Capstone Night Lessons

I will gladly post the audio of the interviews, but I think the lessons are more important:

I spoke with Kat McConnell. not once, but by chance twice. The one thing she would have changed was getting the “Martian Death Plague,” which caused her to have to do all the vocals over in November. I learned that there is always something that can be accounted for. Plan for the unforeseen. Her advice for me was 1. Do something I was passionate about, and 2. Plan how much everything will take then add time-and-a-half to the estimate. I should have started this three semesters ago apparently.

One of the most important lessons I think she learned is when to say the project is done and leave it alone. She said that if she had an extra month, she would sleep because this project is done.

The other people I talked to help me to refine the presentation part of the Capstone. I spoke with Antonio M. K. Singleton. His presentation was very smooth, and he was easy to talk to. He said that our group was the most interesting conversation he had so far. Nice.

I give Antonio credit because he has his own video business and is trying to create videos for the community. He has branding down pat. He started by telling us what programs he used. Lesson: Talk about the project, but don’t start with the tools. Evaluation: The titles in his video were impressive, but the videos themselves were less than impressive.

I’m impressed with the web projects: (Rachel Edwards, Joseph Fugate, and Lawrence Moore.) Webpages are where I think the technology is the forefront of the project, but even then, it isn’t. The layouts are beautiful, but the story of why and how it was done is the true experience. I especially enjoyed Lawrence Moore, who saw a need at Tibbs drive-through. It is a well-crafted project. One of the things he would have changed is he wanted to add a content management system so the theater could easily keep the site up to date.

I could go on there were many great projects. I was impressed with Joel Stein’s Surgery Center of Indianapolis video about plastic surgery and Garin Grist’s video Choices. I’m sad that I wasn’t able to see it in it’s entirety. Erica Gilbert’s Moving Art would fit right in with the photo restoration I’m doing. Her presentation was a tri-fold poster board. Too much information, but I think an interesting concept. She said that each of the images took her eight to ten hours. I can understand that. I think the lesson here is that there has to be a longer reaching purpose. Garin said that he would like to take his completed video to the prision at the beginning and maybe that would have allowed him more access in the prision.

I spoke at length with Tim Andrick. I think the process he went through creating a graphic novel and online material mirrors the process I’ll be going through in the near future. I haven’t had a chance to look over the material, but I do have some thoughts on his materials.

First, he was telling two stories to his Capstone audience. He was selling the concept that this was the beginning of a multiple-story arc he was creating with his illustrator friend. On the other hand he was also saying that he already had a job, so I got the impression that was just a story. I also look briefly at the website. Most of the creation materials were locked behind a membership request. I wanted to understand more about the process and that stopped me.

Long story short: I was there for two hours and didn’t see everything I needed to. I’m really not sure how anyone can do it with 30+ people presenting next semester.

---- Class Evaluation

Greg Stahlhut
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Capstone Prep- Capstone Night Blog


I will gladly post the audio of the interviews, but I think the lessons are more important:

I spoke with Kat McConnell. not once, but by chance twice. The one thing she would have changed was getting the “Martian Death Plague,” which caused her to have to do all the vocals over in November. I learned that there is always something that can be accounted for. Plan for the unforeseen. Her advice for me was 1. Do something I was passionate about, and 2. Plan how much everything will take then add time-and-a-half to the estimate. I should have started this three semesters ago apparently.

One of the most important lessons I think she learned is when to say the project is done and leave it alone. She said that if she had an extra month, she would sleep because this project is done.

The other people I talked to help me to refine the presentation part of the Capstone. I spoke with Antonio M. K. Singleton. His presentation was very smooth, and he was easy to talk to. He said that our group was the most interesting conversation he had so far. Nice.

I give Antonio credit because he has his own video business and is trying to create videos for the community. He has branding down pat. He started by telling us what programs he used. Lesson: Talk about the project, but don’t start with the tools. Evaluation: The titles in his video were impressive, but the videos themselves were less than impressive.

I’m impressed with the web projects: (Rachel Edwards, Joseph Fugate, and Lawrence Moore.) Webpages are where I think the technology is the forefront of the project, but even then, it isn’t. The layouts are beautiful, but the story of why and how it was done is the true experience. I especially enjoyed Lawrence Moore, who saw a need at Tibbs drive-through. It is a well-crafted project. One of the things he would have changed is he wanted to add a content management system so the theater could easily keep the site up to date.

