they decide to gather together in a circular table and and perform a spiritual session, when almost over something supernatural happens, a ghost appears in the room, scarying all of them. Megan suffering from athsma is left unconscious, and the other students look for her breathing pump. Unsuccessfully, they can't find it and she passes away.
This leaves the students thinking that the place is cursed and the ghost of Rainwater is causing all of that. Not wanting to be there anymore they try to escape the library, but with no success, everything is locked and with materials blocking the windows and doors. This once again, leads to thing that something supernatural is behind all of this.
A small window is the only way to go outside, though is quite small and only Tarek is able to fit in there, promising to find help from Dr. Day, he goes away.
However, things in the library start to get stranger and stranger, Craig, Veronica and Tricia find out that Matt is a ex-con. Craig is carrying a gun, and a lot of arguments arise.
Craig angry at being locked in that library, he goes in search of Rainwater's ghost, by the books, Matt's scares Craig and he falls down the stairs, and dies. Once again, this empahsizes that idea that a ghost is inside the premises.
Seeing that Tarek is taking a long time to return they attempt to escape somehow, this time a small on the glass roof of the main hall in library is their choice, Matt is able to climb up and reach the top, however, Tricia impantiently tries to climb and due to the excessive weght they both fall.
Tricia confesses that her father is the mainly responsible for the killing of Rainwater, and she puts an end to her misery with a nail gun.
At the same time, a ghost appears at the entrance door, Matt reaches for the nail gun and shots at him, Dr Day reveals himself from behind the supposed ghost,who happens to be Tarek with a flourescent gown on.
Dr.Day explains all the story and Veronica reveals her true indentity. The once polite Dr. Day happens to be also the brain of a scheme to judge non-obidient kids, for the price of money.
Finally, when Day though he could escape that situaion by blaming ex-con Matt for what happened, he receives Rainwater's Curse that he so long deserved.



As you can see, I just spoiled the all book on here, but I was so excited to write about it. I do think that the storyline is great, full of strange and scary moments, that will glue you to the book, and wanting for more and more. The idea of a story inside a story, Rainwater's curse and Dr. Day Master plane, is interesting, but sometimes confusing, nothing that reading it again won't solve. Although many comic books will tell what happens scene by scene, this one let's you think. The narrative is treated not as a comic book but more like a film, which not only relies on text but also small visual cues, opening the doors to suggestion.
One of the things, that I found strange was the prologue, was it either to emphasize the idea of a ghost story or to distract the reader for the possible twist in the end.
Mentioning the twist in the end, This story leads you to what you think you have seen before, the idea of a group of students in a cursed library who will die one by one and then the last solves the case and saves the day, however it doens't happen in this book, the twist showing that Dr. Day and Veronica are the people behind all of this, did catch me by surprise and it was a really turn around in terms of what you understood of the story.
I do think to fully understand this book, one has to read it at least twice, to spot some visual cues in the comic, and later associated them with story, because when looking again to the book I found, small things that at first escaped my eye, but that in the end were crucial to understand the story. For instance, the intimate moment between Veronica and Dr. Day, in the projector room, which lead to the intimacy in the end of the story.
Storywise I loved it, because I can actually relate it to me and my High School Days, when I had an interest for the supernatural and the macrabe.
Although, i didnt mentione before but I would like to thank Anthony Vargas and Chris Allen, for making the beautifully-crafted illustrations of the book, they are truly fascinating and really inspirational for a person like me interested in illustration and concept art, literally they were a crucial add-on to the story, helping to set up the environment and the happenings.

To sum up I really enjoyed to read the comic, as mentioned before, it glued my eyes to it, also it alerted my interest in this type of books rich in illustrations.

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Film: Ed Wood, 1994, Tim Burton

Recently, as part of the Narrative Project, We watched the film Ed Wood, directed by Tim Burton.
This film is a biographical film, showing the live of Ed Wood, a director labelled by Hollywood as one of the worst.

