Sarah Phillips

The Beautiful Monster launch

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-05-17T22:15:59+10:00

The Beautiful Monster is an interactive experience made using Unreal Tournament by the current AIM students at RMIT. I have been helping out as an Executive Producer of the project and it is being launched this Thursday.

Due to the recent rise of the use of gaming as an art form, the conventions of gaming are being tested and the user can often expect to be challenged. This has been stretched to the extent that they are not even experiencing a game in its traditional form. The students of the Animation and Interactive Media course at RMIT have conceptualized, designed and created an interactive experience that follows firmly embraces these ethics.

“Beautiful Monster” is a collaborative project that has been created within a five week period. This interactive experience is an abstract simulation of our ideological society, where notions of the ‘real’ are questioned.

This abstract space is divided into three nodes, which are represented by three intangible elements: sound, colour and light. There are no obvious rules in this space. This is due to the fact the primary theme is to create a feeling of confusion through the unfamiliar and abstract, yet beautiful, environment. The experience generates alternative frontiers beyond 3D game environment and evokes different emotions than what the users would be accustomed to. Users’ experience varies according to different elements working together.

The Beautiful Monster launch
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday 21st May
Virtual Reality Centre, RMIT University City Campus, in Building 91, Ground floor
110 Victoria Street
Melbourne, Australia

Connection Generation

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-04-17T22:49:24+10:00

I'm just putting the finishing touches on this site for author, Iggy Pintado. Connection Generation is the supporting website for his book of the same name. The book looks at connections in the age of internet and mobile technologies and can be bought through the website.

http://www.connectiongeneration.com

Various web banners

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-04-17T22:42:06+10:00

Banners made for Play4Me and Big W Entertainment while working at Stomp Entertainment.

Tripod's Idioclips @ the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-04-10T13:41:36+10:00

Idioclips is a competition put together by Australian comedy group Tripod, where people make music videos to any of their songs and the finalists are screened during the Comedy Festival, with the band playing the song live as accompaniment.

Lachlan and I put together an entry this year, in a very short amount of time, and have just been told that we've made the finals!

Come along and cheer us on! The screening and winners announcement is made on April 19th, 5pm, at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne. You can book tickets through Ticketmaster and for more info, check out http://www.comedyfestival.com.au or http://www.3pod.com.au

See you there!

Web banner for VideoGameTrader.com

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-03-16T16:44:33+11:00

A banner I made for Video Game Trader
Click to view at full size.

Natalie Mammarella

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-03-03T12:15:18+11:00

This is the latest website I've just finished, a portfolio site for Melbourne graphic designer Natalie Mammarella.
The site was designed by her in Illustrator and then I put it together using CSS and Javascript.

http://www.natmam.com

Meet me at Mikes - February Felt

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-02-23T21:40:48+11:00

Over at Meet me at Mike's, they have the monthly Make-a-Long project and the theme for February is FELT! My favourite material to work with.
Here's a cushion I knocked up, which is now for sale in my shop. Hurrah!

Genesys Australia - Wordpress website

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2009-02-17T17:58:21+11:00

I recently put together a website for Genesys Australia using Wordpress. While Wordpress is generally used for blogs and this website not being a blog at all, one of the requirements of this website was that the client needed to be able to easily update the content whenever he wanted. Wordpress is a simple and cheap (FREE!) CMS that can be quickly learnt for the simple things - like quick updates.

http://www.genesysaustralia.com

Showreel, December 2008

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-12-16T14:48:09+11:00

Sarah Phillips - Showreel - December 2008 from Sarah Phillips on Vimeo.

Department of Transport - Victorian Transport Plan

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-12-13T16:13:51+11:00

Here's what I've been working on the past 4 months ! - Animations for the Victorian Transport Plan website for the Department of Transport. I made all the animations you see on the website. Of particular note is this interactive map showing proposed projects around Victoria. This map was built and modified with the support of the Department of Justice.

Check it all out here - http://www3.transport.vic.gov.au/vtp

Playground @ 303 poster

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-11-11T23:06:16+11:00

I recently designed a poster for the Melbourne comedy room, Playground @ 303. This was done by reappropriating an old royalty free illustration of some kids at a fair into something a bit more quirky. The whole thing was then put together, coloured and textured in Photoshop.
P.S. The comedy room opens this Sunday and runs for the next 10 weeks. Come along! I'll also be working the door so come on down and say hi.

