3 Day Writing Colaberation

Hello people of my Blog.

Well. What can I say other than, How proud I am of what me and my group managed to do within the three days we were given for the Writing Collaberation project.

This project was set alongside the MA writing students at UCF. The Idea was to create a peice for NUFSED (National Union of Fairies, Sprites, Elves and Druids). To Promote these creatures in a positive light. It was all a bit of a blur for me at the start and I didn't know what to think at all.

When our group got read out, we obviously knew our own Digital Animation crew, but our partnered Writers we had no idea about. My Group were as follows.

Myself - Producer
Sarah Crombie - Art Director
Simon Acty - Storyboarding
Emma Taylor - Designer
Harriet Teagle - Animator
Lee Dutfield - Post Production

Then we were joined by three writers. Dave, Matt and Sam. We then set off to go about coming up with our idea for NUFSED. We had gotten the theme of 'Information' for our piece. We took off to the common room to invade and make use of the quiet room and comfortable chairs to talk over our ideas. As directed by the writers, we took ourselves off into groups of two each, Me and Simon migrated to the coffee machine and came up with the idea we would finally use and develop.

Our idea was to do a 50's style american tutorial video. Much like the Coronet "Are you popular" piece.


So we left the script writing to the writers, which we thought they would obviously be good at, and took of to come up with concepts for the look, This was mainly due to the writers feeling that they worked better in their own environment. So we organised to rendevouz back at the common room at 2pm to show each other our ideas. I then took a contact number and gave them my own so we could get in touch, I Should have made the contact list there and then but we all wanted to get on with it, So away we went.

The animators worked hard on finding a look and style for the characters. Researching old movie posters and a three tonal approach to the art. Whilst I ran around trying to sort out who was going to do what.

When we returned to talk to the writers, we found that even though we had agreed on a certain approach for the script, they had worked on another idea completely and only drafted our final idea. Their researched script didn't show the creatures in a good light like the brief had asked and again was going to be far too strenuous to animate and design within' three days and would have been somewhat an epic. Sarah our art Director set about trying to explain the latter to them, whilst I enforced the fact that this wasn't what was asked of us. I Tried to take my role of producer as seriously as possible, and the fact the actual script didn't meet our clients brief was something that stood out to me as an initial fault, and in industry would obviously not be accepted.

So after choosing to work on the drafted script for our first idea we went about getting the design work down, The character designs were split between Sarah, Simon and Harriet, the Backgrounds were assigned to Emma, Lee began finding sounds that we may need and getting a vocalist for our script to be read by, a search for a sound track was underway. We also sent the writers to work on the script and final draft it for us. This was not until I had established a Contact List Which in all honesty was invaluable, I spent that evening researching what I would have to do as a Producer, as I now really like this idea, it seems to be somewhere I fit very naturally and very well, and had comments from my group on how comfortable they felt working under me, And that even under stress, it was still a good environment to work within' they say you can't please everyone, but I'd like to think I did quiet well with my team of animators in this project.

Day 2 - More Arty Farty Stuff!

We began Day 2 with my Art Director in a slight stress about the script,... in fact,... I think after reading through it and it's direction, we found it to be very bland, and from an animation point of view, not very entertaining at all. I pushed on though, making sure Characters and Backgrounds would be ready for Myself and Harriet to animate on the last day. My perogative was that in Industry, we would always be given things that we would not wish to do, and this within' the course was gonna be one of those things we didn't particularly want to do, but we would do it to the best of our abilities none the less.

We continued through the day throwing together the Art, re-working it so it all looked as if it would fit with the style and getting it looked polished enough to show at the end of the day for the daily presentation. Simon had storyboarded over the night and throughout the day, and would end up doing the same the next morning due to certain changes.

