Avatar-New Era of Film

     I hope I am not the only one excited for the new James Cameron movie Avatar. Cameron has directed many cultural favorites such as: Titanic, the Terminator series, and Aliens. He has also directed, produced, and written many other works which I can’t delve into too deeply here.

    

     Cameron’s newest film creation called Avatar is an immense 3D animated film. Cameron thought of this film many years ago, but the technology was just not there to make his dream a reality. This film combines 3D animated characters, environments, and effects with live action shots. Of course, ‘real’ actors are apart of this film as well which makes this film rather unique.

     

     Just writing about this film gets my my imagination souring of what this movie has the potential to be.

     

     Based on the images, trailers, and clips that are currently available across the net, one can understand why many people are excited about this film—it truly is a step away from traditional film making. When I say traditional film making, I am referring to a simple movie setup: cameras, actors, sets, and “3,2,1, ACTION!”

    

     This film is quite different in that the actors are filmed on set while animators monitor and record their movements and facial expressions. These elements are than used within the animations of the characters to create realistic images made possible by computers. Star Wars revolutionized film by using a combination of models, animation, and live action to create an revolutionary step for film; the Lord of the Rings trilogy revolutionized films by developing computer technology to combine live action shots with animation as well; Avatar, in my opinion, is revolutionary as well.

    

     If you look at majority of the movies coming out into theaters (2012, for example), these films have an immense amount of computer generated elements and environments. This ‘new era’ of filmmaking is exciting, expensive, and another movement in the evolution of film. This new era of film is moving forward with the current generation who expect movies to be over-the-top, have immense action and animation, and have great acting of course.

    

      Cameron’s new film Avatar will set the stage for new technologies in film, animation, and 3D cinema that is now becoming more possible to achieve.

    

     Please follow the links I have provided and tell me what you think below!

    

     Avatar is set to release next month on December 18th. With the rumored cost of 500 MILLION DOLLARS, this movie has a lot of hype and expectations to satisfy. And even if this film becomes “The Worst Expensive Movie Ever Made”, I will still be on the edge of my sit for the entire ride!

New and improved wildlife refuge

     I live in Brownsville, Minnesota, and for the past four years this small town has been attracting bird watchers from around the area. Almost four years prior there has never been this much activity to stop and look at birds migrating south for the winter season.

 

What has happened in this relatively short period of time?

     

     After taking about a 5 minute drive down the road along the Mississippi River, I stopped at the Brownsville Overlook. This is a small area that the state has built an overlook over the river which is a designated wildlife refuge. In this refuge migrating Tundra Swans, Puddle and Diving Ducks stop here on their migration path.

    

     In 2006, the Unites States Fish & Wildlife Service began a project just outside of Brownsville called “Pool 8 Island Phase III Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project” at the Upper Mississippi River Refuge.

    

     This project began in 2006 and is schedules to finish around 2012 or sooner if possible. This specific project has focused efforts on ‘recreating’ a natural habitat for fish,vegetation, waterfowl, and other wildlife.

Last year I noticed that they had a dredging crew at the refuge creating and enlarging islands in the water for the variety of waterfowl. By the end of the project they will have completed: 22 islands, 3 breakwaters, and 1 offshore rock mound.

     

      This project has been a success because 100’s if not 1000’s more of these birds stop at this refuge each fall—the reason there are even more bird waters crowding the Overlook. I don’t think there has ever been this many migrating birds that have stopped in this area since I have lived here.

    

     When I was at the Overlook earlier today, it was like watching a scene from Planet Earth. The water was full of Tundra Swans, and the sky had countless birds flying in or flying out. There are so many birds, that at night you hear this constant “quacking” sound.

    

      After reading the signs, posters, and pamphlets they have available for visitors, I noticed this refuge isn’t just for birds. The islands that they are enlarging or creating will help reduce water flow into the area which will help sediment in the water settle.

As the water becomes ‘clearer’ this allows vegetation in the water to receive more sunlight. This gives the migrating fowl a more bountiful eating supply at the refuge. Of course, the increased vegetation and islands will be perfect for fish habitat as well.

    

     I am glad that both Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Government has taken up this very expensive task to enhance habitat for these migrating animals.