Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

I love LOST. Love it. Some of my fellow LOST aficionados would rave about the series HEROES. I never caught it when it aired. I almost always taught on Monday evenings so the series never hit my radar. So, a couple of months ago, after the season of LOST ended, I started watching episodes of HEROES. Sometimes, the writing was clunky — the dialog was stilted, exposition so thick it was painful, and, in some cases, acting that was so bad, calling it “acting” was actually a compliment. And, yet, I got hooked on the story, started to like the characters. I wanted them to SAVE THE CHEERLEADER and SAVE THE WORLD.

Season One proved to be very satisfying. There was this underlying motivator that so many of the characters were driven by — the feeling that they were meant to be “something special.” Even the extremely bad guy, Sylar, was miserable and decapitating everyone because he, too, wanted to be special … and wasn’t. No Godsend power for him … only the powers he could steal from others.

Season Two was cut short by the Writer’s Strike. Only 11 of the 24 episodes were produced and aired. I’ve only seen five episodes of Season Two thus far. It’s moving a bit slowly and the Feudal Japan stuff is pretty tedious. We’ll see if it picks up. I was excited to read this evening that Season Three will air on September 22 and the theme is VILLIANS … inside every hero, there’s also a bit of a villain. I do love complex, conflicted characters. They’re so much more like us “real” humans.

I’m still trying to understand this plural marriage as a divine principle idea. The arguments include (1) there just are not enough “just” men so the good ones must marry more women, (2) there were so many more widows and women who than men, (3) Joseph Smith had a personal revelation from Jesus Christ that revealed plural marriage as a divine principle (in direct contradiction to Bible). I’m not a Mormon so it’s just hard for me to understand how anyone makes sense of this.

Further research into the wives of Joseph Smith revealed that NINE of the first thirteen plural marriages were with women who were married to OTHER men. It just about destroys all of the arguments for plural marriage and divine principles. Puzzling. So, puzzling.

I’ve always loved doing color correction in Photoshop. Last week, we had a “Maximize Your Mac” class and I got to teach color correction and repair of old photos. People just love those tricks. It amazes me how easy it is to correct an image. There are people who swear they cannot “see” color but I think it is simply an undistinguished skill. Remove a few color casts, balance a few flesh tones, improve the contrast on some black-and-whites and people start “seeing” the light.

I’ve used many of the techniques I mastered in Photoshop in the video environment. The biggest difference is that I get to obsess about one photo at a time but, in the video world, they’re going by at 30 images per SECOND. So, one cannot obsess in the same way. There’s a different kind of obsession with video. Instead of concentrating on the single image, the relationship of all images to one another, of one scene to another, becomes the driving concern. Recently, I found a wonderful video correction training DVD for Final Cut Pro. I’ve been excited about the new COLOR program that comes bundled in the FCP Studio. Understanding how to use the scopes, how to balance the fleshtones and match color is really satisfying. So, I’m having fun being a “colorist.”

I was telling Alec about the training DVD. He said that skilled colorists in NYC make about $500 per hour and the really gifted ones get $1700 per hour. Per hour. I’ve got to tell you that I can’t even imagine making that kind of money … unless they maybe only work an hour or two each month. I mean, seriously, how much work like that can there be? Given that I love color work, it has been an amusing thought. Tonight, I got to thinking about training four or five other folks who love color and creating a small company, a highly skilled and trained cadre of folks to provide that sort of work. What a colorful imagination I can have sometimes.

I’m stuck in the sweat zone and I am grumpy. Really grumpy. I was supposed to be in Utah this week, researching the polygamy documentary but plans changed at the last minute. So, I’m getting reports about how things are going, about the images and journals that are being discovered, about the video being shot. My documentary is drifting into new realms without me. Where oh where did my project go? So, I’ve got a big grump on.

My birth mother died two weeks ago. It’s been a few weeks of endings. Disconnection. Loss. Disappointment. There have been a whole lot chaotic feelings lately. Sometimes, I feel like I’m walking on Jell-O … take one step and watch the ground shake. Difficult to see a clear path. What’s that thing that people always say, “If God closes a door, he opens a window.” So, I’ve been looking for the open windows and checking out the potential new views.

Independence Day is almost here. I keep reflecting on that in light of everything that has been happening. Humans are such odd creatures. Why is it so hard for us to be free? We encumber ourselves with so many things. We make it impossible to be happy, to live joyfully, to express fully who we are and what we have to offer the world. We go through life like the little pigs, huddled inside our structures, trying to ignore the wolves at the door. What do we do to distract ourselves? We go to Disneyland! At least, that’s what I’m doing. I got an invite to spend the weekend at Disneyland with a friend while she celebrates her 50th birthday. At least I know which t-shirt to buy.

Alec sent links to some amazing research being conducted at the University of Southern California in the realm of video graphics, lighting and compositing. According to the website, “The ICT Graphics Laboratory develops new techniques for creating and displaying photorealistic computer graphics of people, objects, and environments. We specialize in developing image-based methods for acquiring shape, reflectance, and motion from digital photography and video. The results are computer-generated virtual models which look and behave as realistically as possible, viewable from any viewpoint and in any illumination conditions.”