I could go on there were many great projects. I was impressed with Joel Stein’s Surgery Center of Indianapolis video about plastic surgery and Garin Grist’s video Choices. I’m sad that I wasn’t able to see it in it’s entirety. Erica Gilbert’s Moving Art would fit right in with the photo restoration I’m doing. Her presentation was a tri-fold poster board. Too much information, but I think an interesting concept. She said that each of the images took her eight to ten hours. I can understand that. I think the lesson here is that there has to be a longer reaching purpose. Garin said that he would like to take his completed video to the prision at the beginning and maybe that would have allowed him more access in the prision.

I spoke at length with Tim Andrick. I think the process he went through creating a graphic novel and online material mirrors the process I’ll be going through in the near future. I haven’t had a chance to look over the material, but I do have some thoughts on his materials.

First, he was telling two stories to his Capstone audience. He was selling the concept that this was the beginning of a multiple-story arc he was creating with his illustrator friend. On the other hand he was also saying that he already had a job, so I got the impression that was just a story. I also look briefly at the website. Most of the creation materials were locked behind a membership request. I wanted to understand more about the process and that stopped me.

Long story short: I was there for two hours and didn’t see everything I needed to. I’m really not sure how anyone can do it with 30+ people presenting next semester.



1. Address the efficacy of the approach we took in this class.
I think the approach in the class was quite helpful. I was able to give suggestions to a few classmates and I appreciated the support of knowing that everyone was going through the same stressful process.

2. Discuss whether or not the breakdown of the project development was advantageous.
I appreciated the project development process. I felt I could participate in the discussions. The hands-on with my own project during class was non-existant. “Who else would like to timeline out their project. My Capstone at the time was not developed enough to exhibit for the class.

3. Discuss the advantages and/or disadvantages of the student guest speakers for forming your own approach to capstone.
Using student speakers was a double-edged sword. One the one hand, they were able to offer in depth the type of feedback on the process we experienced on Capstone Night. Here is what I did, and here is what I learned. That was helpful

The part that was hard was the time-table they suggested (I worked on this for two years,) did not apply to us, and in some cases just added to the fear of the unknown. I think the greatest thing they taught me was that this class needs to be offered in the Fall so the students had the Summer to develop a larger project. The class discussed an earlier course that would get students exposed to Capstone concepts earlier. I think student speakers would be great there to show the broad possible experiences of Capstones.

4. Were there any assignments that you thought were particularly helpful? Please elaborate.
The last half of the semester was very helpful for me to develop the project. I thought the blog was also helpful because I need something to get these ideas out of my head. It is a great “diary” of the project. I’m sure I couldn’t remember all of these details a semester from now.

5. Were there any assignments that you thought were particularly useless? Please elaborate.
The assignment that I was of little use to me was the mentor interviews. I knew who my mentor was. That was a great relief to me. I would have struggled to find a mentor because I would have had a half-formed project idea at the time.

Mentor Progress Report (I'm proud of her progress.)

It is time to submit a progress report on the status of your project. Each discussion point listed below is worth 10 points for a total of 50 points for the progress report. Please post answers to the following on your blog before the due date and upload the URL to that post here:
1. What concrete progress have you made on your capstone project since you submitted your proposal and timeline? Include specific examples; if possible post some examples to your blog.
I have created multiple drafts with feedback from Beth. It has really been a cyclical process. I have also created character drawings. Early on I fleshed out the artistic vision. Michael, a student has offered to do voice work for the characters
1. How many times have you been in contact with your mentor? Please list what you discussed.
I have met with Beth as many times as I can this semester (class-time.) Most of the discussions were
2. How has your timeline changed thus far? Discuss what has changed and why you changed it.
A timeline for the next semester, and a manageable Winter Break to make sure that progress is made in small milestones.
3. What do you still need to complete in preparation for the beginning of your N499 course? Identify key aspects of the project that need to be taken care of before your official capstone starts.
1. Voice-overs need to be recorded
2. Visuals
a. Elements
i. Clouds
ii. Fire
iii. Water
iv. Falling Dirt (Grit)
v. Stars
vi. Moon
vii. Sun
b. Ending
i. Stars
ii. Birth of a Sun
iii. Change from blank sky and fog to sunlight and Moon/stars
iv. Celestial Dance
3. Foley Sound Effects
a. Ripple
i. Freezing Ice
ii. Drops
iii. Waves
b. Grit
i. Falling dirt
ii. Stone grinding on stone
c. Draft
i. Wind blowing
ii. Sonic boom
iii. Gentle breeze
d. Tree
i. Expanding wood (tree growth)
ii. Leaves rustling
iii. Wind through leaves
4. Music (work with Jacob Deon)
a. Composition
b. Mix with vocal recording
4. If there have been significant changes to your project since your proposal, please discuss them.
There have not been major changes to the project’s core structure. There has been a constant evolution. The next step is to focus on the visuals.

