Class project: "Flag Metamorphosis: Grand Rapids Sister Cities"
This group animation was created in CFV 325: Animation 1 to contribute to a worldwide participatory animation project called "Flag Metamorphoses." Professor Deanna Morse explains the process:
"For this animation, we spotlighted the five sister cities of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Students were introduced to the goals of the Sister Cities program. We did a short training in Flash animation. Animation clips were presented including examples from Norman McLaren, Emile Cohl, Oskar Fischinger, and several contemporary animators. After students picked a city, they did research and worked together in a team to coordinate the images from that country. This project was the first assignment in our animation class, and was completed in a few weeks."
This group project was created in the Fall '08 CFV 325: Animation 1 course to commemorate Grand Valley's 50th anniversary. Animated by students Matt Dempsey, Colby Jarrell, Corey Hague, Jon Augustyn, Grant Hyde, Jake Wellever, Terry Rayment, Josh Carlson, Steve Travilla, Kim Henner, Jillian Jennings, Sujen Diviney, Michael Forzley, Erik Jones, Brian Kasnick, and Andrew French. Created using Flash.
This exercise is called "Lighting the Scientist" and is done each semester in CFV 368: Lighting for Film and Video Productions, taught by Scott Vanderberg.
The project illustrates the use of a practical light in the frame, and how at full exposure the bulb is too bright for the camera. So we dim it down and recreate the bare bulb light with our instruments, then add some "moonlight" through the window.
Click below to watch.
Step One - the bulb at full exposure
Step Two - the bulb at proper exposure
Step Three - key light added
Step Four - key and separation
Step Five - key, separation, and lamp
Step Six - key, separation, lamp and kicker light
Step Seven - complete lighting setup
Jay Teegardin, a junior film and video student at Grand Valley State University, recently traveled to New York for the premiere of Capitalism: A Love Story, the new film by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Jay worked on the film for five months, starting as an intern ultimately receiving credit on the film as an archival assistant.
"Working on the movie, I did a lot of transcribing, logging film, and online research, which was basically digging through numerous archival websites," Jay said. "I worked with the assistant editors classifying material and annotating pictures and clips. Through this experience I learned how important hard work and dedication are to a production of this magnitude. I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity and hope it's one of many to come."
Capitalism: A Love Story was released on October 2, 2009.
Student project: "Crush"
Film/Video Junior Alan Ledford created this short narrative for CFV 125: Media Production 1. The course was a prerequisite for his entry into the major, where he now pursues an individual study plan.
Alan explains the project:
"My intent in creating this piece was to explore a common emotion everyone has felt but by putting a creative twist while following the guideline for the project. This story is about a boy who finds a crush in a coffee shop. He goes into a daydream of emotions he feels.. He experiences his heart racing, being tongue tied, judgmental of himself, his breath being taken away, and the weight of the overbearing father. I hope the audience just finds a new perspective on an common occurrence.
The idea for this project came from past experiences I felt when I had a new crush on a girl and having to overcome those emotions to further meet that person.
I filmed this project with mini-DV videotape on my Sony FX7. It was edited using Adobe After Effects and Final Cut Pro."
Film/Video alumna Alice Peterson ('09) directed this short narrative for CFV 321: 16mm Production 1 as part of her individual study plan focusing on production.
She offers more about the project:
"I wanted to direct a film that would be fun and challenging for my crew, to buff our on-set experience. We used mixed media, a child actor, an elaborate original set, and advanced equipment to do so.
I hope the audience will relate with Carl, and share in his personal success at the end of the film.
I was trying to write a challenging part for a talented actor (Scott Robinson) in the GVSU theater program. I began to research autism and develop the character of Carl. Once Carl took form, his story naturally followed. The ulterior world that Carl experiences was influenced by works from Michel Gondry.
We shot in 16mm Vision 3 Kodak film on the school's SRII. It was edited in Final Cut Pro and the sound mix was done with Pro Tools."