There are links to research papers, videos, online datasets, software packages, and online demonstrations. The two Alec found most interesting are below … neat stuff. Go watch the videos. You won’t believe it!

http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/RHL/

http://gl.ict.usc.edu/Research/ConcaveSurroundOptics/

Phoenix has been a BLAST FURNACE for a few weeks now. The temperatures are hovering near 114° as the sun blazes like the tip of blowtorch. We humans cling to our air conditioned spaces and only venture outdoors if there’s a swimming pool within twenty paces of the door. Summer is the time to get things done in The Valley of the Stunned. Who wants to be outside?

So, no surprise, I’m heading north with my pal, Elisa, to spend some time cooling in the pines of Flagstaff. The altitude, the breezes, the smell of pine and a little time to focus on the trajectory of my life.

The last six months, we’ve been working on an exciting and compelling documentary. It’s on the establishment, expansion and exodus of the Mormon Colonies in Mexico. One of the major elements of the film is the influence of polygamy on the settlement of the desert southwest. I am amazed at how much of Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico was settled because of the Mormon effort to locate land where they could practice polygamy without governmental interference. Initially, the unsettled, undeveloped western territories were ideal but, then, the passage of several laws and increased efforts at prosecution pushed the polygamous Mormons south of the U.S. border. Those people who settled those colonies are the focus of this documentary. Looking forward to finishing it up and moving on to the next thing. Hope to use the time in the woods to find more clarity on all of that and what sort of film and animation projects come next.

Yvonne Catherine Ginther, died Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at her residence in Chippewa Falls. Yvonne was born June 23, 1936, the daughter of Don and Richardine (Baecker) Feuling in Buffalo County. She graduated from McDonell Central High School. Yvonne worked at Cray Research for many years before retiring.

Yvonne enjoyed sharing stories about her Waumandee roots. She would often entertain a captive audience with details about her many adventures throughout her lifetime. Yvonne had an amazing memory for facts and fine details. She looked forward to the daily crossword puzzle and spending time with her friends and family. She especially loved the Green Bay Packers.

Yvonne is survived by: two daughters, Cyndi Greening of Gilbert, Ariz. and Sandy (Jeff) Bowe of Chippewa Falls; three grandsons, Chris (Sara) Bowe of Mesa, Ariz., Kevin Bowe of Chippewa Falls, and Alec Hart of New York, NY; one brother, Wayne (Toots) Feuling of Chippewa Falls; three sisters, Darlene Adams, Bev Wild both of Chippewa Falls and Debbie (Ken) Klimek of Independence; a very special friend Josie Lorenz of Cadott; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; one brother, Ronnie; and one sister, Wynell.

On Saturday, I took a drive … to Las Vegas. A friend wanted to visit a family member who was working near Nellis Air force Base. We took a driving tour of the city and then walked a bit on The Strip. We arrived in the late afternoon and the town looked sort of seedy and rundown. But, later, when the lights came on, it seemed like a lot of fun. We went to THE HILTON to see the Star Trek Experience but it was closed. So, ten dollars into the slot machine and back to the hotel. After breakfast, we got back into the car to return to Phoenix. Eleven hours of driving, thirteen hours in the city. A crazy trip to be sure.

INTENSIVE Animation Class using Maya

Next week, I’ll be teaching an animation intensive for people who would like to learn Autodesk (formerly Alias) Maya, the leading software used by filmmakers, gamers and virtual reality modellers. By the end of the week, attendees will be able to model in all three types of geometry—polygons (typically used in gaming), NURBs (primarily for filmmaking) and Subdivision Surfaces (complex modeling). Emphasis is on real-world uses and applications of the software. If you have an interest or know someone who might want to take advantage of this opportunity, email CYNEMATIK at Cox dot Net.

DETAILS:
Date: Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 16
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Place: Scottsdale
SPACE IS LIMITED
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:
Laptop computer
3-Button Mouse (an absolute must)
Notebook, pencil, pen

Tentative Schedule

Day 1
Maya Interface, Tools and Menus
Model aircraft using polygon geometry
Apply surface color, texture and insignia
Keyframe animate flight path, Render movie

Day 2
Maya Channel Box and Attribute Editors
Model objects using NURBs
Revolve command to create chess pieces
Loft command to shape hills and mountains
Planar command to build log cabin
Apply surface materials & textures
Render stills

Day 3
Maya Hypergraph and Hypershader
BiRail command to build NURBs car
Apply surface color and insignia
Use path animation
Create background, Render

Day 4
Model creature using polygon geometry for gaming
Apply organic surface texture using Brush command
Create skeleton joints and rig creature
Walk cycle and Animate

Day 5
Dynamics in Maya
Build Rube Goldberg device
Animate using all methods
Render final movie

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power.
Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983)

Be fit for more than the thing you are now doing. Let everyone know that you have a reserve in yourself; that you have more power than you are now using. If you are not too large for the place you occupy, you are too small for it.
James A. Garfield (1831 - 1881)

QUESTION:

Jodie Foster has hooked up with writer/producer Cindy Mort. Unfortunately, she neglected to end her previous relationship before she fell in love. It’s interesting to read the coverage on the almost-certain dissolution of the relationship between Jodie and Cydney Bernard, her partner for the past 14 years. The different publications like to assess blame. Was it interloper Cynthia Mort (writer/producer of THE BRAVE ONE) who destroyed the relationship or, perhaps, Jodie’s wandering eye that devastated Cydney? On another site, it was Cydney’s demands that drove Jodie away.

