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For the audio workflow, some other sound effects were used to complement the sound effects, such as the flames and the lounge announcements. I have made some adjustments to these sound effects to make them more fluid and appropriate for the film

Some of the audio tracks were overlapping and I tried to mix them together to get a better effect.

After numerous tests, the sound index of the video stabilised between -15 and -24dB

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In the Saturn section, I used a completely different effect to attempt to bring the camera closer to the ship using special effects techniques in an attempt to show the trajectory of the shuttle more accurately. As a result the trajectory of the ship changes from a blue arc to a kind of blue and white line.

In addition, to enhance the artistry of the image, I added a flash effect at the end of the shuttle's disappearance.

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In the making process, I tried to create a "real" film scene using a script shot in real life and compositing it with special effects

I used these scripts and added the titles of the short films. This approach is what I call the third method.

For the final section, I have used the same approach to show the future space station terminal.

I used After Effect to change the view outside the lounge window

From

to

In the process, some starlight effects were added to the image to give it a more realistic feel.

Adding the background of the Earth

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For the first destination (the moon), I used a blue-white arc to represent the trajectory of the ship, and all these effects were done in After Effect.

Blue-white arc from spacecraft

As the arc light disappears, the moon is shown in a simple instruction guide.

The same approach is used for the exploration of other planets

MARS

JUPITER

Due to the specificity of Jupiter, the presentation notes here use a completely different framework

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Space station Model making

In the process, the 3d software(Maya) has been used to make the 3d model of Space staton,  I used a single colour to simulate the texture of the space station(As follows picture ). Shadows were also added to the model during the rendering process

This example shows a space station in the universe (from 2001 A Space Odyssey)

I also animated the shuttle flying out of the space station, rendered in a simple split shot.  In addition, the trajectory of the space station was represented, giving a 360 degree rotation effect.

The shuttle flying out of the space

A shuttle in the space station

Animation of the motion of the space station in Earth orbit, 360 degree rotation of the space station itself

The process of making model of space station

The main part of station （ Resource tube and Main spaces）

Exit and entrance by spacecrafts

Spacecraft

Final work

Changing the position of the space station and keeping the position identical to that in the storyboard.

The spacecraft's trajectory was replaced by a blue-white arc of light, just like the scene depicted in the storyboard.

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In order to capture the themes of the universe and exploration, the music of the film must also fit the science fiction atmosphere. The music is characterised by being science fiction, heavy and mysterious. In particular, the music could match the structure of the narrative. I analysed some of the music, which was provisionally found to be very appropriate. In the final Assessment I will use these selections as my sources of inspiration to choose appropriate music.

 Cosmos 

https://sfx.productioncrate.com/sound-effects/soundscrate-space-ride

 Out in space

https://sfx.productioncrate.com/sound-effects/soundscrate-out-in-space

 Space Isolation  

https://sfx.productioncrate.com/sound-effects/soundscrate-space-ride

 Broken

https://sfx.productioncrate.com/sound-effects/soundscrate-broken

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The story Arc（initial）

Story arc is used to understand the structure of the whole story, and Story Arc is also divided into 3 sections，The Start, Middle and Final part, The exploration and presentation of the landscape and processes of the solar system is an important part of the film, as the spacecraft explores further, it will reach the climax in the orbit of Saturn. This means the end of the middle section and the narrative will move on to the final section.

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The space station concept

The space station is very important in the film as a symbol of the beginning. The concept of the space station is from Mood board, the overall image and structure is from an imaginary science fiction creation. It is the work of a CG artist on the web. In the initial design, the spacecraft will fly out of a dock in the middle of the station and the circular structure on top of the spacecraft can be seen as a space for passengers and astronauts. In the initial plan, I will try to build a 3d model of this sketch and add it to the film.

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The initial Idea. The journey of solar system

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Mood Board for Space Station

The space station represents “exploration” and “imagination” and this means the beginning of a journey in the film. Mood board 2 is a collection of space station concepts, some of which are real, such as the International Space Station, and others from CG artists.

