My Kinetic Typography is done!

The back story to the song can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Car

So basically, the song is a reflection of the original singer, Tracy Chapman's struggles with poverty. She describes how she was leaving her hometown with her boyfriend in a 'fast car' and how she thinks she can 'make it' and 'be someone'.

Hence, the typeface which I chose to accompany this song starts out clean - to reflect a hope. Thereafter, the typeface slowly degrades to a more distorted font (e.g. I used the font "Rock It" for the chorus), to reflect desperation.

This is my first attempt in kinetic typography and it was as enjoyable as much as it was a killer (I know, it's a paradox which I myself don't understand). I actually spent close to 3 days to figure out the mechanisms in After Effects, planning out the animation, executing them....... and then found out that I made a mistake in not "continuously rasterizing" them so everything became extremely pixelated.

But I generally am quite happy with the results. =D=D
I will overcome NM3208! Roar!

Tutorial for After Effects

Here is an online tutorial to help anyone who's lost to get started on their assignment. It also serves as a starting point for me haha:

http://www.crookedgremlins.com/09/01/2008/kinetic-typography-tutorial/

A3 Presentation

This is one of my favourite tunes recently.



Lyrics:

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
We won't have to drive too far
Just 'cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living

You see my old man's got a problem
He live with the bottle that's the way it is
He says his body's too old for working
I say his body's too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody's got to take care of him
So I quit school and that's what I did

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way

I remember we were driving driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain't got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
We'll move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I'd always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way


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I thought it'll be a rather cool song to use for this kinetic typography because I think I can use quite a lot of visuals to complement the lyrics. Besides, it's a pretty fast song (not in terms of the overall tempo, but the lyrics are sung in quarter/semiquarter notes).


I did a rough sketch for the first few verses of the song. For this assignment, I'll have to cut down the song to just the first two verses and the chorus.


Here's the rough sketch: