Ok, this feels weird. I haven’t been on this blog since I graduated from foundation, which is already more than a year ago. Re-reading everything I’ve written, course works or just random thoughts on exhibitions and TV shows actually makes me regret not continuing this kind of reflective journals, and now I’m very happy to be back.
My goal for this project is that, first, get more familiar with tech drawing of course. Last year was just dipping my toes into the pond (it’s a pun, because I did a pond for the project), and now I need to learn to swim. And second, I want to have a better understanding of the relationship between the space and the scene. I helped out in a student film during the summer and when I thought I did a very good job on dressing the set, most of the dressing I did was cut out of the shots. There was certainly a lack of communication of me with DoP to figure out how they’re going to place the camera, but I also just visualized the space as it would be in the real life, instead of on screen. And for this project, studying how the pros did their sets for the camera will hopefully make everything make sense for me more.
The reason why I chose Pan’s Labyrinth was actually not because I love the film. It’s an interesting film with amazing dynamic of the real and imaginative world, but I somehow find the imaginative world having too much cool concepts than it needs, and the visual feels a bit out of nowhere. Still it’s beautifully designed and crafted, and with the fact that I absolutely love Atonement and Blade Runner and constantly draws inspiration from them, it would just feel cliché choosing one of them for this project again. And for my past projects I’ve been doing living spaces, modern or period, but all realistic, it’ll be fun to do one that’s totally different.
So, the Pale Man’s hall. It’s not someone’s bedroom anymore, based on gothic architecture but with massively altered, fictional features, not square anymore. Perfect choice that I didn’t know, would give me one panic attack after another.
Panic Attack 1
I couldn’t find any wide shot from which I can at least tell how many pillars there are. All the behind the scene videos and article about that scene only focus on the making of the Pale Man itself (who I can now remember every detail of). In the end, I finally found a picture of the exterior of the set, which reveal that there’s not only two domes, but many small arch ways on the two sides, together in an oval shape. Sounds overwhelming already, but at least I was clear what I’m facing.
Panic Attack 2
How do you draw the elevation! I mentioned that I don’t want to do a square with 4 straight walls anymore, but the price is that I’ll have to make much more effort for more complex and organic structure like this. I tried to build a sketchup model for it, and even with my skill in sketchup which I’m very proud of, I struggled a lot. But anyway, I made a really rough one and sliced through it to get to see the elevation.
Panic Attack 3
How to put it down in the tech drawing! With the help of my sketchup model, I now know how to draw the elevation, yet the technical drawing needs to be understandable and instructional for the constructors on set, and again, the archways on the two sides got me stranded, for they’re so random. I had to consult my dad and his friend who have architecture background, and still couldn’t come up with a simple solution. At this point, I actually felt mentally drained, also because I was still in quarantine, the communication with tutor and everyone else had been painfully inconvenient. I seriously doubted my choice for the set, as I basically chose it because I wanted to do something ‘different’, not because I’m that interested in it. But it’s already the end of the second week and it was even more risky changing to another set. In the end, I stuck with the suggestion of my dad’s friend’s, and chose to draw a section of the archway. And surprisingly, when I finally made it into uni, my tutor Claire really approved everything I’ve done and said that I even overthought a bit, because the drawing is only supposed to be a visual reference and the constructors will work out a plan that’s workable as they build it. Which was such a relief.
What I ended up doing
Panic Attack 4
I got the measurements WRONG. I only realized that when I started the final tech drawing, that I took the estimated measurement as the based of all the other measurements, when I actually had one that’s much more certain. And that meant I would have to change everything on the drawing, along with the sketchup model which I spent so much time and effort on, as a lot of the measurement I took from the model. I remember leaving the studio with sparks in front of my eyes. I have never been a very organized person and I magically managed to get away with little faults in my work every time, but obviously the luck, which I shouldn’t have been dependent on, is not with me this time. In the end, I paid for my carelessness by redoing everything.
Panic Attack 5
Shops are closed because lockdown 2, and I haven’t got any material I need for the model! I again left uni with sparks in front of my eyes, why didn’t I buy everything in advance! I can order things online, but not being familiar with materials got in my way, as I’ve been enjoying the convenience of going into the shop and choose from everything. And it would be a waste of both money and time if I order the wrong ones, which I did, from 4D model shop, paying more on delivery than the products.
But luckily, I found substitutions from amazon and they ended up working so well, and my diy DNA took over the rest. Because I could only do the drawing at uni, I made sure to use the time at home on the model, which is proved to be a very wise decision on time management by the fact that I finished everything right on time without staying up late the nights before at all. Despite the back ache, I very much enjoyed the process of model making.
With the model almost finished, my drawing on the other hand, is left without the last step, adding notes. I’ve always been quite proud of my handwriting, except when I need to keep them tidy and consistent. And I forgot to practice and test it out before, so it was kind of a hurry. The results is not bad, but I felt like they would be much more put together if I gave it some time to practice.
For the final presentation, I scanned the tech drawing in library in 6 pieces and put them together in Photoshop (my best trick). I actually put a lot of work in there because my drawing is so smudgy, and although you might not be able to tell, there’s some details that are a bit off, which is not what I was aiming for at the beginning of the project. Part of me was like, I can learn AutoCad later and just never need to drawing things by hand with my terrible skill of reading rulers and lining up things. But then again, AutoCad needs someone precise to use it well and that’s someone I should work hard to become.
On the other hand, I made really good pictures with the model, and that’s something that I should give myself credits for. There’s obviously many approaches to it and I’m really happy with every decision I made that it ended up really accurate and nicely represent the original set.
And that’s my first five weeks in London after three months back home. I was very doubtful with my decision of coming back, as the situation here really don’t allow me to fully go back to the normal life and study, at the same time I’m very far away from my family. But magically, as the project progress, I was gaining more and more faith and confidence. I know this journal has been addressing my panic attacks, on the other hand, these troubles I had kept me busy finding solutions, and the me that’s solving problems has been my favourite me at all time. I wouldn’t say I fulfill all the goals I gave myself at the beginning, as I still have a long way to go in technical drawing, and although I got better at making estimation at a space, actually managing one and using one like a professional set designer still needs more work. But I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done on this project, and I’m sure this experience will be a great reference to my future study and work. Plus all the staffs at uni have been so helpful and Claire always makes me feel like I have someone on my back, I’m so thankful to them and myself for everything I’m able to achieve.