As my training has ended, this blog will be officially end and will not be updated.
However the blog will not be closed for reference purposes.
Visit my other personal blog :
ten-hundred.blogspot.com
archangel-project.blogspot.com
Monday, October 4, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Cumulative log - Monday 31 May 2010
10.00am – I came to the office. Although the outside door is open, the inside door is locked, thus I can’t enter.
10.30am – My co-worker Jason came. We then enter the office.
I remember last time that Mr Micheal asks me to add more props to my interior castle scene. I decided to use a plane attached with picture to save time. I search the net for several picture of statue.
Around 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.00pm – I’m back to the office.
Suddenly, Ms Winny called my co-worker Jason. She asks us to come to the ground floor to pick up new sets of computer from Mr Micheal car.
Once we picked the item, we bring it to the office. Then we open up the boxes and install the pieces until the PC ready to be used. While I finish my job, Jason continue by installing some software to those PCs.
I continue working on the scene. The picture of statue that I get from the net needed to be cleaned before I can use it on the plane. I need to erase the background and save it as PNG where the alpha channel is stored. The alpha channel is used for the plane to register the shape of the statue. If I didn’t use the alpha channel, the plane will look square and will not follow the shape of the statue.
I add a plane of vase and chandelier light to the scene.
Around 4.00pm – I tweak the lighting of the interior castle to get as realistic as possible.
Around 6.00pm - I have finish render the test scene. Now its time to render the animation. The animation consists of camera move and zooming into a place where the character should be.
Around 7.30pm -The render isnt finish yet, and there is still about 50minutes remaining. Mr Micheal give permission to dismiss while leaving the computer on.
10.30am – My co-worker Jason came. We then enter the office.
I remember last time that Mr Micheal asks me to add more props to my interior castle scene. I decided to use a plane attached with picture to save time. I search the net for several picture of statue.
Around 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.00pm – I’m back to the office.
Suddenly, Ms Winny called my co-worker Jason. She asks us to come to the ground floor to pick up new sets of computer from Mr Micheal car.
Once we picked the item, we bring it to the office. Then we open up the boxes and install the pieces until the PC ready to be used. While I finish my job, Jason continue by installing some software to those PCs.
I continue working on the scene. The picture of statue that I get from the net needed to be cleaned before I can use it on the plane. I need to erase the background and save it as PNG where the alpha channel is stored. The alpha channel is used for the plane to register the shape of the statue. If I didn’t use the alpha channel, the plane will look square and will not follow the shape of the statue.
I add a plane of vase and chandelier light to the scene.
Around 4.00pm – I tweak the lighting of the interior castle to get as realistic as possible.
Around 6.00pm - I have finish render the test scene. Now its time to render the animation. The animation consists of camera move and zooming into a place where the character should be.
Around 7.30pm -The render isnt finish yet, and there is still about 50minutes remaining. Mr Micheal give permission to dismiss while leaving the computer on.
Cumulative log - Thursday 27 May 2010
10.00am – I came to the office.
I continue working on the scene that I left yesterday. It was the castle door. I was supposed to make it as grand as possible. I try to tweak the texture placement by using UVW map modifier in 3Ds Max.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch with my friend Azlan again, but this time I bring my co-worker Khabi along.
2.00pm – We go back from lunch.
After a few more tweaks, I render out the castle door. I’ve satisfied. I then start to work on the next scenery/background which is the castle interior.
To get more idea on the castle interior, I gather a few picture of castle, chapels and Taj Mahal
5.00pm – I try to positioned the lighting for the castle interior as realistic as possible. I continuosly adjust and render again and again to get the best lighting as possible.
Around 6.30pm – Mr micheal came to take a look of my work. He told me that the background that I made was okay, but I need to add more props to the scene.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss.
Tommorow 28 May 2010 – Wesak day.
I continue working on the scene that I left yesterday. It was the castle door. I was supposed to make it as grand as possible. I try to tweak the texture placement by using UVW map modifier in 3Ds Max.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch with my friend Azlan again, but this time I bring my co-worker Khabi along.
2.00pm – We go back from lunch.
After a few more tweaks, I render out the castle door. I’ve satisfied. I then start to work on the next scenery/background which is the castle interior.
To get more idea on the castle interior, I gather a few picture of castle, chapels and Taj Mahal
5.00pm – I try to positioned the lighting for the castle interior as realistic as possible. I continuosly adjust and render again and again to get the best lighting as possible.
Around 6.30pm – Mr micheal came to take a look of my work. He told me that the background that I made was okay, but I need to add more props to the scene.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss.
Tommorow 28 May 2010 – Wesak day.
Cumulative log - Wednesday 26 Mei 2010
10.00am – I’ve came to the office. Unfortunately the office is still not open.
Around 10.20am – Ms Winny informed me by phone that Mr Micheal is on the way to the office.
Around 10.40am – Mr Micheal came to the office. After Mr Micheal open up the office door, he then give me the key card so that I can use it when I want to go out for lunch.
I then continue working on the castle scene.
Around 11.00am – Mr Micheal go out from the office.
To increase realism in my render, I try to render a Ambient Occlusion pass, where it creates a grayscale output that is dark areas where light cannot reach while bright areas where it can.
This requires me to override all the object material into Ambient Occlusion material. Thanks to mental ray, this was easy as there is a function called material override where I just put the material I want, and all of the object will use the requested material.
After final checking, I then hit render.
I then turned on my next desk computer to continue on other things while the render running on my PC.
Around 1.30pm – I go out to lunch.
Around 2.10pm – I’m back to the office.
The render are still running. On the other computer, I search pictures for my castle door reference.
Around 5.00pm – I start building my castle door. Just like the castle itself, I use loft and Boolean method to get the shape that I want. I continue looking at the reference picture while building the door.
Around 7.30pm – Ms Winny dismiss me by phone. They still didn’t back to the office yet.
Around 10.20am – Ms Winny informed me by phone that Mr Micheal is on the way to the office.
Around 10.40am – Mr Micheal came to the office. After Mr Micheal open up the office door, he then give me the key card so that I can use it when I want to go out for lunch.
I then continue working on the castle scene.
Around 11.00am – Mr Micheal go out from the office.
To increase realism in my render, I try to render a Ambient Occlusion pass, where it creates a grayscale output that is dark areas where light cannot reach while bright areas where it can.
This requires me to override all the object material into Ambient Occlusion material. Thanks to mental ray, this was easy as there is a function called material override where I just put the material I want, and all of the object will use the requested material.
After final checking, I then hit render.
I then turned on my next desk computer to continue on other things while the render running on my PC.
Around 1.30pm – I go out to lunch.
Around 2.10pm – I’m back to the office.
The render are still running. On the other computer, I search pictures for my castle door reference.
Around 5.00pm – I start building my castle door. Just like the castle itself, I use loft and Boolean method to get the shape that I want. I continue looking at the reference picture while building the door.
Around 7.30pm – Ms Winny dismiss me by phone. They still didn’t back to the office yet.
Cumulative log - Tuesday 25 Mei 2010
10.00am – I came to the office.
I then come to Ms Winny office and asks permission to come back to the office late after lunch because I need to go to back. I told her that if I go out to lunch at 1.00pm, I might be back around 2.30pm. She told me that she will give the decision wheter to let me out early so I can go back to the office early or just let me go as what I’ve planned.
Back to my desk, I take a look of my yesterday render. Unfortunately it only renders halfway. The total length of the scene is 5 second but it renders only for about 3 second. I then re-check the settings and found out that I wrongly set the time range of the renders.
Although is that, it is still okay as I found out a few errors that only shows up in the render but not on the 3D scene. I quickly patch up the problems and re-render the remaining scene.
Around 1.00pm – Ms Winny told me that I can go as I’ve planned. I then go to the bank to settle a few things.
Around 2.30pm –I’m back at the office. Ms Winny and Mr Micheal are not in the office. According to my co-worker Khabi, they go out to take the company van from Kepong to here. They will have shooting tomorrow so they need to prepare the camera and props today.
My renders meanwhile are still running. I then turned on the computer next to my desk and try to do something else. I decided to research more pictures of castles that can be used as a reference for the scene that I’m currently working on.
Around 4.00pm – My co-worker Khabi and Jason go out for the shooting preparation. Only Ms Winny and me left in the office.
Around 6.00pm – Ms Winny told me that she needs to go out for other business related to tomorrow shooting. I’m the only one left in the office.
Around 7.30pm – Ms Winny give me permission to dismiss by phone.
I then come to Ms Winny office and asks permission to come back to the office late after lunch because I need to go to back. I told her that if I go out to lunch at 1.00pm, I might be back around 2.30pm. She told me that she will give the decision wheter to let me out early so I can go back to the office early or just let me go as what I’ve planned.
Back to my desk, I take a look of my yesterday render. Unfortunately it only renders halfway. The total length of the scene is 5 second but it renders only for about 3 second. I then re-check the settings and found out that I wrongly set the time range of the renders.
Although is that, it is still okay as I found out a few errors that only shows up in the render but not on the 3D scene. I quickly patch up the problems and re-render the remaining scene.
Around 1.00pm – Ms Winny told me that I can go as I’ve planned. I then go to the bank to settle a few things.
Around 2.30pm –I’m back at the office. Ms Winny and Mr Micheal are not in the office. According to my co-worker Khabi, they go out to take the company van from Kepong to here. They will have shooting tomorrow so they need to prepare the camera and props today.
My renders meanwhile are still running. I then turned on the computer next to my desk and try to do something else. I decided to research more pictures of castles that can be used as a reference for the scene that I’m currently working on.
Around 4.00pm – My co-worker Khabi and Jason go out for the shooting preparation. Only Ms Winny and me left in the office.
Around 6.00pm – Ms Winny told me that she needs to go out for other business related to tomorrow shooting. I’m the only one left in the office.
Around 7.30pm – Ms Winny give me permission to dismiss by phone.
Cumulative log - Monday 24 Mei 2010
10.00am – I’ve come to the office
I check coit.uniten.edu.my for visiting lecturer list. Last week, Pn Aliza emailed us about this, but for the whole last week the list still not being uploaded onto the site. Today, the list is now up. I download the list. I found that my visiting lecturer will be Pn Asma. The only thing I know is that she is a lecturer in System and Networking department and teaches’ Advance Operating System’ subjects.
I’ve noticed that my classmate Azlan is taking his intern at ‘Persada Plus’, just besides my building. I then give him a call, and arrange a meeting at this coming lunch.
I then continue working on the castle.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch.
2.00pm – I’ve back from lunch.
After I modeled the tower for the castle, I continue tweaking the lighting. I add few more spot lights, aiming at the top of the mountain to simulate bright sun on them. I also tweak the texture UV map and placing plain billboard trees around the castle.
Around 6.30pm – I’m focusing on placing the camera and animating it. I start to render a few test scenes of the castle and its surroundings.
Around 7.30pm – After I set up the camera animation, It’s time to render the scene. It take about 23 hours to render, so I’ve asked Mr Micheal permission to leave my computer on. He approved it.
We then dismissed.
I check coit.uniten.edu.my for visiting lecturer list. Last week, Pn Aliza emailed us about this, but for the whole last week the list still not being uploaded onto the site. Today, the list is now up. I download the list. I found that my visiting lecturer will be Pn Asma. The only thing I know is that she is a lecturer in System and Networking department and teaches’ Advance Operating System’ subjects.
I’ve noticed that my classmate Azlan is taking his intern at ‘Persada Plus’, just besides my building. I then give him a call, and arrange a meeting at this coming lunch.
I then continue working on the castle.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch.
2.00pm – I’ve back from lunch.
After I modeled the tower for the castle, I continue tweaking the lighting. I add few more spot lights, aiming at the top of the mountain to simulate bright sun on them. I also tweak the texture UV map and placing plain billboard trees around the castle.
Around 6.30pm – I’m focusing on placing the camera and animating it. I start to render a few test scenes of the castle and its surroundings.
Around 7.30pm – After I set up the camera animation, It’s time to render the scene. It take about 23 hours to render, so I’ve asked Mr Micheal permission to leave my computer on. He approved it.
We then dismissed.
Cumulative log - Friday 21 May 2010
10.00am – I arrive at the office.
By referring to the sketch that I’ve made yesterday, I start to develop the castle basic shapes. I start by using simple shape such as cylinder and hemisphere.
While developing, I opened up 3Dsmax architectural book as a reference on developing the castle. In here, I learn how to use ‘Loft’ tools, which is pretty handy. We need to draw a spline of 2D shape that we want to make, and another spline for its thickness, height and shape of the borders. The origin of the ‘Loft’ words comes from the machine that spins while we create a shape of vase using clay.
I also use Boolean tool to cut thru the polygon to create shapes such as an arch.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch.
2.10pm – I’m back at the office.
I continue working on the castle.
Around 5.00pm – I asked my co-worker Jason his opinion regarding the castle model that I’ve made. He advises me a few thing such as the color of the dome, and also asks me to add a few towers around the castle.
Around 7.00pm – Mr Micheal check on my work. He told me that the castle looks small like a bungalow house. He also advise me a few things. One that I can remember is about comparisons of size, where if I want to make something look bigger, I must show something that we normally see it big such as trees, a whole lot smaller than the building. That way we can perceive the viewer eyes telling that the building is really big.
Around 7.40pm – We dismiss.
By referring to the sketch that I’ve made yesterday, I start to develop the castle basic shapes. I start by using simple shape such as cylinder and hemisphere.
While developing, I opened up 3Dsmax architectural book as a reference on developing the castle. In here, I learn how to use ‘Loft’ tools, which is pretty handy. We need to draw a spline of 2D shape that we want to make, and another spline for its thickness, height and shape of the borders. The origin of the ‘Loft’ words comes from the machine that spins while we create a shape of vase using clay.
I also use Boolean tool to cut thru the polygon to create shapes such as an arch.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch.
2.10pm – I’m back at the office.
I continue working on the castle.
Around 5.00pm – I asked my co-worker Jason his opinion regarding the castle model that I’ve made. He advises me a few thing such as the color of the dome, and also asks me to add a few towers around the castle.
