Without a doubt, this has been the best term ever for me in terms of uni work. Last year, I didn’t really feel like I was actually getting anywhere and in the end of year exhibition I didn’t feel that there was anything from the course that I could show. This term, I’ve felt that I’ve been doing what I wanted to come to uni for.

I’ve worked on animations, motion graphics, promo videos and been experimenting with various levels of 3D. The learning curve has been fantastic, thoroughly rewarding and I feel has pushed me to try new things. Nothing has been a push too far and I’m hoping that in the next couple of terms I can try new things and achieve more.

Last year, I was the only person in halls doing Motion Graphics and that let me meet and work with people on different courses, bringing together all sorts of talents, skills and ideas. I really hope that I can work with more people and if you’ve got an idea that you want to bring to video, I’d love to hear all about it.

This term is almost finished and we’ve got some time off to take a break. I can’t wait to get back, try new techniques, try new ideas and work with new people.

Merry Christmas.

Shortly after, I bought a new phone. It’s on a contract with unlimited Internet and this just sounded like a bit of a gimmick – who’s going to use it enough to warrant that? As it happens, me.

Moving into my new student house in September, I knew that we wouldn’t have broadband immediately, so I took advantage of my contract and used it as a hotspot to connect my laptop to.

Initially a temporary measure, it’s now been two months and without mobile Internet, I’d be going crazy. The speed is fairly good, enough for regular browsing and even using YouTube isn’t too bad. Uploads aren’t that reliable but still possible and if you’ve got good coverage, you should be ok.

Today though ended the drought of broadband and we were finally connected to the world through a good old fashioned copper cable.

Despite the experiment that it was to just use mobile Internet instead if broadband, I am so glad to have a wired connection. Jon, if your mobile Internet works for you, go for it. It’s worth trying it out for yourself (though check your contract first) and see if you can manage. You never know, you might be able to save a bit!

I’m not the sort of person to use strong language but crickey, that was bloomin’ marvellous. After all the build up, I was so pleased that what I was looking for for so long came together in such a fantastic way.

Always the most important for me was the ‘Tintin’ factor being preserved from the books. Aside from the usual concessions that have to be made when making the transfer to film, the look, feel and style were all still there. The distinctive colours, imagery and characters were all the same but more, real. There was a beautiful nod to the artist behind the Tintin stories, Hergé, at the beginning as Tintin had his caricature drawn by his creator.

As for the plot of the film, I was a little disappointed. I knew the plot of ‘The Secret of the Unicorn’ already and was expecting it to mainly follow that. It instead added in a lot from the books preceding and succeeding it in the series but it was done so well and added so much to the film, it was well worth it. The exhilarating chase through the town centre and the mixing between the past story and the present would not exist if the plot had not been played around with.

Almost as important to me as it being a Tintin film was the CG. I was hoping for something that at times would look entirely real and at others would shout the original artwork at me and I was not once disappointed. The likenesses to the books was just right and the recent advances in 3D Graphics and rendering technology meant that every optical effect from the refraction of a magnifying glass to the physics that made everything interact with each other was spotless. It was clear to see that the CG was used to its full extent, giving way to dozens of shots simply not possible with conventional filming techniques.

3D is in my eyes, still a bit of a gimmick. I’m sure that it will be adopted to films like surround sound in time and it’s worth the extra money. I just wishes that it could add something more to the film than the occasional shot that makes you forget that you’re in a dark room in a shopping complex in Thanet. Still, 3D films are still progressing and it was certainly better than some attempts that have done nothing except hurt my eyes.

Well what else can I say? The cast are fantastic, the music is up to the best of John Williams and the title sequence is quite reminisce and almost as good as that of Catch Me If You Can. It was great to see little hints of the other Tintin adventures hidden throughout the film which I’ll leave you to find for yourself. Thank you Spielberg, Hergé was right to ask you to make this film. I cannot wait for the next one and whenever it comes out to buy.

I know a lot of people that go to the cinema starting by saying, “do you want to go and see a film?” “Yeah, alright. What do you want to see?” I’m not like that, I generally only go to see a film that I particularly want to see. And top of that list for almost a year has been Tintin.

I grew up reading the books, occasionally getting one for a birthday and borrowing the rest from the library. I saw a fair few of the animated TV series (indeed, I’m watching it now) but the books have always been the best story-teller of the franchise.

