Capstone Reflection

         The reflection upon capstones kind of has given me vision to what I always believed and knew about capstones. You begin early as possible. This way you can experiment along the way instead of playing it extremely safe. You keep in mind scope. You will burn yourself out on a project which will kill you if you don't find the perfect time frame. Do something edgy. This doesn't mean "new" necessarily, this just means push the boundaries on things you might have already known about. Also, last but not least, don't let capstones kill you. This is supposed to encapsulate the process of what you have learned. If you aren't having fun with it, you probably have either broken some of the rules listed in the latter, or you truly don't love what it is Media Arts in Science has to offer. All in all, my reflection is that capstones is difficult, but it doesn't mean it's supposed to be miserable.

Capstone Night

Nathan Moody

1.Why did you chose the capstone that you did?

To further press my abilities in storytelling. I really wanted to push this forward.


2.What are some changes you had to do between the original idea and the finished products?

I actually didn't have to change anything.


3.What is your opinion of the timeline? Was it helpful?

I had to do the timeline for school, other than that, it wasn't helpful other than the fact I could see if I'm at the correct spot at this time.


4. If you could change anything, what would it be?

I wanted more physical material, but that was out of my means when it comes to cost.


5.What is the word of advice for me?

Stick to what you know. Try to do some things new, but don't try to do a bunch of new things.






Zachary Paquette

1.Why did you chose this project?

To have something I could stick with with terms of longevity of the semester without getting burnt out on the project.


2.What did you change between the first idea and the finished product?

Not a thing.


3.What is your opinion on the timeline...?

Useless.


4.If you could change anything about the capstone what would it be?

My room location because I'm barely noticeable and it kind of sucks.


5.What advice would you give someone going into their capstone semester?

Experiment and push yourself to the boundaries of something you already know and not the boundaries of something brand new.



Colby Krintz

1.Why did you chose the capstone project that you did?

To work on my flash. I never have and thought it would be a good move to do it.


2.What are some changes you made between the first idea and the finished project?

I had to simplify the videos of flash because I needed to spare time.


3.What is your opinion on the timeline?

If I worked on it last semester maybe I would have been able to do more?


4.What would you have changed about your capstone if you could?

Maybe work on it longer to make it look cleaner and much more nice.


5.What advice would you give someone going into their capstone semester?

If you have any time start working on it now and get your idea into place.

Project Timeline

My animation is pretty strait forward. I have the complete idea in very basic forms laid out. I basically has the first few weeks having a solidifying of the animation which I would have began during the winter break. Then after that, for the next two weeks and a half I would have prepared for rendering and constant testing of the renders to make sure everything is going as planned. While the rendering is being complete, I will begin the project of what I will use to present my capstone on. I will need a resume, a throne, a frame, and things to play my animation on. The rest of the time I have devoted to compositing perfectly and to working on the sound and music with my friends Wyatt and Derek in derek's recording studio set up. Then, the rest of the time will be devoted to if any of the time spills over. Pretty strait forward, but that's how my capstone is laid out.

Peer Capstone Support Group

Animation / 3D Modeling


Autodesk Maya
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Affects
Adobe Sound Booth
Zbrush 4.1

Class Discussions

I honestly didn't gain any insight to sharing my capstone ideas with other people. I couldn't say everything which was going to happen because I honestly didn't want to share the ending with anyone. I also really know my exact story to my capstone, I wrote it a year ago, and I really don't want to stray away from the story in my head in which I love so much.

It's a cap in which a stone wears!

I believe a capstone is something which is handed down from the top suits, but then is watered down with ideas. I believe the capstone should be something personal someone should make which represents an extension of themselves by both growth and knowledge gained at college. It's watered down through second hand talk and superiors going through capstones themselves, younger undergrads can only hear of rumors on how it should be, and one wouldn't know how to prepare unless they spent those years reaching it worrying if they're going to do it correctly. As a person who hasn't found any groups to travel in nor have I been able to see any capstones because of life, I realize building an idea of a capstone is more of a shot in the dark at ideas of what a capstone is until you reach ten feet before the finish line and you're worn out from the race to get there. So, what is a capstone? If I could say a shot in the dark, I would have to say something which will make me happy knowing I actually have found worth in college.

First Idea

This is the beginning. Not really though, my capstone idea came to me while putting together ideas for Ludwig's digital story boarding class. This idea meant to much to me to give for a typical class assignment though; so, King Todd was born. It was expanded, re-vised, expanded some more, and compacted and changed to what it is now. The idea was to show someone in a position of extreme youth, this could be either through age or through mindset. I finally found a middle ground which I believe I can actually do as an animation. The idea is to have this "King" at a small every day crossroad with himself. Nothing goes right, which isn't fair to the King, so it just makes him angry.
Different ways I could go about this is to find different paint styles, camera angles, or effects on the lens at certain points. For now, I think I have a pretty good idea at where the starting point and ending point will be.
Inspirations:

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/327/7/d/teddybear_by_muck_one-d4h1nyz.jpg -

I always enjoy when 3d looks so realistic. I want some aspects of it to be noticeable to people. I always remember my grandpa pointing out certain comercials with CG in it and say "How do they do that?" I want him to say that to mine.


http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2010_Shrek_Forever_After/2010_shrek_forever_after_025.jpg

The amazing scenes that have come out of Shrek have always amazed me and the scenery has always wanted me to aim for something similar.


http://www.stratacafe.com/gallery/stan_deyo/553702252010153631.jpg

I also love particle effects which lights travel on. I wouldn't mind doing something parallel to this if the stereo allows.