Cam cuts to a close up of the mug and tracks it as Dan tilts it towards his mouth.

Cam cuts back to low angled long shot as Graham leaves the room to visit his friend, thus leaving Dan on his own.

Cam cuts to a long shot showing Dan walking down the hall from the kitchen to his room.

Cam cuts to a low angled shot from a 45 degree angle of Dan walking to his door. This then cuts to another low angled shot, this time head on, showing his door close behind him

Cam cuts to a low angled shot of Dan sat at his computer watching an optical illusion on his screen. He looks puzzled, eventually noticing his hand and staring at it.

Cam cuts to a POV shot from Dan’s perspective showing his hand moving infront of the optical illusion on the screen. The screen gradually appears more warped as if it is melting and the screen becomes increasingly brighter.

Cam cuts back to low shot of Dan as he tears himself away from the illusion and desperately leaves his room.

Cam cuts back to the long shot of Dan walking back down the hall but this time it is tilted, the hall is glowing with waves of strong reds and greens. Dan stumbles down the corridor looking as his hands and rubbing his face.

Cam cuts to a POV shot from Dan’s perspective of a third character (Peter) walking toward the camera. Peter asks Dan if he’s ok whilst staring into the lens of the camera. His face becomes warped and scares Dan.

Cam cuts to a long shot as Dan shoves Peter away from him and attempts to escape down the hall.

Cam cuts to mid shot of Peter expressing his concern over Dan yelling down the hall. Graham walks into the shot from the side and explains how he gave Dan soiled water and he is experiencing a Placebo.

Leader of the 1337 H4x02z, T3h M4n actually has little hacking knowledge, but for what he lacks in skill, he makes up in balls! He is the final say in the operation and will stop at nothing to fulfill his agenda.

Cameraman – Gu2u

Gu2u is the younger brother of T3h M4n, thus the only reason why he is a part of the operation. He is incompetent, not having a clue how to use technology. He does however know how to roll a joint like no other, which may explain his presence.

Doubter – Qu4nd2y

Qu4nd2y first started hacking at the age of 14. Now at the age of 20 his 6 years of internet hacking has made him an essential component to the 1337′s operation. Despite his experience in the field Qu4nd2y lacks the confidence that most internet hackers possess. This can be attributed to his sheltered upbringing, it’s a surprise Qu4nd2y ever became an internet hacker!

Maniac – P5ych01d

P5ych01d grew up outside of new york. His fear of his surroundings cause him to inflate his personality in an attempt to be accepted. This often fails with hilarious results.

Our first brief was to represent what a night out means to us personally using Adobe After Effects to convey our message. Over the period of brainstorming my initial ideas, I heard a lot of other people in my class exploring ideas of personifying alcohol as a beast or monster; showing the altering effects it can have on drinkers. I decided to try and push this idea further with the personification of a wider array of drugs, not just alcohol.
My initial idea was to show a character on a night out with everything shot from their point of view. This character acts as an outsider to drugs, therefore, the drugs he encounters are shown to have stereotypical appearances. The drugs would be people in the club named after the drug’s ‘street slang’ using names such as ‘Mandy’ for MDMA, ‘Billy’ for Amphetamines and ‘Lucy’ for LSD. They would each be personified in their own unique way, such as increasing the brightness and vibrancy of the scene for Mandy or adding hallucinogenic animations around Lucy.
However I decided not to follow this idea, instead making a piece that encompasses my current view on how the nightclub scene is an overhyped farce, designed and inflated to draw people’s hard earned money. My idea was to show a group of ‘normal’ young people finishing a shift and going straight from there to a nightclub. From the moment they enter the club money begins to drop from everyones pocket like coins in a video game. The characters order a drink and as this happens the scene transforms to show everyone acting drunk and inappropriate. The characters would then be shown leaving the club as bums; completely penniless!
I intended this piece to be created using photographs of my classmates, which I then extracted using Adobe Photoshop. I designed the backdrops as a series of faces in Photoshop which I then rotated across various axis to form a three dimensional effect.
Although I had planned for this I didn’t allow myself enough time to complete this piece therefore leaving it unfinished. This was unfortunate as I believe it was a decent concept and in future I would allow more time for development.

