Poster and CD label for Final Project

Poster 8x11 inches

CD Label 12cm in Diameter

14th Picture

An Icy Coreopsis
by Steven Perng
Canon EOS 10D

The author tears off the petal of a coreopsis when it is frozen
so, the remaining ice has the shape and texture of the coreopsis
(I get this picture from a friend's email)

[Scenes & Music]

An Interview of
An Ordinary Mannequin

"Tissue Box Attack"

The scenes
Though it come out different than what I planed,
it still covered pretty much all the patterns.

1. the opening of interview - overview of the subject.
2. no microphone - first action that interact with other object.
(I don't have a place or tripod for the mic- the real reason
Mr. Mannequin don't like microphone in his interview)
3. the barbie - what he thought about barbies. well, of course, he loves barbies.
(I was going to buy a female mannequin,
but the condition of this male mannequin seemed better.)
4. the face - he needs a face to show how his head is moving.
(I was going to draw different face for different scenes,
but I just don't have time for it)
5. the home - the package of him, where he came from..Made in China
(I tried to play the quick camera moving scene.
the result is not as good as I wanted it to be.)
6. favorite food - since a mannequin is made for drawing, I tried to "feed" him
with other object that are also object for drawing
(the corn, garlic, and lemon are for my Art26 class)
7. the past experience - I was thinking about to do this with "art student,"
but it somehow turn out differently.
8. the worst thing in the world - I was going to put "pain(pin) in the ass" here,
but I put the art student pattern here after all
(the tissue box attack is a way to make the mannequin
interact with other object, so it looks more real)
9. any secret? - this was not exist when I was shooting the pictures.
I just added this part for the "pain(pin) in the ass"
10. tricks - I try to play the Matrix's multi-angle shot, but I guess I need more shots
and since I don't have enough time, I changed the script.
a superman flying scene was deleted and I let Mr. Mannequin attack camera
(for that he found out the "art student" was me. this is not planed pattern)
11. the revange of art student - I just use "THE END?" instead of this title.
for this pattern, mannequin was doing some kind of yoga
(well, I have a yoga mat bag for my tripod and...
the pronounce of Yukka make me think of yoga, too...
sorry Yukka... Q_Q)


The musics
I planed to use was 4 songs,
but it ends up using 2 only because I just run out of time.

1. The main song -- "Magic Waltz" from the movie "The Legend of 1900" again.
(Highly recommend for anyone who like piano, musics and movies)
though I didn't re-watch it this time, I had watched it 4 times.

2. The electronic guitar song -- in the dance and the yoga part was a Japanese song.
I don't even know it's name. maybe I should have asked Yukka..
(I think of Yukka and yoga because I'm using a Japanese song and Yukka is Japanese)

[The Making of the film]

An Interview of
An Ordinary Mannequin

"It is not easy to stand on the stage" -Mr. Mannequin

For this crazy film, I spent more than 40hrs.
It may sounds scary to everyone; however, the 40hours includes:
preparation works, idea developing, the real filming works and post production.

First, the preparation works
include doing research on digital cameras
a Canon EOS Rebel XT, its lens, filters, high speed CF card,
a stable tripod are things that I get for both this project and further digital photo fun.
all the camera technical research(includes on line and try them in stores, about 4hrs),
price field research(includes went to Fry's every weekday afternoon,4days total, about 10hr),
Ads research(0.5hr), read 3 digital camera magazines
while waiting on lines for thanksgiving next day sale at CompUSA(6hrs)
brought mannequin and thick color paper(Blue and Neon-Green),
and a polyester board for the stage.(about 0.2hr)

Then, for idea research, I re-watched 7 movies
(about more than 16hours in total)
1."Madagascar"2."Cyote Ugly"3."She Creature"
4."Pitch Black"5."The Chronicles of Riddick"
6."Doom" 7"Finding Neverland"
I get alot from the first 2 movies though the others are helpful too.
I even think of combine things into the scenes
(that's why I bought the Blue and Neon-Green color paper)
I discarded may ideas because of technical difficulty

Finally , when equipments and ideas are ready.
(I didn't have a clear story script by the time)
I fund my premiere pro tryout version has expired!
I download several other "tryouts," and finaly I got one which is working..
I can barely read it because it is simplified-Chinese version.
(I read traditional-Chinese and my windows can't
display simplified-Chinese properly.)
So I spent some time on figuring out which button is what function.
pregram ready(find and try) time about 2 waked hour
(and unknow sleeping hour for download)

On the "open-camera day",
I shot and photoshoping the "worst thing in the world"
that mannequin was blinded by the light and attack by tissue box
(or attack by an art student who was I/me)
it took me about more than 3 hours.
since I had not enough sleep, my brain works in a low speed.
so I did the rest of other shots later.

I played the mannequin during the two days
(from open camera to final shot day)
to find "all possible poses" on this mannequin.
so that I can filter out some impossible patterns.
(about 2 hours of total playing time with the mannequin,
I also thought of the "pain in the ass" pattern while play with it)

the final shots took me about 5hours.
I'm so lucky(or well prepared?) that I don't have any need of re-shoot
(I spent 3 nights(about 12hours) for shoot and re-shoot on last video project)
after all the photo were taken, I start photoshop works.
(and finding barbie's picture for the barbie part)

Then, I spent 2 nights (about 9hours)
for editing the 655 still images and 54 subtitles(includes title)
in the simplified-Chinese version of premiere pro 1.5

After all, it is a 80% finished film(to me)
and I think it really needs more works on refining the subtitle and film speed.
Since I check dictionary a lot during writing the subtitles,
I guess I may have less typos or spelling problems
It may takes 4 to 18 hours to refine this film
for a quality eligible for a short film competition.

well, I guess I'll have tons of time this winter.
maybe I can do something fun on this project or other film.

p.s: I was thinking about to record all conversation,
but, consider my accent may ruin the film in some way,
I didn't record any voice after all.

OMG

Although I shot some photos for my still image motion picture,
my Premiere Pro Tryout has expired last week.
I don't think I'll buy it or do all the film works in lab
(I spent more than 24hrs on the one minute project,
and I will not stay in the lab for 24hrs or more)

So, may be..
I should do photos with Photoshop instead of still image movie.
If I can get any software which do the same work as premiere,
I would reather do the project in video form.

13rd Picture

Me (and Rebel XT)

I like the angle and the composition of this photo

Final Project Proposal

To be honest, I haven't yet have a clear thought for it
The first thing come up to me is finding some interest ideas
and after all, those ideas all cost too much time for me.

The most recent thought is
using small mannequin to change pose and do some mini action...
thought it must be fun, I'll limit this part and mix with my actions
due to time efficiency.

I'm still thinking about the story..and scene dividing..
maybe I'll come up with something later...
and better come up with something anyway.. >

It Matters to ME - Explanation

The "It Matters to ME" project of mine
is about my living experience in Campus Village, the new dorm
Loud music and singing are not allowed in the tiny space.
Although I don't do like the video shown,
it is fun to play around the idea.

p.s: I was going to post this explanation on Tuesday night,
but my internet connection was off that time.
It just resumed earlier tonight(Wednesday)

12nd Pictures

6:30AM on Highway 680

1:10AM on Highway I-5

11st Picture

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

(a view from the 7th floor of King's Library)