Around 7.00pm – Mr Micheal check on my work. He told me that the castle looks small like a bungalow house. He also advise me a few things. One that I can remember is about comparisons of size, where if I want to make something look bigger, I must show something that we normally see it big such as trees, a whole lot smaller than the building. That way we can perceive the viewer eyes telling that the building is really big.
Around 7.40pm – We dismiss.
Cumulative log - Thursday 20 May 2010
10.00am – I’ve come to the office.
I continue going thru the tutorial of GroundWiz Lite. The plugins has the ability to import DEM files onto 3DsMax, but I need to learn the steps correctly.
Around 1.00pm – I manage to load the DEM files successfully. But there is some problem with navigation on 3DsMax. It seems that I can’t navigate properly. After a few check, it seems that the terrain is so huge, making it difficult to navigate. I then rescale the terrain.
After that, I create a camera and try to find the best angle. I cut the large terrain into several parts and rearrange the mountains. After I found a suitable proportion, I then applied GroundWiz material. I try to simulate ‘Grand Canyon’ rocky textures.
Around 2.00pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.40pm – I’m back to the office.
I continue working on the texture.
Around 4.00pm – I start render the terrain. I dislike the color as it was too orange. I tweak the render exposure and lighting few more times to get the best render.
Around 6.00pm – I finally found the best render. The background however consist only the mountain terrains. I need to place the castle somewhere in the middle of the mountain. I then start to sketch down the basic shape of the castle.
After I draw, I asks my co-worker Jason for his opinion, and he said that the castle must be in round shape. It’s roof should be something similar to a dome. It needs to look grand. I then re-worked on my sketch again.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss.
I continue going thru the tutorial of GroundWiz Lite. The plugins has the ability to import DEM files onto 3DsMax, but I need to learn the steps correctly.
Around 1.00pm – I manage to load the DEM files successfully. But there is some problem with navigation on 3DsMax. It seems that I can’t navigate properly. After a few check, it seems that the terrain is so huge, making it difficult to navigate. I then rescale the terrain.
After that, I create a camera and try to find the best angle. I cut the large terrain into several parts and rearrange the mountains. After I found a suitable proportion, I then applied GroundWiz material. I try to simulate ‘Grand Canyon’ rocky textures.
Around 2.00pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.40pm – I’m back to the office.
I continue working on the texture.
Around 4.00pm – I start render the terrain. I dislike the color as it was too orange. I tweak the render exposure and lighting few more times to get the best render.
Around 6.00pm – I finally found the best render. The background however consist only the mountain terrains. I need to place the castle somewhere in the middle of the mountain. I then start to sketch down the basic shape of the castle.
After I draw, I asks my co-worker Jason for his opinion, and he said that the castle must be in round shape. It’s roof should be something similar to a dome. It needs to look grand. I then re-worked on my sketch again.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss.
Cumulative log - Wednesday 19 May 2010
10.00am – I’ve come to the office as usual.
I continue research what I’ve left yesterday. I try to find ways to load the DEM data onto 3Dsmax.
Around 11.00am – Ms Winny asks me about the my claim report. I then stated to her that I failed to kept the receipt for the toll and petrol usage on the shooting day before so I couldn’t issued a claim. She then tell me it is okay, all I need to do is state down the mileage and toll and pass it to her. I then asks my co-worker Khabi on how to write the claim report.
Around 12.00pm – I’ve found a website which explains the step by step on how to download DEM data and load it onto 3D modeling software. The website also provides a link to where we can download the DEM data, which is different from what I’ve found yesterday. It’s a website of US government agency that specializing in Digital Elevation Models in the United State. Although it only provides DEM in the US region, I believe it is already good enough as DEM that I was looking for is ‘Grand Canyon’, a place in the US itself.
Around 1.00pm – After I managed to download DEM data, I try to load the file again in 3Ds Max. It was a hit and miss. Sometimes it load but once I navigate thru, it crashes the program. Other tries it fails to load at all. It seems that either I missed a step again or I totally messed up the whole process. I turn my focus onto finishing my claim report instead.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch.
2.10pm – I’m back at the office.
Around 2.30pm - I submit the claim report that I’ve made earlier to Ms Winny. I then continue researching to solve the DEM loading problem.
Around 4.00pm – I found a plugins for 3DsMax called GroundWiz. It’s a plugin to create a texture for terrain using procedural method. Procedural method means that it uses mathematical calculation to create the texture based on slope, altitude and percentage instead of a bitmap images.
I found that GroundWiz has the capability to load DEM file too. I start downloading the free version of GroundWiz, called ‘GroundWiz’ Lite. There are however some limitation in the ‘Lite’ version, such as maximum resolution of 800x600 only when rendered using mental ray, although there is no limit when using standard scanline renderer that comes with 3ds Max.
I start by going thru the tutorial that comes with the ‘GroundWiz’ Lite. It was a breeze. I now know how to apply the procedural texture onto terrain. I also learn that we can use multiple layer of textures to simulate real life terrain, such as base color, soil, sand, grass and snow layer. We can determine exactly where we want to put such layer on its respective order. This is critical as for example; snow must be on the highest point of the terrain or mountain, while grass must not grow on top of the snow. We also want to make the snow thickness varies and at some point we can still see the soil or ground. This increase realism and make the terrain looks believable.
Around 7.00pm – Ms Winny hand to us our allowance by cheque slip. Mine is RM300 only.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss
I continue research what I’ve left yesterday. I try to find ways to load the DEM data onto 3Dsmax.
Around 11.00am – Ms Winny asks me about the my claim report. I then stated to her that I failed to kept the receipt for the toll and petrol usage on the shooting day before so I couldn’t issued a claim. She then tell me it is okay, all I need to do is state down the mileage and toll and pass it to her. I then asks my co-worker Khabi on how to write the claim report.
Around 12.00pm – I’ve found a website which explains the step by step on how to download DEM data and load it onto 3D modeling software. The website also provides a link to where we can download the DEM data, which is different from what I’ve found yesterday. It’s a website of US government agency that specializing in Digital Elevation Models in the United State. Although it only provides DEM in the US region, I believe it is already good enough as DEM that I was looking for is ‘Grand Canyon’, a place in the US itself.
Around 1.00pm – After I managed to download DEM data, I try to load the file again in 3Ds Max. It was a hit and miss. Sometimes it load but once I navigate thru, it crashes the program. Other tries it fails to load at all. It seems that either I missed a step again or I totally messed up the whole process. I turn my focus onto finishing my claim report instead.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch.
2.10pm – I’m back at the office.
Around 2.30pm - I submit the claim report that I’ve made earlier to Ms Winny. I then continue researching to solve the DEM loading problem.
Around 4.00pm – I found a plugins for 3DsMax called GroundWiz. It’s a plugin to create a texture for terrain using procedural method. Procedural method means that it uses mathematical calculation to create the texture based on slope, altitude and percentage instead of a bitmap images.
I found that GroundWiz has the capability to load DEM file too. I start downloading the free version of GroundWiz, called ‘GroundWiz’ Lite. There are however some limitation in the ‘Lite’ version, such as maximum resolution of 800x600 only when rendered using mental ray, although there is no limit when using standard scanline renderer that comes with 3ds Max.
I start by going thru the tutorial that comes with the ‘GroundWiz’ Lite. It was a breeze. I now know how to apply the procedural texture onto terrain. I also learn that we can use multiple layer of textures to simulate real life terrain, such as base color, soil, sand, grass and snow layer. We can determine exactly where we want to put such layer on its respective order. This is critical as for example; snow must be on the highest point of the terrain or mountain, while grass must not grow on top of the snow. We also want to make the snow thickness varies and at some point we can still see the soil or ground. This increase realism and make the terrain looks believable.
Around 7.00pm – Ms Winny hand to us our allowance by cheque slip. Mine is RM300 only.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss
Cumulative log - Tuesday 18 May 2010
10.00am - I came to the office.
I continue searching the required material for my next scene on the net. My next scene requires me to model a scenery of desert, and I’ve decided to create a valley, much like a Grand Canyon in US. After a couple of reference, I opened up 3Ds Max and start modeling.
Around 1.00pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.00pm – I’m back to the office.
I’m researching on how to create a valley as my attempt to model one end up miserably. After a few search on some 3D forum, I found that we can download a real scientific data called ‘ Digital Elevation Model’. It is an information of the earth crust levels around the worlds that is captured by the satellite.
The data is in ‘DEM’ format and to load it onto 3D modeling software such as 3Ds Max, we need a special tool, plug-ins or software that is capable to convert such data to a readable format.
I continue research on how to get the data and how to use it in my scene.
Around 5.00pm – I finally found a website which provides such data freely. I try to download it. It takes a few minute before I can get the file. Once done, I try to convert the file using a convertor program that I download from the net.
Around 6.00pm – I failed to load the file in 3Ds Max. It seems that I missed some crucial steps as I’ve still not have enough knowledge to use this method.
Around 7.30pm – We dismissed.
I continue searching the required material for my next scene on the net. My next scene requires me to model a scenery of desert, and I’ve decided to create a valley, much like a Grand Canyon in US. After a couple of reference, I opened up 3Ds Max and start modeling.
Around 1.00pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.00pm – I’m back to the office.
I’m researching on how to create a valley as my attempt to model one end up miserably. After a few search on some 3D forum, I found that we can download a real scientific data called ‘ Digital Elevation Model’. It is an information of the earth crust levels around the worlds that is captured by the satellite.
The data is in ‘DEM’ format and to load it onto 3D modeling software such as 3Ds Max, we need a special tool, plug-ins or software that is capable to convert such data to a readable format.
I continue research on how to get the data and how to use it in my scene.
Around 5.00pm – I finally found a website which provides such data freely. I try to download it. It takes a few minute before I can get the file. Once done, I try to convert the file using a convertor program that I download from the net.
Around 6.00pm – I failed to load the file in 3Ds Max. It seems that I missed some crucial steps as I’ve still not have enough knowledge to use this method.
Around 7.30pm – We dismissed.
Cumulative log - Monday 17 May 2010
10.00am – I came to the office.
I continue working on the destroyed city scene.
Around 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
Around 3.00pm – Mr Micheal come on to my desk to check out my work. He advised me a few thing about the background, and told me to fix the noise on the green screen footage. He then told me that after this scene, I need to work out on another scene. He then asks my co-worker Jason to gave me the new scene. He then explained to Jason in Chinese what he wants and then Jason re-explain to me in Malay.
I copied the scene file onto my ‘pendrive’. I then back on my desk and continue fixing the remaining problem on the destroyed city scene.
Around 4.30pm – I finish working on the destroyed city scene. However the render take an hour to complete. I then search the net for suitable material and ideas for the next scene.
Around 5.00pm – I go the Jason desk to ask him a few things about the next scene that I’ll be working on. For this scene, I need to make scenery of inside an enemy base. While most of the scene for the movie is destroyed and looked abandon, the enemy base should look perfect with greenery and gardens around the base. Mr Micheal, sitting next to Jason then comes to our conversation. He told me a few details on how the scene should look like. He also told me that I need to make an establishing shot.
Establishing shot is an introductory scene before the actual scene come in, usually to show the audience the location of the character. In this case, I need to show a contrast between the destroyed world, the desert where the base is at, the surrounding of the base where it is much livelier and green, and finally the base of the enemy.
Around 5.30pm – I start to draw a sketch of the enemy location in Photoshop using my graphic tablet.
Around 7.00pm – I show to my co-worker Jason the sketch. He advised me a few things about my sketch. I fix the sketch according to his direction.
Around 7.20pm – Mr Micheal take a look at my sketch. He then asked me to change a few things, such as the height of the cliff where the base will be at. He then dismisses us. I take a note of his words.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss
I continue working on the destroyed city scene.
Around 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
Around 3.00pm – Mr Micheal come on to my desk to check out my work. He advised me a few thing about the background, and told me to fix the noise on the green screen footage. He then told me that after this scene, I need to work out on another scene. He then asks my co-worker Jason to gave me the new scene. He then explained to Jason in Chinese what he wants and then Jason re-explain to me in Malay.
I copied the scene file onto my ‘pendrive’. I then back on my desk and continue fixing the remaining problem on the destroyed city scene.
Around 4.30pm – I finish working on the destroyed city scene. However the render take an hour to complete. I then search the net for suitable material and ideas for the next scene.
Around 5.00pm – I go the Jason desk to ask him a few things about the next scene that I’ll be working on. For this scene, I need to make scenery of inside an enemy base. While most of the scene for the movie is destroyed and looked abandon, the enemy base should look perfect with greenery and gardens around the base. Mr Micheal, sitting next to Jason then comes to our conversation. He told me a few details on how the scene should look like. He also told me that I need to make an establishing shot.
Establishing shot is an introductory scene before the actual scene come in, usually to show the audience the location of the character. In this case, I need to show a contrast between the destroyed world, the desert where the base is at, the surrounding of the base where it is much livelier and green, and finally the base of the enemy.
Around 5.30pm – I start to draw a sketch of the enemy location in Photoshop using my graphic tablet.
Around 7.00pm – I show to my co-worker Jason the sketch. He advised me a few things about my sketch. I fix the sketch according to his direction.
Around 7.20pm – Mr Micheal take a look at my sketch. He then asked me to change a few things, such as the height of the cliff where the base will be at. He then dismisses us. I take a note of his words.
Around 7.30pm – We dismiss
Cumulative log - Saturday 15th May 2010
10.00am – I arrive at the office. However the office is still not open. I decided to wait at the corridor.
10.20am – My co-worker Jason came. It seems that Mr Micheal and Ms Winny not coming to the office. I and Jason are the only one in the office.
I then continue my work.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch
2.00pm – I’m back to the office.
Around 5.30pm – Mr Micheal came to the office.
Around 6.00pm – Mr Micheal came to my desk to take a look at my work. He spots a weirdness of my scene, where the perspective seems a bit off.
7.30pm – We dismiss
10.20am – My co-worker Jason came. It seems that Mr Micheal and Ms Winny not coming to the office. I and Jason are the only one in the office.
I then continue my work.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch
2.00pm – I’m back to the office.
