-Nathan Cox
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Friday, December 30, 2011
Time and Decisions
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I had a great visit with my family and I just know they all felt the same way (about me ;] ). It was probably the best year for me as far as being pleased with my gifting for everyone. And my family's gifts for me were great also.
One in particular I'd like to talk about is a small one with many big possibilities called an "Arduino". Basically a computer board, with an open source code (meaning available to everyone for free). By itself the only thing it can do it turn on an LED when plugged into a power supply. But with the right components and coding, the possibilities are limitless! Just look it up.
I had an idea quite a few years ago about a portable music making device, Gameboy in size, that will record the music you put in, and will store it on different layers, so you will be able to play them simultaneously. That's my first plan for it. I'd like to find a way to use this to help me in animation, but I haven't thought of anything yet.
As for animation, I recently joined a group of student animators on a short film we're creating for Halloween 2012. Animation is where I've decided to steer my major career path with VFX as a minor focus. Because of the demands of this project, my recently started VFX project 'Digital Daydreams" will slow down (I wont be able to put out 1 video per month as originally planned) and potentially halt for a time. I'm in the middle of post production on one video. I might get it uploaded in January, but after it's done, no promises. I was thinking I could incorporate animation into Digital Daydream to help both projects move forward, but animation is a long process, and i'm not sure how the logistics of that works out just yet. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
And the unpreventably unproductive thing I've come away from Christmas with is this very intriguing game called Braid. A game about choices, mistakes, and the ability to travel backwards in time to fix those mistakes. If the gameplay wasn't interesting enough, the story line that builds as the character progresses further enhances the experience of the "what if". I'm only partway through (not sure where half is) but it had me from the start. Thanks a lot Ronni. I also received Skywayd Sword from her, which I've been waiting a few months to play. But I'm being good so far. One game at a time.
Recap: Arduino = another project on my list, Digital Daydream = on hold, Animation = on full throttle, Braid/Zelda = continuously distracting it all.
Until my next reason to write!
=Nathan=
One in particular I'd like to talk about is a small one with many big possibilities called an "Arduino". Basically a computer board, with an open source code (meaning available to everyone for free). By itself the only thing it can do it turn on an LED when plugged into a power supply. But with the right components and coding, the possibilities are limitless! Just look it up.
I had an idea quite a few years ago about a portable music making device, Gameboy in size, that will record the music you put in, and will store it on different layers, so you will be able to play them simultaneously. That's my first plan for it. I'd like to find a way to use this to help me in animation, but I haven't thought of anything yet.
As for animation, I recently joined a group of student animators on a short film we're creating for Halloween 2012. Animation is where I've decided to steer my major career path with VFX as a minor focus. Because of the demands of this project, my recently started VFX project 'Digital Daydreams" will slow down (I wont be able to put out 1 video per month as originally planned) and potentially halt for a time. I'm in the middle of post production on one video. I might get it uploaded in January, but after it's done, no promises. I was thinking I could incorporate animation into Digital Daydream to help both projects move forward, but animation is a long process, and i'm not sure how the logistics of that works out just yet. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
And the unpreventably unproductive thing I've come away from Christmas with is this very intriguing game called Braid. A game about choices, mistakes, and the ability to travel backwards in time to fix those mistakes. If the gameplay wasn't interesting enough, the story line that builds as the character progresses further enhances the experience of the "what if". I'm only partway through (not sure where half is) but it had me from the start. Thanks a lot Ronni. I also received Skywayd Sword from her, which I've been waiting a few months to play. But I'm being good so far. One game at a time.
Recap: Arduino = another project on my list, Digital Daydream = on hold, Animation = on full throttle, Braid/Zelda = continuously distracting it all.
Until my next reason to write!
=Nathan=
Sunday, November 20, 2011
You-Tubed
I recently uploaded to Youtube the first video for Digital Daydream entitled "Morning Routine". If you haven't seen it yet you can do so by clicking HERE. It shows myself waking up and getting ready for the day leading up to myself eating cereal. As far as footage goes, that's all it really is, but with the magic of After Effects.... well that's all it really is anyway, but (I believe) I was able to liven it up with some effects such as: an alarm clock that bursts with stars with every beep, a storm cloud in the shower, and cereal that pleads for it's life. The idea is that these are things that occur only in the imagination of our daily lives, things we might have daydreamed about, brought to life.