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Mood board for Cosmos

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Screen based narrative analysis

As the narrative is based on real locations in the solar system, it is a digital recreation of real places. This part of the research is therefore very helpful in analysing the core concept of the film, which is to understand the solar system and to demonstrate the possibilities offered by technological advancements.

Plot Point 1

The first act shows humans in the future realising the technology of astronautics and coming to Jupiter to explore the Great Red Spot and Saturn's rings

The Great Red Spot

This image is from Jupiter's Great Red Spotfrom Voyager 1 (1979)

The Great Red Spot as seen from Voyager 1. This dramatic view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and its surroundings was obtained by Voyager 1 on February 25, 1979, when the spacecraft was 5.7 million miles (9.2 million kilometers) from Jupiter.

Reference: https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00014

Ring of  Saturn

One scene gives an extreme close-up view of Saturn's rings - the angle of view is from inside the ring plane, looking up through the chaotic water ice that makes up the rings, with one of the astronauts floating above the plane.

The original source for the images depicted in the film is NASA / ESA Cassini-Huygens on October 15, 1997 , and a third of the scenes depict Saturn or one of its moons, including a wealth of data and images.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens

Plot Point 2

The viewpoint travels to Mars, where CGI technology reveals an imaginary space lift and the establishment of a colonisation base on Mars, where travellers travel this planet and enjoy the 'blue' sun.

Space elevator on Mars

Exploring and travelling on Mars （Victorian impact crater）

Victoria Crater as seen by the NASA rover Opportunity (MER-B) in 2006

Reference：https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09104

The 'blue' sun 

This photo taken by NASA's Spirit  (rover)  on May 19th, 2005  on Mars to create the "Blue Sunset" scene in the film

Rference: https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/press/spirit/20050610a.html

Plot Point 3

The film shows the transformed asteroids and moons in this scene, depicted as a hollowed out asteroid that could serve as a habitat for colonists, with an internal cavity consisting of a human-built, self-sustaining ecosystem.

The base on The equator of Iapetus

Taken on September 10, 2007 at a distance of 62,331 km (38,731 mi) Iapetus's equatorial ridge

Reference：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini%E2%80%93Huygens

Establishing settlements on Saturn's moons

As it entered the Saturn system, NASA's Cassini spacecraft performed its first targeted flyby of one of the planet's moons. On June 11, 2004, Cassini passed Phoebe, the largest of Saturn's outer or "irregular" moons, at an altitude of just 1,285 miles (2,068 kilometers).

Reference：https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09104

A hollowed out asteroid

This concept from the NASA Ames Research Center

Reference：http://lifesci3.arc.nasa.gov/SpaceSettlement/70sArt/art.html 

Plot Point 4

Humans could travel on these asteroids and moons and experience flight and low gravity.

Adventurers crossing the surface ice on Jupiter's moon Europa

Because Titan's atmosphere is thicker and less gravitational than Earth's, humans experience flying here

The film shows adventurers wearing bird-like wings flying over the liquid methane lake Ligeia Mare on Saturn's moon Titan.

Reference：https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA17031

Tourists and adventurers jump off the cliffs of Miranda, the smallest moon orbiting Uranus.

Due to Miranda's low gravity, it takes 12 minutes to reach the surface after jumping off the cliff, allowing travellers to experience low gravity

Plot Point 5

Finally, the film ends with a magnificent view of Saturn's rings through the eyes of future travelers!

Saturn's rings

Real data about Saturn's rings taken on December 12, 2004 by NASA

Reference：https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07874

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Story Structure （ learning notes）

Act 1Character Arc In the Beginning of a story the main character, being human (even if he of she isn't), will resist change (inner conflict). The character is  perfectly content as he is; there's no reason to change.

Plot Point 1  Then something happens to throw everything off balance.

It should come as a surprise that shifts the story in a new direction and reveals that the protagonist’s life will never be the same again.

It puts an obstacle in the way of the character that forces him or her to deal with something they would avoid under normal circumstances.  

Act 2 

The second Act is about a character’s emotional journey and is the hardest part of a story to write. Give your characters all sorts of challenges to overcome during Act 2. Make them struggle towards their goal.

