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Life is A Die
Thesis 2022
Designer: Xiangyu Deng
Committee: Adam Smith,Mike Strobert
Start Time: January 2022
Life is a die
Life Is A Die is a 3d based motion project. It uses inner monologue to present poetic thoughts about the uncertain life on the Internet and in the real life.
Life are uncertainty and certainty. We act in the certain way and then accept the uncertainty. When we act, we roll a dice. The outcome is already decided by the invisible algorithm. Anyway, change happens. We can learn from it, and we continue to roll.
Visual Hilights
The visual project is 3d rendering using Cinema 4D and Redshift, with 2d text animation using Adobe After Effects.
Metaphor 1
Letter I is the metaphor for me or my brain when I am thinking. And the falling and lifting cube is for life or the changeable thinking of the life.
Metaphor 2
Cube and Dice are both metaphors for life. It is a bridge help us to communicate with uncertainty.
Dice is the extension of the cube, with the feature of numbers. These numbers use a more exact way to present the outcome of our actions.
Metaphor 3
The pointer hand is the metaphor for the actor, which refers to us. In this information world, it also refers to a cursor, which connects the behavior on the Internet.
The number of the pointer hand represents "me" and "we". When we work together, we will be more steadfast, regardless of uncertainty.
Background and Process
Problem
Nowadays, algorithm controls our life. Living a life without worries and fear becomes a challenge. How can I help people live a steady life by reducing the influence of the algorithm?
We can get all types of informs through the Internet but under the control of the algorithm.
Solution 1
To build on a virtual space where people can live life with transparency and freedom. In this space, everything is randomly decided, with fewer data and fewer algorithms in this space.
Visual clues: Transparency, dream, clean and simple.
...
Reaction
Plausible: Life consists of certainty and uncertainty. The uncertainty is not real life.
Solution 2
Life consists of certainty and uncertainty. We should accept the invisible algorithms and do what we can.
Continue to use the 3d transparent texture to make a video to help people release their worries and fear about algorithms.
Poem Contents
A simple poem as text contents to tell a story about life and algorithms to help people understand.
Recently
I am thinking
Again and again
Life is a cube
A dice
with changeable sides
keeping rolling
and shifting
Then, me
I am looking for
I...
We (we)
We roll (we roll)
And make changes
Changes make changes
Changes make changes
Then we learn
Then we roll (then we roll)
Sounds
Edited 1 - We
Edited 2 - We roll
Edited 3 - Then we roll
00:00 / 00:02
00:00 / 00:02
00:00 / 00:02
I use treble added sound track to emphasize the heavy part of this poem reading. The way to implementation is to speak and record three times, and to edit them in AE.
Raw 1 - Then Me
Raw 2 - A dice with...
Raw 3 - Full Version
00:00 / 00:07
00:00 / 00:09
00:00 / 00:50
I use the app Voice Memos within the iPhone X to record my speaking voice. For better sound receiving effects, I get a recording studio to record them.
Visual Iterations
Before the final outcome, I pretest a lot of ways for composition, modelling, texture, story and motion
Motion and Texture Tests
Abandoned Motions
Dice Composition and Texture Test
Abandoned Dice Motion
Dice Texture Test
Abandoned Final Scene 5
Abandoned Scene 2
Abandoned Scene 1
Assets and Texture
After that, I make these assets with texture to help make the final video,
Conclusion
Vusial
Attractive, accurate, and consistent.
It includes 3D rendering, 3D modeling, 3D motion, and text animation.
Communication
Efficient and effective.
Poem Story, sound effects, content editing, and metaphors, the thought behind.
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