I plan to upload a video a month for the year of 2012 with Digital Daydream. My intention behind this is to learn VFX and animation first hand on an actual project. Constructive critique will be a big help, besides lacking the knowledge of some of you more practiced folks, there are some simple things I might miss or not occur to me ( such as, not everyones computer speakers sound the same as mine ). I can't say enough how much I would appreciate your critique, even if your comment is something that's been said already, or perhaps you think it's quite obvious (such as the video quality). After working on a project for a month, simple things will most likely elude me unless I know it will be noticed.
As far as video quality, if you haven't read the info on the video, all footage is shot on my cell phone because it's the highest quality camera I have. In an effort to be responsible I've committed to not buy an HD camera for these videos until I've completely paid off my credit debt which (if all goes to plan) should be just a few months. (but then again, we do have the holiday shopping season upon us again) But I would gladly accept any generous donations in support of my project ;]
This will be the last Digital Daydream update on this blog, to stay up on updates check out the Digital Daydream facebook page and click "LIKE".
I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season!
thanks for keeping up, and for your support!
I plan to upload a video a month for the year of 2012 with Digital Daydream. My intention behind this is to learn VFX and animation first hand on an actual project. Constructive critique will be a big help, besides lacking the knowledge of some of you more practiced folks, there are some simple things I might miss or not occur to me ( such as, not everyones computer speakers sound the same as mine ). I can't say enough how much I would appreciate your critique, even if your comment is something that's been said already, or perhaps you think it's quite obvious (such as the video quality). After working on a project for a month, simple things will most likely elude me unless I know it will be noticed.
As far as video quality, if you haven't read the info on the video, all footage is shot on my cell phone because it's the highest quality camera I have. In an effort to be responsible I've committed to not buy an HD camera for these videos until I've completely paid off my credit debt which (if all goes to plan) should be just a few months. (but then again, we do have the holiday shopping season upon us again) But I would gladly accept any generous donations in support of my project ;]
This will be the last Digital Daydream update on this blog, to stay up on updates check out the Digital Daydream facebook page and click "LIKE".
I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season!
thanks for keeping up, and for your support!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Spirit of Adventure
Yesterday, my sister posted a find she found. I'm glad I found out that she found this find because I found myself finding the inspiration to find a find of my own.
I've been aware of Geo-caching ever since my brother stumbled across one in one of his vlogs. A few weeks ago in Oregon I went out with a few of my siblings for my very first geo-caching experience. Since then I had decided to do my own hunting when I got home to LA, but of course I never got around to it. Thanks to whatever motivated my sister to do her own search (even though she's supposed to be focusing on NaNoWriMo), I did a little research of my own and found quite a few caches in my area.
The online site I went to requires a membership fee if you want to keep track of anything you find, but it's free to search for local coordinates of caches and nothings stopping you from searching anyway. Since I can't keep a record of this online (I'm not paying) Here's what I found:
The name of this first one was "Bulls-eye" hidden behind/inside the protective railing of a Target loading dock.
The second one was in the parking lot of the Van Nuys MetroLink Train Station. Under the metal box of a Lamp Post. I guess those lamp post boxes are popular since We've found a few there in the past. I admit, they do seem quite perfect for this sort of thing.
That was it for todays adventure (I just wanted a liiiiitle bit of adventure amidst working on Digital Daydream (Still excited about that btw) I expect to have many more adventures like this one now that I've gotten that ball rolling.
As for you, please post your finds if you decide to grab some adventure of your own, I'd love to see them.
Until Next Time...
=Nathan=
I've been aware of Geo-caching ever since my brother stumbled across one in one of his vlogs. A few weeks ago in Oregon I went out with a few of my siblings for my very first geo-caching experience. Since then I had decided to do my own hunting when I got home to LA, but of course I never got around to it. Thanks to whatever motivated my sister to do her own search (even though she's supposed to be focusing on NaNoWriMo), I did a little research of my own and found quite a few caches in my area.
