Vlogging and the "Home Animation Project"_Information

Right to clearify_I know I said that the last blog would be the last of 2011, but This small quick blog is to to inform you about the up and coming vlogs and new animation that I will be starting.

Right so lets start with the 'Vlogging' information...

With this vlogging situation, I will be doing a vlog once a week starting from when I return back to Manchester and also college. These vlogs will be updates of where I am on the project and possibly sometimes I will be doing some of the work while I do the vlog.  Now at first I did think of just doing blogs and telling you want I have done.but then I thought it might be better if you saw what I was doing and then you could give me tips or comments on what you thoiught of th process or if there were ways I could improve on what I was doing and plus also it will also be a sort of behind the scenes footage of the animation creation...

Now with the "Home Animation Project in itself, I will start conducting my research ASAP by distributing questionnaires on my Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/SALmations/192523777508083#!/pages/SALmations/192523777508083?sk=wall )
(Also one thing, when you are on this page and you havent already, press the 'Like' button that way I will know how is following me and that you watch my YouTube videos)

I will also put stuff on my Twitter (@SALmations ) and YouTube site (www.YouTuibe.com/SALmations ) so dont forget to check them out as well and if possible follow or subscribe to them...Thank You... \m/_

So this was a quick blog giving you information on what is to come and hopefully you will follow in the project my sites and give positive/negative feedback...Thank You and  \m/_

Christmas and the New Year (2012)

As you all know my name is Stephen Longbottom, also known as SALmations and if you have been watching my YouTube site (www.YouTube.com/SALmations) then you will know that I am a learner animator. Continuing with YouTube, I have managed (along with you viewers) to make the video viewings to 1000+ and I would like to thank you for that...

So as you know I started doing these blogs when I moved to Manchester to study FD Animation at college and these blogs was a way for you to keep up to date with what I was getting up to. Now for some reason (Which I cant explain) I havent been keeping up with the blogs and that will change because I have big stuff planned for next year...

So this is sort of like the last 2011 blog becuase the next one will be in 2012.....

So I will leave you with this.....Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

P.S Due to a friend I am now able to (and addicted to) put the rock symbol after everything...Seriously... SALmations OUT!!! \m/_

Determination with a capital "D"

Have you ever just layed in bed or been sitting at your computer desk or even been somewhere and just thought.
           "If I'm determined enough I can get all the stuff I want to do now, happen in a week or two
            (Maybe even less)"
I didn't think this until I realised that the only reason the stuff is taking so long, is because I'm not doing anything to push it forward.

1. Job Hunting
2. Printing CV's off
3. Looking for people to view my animations
4. Looking for competitions to enter
5. Creating My website

There could be a whole list of things. Each thing being different for each person. Now I'm not talking about major stuff that involves alot more than just your involvement (Unless your at that point). I mean just small tasks, like what I put for me (Refer to bullet points).

So I have started making a move on these 5 things and have asked myself what can I do to help them advance forward. Then when I have completed them (Successfully) then I will pick 5 more things to do; and so on until I get to a point where I think I have done enough.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and hope that it can help you as it is for me...
(Comments are welcome)

SALmations OUT!!!

Weeks 7 - 8 (The Missed Weeks)

Sorry for the blog being missed out for the past couple of weeks. Just pure forgetfullness. So what can I report...

Well I'm onto my final week of the "YOU" brief, (Deadline Friday 18th) and I have got onto the animating business side of it (YAY!). Once that is done and edited then I have to do presentation boards to show my work. I have also been looking for a job (and I can tell you it's difficult).
On a good note I have been skyping my friends and family frequently. Just had a skype session with mate James Voller (@James_Voller) and my brother Ryan Longbottom (@CaptainRAwesome) and we got qutie alot done production wise (Scripts, Uploading and planning). Also have been talking to the family. The conversation starts off very chatty with "How you been", "You alright" and all the other mandatory questions. Then it will go quiet for about 10 minutes until someone makes a noise or you think someone has said something to you and you reply instantly (lol).

Overall the past two weeks have been really good and pretty much the usual (College., Hospital, Internet) and I am finaaly realising certain things and have started to take control of these situations.

So this has been the Two Missed Weeks.

SALmations OUT!!!

Paintings,Family and lecture (Week 6)

Blog Update...

There has been painting with fingers, family coming over to visit, Pool playing at pub with mates, Lectures and After Effects practice.

Now as people will know I had done some paintings on the tuesday (With my fingers. Felt like a kid at primary again lol) and had posted them up on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook. Now if you have seen them and liked them and leaved a comment, then thank you. I wont put them on here cause if you are following me on twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, then it won't require seeing them a number of times.

Now Today was good because the family came to visit ( well My brothers Ryan and Oliver, my mum and my sister Becca) and it was good to see them. I was able to show them my flat and room and we also wandered round the Arndale Centre. Got myself some Halloween items (Going to go as a Vampire).

One thing tho...How do you do a tie?  I have never worn one before, so I dont know how to do them. lol

So yeah family came today (Happy Times). College is going well, done some more with my 'YOU' brief, learning more about After Effects, have the lecture every wednesday and thats good.

So thats it for this week (apart from Friday when I'm at college also). Hoped you enjoyed reading this as much as I have doing it and hopefully you will follow me in my adventure.

SALmations OUT!

My Top 5 favourtie Animations\Animation Movies...

Here are my Top 5 Favourite Animations/Animation Movies that I personally like and would watch over and over again.

1. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
2. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
3. 9
4. Dot: The Worlds Smallest Animation
5. Chicken Run

Now can I just point out that it took me a while to place these in this order because I have so many that I like (Apart from the first two). Now if you want me to do a longer list, then I would gladly do one.

Now the reason I chose these ones is because they have been created in my favourite animation style (Stop-Motion, Apart from 9 which is a computer-animated movie). Now I hope to, once all my education side has been completed. I hope to create my first full Animated Movie as a stop-motion animation.

I had also once finished watching the films, went onto watching The Making Of... and I can tell you after watching them how much preperation and dedication go into each of the animations that they create.

So this has been SALmations bringing you a list of my 5 favourtie Animations/Animation Movies, and like I said before if you want me to produce a longer list so you can the other types of animations that I like then please comment and I will see what I can do. Also dont forget to (If you haven't already) to click the follow button and you will see more blogs like this as well as my college weekly blogs.

SALmations OUT!

Blah Blah Blah (Week 5)

Started to lose ideas for titles to these blogs for college. I don't just want to put "College week Blah" just seems boring.

So here is the "college" LOL weekly blog.

The "YOU" project still continuing (Deadline 16th November ARGH!!!!). So far I have done all my passions and likes and medical side for the brief. NOW it is time for the narrative and storyboarding WOOOOO!!.

Still having the lectures every Wednesday. We have to write 6 paragraphs for it by next Wednesday.

Did a few things concerning After Effects that involved a Lemming, and yes I did say a Lemming. Will upload the full video when I have comleted it. I have also done a short intro to my script 'Bitten' and have uploaded it onto YouTube so take a look at that and comment on what you think of it.

Oh yeah, I am also trying to find a job here and I can tell you it is DIFFICULT!

Also the thing with the internet is still a problem, BUT I may have it sorted cause if I cant get it sorted for my flat then there is a coffee shop 2 minutes away that has free WI-FI (Score).

So that has been my week and all I can say is keep following my blogs, Follow me on twitter or subscribe to my YouTube page and I will take you on a exciting Journey in my path to becoming an animator.

Take care and enjoy your day SALmations OUT!!

Projects and Lectures continue (Week 4)

Its blog time again (Now this would of been done on Thursdays, but there are complications with the internet and with my computer at the moment).

So lets begin...

I am still continuing with the 'YOU' project and I have done quite abit on it. I have done a few pages on my likes and dislikes and also went into more depth of my passions (Art,Music,Script Writing,Gaming,Blogging and keeping into touch with people via my profiles). I will be working on my narrative in the coming weeks to help turn my 'You' brief into an animation.

Also I have been to lectures as well. Where we are learning about like Surrealism and Impressionism and Dadaism and all the other ism's LOL.

I have also been at my accommodation for a couple of weeks now and I am settled into it now. It just still seems abit weird to be in my own place because I have been living at home for 20 years. So the experience is still new.

Overall the experience at Manchester is AWESOME!!!. The Education side to Manchester is good, I am learning alot and that's all I can say for this week.

So to leave you with a question (rhetorical question or not). 

" Which do you prefer Reality or Fantasy...?"

SALmations OUT!

HUGE THANK YOU!!

As you all know I have been in the process of moving my things to Manchester and getting settled into my new place.

Now I can safely say I am fully moved in. I would of posted this thank you blog in a lot earlier but I am having trouble with the internet for my computer (As in to say I haven't got it yet ARGH!!!!!!)

So here it is the BIG Thank you:

I have to say thank you to a number of people.

1. My Mum who has helped me through the Manchester College process (The getting to manchester when I didn't have the accommodation, the accommodation process and then the moving in of the accommodation). Couldn't of done most of it without you THANK YOU!!!!!
2. Nicola who helped drive me and my stuff to my accommodation (Computer, Art Equipment, Suitcase full of clothes and bits of other stuff). THANK YOU!!!
3. My Dad who came with me on the first day and helped get the accommodation process going and the days when I was at Dialysis he sat with me. THANK YOU!!!
4. My brother Ryan who even though was joking around saying things like "When you go I will have my own room YAY!" (Probably not the YAY part). I knew that he would miss me (Probably wouldn't show it). THANK YOU!!
5. My mate James who has said nice words and has let people know of my adventure at manchester (and we will be keeping in touch whether it be Skype or Twitter or any other type of contact) THANK YOU!!
6. To Janet who has helped in the process of my moving in to my new place.THANK YOU!!!

So I think that is it for the thank you's (Unless you can think of other people that I have missed out).So once again to everyone (Family & Friends) THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

SALmations OUT!

