Motion Capture Project

Motion Capture Project

Project 2013-11-02 03:12:37 +1300

Hi there, I am Naomi Shingler, an undergraduate Digital Design student at Auckland University of Technology. I have an undying passion for technology, the environment, and film. It is my ultimate dream to get into New Zealand’s film industry, and work on great epics such as those we have seen come out of Weta down in Wellington so far. However, I need your help to make it through the early stepping stones to reaching this goal!

Next year, the papers on my course will carry a more open brief, allowing me to exercise my creative muscle more than I have ever done before. It is exciting and challenging and I am looking forward to creating a whole new set of films, concept art, 3D animations, and models. But as you can guess all of this requires equipment and technology that go a bit beyond what can be found in the average household. 

Thinking ahead, as I have always strived to do, I am already planning out my ideas for these projects. Two of them are what I will need this funding to help with. They both involve live motion capture technology (such as that used to create the character Gollum, in Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings films) with a higher standard of actors and dancers than I can muster from my group of friends. This of course will require a great deal of money and time to organise. Surprisingly paying the actors and dancers to work with me will not be the most expensive part, but certainly will cost more than I earn a week which I already need to keep for covering my transport and food costs. I don’t receive a single cent of financial support from the government or study link, and as a rural student this is a tough situation to be in.

The cost of transporting actors and dancers, hiring or buying equipment to complete these projects, and organising convincing props, sets, and costuming is not something that I can afford to pay all off my own back. The money I currently earn from a weekend job could not possibly begin to cover these costs, and getting another job would interfere with demanding university assignments. So essentially I have no other option. 

Despite all this I still believe that it is possible, and I will never give up on my dream! 

I am not lazy or irresponsible if that is your impression, which often is, of an artist with a dream. I have worked hard constantly all throughout my schooling, achieving Merit and Excellence grades in High School, as well as being a school leader. I would love so dearly to be able to pay all this myself, but sometimes you just need to realise when to ask for help… which is why I am asking now. 

Whatever amount you feel you can kindly pledge to help make all these things possible, I will be eternally grateful. Every dollar will help assist me in some small way, and I hope the rewards I have listed seem fair and beneficial to both of us. 

One day, after I graduate, I also hope to build a creative hub with my partner, where artists of all ages will be able to display and screen their works. To help get all this young talent around us more professionally acknowledged. But that would be another project, in the far future…

For now I want to thank you for your kindness, and hope that I may be able to return the favour in some day :)

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