Observations
I participated in another lecture today, this time with a smaller group of advanced students (yesterday was with 1st and 2nd years) and going over more technical information. Yesterday's lecture was more broad and covered a lot of visual development elements--how to pay attention to color, value, layout, leading the audience's eye through the frame with shot composition, etc etc etc. Today's talk was more about practical software tips and tricks and advice about solid character animation. I am totally lectured out, you guys! Oh, FYI, if Chinese animation explodes in the next few years and becomes super awesome and amazing, I'll go ahead and take the credit for that. ;p
I am experimenting with watching a bit of TV, and as I flipped through the channels just now I stumbled upon something that may have been a dramatic soap opera OR an infomercial. It involved angry pouring of dishwashing soap. Sold! Nice high drama! The kid's stuff is mostly underwhelming, with a slew of low-budget animated shows and some anime imports. They were totally playing one of those terrible live-action Disney movies from the 90s, Blank Check, earlier today, dubbed in Mandarin. I'm sure that with enough channel surfing I will stumble upon Kazaam, starring Shaquille O'Neal. It just seems inevitable at this point.
There's some interesting stuff, though. I'm currently watching some Chinese Opera, an art form that simultaneously fascinates and baffles me. Chinese friends have assured me it makes as much sense to them as it does to me, so I wonder how these guys even rehearse this stuff. "Wobble your voice more! MORE! Now flap your sleeves around. Perfect!" - Director of Chinese Opera
I can't get enough of this! So great. China is great at TV. And bootlegging things! I told someone "Hey, let's go out and do something tomorrow, now that the lectures are done!" and they were like "Yes, I know the best times and locations for the bootleggers!" and then I was like "Hm, not really what I meant there" and then THEY were like "Great, sounds like a plan!" so now I am watching people buy bootleg DVDs tomorrow I guess. Oh, China. You are superb in every way.
My only complaint so far is it's friggin' COLD, and the concept of indoor heating has appeared not to have made it to Chinese shores. I was seriously freezing my ass off during today's talk and lost the feeling in my outer limbs. Let's get some central heating up in here, yo! "Heat in winter is for the weak. Those damn kids can just wear gloves. While they work ON THEIR COMPTUERS." - Electrician of Nanchang University
I am experimenting with watching a bit of TV, and as I flipped through the channels just now I stumbled upon something that may have been a dramatic soap opera OR an infomercial. It involved angry pouring of dishwashing soap. Sold! Nice high drama! The kid's stuff is mostly underwhelming, with a slew of low-budget animated shows and some anime imports. They were totally playing one of those terrible live-action Disney movies from the 90s, Blank Check, earlier today, dubbed in Mandarin. I'm sure that with enough channel surfing I will stumble upon Kazaam, starring Shaquille O'Neal. It just seems inevitable at this point.
There's some interesting stuff, though. I'm currently watching some Chinese Opera, an art form that simultaneously fascinates and baffles me. Chinese friends have assured me it makes as much sense to them as it does to me, so I wonder how these guys even rehearse this stuff. "Wobble your voice more! MORE! Now flap your sleeves around. Perfect!" - Director of Chinese Opera
I can't get enough of this! So great. China is great at TV. And bootlegging things! I told someone "Hey, let's go out and do something tomorrow, now that the lectures are done!" and they were like "Yes, I know the best times and locations for the bootleggers!" and then I was like "Hm, not really what I meant there" and then THEY were like "Great, sounds like a plan!" so now I am watching people buy bootleg DVDs tomorrow I guess. Oh, China. You are superb in every way.
My only complaint so far is it's friggin' COLD, and the concept of indoor heating has appeared not to have made it to Chinese shores. I was seriously freezing my ass off during today's talk and lost the feeling in my outer limbs. Let's get some central heating up in here, yo! "Heat in winter is for the weak. Those damn kids can just wear gloves. While they work ON THEIR COMPTUERS." - Electrician of Nanchang University