Around 5.30pm – Mr Micheal came to the office.
Around 6.00pm – Mr Micheal came to my desk to take a look at my work. He spots a weirdness of my scene, where the perspective seems a bit off.
7.30pm – We dismiss
Cumulative log - Friday 14th May 2010
10.00pm – I came to the office. I noticed that my co-worker Khabi is not around. After asking Jason, he told me that he has something to do at his college.
I continue working on my matte painting background. I search the net for suitable material and references.
About 12.45pm – I go out for Friday pray.
Around 2.40pm – I’m back at the office. I continue working on my background.
The re-construction of the scene background is more complex than I anticipated. Because of the viewing angle, it is so difficult to find suitable building to fit the scene. Plus, the building needs to look abandon. I found that by searching ‘Earthquake’ and ‘Demolition’ in Google brings up a few numbers of wrecked building pictures which is suitable for the abandon theme. However, as I said before, the view angles are critical to accomplish the job.
Before this I use a perfect looking skyscrapers and building, and mark a few burn and cracks to make it look abandon. It seems that this method is not too realistic and cartoonish.
Around 6.00pm – Sometimes when I get bored or when I out of idea, I came to my co-worker Jason desk to check out his work. He scene is far more advance. He use a particle system in 3Ds max to do a meteor effects. He then render out the animation and import them into After effects. He then composed the animation onto the scene.
His method gives me idea to put in some animation into my background scene. Our company has a collection of special effects video, such as smoke, explosion, fog/mist, blood and more. I decided to use a fire effects and put it onto my background scene. It looks like there is a pile of rubble that gets burned after being hit by a meteor fragments. The effects can’t be added in Photoshop, so after a few tweaks on the background, I then import it to After Effects. There, after I sets up the camera and the layers, I then put the fire effects.
Around 7.30pm – We dismissed.
I continue working on my matte painting background. I search the net for suitable material and references.
About 12.45pm – I go out for Friday pray.
Around 2.40pm – I’m back at the office. I continue working on my background.
The re-construction of the scene background is more complex than I anticipated. Because of the viewing angle, it is so difficult to find suitable building to fit the scene. Plus, the building needs to look abandon. I found that by searching ‘Earthquake’ and ‘Demolition’ in Google brings up a few numbers of wrecked building pictures which is suitable for the abandon theme. However, as I said before, the view angles are critical to accomplish the job.
Before this I use a perfect looking skyscrapers and building, and mark a few burn and cracks to make it look abandon. It seems that this method is not too realistic and cartoonish.
Around 6.00pm – Sometimes when I get bored or when I out of idea, I came to my co-worker Jason desk to check out his work. He scene is far more advance. He use a particle system in 3Ds max to do a meteor effects. He then render out the animation and import them into After effects. He then composed the animation onto the scene.
His method gives me idea to put in some animation into my background scene. Our company has a collection of special effects video, such as smoke, explosion, fog/mist, blood and more. I decided to use a fire effects and put it onto my background scene. It looks like there is a pile of rubble that gets burned after being hit by a meteor fragments. The effects can’t be added in Photoshop, so after a few tweaks on the background, I then import it to After Effects. There, after I sets up the camera and the layers, I then put the fire effects.
Around 7.30pm – We dismissed.
Cumulative log - Thursday 13th May 2010
I was given an off yesterday by Mr Micheal and Ms Winny (Wednesday 12/5/2010)
Yesterday around 10.00pm, Ms Winny SMS me telling that they will only arrive to the office at 11.00am today.
11.00am – I arrive at the office. I continue working on the abandon city background. Yesterday I’ve found a picture of back alley, and I thought it will be a great idea to do place the character on there. I assemble the elements piece by piece.
2.00pm – I go out to lunch with my friend Jason and Khabi
About 2.45pm – we’ve back to the office. Before lunch I’ve already imported the background that I made in Photoshop onto After effects. I’ve then setting up the green screen footage and place it on the scene.
About 4.00pm – Mr Micheal come to Khabi’s PC and ask him to take a look of a DVD. He loaded the DVD and plays it. It was a sample portfolio DVD of Chinese Special Effect company, named Big Fatt. The company assists quite a number of Chinese movies; one that I knew was the Storm Riders. It shows a scene of the movie, and then it shows the effects breakdown of the scene in details. Matte painting, 3D effects and blue screens are used altogether in most scene. It was a spectacular to see that the matte painting they used was flawless, we can’t see it until they shows us the breakdown.
About 4.45pm – The shows done. We continue to work.
About 5.00pm – Mr Micheal take a look on my work. He tolds me that the taller building at the back seems okay, but the back alley seem unmatched with those building theme, and asks me to change it. It’s not that he disagree with the back alley elements, he says that the back alley seems too real while others looks much fantasy. Mr Micheal keep telling me that my background should look more fantasy than realistic. He then told me that he will be searching for samples to show me what he is expecting. About 10 minutes later, he calls me to his office, showing the sample picture from the net on his monitor.
I analyze the picture carefully while Mr Micheal explains to me the details of what exactly wrong with my work. After that I came back to my desk and start revamps my work again. I back to the original Photoshop files again.
About 7.30pm – We dismissed.
Yesterday around 10.00pm, Ms Winny SMS me telling that they will only arrive to the office at 11.00am today.
11.00am – I arrive at the office. I continue working on the abandon city background. Yesterday I’ve found a picture of back alley, and I thought it will be a great idea to do place the character on there. I assemble the elements piece by piece.
2.00pm – I go out to lunch with my friend Jason and Khabi
About 2.45pm – we’ve back to the office. Before lunch I’ve already imported the background that I made in Photoshop onto After effects. I’ve then setting up the green screen footage and place it on the scene.
About 4.00pm – Mr Micheal come to Khabi’s PC and ask him to take a look of a DVD. He loaded the DVD and plays it. It was a sample portfolio DVD of Chinese Special Effect company, named Big Fatt. The company assists quite a number of Chinese movies; one that I knew was the Storm Riders. It shows a scene of the movie, and then it shows the effects breakdown of the scene in details. Matte painting, 3D effects and blue screens are used altogether in most scene. It was a spectacular to see that the matte painting they used was flawless, we can’t see it until they shows us the breakdown.
About 4.45pm – The shows done. We continue to work.
About 5.00pm – Mr Micheal take a look on my work. He tolds me that the taller building at the back seems okay, but the back alley seem unmatched with those building theme, and asks me to change it. It’s not that he disagree with the back alley elements, he says that the back alley seems too real while others looks much fantasy. Mr Micheal keep telling me that my background should look more fantasy than realistic. He then told me that he will be searching for samples to show me what he is expecting. About 10 minutes later, he calls me to his office, showing the sample picture from the net on his monitor.
I analyze the picture carefully while Mr Micheal explains to me the details of what exactly wrong with my work. After that I came back to my desk and start revamps my work again. I back to the original Photoshop files again.
About 7.30pm – We dismissed.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Cumulative Log - Tuesday 9th May 2010
10.00am – I came to the office.
I continue working on the abandon city scenery. I gather a few pictures of building in Malaysia as I was asked by Mr Micheal to put in some Malaysian elements onto the scene.
About 11.00pm – My 2 co-workers are being called for a briefing in Ms Winny office. Mr Micheal came to my desk at tell me that I’ll be off tomorrow but I will be assigned to work on this Saturday.
About 11.40pm – My 2 co-workers go out for their assigned tasks. I just continue working on the background.
About 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
About 2.10pm – I back to the office.
About 5.00pm – My 2 co-workers came back to the office together with Mr Micheal. They bought 3 big black box that I assume was the camera and its equipments. Ms Winny and my co-workers then have a few discussions with Ms Winny about something that they need to buy for tomorrow shooting. Mr micheal asks me where is the nearest ‘Tesco’ stores here but unfortunately I have no idea.
About 5.40pm – A person came to the office. They are the Air-cond installer. They bring a new set of Air-cond which is 2.5HP Panasonic brand. After bringing the Air-cond units in, they go out for a few minutes to bring some tools. I then help Mr Micheals to move 2 computer desks that is beneath the place where the Air-cond are to be installed. I then resume my work.
About 6.00pm – The installation started. Drilling and hammering noise echos in the office. It was so noisy that I could not continue doing my work, so I decided to take a rest and enjoy watching their work, haha.
About 7.30pm – The installation done. Ms Winny and Mr Micheal then test the Air-cond remote controls. After a few test, the payment was made. Mr Micheal then dismiss us, however we need to bring down few unused chairs downstairs.
About 7.50pm – We loaded the chair onto the company van. Then my co-workers were asked to drive the van to the warehouse and unload the chairs there. Then they need to bring the van back at the shooting place tomorrow. I meanwhile headed to my car and drive home.
I continue working on the abandon city scenery. I gather a few pictures of building in Malaysia as I was asked by Mr Micheal to put in some Malaysian elements onto the scene.
About 11.00pm – My 2 co-workers are being called for a briefing in Ms Winny office. Mr Micheal came to my desk at tell me that I’ll be off tomorrow but I will be assigned to work on this Saturday.
About 11.40pm – My 2 co-workers go out for their assigned tasks. I just continue working on the background.
About 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
About 2.10pm – I back to the office.
About 5.00pm – My 2 co-workers came back to the office together with Mr Micheal. They bought 3 big black box that I assume was the camera and its equipments. Ms Winny and my co-workers then have a few discussions with Ms Winny about something that they need to buy for tomorrow shooting. Mr micheal asks me where is the nearest ‘Tesco’ stores here but unfortunately I have no idea.
About 5.40pm – A person came to the office. They are the Air-cond installer. They bring a new set of Air-cond which is 2.5HP Panasonic brand. After bringing the Air-cond units in, they go out for a few minutes to bring some tools. I then help Mr Micheals to move 2 computer desks that is beneath the place where the Air-cond are to be installed. I then resume my work.
About 6.00pm – The installation started. Drilling and hammering noise echos in the office. It was so noisy that I could not continue doing my work, so I decided to take a rest and enjoy watching their work, haha.
About 7.30pm – The installation done. Ms Winny and Mr Micheal then test the Air-cond remote controls. After a few test, the payment was made. Mr Micheal then dismiss us, however we need to bring down few unused chairs downstairs.
About 7.50pm – We loaded the chair onto the company van. Then my co-workers were asked to drive the van to the warehouse and unload the chairs there. Then they need to bring the van back at the shooting place tomorrow. I meanwhile headed to my car and drive home.
Cumulative log - Monday 8th May 2010
10.00am – I came to the office. I continue enhancing the Monastery background.
About 1.30pm – I rush to UNITEN to pay the late fees for Application to graduate.
About 2.00pm – I arrive at UNITEN. I go to Admin, and to the registrar counter. I was given a some kind of slip and was asked to go to Finance department to settle the payment. After I pay the fees, I go back to registrar counter for further action. I was told that I need to pass up the payment slip to the registrar office, but unfortunately it only opens at 2.30pm.
I decided to call my friend so that I can asked him pass up the slip later.
About 2.35pm – My friend came to the UNITEN Admin building. I pass the slip. I then rush to go back to the office.
About 3.10pm – I’ve back to the office. I try to finish up the remaining Monastery scene.
About 5.00pm – Mr Micheal came to check my work, and I show him the Monastery scene. He seems to be satisfied with my work, however there are some issues, such as some shot color hue is a little bit off, and to blur out anything that might relates to a religion.
Instead of fixing the scene, I decided to focus on the next scene. I search the net for buildings pictures that may be suitable for the scene
About 7.30pm – We dismissed.
About 1.30pm – I rush to UNITEN to pay the late fees for Application to graduate.
About 2.00pm – I arrive at UNITEN. I go to Admin, and to the registrar counter. I was given a some kind of slip and was asked to go to Finance department to settle the payment. After I pay the fees, I go back to registrar counter for further action. I was told that I need to pass up the payment slip to the registrar office, but unfortunately it only opens at 2.30pm.
I decided to call my friend so that I can asked him pass up the slip later.
About 2.35pm – My friend came to the UNITEN Admin building. I pass the slip. I then rush to go back to the office.
About 3.10pm – I’ve back to the office. I try to finish up the remaining Monastery scene.
About 5.00pm – Mr Micheal came to check my work, and I show him the Monastery scene. He seems to be satisfied with my work, however there are some issues, such as some shot color hue is a little bit off, and to blur out anything that might relates to a religion.
Instead of fixing the scene, I decided to focus on the next scene. I search the net for buildings pictures that may be suitable for the scene
About 7.30pm – We dismissed.
Cumulative log - Friday 7th May 2010
10.00am – I came to the office. I notice that my co-workers, Jason are not coming to work today. I’ve been informed by my other co-worker Khabi that he’s back to Penang to see his dentist.
I then continue working on my Monastery background.
About 12.45pm – I go out to lunch before going off to Friday pray.
About 2.00pm – I arrive at the office. Unfortunately the office is locked.
About 2.30pm – My co-worker Khabi came to the office. Because he is the only one left in the office, he was given the office key card by Ms Winny and Mr Micheal.
I then continue working on the Monastery. The scene itself has a different shot, so I have to prepare different background for some shots although the events happen in the same place.
About 5.00pm – After I finish working on the scene, it’s time to add some animation so the background doesn’t look too still. I decided to use light burst plug-ins in After Effects to create a blinking effects on the light fixtures. I also add the plug-ins onto the Monastery window so it looks like the sun is shining thru the interior.
About 6.00pm – Mr Micheal came to see my work. He seems satisfied with my job and telling me that this scene is better that the last scene that I’ve done. However he asks me to modify the Monastery to look a little bit older and abandon. He also tell me that I need to remember that the abandon and old looks must be applied towards the entire scene that I’ll be working on later.
Mr Micheal then gave me a new footage. This footage is about a girl who seems to be lost in an abandon city. Mr Micheal asks me to create a background of an abandon city similar to the first scene that I’ve done before.
However I need to re-worked the Monastery scene before I proceed to the next one.
About 7.30pm – We dismissed
I then continue working on my Monastery background.
About 12.45pm – I go out to lunch before going off to Friday pray.
About 2.00pm – I arrive at the office. Unfortunately the office is locked.