Website animation

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-10-29T16:18:45+11:00

I recently animated an opening sequence for a website i'm not allowed to name because my site ranks too highly on Google. (...)
The intro was created in Flash, combined with Illustrator and Photoshop and ties in with the award winning 'Splash' commercials which appeared on Australian TV earlier in the year.
I'm sure you can figure out which one it is though and go there to check out my intro.

Anarchist's Guild Social Committee

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-10-21T13:45:14+11:00

Anarchist's Guild Social Committee is a sketch comedy group here in Melbourne, Australia. Each month they write, rehearse and perform a brand new show. For the last show, they wanted a short animation to tie in with one of their live sketches. The sketch was titled "Moments in history where your hipster cred does you no good" and was set at Gallipoli during WW1. In part of the sketch, a soldier tells the hipster that all he wanted to do was become a teacher, passing on knowledge to the children. The hipster replies that all he wanted to do was create a short indie music video in which a cat and a dog go to buy a waistcoat... and the cat has a fringe.

Hence the following animation.....
This was done in under two weeks (in amongst my full time job and other freelance work - which is why it becomes stills at some points) and Lachlan gave me a hand with putting bits of it together.

Secret Handshake - Time Travel

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-10-16T11:58:58+11:00

I just realised I forgot to post this! Secret Handshake in September was themed Time Travel and Lachlan and I made a stop motion film in the style of A Town Called Panic. (If you've never seen it before, check out an episode here -http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=HlS9T1xEd2s)
This is a lesson on how not to make a stop motion - our base was a table that moved everytime we touched it, the camera didn't have a remote so it moved everytime we took a photo... etc etc. We didn't care about all this though - we were just having fun! The sound track was us turning on the Voiceover feature in Final Cut Pro and yelling things into my laptop's inbuilt mic.

Check it out!

More Anarchist Guild stuff...

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-10-15T08:13:45+11:00

Another quick look at the cat and dog animation. It's almost done! Luckily too, cause it's being shown this weekend.... If you want to come check it out, it'll be part of THIS SUNDAY'S Anarchist Guild Social Committee show - Bella Union Bar, Trades Hall, Melbourne.
Rock and Roll!!!

A cat and a dog walk into a waistcoat shop....

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-10-06T16:06:07+11:00

I'm working on an animation for the Anarchist's Guild Social Committee - a sketch comedy group here in Melbourne. The challenge is to make the most indie film ever made - therefore it's an animation where a cat (with a fringe) and a dog buy a waistcoat - all to the music of Elliott Smith. OW! Indie as! Here's a quick sketch of the cat in question.

Artisan A-list interview

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-09-16T20:43:25+10:00

I was interviewed recently by the lovely people at Artisan (lovely because they give me work and generally lovely overall as well)
I've included it here, but you can also see the full interview here (Excuse the headshot on the site. It was taken at lunchtime, in the office, using Photo Booth on my laptop, while trying to make sure no one else noticed what I was doing so they couldn't make fun of me taking pictures of myself)

Reading over the A-Lists, one thing comes through time and time again; creatives truly are creative. Meet Sarah. Multimedia extraordinaire. T-Shirt crafter. Animator. Circuses. How can so much fit into one person? Let's find out.

What sparked your passion for design?
The realisation that in the end, you had something tangible that other people could see and enjoy.

How creative were you as a youngster?
I was into crafty type things when I was young – mainly sewing and papercraft. Then I went through a decidedly non-creative phase, where I wanted to be a forensic scientist. Luckily I gave that idea up! I also dabbled in stand up comedy for a few years when I was a teenager– a completely different kind of creativity!

Do you come from a creative family? Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
My mum was always rather creative. She was always sewing or knitting or painting or whatever else and had her own market stall for a while, which I used to work on since I was old enough to count. I guess I grew up knowing that you could earn money from making things. My mum is very supportive – she’s always asking me if I need anything knitted for my personal animation projects (She once knitted me a battleship to go into a music video!)

My dad is a computer programmer so he leans more towards the technical side of things. We’re very competitive, so we’re always arguing over who is working on a better project at any one time. We could never work on a project together though – we’d probably kill each other. I think he’s rather proud that I can support myself by doing something he could never do – not that he’d tell me that, of course.