Moving In (Room 5)

Hi SALmations here. In this blog I will be talking about the accommodation move.
(Now this isn't the Adventure blog, that I do every Thursdays. This is just a sort of side blog)

So to begin with I have finally moved into the accommodation (YAY!!) Moved in on Thursday 6th October 2011. And I can tell you that it is abit strange living on my own (Even though it is a new experience). Now its not fully on my own because there are 4 other people living there.

So let me explain the move:
I get a call from Opal saying that all the forms that where filled in have been accepted and put through, all I had to do then was pick a day to drop by the office and pay the rest of the money off and get my keys. So I arrive at the office and Pay the money off and get my keys, along with a welcome pack (More like a welcome box) with bits and pieces put in it that might be useful (Pen, 3 Sticks of gum, energy drink, Postit notes, box of cereal and lots of other things) I then walked to the building and inputted a code for the gate and also a code to get into the actual flat building (Which I can say was difficult to get into, even though I was doing it wrong. Was meant to turn it left instead of right). So I went to my room and unpacked and then had something to eat and then slept.

So the move from Leeds to Manchester was good and it should be good to experience independant living and the responsibilites of money saving (Ha ha ha!!!).

So this has been SALmations with the blog of my move and hope everyone follows there dreams like I am doing......Bye

Projects,Lectures and accommodations (Week 3)

So the adventure continues for me. Still have to commit to Manchester College from Leeds (Which by the way is COSTLY!) But this should be some good news, My accommodation is ready to be moved into. I got a call from Opal saying that all the forms were sorted and all I had to do was to go to the Opal Estates and give the rest of the money and I should be able to move in. YAY!.

Now onto college LOL!
Where do I begin...We got our first project through this week (well it was last week but we didnt get the brief till this week) Well anywayz The project is called "YOU" Project where we have to create an animation based around ourselves (Seems simple) But its not. Theres all the planning, Mind-mapping, Research, Collecting, Sampling, Trial and errors, Testing and many more. But overall it is a good first project lol.

Also this week I had my first lecture ( "WOOO") and I can tell you it is like in the "Movies" (Big room, rows and rows of chairs) Sort of like in a theatre, just with the tutour at the front talking about whatever is on the screen..
So basically this week it has been mainly involved around our "You" project as well as me sorting out my accommodation and also going to the hospital three times a week. Overalll it has been a good week with the exception of friday to come.

So let me just say now that when I do move into this accommodation I might not be on a computer for a while (Even though the place has internet) I just won't have my computer on me at the moment. Due to the fact that It will be here (Leeds) and I will be living at Manchester, But hopefully I will find someone who will help me take some of my stuff over to Manchester as well as the computer.

So this had been SALmations saying If you have a dream go for it, Even if it does require you travelling. Goodbye

Adventure Continues (Week 2)

Well today is Thursday, which means blog time. So where shall I start.

Well firstly I am still travelling to college by train and bus until this accommodation has been sorted, which I can say is halfway to becoming real. So hopefully I will have it all sorted by Monday (Even though I said that I should be in before I do this blog). But hopefully I should be in by Monday.

Right so I've explained the accommodation situation, now let me tell you the week I have had with the exception of Friday with lesson from 9 till 4 and then hospital afterwards (Probably get home about 11 again like on Monday).

Monday: I went to college (By Train), but I went with my dad, because we went to view the accommodation and then went to the Opal Estates to accept the room. Then after that I went to my first lesson while my dad wondered round Manchester till I had finished. Then we went to the hospital for Dialysis (Might explain medical side later).

Tuesday: College again (But this time was a full day 9 till 4. Monday 1 till 4). In this lesson we created Mind maps and sketched images of our hobbies/interests (Mine was computers and comics).

Wednesday: Was supposed to have a lesson from 1-4 but the tutor said that we Dont start the lesson till next Wednesday. But I still went to Manchester to continue the process with the accommodation and also had Dialysis.

So that has been it for this week apart from the lessons on Friday (But I will explain Friday in the next blog). So I hope you liked what I put and will continue to follow in my adventure at college and Manchester.

This has been SALmations saying goodbye.

Adventure Begins (Week 1)

So this is it...The start of my weekly blogs...I at first thought about posting a day to day blog and putting stuff like (Week1_Day 1_Induction, Week1_Day 2_Induction Continues...and so on). But due to the circumstances of travel to Manchester from Leeds and then back again each day (Until I get an accommodation) I have found it to be...To put it simply...EXHAUSTING!.

So what I am going to do instead is post the blog every thursday or friday (Possibly thursday as my timetable shows that is my day off) and talk about what I did in the week. and hopefully I will have my accommodation when I post my next blog.

So lets begin.
...Had Induction this week, which is mainly filling out forms and getting to know the people on your course. Also wandered round Manchester, finding out where places are and how long and far it takes to get to places...
_Leeds Station to Manchester Station (1 Hour)
_Manchester Station (Piccadilly) to the college (30-40 mins)
_college to Manchester City Centre (same as above)

So basically this week has been really good. With travelling to and from college by train and bus (Got time to read my comics and listen to my Ipod), walking round Manchester and meeting my classmates (As well as my course tutor) Overall a good start to a good two years.

So this has been SALmations (Stephen Longbottom) with my first blog...and I hope you follow in my Adventure...Goodbye :D