Character Ideas

Hey All,

I will get the links up to these images ASAP, but I wanted to get them out to you. These are all images found on the Internet. I did not create them.

A few notes:

I like how the water elemental looks and melds the water element as well as the character. The Wind characters are also good.

I think the non-human shape for the Earth character is good, but I would like a combination of dirt and stone rather than pure stone. The greenery would not exist for reasons in the story.

I am looking for ideas on how to portray Light and Dark (Void) Any suggestions?

I will try to get my own renderings for the actual stage costumes. I think I'm going to have to break out my crayons for that. :)

Project Development Issues

This is a multi-person project. I have my own time management issues. As of now I am on campus one day a week. As the time develops I will need to increase to other days to work with other people’s schedules.

I’m wondering how many levels of redundancy I should. On a project I had a person get sick so they weren’t able to join us. What do I do if one person doesn’t deliver? I will still need the piece of work for the project.

Since this is a dance production, I’m not sure if the school has the ability to present a live version of the show.

The skills needed for this project are: Foley, Sound/Music, Dancers, Choreographer, animators.

Multi-setup lighting.

Green Screen: I wosuld like to blend the performer with a virtual costume that shows the actual element. I think it would help the audience. See the character, which are not human, but showcase the purformers’ skills. Animators will be needed to create costumes and simple 3-D furniture. (a bench.)

Budget will be large for this project. At lease a few thousand dollars. If virtual costumes are not a viable option, budget will be needed for costumes. With virtual costumes a special green-screen outfit will be needed for motion capture.

Multiple schedules is my biggest issue. Finding a solid team is my next step.

Light and Dark Version 2 Draft 1

Greg Stahlhut

Version 1: Tuesday August 21, 2011

Version 2: Tuesday, September 9, 2011

Light and Dark

Characters:

Sol- Light

Void- Dark

Draft-Wind

Grit-Earth

Ripple-Water

The world is a monotone without many features. There is a gray moving fog that covers the ground and does slowly change colors of gray. There is a space for the characters to move and interact, but everything else is covered in layers (light and heavy) of the moving fog.

The sky is black with stars.

We see SOL arrive on a beam of light. He walks around enjoying what the world has to offer. After he has explored a little, he is met by DRAFT.

DRAFT is WIND, he must always be moving. If the WIND stops it dies.

DRAFT: Who are you?

SOL: I am a traveler, I have stopped here to rest for a moment if I may.

DRAFT: Traveler? I don’t think so, your not moving. I am a traveler, and I have traveled all over this world. I don’t have time to deal with you, I’ve got somewhere to be. Talk to my sister. She will love to talk to you. Maybe if she talks to you, she won’t talk to me so much.

SOL: Thank you.

DRAFT hears this, but ignores it because he is already moving away.

SOL travels a little further. RIPPLE “attacks” him by excitedly hugging him. This causes SOL to move backwards like a candle flame in the lightest breeze. He accepts the hug. RIPPLE has a bubbly personality.

RIPPLE: I can’t believe you’re here! Wow, you’re neat. Do you want me to show you around? OK. Here it is. Have you met anybody else yet?

SOL smiles, listens and lets her go on until she stops.

SOL: Yes I met someone, but he didn’t have time to give me his name.

RIPPLE: That would be DRAFT, he always has somewhere to go. I try to keep up, but he always moves faster then I can go. I try to keep up because don’t tell anyone, but his memory is really bad, and he is always getting lost. Not really a good thing for a “traveler” like him huh? I have a great memory, I could tell him exactly where to go, but I can’t keep up. Hey, do you want to see what I can do? Do you? OK watch this.

