Beauty does not come in bite-size pieces. It does not come in
capsules nor does it come easily. While there is no personal achievement in
being born beautiful, it is often acknowledged that Beauty is a welcome guest
everywhere.
We are surrounded by beautiful people and they influence our
lives a lot more than we acknowledge. We have
our families, friends, colleagues, and strangers. Pets and strays too.
Beautiful people can be your sunshine when you're being battered with hail. I had been through a harrowing experience, had made a
mistake and had let it tag along for quite a while. When I took steps to
rectify it, it came back to bite me in the back. I had a lot at stake and was
in a confused state of mind, worried and tired. My friend understood me
perfectly and gave me a warm hug, took me for a walk, and let me vent. Once I
had vented, I felt a rain cloud being tugged and pulled out of me. I felt it buoying away and I felt lightness. I
discussed a lot of things, formulated a plan, and started to work towards it.
Over a beef burger, an Arabic salad, and burnt caramel milkshake, I spoke and
spoke, cried, and then listened. I spent three hours talking and walking with the most
beautiful person I know and let tranquility sink in.
Beauty is relative and may not be appreciated the same
everywhere. Yes, you walk into a party and the first thing you pay attention to
is one’s appearance. The first
impression you have of a person is derived from the first 5 seconds you observe
them ( It is important to dress and groom well ). While an attractive person is
more likely to make a positive first impression, it takes a lot more than
external appeal to build a lasting impression. Beauty is a reflection of one’s
nature, one’s character, and is sometimes a way of life. Even when we are busy
with our lives, we must make it a point to appreciate the Beautiful. A smile, a
note, or a thank you go a long way and often makes them smile — making them appear
more beautiful.
I have a knack of spotting beautiful qualities in people and
occasionally compliment them on the same. Everybody loves Beautiful people— it doesn't take much to appreciate them. It makes them happy, and in turn
makes us happy. Happiness is a trait often associated with the Beautiful.
While beauty doesn't come in bite-size pieces, we can still chew on thoughts and relish the good times. While we can't gulp down a Beauty capsule, we can certainly inject ourselves with happiness. Think of all the Beauty still left around
you, and be happy.
"Well! The buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of a spot... And the baboons are going ape over this. Of course, the giraffes are acting like they're above it all..."
The Lion King is probably the most popular animated movies of all time. A movie that follows the life of a carefree cub who "can't just wait to be a king" and treads the path of "Hakuna Matata" that teaches him the "Circle of life". Animating quadrapeds was a challenge and Disney pulled it off so well!
More realistic animation techniques have replaced the traditional methods of hand-drawing animated figures. The physics of reality enslaves art and technology to simulate and visualize better, animate better. Computational methods and equations pull off a trade-off that makes a visual look as real to life as possible.
There are primarily three methods to animate a bundle of pixels. One- Breaking the image into discrete elements, Two- Use sample points selected from the sample picture and Three- Beget cells in the sample space. Motion capture is one of the coolest techniques widely used, in which markers are placed on an actor's face. For every expression, the positions of markers are noted and subsequently mapped onto the animated character.
I have been particularly impressed by VFX (Visual Effects- effects that are used to manipulate images to make them look realistic and integrate live-action footage) . I was mindblown by the VFX generated by the team that worked with visuals in X-MEN First Class. A great story line coupled with amazing effects that looked real but quite apparent.
Here's a youtube video of how they created the Beast transformation, the Magneto Yacht destruction scene, Riptide hurricanes and Cerebro destruction.
ICY system helped in rendering light and added a bit of composition. There is a lot more physics and equations involved than I thought there was. Properties of light play an important role. The right amount of illumination and spark can transform a dull scene and make it interesting and gripping.
Tapping reflection and refraction (properties of light) was a way to make Frost's diamond form much more appealing. Also the skin textures could change by changing the illumination and using animation softwares like Voodoo, to make skin look smooth or scaley, depending on the effect desired (in case of Mystique [the one who has shape shifting powers, turns blue on whim and claims she is 'Mutant and proud'] ).
They also used Zbrush for Angel's dragon wings and made the transition of her transformation look super-smooth. The final fight scenes that included a fire fight were rendered by PRman that rendered the fire in three heat ranges, namely blue, green and red. The particles had different shades of opacity and with this, the subsequent effects could be varied and applied.
Another mutant, Havok has special powers of throwing rings of fire. These discs were Computer generated and they appear to be forms of energy that contract and expand and vary in intensity as they are hurled towards the intended offender.