The key to Act Two is conflict. Without it you can’t move the story forward. And conflict doesn’t mean a literal fight. Come up with obstacles (maybe five, maybe a dozen—depends on the story) leading up to your plot point at the end of Act 2.

Plot Point 2

Act Two ends with the second plot point, which thrusts the story in another unexpected direction.

Plot Point 2 occurs at the moment the hero appears beaten or lost but something happens to turn the situation around. The hero's goal becomes reachable.

Right before this unexpected story turn, the hero reaches the Black Moment—the point at which all is lost and the goal cannot be achieved.

In order to have a "Climax", where the tension is highest, story must have a "Black" moment, where the stakes are highest and danger at its worst.During this moment, the hero draws upon the new strengths or lessons he's learned in order to take action and bring the story to a conclusion.

Act 3

The third Act dramatically shows how the character is able to succeed or become a better person.

Resolution/denouement ties together the loose ends of the story (not necessarily all of them) and allows the reader to see the outcome of the main character’s decision at the climax.

Rference： http://www.musik-therapie.at/PederHill/Structure&Plot.htm

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Science – The Cosmos 

Wanderers - a short film by Erik Wernquist（2014）

Background

This film is inspired by the motion graphic animations and science-based animations from the NASA Scientific Visualization Studio.

As the film explains “ All the locations depicted in the film are digital recreations of actual places in the Solar System, built from real photos and map data where available.”

The film is based on 14 actual NASA space images and map data, and uses CG effects to recreate realistic scenes from the solar system. Although the theme of mankind's march into the solar system is fictional, the magnificent visuals and majestic theme music provide the audience with a stunning audio-visual experience.

The film shows a future in which Earth's technology can finally support space travel and human footprints are spread across the solar system.

Mars, Titan and Europa have already hosted many Earth settlers, colonies have been established and the twinkling lights of eco-architectures light up the night sky. Humans have worked on asteroids, digging out columnar voids in their interiors to create habitable environments. Titan has become the perfect place to fly, Titan a bungee jumpers' paradise, and Saturn a must-see for tourists.

The main concept of the film is to imagine the possibilities of the future for humanity, especially for the exploration of the solar system. Imagine that we will one day be able to wander around the universe as we wish, experience the environments of different planets and asteroids and view magnificent landscapes.

The key words：Exploring the Future, Possibilities, Universe, Science Fiction

Core Concept

The core ideas of the film are "travel", "exploration" and "imagination".

It is about understanding the solar system in the imagination

All the locations depicted in the film are digital recreations of actual places in the Solar System, built from real photos and map data that are available from NASA Database. This re-creation encourages the imagination of future exploration of the universe and shows respect to astronomy.These concepts express a positive possibility for exploration and the future.

The story structure

The story Arc of  Wanderers

The film shows different views of the solar system through different images, from Mars, Jupiter to Saturn. The images are based on real NASA photography.

Through these main sequences a science fictional vision of a future colonisation of the solar system is presented, with powerful 3d compositing techniques to reach the climax of the drama.

Story Spine

Plot Point 1

The first act shows humans in the future realising the technology of astronautics and coming to Jupiter to explore the Great Red Spot and Saturn's rings

Plot Point 2

The viewpoint travels to Mars, where CGI technology reveals an imaginary space lift and the establishment of a colonisation base on Mars, where travellers travel this planet and enjoy the 'blue' sun.

Plot Point 3

The film shows the transformed asteroids and moons in this scene, depicted as a hollowed out asteroid that could serve as a habitat for colonists, with an internal cavity consisting of a human-built, self-sustaining ecosystem.

Plot Point 4

Humans could travel on these asteroids and moons and experience flight and low gravity.

Plot Point 5

Finally, the film ends with a magnificent view of Saturn's rings through the eyes of future travelers!

Storyboard

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The 2 minutes version

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Arts led: Open Topic

Call of Duty Ghosts - Best Cutscenes 

For the first short film an open topic was chosen.

I chose the first 2 minutes of this short film from the famous first-person shooting game.This short film shows a battle in a very abstract style.