Ed Wood is a iconic director in the Golden Era of Hollywood Sci-fi, either for good reasons or bad.
According to the film, Wood started as a director for small low budget theatre plays, realising that theatre was leading nowhere, he decided to take a step further into the world of cinema. In the search for a studio where he could work as a director, he found a small one with a rather peculiar project. It was supposed to be a sex change film, really in the need of a job, Ed Wood was ready to even tell his darkest secrets to get this job. However, it didn't help.
One day, when crossing a funerary home, He spotted Bella Lugosi, a famous old film actor, known for films such as Dracula or The Invisible Ray, searching for a casket to accommodate his death.
That day was marked by the beginning of a really important friendship for both of them.
Firstly, knowing Bella Lugosi, helped Wood to get the job he earlier failed to achieve, being a director of the sex change film. In compensation, He made Lugosi feature in his film.
Having a really small budget for the film and only a limit of reels to use, Wood had to work efficiently fast. At first, the film title was changed to Glen and Glenda, Ed Wood ,himself, add to feature as the trans-gender protagonist Glen and Glenda, which did fit quite well with his little secret of liking to wear women clothes. Bella Lugosi despite his old age, was the scientist, and considered by Wood, “The God” in this film.
Unfortunately, with such a tight budget, and little time to record, the film didn't receive any good reviews. As can be seen, it didn't help Wood's starting career as a director.
Although, many bumps along the line, Ed Wood was able to direct more films, Such as the Bride of the Monster and Plan 9 from Outer Space.
This two films were characterized once again by the use of a micro-budget or almost none, which really complicated the production of the film, it even delayed many times the production of the film.
Though not everything was lost, Wood never lost his passion for creating feature films, to help him with his films he found a crew of actors who would be considered the actors ever featuring in his films, with such names as Bella Lugosi, Ted Johnson and Vampira.
His films being really low-budget, were consisted of poor storylines, cheap acting, and cheap visual and sound effects.
These factors didn't help Wood good reviews about his films, and to date is considered one of the worst directors in hollywood, however he continued to make films.

Burton's biographical film is told in a rather interesting way, instead of being populated with facts and dates, Ed Wood's life is portrayed in a funny way, with a lot of humourous scenes, catchphrase etc.
Burton's tells in depth how Wood started his career as a director and the struggles he had to face to be able to release his films, however, we don't know how accurate he really was.
Exposing someone's little secret is quite unique, unless it was made up for this film and only for entertainment purposes, though it fitted quite well with the humourous yet struggling life of Ed Wood.
In terms of acting, once again is proved that Johnny Depp is a multi-talented actor, who can easily absorb and live in the skin of the character, despite humourous, his acting was actually very believable.
Another high point of the film, was the use of the 1940/50s film layout, a black and white feature taken us back in time to that era. The actors playing in the film had a resembled with the real-life people, from Orson Welles to Bella Lugosi, or even Depp's Ed Wood.

Overall, a really enjoyable film, exploring the life of one of the most iconic characters in cinema, for all the wrong reasons.

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Documentary: Lost In La Mancha, 2002, Louis Pepe & Keith Fulton

As part of our narrative project, we were shown this documentary, an eye opener, which shows what happens when the administration of certain projects go all over the place.
This documentary focus on Terry Gilliam, and his project to make an adaptation of Cervantes' Don Quixote, into film. However, Don Quixote is considered the cursed project in Hollywood, first approached by the famous actor/ director Orson Welles.


Gilliam follows the same doomed trip that stopped Welles from making the film.
As the documentary starts, we are presented most of the jobs inside a film project, from administration, to design, acting, financing, producing, etc. But... and here is a big BUT... this whole project was undergoing one of the biggest problems when creating a film, the lack of funds. Thus, all the Production was running with less money than they actually should. On the top of that, the whole production was a disaster, no communication, no schedules, not even places to record.

On the top of that, the actors were missing to practice the script, the places found to record were outrageous, I suppose the only good thing was... the acting from the Giants.
When finally things were going less bad, and the pre-production was ready to get into recording with the actual actors, things go mad.