About 2.30pm – My co-worker Khabi came to the office. Because he is the only one left in the office, he was given the office key card by Ms Winny and Mr Micheal.
I then continue working on the Monastery. The scene itself has a different shot, so I have to prepare different background for some shots although the events happen in the same place.
About 5.00pm – After I finish working on the scene, it’s time to add some animation so the background doesn’t look too still. I decided to use light burst plug-ins in After Effects to create a blinking effects on the light fixtures. I also add the plug-ins onto the Monastery window so it looks like the sun is shining thru the interior.
About 6.00pm – Mr Micheal came to see my work. He seems satisfied with my job and telling me that this scene is better that the last scene that I’ve done. However he asks me to modify the Monastery to look a little bit older and abandon. He also tell me that I need to remember that the abandon and old looks must be applied towards the entire scene that I’ll be working on later.
Mr Micheal then gave me a new footage. This footage is about a girl who seems to be lost in an abandon city. Mr Micheal asks me to create a background of an abandon city similar to the first scene that I’ve done before.
However I need to re-worked the Monastery scene before I proceed to the next one.
About 7.30pm – We dismissed
Cumulative log - Thursday 6th May 2010
10.00am – I arrive at the office.
About 11.00am – I’ve called by Ms Winny to her office. She stated that the excessive working hours is not done regularly, and only needed when the dateline is near. The dateline however is given by their client/boss on the last minute and therefore can’t be avoided.
She decided to exclude me from shooting day; however I might have to come on Saturday for additional work on office, but not necessarily in the same office. From what I know, they have a few departments on different locations, 2 that I know is at Kelana Square where I was working at, another is at Sunway Mentari. They also have a warehouse in Bandar Manjalara, near Kepong.
I told her that although I will continue on the training, I still not satisfied with the conclusion, especially on the working hours. This is because with this kind of agreement, they can still prolonged the working hours as they like, as there is no agreement anywhere stating the official working hours that the company must obey.
I then email Pn Aliza asking for an advice regarding this issues.
About 11.45pm – I continue working on the monastery background.
About 2.00pm – I go out to lunch with my co-workers.
About 2.45pm – We back to the office.
About 4.00pm – I finish working on the monastery. I also have loaded the background into After Effects and put the green screen footage. I then asked my co-worker Jason for an opinion regarding the Monastery background. Unfortunately he said that the background will clash with the previous scene as the Monastery that I build looks too grand. He also advises me to change the lighting and color moods of the whole scene.
I then continue working on the scene
About 7.30pm – We dismissed
About 11.00am – I’ve called by Ms Winny to her office. She stated that the excessive working hours is not done regularly, and only needed when the dateline is near. The dateline however is given by their client/boss on the last minute and therefore can’t be avoided.
She decided to exclude me from shooting day; however I might have to come on Saturday for additional work on office, but not necessarily in the same office. From what I know, they have a few departments on different locations, 2 that I know is at Kelana Square where I was working at, another is at Sunway Mentari. They also have a warehouse in Bandar Manjalara, near Kepong.
I told her that although I will continue on the training, I still not satisfied with the conclusion, especially on the working hours. This is because with this kind of agreement, they can still prolonged the working hours as they like, as there is no agreement anywhere stating the official working hours that the company must obey.
I then email Pn Aliza asking for an advice regarding this issues.
About 11.45pm – I continue working on the monastery background.
About 2.00pm – I go out to lunch with my co-workers.
About 2.45pm – We back to the office.
About 4.00pm – I finish working on the monastery. I also have loaded the background into After Effects and put the green screen footage. I then asked my co-worker Jason for an opinion regarding the Monastery background. Unfortunately he said that the background will clash with the previous scene as the Monastery that I build looks too grand. He also advises me to change the lighting and color moods of the whole scene.
I then continue working on the scene
About 7.30pm – We dismissed
Cumulative log - Wednesday 5th May 2010
10.00am – I arrive at the office
10.10am – I give Ms Winny training withdrawal letter. Inside the letter are list of issues that occur during past few weeks. However I gave her some time to think before making the decision.
10.15am – I’m continue working on the monastery background that I’ve been asked before. I’ve been informed by my co-worker Jason that Mr Micheal are going out submitting the work that we’ve done yesterday.
I continue searching materials for the monastery on the net.
About 1.30pm – Ms Winny told me that she will discuss about the letter when Mr Micheal came back to the office.
About 2.00pm – I and my 2 co-workers go out to lunch together.
About 2.45pm – We back to the office. I continue working on the background.
About 4.00pm – Mr Micheal came back to the office. After a while I’ve been called into their office.
We discuss about few issues especially the working hours. I believe the working hours are too long compared to normal working hours. The excessive working hours are mostly on the day before and on the shooting day.
Before this, just about a week after I start on the training, I’ve risen up the issue to Industrial Training Committee Pn Aliza but she said that it is too early for me to judge anything. I also had been advised by her and ITC to discuss the issue with the boss of the company first before making any decision. So, because it is too early to rise up the issue to the company, I wait until one month (week 4).
One problem that I stated is that the usage of my car for family purposes. I also stated that I can only work at maximum of 10 hours. I rise up this issue because after 3 weeks of observation, it seems that the average working hours is about 12hours, and the longest was on the day before and on the shooting day, which is 17 hours a day. The total working hours per week is 60, with the additional of total 30++ hours on Saturday and Sunday.
The discussion took about 30 minutes, and we still didn’t come up to a conclusion. Ms Winny said that they will give the answer tomorrow.
5.00pm – Mr Micheal dismiss us. He said that because we are working until late night yesterday, he and Ms Winny decided to dismiss us much earlier today.
10.10am – I give Ms Winny training withdrawal letter. Inside the letter are list of issues that occur during past few weeks. However I gave her some time to think before making the decision.
10.15am – I’m continue working on the monastery background that I’ve been asked before. I’ve been informed by my co-worker Jason that Mr Micheal are going out submitting the work that we’ve done yesterday.
I continue searching materials for the monastery on the net.
About 1.30pm – Ms Winny told me that she will discuss about the letter when Mr Micheal came back to the office.
About 2.00pm – I and my 2 co-workers go out to lunch together.
About 2.45pm – We back to the office. I continue working on the background.
About 4.00pm – Mr Micheal came back to the office. After a while I’ve been called into their office.
We discuss about few issues especially the working hours. I believe the working hours are too long compared to normal working hours. The excessive working hours are mostly on the day before and on the shooting day.
Before this, just about a week after I start on the training, I’ve risen up the issue to Industrial Training Committee Pn Aliza but she said that it is too early for me to judge anything. I also had been advised by her and ITC to discuss the issue with the boss of the company first before making any decision. So, because it is too early to rise up the issue to the company, I wait until one month (week 4).
One problem that I stated is that the usage of my car for family purposes. I also stated that I can only work at maximum of 10 hours. I rise up this issue because after 3 weeks of observation, it seems that the average working hours is about 12hours, and the longest was on the day before and on the shooting day, which is 17 hours a day. The total working hours per week is 60, with the additional of total 30++ hours on Saturday and Sunday.
The discussion took about 30 minutes, and we still didn’t come up to a conclusion. Ms Winny said that they will give the answer tomorrow.
5.00pm – Mr Micheal dismiss us. He said that because we are working until late night yesterday, he and Ms Winny decided to dismiss us much earlier today.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Cumulative log - Tuesday 4th May 2010
Around 9.20am - My car brake failure. I was unable to use the footbrake at all. I decided to go to a workshop nearby in Klang to check for the problem. I drive slowly and use my handbrake whenever I need to slowdown and stop.
The workshop has 2 -3 cars in the working. So I need to wait the queue. I dont know for how long, so I call Ms Winny telling the situation. I then called my sister to fetch me back to my house.
Around 2.00pm – I called the workshop to asks about my car, and it just being checked. They dont know the problem yet. So I decided to head back to the workshop. My sister fetch me to the workshop.
Around 2.30pm –We arrive at the workshop. The mechanic said that there is a problem wih my Master Pump Brake and it need to be replaced. However the mechanic said I need to wait for the item to arrive at the shop as they don’t keep the item in the workshop.
Around 3.40pm to 4.00pm – Ms Winny called me and asks me about the situation. She then asks me to come to the office at any cost, with taxi, bus or anything. This is because they need to submit all the scene by tomorrow. I then asks my sister to fetch me to the office.
Around 5.00pm – I arrive at the office. I was given a 3D footage by my co-worker Jason and he asks me to add a background to it. I then search the net for suitable material.
Around 5.40pm – Ms Winny and Mr micheal come back to the office from offsite work.
Around 6.00pm – I working on the scene little by little in photoshop.
Arounf 7.00pm – I import them in after effects. The 3D footage is a movie of some kind of platform rotating around the camera. It is so difficult to match the movement of the camera to the background. I also been asked by my co-worker Jason to add a somekind of flash on the platform ground which require a bit more work as the scene is moving to much.
Around 9.00pm – I managed to completed the scene, and show to Mr Micheal and Jason. Mr Micheal asks me to change some things and I reworked on the scene. I then pass the scene to Jason to add the green screen footage on top of it.
Because the dateline is near, we need to focused on the scene that need to be submited, and Jason are currently working on the most important scene. So we separate the work where I worked on the background while Jason worked on the character from he green screen footage.
The character has some kind supernatural power which need a complex special effects to be added, that happen to be my co-worker Jason expertise. Because that special effects took much time to render, he pass the background on me.
At around 11.00pm – We dismiss. I meanwhile have to wait for my sister to arrive from Klang.
Around 12.00pm – My sister arrive
About 12.45pm – I’m home.
The workshop has 2 -3 cars in the working. So I need to wait the queue. I dont know for how long, so I call Ms Winny telling the situation. I then called my sister to fetch me back to my house.
Around 2.00pm – I called the workshop to asks about my car, and it just being checked. They dont know the problem yet. So I decided to head back to the workshop. My sister fetch me to the workshop.
Around 2.30pm –We arrive at the workshop. The mechanic said that there is a problem wih my Master Pump Brake and it need to be replaced. However the mechanic said I need to wait for the item to arrive at the shop as they don’t keep the item in the workshop.
Around 3.40pm to 4.00pm – Ms Winny called me and asks me about the situation. She then asks me to come to the office at any cost, with taxi, bus or anything. This is because they need to submit all the scene by tomorrow. I then asks my sister to fetch me to the office.
Around 5.00pm – I arrive at the office. I was given a 3D footage by my co-worker Jason and he asks me to add a background to it. I then search the net for suitable material.
Around 5.40pm – Ms Winny and Mr micheal come back to the office from offsite work.
Around 6.00pm – I working on the scene little by little in photoshop.
Arounf 7.00pm – I import them in after effects. The 3D footage is a movie of some kind of platform rotating around the camera. It is so difficult to match the movement of the camera to the background. I also been asked by my co-worker Jason to add a somekind of flash on the platform ground which require a bit more work as the scene is moving to much.
Around 9.00pm – I managed to completed the scene, and show to Mr Micheal and Jason. Mr Micheal asks me to change some things and I reworked on the scene. I then pass the scene to Jason to add the green screen footage on top of it.
Because the dateline is near, we need to focused on the scene that need to be submited, and Jason are currently working on the most important scene. So we separate the work where I worked on the background while Jason worked on the character from he green screen footage.
The character has some kind supernatural power which need a complex special effects to be added, that happen to be my co-worker Jason expertise. Because that special effects took much time to render, he pass the background on me.
At around 11.00pm – We dismiss. I meanwhile have to wait for my sister to arrive from Klang.
Around 12.00pm – My sister arrive
About 12.45pm – I’m home.
Cumulative log - Monday 3 May 2010
10:00 pm – I came to the office. I continue working the scene. The scene has about 6 to 7 different shots. As far as I can remember, shots 1,3 and 6 both has the same background, 2 and 5 has the same background and other with different background. Eventhough they may use the same background, the may use different type shots, wide shots or close shots. So the background need to zoomed in accordingly to match with the footage.
About 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
About 2.45pm – I’m back to the office.
About 3.00pm – I’m been asked by Ms Winny to go to Vision New Media for sending the remaining item that we borrow last time. I’m been explained by my co-worker that the “Geng Bas Sekolah” show is made by Vision New Media, and for the opening scene for season 4, they sub-contract Evo-Pictures to do the shooting.
That is why we need to borrow the item from them. I’ve also been told that the original paper big logo of “Geng Bas Sekolah” that is pasted in front of the bas are replaced with more high quality steel plate that Evo Pictures bought themselves on the last shooting. This logo however are not being returned to Vision New Media so we kept it. If next time they want to filming the show with our steel logo, they will need to rent it, if I’m not mistaken.
About 4.00pm – We back to the office. However someone has came to our office before I back telling that there will be electric cut-out due to some problem. All the computer has been shuts down first to avoid losing data.
About 4.30pm – Black-out. Ms Winny and Mr Micheal asks us to go out from the office for a tea break.At ground floor, me and my friends separated from them and go for a walk around the building.We been asked to come back to he office once the electric are back on.
About 5.20pm – Ms Winny called my co-worker Jason and told us to come to the office. The electric still isn’t turned on yet. Once we arrive at our office, Mr Micheal told us to dismiss but to come office tomorrow at 8.00am, instead of 10.00am.
About 5.40pm – I drive my car to go back home, but I first have to fetch my 2 co-workers to the LRT station nearby. However in the middle of the road, Ms Winny called my co-worker Jason and to go back to the office as the has already electric come back.
About 6.00pm – I and my 2 co-workers Jason and Khabi arrive at the office. Before we came, we managed to bought some food at 7 eleven at ground floor.
About 7.00pm – I finish rendered the scene and submit it to Mr Micheal. Then he gave me another scene, where I need to put a monastry as a background. I then search the net for monastry.
About 8.00pm - I start to develop the monastry little by little in Photoshop.
About 11.00pm – We dismiss.
About 1.30pm – I go out to lunch
About 2.45pm – I’m back to the office.
About 3.00pm – I’m been asked by Ms Winny to go to Vision New Media for sending the remaining item that we borrow last time. I’m been explained by my co-worker that the “Geng Bas Sekolah” show is made by Vision New Media, and for the opening scene for season 4, they sub-contract Evo-Pictures to do the shooting.