Magneto's attempts to destroy Sebastian Shaw's Yacht were created by using the visual destruction tool called Kali. Kali analyses and creates break points that follows the rules of geometry (particularly center of gravity) and gives a realistic view of how the ship will break and capsize , if it were to, in live footage.
Effects are undoubtedly different for solids and fluids. Much like dynamics for solids and fluids, each of these use different computational algorithms to add credible visual effects and incorporate it with live footage. Various fast fourier transforms can be used to create and obtain various effects on fluids.
Facial animation is a different aspect and quite complex; Usually rendered using motion graphics, innumerable computations and markers. Adding expressions to characters was an important task and a task beautifully done. I believe I enjoyed watching X-Men First Class not just for it being a beautiful prologue to the X-men series but for also having beautiful effects that makes the film viewing experience so much more interesting.
Watching action movies without visual effects is like connoisseuring a tasteless meal. Movies can ofcourse, be beautifully made sans visual effects. However, visual effects and editing intrigue me and I pay attention to these aspects as well. I love movies and particularly love learning about various techniques that are incorporated while making films. I love the zest and dedication that is put in while making films and most importantly, I love how the effects make things look so illusional yet so real.
I do look forward to the weekend. I want to do so many things throughout the week.. Read a book, watch a movie, catch up with friends and get some me-time but its not always possible due to other commitments.
I reserve my weekends for dedicated hours of preparation for Entrances, fun and the things I really want to do!
My colleague Aarthi suggested I watch 'The Manchurian Candidate'. I watched it this afternoon and loved it.
Denzel Washington is a fabulous actor and makes you feel for him. The Manchurian Candidate is by far one of my favourite movies of Washington, closely followed by 'Remember the Titans'. For co-stars, Meryl Streep is beautiful and unsurpassingly creepy. Liev Schreiber (The guy who plays Wolverine's brother in Xmen), is sleek and conjures up an air of authority and carries off the image of a confident, conniving politician very well. As much as I'd like to type out my thoughts and comment on this beautiful thriller, I'd rather do it after reading the book (on which this movie is based).
So yes, I had a peaceful Sunday, did a little cooking, studied, helped around the house, ran a few errands, made a colourful sketch with felts and wrote CSS for my blog.
Sundays are meant for unwinding and setting in a new week.
I look forward to a good week and hope you do too!
P.S. I want to share with you something I made tonight :
I love walking. The rains have made my city more beautiful and I don't appreciate it as much as I should. I have set about walking the by-lanes and main roads of the suburbs. The otherwise clogged up lanes are more appealing and I love the freedom that comes with walking. I am so happy to have taken up walking over the past couple of weeks.
I had become lazy over the past couple of months,when it came to physical forms of exercise. This resulted in piling on those extra kilos rapidly coupled with the fact that I didn't restrict my food intake (taking into account my physical inactivity).
Yeah,the weight piled on and I started to see the extra weight and didn't like it as my trousers grew tighter. I decided I had to put a stop to that. I couldn't let all that weight add on. I had to do something about it and I didn't want to shell out for a gym membership.
I have a walking example in my family. My grandfather! Extremely fit even at 80,he walks for a minimum 45mins daily. He had a heart condition way back in '93 and doctors had adviced surgery but he decided to let his heart beat and beat the condition by walking. He did it then and he has followed that routine till date. The discipline and motivation to walk made way for a natural love for walking. He walks to different places for the enjoyment and loves to talk about it. If he goes to walk at our local park,he can easily do 15 rounds and can easily beat a man half his age in terms of stamina,speed and zest.
Its a good habit to pick from him and I started walking. I wanted to lose weight and feel good. The walks I took initially were at the local park and initially I would do a 15 at a brisk pace which took about 30mins. In a few days I increased walking for an hour and stopped counting the rounds. I made it a point to walk fast for 45mins. Talking to my friend or listening to music took away that initial nay-say in my mind. I started walking out and took it up to walk on the pavements and set targets.
Every weekend,I go on a long walk to indulge myself. This weekend I decided to walk to my favourite place,Bandra! I started walking at 6pm and reached Turner Road at 635pm. I walked at a brisk speed. Walking in the direction of traffic,I loved the fact that the traffic didn't have me waiting. I was free! I could walk and reach faster than those buses and cars. The traffic slowed them down,not me!