After watching the presentations and seeing everyone elses scripts seeming to come into a more animation element. Myself and Sarah spoke to Derek due to our dislike and lack of faith in the strength of our script, to which Derick had the answers. We would not change the script at all, Just the stage direction, this would of course mean re-storyboarding. But would result in a more sellable product, which to me as the producer was my aim, I then went about myself changing the script and jotting down little bits and peices for the storyboard artist. (Simon) to put into the piece. This made me feel quiet director-esque, I enjoyed this also. Being able to get creative, as the director chosen from Writing was not with us for 2 days due to Ill health, as they say. "The Show Must go on", so myself and Sarah took an active role in that also and worked collaberatively as a Director, although I didn't infringe on her job as art director, Working as the producer as well allowed me to not allow anything to go too overboard and we would have ample time to put everything we had changed into practice in the third day.

Day 3 - The Death of me

Ok I lie, It wasn't the death of me, It was actually quiet fun. Now Sarah, Simon and Emma had very little to do due to the Pre-pro being done. Myself and Harriet sat down to After Effects and Lee headed into the studio with the writers to get the Sound we would need. Simon and Sarah had suggested we animate on one machine, both me and Harriet, I dismissed this straight away. I would composite the whole peice together on my machine and we would both animate seperate scenes on either computer. This was how I had initially wanted to work anyway.

As the day went through I animated 6 Scenes and Harriet animated 3 of the longer scenes. We worked very well together and many Hi-5's were exchanged. Sarah, Simon and Emma had to change some of the Character possitions and scan them and re-paint them, this didn't take too long and we were well underway.

We hit one snag with Audio not working in After Effects, fixed by the wonderful, yet elusive Richard Hammond, we rendered off a final and handed it in to Andy before anyone else. (Well before the final we rendered a few more and handed those in, but it was still way before anyone else had handed in on the pen drive)

Conclusion

I think my group worked fantastically together, and I would work with any of them again, they were all fantastic artists and worked well under me, without any competition. I think myself, this project really helped me to understand what I was doing. I really want this now, to be a producer, it seems like my calling. And I'm really excited to get underway with more projects of this calibur. I really appreciated all the help from Derek as well. Without him, I'd have probably not been able to make the project what it was, And to be quiet honest. I was very proud of what we produced within' those long three days. I think it ended up looking more polished than anyone elses. Even though not exactly what an animatic should be. It worked, I was proud of what we achieved, and I think I've definately got a direction now.


Here is the Finished Article! Please do Enjoy!


TX

The Amazingly-Brilliant-Mesmer-O'Brilley

So, I've been messing around with some ideas and wanted to do something like this for a while. So I have a new Character design, for 'The Amazingly-Brilliant-Mesmer-O'Brilley". He's a bit of a dark one, and I wanted to take the Undead look of the 'Corpse Bride' and place it upon my own character design. I didn't want to give him a pupil to the eye due to this making him closer to human. I'd like to make this either into a maquette or a 3D model when I return to Falmouth. Here are some Images of his design.

So please meet a Mesmer.... I'll hopefully make some turn around's and character sheets when I can. 

Final Projects. 2009.

Well, first and foremost, sorry for not posting a blog earlier, what with my traveling home and other miss-haps whilst being here, I've barely found time to myself to blog. So here it is, my final blog of 2009.

First and foremost, Here for your entertainment, Mine and Jakes experimental animation. I think for the amount of time spent on this peice., and the lack of ideas, post realizing that our initial idea was far too ambitious for the time we had left. We made a good piece that represented the piece of music given to us perfectly. It mattered not about what mark I got for this to be honest, due to it being a big learning curve for me. As have been a lot of the projects from the first term of university. I really enjoy watching this piece just because of the fun we had making it really.

With Cathy's projects, I really believe my Drawing has developed masses. Admittedly I don't think I'm quiet that happy about putting pencil to paper yet, where my mistakes are evident. I believe art and drawing is a lot about perception, and I think the people I admire artistically are quiet good at giving more surreal things life. I mean Tim Burton for instance, who's art book I would very much like to attain. (Hint Hint!) The Limbs and anatomy he gives to his characters are far from realistic, but they work. I'm thinking about taking a brand new approach to life drawing and most artistic endeavors, but there are things I wish to research and try myself before I do. I have to learn to not rely on building up layers to create my art. 