RIPPLE concentrates and part of her WATER becomes clear beautiful ice. She gets excited and looses control. The ice continues to travel turning into a white ice like on the surface of a lake in winter. RIPPLE panics. SOL takes her hand and give her enough HEAT to distract her from the ice, but not to melt what she has created. RIPPLE is struck speechless for a beat, then recovers. The enthusiasm has been tempered by awe.

RIPPLE: What was that? I call it ICE. Sometimes I can’t create it at all, but I can’t control it, as you can see. I’m sorry, I started out good, but look at this. I’m a mess. What did you just do?

SOL: I call it HEAT. I can’t remove the ice, but I can show you how. Feel your FLOW around the ICE? Make the ICE like the FLOW.

As RIPPLE relaxes, the ICE turns to water.

RIPPLE: Wow. I won’t do that again. It’s too dangerous.

SOL: The ICE was beautiful. Would you show me again?

RIPPLE: I don’t know if I should, but OK.

RIPPLE creates a beautiful flowing ICE SCULPURE in the form of a wave..

SOL: Thank you for sharing your gift. I feel I must give a gift in return.

SOL removes his traveling cloak, which is clear until Ripple puts it on.

SOL: This is my Cloak of Reflection, it has help me to see things better on my journey. When you are calm as you were when you released the ice, you might use it. You were able to remember what I showed you after seeing it only once. Practice with it, and it will show you and others many things.

RIPPLE: I’ll have to show it to Grit. Come on!

RIPPLE takes SOL’s hand and drags him at a fast pace to the next area. GRIT sits very still on a bench. GRIT is broad, solid, and powerful, He is a thinker who moves slowly, but with purpose. GRIT is molding shapes with the fog.

RIPPLE plops on the bench.

RIPPLE: Hey Grit! Look at my reflection!

GRIT loses his concentration. The forms collapse into fog.

GRIT: (sighs) Hello RIPPLE. Yes that is very beautiful.

RIPPLE: Thanks GRIT. My new friend SOL gave it to me. Isn’t that great!

GRIT notices SOL for the first time.

GRIT: Hello SOL. RIPPLE could you do your dance and sing your song. It always helps me to work.

RIPPLE. Sure!

RIPPLE moves to side where she becomes a pool. In the center she becomes a bubbling column of water. Her song is the sound of WATER. SOL sits on the bench next to GRIT and watches.. As Grit molds, after a beat he begins to talk slowly to SOL.

GRIT: I see you have met RIPPLE. She is sweet even if she and DRAFT move around way more than can be good for them. How can you see anything if you don’t stay still and look around?

SOL: I see.

GRIT: Do you? Take this piece I’m making. I work on it, knowing that when I stop focusing on it, it will fall into nothing.

SOL: How many times have you made this?

GRIT: It doesn’t matter. I just have to keep making, and maybe it will stay.

SOL: Thank you for sharing your gift. I feel I must give a gift in return.

SOL removes a seed.

SOL: This is the SEED of GROWTH. I have had it a long time, but I have traveled and I wasn’t able to give it the care it needed. I know you have the patience to help this seed grow into something beautiful. I warn you, the things the SEED creates do not last forever. Are you willing to wait until the GROWTH returns? It must be allowed to go at it’s own pace.

SOL offers the SEED. GRIT takes the SEED and places it inside himself. HIS immobile stone exterior softens to rich brown dirt. He places his hand on the form, it collapses, but a small green plant shoot can be seen. He lift his finger and turns away. He turns back and discovers that the shoot is still there.

GRIT: Thank you. I will use it well.

SOL: I know my friend.

DRAFT forcefully lands among the group, still floating and moving. He has destroyed the quiet of the meeting. RIPPLE returns to her regular form in surprise.

DRAFT: Why are you here? I see what you’re doing. Giving your “gifts.” My brother and sister like you because you tell them what they want to hear. I will not accept any gift from you. I don’t want you here! You call yourself a traveler? I challenge you to a race. If you loose you must leave.

RIPPLE and GRIT try to calm the situation, but DRAFT will not listen. The stand in defense of SOL and tell him he doesn’t have to accept.

SOL: I accept. I will wager my Orb of Orgin. The first one back here wins it.

SOL removes an orb which he places on the ground. It glows white.

DRAFT: The first one around the world then.

DRAFT and SOL rise into the fog. DRAFT’s wake creates a clear path for SOL. A few times DRAFT gests confused. He looks around and always see SOL behind him. DRAFT moves so fast that the world starts to spin. The RACE ends with DRAFT arriving back with RIPPLE and GRIT.