Another unit we began at the start of the course was the 3D animation unit. This was the most difficult for me as I had no prior experience with both the style of animation and the software we used. We were required to use Autodesk Maya to create our piece, a program I found to be tedious and confusing from the start due to its hierarchal structure. Due to this I decided to create something relatively simple so that I could gain a basic understanding of the procedures within Maya, without it seeming overwhelming. After a classmate demonstrated how to create a gravity field I decided to utilize this effect, using it to make a beer can fall and ricocheting off of various surfaces. For the can I created a cylinder and two ring shapes that I placed at the top and the bottom of the cylinder to create a can shape. I then used a series of extruded cubes to create the ring pull. With my shape ready I created a skin for my object using the ‘Stella Artois’ logo I found on the internet. The rest of the skin I had to draw myself based on pictures of stella cans. I then created and rotated a series of cylinders to act as abstract platforms for the can to bounce off and added gravity.
I was rather proud of the project even though the finished piece doesn’t look to impressive at all. I managed to make something with a program I knew nothing about and to the most part feared although on reflection 3D animation is not a path I wish to pursue.

Our third project for the first term was called ‘Principles of Sound and Video’ where we were asked to plan and shoot a viral video; a video designed primarily to be viewed on host sites such as Youtube. This was our first group project of the year. Our idea was to show a series of people playing instruments from their living rooms, in the same style that many people use on the internet when making a recording of their instruments. The people in the videos play different instrument but they all play riffs from the same song and the clips were recorded note for note. We then overlayed the recorded riffs to form the song in its entirety and cut the video in a way that it changed the person performing from note to note. This gave it an overall choppy style making the video seem more lively.
I was most impressed with how this project turned out especially considering the difficulties we had within the group and my own doubts as to weather the final piece would present itself correctly.

In the second term we were assigned another two projects. The first was Short Form Video, which is a film with a relatively short duration in comparison to feature length, lasting between 5 and 15 minutes. This was another project we undertook as a group. We were given a basic plot outline from our lecturer which was divided into 6 perspectives to be shot from. Each of our groups was assigned a perspective from this story, our perspective being the terrorists.
Initially hen we were told we were going to be terrorists we thought about being either muslim or irish terrorists as they are the stereotypes commonly known throughout our media today. However were decided not to conform to such a strong stereotype for various reasons from causing offense to unoriginality. In accordance to this we decided to base our characters on cyber terrorists and linked our story in the the recent efforts to extradite hacker Gary McKinnon to the united states.
We had planned to set our film in a basement and shoot it from the base room of the enterprise building but then we discovered that another group within our class required us to use Sopley Airbase as one of our shooting locations. So to adjust to this we shot our final scene there along with a blank scene of the base which we later green-screened into our other shots that we filmed in the base room, making it seem like it all takes place at Sopley (more or less).
One of the reasons I enjoyed this project the most is because I was able to write a script for it. It’s made me feel that script writing may be a path that I could pursue as I find it less stressful and an easier outlet for my creativity. As well as this the strict shooting schedule and array of equipment made this project feel more like a professional shoot, even if it did cause stress.
On the whole I feel like I am most proud of this project even if it is rather sketchy still, it shows the potential of what we could be creating.

Our last project which is still under development is the Post Production unit. For this unit we’ve been asked to use Adobe After Effects to composite images or effects over footage or animations. For this project I decided to continue with the idea I had for the ‘Lucy’ character from my night out project. I want to show a character who eats some mushrooms then watches the world distort around him. I plan to create an effect similar to a Kaleidoscope with bright light being accentuated as well as a faint soundtrack to further encompass the mood.

In conclusion I have learn many different techniques this year and many different methods of achieving things. I have learnt how to make primitive models within Maya but also learnt that Maya is not a program I wish to be using for the rest of my life. I have also learnt a lot about directing and controlling the team when on set. My mind has also ben opened to the possibilities that lie with Adobe After Effects including the creation of eye catching titles and fonts as well as constructing mock 3d sets. The final project has also made me more aware of how to string clips within a scene together seamlessly, from how poor and jumpy some of the scenes in our Short Form appeared.

(Word Count – 1511)

Leader and Camera man are the only terrorists present

Camera man sets up the camera whilst leader walks around the set, preparing the lighting/green screen

Leader talks to cameraman about the backgrounds of the other two members

Camera man and leader know each other well but have never met the other two in person, only on the internet

Leader receives a text and goes to let the doubter into the building

Doubter enters the scene, leader asks him how his trip was/whether he had any problems

Scene 2

Maniac is running late so leader explains the plot to the cameraman and the doubter.

Doubter is nervous, expressing his fear for what they are going to do

Leader expresses his view on the situation and how they won’t need to harm anyone, explains the urgency of their cause, to keep Gary McKinnon out of jail

Leader gets another text and goes to let the maniac in

Maniac enters the scene, very eager for action

Maniac talks like a pseudo terrorist, spouting anti-establishment babble

Maniac asks the leader who they are going to kidnap, then produces a gun saying ‘the establishment is going to shit when they see this’

Doubter expresses his point that a gun will get them all jailed or shot, and that their computers are the real weapons of today.