Those who comment on the blogs are so harsh. There are those who are shocked that Jodie Foster is gay. There the others who comment on everyone’s physicality … Cynthia Mort isn’t good looking enough, Jodie Foster is too good looking, Cydney Bernard gets flack for not keeping up appearances. Harsh, so harsh. In the end, I’m always surprised at the singular finger of blame. I was always taught that it takes two to Tango. The relationship is made of BOTH parties and it survives (or dies) because of both. Likewise, relationships begin between two. Nature abhors a vacuum and there is nothing emptier than a lonely or neglected heart. As it is for all of us, so it is for them.

Director/Producer/Actor Sydney Pollack died about a week ago. Born in Lafayette, Indiana (home of Purdue University), Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner in New York City. He won his first Academy Award for THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY? A film that starred a very young Jane Fonda. OUT OF AFRICA brought him producing and directing awards. A tremendously talented filmmaker, Pollack was diagnosed with cancer nine months ago and worked up until the day before he died.

Pollack directed some of my favorite films of all time, including:

• Tootsie (1982) pictured above
• The Interpreter (2005)
• Out of Africa (1985)
• The Electric Horseman (1979)
• Three Days of the Condor (1975)
• Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
• They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)

Showtime’s THE TUDORS was fabulous last season. The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn falling in love and marrying was great fun. His desire to divorce his first wife, Katherine of Aragon (formerly the wife of his brother) in a time when divorce was completely unacceptable made for great drama. I was very excited for season two. I cannot even count the number of people I got to watch the DVDs from Season One so they’d be ready for Season Two. But the sophomore season was much less interesting, much less fun. Peter O’Toole (Pope Paul III) was not nearly as interesting a religious foe as Sam Neill (Cardinal Woolsey). Henry falling OUT of love with Anne Boleyn and falling IN love with Jane Seymour was not nearly as interesting. In this case, “reel life” matches “real life.” Henry’s third wife, Jane, was not nearly as educated nor as bright as his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Last night was the season finale of this season of THE TUDORS. The last three episodes have been really good. So, now I’m hooked again.

Another season has been ordered and I’ve studied the history books so, next year, I know we’ll be watching as Jane Seymour gives birth to Henry’s son and dies shortly thereafter. His next wife will be with Anne of Cleves, a horribly unattractive woman whose alliance was recommended by Thomas Cromwell (who catastrophically fell from favor and was killed for treason because of this recommendation).

When THE TUDORS launched, Jonathan Rhys Myers was interviewed and said that Henry VIII was a young, virile, powerful king … the rock star of his era. This was certainly true in season one. He certainly beds medieval groupies with the passion of a rock star but, as he continues to behead people with the abandon of the Bush Whitehouse, the sheen is coming off his star. They need to find some way to bring the magic back. Naked power used destructively is all that pleasant to watch.

On a side note … I do adore Anne Boleyn and her amazing daughter, Elizabeth I. England is lucky, lucky, lucky that Henry married Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth had the intelligence and charisma of her parents. There is a reason she ushered in The Golden Age. Following the coronation of her daughter as queen, Anne was venerated as a martyr and heroine. She has been called by some “the most influential and important queen consort in English history.”

Living in the desert southwest pretty much guarantees you’re going to encounter scorpions at some point in your life. I remember when some friends came to visit and were planning on having their children sleep on air mattresses on the floor. Since our house bordered the Phoenix Mountain Preserve (sounds wild, right?), we decided that cots would be a better plan. Toward the end of their visit, screams came from the living room.

“IS THAT A SCORPION? IS THAT A SCORPION?”

Yep, it was a scorpion. Some guests scattered, while wanna-be heroes ran toward the creature. Before I could say anything … Splat. Glow-in-the-dark body fluids illuminated my floor. Recently, I ended up in a discussion about where female scorpions their babies. On their backs. They carry them on their backs. So, when people stomp on scorpions, there is a chance they are scattering all of the tiny babies throughout the house. I was informed that I should drop a strip of duct tape or packing tape on the scorpion before squishing it make sure I get “all” of them. Ewwwwww.

Peace-niks and pacifists will be thinking, “Why not just carry it outside?” So, I’ve posted a picture so they can better understand the squeamishness the rest of us have when we encounter the anthropods in our living rooms.