What sort of education and training have you had?
I did a BA in Media and Communications at the University of New South Wales and then a Masters in Animation at RMIT University.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
At first, I just wanted to work for myself, from a home office, making films and music videos. Now, I still want to do that, but know that sort of work is not in high demand, and so in-between, I like doing studio work for clients that know what they want, but at the same time, allow for a certain amount of creativity.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
I’d done little freelance projects during uni – mostly websites, but the first big project I got after graduating from my animation degree was a fully animated TV commercial with a ridiculously tight deadline. I worked my pants off, trying to get it finished, to the point where my housemates didn’t think I was actually sleeping at all. Now, I know of millions of ways I could have made things better, or worked faster and more efficiently – but at the time, I put everything I had into it and was pretty pleased with myself in the end.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? My preferred software is definitely Flash and Final Cut Pro. Together, we will take over the world! The greatest advancement would have to be either how powerful laptops are getting, meaning I can do my work anywhere and at any time – or phones with email capability, so I can look like I’m always at work when I am in fact eating an ice-cream at the beach.

What are the various mediums that you’ve worked with and is there any that you would like to explore? I mainly work digitally – but that being said, I love photographing or scanning in found elements and textures for use in animation. That way, it always has a handmade quality to it, which makes it seem more real. I’m aiming to work on a new personal film that uses these techniques. I’d also like to explore stop motion animation a bit more and get back into crafty stuff like sewing and designing t-shirts.

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
It’d certainly mean more work for me is it did! But really, I don’t think it will and I don’t want it to either. There’s something about holding your work in your hand that makes it seem more real.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
That’s a huge list! To name a few – Michel Gondry, Jamie Hewlett, Studio Ghibli, Sara Fanelli, Pixar, Banksy and Jonathan Nix.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? I can’t narrow it down to one single person. The greatest group of people I’ve had the pleasure of working with are ANIMATION CLUB!!! – a group of people I studied animation with at RMIT. We joined forces and have since made films and music videos together. What we’ve produced is an example of what can be achieved in a ridiculously short amount of time by a group who are only in it for the love of creating.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?
Earning a living from doing what I love. Having films and music videos played on TV and in film festivals around the world.

How would you describe your work?
My own personal work is cartoonish, childish and uses lots and lots of colour.

What are your plans for the future?
I hope to visit Japan later in the year to immerse myself in Japanese design, pop culture and general insanity. More long-term, I aim to expand my own projects while working freelance on the side.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
Any company that know what they want, but at the same time, allow for a certain amount of creativity.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
The distance between Europe and us seems to answer both of those.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future? It needs to take itself seriously and realise that it can produce work just as well as the rest of the world and needs the opportunities to allow itself to do this.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Circus, music and t-shirt making.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
Robot. Any bar that has as many tin robots on the shelf as bottles of alcohol has won me over.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
http://www.theanimationclub.com
http://www.etsy.com
http://www.ffffound.com
http://www.oneinchpunch.net/
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
Man Bites God’s album ‘Peppermint Superfrog’. It the perfect album to perk you up when you’ve had a long day. Quirky, poppy and silly – just how I like my music to be.

If I was a font, I’d be...? Wingdings

Secret Handshake - Underpants

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-08-28T22:54:00+10:00

The theme for August's Secret Handshake was underpants.

All other Secret Handshake submissions from that month are available for viewing at the ANIMATION CLUB!!! website. http://www.theanimationclub.com

Secret Handshake - Undead

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-08-11T17:24:38+10:00

The theme for July's Secret Handshake was 'Undead'. Lachlan and I collaborated on a piece where we experimented with Light Graffiti. This is where you use a camera with long exposure to record you drawing with a light (in these cases, a torch and an LED keyring)

All other Secret Handshake submissions from that month are available for viewing at the ANIMATION CLUB!!! website. http://www.theanimationclub.com

Illustration - Stick it to 'em stickers

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-07-17T18:40:00+10:00

STICK IT TO 'EM - STICKER DESIGNS

I recently designed a number of kids school stickers for Australian company, Stick it to 'em. I was given the text for each and then allowed to go wild! I am still a big kid really, and so this was the perfect job for me.