Senior Anna Gustafson created this kinetic typography project in CFV 426: Cinematic Multimedia as part of her Individual Study Plan major emphasis. She focuses specifically on media and culture.
Anna shares more about it:
"I was really excited to try my hand at kinetic typography. I wanted to make a fun, punchy piece that people enjoy watching.
I was looking for an audio source to use specifically for kinetic typography. When I came across this song, I was struck by the singer's rhythmic voice and the images in the song served my purpose very well.
I farmed all of my images from Google searches, then edited them in Photoshop. After that it was just a matter of editing the animation in After Effects and outputting to the web.
Film/Video senior Evan Rattenbury created this multi-channel video for CFV 426: Cinematic Multimedia as part of his Individual Study Plan major emphasis.
Evan tells us more:
"The intent was really only to experiment with multiple channels of video and their relation to each other. The music was just kind of a means to an end. Then in the actual process of making it, it became about growing up really. Just a very nostalgic piece. Initially it was going to be called "Life in Bb" but that seemed way too pretentious.
I had the thumb piano and I had the thought of having different video clips represent the individual keys. And then I had all these 8mm home movies that my grand parents had shot that were recently digitized. So I pulled out clips based on the color palette and assigned each one a note on the thumb piano. Then I wrote the music around what I felt the images were conveying.
The thumb piano was recorded with Garage Band and the editing was done in Final Cut Pro."
For more videos from GVSU Film & Video students, visit our Vimeo channel:
Alumni Matthew G. Nickels and Joshua Beagle ('08) created this documentary in CFV 322: Documentary 1.
Matthew tells us more:
"Our intent in creating this piece was to inform people about the issue of stem cell research, in a balanced way. In addition we wanted to examine the environment and controversy behind stem cell politics. Most importantly, we wanted to understand the issue that our fathers (the producers' fathers) are both directly affected.
The idea was created when we were trying to figure out a topic for a documentary. Stem cell research became obvious because it was close to home and very controversial.
We shot in HD video using Sony HD cameras, and edited using final cut pro. The effects were created in After Effects, and some of the artwork and press material was created using Photoshop. The video was output to DVD and the internet using Compressor."
RSS Feed
This group animation was created in CFV 325: Animation 1 to contribute to a worldwide participatory animation project called "
This group project was created in the Fall '08 CFV 325: Animation 1 course to commemorate Grand Valley's 50th anniversary. Animated by students Matt Dempsey, Colby Jarrell, Corey Hague, Jon Augustyn, Grant Hyde, Jake Wellever, Terry Rayment, Josh Carlson, Steve Travilla, Kim Henner, Jillian Jennings, Sujen Diviney, Michael Forzley, Erik Jones, Brian Kasnick, and Andrew French. Created using Flash.
This exercise is called "Lighting the Scientist" and is done each semester in CFV 368: Lighting for Film and Video Productions, taught by 
Jay Teegardin, a junior film and video student at Grand Valley State University, recently traveled to New York for the premiere of Capitalism: A Love Story, the new film by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. Jay worked on the film for five months, starting as an intern ultimately receiving credit on the film as an archival assistant. 
Film/Video Junior Alan Ledford created this short narrative for CFV 125: Media Production 1. The course was a prerequisite for his entry into the major, where he now pursues an individual study plan.
Film/Video alumna Alice Peterson ('09) directed this short narrative for CFV 321: 16mm Production 1 as part of her individual study plan focusing on production.
Senior Anna Gustafson created this kinetic typography project in CFV 426: Cinematic Multimedia as part of her Individual Study Plan major emphasis. She focuses specifically on media and culture.
Film/Video senior Evan Rattenbury created this multi-channel video for CFV 426: Cinematic Multimedia as part of his Individual Study Plan major emphasis.
Alumni Matthew G. Nickels and Joshua Beagle ('08) created this documentary in CFV 322: Documentary 1.