That is why we need to borrow the item from them. I’ve also been told that the original paper big logo of “Geng Bas Sekolah” that is pasted in front of the bas are replaced with more high quality steel plate that Evo Pictures bought themselves on the last shooting. This logo however are not being returned to Vision New Media so we kept it. If next time they want to filming the show with our steel logo, they will need to rent it, if I’m not mistaken.
About 4.00pm – We back to the office. However someone has came to our office before I back telling that there will be electric cut-out due to some problem. All the computer has been shuts down first to avoid losing data.
About 4.30pm – Black-out. Ms Winny and Mr Micheal asks us to go out from the office for a tea break.At ground floor, me and my friends separated from them and go for a walk around the building.We been asked to come back to he office once the electric are back on.
About 5.20pm – Ms Winny called my co-worker Jason and told us to come to the office. The electric still isn’t turned on yet. Once we arrive at our office, Mr Micheal told us to dismiss but to come office tomorrow at 8.00am, instead of 10.00am.
About 5.40pm – I drive my car to go back home, but I first have to fetch my 2 co-workers to the LRT station nearby. However in the middle of the road, Ms Winny called my co-worker Jason and to go back to the office as the has already electric come back.
About 6.00pm – I and my 2 co-workers Jason and Khabi arrive at the office. Before we came, we managed to bought some food at 7 eleven at ground floor.
About 7.00pm – I finish rendered the scene and submit it to Mr Micheal. Then he gave me another scene, where I need to put a monastry as a background. I then search the net for monastry.
About 8.00pm - I start to develop the monastry little by little in Photoshop.
About 11.00pm – We dismiss.
Cumulative log - Friday 30 April 2010
10:00pm – I come to office. I continue working on the background that I made earlier. This time I’ve imported into After Effects after I resized down the background from 3000 pixels onto 1300 pixels wide. The file loaded successfully.
11.00pm - I show Mr micheal my work. He did not satisfied with my work. This is because my work looks monochrome. Before this he ask me to do it as a night scene, and I try desaturate the color and putting a blue layer on top of the scene. He then explain to my co-workers what he wanted exactly and the my co-worker Jason re-explain to me. The scene seems to be lacking of color. So he teach me how he himself do the night scene.
After the explaination and demo by my co-worker Jason, I then re-tune the scene.
12.40pm – I go out for Friday prayer.
2.30pm – I back to the office. Miss Winny then tell me that we all will go out to celebrate the last day of those 3 intern. So we go out to Centerpoint using 2 car, mine and the boss.
5.00pm - we back to the office. I continue re tuning the color of the scene. I then do another background for the other shots.
I show my work to Mr Micheal. He told me that the scene are now okay, but he ask me to add a bit more animation to the background, something like blinking light smoke or fire. I then asks Mr Micheal of my idea to put something like KTM/LRT station info billboard with the wordings seems to be blinking and out of order, and he agreed.
I then re-worked on the background. I search the net for suitable billboard sign.
Around 8.00pm – Mr Micheal look at my work, and advised me to change the “RTM” logo (which I changed the letter ‘K‘ from original KTM logo) to something else due to copyright issues. I then change it to ATM instead.
8.40pm – Because this is the last day of those intern, they do a photoshoot in the office. I meanwhile continue doing my job. Sometimes they asks me to capture their picture, and after that I go back to work.
About 9.30pm – We dismiss.
11.00pm - I show Mr micheal my work. He did not satisfied with my work. This is because my work looks monochrome. Before this he ask me to do it as a night scene, and I try desaturate the color and putting a blue layer on top of the scene. He then explain to my co-workers what he wanted exactly and the my co-worker Jason re-explain to me. The scene seems to be lacking of color. So he teach me how he himself do the night scene.
After the explaination and demo by my co-worker Jason, I then re-tune the scene.
12.40pm – I go out for Friday prayer.
2.30pm – I back to the office. Miss Winny then tell me that we all will go out to celebrate the last day of those 3 intern. So we go out to Centerpoint using 2 car, mine and the boss.
5.00pm - we back to the office. I continue re tuning the color of the scene. I then do another background for the other shots.
I show my work to Mr Micheal. He told me that the scene are now okay, but he ask me to add a bit more animation to the background, something like blinking light smoke or fire. I then asks Mr Micheal of my idea to put something like KTM/LRT station info billboard with the wordings seems to be blinking and out of order, and he agreed.
I then re-worked on the background. I search the net for suitable billboard sign.
Around 8.00pm – Mr Micheal look at my work, and advised me to change the “RTM” logo (which I changed the letter ‘K‘ from original KTM logo) to something else due to copyright issues. I then change it to ATM instead.
8.40pm – Because this is the last day of those intern, they do a photoshoot in the office. I meanwhile continue doing my job. Sometimes they asks me to capture their picture, and after that I go back to work.
About 9.30pm – We dismiss.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Cumulative log - Thursday 29 April 2010
10.00pm – I arrive at the office. I continue working on the previous work.
Around 11.00pm – I import the background that I did in Photoshop onto After Effects. Unfortunately After Effect keep poping out error and crash. I try a few more time and it still didn’t go thru.
Around 12.00pm – I try to reduce the number of layer that I use for the background work by combining few elements. Originally it has 62 layers, and left about 30-40 after the reduction process.
Around 1.00pm -2.00pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.30pm – 2.50pm – I go back to office. All my co-workers are still eating at restaurant located at the ground floor. However Jason, 1 of my co-workers has been asked by Ms Winny to open her office room. After he open the room, he quickly go back to eat downstairs.
Around 3.00pm – A person came to the office, asking me about an address on a piece of a paper. It was this office location. He tells me that he has been asked to install a mechanical curtain on the office. I then called Jason to confirm. After that I let him in, and he install the curtain. I meanwhile continue on my job.
Around 3.30pm – The man who install the curtain finish his job. I check the curtain wheter its properly working, and confirmed it to be ok.
Around 3.40pm – All my co-workers come back to the office.
5.00pm – Ms Winny came back to the office. I couldn’t remember when both Ms Winny and Mr Micheal go out.
Around 7.00pm – After Effects keeps crashing randomly even after the reduction process has been done before. I just ignored the problem and restart the software, until this time I can’t almost do anything. I decided to call my co-worker Jason for help.
He quickly found my problem. It was that the original Photoshop size is to big for the After Effects. my Photoshop size is around 3000pixels x 4000pixels while the final output video required is only 480 x 720pixels, which is the standard for DV footage. It causes the After Effect to crash as it require too much memory and power to process.
All my work in After Effects has gone to waste. I back to the Photoshop to resize the background and load it onto after effects.
Around 7.30pm – Dismiss
Around 11.00pm – I import the background that I did in Photoshop onto After Effects. Unfortunately After Effect keep poping out error and crash. I try a few more time and it still didn’t go thru.
Around 12.00pm – I try to reduce the number of layer that I use for the background work by combining few elements. Originally it has 62 layers, and left about 30-40 after the reduction process.
Around 1.00pm -2.00pm – I go out to lunch
Around 2.30pm – 2.50pm – I go back to office. All my co-workers are still eating at restaurant located at the ground floor. However Jason, 1 of my co-workers has been asked by Ms Winny to open her office room. After he open the room, he quickly go back to eat downstairs.
Around 3.00pm – A person came to the office, asking me about an address on a piece of a paper. It was this office location. He tells me that he has been asked to install a mechanical curtain on the office. I then called Jason to confirm. After that I let him in, and he install the curtain. I meanwhile continue on my job.
Around 3.30pm – The man who install the curtain finish his job. I check the curtain wheter its properly working, and confirmed it to be ok.
Around 3.40pm – All my co-workers come back to the office.
5.00pm – Ms Winny came back to the office. I couldn’t remember when both Ms Winny and Mr Micheal go out.
Around 7.00pm – After Effects keeps crashing randomly even after the reduction process has been done before. I just ignored the problem and restart the software, until this time I can’t almost do anything. I decided to call my co-worker Jason for help.
He quickly found my problem. It was that the original Photoshop size is to big for the After Effects. my Photoshop size is around 3000pixels x 4000pixels while the final output video required is only 480 x 720pixels, which is the standard for DV footage. It causes the After Effect to crash as it require too much memory and power to process.
All my work in After Effects has gone to waste. I back to the Photoshop to resize the background and load it onto after effects.
Around 7.30pm – Dismiss
Cumulative Log - Wednesday 28 April 2010
10.00pm – I arrive at the office. I continue working on the job that was given to me.
12.00pm – 1 of my co-worker, Jason advised me a few things about the scene again. He tells me that the background scenery that I build might not be compatible with previous and next scene. He then draw few examples of composition that might work. 1 composition that he suggest is that to make a scene of rooftop of a building, where the character might be. I disagree with the suggestion as I find a few problem.
The current shot shows 2 character are walking, and then one of the character will point front ahead where the missing character that they were looking for was there. The next shot however the character will runs towards the missing person. As most of the scene I found so far is about finding a missing person, I find it impossible for those 2 character to find the missing person on top of each building everytime. Plus few other scene that my co-workers is working on shows that they looking for the missing person mostly on the ground.
Problem that I find with this production is that first, the speech used in the video is in Chinese, and some of the footage dont even have voice as they will dub it later. Second, they do not hand us the storyboard. Although we are free to design the background, unfortunately with only few words such as “Destroyed City”, it is difficult to one without at least a simple sketch.
12.45pm – I go out to lunch
2.10pm – I go back to the office. I continue searching for materials again for the background. Jason, my co-worker suggest me to add few more building to enhance the ‘city’ look on my background.
7.30pm – Dismiss
12.00pm – 1 of my co-worker, Jason advised me a few things about the scene again. He tells me that the background scenery that I build might not be compatible with previous and next scene. He then draw few examples of composition that might work. 1 composition that he suggest is that to make a scene of rooftop of a building, where the character might be. I disagree with the suggestion as I find a few problem.
The current shot shows 2 character are walking, and then one of the character will point front ahead where the missing character that they were looking for was there. The next shot however the character will runs towards the missing person. As most of the scene I found so far is about finding a missing person, I find it impossible for those 2 character to find the missing person on top of each building everytime. Plus few other scene that my co-workers is working on shows that they looking for the missing person mostly on the ground.
Problem that I find with this production is that first, the speech used in the video is in Chinese, and some of the footage dont even have voice as they will dub it later. Second, they do not hand us the storyboard. Although we are free to design the background, unfortunately with only few words such as “Destroyed City”, it is difficult to one without at least a simple sketch.
12.45pm – I go out to lunch
2.10pm – I go back to the office. I continue searching for materials again for the background. Jason, my co-worker suggest me to add few more building to enhance the ‘city’ look on my background.
7.30pm – Dismiss
Cumulative Log - Tuesday 27 April 2010
10.10am – I arrive at the office. I continue searching resources from the internet for the destroyed city scenery.
11.00am until 1.20pm– I start to construct the scenery a little by little, combining materials that I’ve gathered. I continue to search the net and go build the scenery back and forth as I progress.
1.20pm – I go out to lunch.
2.10pm – I go back to office. I continue building the scenery in Photoshop.
5.00pm – I ask suggestion from my co-workers about the scene, and he give me some ideas. I then search the net again for new material.
7.30pm – Dismiss
11.00am until 1.20pm– I start to construct the scenery a little by little, combining materials that I’ve gathered. I continue to search the net and go build the scenery back and forth as I progress.
1.20pm – I go out to lunch.
2.10pm – I go back to office. I continue building the scenery in Photoshop.
5.00pm – I ask suggestion from my co-workers about the scene, and he give me some ideas. I then search the net again for new material.
7.30pm – Dismiss
Cumulative log - Monday 26 April 2010
10.00am – I arrive at my office. I continue working on my previous tasks, which is to make the background of an abandoned/destroyed garden. After researching for matte painting for the last 2 days, I gathered enough picture to start off the matte painting project.
The matte painting that I would like to make will not use any 3d elements. Instead all collection of real life picture that I gathered will be combined until I managed to build the garden. Key elements like grass, ground, flowers are carefully positioned onto the scene. I also analyze the the green screen footage a few more times to make sure that I can make the background to match with the character.
Then as I progress, effects like colour correction, dirt and textures were added.
I continue working until 1.00pm.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch
2.10pm – I arrive at the office. I then continue working the previous work.
Around 4.00 – 5.00pm – Mr Micheal came and take a look at my work. He advised me a few things like the textures are a bit to sharp, the grass is too detailed, and the overall look doesnt have a feel of a fantasy scenery. He then tell me that this footage is actually to test my skill level.
He then give me another footage. This time the video seems to be in higher quality and sharp. It also has a multiple angle shots and more dramatic close shot.
Around 5.00pm-7.00pm – I then analyze the footage over and over again, try to imagine their placement and I try to planning ahead a few things. Mr Micheal asks me to create a scenery of an abandon city.
I then search the net and gather new material for the scenery.
Around 7.30-8.00pm – Dismiss
The matte painting that I would like to make will not use any 3d elements. Instead all collection of real life picture that I gathered will be combined until I managed to build the garden. Key elements like grass, ground, flowers are carefully positioned onto the scene. I also analyze the the green screen footage a few more times to make sure that I can make the background to match with the character.
Then as I progress, effects like colour correction, dirt and textures were added.
I continue working until 1.00pm.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch
2.10pm – I arrive at the office. I then continue working the previous work.
Around 4.00 – 5.00pm – Mr Micheal came and take a look at my work. He advised me a few things like the textures are a bit to sharp, the grass is too detailed, and the overall look doesnt have a feel of a fantasy scenery. He then tell me that this footage is actually to test my skill level.
He then give me another footage. This time the video seems to be in higher quality and sharp. It also has a multiple angle shots and more dramatic close shot.
Picture removed as issued by the company. However I've the permission by the company to include it on the official paperwork send to UNITEN.
Picture removed as issued by the company. However I've the permission by the company to include it on the official paperwork send to UNITEN.
