Adobe Illustrator: Logo and Bonus Gir

Life Drawing Session

Psycho Film Review

Psycho

1998

Alfred Hitchcock
Run Time: 109 minutes

 Figure 1: Movie poster

 A marvel in suspenseful film making, Hitchcock's Psycho is undoubtedly the beginning of the Slasher movie genre and a masterpiece of a movie. Thanks to its signature Hitchcock cinematography and direction as well as the unprecedented death of the Film's supposed main character early on in the feature.

Figure 2: Janet Leigh as Marion Crane

The poster girl of this movie, Janet Leigh, known as Marion Crane for this story, is set up to be the main protagonist of the story. However in a twist so surprising that even audiences didn't see it coming at the time. Hitchcock axes off his star so early in the film that you are left thinking what the remaining hour is going to be filled with. "After half a century of terror, Psycho is still ensuring that no one feels safe in the shower." (Kermode,2010)  With the death of the main character come's one of the most memorable and influential scenes in all of film history. The famous Shower scene. A scene on par with the Empire state scene in King Kong (1933). 

Figure 3: Shots from the "Shower" scene

This scene made up of 70 camera set ups, 78 pieces of film and no actual shots of the knife used to kill Crane ever piercing her flesh."Masterful suspense and horror from one of the greats"(Shaffer,2010). A restriction that most film makers now a days couldn't re create whilst also creating the huge amount of suspense that was achieved by Hitchcock, who at the time was limited to the levels of nude flesh that he can show on screen, a limitation that modern filmmakers also aren't limited by. 

The rest of the movie is a cat and mouse type situation with our chief suspect Norman Bates   trying to cover up the gruesome murders that follow and protecting his elusive yet somewhat controlling mother, who we never see until the end of the film, only hear her disjointed voice from the old house from which she resides.  Anthony Perkins plays Bates excellently, drawing us into the secluded, off nature of Normal Bates and his relationship with his Mother. Its this performance that makes the film gripping and thought provoking.  Forever wondering what is going through his mind as event's unfold, Ultimately ending in a twist, worthy of classic Shyamalan.

Figure 4: Norman Bates

"It blazed a bloody trail for the much-loved slasher cycle, but it also assured us that a B-movie could be A-grade in quality and innovation."(Jenkins,2010) While very similar to some of the early slasher films of the past 20 years, cheesy and cliche' in their plots and acting. Psycho surpasses the notion of B-movie slasher flicks and has become a critically acclaimed movie, and one of Hitchcock's best endeavors. 

Bibliography

Mark Kermode, The Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/22/psycho-horror-hitchcock, 22nd October,2010. Accessed 4th February 2015

R.L Shaffer, IGN,http://uk.ign.com/articles/2010/10/21/psycho-50th-anniversary-edition-blu-ray-review, October 21, 2010. Accessed 4th February 2015

David Jenkins, Time Out, http://www.timeout.com/london/film/psycho, March 30th 2010, Accessed 4th February 2015

Illustration's

Figure 1: Psycho Movie Poster http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psycho_(1960_film)

Figure 2: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2441516800/ch0003070

Figure 3: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=psycho+marion+crane&safe=off&espv=2&biw=944&bih=951&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=bTfiVMqNM5DraPy4gcgD&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#safe=off&tbm=isch&q=psycho+marion+crane+shower+scene&imgdii=_&imgrc=vWfcfGmuKkAj9M%253A%3Bw89qWukrLGdt2M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimstillakid.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F04%252Fpsycho_shower_scene_frames.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimstillakid.com%252F2014%252F02%252F09%252Fmaster-of-suspense-alfred-hitchcock%252F%3B600%3B333 

Figure 4: https://uk.tv.yahoo.com/bates-motel-end-differently-alfred-hitchcocks-psycho-180500001.html

Continued Research: Hookworm

Upon further research on the Hookworm, I am starting to find articles, demonstrating some of the more beneficial sides of being infected with a Hookworm. According to previous research the Hookworm can help to alleviate and even cure the symptoms of food allergies in the host, which could be incredibly helpful to people who suffer from these sorts of afflictions.

They have also been shown to cure or help with inflammatory bowel disease and Asthma. This is due to the worms saliva which changes the immune system of the hosts body, stopping it from overreacting to things that cause allergies.

