Photo courtesy of N.E.mation! 8
Everyone plays a part in this including you, read on.
Also, if you haven't read about 'Haunted' Teddy, check out FRIDAY'S blog post NOW.
ABOUT N.E.mation!
N.E.mation! is a digital animation competition organised by Nexus for youths to express their thoughts on Total Defence.
Running its 8th edition this year, more than 9,900 students participated since its inception in 2007. With training and guidance, students with no prior experience in animation have been able to produce clips of broadcast quality to screen on free-to-air television. Some of these clips were even selected for international animation festivals and won several awards.
Photo courtesy of N.E.mation! 8
N.E.mation! 8 is back with the theme "Because You Played A Part".
Notice that I stood in a position just enough to cover the word 'You'.
I'm trying to imply 'Because 'Mint Leong' Plays A Part'.
Let's call this competition NE8 (short form easier to type...)
From DIY worm-making during N.E.mation! 5 to becoming one of the NE8 Ambassadors, I've been constantly keeping up with the latest updates of this competition. The stories, the animation styles and the production from these finalists get increasingly exciting every year! From the way how these animation clips were professionally done up, you'd never believe some of these contestants are as young as 14 years old!
Once again, A BIG BIG BIG Congratulations to the Top 10 Teams!
The NE8 Ambassadors
There are FIVE and I'm one of them. The rest of the N.E.mation!8 Ambassadors are Colin, Karen, Yingzi and Sarah. For the next 3 weeks, we'll be making visits to the home of the NE8 Top 10 Teams and sharing our experience via our blogs.
Working closely with the teams to find out more about their life stories is such a meaningful event, thank you for giving me this chance, N.E.mation!
As for me, I've been assigned to these TWO wonderful teams:
Team 09, UnicornsAndRainbows;)
and
Team 07, Synch
(Please support them HERE if you haven't. Look for BOTH team names and click 'LIKE'.)
It only takes 5seconds of your time but yet this kind gesture means so much to them.
Helping them 'LIKE' their group photo is a form of recognition and encouragement to these students to work even harder and produce better work, don't you think so?
SUPPORT THE TEAMS:
https://www.facebook.com/nemation/app_173234789528248
Click on the link for these youths,
Thank You Million Times on behalf of the students!
The team names to LIKE are:
- UnicornsAndRainbows;) from Orchid Park Secondary School (Last picture on the left)
- Synch from Kent Ridge Secondary School (2nd last picture on the left)
I just did that *winks*
The brave warriors of Synch are a group of risk-takers.
Everyone, meet Sze Yong, Jaren, Elyse and Jason:
Initially reserved, the team members become sincere and willing to share once you get to know them.
Their actions speaks louder than words.
You'll know what I mean in the coming week.
I was genuinely touched by some things which they've done for me even though we've just met.
They are Secondary 3 students from Kent Ridge Secondary school.
All of them are from the school's Media Club (it's a CCA).
Photography, Videography, maintaining the school's PA system…
In Media Club, they are involved in these segments.
Jaren is so funny!
When he told me that he actually mis-spelt the team's name 'Sync' as 'Synch', I can't help but burst out in laughter! 是的，我的笑点就是酱低，是怎样？
It's a blessing in disguise for now your team name's become even more special!
Upon research (done by Synch themselves), the team proposed to do a video most extraordinary. They are using a animation technique no other teams in the past 7 years have done before - Typography Animation also known as Kinetic Typography.
The team uses 'moving text' to form images to express their ideas of this year's theme 'Because You Played A Part'. This text is presented over time in a manner to convey or evoke a particular idea or emotion.
I was thoroughly impressed by Synch and here are 5 reasons why.
Reason 01
Like I mentioned earlier, they are the FIRST team to do Typography Animation. The research done, the daring approach to propose and try out something new is a major plus point to Team Synch!
Jaren bringing me through the team's story concept:
Reason 02
They must be Pros at word games or walking dictionaries!
I've always preferred word games to action games - Scramble, Up-words, Scattergories, Pow-Word, Word Search, Word Puzzles…
But this…
- Linking the alphabet 'I' in every essential word throughout their clip,
- re-arranging and forming new words out of the words they've chosen,
- most of all, these words are meticulously linked and closely associated to the message which they are trying to being across,
The thought of a group of 15 year olds coming up with something so unique is totally impressive!
Imagine the amount of effort put into the brainstorming.
Reason 03
Their story touched my heart.
Look at how the team addressed our social issues and came up with solutions.
Our society needs more giving people like them.
Reason 04
The time and effort used to make this clip.
I mean, LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE.
After filming the characters and scenes they required, each team member also have to fit random words (but still must be associated to the theme) to form the image of every person, each movement, each setting.
YES.
EVERYTHING in the video has to be made up of WORDS and nothing but WORDS.
First you trace out the character, add in guide lines then filled up each gap with words even to the smallest details.
Even strands of hair are made up of words from the script:
Here's a video of how they add words to their character:
Beautiful, isn't this?
Reason 05
The team's ability to spot and make important words stand out.
In this scene, two boys intends to start a fight and why we all know that fights usually happen due to FRICTION. Sparks and Gaps are formed between them and therefore if you notice, the team has spotted out these keywords and placed them bigger on the characters such that we recognise these issues when we watched it.
Why not minimise friction between people and make it a better place?
In this way, we can reduce gaps and sparks. In return, fights will be reduced as well.
The messages these youths are trying to convey makes so much sense to the society nowadays.
I'm looking forward to watch the videos of all the teams!
I'm sure everyone's story would be as meaningful as my two teams.
N.E.mation! is an annual contest for the youths to express their thoughts on Total Defence.
As much as many of us have grown up, Total Defence still lived in us.
Find out more about N.E.mation! on http://nemation.sg and congratulations to having 20,000 LIKES on N.E.mation! Facebook Page, wohoooooo~
Make this world a better place, for us and our future generations to live in.
I'm stalking Team Synch on instagram right now.
They are active and it's great to know because now I know that Jason (2nd guy from the left in the group photo below) was watching Anime while doing work at the same time! Orr-hor~ *bleah*
Follow Team Synch on instagram: www.instagram.com/TeamSynch
Go Go SYNCH!
One week down, TWO more weeks to go.
From Left: Sze Yong, Jason, Jaren, Elyse, Me
I'm looking forward to the videos too!
ReplyDeleteSo interesting to know the process of thoughts that went goes into the final product. Love! :)