Around 5.00pm-7.00pm – I then analyze the footage over and over again, try to imagine their placement and I try to planning ahead a few things. Mr Micheal asks me to create a scenery of an abandon city.
I then search the net and gather new material for the scenery.
Around 7.30-8.00pm – Dismiss
Cumulative log - Saturday 24 April 2010
9.30am - My worst nightmare come alive. The tyre that I mention before exploded on Kesas Highway, at just near KM13.5 Petronas station.
I’m lucky that I managed to enter the station and park just after the incident.
I try to jack up the car but failed as the excess tyre blocked the ground where I should put the jack. I then go find few people asking for Kesas Helpline. I manage to find one at next petrol station about 100m from my car.
I quickly call the Helpline. While waiting for them to arrive, I call Ms Winny telling her about the incident, and asking permission to come a little bit late. Then, about 20 minutes later, the Kesas Ronda arrive, which is quite fast.
Below is the picture of their work.
They do the job very fast, and I dont even need to pay a single cent. Thanks to them I managed to go to the office with only 30 minutes late. The tyre was swapped with the spare on my bonnet.
10.30am – I arrive at the office. I then continue the task that I’ve been assigned before.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch
2.00pm – I go back to the office
7.30pm – Dismissed.
I try to jack up the car but failed as the excess tyre blocked the ground where I should put the jack. I then go find few people asking for Kesas Helpline. I manage to find one at next petrol station about 100m from my car.
I quickly call the Helpline. While waiting for them to arrive, I call Ms Winny telling her about the incident, and asking permission to come a little bit late. Then, about 20 minutes later, the Kesas Ronda arrive, which is quite fast.
Below is the picture of their work.
They do the job very fast, and I dont even need to pay a single cent. Thanks to them I managed to go to the office with only 30 minutes late. The tyre was swapped with the spare on my bonnet.
10.30am – I arrive at the office. I then continue the task that I’ve been assigned before.
1.00pm – I go out to lunch
2.00pm – I go back to the office
7.30pm – Dismissed.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Cumulative log - Friday 23 April 2010
Thursday 22 April 2010 – I’m taking a day off to submit form C and to settle matters regarding my YTN loan.
Friday 23 April 2010
9.40am – I came to the office. I then continue researching matte painting.
Around 10.00 to 12.00am – I gather few pictures from the net and use it for my own matte painting. At first I sketch down the general idea. Then as I build up the parts, I search the net again for suitable picture. Im doing this back and forth most of the time.
12.45pm – I go out to Friday pray. I pray at Tabung Haji Mosque at Kelana Jaya. On the way I noticed something wrong again with my car, and this time its the steering. Its kicking to the right most of the time when moving. I decided to find any workshop nearby after prayer.
2.15pm – Friday pray ends, I go out finding workshop. I found one, and luckily its just beside a ‘mamak shop’, so after sending my car to the shop, I then go to lunch.
2.35pm – I finish eating. I go to the workshop again. The foreman said my front right tyre already ‘bengkak’. The tyre problem caused another problem on the alignment and they have fix it. However, they suggest me to buy a new tyre, but I don’t have enough money. I decided to swap that front right tyre to the back right tyre. The problem solved for now. I have to pay RM40 for the job.
2.50pm – I arrive at the office.
3.15pm – Ms Winny ask me and my co-worker Fai to go to ‘Vision New Media’ at PJ again, this time to return the item that we borrow last week.
3.40pm – I arrive at ‘Vision New Media’. We then met with Mr. Shahrul and other 3 of his co-workers. We double check the item and confirm by ticking and signing the form.
There are however some item missing such as name tag. We were asked to re-do the tag and some other things and give to them next week.
4.00pm – We headed back to the office from the ‘Vision New Media’
4.30pm – We arrive at the office again. I then continue my task until 8.00pm
8.00pm – Dismiss.
Friday 23 April 2010
9.40am – I came to the office. I then continue researching matte painting.
Around 10.00 to 12.00am – I gather few pictures from the net and use it for my own matte painting. At first I sketch down the general idea. Then as I build up the parts, I search the net again for suitable picture. Im doing this back and forth most of the time.
12.45pm – I go out to Friday pray. I pray at Tabung Haji Mosque at Kelana Jaya. On the way I noticed something wrong again with my car, and this time its the steering. Its kicking to the right most of the time when moving. I decided to find any workshop nearby after prayer.
2.15pm – Friday pray ends, I go out finding workshop. I found one, and luckily its just beside a ‘mamak shop’, so after sending my car to the shop, I then go to lunch.
2.35pm – I finish eating. I go to the workshop again. The foreman said my front right tyre already ‘bengkak’. The tyre problem caused another problem on the alignment and they have fix it. However, they suggest me to buy a new tyre, but I don’t have enough money. I decided to swap that front right tyre to the back right tyre. The problem solved for now. I have to pay RM40 for the job.
2.50pm – I arrive at the office.
3.15pm – Ms Winny ask me and my co-worker Fai to go to ‘Vision New Media’ at PJ again, this time to return the item that we borrow last week.
3.40pm – I arrive at ‘Vision New Media’. We then met with Mr. Shahrul and other 3 of his co-workers. We double check the item and confirm by ticking and signing the form.
4.00pm – We headed back to the office from the ‘Vision New Media’
4.30pm – We arrive at the office again. I then continue my task until 8.00pm
8.00pm – Dismiss.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Cumulative log - Wednesday 21 April 2010
Wednesday 21 April 2010
9.50am – My car problem come again with the same overheated problem. Luckily it happens only a few kilometers from the office. I managed to stop at nearby petrol station and pop up the hood. This time the radiator fan malfunction. After a few minutes of try and error, I manage to get it to work again, it was a wiring problem where the connection melted due to last overheat.
10.15am – I came to the office. I continue to work on the task given. This time I compose the ‘green screen’ footage onto the background I created yesterday.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch
2.40pm – I come back to the office. I then continue my work.
Around 4.00pm to 5.00pm – Mr Micheal come to see my work. He is not satisfied with my work. He mention that the scene looks like the character are walking with a static wallpaper. He briefly explain what is exactly he wanted by showing me few examples of matte painting.
Matte painting is a film technique where the background of a scene is either manipulated or created from scratch, to simulate an environment which is sometimes impossible to capture. Matte painting main features is the fantasy like feeling while maintaining logical and realism. below is some example from the net.
Around 5.00pm to 7.00pm – I then research about matte painting on the net and find few more examples.
Meanwhile Ms Winny pass me the Form C for me to submit to UNITEN.
7.45pm – Mr Micheal and Ms Winny dismiss us.
9.50am – My car problem come again with the same overheated problem. Luckily it happens only a few kilometers from the office. I managed to stop at nearby petrol station and pop up the hood. This time the radiator fan malfunction. After a few minutes of try and error, I manage to get it to work again, it was a wiring problem where the connection melted due to last overheat.
10.15am – I came to the office. I continue to work on the task given. This time I compose the ‘green screen’ footage onto the background I created yesterday.
1.30pm – I go out to lunch
2.40pm – I come back to the office. I then continue my work.
Around 4.00pm to 5.00pm – Mr Micheal come to see my work. He is not satisfied with my work. He mention that the scene looks like the character are walking with a static wallpaper. He briefly explain what is exactly he wanted by showing me few examples of matte painting.
Matte painting is a film technique where the background of a scene is either manipulated or created from scratch, to simulate an environment which is sometimes impossible to capture. Matte painting main features is the fantasy like feeling while maintaining logical and realism. below is some example from the net.
Around 5.00pm to 7.00pm – I then research about matte painting on the net and find few more examples.
Meanwhile Ms Winny pass me the Form C for me to submit to UNITEN.
7.45pm – Mr Micheal and Ms Winny dismiss us.
Cumulative log - Tuesday 20 April 2010
uesday 20 April 2010
As we work on last Sunday, we was given an off yesterday (Monday).
10:00pm – I arrive to the office. Only Mr Micheal and Ms Winny is in the office. They were busy in the office so I just turn on my PC and continue my last work. I bring to the office my own graphic tablets to assist my job.
10.30pm – I finish downloading driver files needed to run the tablet, so I install the tablet. I then sets up the configuration needed to run the tablet properly.
11:20pm I’m still do the modeling. Below is the progress
12:30pm – I add some sort of railing blocks and trees.
2:00pm – I go out to lunch
3:00pm – I go back to the office
4:30pm – I finish adding textures and background.
5:10pm – I adjust few details and change the textures so it looks more realistic
5:30pm – The rendered scene (removed, will be included in official paperwork)
7.30pm – Ms Winny dismiss us by phone as they are doing offsite work.
As we work on last Sunday, we was given an off yesterday (Monday).
10:00pm – I arrive to the office. Only Mr Micheal and Ms Winny is in the office. They were busy in the office so I just turn on my PC and continue my last work. I bring to the office my own graphic tablets to assist my job.
10.30pm – I finish downloading driver files needed to run the tablet, so I install the tablet. I then sets up the configuration needed to run the tablet properly.
11:20pm I’m still do the modeling. Below is the progress
12:30pm – I add some sort of railing blocks and trees.
2:00pm – I go out to lunch
3:00pm – I go back to the office
4:30pm – I finish adding textures and background.
5:10pm – I adjust few details and change the textures so it looks more realistic
5:30pm – The rendered scene (removed, will be included in official paperwork)
7.30pm – Ms Winny dismiss us by phone as they are doing offsite work.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Cumulative log - Sunday 18 April 2010
7.00am – Although Mr Micheal ask me to came at 6.30am, I decided to go a little bit late as I couldn’t get enough sleep. I arrive at the Cow Studio. There are not only my co-workers from the office, there are also Camera crew, “Geng Bas Sekolah” crew, a few Astro staff, the directors and few other workers. The main talent of the show are also there.
I arrive at the same time ‘the bus’, the main theme of the show arrive.
I search for Mr Micheal and he seems busy setting up his camera before passing it on to the camera crew. He doesn’t seems angry with me.
7.05am – I meet my co-workers and help them tweaking the background cloth. We need to reposition some parts of the cloth, re-paste the cellotape and some minor jobs.
7.30am – I help to clean up the floor by wiping it with a piece of wet cloth.
7.45am – The bus enters the studio. After it has been positioned properly, I and my co-workers need to wipe out the tyre markings on the floor. After that, we are asked to polished the bus using car-wax, wipe and shine all the tyre, wipe the windows so the bus looks clean and good for the show.
Around 8.20am - Breakfast. Nasi lemak, sambal, ikan bilis and boiled egg.
8.45am – We are asked to standby to help the crew when the time comes. Meanwhile the actors are practicing the opening dance of “Geng Bas Sekolah”.
Starting around 9.00am until 1.00pm – They start shooting. The scene is the main dance and song of “Geng Bas Sekolah”. They retake the shot everytime there was a mistake, or if the director asks to. If my memory is correct, up until 1.00pm they still shooting the same thing, but with a change of camera angle and movement.
Around 1.00-1.30pm – Lunch break. There is nasi putih with ikan masak asam pedas, ayam goreng rempah and few fruits as deserts. There are cold lemon/mango drinks as well. They also provide ice cold mineral water, 100plus and coca-cola in a icebox for any crew, which can be taken anytime.
Around 1.30pm-2.00pm – They start off on what they have left before. According to the main storyboard, there are 16 shots per page, with a total of 4 pages, so it should be 64 shots. However, some shot are replaced and also removed as the director finds appropiate.
The storyboard
If my memory is correct, they are now taking shot of per single character posings while dancing as oppose to before where all actors dance together. Some shots require the camera main track/trolley (I don’t know what it is called) to be moved so I and my co-workers helps the camera crew.
As for the shooting, they keep re-takes again and again until the director satisfied. If I’m not mistaken up until 4.00pm the shots was still below 20 from the total of 64 shots required.
Around 4.00 to 4.30pm there was a tea break. They serve 3in1 sachets where they are milo and nescafe and whoever wants to drink need to mix it with water themselves. Here are watercooler next to the servings. Mr Micheal asks one of my co-workers, Thabi, to buy some goreng pisang for all of us.
Some scene require the front shot of the main bus. However, some red bulbs cover on the front of the bus was missing so we need to fix that.
At first, my co-workers, Jason was asked to buy some ‘tikam’ balls from grocery shops nearby and use it as a decoy. We use the transparent side of the balls and paste a piece of red colored transparent plastic to the surface. The job was done by me and the few co-workers. Unfortunately, the ‘props-master’, the guy who incharge of the props are unsatisfied wih the job. So he ask one of my co-workers to buy paints outside and try to paint it instead. The job was then done by the ‘props-master’ himself.
After the paint dry, we together helps the ‘props-master’ to attached the decoy onto the bus, where the broken red lights are at. We attached it using ‘UHU’ paste and ‘Super-glue’. 2 light on top are okay but the one in the middle can’t stick properly. So the ‘prop-master’ use the so black ‘cloth-tape’ to stick it, making the tape just like the border of the light cover. It seems to blend well with the bus.
From 4.30 up until 7.30pm – we still doing the same job, cleaning the floor whenever the camera track move or if necessary. Some scene require the bus to be moved as well so we need to wipe of the tire markings.
At one scene, on the actual show, the bus is supposed to move, and as soon as the bus stop, the children of “Geng Bas Sekolah” are running towards the bus. The shots was done properly, and the director seems to satisfied, however one of the camera crew, which I believe the head of the camera crew, tells the director,
“Eh? Ini bas siapa bawak? Hantu kah?”. The director, Soraya realise her mistake and quickly find someone who can be the driver.
And then he found out that I was the only guy who wears formally (I wear long sleeve shirt with long slag pants) so she asks me to become the bus driver. For that scene, I was required to hold the steering wheels and stay stills. There was about 3 to 4 re-takes before the shots ends.
7.30pm – I asked permission from Mr. Micheal to go out until 8.30pm. I drive to the mosque about 2 to 3km nearby to pray and rest for a while. Meanwhile it’s raining outside.
8.40pm – I drive back to the studio. I’m a little bit late because there is still raining outside causing the traffic to move slow. At the time I arrive, they are on dinner break and almost all staff are eating.