DRAFT: I knew it! I’m better than you!

SOL: You won the race. The ORB is a beacon. It will always reflect the light around it. Place it above your home and it will always shine as much as you need it to.

DRAFT: That means I win the Orb. You will tell me how to use it.

DRAFT takes the orb and places high in the sky. He returns to the group.

SOL: I must go now. Thank you all for sharing your gifts with me today. My gifts are small in comparison to your own. Please keep working on them. They are beautiful.

DRAFT leaves. The gray begins to darken.

RIPPLE: Oh, hi VOID. SOL, this is our sister VOID. She is really shy.

GRIT gets up.

RIPPLE: Oh right. We have to go home when it gets dark.

RIPPLE hugs SOL, longer this time because it is goodbye. GRIT offers his hand to SOL after the hug. They shake hands, GRIT holding both his hands on SOL’s hand. GRIT then offers his hand to RIPPLE and they walk into the darkening gray fog. SOL sits on the bench waiting.

SOL: Hello old friend.

We see VOID sit with SOL on the bench, Darkness and Light together. VOID never speaks, but communicates through body language.

SOL: I’m glad you led me here. It is a good place to end my journey. You have always been with me. When I awoke, you were there, and you never left. Thank you.

SOL: Everywhere I went I left my light

SOL indicates the stars

SOL: But now that I have found this place I wish I could help them grow.

VOID supportively cradles SOL as he talks. His light is getting smaller

SOL: I have one request dear friend, please put my light in a place where it can be of the most use.

VOID holds SOL until he is a very bright star. VOID carries the light to the sky. She makes a space for it. Then, she reaches out across SPACE and brings each of the lights to join SOL. The SUN ignights. The force throws all the stars back to their original positions. The shock tilts the world as it spins.

THE END

NOTES:

The end sequence should be similar to the ITunes visualizer with streaks of light and movement of stars.

Each of the characters are created by a clipping mask in the form of a human with the element filling the outline (water, earth, and wind.) The characters are both form and formless, as their element is. They are their element and it is what they do. DRAFT is the pure element of AIR, and he able to manipulate WIND to suit his needs. They have expressions that are reflected in element we see and their interactions with each other (RIPPLE will show moisture where she interacts with GRIT for examples)

The elments are represented by actual elements in the world. When RIPPLE is sad we will see rain on water, like her falling tears.

We do see a transparent form of a person with expression, but they do not distract the viewer. They are firm when they are needed, but fade into the background when not used.

Animation / Visual Inspiration

I have found that a monochromatic, or a carefully chosen limited color scheme can be very effective. It also allows any colors used to really pop out to the viewer.



Harry Potter- Deathly Hallows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YWpBiREKsg&feature=related


4 Elements Drawing
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufklVeMbi3j7w5YmAQoWe7fpjGl_0D8J8hxX5Kr3bPQVh2d-qSqPgXTmUXdxtRfRgQV8wOnAGatTF9cGeCwnJv4WffchGQi60Ecu7iWUThZUClEOgSnvDFPbddN5v4b7t8Cde8qXcouGK/s1600/4+elements.jpg

4 Elements Redux
http://www.dancekal.org/season/concerts/the-four-elements-redux

Lady in the Water Opening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH7r5ThIw5Y

Sand Drawing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIOsIbqpR5s&feature=relmfu

Chalk Animation
http://www.vimeo.com/4347460

Van gogh
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Starry_Night_Over_the_Rhone.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9O8ODzBxUfVESrP-hSoCO9EBLx6IRpnc2QhOXojHczCkxQwEbi4XuTzMYrRW72_kGOESdANcfXY3iXFBRVReK73Illv2PEOtX1yU5ZIbKAXMHv-SlCJNDf0QJkZmbX1-TsMrbw2GW5w/s1600/van+Gogh+Starry+Night.jpg

Artistic Direction 9-20-11

NOTE: The following are suggestions to get you thinking creatively. You might come up with something not mentioned here which is awesome. We will need to collaborate early in the process.

General Costume Notes:

The costumes should be easy to move in
Color and pattern suggestions should be incorporated in the costume

Create a “flair” that moves as the character moves. Ripple should have part of her costume ripples or moves in a water-like fashion as she moves etc.

Everything but the face (which will have makeup) should be covered. These are elemental forms, not people.