So what am I hoping of from the film? Well, anything to spend more time in the world of Tintin. It brings the Tintin stories to more people and means that I now have a really cool poster on my wall.

I’m also really excited about it because of the technology behind it. It was originally planned as live-action with a CG Snowy but Peter Jackson suggested to Spielberg (big names ahoy) that it would be better as entirely CG, using motion capture. As far as I know, this is the first film to be made like this to such an extent and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Well I’m off to the cinema now. I’ll post later, with what I think of the film, plot, CG, 3D and writing in comparison to the books. Tootle-pip.

Now, I’ve tried very much the same, but on my phone. Same location, similar editing tools available, the only difference is the hardware.

Can I start by saying that for something taken on a phone, it’s not too bad. However, there are key differences.

Firstly, my camera takes multiple photos in quick succession, meaning there’s a greater chance if getting the framing right.

There’s also better tools for setting up a shot on a proper camera – zoom, shutter speed, white balance. Even if you leave the settings to auto or programmed you’ll get a pretty good shot.

However, the one advantage of this incredible phone software and the pretty good lens on it too is the portability of it. It’s always there, and I can get to it in an instant. I only saw the bridge coming up briefly and had just enough time to get my phone out (whilst answering a call) before having to take the picture.

But truth be told, the poster opposite me is right.

(Photo of poster ironically taken on my phone.)

So, moving in to the house. What can I say about the house? Well, when looking for houses, we wanted to be near the uni, close to shops and some space, if possible. If we take a look at our house then near to uni, it is not. Close to the shops, it loses points on. Space however, we did quite well on.

Can I say at this point, I am so glad to be back with all my excellent friends. I got to know them all rather well last year and one the summer, so I’d imagine that the 6 chumps I have in the house (and garage) will all get to know each other terribly well.

Asides from the house and meeting my friends again, I’m massively looking forward to getting back into some work, both from uni and the various projects I work on the rest of the time. Actually, I’ve got some for you right here if you’re interested in what I’ve been doing to keep myself busy over the summer. Not everything is there yet but this is the only link so far: My Creative Summer

Now, after ‘an extended hiatus,’ they’ve brought out a 10th album, I’m With You. It’s fantastic.

I'm With You

It all started when I was browsing iTunes last week and spotted the famous asterisk of theirs at the top of the page. I’ve never been a massive fan but I like some of their stuff and I recorded Can’t Stop for my Music Tech AS. There was a stream of the album to listen to, all the way through so I gave it a try one evening and after a couple of songs, that was it.

I pre-ordered it and downloaded it on Monday before going away for a couple of days and by the time I got back and synced iTunes, the play count was 5+ per song. But what makes this album so good?

First of all, it’s lost none of RHCP’s special sound to it. Rick Rubin has produced it (of course) and even though there’s a new guitarist, pretty much all of the songs can sit right alongside their older material, spanning nearly three decades. Long time Chili fans, rejoice.

There is some new ideas in there though, more material to push the band forward and ahead of whatever codswallop is on commercial radio these days. As the blurb on iTunes puts it ‘Flea’s basslines grow ever more intricate’ and nowhere is that more true than in Goodbye Hooray.

What I like best about the album though is that the band doesn’t (appear) to have any pretentious agenda behind the album. Matt Bellamy is always complaining about the US Government, half the music in the charts is money-driven pop and there are dozens of hipster little bands, trying to be a bit different. RHCP are nine of these.

That’s my opinion anyway. And if you want a second opinion, my mum likes it and says that it sounds “warm.” There you go, now buy it with a Linda Tervet seal of approval.

Thing is, it’s not. He’s going to Waterloo too and just when I think that he’s left my life as I buy my ticket, I get onto a packed train and before I Know it I’ve sat down in the only seat available. Next to the same guy. Whether or not he recognised me or not is a different matter but it made for the most tense half hour of my life.

Onto the main event and we got to ask the likes of Martin Whitmarsh, Ross Brawn, Paddy Lowe, Lewis Hamilton and Kamui Kobayashi questions about engines, regulations, privacy, media, overtaking and where Formula One might go to next for a couple of hours. It was great to get such responses to whatever question you wanted to ask and to be able to get such an instant, honest and clear answer.

So basically, an amazing day. The MTC is somewhere that I’ve wanted to go to for ages and to have such an opportunity to see all those legendary cars was a real privilege. Bit of a shame that I couldn’t get more photos myself but McLaren are pretty strict on photography there and I don’t think that I’m going to forget it any time soon.