“Surprisingly, hookworm infection is known to have a beneficial effect on health. Published studies have shown that hookworms can cure or alleviate allergies such as inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies and even asthma. The worms produce saliva that changes the immune system to stop your body overreacting to the things that cause allergies,” (Dr. James Logan)

http://www.medicaldaily.com/hookworms-may-reduce-celiac-disease-patients-gluten-intolerance-symptoms-305236

http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/18/doctor-infects-himself-with-parasites-for-health-experiment/

For people choosing to look at hookworm, I think these would be some useful links to look at.

Hookworm Basic Research+ Initial Ideas and Thoughts

Hookworm Research
Hookworms are a parasitic nematode (roundworm) that lives in the small intestine of its host whether that be human, cat, dog or any other mammal. There are a few different species of Hookworm that infect different hosts, or more specifically only infect one type of host, except for rare occurrences where they have infected an uncommon host.

Three species infect Humans:

• Ancylostoma Duodenale which is commonly found in the Middle east, North Africa, India and formally Southern Europe.
• Necator Americanus which is commonly found in the America's, Sub Saharan Africa, South east Asia, China and Indonesia.
• Stronyloides Stercoralis

Species that infect Cats:

• A. Braziliense
• A.Tubaeforme

Species that infect Dogs

• A.Caninum

A Caninum has infected humans in the past, with 150 cases reported in Australia from 1988-1992.

Hookworms live in the small intestine. Hookworm eggs are passed in the feces of an infected person. If the infected person defecates outside (near bushes, in a garden, or field) of if the feces of an infected person are used as fertilizer, eggs are deposited on soil. They can then mature and hatch, releasing larvae (immature worms). The larvae mature into a form that can penetrate the skin of humans. Hookworm infection is mainly acquired by walking barefoot on contaminated soil. One kind of hookworm can also be transmitted through the ingestion of larvae.

Most people infected with hookworms have no symptoms. Some have gastrointestinal symptoms, especially persons who are infected for the first time. The most serious effects of hookworm infection are blood loss leading to anemia, in addition to protein loss. Hookworm infections are treatable with medication prescribed by your health care provider.

he most serious effects of hookworm infection are the development of anemia and protein deficiency caused by blood loss at the site of the intestinal attachment of the adult worms. When children are continuously infected by many worms, the loss of iron and protein can retard growth and mental development.

Initial Ideas

Unlike Malaria I feel that this parasite could be taken down a more comedic route, as I don't feel that is is as dark a topic as the other things that we can choose. While the Hookworm is not a nice thing to have, it isnt going to be the end of the world if you are infected with one and it can be treated.

My initial thought for an animation based on this Parasite is a character based one. Where you follow the life of one worm as it grows and deals with its own life cycle. Informative narration mixed with funny imagery or just plain comedic.

If you have seen the video game: The Stanley Parable (Go and play it, it's amazing) I kind of want to have the narration be like that. Reacting to what the worm does during his life with some cynicism and comedy based lines thrown in. 

The Stanley Parable example 

Malaria basic Research + Initial thoughts

Malaria Research

Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes and is classed as a serious, fatal disease. If not detected and treated quickly it can be incredibly problematic and even fatal for the person infected. All it takes is a single mosquito bite to become infected.

Symptoms 

• High Temperature
• Sweats and Chills
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Muscle Pain
• Diarrhoea

These symptoms usual appear between seven and eighteen days after the initial infection but in some cases symptoms may not appear in the subject until a year or over. 

As stated in the video. Malaria is caused by a parasite known as plasmodium of which there are many different types, however only a handful cause malaria in Humans. Mainly spread by female (Anopheles) Mosquito's. It is also uncommonly spread through blood transfusions and sharing needles (drug use).

Plasmodium which causes Malaria

• Plasmodium falciparum – mainly found in Africa, it is the most common type of malaria parasite and is responsible for most malaria deaths worldwide.
• Plasmodium vivax – mainly found in Asia and South America. This parasite causes milder symptoms than Plasmodium falciparum, but it can stay in the liver for up to three years, which can result in relapses.
• Plasmodium ovale – fairly uncommon and usually found in West Africa. It can remain in your liver for several years without producing symptoms.
• Plasmodium malariae – this is quite rare and usually only found in Africa.
• Plasmodium knowlesi – this is very rare and found in parts of South East Asia.