On my way back,I walked on Linking Road. The clothes and shoe stalls were my motivation (*wink*) and I passed lines of clothing racks,admiring from a distance. The shoes were amazing too! (and affordable! ). I walked back,vowing to myself that I need to work harder and earn more if I want to get myself those things. For now,they looked great on the racks.
I picked up my pace and crossed one busy junction after another and it felt good. I was approaching the end of my walk and I felt tired but satisfied.
The satisfaction that I get after a long walk, can be best described as contentment. I love walking and it is good for me. Its my way of pampering myself and I will continue to do so. This could be the best habit I could gift myself.
I see only the upside of walking and the advantages are numerous. I have also lost weight,toned up and I fit into my favourite pair of jeans again! The only investment you need to make is in a good pair of walking shoes and ensure healthy tendons. There are no visible downsides unless you over-do it (Anything in excess is poisonous (and painful) ).
The only danger I see is in you coming across a pack of aggressive stray dogs.
But hey,carry a packet of biscuits and a bottle of water on your walk and you'll be fine!
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL is one of my favourite movies. I watched it on DVD a few years back and have watched it more than a few times. I really thank my friend who lent me this beautiful movie :).
Set in Italy in the late 1930s,the movie opens with the lead Guido and his friend driving down the countryside in a car. The car goes out of control as the breaks don't work. The two finally control the car and bring it on road. However the road they drive down is lined with people waiting to wave at a visiting dictator. Guido gestures at people to move out of the car's path but they instead wave at him thinking he's the dictator they are waiting to welcome and that he's gesturing the same.
Down in the country,he meets a woman called Dora. Guido loves her from the minute he sees her. Thereby he greets her and addresses her adoringly by the title Principessa. The two meet further a number of times,accidentally and not-so-accidentally, much to Guido's delight and he never stops treating her like a princess.
He stays with his Uncle and is employed as a waiter and yet dreams and yearns to take care of his Principessa for the rest of their lives.
Dora's supposed to get engaged to a man of her mother's choice. On the very day,Dora and Guido elope on a horse right in front of everyone.
Six years later,Dora and Guido are happily married and have an adorable son Giosue. Guido now runs a bookstore. They live a happy life. One day,Guido,Giosue and Guido's uncle are taken away by the Nazis(Guido's family were jews). Dora insists on accompanying them. Guido tells Guiso they are going on a picnic. They are part of a game called Holocaust. Guido makes sure that Guisue doesn't feel sad nor is scared. Instead he tells Guido that in this game everyone is out to score points. The one who scores a thousand points first,is awarded a real tank. Guisue believes him and doesn't get disheartened.
In the camp,each day Guido and the fellow inmates are given bone-breaking jobs and very little to eat. Guido hides Guisue in their room and tells him if he comes out,he will be seen and then he will be disqualified. If he hears rumours that tell him otherwise,its just that others are jealous of how ahead Guisue is in the game! Guido makes Guisue experience the little joys of life even when they are down in the dumps(in their case,down on their knees). He also shields his son from the nightmares of the place by distracting him and doing silly things just to make his son laugh.
The film does have disturbing moments like when old people and women are sent to different camps. The men are sent to hard labour camps,the old and children are sent to gas chambers.
There are touching moments when Guido steals into the Public Announcement room and plays Dora's favourite piece of opera music. I found myself very moved by the very nature of this scene. It portrays true love that is on a platform-way above the risk of getting caught by the camp guards,way above the possibility of being sent to the gas chambers or shot or tortured.
In the final minutes of the movie,Guido is caught by the guards (as he tries to find Dora and shot behind a wall.) Before setting out, to find Dora,he hides his son inside a stone mailbox and tells him he's only a hundred points away from winning. He must remain there till he hears no sound and must not come out until he is sure that all the other participants have fled(losing all hope of winning the real tank).
The next morning, the Nazis retreat further away as the Allies are closing in. The prisoners have no minders and walk out in relief. When Guisue hears no sound,he gingerly steps out. He is relieved yet worried that all does not seem right. The air of gloom hangs down heavily as Guisue tries to figure out what happened. Right then,a tank rolls in. The American in the tank gives him a ride in his tank. Guisue is happy and that his Daddy was right all this time. The tank rides down the hill,flanked by the camp prisoners, making way to freedom. Guisue finds his mother amongst the prisoners and is very happy.It is not until he grows older,does he realise the nature of his father's sacrifice for him and his mother,Dora.
The very innocence,despair;emotions,individuality and spirit portrayed by the actors dispells any doubts,only highlights how Life is Beautiful.