Around 9.00pm up until 11.00pm – The shot starts again. A couple of minute later the director asks my permission to help her on a few shots. I am required to become the bus driver again but this time only my hand and feet get the coverage. It’s about the shot of the driver turning the steering wheels, switching on the signal lights, press accelerator pedal and changing gears.
Around 11.00pm – 2nd last final shot. Its about the bus moving towards the camera. It’s very dangerous as the bus are driven and not being pushed towards the cameraman. At the first bus move and stop shot it seems that the bus is braking too early and not close enough to the camera. The next try brings the bus very close to the cameraman.
Everytime the bus is nearly enough, the cameraman shouts “Oo...op!”, afraid that the bus failed to stop. I and my co-workers meanwhile just watch the scene.
Around 11.15am - The final shots. The cameraman are positioned on the back of the bus near the exhaust pipe, to capture the smoke coming out from the pipe. The driver (the real one) are required to press the accelerator a few times. The smoke is vast enough to cause us to cough, let alone the cameraman. After a few smoke, the cameraman can’t take it anymore and request the cameraman head to stop. The director satisfied with the shots.
Around 11.30am – The bus moved out from the studio driven home by the driver. The camera crew then packed up their camera stuff. The track and the camera trolley (I don’t know the exact name) are already dissamble by us. The camera crew and ‘props-master’ climb up the crane and dissamble the lighting on the ceiling. I and my co-workers helps on moving the camera stuff and accesories to the lorry.
At around 11.45pm – Item loaded to the lorry before need to be returned to ‘Cinerent’. I and my co-worker Thabi, follow the lorry from behind to the location. Then I and Thabi helps to unload the item from the lorry onto the storage facilities there. There was also one camera crew help us out.
At around 12.30pm – We finally finish unloading, and head back to the studio.
The camera crew and the ‘props-master’ finish up dissamble the lighting. We would like to use the crane to dissamble our ‘white cloth’ background, but they are very kind to help us to do that as well. All we need to do is to take off the white cloth from the wood piece, take off the cellotape and throw away the tension wire. Then we fold up the cloth and put them aside.
We then need to return the studio lighting that the camera staff dissamble before to the back of the studio. I and my co-workers moved the lighting using trolley and also by hand.
At around 1.20pm –We load our own stuff onto Mr Micheal car. The stuff are brooms, some pails, mop, paint, and few stuffs. These item need to be put in our warehouse, where the old office are. Mr Micheal however dismiss me first as there are already enough people to do the job. I asks my co-workers friends whether they are okay and they don’t really mind. So I decided to go home first. Mr Micheal give us a day off the next day (Monday).
At around 1.55pm – I’m home.
I arrive at the same time ‘the bus’, the main theme of the show arrive.
I search for Mr Micheal and he seems busy setting up his camera before passing it on to the camera crew. He doesn’t seems angry with me.
7.05am – I meet my co-workers and help them tweaking the background cloth. We need to reposition some parts of the cloth, re-paste the cellotape and some minor jobs.
7.30am – I help to clean up the floor by wiping it with a piece of wet cloth.
7.45am – The bus enters the studio. After it has been positioned properly, I and my co-workers need to wipe out the tyre markings on the floor. After that, we are asked to polished the bus using car-wax, wipe and shine all the tyre, wipe the windows so the bus looks clean and good for the show.
Around 8.20am - Breakfast. Nasi lemak, sambal, ikan bilis and boiled egg.
8.45am – We are asked to standby to help the crew when the time comes. Meanwhile the actors are practicing the opening dance of “Geng Bas Sekolah”.
The actors are practicing the opening dance
The directors give some briefing to the actors
Starting around 9.00am until 1.00pm – They start shooting. The scene is the main dance and song of “Geng Bas Sekolah”. They retake the shot everytime there was a mistake, or if the director asks to. If my memory is correct, up until 1.00pm they still shooting the same thing, but with a change of camera angle and movement.
Around 1.00-1.30pm – Lunch break. There is nasi putih with ikan masak asam pedas, ayam goreng rempah and few fruits as deserts. There are cold lemon/mango drinks as well. They also provide ice cold mineral water, 100plus and coca-cola in a icebox for any crew, which can be taken anytime.
Around 1.30pm-2.00pm – They start off on what they have left before. According to the main storyboard, there are 16 shots per page, with a total of 4 pages, so it should be 64 shots. However, some shot are replaced and also removed as the director finds appropiate.
The storyboard
If my memory is correct, they are now taking shot of per single character posings while dancing as oppose to before where all actors dance together. Some shots require the camera main track/trolley (I don’t know what it is called) to be moved so I and my co-workers helps the camera crew.
The camera main track/trolley
As for the shooting, they keep re-takes again and again until the director satisfied. If I’m not mistaken up until 4.00pm the shots was still below 20 from the total of 64 shots required.
Around 4.00 to 4.30pm there was a tea break. They serve 3in1 sachets where they are milo and nescafe and whoever wants to drink need to mix it with water themselves. Here are watercooler next to the servings. Mr Micheal asks one of my co-workers, Thabi, to buy some goreng pisang for all of us.
Some scene require the front shot of the main bus. However, some red bulbs cover on the front of the bus was missing so we need to fix that.
The decoy for light bulbs
After the paint dry, we together helps the ‘props-master’ to attached the decoy onto the bus, where the broken red lights are at. We attached it using ‘UHU’ paste and ‘Super-glue’. 2 light on top are okay but the one in the middle can’t stick properly. So the ‘prop-master’ use the so black ‘cloth-tape’ to stick it, making the tape just like the border of the light cover. It seems to blend well with the bus.
From 4.30 up until 7.30pm – we still doing the same job, cleaning the floor whenever the camera track move or if necessary. Some scene require the bus to be moved as well so we need to wipe of the tire markings.
At one scene, on the actual show, the bus is supposed to move, and as soon as the bus stop, the children of “Geng Bas Sekolah” are running towards the bus. The shots was done properly, and the director seems to satisfied, however one of the camera crew, which I believe the head of the camera crew, tells the director,
“Eh? Ini bas siapa bawak? Hantu kah?”. The director, Soraya realise her mistake and quickly find someone who can be the driver.
And then he found out that I was the only guy who wears formally (I wear long sleeve shirt with long slag pants) so she asks me to become the bus driver. For that scene, I was required to hold the steering wheels and stay stills. There was about 3 to 4 re-takes before the shots ends.
I became the bus driver
7.30pm – I asked permission from Mr. Micheal to go out until 8.30pm. I drive to the mosque about 2 to 3km nearby to pray and rest for a while. Meanwhile it’s raining outside.
8.40pm – I drive back to the studio. I’m a little bit late because there is still raining outside causing the traffic to move slow. At the time I arrive, they are on dinner break and almost all staff are eating.
Around 9.00pm up until 11.00pm – The shot starts again. A couple of minute later the director asks my permission to help her on a few shots. I am required to become the bus driver again but this time only my hand and feet get the coverage. It’s about the shot of the driver turning the steering wheels, switching on the signal lights, press accelerator pedal and changing gears.
Around 11.00pm – 2nd last final shot. Its about the bus moving towards the camera. It’s very dangerous as the bus are driven and not being pushed towards the cameraman. At the first bus move and stop shot it seems that the bus is braking too early and not close enough to the camera. The next try brings the bus very close to the cameraman.
The bus coming towards the camera at the right side (not in the picture)
Everytime the bus is nearly enough, the cameraman shouts “Oo...op!”, afraid that the bus failed to stop. I and my co-workers meanwhile just watch the scene.
Around 11.15am - The final shots. The cameraman are positioned on the back of the bus near the exhaust pipe, to capture the smoke coming out from the pipe. The driver (the real one) are required to press the accelerator a few times. The smoke is vast enough to cause us to cough, let alone the cameraman. After a few smoke, the cameraman can’t take it anymore and request the cameraman head to stop. The director satisfied with the shots.
Around 11.30am – The bus moved out from the studio driven home by the driver. The camera crew then packed up their camera stuff. The track and the camera trolley (I don’t know the exact name) are already dissamble by us. The camera crew and ‘props-master’ climb up the crane and dissamble the lighting on the ceiling. I and my co-workers helps on moving the camera stuff and accesories to the lorry.
At around 11.45pm – Item loaded to the lorry before need to be returned to ‘Cinerent’. I and my co-worker Thabi, follow the lorry from behind to the location. Then I and Thabi helps to unload the item from the lorry onto the storage facilities there. There was also one camera crew help us out.
I at Cinerent unloading the items from the lorry.
At around 12.30pm – We finally finish unloading, and head back to the studio.
The camera crew and the ‘props-master’ finish up dissamble the lighting. We would like to use the crane to dissamble our ‘white cloth’ background, but they are very kind to help us to do that as well. All we need to do is to take off the white cloth from the wood piece, take off the cellotape and throw away the tension wire. Then we fold up the cloth and put them aside.
We then need to return the studio lighting that the camera staff dissamble before to the back of the studio. I and my co-workers moved the lighting using trolley and also by hand.
At around 1.20pm –We load our own stuff onto Mr Micheal car. The stuff are brooms, some pails, mop, paint, and few stuffs. These item need to be put in our warehouse, where the old office are. Mr Micheal however dismiss me first as there are already enough people to do the job. I asks my co-workers friends whether they are okay and they don’t really mind. So I decided to go home first. Mr Micheal give us a day off the next day (Monday).
At around 1.55pm – I’m home.
Cumulative log - Saturday 17 April 2010
8.40am – From previous day experience that Mr Micheal and Ms Winny come to the office at 10.00am, I adjusted my time and take off a little bit late from usual.
While on the way, Ms Winny calls me, telling that they will be late today as they are preparing for shooting. I didn’t expect the traffic become so clear that it takes only 30 minute instead of 45 to the office, so I arrive at around 9.30am again.
At 10.15am, one of my co-workers come to the office and ask me to go to groundfloor. At ground floor, Mr Micheal and 2 of my co-workers are in the car. Mr Micheal then ask me to come in and we headed to my car.
At my car, Mr Micheal ask us to transfer 2 big box onto my car. Then I and one of the co-workers was asked to go to ‘Cinerent (M) Sdn. Bhd’ and pass the item to them. The Cinerent (pronounced as Si-Ne-Ren) is at Kepong, nearly 15KM from the office. On the way to the place, there was a RM1.60 toll.
In Kepong, suddenly my car overheated. My car is 20 years old Proton Saga and probably no longer be able to survive on heavy traffic jams.
I park my car on some shops area and pops up the hood. I detected the problem. It was the thermostat housing leaking water.
Luckily car sparepart shop and Hardware is nearby so I head up there to buy sealant gasket and some spanner. After 15 minute I fix the problem and fill up the radiator with 2 large mineral water that I buy from grocery shop. I then straight headed to the location.
10.45am - At Cinerent, I and my co-workers unloaded the item and bring up to first floor. Now I know the item which is in the box was the main camera, costs about RM300,000. At cinerent, a few recording crew test up the camera and its equipment. My co-workers asks me to wait here while they borrow my car to buy few items that Mr Micheal ask him.
12.00pm - The crew finally finish testing the camera. I then help loading a bunch of camera equipment onto a lorry. All of the item are big and heavy.
12.30pm – Mr Micheal and Ms Winny came to the Cinerent. As my car are still being used, Mr Micheal asked me to ride on his car. We then headed to the recording studio.
12.40pm – We arrive at ‘Green Cow Studio’ in Kepong, a few minutes from the Cinerent. The lorry which I help them to load the equipment before are already there. I then help the crew to unload the equipment.
1.20pm – After the item has been unloaded, Mr Micheal ask me to follow him with his car again. Mr Micheal, Ms Winny and 1 of my co-worker Fai then headed to lunch.
At first they headed to one Thai shop. They asking me if this shop is okay. There was no Halal logo, and to confirmed that I also asking the shop owner himself and he say no muslim eat here.
So we search for another shop. Ms Winny then suggest ‘Old Town Kopitiam’ and I said okay since they serve Halal food and I and my parents has go there a couple of times. Our food was ‘on table’ by Mr Micheal.
2.00pm – We then headed to a hardware shop.
2.15pm - Mr Micheal and Winny busy disscussing with the shop owner, while I wait outside. There are also 1 of my co-workers already there. One of my co-workers are absent today.
2.30pm – 2 of co-workers who borrow my car also came here.
2.40pm – Mr Micheal and Winny finally finish buying the item. I and all of the co-workers then headed to the studio.
2.50pm – We arrived at Cow Studio. We start by unloading items that we bought from hardware shop. There are a large bucket of white paint, white cloth, some long piece of wood and few tools.
3.00pm – We then arrange the wood piece (about 1.5 meters each) near the foot background. Then 2 of my co-workers climb up to the crane and measure how long it is from top to bottom. After that we measures the white cloth and cut it onto long pieces. Although it sounds simple, the job take almost 2 hours.
Around 5.00pm –Then we need to align the cloth piece onto the wood piece and staple it. The cloth will then hang on to the wood. We then split our work into 2, which 2 people for each team. First team will paste cellotape inbetween each cloth piece so that they become a very large piece. Second Team that is on top of the crane will hang up the cloth. Including me, there are only 3 guys inside the studio, so Mr Micheal and I do the paste job while the other 2, Jason and Fei do the hanging cloth job.
Around 7.30-8.00pm – Mr Micheal and Ms Winny go out to buy us dinner. One of my co-workers, Kok Fai come in to help us out. Before this he is with Ms Winny and is not in the studio.
Around 8.30pm – We still doing our job. Mr Micheal come to give our dinner. Although it is nasi Goreng and ayam packed in polistrine, and Mr Micheal told me he bought the dinner at ‘Kedai Mamak’, I doubt its origin so I decided not to eat as Halal food is a serious matter in Islam. I’m not really hungry at that time by the way.
The others meanwhile are not hungry yet so they continue doing their job. My team has finish their job so all we need to do is help them whatever necessary, such as moving the crane and pasting the cellotape inbetween the large pieces.
Around 10.00pm – We almost done our job. Mr Micheal then set-up his camera to test the background. The background should look like a clean continuous white. There is some bad spots such as wrinkle, bad cellotape and bad floor surface so we need to fix that.