Sol Colors

Character Notes:
The wise one
The traveler
The voice of experience

Yellows- Light beams
Reds and Orange-Sunset/Fire
White- Light bulb

Musical Notes:
Instrument: Yet to be determined
Music Type: I see this will have subdued pieces of everyone’s themes. White light combines all colors.

Pattern: Sunburst
Lighting: Golden Hour

Ripple

Character Notes:
Has childlike wonder
Taks and acts without reservation
Very excitable
You can’t help but like her

Dark Blue-Water
Light Green-Lake Water
White-Ocean foam

Pattern: Wave
Pattern: Ripples
Pattern: Bubbles

Musical Notes:
Instrument:
Music Type: Light, upbeat, energetic

Art Types: Water Color
Brush Texture: Wavy (Starry Night-Van Gough)


Grit

Character Notes:
The deep thinker
Slow, deliberate
Loyal and caring of others


Dark Brown: Fertile Dirt
Light Brown: Tree Bark
Gray: Stone
Emerald Green: Plants

Pattern: Bark
Pattern Cracked Dry Earth
Pattern: Lizzard Skin texture

Art: Sand, wood
Brush Texture: Cracked

Music Notes:
Instruments:
Chello
Drums (experiment with type)
Music Type: Low, slow, strong, nonaggressive, like a heartbeat

Draft

Character Notes:
Very quick
Quick to judge
Quick to change

Light Blue: Sky
White-Clouds

Patterns: Swirls (tonadoes)
Pattern: Clouds

Musical Notes:
Instrument: Wind Instruments
Music Type: Quick, “Changing directions rapidly.”

Art: Airbrushed
Brush Type: Swirls like the cartoonish gust of air


Void

Character Notes:
The compassionate listener
Has no voice
Speaks through her actions

Black
Purple
Gray-Moonlight
Gold-Stars

Pattern: Stars

Music Notes:
Instruments: TBD
Music Type: A counterpoint to Sol’s theme
Music Type: Create a purposeful “void” in the music.

Art Type: Monochromatic black and white
Brush: Any

Mentor Questions

Here are some of the questions to consider if you or someone you know is interested in being part of this Capstone team:

1. What is your expertise? How do you think you could contribute to a
project like this?
2. What are your expectations of a Capstone student?
3. I understand your busy. What is your availability next semester as
a mentor?
4. Are there any project types you are not interested in working on?
5. Would you be willing to contribute to the project as a secondary
mentor? Are there any other mentors you can suggest for a project like
this?

If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me. My blog, where
all the information and development will be posted is:
http://n420gregsblog.blogspot.com/

Secondary Mentor

I believe that anyone who is not my primary mentor can be a secondary mentor. What is most important in a project of this scope is logistics. I will be putting up a timeline to make sure that every secondary mentor (or team) has the pieces they need to complete their area of the project.

Primary Mentor

State your capstone idea in 100 words or less.

My Capstone is a ballet dance piece with graphics also telling the story with multiple changing mediums (water color, sand, chalk, paint, glitter, etc,) for each character. The dance may be performed by one dancer using green-screen. Music will be composed to run thorough the program. Capstone night, part of the program will be performed live using dynamic (changing) lighting and costumes.

2. Identify and discuss 4 key components you are searching for in a mentor.

A. Compassionate- I work best with someone who understands me as a person as well as the project as a whole. I struggle in high-pressure situations that may be caused by stress.

B. Task-Oriented- I work better with many well-defined small tasks rather than general large tasks. I need a mentor to work with me to make sure I’m where I need to be in the project timeline as well as the overall project.

C. Flexible- It helps me to have someone who is able to help with changes as the project matures and grows over time. The idea at the beginning is rarely the finished Capstone.

D. Collaborative- I need a mentor who is collaborative with me creatively, and also willing to collaborate with many well-placed associates both in the school and work-force. I know it takes a village to raise a Capstone

3. Identify 3 potential mentors from the MAS faculty you would like to approach to discuss your capstone. Make sure one of them is someone from whom you have never taken a class.

A. Beth Lykins: She seems to be an expert in divergent thinking. It is important to me that this Capstone combine many different media elements to create an interesting story-telling experience

B. Matt Powers: One of his specialties is narrative storytelling. Work on story development is never wasted.

C. Mark Pfaff: Music and foley will be very important to this project. I need someone who can help me to output a quality product in this area.

