Matte Paintings/Ideas, "Smart Alec" Reply
Pamela J. Curry
Previous Text not repeated here....
A clarification. Generally speaking,
Ideas: I was speaking generally to the backlash against
so called "complainers" by the other gentleman who does
"interviews", how creative. (just sarcasm)
If you have a criticism about a matte painting not fitting
into the movie it might give a greater creative content
at this newsgroup to suggest how it might have been done.
A caveat, that always leaves someone else to suggest
otherwise or to explain technically why that is a bad idea.
That makes an interesting forum. All you have to do to start
is have an opinion. If your opinion is about matte painting,
it helps if you've studied some art. The object being that
if you create a forum where you can see why what you suggest
might be more right or wrong, either technically or artistically,
then it helps you to work out your own ideas for filmmaking
with confidence.
Sorry, if that sounds like a speech. I had a professor
once who told me it takes 30 years to make an artist. Meaning,
art is a state of becoming.
It is the act of attempting to work out ideas technically
and the act of not being afraid to fail because it is all
the failures that in the end prepare you for great success.
Some very high profile movie makers are still in this process.
That is the process of forming your own vision as an artist.
If you have that, you don't need to work for ILM, you're
ready to start your own company (with some business experience).
That is, in theory.
But new ideas or your own ideas about screenplays
and so forth are best kept to yourself, unless you're attempting
to start a "movement" per se. A wave of people making a certain
type of film, which is why I give away research about my fake
genre "Science Reality".
In particular, I didn't see ANTZ and I don't want to.
I can't believe the junk that is coming out this fall.
Pamela Curry
Film Studio Faux
Director in Training...
Home of Sci-Real (that is
Gordon Liddy meets communications
satellites and so forth and so on)
ke...@your-house.com
Thank you for the insight.
> If you have a criticism about a matte painting not fitting
> into the movie it might give a greater creative content
> at this newsgroup to suggest how it might have been done.
When I first made my comment about the certain matte paintings in ANTZ
which I thought were "out of place", I failed to emphasize the fact that
I think most imperfect matte paintings (those that make you lose your
suspension of disbelief for a slight instant) tend to be incoherent with
the rest of the picture, perhaps due to lack of careful observation to
the lighting of the actual set/scene (an understandable flaw prone to
most painters when taking artistic liberty/freedom with their work). As
great as the paiting may turn out on its own, it is not so great when it
looks unfitting after being combined with the live set.
> A caveat, that always leaves someone else to suggest
> otherwise or to explain technically why that is a bad idea.
> That makes an interesting forum. All you have to do to start
> is have an opinion.
My opinion is that perhaps greater attention can be paid to matching the
lighting and atmosphere of the shot. And don't let the matte painting
stand out as if screeming to the viewer "Look at this great matte
painting!" But rather let it exist as only a background... because
that's what it's supposed to be.
Most of the noticible matte paintings were dipictions of scenery in
bright day light. I assume the darkness of night can hide more of the
imperfections of an artist's rendering. Usually the most convincing
mattes I've seen are used with night time, sunsets etc.
> If your opinion is about matte painting,
> it helps if you've studied some art.
I have and am still studying art. However I am not a great artist nor
do I yet have the technical skills to accomplish what I'm critisizing.
That is why I'm still studying, hoping that one day I will master the
skills of painting and air-brushing etc. so that I too can join ranks
amongst the craftsmen/women who are painting non-existant scenery. By
keeping my eyes open now, I'm gathering information and second hand
experience which may come in handy in the future.
> In particular, I didn't see ANTZ and I don't want to.
> I can't believe the junk that is coming out this fall.
I saw ANTZ because I was obliged to take my 6 year old Sister (in case
you're wondering, I'm 20). As much of a chore as it was, I did enjoy
the movie very much. I don't know why you seem to dislike it without
having seen it. Feel free to enlighten me.
kemin zhang
Student at the Ontario College of Art and Design
President of the Loner's Club
Pamela Curry
Toronto, eh? I was surprise to run into a director or curator from
the
R.O.M. (Royal Ontario Museum) at SIGGRAPH. I asked him what they
were there for and quite frankly was also attempting to get a free wallsize
poster, so I think he said it was for special projects. I've been to the
R.O.M and I didn't know they had special effects projects, for exhibits?
I think your approach to critiquing the matte painting is quite
logical.
Personally, I am hesitant to judge an artistic process unless I have been in
physical contact with the raw material.
Any info on what the R.O.M does with special effects projects
would be of interest to me.
Pamela
Curry
ke...@your-house.com wrote:
> Dear Pamela...
> Thank you for the insight.
>
> > If you have a criticism about a matte painting not fitting
> > into the movie it might give a greater creative content
> > at this newsgroup to suggest how it might have been done.
>
> When I first made my comment about the certain matte paintings in ANTZ
> which I thought were "out of place", I failed to emphasize the fact that
> I think most imperfect matte paintings (those that make you lose your
> suspension of disbelief for a slight instant) tend to be incoherent with
> the rest of the picture, perhaps due to lack of careful observation to
> the lighting of the actual set/scene (an understandable flaw prone to
> most painters when taking artistic liberty/freedom with their work). As
> great as the paiting may turn out on its own, it is not so great when it
> looks unfitting after being combined with the live set...
PART OF MESSAGE NOT ATTACHED!
Ben Syverson
> Any info on what the R.O.M does with special effects projects
> would be of interest to me.
SIGGRAPH is not a "special effects" conference - it's for graphics of all
kinds. The ROM's interest could be purely based on multimedia kiosk
technology, interactive software design, or new video projector
prototypes, as many museums incorporate these into their exhibits.
--
Ben Syverson
The Main Man
Kaleidafex Images
ben (at) kaleidafex (dot) com