Around 10.30pm – The floor need extensive paint job on some areas, so I was asked to remove uneven surfaces on the floor using scrapper.
Around 10.50pm – We paint the fixed floor surface with white paint and a roller.
11.00pm – Ms Winny and Mr Micheal dismiss us. I meanwhile have to fetch up 3 of the co-workers back to the main office at Kelana Square. There they will be using Ms Winny car (if I’m not mistaken) to go home, as it is too late already to commute using the LRT. By the way, Mr Micheal told us to go to the studio at 6.30am tomorrow.
12.20pm – I’m home.
While on the way, Ms Winny calls me, telling that they will be late today as they are preparing for shooting. I didn’t expect the traffic become so clear that it takes only 30 minute instead of 45 to the office, so I arrive at around 9.30am again.
At 10.15am, one of my co-workers come to the office and ask me to go to groundfloor. At ground floor, Mr Micheal and 2 of my co-workers are in the car. Mr Micheal then ask me to come in and we headed to my car.
At my car, Mr Micheal ask us to transfer 2 big box onto my car. Then I and one of the co-workers was asked to go to ‘Cinerent (M) Sdn. Bhd’ and pass the item to them. The Cinerent (pronounced as Si-Ne-Ren) is at Kepong, nearly 15KM from the office. On the way to the place, there was a RM1.60 toll.
In Kepong, suddenly my car overheated. My car is 20 years old Proton Saga and probably no longer be able to survive on heavy traffic jams.
I park my car on some shops area and pops up the hood. I detected the problem. It was the thermostat housing leaking water.
Luckily car sparepart shop and Hardware is nearby so I head up there to buy sealant gasket and some spanner. After 15 minute I fix the problem and fill up the radiator with 2 large mineral water that I buy from grocery shop. I then straight headed to the location.
10.45am - At Cinerent, I and my co-workers unloaded the item and bring up to first floor. Now I know the item which is in the box was the main camera, costs about RM300,000. At cinerent, a few recording crew test up the camera and its equipment. My co-workers asks me to wait here while they borrow my car to buy few items that Mr Micheal ask him.
Camera RM300,000. HD 1080p Digital Recorder with Hardisk, Branded ‘RED’
‘Cinerent’, where the camera were tested
Camera Crew testing the camera
12.00pm - The crew finally finish testing the camera. I then help loading a bunch of camera equipment onto a lorry. All of the item are big and heavy.
Camera Equipment loaded into the lorry
12.30pm – Mr Micheal and Ms Winny came to the Cinerent. As my car are still being used, Mr Micheal asked me to ride on his car. We then headed to the recording studio.
12.40pm – We arrive at ‘Green Cow Studio’ in Kepong, a few minutes from the Cinerent. The lorry which I help them to load the equipment before are already there. I then help the crew to unload the equipment.
1.20pm – After the item has been unloaded, Mr Micheal ask me to follow him with his car again. Mr Micheal, Ms Winny and 1 of my co-worker Fai then headed to lunch.
At first they headed to one Thai shop. They asking me if this shop is okay. There was no Halal logo, and to confirmed that I also asking the shop owner himself and he say no muslim eat here.
So we search for another shop. Ms Winny then suggest ‘Old Town Kopitiam’ and I said okay since they serve Halal food and I and my parents has go there a couple of times. Our food was ‘on table’ by Mr Micheal.
2.00pm – We then headed to a hardware shop.
2.15pm - Mr Micheal and Winny busy disscussing with the shop owner, while I wait outside. There are also 1 of my co-workers already there. One of my co-workers are absent today.
2.30pm – 2 of co-workers who borrow my car also came here.
2.40pm – Mr Micheal and Winny finally finish buying the item. I and all of the co-workers then headed to the studio.
Green Cow Studio
2.50pm – We arrived at Cow Studio. We start by unloading items that we bought from hardware shop. There are a large bucket of white paint, white cloth, some long piece of wood and few tools.
3.00pm – We then arrange the wood piece (about 1.5 meters each) near the foot background. Then 2 of my co-workers climb up to the crane and measure how long it is from top to bottom. After that we measures the white cloth and cut it onto long pieces. Although it sounds simple, the job take almost 2 hours.
I attach the tension cable to the wood
My team mate which help me during the process
Around 5.00pm –Then we need to align the cloth piece onto the wood piece and staple it. The cloth will then hang on to the wood. We then split our work into 2, which 2 people for each team. First team will paste cellotape inbetween each cloth piece so that they become a very large piece. Second Team that is on top of the crane will hang up the cloth. Including me, there are only 3 guys inside the studio, so Mr Micheal and I do the paste job while the other 2, Jason and Fei do the hanging cloth job.
Around 7.30-8.00pm – Mr Micheal and Ms Winny go out to buy us dinner. One of my co-workers, Kok Fai come in to help us out. Before this he is with Ms Winny and is not in the studio.
Around 8.30pm – We still doing our job. Mr Micheal come to give our dinner. Although it is nasi Goreng and ayam packed in polistrine, and Mr Micheal told me he bought the dinner at ‘Kedai Mamak’, I doubt its origin so I decided not to eat as Halal food is a serious matter in Islam. I’m not really hungry at that time by the way.
The others meanwhile are not hungry yet so they continue doing their job. My team has finish their job so all we need to do is help them whatever necessary, such as moving the crane and pasting the cellotape inbetween the large pieces.
Hanging the white piece
How the cloth was hanged (On the wall). The cloth on the ceiling is not installed by us.
Around 10.00pm – We almost done our job. Mr Micheal then set-up his camera to test the background. The background should look like a clean continuous white. There is some bad spots such as wrinkle, bad cellotape and bad floor surface so we need to fix that.
Around 10.30pm – The floor need extensive paint job on some areas, so I was asked to remove uneven surfaces on the floor using scrapper.
Paint bucket and various tools used during the job
Around 10.50pm – We paint the fixed floor surface with white paint and a roller.
11.00pm – Ms Winny and Mr Micheal dismiss us. I meanwhile have to fetch up 3 of the co-workers back to the main office at Kelana Square. There they will be using Ms Winny car (if I’m not mistaken) to go home, as it is too late already to commute using the LRT. By the way, Mr Micheal told us to go to the studio at 6.30am tomorrow.
11 51pm : I’m still at Federal Highway
12.20pm – I’m home.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Cumulative log - Friday 16th April 2010
Friday 16th April 2010
Today I came to the office at 9.40am. The office still is not open yet. After 10 minute wait in front of the office, Ms Winny and Mr Micheal finally came.
Mr Micheal plugged his portable hardisk and ask me to copy the ‘green screen’ footage. The footage is running about 4 minutes, around 1.5GB of size. He then told me to try to insert the 3D environment that I’ve modelled yesterday onto the footage.
The footage was in chinese language with an insert of Malay guy saying “Apa ini? Apa semua ini? Aku tak fahamlah!”. Well of course he wouldn’t understand as 3 other fellow on the scene are speaking chinese.
Malay guy saying “Apa ini? Apa semua ini? Aku tak fahamlah!”.
After watching the footage, I try to start the task by opening it in “Adobe After Effects”. It’s a software which is popular for editing and adding special effects onto any video. It also being used for commercial montage work elsewhere.
At first, the video couldn’t be loaded onto the software. After asking one of the co-workers there, Jason, the problem solved. It was because the computer is still new, so few key software are still not installed which in this case the ‘Quicktime’.
Once loaded, the first thing I need to do is to remove the green screen. After its done, it’s time to load the render of my 3D environment that I have modelled before. As I expect, the background doesn’t blend well with the footage. The main problem is that the 3D is not realistic enough.
At 12.40pm I asked Mr Micheal permission to go out to the Mosque for Friday pray. I’m still new in Kelana Jaya area so I asked someone nearby. Then I headed to the mosque which is about 4-5 km from my office.
At 2.30pm I arrived at Kelana Square building. I go for a lunch first before I head to office.
At 2.50pm I go back to the office.
Mr Micheal and Ms Winny is not in the office, so I continue working on to the task.
At around 4.30pm Mr Micheal came to the office and call 2 of his employee to help him. Left in the office is 2 of my co-workers and me.
At around 6.00-6.30pm Ms Winny came the office. She then asked me to help one the employee to set-up the 3 in 1 printer onto a laptop. After that she ask us to photostat a set of storyboard using the printer.
At around 8.20pm Ms Winny dismiss us.
Today I came to the office at 9.40am. The office still is not open yet. After 10 minute wait in front of the office, Ms Winny and Mr Micheal finally came.
Mr Micheal plugged his portable hardisk and ask me to copy the ‘green screen’ footage. The footage is running about 4 minutes, around 1.5GB of size. He then told me to try to insert the 3D environment that I’ve modelled yesterday onto the footage.
Picture removed as issued by the company. However I've the permission by the company to include it on the official paperwork send to UNITEN.
The ‘green screen’ footage
The footage was in chinese language with an insert of Malay guy saying “Apa ini? Apa semua ini? Aku tak fahamlah!”. Well of course he wouldn’t understand as 3 other fellow on the scene are speaking chinese.
Picture removed as issued by the company. However I've the permission by the company to include it on the official paperwork send to UNITEN.
Malay guy saying “Apa ini? Apa semua ini? Aku tak fahamlah!”.
After watching the footage, I try to start the task by opening it in “Adobe After Effects”. It’s a software which is popular for editing and adding special effects onto any video. It also being used for commercial montage work elsewhere.
At first, the video couldn’t be loaded onto the software. After asking one of the co-workers there, Jason, the problem solved. It was because the computer is still new, so few key software are still not installed which in this case the ‘Quicktime’.
Once loaded, the first thing I need to do is to remove the green screen. After its done, it’s time to load the render of my 3D environment that I have modelled before. As I expect, the background doesn’t blend well with the footage. The main problem is that the 3D is not realistic enough.
Picture removed as issued by the company. However I've the permission by the company to include it on the official paperwork send to UNITEN.
The footage composed on to 3D background
At 12.40pm I asked Mr Micheal permission to go out to the Mosque for Friday pray. I’m still new in Kelana Jaya area so I asked someone nearby. Then I headed to the mosque which is about 4-5 km from my office.
At 2.30pm I arrived at Kelana Square building. I go for a lunch first before I head to office.
At 2.50pm I go back to the office.
Mr Micheal and Ms Winny is not in the office, so I continue working on to the task.
At around 4.30pm Mr Micheal came to the office and call 2 of his employee to help him. Left in the office is 2 of my co-workers and me.
At around 6.00-6.30pm Ms Winny came the office. She then asked me to help one the employee to set-up the 3 in 1 printer onto a laptop. After that she ask us to photostat a set of storyboard using the printer.
At around 8.20pm Ms Winny dismiss us.
Cumulative log - Thursday 15 April 2010
Today I’ve come to the office at 9.12am. However, the office is not opened yet. The offical working hours should be from 9.30am to 6.30pm. Mr Micheal and Ms Winny come at 9.40am. They told me that next time I should come a little bit late..
After entering the office and turn on my PC, Mr Micheal ask me to continue my previous task.
At 10.00am all of my co-workers came to the office.
The task given is so difficult because to model from scratch to realistic models is practically impossible with my current knowledge. I decided to reset my work and begin from zero again.
At 1.30pm I go to lunch with my friend Khabi, the indian guy.My other friends orders Mc donalds delivery as they claimed that yesterday food causing stomach ache to them. I and Khabi meanwhile are okay.
At 2.15pm we end our lunch and head back to the office. Mr Micheal and Mr Winny is not in the office.
At around 4.30pm Ms Winny came to the office and asked me and one of the co-workers to take some film props from Vision New Media Sdn Bhd, located at Petaling Jaya. She print me the location map and pass it to me. At around 4.40pm we headed to the location.
At 5.10pm we finally arrive at the location. The task was a breeze as all we need to do is to pick up the film props and sign in some forms. The props are for Sunday shooting of opening scene “Geng Bas Sekolah” shows on ‘Astro Ceria’.
After the task completed we headed back to the office. At 5.30pm we were still on the road, or to be precise we are still at Federal Highway. She ask me to go to the location exactly at peak hour so no wonder it was so jammed. At 6.00pm we finally made to the office.
At around 7.00pm Mr Micheal came to the office. After a few minute on his room, he check on my 3D modeling work. He seems dissatisfied and said that my previous job was better. He told me to continue my task and do whatever I can to improve. He also said that he will give a ‘green screen’ footage tomorrow and try to add the background that I’ve created onto the footage.
At 8.00pm Ms Winny dismiss us.
After entering the office and turn on my PC, Mr Micheal ask me to continue my previous task.
At 10.00am all of my co-workers came to the office.
The task given is so difficult because to model from scratch to realistic models is practically impossible with my current knowledge. I decided to reset my work and begin from zero again.
At 1.30pm I go to lunch with my friend Khabi, the indian guy.My other friends orders Mc donalds delivery as they claimed that yesterday food causing stomach ache to them. I and Khabi meanwhile are okay.
At 2.15pm we end our lunch and head back to the office. Mr Micheal and Mr Winny is not in the office.
At around 4.30pm Ms Winny came to the office and asked me and one of the co-workers to take some film props from Vision New Media Sdn Bhd, located at Petaling Jaya. She print me the location map and pass it to me. At around 4.40pm we headed to the location.
Vision New Media at PJ
At 5.10pm we finally arrive at the location. The task was a breeze as all we need to do is to pick up the film props and sign in some forms. The props are for Sunday shooting of opening scene “Geng Bas Sekolah” shows on ‘Astro Ceria’.
Film props for "Geng Bas Sekolah"
After the task completed we headed back to the office. At 5.30pm we were still on the road, or to be precise we are still at Federal Highway. She ask me to go to the location exactly at peak hour so no wonder it was so jammed. At 6.00pm we finally made to the office.
At around 7.00pm Mr Micheal came to the office. After a few minute on his room, he check on my 3D modeling work. He seems dissatisfied and said that my previous job was better. He told me to continue my task and do whatever I can to improve. He also said that he will give a ‘green screen’ footage tomorrow and try to add the background that I’ve created onto the footage.
At 8.00pm Ms Winny dismiss us.
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