Main risk Area's

• Large areas of Africa and Asia
• Central and South America
• Haiti and the Dominican Republic
• Parts of the Middle east
• Some Pacific Islands

Complications

• Severe Anemia: Red blood cells are unable to carry enough oxygen around the body, leading to weakness and exhaustion.
• Cerebral Anemia: (Rare) Small blood vessels leading to the brain can become blocked leading to seizures, brain damage and comas.

Malaria Facts

• Around 198 million cases of Malaria each year. (uncertainty range: 124-238 million)
• Estimated 584,000 Malaria Deaths
• 2013. 90% of worlds Malaria deaths occurred in Africa
• 430,000 children died before their 5th Birthday
• Mortality rates have fallen by 47% globally since 2000 due to increased prevention and control
• Parasite resistant to artemisinin, the core compound in WHO-recommended combination treatments for uncomplicated malaria, has been detected in 5 countries of south east Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 
• Pregnant women are more at risk

Initial Ideas

Looking at Malaria initially, I feel that it would need to be a more serious animation due to the intensity of the disease and the high levels of mortality that it holds. It could be possible to create a lighter vision from this topic but I wouldn't feel right portraying something like this in that way. 

For this disease I would probably go a lot more informative, so an animation targeted towards older students who are mainly looking for the facts behind the virus and not an animation that will make them laugh or have a lighter tone. 

Maya Tutorial: Walk Cycle's

FsTs:Animatic: No sound

FsTs: Storyboard's Complete

FsTs: Crit Presentation

Crit 20th

Animation Script Final

Pencil'd Character designs.

Extra Upload's: Character Sheets/ Rough StoryBoards

Here is a selection of thing's that needed to be uploaded earlier that I forgot to put up. Some rough character sheets and the pencil version of my storyboard.

Maya Tutorial: Camera Shake

Maya Tutorial: Tracking and Distance shot

Maya Tutorial: Crane Shot

Maya Tutorial: Anticipation and Follow Through: Can Snatch

OGR 2: From script to screen. Issues

I apologise for the late upload. There have been a few issues that I am working to overcome. The rest of my work will be uploaded later today. Sorry for the inconvenience

Update:After a long time of tinkering and we browsing. I have figured out why some of my work is being a pain to upload. Instead of converting to image files, they are becoming Text documents. Below the Original post will be a few images showing Another of my character's, a progress images of my concept art and a few panels from my storyboard. Once I have converted the other files back to Jpeg's I will upload them here as well.

Update 2: I have added the images and the thing I missed out into the OGR Presentation just to make it a bit more cohesive.

OGR 2

Script Draft/OGR

Animation Script

Character Design: Younger Brother

Final Character Design: Little Boy

As with the older sister, here are some facial design's for my younger brother character. The Final design will be coming soon.

Character Design: Final. Older sister

Character Designs: Older Sister

Here are some initial facial designs I came up with for my Older sister character. I wanted to go with a kind of cartoony style rather then my usual more realistic/slightly Japanese style art as I thought it would enhance the creepy nature of the story. 

The final style is much more western and over time I started to change the age of my character through slight tweaks in the facial details as you can probably see. 

I'm quite proud of these drawings and was able to create a full character from some of my more favorite designs. As you will see in the next post, so enjoy these designs guys. 

Animation Tutorial: Action and Overlap

This tutorial had us apply the same movement fundamentals from the previous two tutorials, only this time onto multiple items all connected.

We started with the first link, animating it exactly the same way we animated the pendulum. Leaving the object hanging in the air with every swing before it drops back down.

Once we had finished the animation on one of the links we just needed to copy the animation over to the over links and then stagger the animation on each one.

By staggering the animation on each one we get a more convincing range of movement.

As per usual, here is the final render. 

Animation Tutorial: Pendulum

The next tutorial we went through, was similar to the Bouncing Ball in terms of motion. With each swing of the pendulum getting slower and slower over the duration of it's movement.

At the peak of each swing the weight at the end, hangs in the air, creating a more believable movement.

Here we have the final render once again. 

Animation Tutorial 1: Bouncing ball: On the spot

The first Tutorial we had a look at was something a little familiar too us. A bouncing ball. These types of animation include more then just the basic movement animations, they also require squashing and stretching throughout the movement.

The following images show the process we went through to create the animation, focusing mainly on the graph panel on the left, you can see the way movements and tweaks can change the motion of the ball.

Here is the final render of the Bouncing ball.