The online site I went to requires a membership fee if you want to keep track of anything you find, but it's free to search for local coordinates of caches and nothings stopping you from searching anyway. Since I can't keep a record of this online (I'm not paying) Here's what I found:
The name of this first one was "Bulls-eye" hidden behind/inside the protective railing of a Target loading dock.
The second one was in the parking lot of the Van Nuys MetroLink Train Station. Under the metal box of a Lamp Post. I guess those lamp post boxes are popular since We've found a few there in the past. I admit, they do seem quite perfect for this sort of thing.
That was it for todays adventure (I just wanted a liiiiitle bit of adventure amidst working on Digital Daydream (Still excited about that btw) I expect to have many more adventures like this one now that I've gotten that ball rolling.
As for you, please post your finds if you decide to grab some adventure of your own, I'd love to see them.
Until Next Time...
=Nathan=
Monday, October 24, 2011
New Project
Dear Loyal Fan Base,
I've started production on a new project series entitled "Digital Daydream". Without taking away too much of what your mind wants to imagine that is, I will tell you it's a project I designed for myself to learn what's involved in the production process, to gather and hone skills needed for future like-projects, and to gain experience and trust with others I may be working with. Along the way I hope to get to work with others (in the first place), and I think this project will be a good way to establish this part of myself on the good old-fashioned inter-webs.
So although (to my loyal fans) I'm speaking to you from the past, in a dark room-lit only by the luminescence of a computer monitor I bought from Amazon.com, wearing only my undergarments, using all my hope and imagination that anyone reading this (in any time period) can actually consider them-self a loyal fan, and consciously choosing laborious words and tedious phrases (as far as my education allows) to construct a like-paragraph established entirely of one sentence, I feel a sense of confidence that the only persons who might be reading this would indeed consider themselves a fan ( unless this happened to found, and posted somewhere online where millions of viewers visit to find hidden gems online to laugh long-time at) and would not mind this incredibly long sentence.
And lastly, I would like to thank you all in advance for guiding and assisting me in what was needed for me to do to achieve a "loyal fan base" (notice the quotations... or don't). So thank you, and now I turn onward, to many projects and experiences that will serve as a moral compass in all th-
-wait... where was I going with this? I think that last part was something I heard in church once. Who knows, maybe everything was... anyway, look for the first in a series of "Digital Daydream" soon. It'll be up around Nov, 14, 2011. Maybe I'll post some bits and pieces early. Would you guys like some Screenshots? Music? Let me know, I love hearing from you guys (and gals ;])
=Nathan=
I've started production on a new project series entitled "Digital Daydream". Without taking away too much of what your mind wants to imagine that is, I will tell you it's a project I designed for myself to learn what's involved in the production process, to gather and hone skills needed for future like-projects, and to gain experience and trust with others I may be working with. Along the way I hope to get to work with others (in the first place), and I think this project will be a good way to establish this part of myself on the good old-fashioned inter-webs.
So although (to my loyal fans) I'm speaking to you from the past, in a dark room-lit only by the luminescence of a computer monitor I bought from Amazon.com, wearing only my undergarments, using all my hope and imagination that anyone reading this (in any time period) can actually consider them-self a loyal fan, and consciously choosing laborious words and tedious phrases (as far as my education allows) to construct a like-paragraph established entirely of one sentence, I feel a sense of confidence that the only persons who might be reading this would indeed consider themselves a fan ( unless this happened to found, and posted somewhere online where millions of viewers visit to find hidden gems online to laugh long-time at) and would not mind this incredibly long sentence.
