Soulless Red – Original Piece

This was a journal prompt I had to write in my creative writing class that had to do with colors. We had about 20 minutes to write it. It’s been fixed up, but most of it is the original. I’m afraid it’s really not that original, but I like it. 🙂

At one point in her life, art meant everything to her. She was like many other artists – opening a hidden spot of her heart – nay, her soul onto blank canvas for the world to see. It was a gradual process at first, much like meeting the love of one’s life – opening up little by little to reveal who she really was. Art was her true love. She whispered new secrets with every brush stroke on the canvas.

But that was one time.

Colors, which at one time represented her world, faded into nothing more than tints and hues. Only red was the exception. And red… red was her favorite color. It was vibrant. It was passion. But it became scorn. For years she kept a cheery face while continuing her starving career, making red her symbol of hope. She never expected the life of an artist to be an easy one, nor for everyone to understand her, but she never expected the attacks of criticism and rejection. Like a red pen correcting – never approving of anything. Rejecting her emotions… her heart… her soul.

For a while she continued on. A few harsh words wouldn’t get her down. But as time passed, she realized she was only painting what others wanted. And it was one day, as she was adding a stroke of red to a rose petal, that she froze. The red looked awful, like dripping blood. It was not on her side. None of her art was – she had lost herself in a world, bleeding slowly and no one cared.

To change wasn’t easy. Her career was doing better than it had before. She kicked her easel in desperation. It toppled to the ground – the painting following. She sat still for a time pondering what had happened to her. It took all her strength to wash all that red down the drain. All the colors, which had long lost their meaning to her, followed. Canvas, easel, paintbrush – all were tossed away. Then a silence came. Voices of ridicule subsided in her head. She had peace, but she had lost her true passion along the way.

 

Silly Haikus

I am so hungry.

I wish there was food in the

refrigerator.

 

Character-Driven Stories

I finally just got the opportunity to see The Breakfast Club for the first time, and I loved it. It’s not an exciting tale with action, many sets, or much to do. The whole plot is basically a group of very different teenagers are stuck with each other in detention one day and learn about each other. That’s it. It sounds so boring, but chances are, you’ve probably seen it – and loved it too.

 

That’s because The Breakfast Club is a character-driven story. Most movies and books today are plot-driven (or special effects-driven lol), which means that events force the characters to act and follow a path. When you talk about a plot-driven story to your friends, it’s something like: Then the guy had to rush to the place, but the girl was gone and there was only a clue, and so he went to another city to track her down, but it was a trap… etc. It makes for great action and adventure stories. However, character-driven stories are quite simplistic in plot. They set up a circumstance, and then they leave everything else up to the characters to decide how to act. When done right, we learn to have strong feelings towards the characters (whether like or hate), and are really pulled into a great story. Most of early cinema were character-driven stories since studios couldn’t have the special effects or big sets we can use today (and just think of several great classics). Yes, technically every story is both character- and plot-driven, but one is usually more focused on than the other. While most of today’s audiences prefer constant action, character-driven stories grow more and more rare. However, when one shows up and is done right, it shines like a beacon. I’d love to see more modern ones around.

 

What do you think? Feel free to comment. 🙂

 

P.S. I’m not going to be able to post something every day for the next week, but I have some things lined up.

 

 

National Dance Day is for You!

July 30^th,2011 is the 2^nd annual National Dance Day! Do you dance? If not, that’s ok. I don’t either.

National Dance Day is not just for those who are professional dancers, it’s a day to get everybody to celebrate dance. If you don’t even know where to begin, the show So You Think You Can Dance and the Dizzy Feet Foundation have put together three new routines you can try for this year’s National Dance Day. So You Think You Can Dance’s ballroom expert, Mary Murphy, choreographed a very basic salsa that’s great for anyone who has never danced before (which is probably the one I’m doing). Robin Antin, one of the founders of the Pussycat Dolls, choreographs the intermediate routine, and the Emmy-nominated husband and wife choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo (also called Nappytabs) created a challenging hip-hop routine for experts. Also, if you’d like to try an easy hip-hop routine, check out the beginner one they did for last year’s Day of Dance (I’m including it below).

