Sunday 13 March 2011

Practice for storyboarding







Advertised myself as a storyboard artist to the Film Production students. Got 5 responses so far, more than I was expecting. One project is a thriller set in a forest so I popped out the other day and started thumbnail sketching trees and leaves, developing my texturing with the pencil. Leaves, tree trunks and mud, that's what makes a forest, if I can find a way to portray those simply then that's all I need. There are so many kinds of trees, if it's a thriller, I guess they want spooky trees, as opposed to In the Night Garden Trees. Really I need some reference material from the director, maybe a film that's an inspiration for composition. I keep thinking of the forest in Miller's Crossing for some reason.

I'm trying to develop a sense for working on tonal planes within a composition. Maintaining clear plains seems to create depth, even if the elements are simple. My pencil work gets too fuzzy, lacks definition. Started trying to work in red pencil, then tie it down with lead pencil. It's the method we'll be using for cleaning up animation, and it's the method suggested when I read about storyboarding.

I've been looking at different white pens, be good to have something opaque to add highlights back in. Something with no mess no fuss, that I could just carry in my pocket.

Saturday 12 March 2011



Animation exercise based on the old Disney test: bringing a sack to life. Mine turned into kind of an epic, approx 1,200 frames and over 500 drawings, most of the other students did an average of 80 to 100 drawings.

Problems (to name a few) : my proportions vary at times, at one point he rolls away from us only to pop up bigger than when he was closer. Perspective doesn't really work like that. The gasping for breath thing that happens doesn't really work either. Got a lot of 'what's he doing there?' questions.

But I got some compliments on some of the acting and people found it funny. Got a 71% grade for Animation Principles overall, I think just based on the time and work I put into BrokeSack Mountain. My other work is kinda weak.

Welcome Home




Well, this is my first completed animated short. Finished it last summer. Not perfect, some good bits, ending falls a bit flat, but it was still an achievement. Making the film was more an excercise in giving myself a deadline and getting through pre-production / production / post-production and then putting it out there some how (festivals, internet, etc.). Submitted it for a couple festivals, but didn't get chosen.

Took a month to complete in a blacked out room, painting on a big board. Last couple days before deadline I did the audio. Really simple, but when I layed it over the film, it surprised me how effective it was.

Friday 11 March 2011

Storyboards






Storyboards for a live-action/animation film i want to make using super 8 projections.

Welcome Home Storyboards