Gaddis Blog #3

My first piece was designed by Tal Gilks, a motion graphics designer from Spain. His piece, the OFFF opening credits, captures art from many different disciplines and combines them to create a true multimedia experience. The incorporation of photography, motion graphics, 3D animation, design, and modeling combine to represent the true essence of the OFFF Festival, linking artists in various fields together to provide insight into the culture of all multimedia platforms. The product is the opening credits for the OFFF Festival, which is the International Festival For the Post-Digital Creation Culture. The demographic is catered towards those who are infatuated with modern multimedia design, men and women who are most likely college-age and older, who are seeking a means to stay ahead of the artistic curve. Gilks is using many facets of art to appeal to many different multimedia communities, and he combines the various fields to create a montage utilizing all of them. Gilks' biggest success for this festival was his ability to intertwine various mediums into one cohesive piece. It is memorable because he challenges the viewers expectations by playing with sound and speeding up or slowing down his abstract narrative, which always keeps the viewer guessing, and wanting more. I feel that the festival would consider this piece successful for them if they received increased attention and participation for their future festivals as a result of the interest of the viewers of this piece.

My second piece was created by Ryan Uhrich, from the Vancouver Film School, entitled Duelity. The project is a juxtaposition of two motion pieces presented side by side, one presenting the religious depiction of life and how we came to be, and one film presenting the scientific/logical depiction of life. The same types of shots are used in sequence for both films, presenting a similar vantage point with both core sets of beliefs. This direct comparison between two contrasting viewpoints is an uneasy pairing, but the similarities in filming shot and style ties the two together in an oddly workable relationship. It is important to note the irony in content for both motion pieces, for the religious depiction is shown in a visually scientific fashion, while the scientific definition is painted as this faith-based reality. Perhaps that is why these two pieces work 

so well side by side. The product being sold is contemporary motion graphics work that could be seen as propaganda for seemingly contrasting viewpoints on life. Ryan Uhrich is trying to promote his visual work and skill in design, as well as raise a question in his viewership, as well as challenge them to see the common thread that is woven between two contradicting sources. I imagine that he is trying to market his product to companies that seek unique design approaches for their goals. His way of presenting this "duelity" translates to complex ways of thinking. Most viewers would tend to favor one of the two viewpoints presented, as they are generally the largest schools of thought. It is easy to draw either side of that spectrum into this piece because you are fairly explaining both points of view. The motion graphics take the viewer on a ride into both schools of thought simultaneously, employing 3d graphics, modeling, and texture mapping to help tell each story. The piece is memorable because I have never seen a piece that employs 2 contrasting ideas into one canvas, and is so successful. I think that the simple fact he is able to draw this comparison so seamlessly represents his success.