Freeloader poster

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-07-02T11:30:00+10:00

FREELOADER POSTER

A poster for James Hazelden's 2008 Edinburgh Fringe show, Freeloader. (That's also my hand in the shot, complete with the most irritating fake fingernails in the history of the world... Yes, I know that's a big claim)

Secret Handshake - Robots

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-07-01T16:37:08+10:00

The ANIMATION CLUB!!! event, 'Secret handshake' launched at Loop Bar last Tuesday. The theme was Robots and the film I made (on the afternoon of the launch!) looks like this....

ANIMATION CLUB!!! website

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-05-02T11:35:00+10:00

ANIMATION CLUB!!!
http://www.theanimationclub.com

National Youth Week

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-05-02T11:18:00+10:00

National Youth Week 2008 - Community Service Announcements

Directed by Lifelounge, the television spots were created in Flash, for the promotion of the National Youth Week talent competitions. They were shown on Australian free-to-air television from early 2008.

Screen It! - ACMI

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-02-02T11:23:00+11:00

Screen IT! Awards ceremony

Screen It! is a National moving image competition for Primary and Secondary School students, run by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)

I was responsible for creating a number of animated title bumpers and editing video footage for the trailers used during the awards ceremony.

I also created a DVD compilation of the winning entries, with bumpers and titles, for permanent display in the ACMI Memory Grid exhibition space.

Circus Oz online store

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2008-01-02T11:37:00+11:00

Circus Oz Online Store
View store here

Happy New Year - Yidcore music video

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2007-11-29T11:33:00+11:00

Music Video - 'Happy New Year ATOM' by Yidcore

(I play the kangaroo)

Kerros DVD

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2007-11-02T11:41:00+11:00

Circusoc - Kerros DVD production.
A DVD production of a 2007 circus show held at The Roundhouse in Kensington, NSW.

Aerialize - Sydney Aerial Theatre

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2007-09-02T11:36:00+10:00

Aerialize - Sydney Aerial Theatre
http://www.aerialize.com.au

Eyes Wide Open

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2007-06-02T11:25:00+10:00

Eyes Wide Open

You can't sneeze with your eyes open. FACT or FICTION? But what would happen if you could? Little Roscoe decides to test this myth with bizarre consequences.

Duration: 3:40mins

Directed by: Sarah Phillips and Michael Hill

Produced by: Aarthi Sriram / ANIMATION CLUB!!!

Music: Jamie Messenger and James Hazelden

Festival screenings:

2007 Tropfest Best of the Rest - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra.

2007 Prix Ars Electronica festival - Linz, Austria. (Computer Animation - Best of/Late night)

2007 RMIT Film + Video Awards

Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2007-04-20T11:26:00+10:00

Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle

Flash animation

Duration: 2:29mins

Directed and animated by: Sarah Phillips

Written by: James Hazelden and Sarah Phillips

Additional illustration: Rhiannon McGuinness and Ian Hirons

Music: Man Bites God

Screenings:

RAGE (ABC TV), Australia.

Peppermint Superfrog

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2006-12-02T11:28:00+11:00

Peppermint Superfrog

An animated video clip for Melbourne satirical rock band, Man Bites God.

Duration: 2:00mins

Directed, Animated and written by: Sarah Phillips

Produced by RMIT University

Music: Man Bites God

Screenings:

RAGE (ABC TV), Australia.

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) - Memory Grid exhibition, 2008.

Westgarth Film Festival 2007 - 10 minute wonders

AIM Invaders DVD

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2006-11-02T11:42:00+11:00

AIM Invaders 2006 DVD production
A DVD production showcasing the works of the 2006 Animation and Interactive Media students at RMIT University, Melbourne.

The Exposition of Mimsy

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2006-05-20T11:39:00+10:00

The Exposition of Mimsy

A 3D realtime game created using the Unreal Tournament Engine. On this production, I was involved in the concept and art team, the production team and created the promotional website.

Created at RMIT in 2006 as part of the Masters in Creative Media (Animation and Interactive Media.)

The exposition of Mimsy - website

selftitled@sarahphillips.com.au — 2006-05-15T11:37:00+10:00

The Exposition of Mimsy
http://minyos.its.rmit.edu.au/aim/mimsy/