Leader overrules the doubter’s argument and claims that a gun is going to give them considerable leverage.

Leader demands that the doubter configure the web stream whilst the leader and the maniac go to kidnap Brian.

Scene 3

Terrorist video scene

Production values dramatically greater than previous scenes

Leader and maniac are shown standing, wearing balaclavas and sunglasses, holding a gun to Brian’s head, who is kneeling on the floor between the two terrorists

Leader makes a speech about Americas police state, using ancient methods of crime prevention to insight fear into its people AND the peoples of other countries.

Scene 4

Terrorists congratulate each other on a successful shoot and try to relax

The pressure of waiting for a response puts the terrorists on edge

The doubter starts to have a serious attack of conscience; his nervous stance makes the maniac step up to confront him, calling him a ‘pussy’

Brain sits on the floor wearing his blindfold still, looking frightened

Argument escalates until the leader breaks the two up and orders the cameraman to fetch a bag of cannabis in an attempt to calm the group and relieve the tension

Scene 5

Terrorists light up a spliff and begin to relax

The leader passes around some reassuring words and reminds the terrorists why it’s so important that they did what they did

The leader decides to untie Brian and allow him to join them, treating him as a person instead of a hostage, showing that the leader has compassion; the maniac suggests otherwise but is overruled

The terrorists soon dissolve into laughter, joking around like a bunch of friends, as does Brian

The leader talks to Brian and asks him what his opinion on the situation was

Brian claims that he agree with their motive, stating how he is sickened by how the American government has become so totalitarian.

Brian says that he doesn’t agree with their method and he doesn’t agree with terrorism but admits that he has been well treated since his kidnap.

Leader expresses his view that terrorists exist all across the world in different forms, for example the American government are terrorists for trying to imprison Gary McKinnon, using fear tactics to scare hackers.

Leader comments on Brian saying how he is a free thinker and how he’d make a good terrorist. The leader tells Brian to put a balaclava on and to do a joke shoot with him just to waste some time.

The police raid the building and shoot the terrorists and Brian

Dan Hume (Director/Cinematographer)
Graham Bowdery (Director/Writer)
Oliver Emmett (Writer/Camera Operator)
Jack Ashley (Boom Operator)
Kieran Ayles (Actor)
Will Bartlett (Actor)
Dan Sullivan (Actor)

Locations:

Base Room (Interior Location)
We decided that the Base room would make a suitable environment for the terrorists. We’re going to use very dramatic lighting at this location.

The Pier
This is the location where the terrorists abduct the lecturer. The lecturer will be waiting for this girl he is meant to meeting, underneath the pier. We will be shooting alongside with the lecture group at a late evening sort of time.

Sopley Air Softing (Exterior location)
This is the exterior location of where the terrorists are based. This is where the last scene will be filmed and when the police raid the location.

Actors:
- Kieran Ayles
- Will Bartlett
- Stefan McCall
- Dan Sullivan

Props/Clothing:
- Casual clothing – Sci-fi T-Shirts and Jeans
- 2 x Balaclavas
- 2 x Sunglasses
- 2 x Gun
- 1 x Blindfold
- 1 x Rope (for hand tying)
- 1 x Fake Bag Of Cannabis

Equipment
- 1 x Green Screen
- 4 x Redhead lights
- 1 x HD Video Camera
- 1 x HD Video Tape
- 1 x Boom Microphone
- 1 x Tripod

My initial idea was to show a variety of characters going through their daily routine, showing their thoughts and emotions through the use of thought bubbles over their heads. I also planned to convey their speech through the use of text which flows from their mouths.

However I have decided to change my idea to something which will allow me to try a greater variety of methods.
My idea is to show the perspective of someone who is experiencing a psychedelic trip. They shall be in an environment with a lot of people, some of them inspire positive emotions where as other will inspire negative.
I shall use effects such as trails, which follow the character’s hands and the liquify effect of which i have previously used whilst experimenting with Adobe After Effects.

This video demonstrates how the liquify tool can be used.

This link shows how director Terry Gillingham portrays psychedelic trips in the film Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.

I also plan to use my previous idea of animated text flowing from the characters mouths.

The start of this clip from Tenacious D’s The Pick Of Destiny demonstrates this idea.

Scene 2
(Terrorists are shown to be stressed and disorganised)
One of the characters is portrayed as the leader, ordering the other characters to clean up the place and to pull their act together. He also dispels the other character’s fears over what they’re about to do. One of the characters suggests the use of a gun arguing that they will have no leverage in their video without one. Another character argues that they do not need to use guns and that their computers are their weapons. The leader decides in the end that a gun is necessary if they are going to be feared.