Firstly, the site for the first recording is a NATO air force base, so the place is often visited by unwelcome jets, to make matters worse, the main Actor Jean Rochefort, suffers an illness, and to add more insult to injury, most of the recording material is destroyed in a storm with floods.
After long time stopped and pondering if continue or not, Terry Gilliam receives the bad news that the investors for his project, are not investing anymore and no funds will be received, which leads to postpone the project.
In my opinion , Terry Gilliam may look the unluckiest man on the planet for having all those things happening to him, but I do believe that in the documentary is almost a cover-up to hide is shameful management.


A pre-production so badly ran by a poor management team and a stubborn Director is just asking for trouble. Gilliam knowing he was running on lower funds that expected should have found a Plan B for his project. i know this is not just a film for him is a passion, to be fighting over 10 years to create this film, but one should understand when things are not going the way as planned, when the budget is lower than expected, one should understand and cut on costs.
Finally, i have to say I was feeling sorry for Terry Gilliam, because is sad to see a man with a so concrete vision and passion is not able to succeed. I do think that Gilliam is becoming a Don Quixote himself.
The good/bad news is that Gilliam attempted to make this film happen again, and once again he was not successful.
The superstitious may say 3 is the right number, so maybe for Gilliam it will be.

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Film: The Fly, 1958, Kurt Neumann

On Monday, I had the chance to watch the original The Fly, a 1958, sci-fi film, directed by Kurt Neumann. As a 1950's sci-fi, B-movie as a lot of good retro aspects that I will be able to add to my narrative project.
As The Fly opens the homicide of Andre Delambre (David Hedison) a devoted scientist takes place, this act committed by his own wife, Helen Delambre (Patricia Owens), in the scientist's brother factory. Minutes after the happening and after being found by a factory worker. Helen phones desperately to her brother-in-law, Francois (Vincent Price), confessing her of her acts.
Helen being a lovely wife, and always true to her husband, makes Francois wonder if she has gone mad, So with the help of Inspector Charas ( Herbert Mashall), he is determined to find the answer of the strange crime.
Helen begins to act strangely when flies enter her room, which arises a lot of questions for Insp. Charas. After lying to Helen, Francois finally is presented with a true story of what really happened.


Although knowing that his brother was a scientist, Francois never imagined what projects his brother came up with, and when Helen explains Andre's experiment, Francois hardly believes.
Andre Melandre new invention implied teleporting objects. After a few faulty tries, Andre upgrades the machine and starts use the same newly discovered technology in animals and ultimately on himself. On the latter experiment, things goes wrong and Andre is morphed with a fly that was inside the machine. This also means that the fly morphed is genetically changed.
The only way to reverse the experiment is to find the different fly or annihilate Andre, before He gets uncontrollable.
A good case to say never play with science !

The fly is a sci-fi movie, which sits in a rather different universe. Although being a sci-fi movie , it is not populated for neither robots, nor machines, nor invasions or nor even aliens. On the other hand, it uses human science, a subject always alien to us, to produce a wrong experiment, an ultimately human mutation monster.
Being a 1950's B-movie, the film is populated with a lot of low budget acting, low budget sets, cheesy moments, although to that time I do believe it was a film that really create a sort of bad feeling, from the scene in the press, which just by imagining is painful to the scene with the spider, in which all the suspense is built for the last hit by Insp. Charas with the rock, is horrific from the faded help calling to the all look of the scene.
The acting, I do believe it was appropriated for that type of film, though many people may think is bad, I just believe that actors add to response to the script differently in those times.
The special effects alongside with the sound effects were really astonishing, the fly suit was just perfect, giving a really eerie feel to the spectator.
In my opinion, despite looking a bit outdated to this time, i do think this film was perfect for the time it was released and among others became belongs to a popular era in cinema history, the golden age for Sci-Fi- B-movies.

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Book: Imaginative Realism- How to Paint What Doesn't Exist, James Gurney

This a book is a guide for fantasy, concept and sci-fi artists, in how to paint surreal characters, a my new book acquisition. The book is divided by different sections, firstly a historic explanation how classic artists used fantasy characters in their work, followed with a example of different characters with useful tips, of buildings and vehicles, and also landscapes, mentioning perspective, eye-line to create depth. Also in the last section, it explores the way how to paint with traditional media, which can be carried to digital art.


