SPARKLES & SPICE

Bonjour! I'm a foodie artist located in San Francisco. I savor the small pleasures in life, mainly delectable noms. I love slowing down to take notice of detail, delighting in what is often easy to rush habitually through. I live Mindfully.

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motion piece | input needed! Feb 21, 2009by amanda8 Comments

Ok, this is the motion piece I did last quarter, it is titled Constellations.

**IMPORTANT – first watch the FIRST video (which has no text) and then see what you think of it and how you interpret it. Next watch the second video (which includes text) and see if that clarifies the story or takes away from the visuals and abstract artistry of it.

I can’t decide which version to put in my portfolio and any input is welcome! Please comment and let me know if you prefer text or no text. Thanks in advance to anyone who gives feedback :)

*sorry for the somewhat cruddy quality of video
VERSION 1 (no text)

VERSION 2 (text)

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  • http://chrislamping.com Chris

    I totally forgot how much I loved this motion piece :-). I watched the first, then the second, and then both at the same time haha. I think I like it with text better. good luck choosing!

  • maria

    im torn. i never thought text would be a good idea but it actually doesn’t look that bad. hmmm…there are a few spots where it’s a little forced but i think it’s actually kind of nice. so maybe the text?

  • http://jwmusic.org Josh

    Definitely without text. I like the openness of the story without it much better.

  • Justin Hoffman

    This is tricky, critiquing the story and the animation…
    I like the storybook quality the text gives the piece. If you are aiming for the open-ended feel thats fine but personally I like this being more complete.
    I have to agree that at times it feels too blunt, such as “they are dying”…the animation shows that point very well. At first I missed the connection of the fallen stars-> twinkling rocks. On the first pass I didn’t care for the disintegrating/rising effect the text has as the stars are rising but after seeing it a couple more times I think it adds to that crescendo point. Maybe the text disintegrates/rises more?

    The constellations themselves are legends and this story keeps that folk tale essence. I actually think your story is closer to the Native American stories of the spirits and what not.
    I love the sequence where the frame is filled with glaring light, very well done. Also your music selection fits perfectly; delicate at first, the lows, the buildup, the highs…all while sounding like a fairy tale/folk piece. The music adds so much. The piece as a whole is excellent.

  • Bailey

    Well for one, its beautiful! Two, I would definitely say I like the one without text. I watched it first and I really like how one can create their own story without it being forced. The only somewhat confusing part that I got when i watched the second one was the singing, I wasn’t sure what she was doing with her mouth open at first? haha Also, I think the text is a little distracting from the animation at times too. But in general, I think it would be more successful if the viewer could make their own conclusions with out the text.

    love and miss you!

  • Rachael

    I know from the end of quarter show my family was a little confused about the story. They all said how beautifully done it was but had to ask me what it meant. I was kind of in the same boat, but I got to see it in progress a few times along the way so I had more of an idea. Maybe you could incorporate some of the text, but not necessarily all? Just to guide the viewer along.. Or maybe post the story somewhere nearby, but not necessarily in the piece? Either way it’s great! Can’t wait til you come back! :]

  • Gretchen Menke

    Amanda, both of the pieces are beautiful. I love looking at your work. I have no experience with this, but I liked the one with the text better. I needed a little guidance. I agree with your friends that it could work with a little less text, then you would have a happy medium of the two. Just my opinion. You’re awesome.

  • Michell

    I know you posted this a long time ago but I never got to see it because my computer was acting stupid. Love the animation. I agree with most others- the text is good, but it could do with a little less. Regardless, you’re such a talented person. I love everything you do!!