Scene 3
(Terrorists show their video to the world making their demands)
The lead character talks whilst the other terrorists stand by his sides in silence. The hostage is kneeling down on the floor in front of them. The leader presses the gun to the hostage’s head as he delivers the closing lines of his speech. The background is a computer generated screen with a matrix-esq style. The centre of the screen displays the words ’1337 H4x02z’ meaning elite hackers.

Scene 4
(Terrorists wait for response, getting stressed out)
Terrorists become stressed with waiting and decide they need to take steps to keep themselves occupied and relax in order to relieve pressure. They send one of the characters to fetch their cannabis.

Scene 5
(Terrorists relax and talk to Brian, Brian put on their mask)
The terrorists sit in a circle and smoke their cannabis, eventually passing it to the hostage. The terrorists talk to the hostage and they agree on their goal, but the hostage does not agree with their methods. They soon dissolve into laughter, doing a mockery of terrorists, pretending to execute each other and wearing their masks.
One of the terrorist members will be deported to the states for computer hacking to access top confidential government information. They abduct the lecturer and hold hostage in order they can demand the release of their member.

Characters

Leader – T3hM4n
- Main terrorist character, keeps the group together, is the final say
- Has brought all the cyber terrorists together and has masterminded the scheme

Doubter – Qu4nd42y
- Doubts whether they are doing the right thing, always questioning the groups decisions/actions
- Under-confident
- Fears capture

Maniac – P5ych01d
- Believes the group will not have power unless they use a gun, the poser of the group
- Overconfident
- Feels he has something to prove

Camera Man – 6u2u
- Very little onsceen action, mostly portrayed as a voice
- Has technical knowledge of video production

The story shows a lecturer teaching his class about the dangers of mass surveillance whilst the police demonstrate the power of their surveillance equipment. The tv news shows the terrorist’s demands to release prisoners kept without trial under the anti terrorism act. The terrorists then abduct the lecturer in front of his own students and convince him that their cause is right, all this time the lecturer is keeping secret video logs on his phone. The police study the CCTV footage to try and identify the kidnappers. The lecturer believes in the terrorist’s cause but not in their methods. After debating with the terrorists for a while the lecturer begins to relax and joins the terrorists in wearing a mask. The police then raid the terrorist location and kill the lecturer, believing him to be a terrorist. The police then find the phone on the lecturer’s corpse, thus revealing his true identity.

We have decided not to conform to the stereotype of a middle eastern islamic terrorist as we believe this is too common, as well as the irish terrorist stereotype. Instead we are characterizing our terrorists as cyber-terrorists.

This page shows an overview on cyber terrorism.

This page shows the law concerning cyber terrorism.

These page provides information on cyber terrorist Gary McKinnon who faces extradition to the United States

This is a facebook page designed to generate support for Gary McKinnon

The aim for this project was to create a 3D animation to suit a sound of our choice, using Autodesk Maya.
For this I decided to create a beer can and record the sound of a metal can being dropped onto a desk.

To create the can I first created a cylinder object for the main body of the can. I then made a Torus object for the rim, both at the top and at the bottom of the can. I then used a series of extruded cubes to create a ring pull shape and smoothed the edges to give it a rounder shape. After this i grouped the objects together in order for it to act as a single object. For the skin I downloaded a picture of the Stella Artois logo and designed the rest of the skin based on a can. I had to refresh and adjust the skin several times before the location of the logo and font was correct.

Once i’d created my can I created a plane and rotated it onto a slant. I then created a group of cylinders to act to provide greater interaction with my can. I then assigned new materials for these shapes, using Lambert. Once my objects were created I created an active rigid body for my can and a passive rigid body for my obsticles and floor. I then created a gravity field, allowing for my can (active) to be affected by gravity and for it to bounce off my objects (passive).
I then aligned my camera and rendered my footage.

Once this was done I imported the video into Adobe Premiere. This didn’t work however as the file format was incompatable with Premiere and was displayed as a blank screen. I then changed the codec I was using for my Maya render several times to find one that would work but they were all displayed as a distorted image once imported into Premiere. I then noticed that I could re-encode the source footage using windows movie maker, at the expense of quality reduction. The .WMV format worked in Premiere without fault.

I then used a directional microphone to record the sounds of a can hitting a hard surface and truncated these sound clips within Premiere to correspond with the footage.
When this was done I exported the footage within Premiere with the Cinepack encoder to reduce file size, resulting in my final piece.

In my opinion this piece could have been longer with a lot more depth. However my limited knowledge of Maya restricted my creativity as I did not know fully how to convey my ideas within the program.