For who doesnt know, James Gurney, the author of this book, is a renowned fantasy artist who already received 3 gold medals from the Spectrum Annual of Contemporary Fantastic Art, and also the author of the Dinotopia, a collection of books exploring the fantasy world of dinosaurs, books illustrated with well-crafted and beautiful paintings done by the same. Also, James Gurney is in the blog-sphere with one of the most informative blogs, with tips about panting, interesting information and funny articles , being 1 of the top ten Art blogs worldwide.


You can find his blog:

http://GurneyJourney.blogspot.com

I suggest everybody to follow him, as you will find useful information along the way.

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Threatre: Les Miserables

Yesterday, I took the day to go to the theatre, with the tickets to see Les Miserables offered as my leaving present from my job. After spending all day in London, the National Gallery was the main place I visited, to observe works of Da Vinci, Turner, Constable or Velasquez, which I'm never tired of. Truly inspiring!
Later, I made my way to the performance at the West End, Queen's Theatre. when I arrived I faced a completely different theatre from the Fortune's Theatre, Queen's theatre is much chicer and populated than the other. Luckily, no dressing code was asked :).

Les Miserables is a show based on the novel by Vitor Hugo with the same name. The Story evolves Jean Val-jean a convict, who broke his peril and escaped the authorities. Although he was considered a prisoner, a slave, he wanted to become a honest man. 10 years passed, and Jean Val-jean overcame the torments and became a honest man, however ghost from the past never left him, mainly Javert the inspector, who was in charge of the case, and val-jean's torment.
Val-jean, becoming the mayor of a town in France, was also and fair and respectable man, who owned a factory, taking poverty from the streets. After mistakely fired Fantine, a poor worker who had the burden to send money to the evil caretakers of her "bastard" daughter Cosette, the mayor redeems himself by helping Fantine, in her last moments, and to take care of her daughter. Meanwhile, Javert realises the lies and mysteries hidden in this strange mayor, and plans a trial to judge a supposed Jean val-Jean, a false one. Being the real one a fair man denounces himself. Javert satisfied attempts to catch him with no success.
Val-jean, as promised, goes to find Cosette and accept her as a daughter, and they escape to Paris.
Another 10 years have passed and once again Jean Val-jean is torment by his past, when again Javert goes after him discovering his new identity. At the same time, Cosette falls in love with Marius, a revolutionary student. Val-jean as his last duty tries to bring them both together, apart from all the misadventures along the way.



Based on the masterpiece by the great Romantic Victor Hugo, it is difficult to relate the story based on such grandeur. however, the musical running for 25th years, is one of the most acclaimed in London.
In opposition with the "Woman in Black" at the Fortune's Theatre, this musical is dressed with amazing and expensive sets, all mechanical, all fabulous, a beautiful well-crafted design. The acting in my opinion was amazing, Simon Bowman, playing as Jean Val-Jean, and Norm Lewis, as Javert were a great duo, showing the actual tension of the 2 characters. All the other characters, were extraordinary, producing an authentic experience in the show.


Being musical, live music was being played under the stage by a orchestra, I have to admit that the songs were all fabulous, and fitted perfectly, and never became tiring . All these factors adding to light effects and special effect, such as smoke, created one of the most atmospheric mis-en-scenes I have seen. For instance, in the 1st scene, the prisoners, embraced by an atmospheric smoke and light, or when the students' barricade falls and the leader Enjolras, played by Killian Donnelly falls with it,an astonishing mis-en-scene, compared to the Liberty Leading the People,1830 by Eugene Delacroix, beautifully presented. Finally, the show was presented with tragedy, drama, comedy, action, all in perfect proportions to appeal the public


Although, it was a different experience from the previous, I loved everything, and didnt realise that 3 hours went so fast. I have to say the only let down was the 5.50£, I played for a glass of red wine, but it was worth it. :)

I advise everybody to go to the theatre, especially to shows like this one or the Woman in Black.

Finally, many adaptions have been made to the big screen, the one I have watched recently was the 1998, with Liam Nesson and Geoffrey Rush. If you feel like watching, I warn you is different from the musical.

The trailer:

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