And lastly, I would like to thank you all in advance for guiding and assisting me in what was needed for me to do to achieve a "loyal fan base" (notice the quotations... or don't). So thank you, and now I turn onward, to many projects and experiences that will serve as a moral compass in all th-
-wait... where was I going with this? I think that last part was something I heard in church once. Who knows, maybe everything was... anyway, look for the first in a series of "Digital Daydream" soon. It'll be up around Nov, 14, 2011. Maybe I'll post some bits and pieces early. Would you guys like some Screenshots? Music? Let me know, I love hearing from you guys (and gals ;])
=Nathan=
Friday, October 14, 2011
Oregonomics
Although the bed, at first, seemed to provide the comfort needed for a great nights sleep, I somehow managed to find myself waking up multiple times throughout the night/early morning to find a more "sleepable" position. (that's for you Ronni) Perhaps it's because of the fact that the bed is foreign to me. After all, I'm in a hotel I've never been in, in a state I've never been in, roughly 1000 miles from home.
The day before my brothers wedding has been full of adventure, danger, laughter, excitement, true love, almost like "The Princess Bride". After waking up in this Oregoni hotel, my sister comes up with this amazing idea to go geocaching (If you haven't heard of geocaching, it is simply a scavenger hunt that anyone in the world can participate in. You simply search for the coordinates provided by the person who hid the item [we used an app on my brothers phone to search the "coords"]. The item generally contains a logbook to write your name, the date found, and maybe a message or leave an item behind). Luckily for us, the closest geaocache was hidden in our very hotel parking lot! We followed the next coordinates and found 2 more just down the road. One of the hidden very cleverly in an old hollowed out branch that had been Macguyver'ed with an end that swivels open. And we never found that 4th one.
After that we had lunch and got lost looking for some stores in Portland. One of the biggest drags about Oregon is that U-turns are illegal unless permitted by a sign. But my Mom quickly found the loophole that there ain't no law against Y-turns! Not that it helped very much. We never got to Powell's books, the bookstore my mom had been going on and on about in place of my sister since I arrived at the airport. Perhaps tomorrow.
When we finally decided to abandon that futile search we headed home and got ready for the pre-wedding dinner. We walked the 40 yards to Stanfords and met up with the brides family. The meal was pretty tasty so I was ready for dessert. I should have known something wouldn't taste quite the way it should, and sure enough, the dessert was a let-down, but that's ok, because my superstitious mother says that each and every problem today, will ensure a smoother result for the wedding tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
We walked back to the hotel and I spent the evening reuniting with the family members I hadn't happened to sit near during the dinner. I did bring UNO for our family to enjoy, but I don't know if anyone heard me mention that....... perhaps tomorrow.
Perhaps the bed will go easier on me tonight, now that we're better acquainted.
Goodnight.
The day before my brothers wedding has been full of adventure, danger, laughter, excitement, true love, almost like "The Princess Bride". After waking up in this Oregoni hotel, my sister comes up with this amazing idea to go geocaching (If you haven't heard of geocaching, it is simply a scavenger hunt that anyone in the world can participate in. You simply search for the coordinates provided by the person who hid the item [we used an app on my brothers phone to search the "coords"]. The item generally contains a logbook to write your name, the date found, and maybe a message or leave an item behind). Luckily for us, the closest geaocache was hidden in our very hotel parking lot! We followed the next coordinates and found 2 more just down the road. One of the hidden very cleverly in an old hollowed out branch that had been Macguyver'ed with an end that swivels open. And we never found that 4th one.
After that we had lunch and got lost looking for some stores in Portland. One of the biggest drags about Oregon is that U-turns are illegal unless permitted by a sign. But my Mom quickly found the loophole that there ain't no law against Y-turns! Not that it helped very much. We never got to Powell's books, the bookstore my mom had been going on and on about in place of my sister since I arrived at the airport. Perhaps tomorrow.
When we finally decided to abandon that futile search we headed home and got ready for the pre-wedding dinner. We walked the 40 yards to Stanfords and met up with the brides family. The meal was pretty tasty so I was ready for dessert. I should have known something wouldn't taste quite the way it should, and sure enough, the dessert was a let-down, but that's ok, because my superstitious mother says that each and every problem today, will ensure a smoother result for the wedding tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
We walked back to the hotel and I spent the evening reuniting with the family members I hadn't happened to sit near during the dinner. I did bring UNO for our family to enjoy, but I don't know if anyone heard me mention that....... perhaps tomorrow.
Perhaps the bed will go easier on me tonight, now that we're better acquainted.
Goodnight.
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