D. Susan Tennant: She taught me everything I know about lighting. Go to the source.

E. C. Thomas Lewis: Given his resume and some of the movies he’s created, his green screen experience might help avoid common mistakes that cost time later in the project.

Feedback

Hey all,

I've sent you via Oncourse a story draft. Feel free to comment below. If you are interested in being involved please comment what you would like to bring to the project as well.

All the Worlds a Stage

My Capstone is mixed media. I have created a story that as of now will be a performance piece with dancer(s), music, composite visuals, and more.

I will need a small army to be able to bring this to the level I think it needs to be at it's most effective including:

1. Choreographer / Dancer(s)
2. Lighting
3. Composer / Musicians
4. Foley audio / practical recording
5. Costume Designer
6. Image Compositor / Green Screen Compositor
7. Video Artists for Documentary / Recording of Practical elements
8. Voice artists

I have had training in all these areas thanks to the New Media program. I know the quality of my work in these areas and I would appreciate working with artists who live and love their respective areas and are interested in a collaborative process.

Class Discussion 8-30-11

Throughout the discussion about what all Capstones should be, I was struck by the wide range of personalities and personal styles in the class. This has become more evident after reading the Capstone Ideas from the blogs.

The discussions were good because I like that a lot of different views were expressed. Capstones as a whole should have the ability to express the entire range of students skill sets. One student might feel comfortable pushing themselves in a very off-the-wall way, while another student might feel comfortable pushing themselves in a very structured way. I think all the Capstone ideas have the potential to grow into something amazing with more breath and depth then the original idea without loss. The projects might be radically different, but each of the students might personally stretch themselves equally. I just hope that is reflected in the projects and appreciated by those who view the Capstones.

In terms of my own Capstone, the class discussion was an opportunity for inspiration, but I didn't feel any "ah ha" moments, which is perfectly normal and acceptable. The blog posts reminded me of some of my own long-held interests.

I'm not sure if I should use the inspiration from my fellow classmates to further my own ideas, or to join them in a joint project. At this point, I'm not sure which avenue I would be most passionate about.

Her Morning Elegance Video

One of my examples was a stop motion video.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_HXUhShhmY

Behind the Scenes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JKptYcQuKxc

What a Captone Should Have / Early Capstone Ideas

What is a Capstone?

I think a Capstone should show the student has thought about the subject matter in great depth and from many different angles. I think that the project should have a message, not something that is done “just because.”

The Capstone should be accessible to a wide audience. The project itself should have enough depth to be understood on the surface and have more for those who want to go deeper.

The Capstone should push the student. If they have mastered everything in the Capstone before they start, it is not a Capstone. The student should stretch themselves in one or multiple areas, technical, storytelling, etc. The area of growth can be more personal: By doing this project the student wants to explore an area of knowledge they are interested in on a deeper, more meaningful level.

Two semesters should be taken to have enough time to allow the Capstone to develop, such as having more depth. The time also allows the Capstone to grow and change from the original idea into a stronger Capstone that might not have been even thought of at the beginning

Capstone Ideas

1. Each type of storytelling has a structure no matter the media. I would like to tell a story that takes elements from many structures and combines them into something new.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Ue1AXSzyw
2. I would like to create a story where all the elements used in the story serve the story. There will be no “Wow, I should do that just because it looks neat.” It has to serve the story.
Example: Kill Bill Vol. 1. Kill Bill creates it’s own rules. It blends Quentin Tarantino’s over the top storytelling elements with martial arts movies where people are performing feats of superhuman ability. It works because they set the rules and then follow them to create an interesting world to tell the story.
3. I would like to create a project that plays with labels and the benefit of an accepting mentally: “Good, Bad, Light, Darkness, and the Balance are all labels that in some cases can be useful, and others can get in the way. It depends on the situation and the person applying the label.

Examples

A. Meditation and Buddhist teachings: One of the tenants stressed multiple times is “Allow, allow, allow.” This means accept things as they are, and observe events both in the outside world and personal inside world with a clear mind. With a clear mind the action will be a “mindful” movement rather than a conditioned reaction that the person might not be aware of.

B. Silence of the Lambs: Dr. Hannibal Lector is a villain who does unspeakable things, but he is put into a “hero” role with the audience because he has a code, and is helping the police in his own unique way to apprehend a man of greater evil.