  

I've been doing bits and pieces throughout the holiday also to keep my hand in and I aim to do more bits as the holiday progresses. These two pieces above are ones that I have been most proud of. I believe my knowledge of the upper body and face to be a lot more practiced than the lower body and I'm a lot more confident in these parts. I start out with a pencil sketch, then paint over the lines a darker edge, and then fill with block colours and highlights. It's proving to help me out a lot.

The 11 second club project I felt went well, Unfortunately I don't have it on my Macintosh to post up here for you, but I thought it went well and helped me to understand where I was going with my styles and designs. Especially my puppet/mannequin style animation. Working as I go along seems to produce this effect and I really liked it.

Tell me I'm not getting better at this...

Ok, So Here are some of the bits and pieces I've been doing for Cathy's sketch book, very rough stuff. But I like it. Check it!

Basic Lip Movement.

This is my work for today along with a few drawings I'm yet to upload. Just the basic mouth movements for my Lip sync, more work to be done on the last few shots.

11 Second Club _ November Update

Here's a quickie with a bit of lighting and eye action. More to come!

I took a lot of animation that was over used from my first attempt. Added the eye blinks today, and unseen, gave a quick start to the Lip Sync. Which is proving a slight annoyance. I think it looks ok right here. I'm pretty happy, although it does have a kind of stop motion esque feel to it. Which to be honest,... I'm getting used too.

A New Start.

So I start again, this is a new, more organized blog that I promise to keep updated. 

Ok So..... where to start. Big turning point happened recently for me, and I finally figured where I fit in. I have a lot of work to do and to catch myself up on. But my personal life is now sorted. So now down to the important stuff. What have I been doing?

Motion Studies:- Conversations.

Ok So I'm not great with my drawing aspects. But I recently got my hands on a nifty little Wacom Tablet as an early christmas present from my parents. To say the least, It has helped a lot. Cathy's project is due in on Friday of this coming week. And for once I may have some things I'm proud to hand in. Here are a few of my Drawings/Sketches for all to gaze upon and admire. 

This one is a very early one, as you can tell. Getting used to my tablet. I thought the despair on the woman on the lefts face was evident. Thus the other male seems uncaring of what he has just said to the woman.

This one is my personal favourite, inspired by Stephen King's "The Gunslinger" I drew this to represent the lies that Roland told Jake, a Child he was meant to protect. This is how a lie looks to me.

This one is just of someone looking tentatively down, Not yet finished. Almost as if a mother were to peer over a cot where a child may lie. 

As it stands, I can now quiet enjoy what I'm doing for Cathy's sketch book and she seems to be accepting of how I'm working. I'm very happy and proud of myself for trying my hardest on this one, even though it's an area I struggle with.

11 Second Club - The Most Annoying Sound in the World.

Ok so, I had to go away for a week to get my head straight, and Missed a bit of time i could have been working on this. But since Arriving back have put my heart and soul into it. I've been in the studio every day this week trying to get this down. And have been proud with my results. 

My Idea, helpfully provided by Georg was to do a 'Blair Witch' style upward camera shot and my character panicing frantically about his whipped cream. This Idea has changed slightly.

Now I find myself wanting my character crouched benieth a table. Holding and touch and speaking to us about what he's done, Then I will cut away to a shot of the table with his silhouette benieth, (Behind a table cloth) with the cans of cream sprawled across the tabletop. This is an aim to get done next week along with the Lip Sync. 

Using the fantastic G_male rig and Georg's GUI has been a real test of my animation skills, it's a really nice rig, and has made me learn a lot more about both animating, rigging and Kinetics of the joints within' future rigs and what I like to use as an animator.

Anyway, Here to whet your whistles is a quick play blast. More to come in the days onward!

Experimental Animation

Admittedly me and Jake have pushed this project behind slightly due to placing more importance on the 11 second club, but we did get together some Masked made very skillfully (if I do say so myself) out of Paper Mache, (talk about play group antics) Our aim was to make a nightmare sequence. This is becoming realised in our own minds due to closing down of deadlines. But also, we've had lots of great ideas. So more to come on that front yet. I will keep you updated on our situation in the next couple of days.