Remember, National Day of Dance is about getting everyone to get up and dance and promote fitness and health. Don’t be discouraged by the fact that you tend to trip over air or haven’t danced a day in your life. Practice in your backyard, your living room, or even in your bedroom. It’s not about looking perfect and being a professional dancer. It’s about having fun.

So go find what interests you about dance (it can be anything – don’t be limited by the couple of routines I mentioned), find your own style, and DANCE!

Tabitha and Napoleon’s 2010 Beginner Hip-Hop Routine

Mary Murphy’s 2011 Beginner Salsa Routine

Robin Antin’s 2011 Intermediate Routine

Tabitha and Napoleon’s 2011 Expert Hip-Hop Routine

 

Disney Drawings and Winnie the Pooh!

So I’ve been busy for the last couple of hours drawing all of these. They aren’t the best, but at least you can tell who they are. Oh, and of course, I don’t own these characters. They belong to Disney (unless you want to be technical about Tigger really belonging to Milne, etc). 😛

Now, onto an actual post:

We all pretty much know that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is so close to coming out, and I can’t wait to see the story come to a close (well, the movie version). However, I am also really excited for Winnie-the-Pooh. I love pretty much all Pooh things, although I admittedly never saw Pooh’s Heffalump Movie or Piglet’s Big Movie (which might revoke my status as a Pooh fan, but I saw all the other movies). I also love the original stories by Milne and I am a HUGE Disney fanatic. To see Pooh go back to his roots is really exciting. I also love Disney 2D animation. I think Disney made the mistake of abandoning 2D animation and only really using 3D. It’s not that we don’t want 2D anymore, it’s just that your 2D movies were not that great and your 3D ones were better. Well, Princess and the Frog was a start, but Tangled was better and off-set the push back to 2D again. Hopefully the simplicity and beauty of Winnie-the-Pooh might bring some attention back to good ol’ 2D animation. Oh, I so hope this will be a good movie!

The other thing I want to comment on is that I find it kind of funny how Disney knows Winnie-the-Pooh is going against Harry Potter and is making fun of it in their ads. If you haven’t seen them, check them out below. I love that they have a very Harry Potter-ish opening and then say, “Nope! We’re Winnie the Pooh!”  If the movie is a bomb, at least the advertising is super clever, and I applaud Disney.

 

Papercraft!

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday. I was busy but also kind of lazy. However, today I’ve been busy making all of these (and watching Disney movies on VHS). 😀

I’m not really all that great at papercraft, so I usually stick to more boxy-style pieces. The first one I ever built was Navi from the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time about two years ago for one of my friend’s birthday, and I was bit in over my head. XD However, the same friend’s birthday party is coming up, so I had to make her some more (and then some are going to another friend too). I’ve made quite a few this summer, but unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures of them. From here on out, I will though. 🙂

If you are interested in making papercraft, here are some of my favorite websites:

http://www.cubeecraft.com/

http://paperkraft.blogspot.com/

http://nintendopapercraft.blogspot.com/

Have fun, and be creative! 🙂

Please note that I only put these together. I did not make the templates, nor do I own the characters.

 

My Day in Six-Word Sentences

Ernest Hemingway once wrote a famous six-word story that went: “For Sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” Since then, many people have written their own six-word stories. Sometimes they’re serious, and sometimes they’re silly. I’m kind of lazy right now, so I thought why not write about my day in six-word sentences too?

Slept in too late. Oh well.

Tour de France – riders hurt again. 😦

Went shopping today. Didn’t find anything.

Very Nervous. First Job interview tomorrow.

Bored. Time to write daily post.

 

About the Oxford (Serial) Comma

There seems to be a refueled debate about the importance of the Oxford (also known as serial) comma. This debate is nothing new, and many schools teach that using it is a preference (but safer to use than omit it), since no one can seem to agree on if it is necessary or not. For those who don’t know what an Oxford comma is, it is the comma before the conjunction on the last item of a list. If that sounds confusing, here is an example sentence: I like cake, pie, and ice cream. The comma right before the “and” is the Oxford comma. If you wrote: I like cake, pie and ice cream, most people would understand you like the three desserts. However, someone might think you’re saying that you like pie and ice cream together. It’s not a terrible misunderstanding in this situation. Ice cream goes well with either cake or pie. However, omitting the Oxford comma can sometimes greatly alter the intention of your sentence. Here is something one of my friends showed me:

Well, that sentence sure gets a laugh (or at least a smirk), but you can also tell that the intention of the author’s sentence is very confusing (although we should know Maureen Johnson and David Bowie are not at all connected – lol). To be honest, I think all of the debate about it is kind of silly (yet I’m still giving my opinion?). I’m a very comma-happy person, and I use them way more often than necessary, so when given the option, I like to have the extra comma separating items on a list (just see how many commas there were in that sentence!). But beyond preference, the Oxford comma makes writing clearer and less likely to be misunderstood. It’s not like adding in the extra comma is a huge hassle. It’s just one more key on your keyboard or a stroke of your pencil. You’ll choose what you want to do, but the Oxford comma works better for me.

Oh, and in case you’re curious to do a bit more reading on the dear ol’ Oxford comma, check out the book Eats Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss.

That’s all for today. Go comma happy! 🙂

P.S. This is posted on the 9th where I live, so it still counts as the 9th’s post… not that anyone really cares. 😛
Actually, all the dates on my posts are kind of messed up. Oh well!

 

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Review

Hey! Listen! Hey! Hey! Listen!

I am not very original when I say I am a huge fan of the original Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. My poor cartridge has had its fair share of use over the years. So needless to say, when I heard that Ocarina of Time was making the trip to the 3DS handheld, I was excited. I originally thought the game would just have some updated graphics (which alone are mind-blowing to me), but all of the touched-up and added content make an excellent game that I would recommend buying to those who already own the original.

STORY: The Legend of Zelda series has always been great for its story telling, and Ocarina of Time is no exception. For those who don’t know the story already, you take control of a boy named Link (or whatever you decide to name him), who lives in Kokiri Forest. Every Kokiri has a fairy except for him. One day, the Great Deku Tree, the guardian of the forest, becomes cursed and sends the (annoying) fairy Navi to help Link defeat the curse. After Link does, he is told that the curse was placed on the Great Deku Tree by an evil man from the desert named Ganondorf, who desired the Spiritual Stone of the Forest that the Great Deku Tree guarded. Ganondorf needs the three spiritual stones to open the Temple of Time and get the Triforce– an all-poweful relic that will grant the wish of the one who holds it. The Great Deku Tree gives the stone to Link, telling him that he is the child of destiny, and sends him off to meet the princess of Hyrule – Zelda. Link gets involved in a huge string of events while trying to stop Ganondorf from taking over Hyrule. One of them involves what lays inside the Temple of Time – the legendary Master Sword that opens the way for Link to travel seven years into the future. The story isn’t as complex as more recent games, but is still filled with memorable and funny moments, some of the most well-loved characters in any Zelda games, and a few interesting twists. This game’s writing is still discussed frequently to this day – proving this game is not inferior in its storytelling abilities. Nothing has been changed from the original story-wise, even in Master Quest, which is for the best.  However, Navi’s annoying comments should still be avoided like the plague (Hey! Listen!).

Image: http://www.cinemablend.com/images/sections/30428/The_Legend_of_Zelda__The_Ocarina_of_Time_3D_30428.jpg

GAMEPLAY: You take control of Link in 3^rd person for your quest (except when using items that allow you to go into 1^st person view). Zelda games are known for their puzzles and exploration. The game is fairly long (I’ve played it so many times though that it’s hard to judge how long it takes to complete), has several side quests, and has many intricate puzzles to solve (just try the infamous Water Temple). Some of the puzzles are not quite as complex as the newer Zelda games (which you particularly feel in the dungeons), but they can be just as challenging (if not, more) than modern games.

GRAPHICS: As mentioned before, Ocarina of Time got a complete graphic overhaul, and needless to say, it’s love at first sight. I noticed the more important characters – like Link and Zelda – got the most attention to detail while others didn’t quite so much, but everyone has vastly improved from their unattractive polygonal N64 forms (such as the still creepy Great Fairy or the now menacing Moblins). Buildings have also received a facelift. The oh-so-awful-looking Market Town is actually now quite pretty and colorful (the Happy Mask Shop is my favorite), and the insides have been renovated as well. The graphics really bring the game almost 15 years into the future without looking too dated (although the fewer buildings and settings you encounter does let a little age show through). The 3D really brings the world into a new dimension, and some scenes (like anything involving 1^st person flying) and battles (like Phantom Ganon) must be played in 3D to really get the full experience. Most of the time, however, I find myself sticking to the 2D. I just found it a little easier to control.

Image:http://oi56.tinypic.com/35m1hdk.jpg (zeldauniverse.net)

ADDED AND CHANGED FEATURES: Ocarina of Time 3D has some really nice touch-ups and added features. One of the things I absolutely love is the gyro-sensor. It doesn’t work so well when the 3D is on, but in 2D, the gyro-sensor lets you shoot twice as fast and a bit more accurately than just using the analog slider. It is kind of awkward to be moving your 3DS around in public (such as the DMV – cough cough), and if you’re lying down, your range of motion is a bit limited, but overall, I love it. My favorite moment was navigating through the Lost Woods “maze” while the Moblins patrol the area. The combination of 3D and the slightest gyro-sensor makes you feel like you are actually walking right behind Link, and is kind of scarily realistic. The menu is also a great improvement. You no longer have to scroll through four screens to do anything. The touch screen makes equipping and unequipping items very easy. The Ocarina gets its own button, so it no longer takes up one of your item spaces, and you are also allowed to equip four items instead of three. Being able to equip four items comes in handy for dungeons like the Shadow Temple where you might need to use your Hover Boots, Iron Boots, Hookshot, and Eye of Truth all in the same room. However, I find myself not using the two spaces that you must tap the touchscreen to use very often. They’re kind of a hassle, and should be used for items that you don’t have to pull out really fast, such as the Eye of Truth, and not your Hookshot or arrows. Also, being able to take your Iron Boots on and off by just hitting a button is a great time savor and one of my favorite changes. Hint statues have been placed in the Temple of Time and outside of Link’s house, but I have yet to use this feature, so I cannot comment on their helpfulness at this time. As for added features, you can go to Link’s bed to relive boss battles (in your dreams, I assume?), which is fun to see how fast you can beat them. The biggest addition is Master Quest, which is the entire game flipped with the dungeons rearranged. It is harder than the original quest, with more difficult bad guys that deal more damage. I am still working through Master Quest right now, and after knowing how to do everything in the original, is turning out to be a great challenge… a really… challenging… challenge. It’s still a ton of fun though. 🙂

Image: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/media/23341/1/98.jpg

FINAL VERDICT: This game is awesome. If you have never played Ocarina of Time before, this is a great way to experience the classic. For those who have played it before and are not sure about buying it again, I would still recommend it. Even if you played the Gamecube Master Quest release, the 3DS version is also mirrored, which mixes things up a little bit more. Ocarina of Time is one of the best games ever made, and it is interesting to see that it still holds up quite well so many years later.

5 STARS! 😀

Check out the website for the game at: http://www.zelda.com/ocarina3d/

Image: http://files.planet3ds.net/2011/05/Nintendo-3DS-The-Legend-of-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-3D-Screenshots-1.png

 

Dumb Bus Wrap Thumbnails

A graphic artist is given the job of designing a bus wrap to promote public transit. She has no clue what to design, so as all good artists do, she creates thumbnails. First, she relies on facts that might look appealing to people. Air conditioning is always a thumbs-up, and she is certain that buses have air conditioning (right?).

She decides not knowing for certain is not the best idea. On an internet fact search, she discovers that riding the bus is safer than driving a car. She draws out her next great idea:

While getting the message across, the thumbnail lacked the pizzaz that color brings to a picture. She is aware that even just a splash of color can bring a new focus to a masterpiece, and she also creates a snazzy quote to go with it. (Does the fact that the font is inconsistent bother you?)

Advertising is a very complex business. People often look at psychological studies to understand how people will respond to something. Our graphic designer is well aware of this…

But she is also aware that nothing can beat references to pop culture! “Bulbous Bouffant” by the Vestibules seems highly appropriate…

But despite all these beautiful ideas, our graphic artist will probably end up drawing upon personal experience and computer screenshots to finish her job:

It’s perfect. The graphic artist’s work is done.