No28 Rylands filming Part 1...

Reflective Journal Entry No28 08/08/11

Latest posting, to update on creative development...

Today went well and actually better than I had hoped, for the most part there were no technical issues. I have to though firstly mention the exceptional help I have been given by the Rylands, this is in total contrast to the frustration I had to go through a number of months ago with MOSI. The Facilities team headed by Yvette Jeal, and her colleague Ian Massey have been very helpful and I can't thank them enough. In fact today Ian how has helped with setting up, put together a platform for me to place the projector on, made from a few pieces, absolutely brilliant and was spot and did the job.

In the posting before this I have attached some screen grabs of some of the filming, and I will come back to this later with more details once I have gone through my notes and the materials filmed...

Screen grabs 08/08/11 Filming Part 2...

Screen grabs 08/08/11 Filming Part 1...

No27 - 2nd walk through the Rylands...

Reflective Journal Entry No27 04/08/11

Latest posting, to update on creative development and preparations for the filming in the Rylands on Monday 8th August. This morning I had walk through the Library with one of the 'Building Facilities staff', to check out the upper level reading room, which proved to be better than expected, and this will yield at least 3 areas to explore for the projections, and I believe will truly capture the visual element I'm looking for for the final creative multimedia piece. In addition to these 3 areas upstairs, I have indicated 2 further areas of projection, one down in the print press display area with the traditional presses including the Gutenberg Press, and then back towards the reception area where the clean white walls will offer up a different look to the Red Stone of the original library building. I have also been given permission to film most of the day now, instead of just 3 hours as originally indicated, so a visit of bonuses.

My next task will be to put together a basic storyboard and to expand the sketches in my latest sketchbook, just to firm up the thoughts from this morning and work out a timeline of where and when to shoot. Finally it has been indicated and offered that I could have use of one of the large flat screen display screens to show the final completed movie of all this, which would also give me a public installation to submit for final submission and also include in the kit of materials.

Today as well the, 2nd part of the 'resource kit of materials' printed by Moo 'the postcards', arrived in the post and I'm very pleased with the way they look. I have also been notified by Moo that the 3rd part 'the stickers, stickers sheets and the 2 sticker books', have been dispatched and these are expected tomorrow.

No26 - Further creative development using Moo...

Reflective Journal Entry No26 30/07/11

Latest posting, to update on how I have been getting on, using the Moo cards and stickers set up and the additional print items I want to have in place within the next few weeks, so that I have the time to focus on the writing on the dissertation. 

So far I have created the following items for print:

1. Mini cards (100) these are split into 3 items. 1.1 20 card colour palette identifiers. 1.2 20 cards Places of interest. 1.3 60 cards general selection of images, part of a larger grouping, called Investigate.

2. Postcards set (90) random images and also part of the greater collective set, called Investigate.

3. 2 sticker books (52) images in each, connected to the above work.

4. 1 round sticker collection pack, again as above connected and part of the group, called Investigate.

The Mini cards have been delivered, the postcards are on the way, and the stickers have been ordered today and are expected next week. This items are no forming the base of the resource kit, and there will be more items to be added in the coming weeks.

I have also started to rework online (Blurb) the book MB96, I originally created as part of Semester 1, which rolled into Semester 2 with the exploration of colour, this has now been broken down into 3 smaller more defined volumes of images and story all under the heading of 'Investigate', this will conclude with the investigation for the current historical handwriting direction I'm currently undertaking. I also have another series of postcards which images will be taken from the Rylands work video/filming visuals and this will link to the the direction on handwriting.

More field work will be undertaken at the Rylands next week, in advance of actual filming set for the Monday 08/08/11, I also have another meeting planned with Julianne Simpson in that week.

Investigate! - New graphic direction...

No25 - Further creative developments using iMovie software...

Reflective Journal Entry No25 27/07/11

Latest posting, but the first since the last posting on the 18/07/11. A little overdue, as I wanted to keep posting on a regular basis every 2 days, well this has been blown and it's a week and a half. Well after a good focused meet with Tash this afternoon, I have maintained a good progress on where I would like to go with this project. Still very much exploring the hand type route and how this can be tied into the Rylands?

I have undertaken another series of walk throughs and on the 8th August will go back to shoot the final projected footage. In the meantime there are 2 other areas of work, which have to be pushed forward.

1. The Dissertation.

2. The Resource kit.

The kit is actually coming together better than expected, and I have already put in for order from Moo, the print for the mini cards, the postcards, sticker book, and soon the 3 mini books with relevant background materials, showing how to use the resource. I have sourced a box, to act as a case for these items.

Further details to follow tomorrow...

Progress in iMovie, new development...

Craig Oldham - Hand written Letter Project...

http://handwrittenletterproject.com/

The link for this came from Natalie (thanks again and very much appreciated)

It's an intriguing concept and one of those where I wished I had thought of. Works well though with the examples moving across a widescreen format to show how has posted. I will explore this in more detail later...

No24 Primary research - Those were the days. Airmail paper and stationery...

Reflective Journal Entry No24 18/07/11

The second of today's journal entries focuses on the time when we used to write letters, and airmail in particular. I do remember growing up, and using Basildon Bonds Airmail pads and envelopes for a good many years. At one time my parents and I used to write to our family in Ireland and South Africa, I seem to remember at least 3 or 4 letters a month going overseas. For me it was also not only just keeping in touch with family, but the sense of excitement at receiving a letter with a 'Foreign Postmark'

Especially with South Africa which to me was so far away, well in those days it was and felt like it was in another galaxy, many years later in the the first half of the 90's I went to live and work near Johannesburg, and this was just before e-mail really started to be used as extensively as it is today, it was either letters by airmail on the famous blue paper or by fax if it was more urgent. It's not the same these days and the planet seems to have become increasingly smaller by the year to where now it all feels a lot more immediate and it is.