Thoughts on the Animatic

Starting the animatic process. I was a little worried and still a bit confused on how to do it. Since this project is experimental, there will be a mix of media used for animating and applied to the environment. Yesterday as I was gathering references and looking at inspiring videos I thought about how they must've storyboarded and what essentially an animatic is. These are my thoughts:

1. An animatic is a timed storyboard. 
2. It includes sound. 
3. It should be as close to the final time and look of the film as you can get. 
4. Storyboards and rough sketches are ironed out in the animatic. 
5. However, that does not mean an animatic includes final drawings. 
6. Camera angles and complicated movements should be clearly shown in an animatic. 
7. Good animatic's show depth and perspective even if there is no background. 
8. Characters' movements and any other animated parts of the film should be visually described in the animatic. 
9. Everything should be in grayscale except for red directional arrows

This seems like common knowledge (if you're in this field) but it has really helped me grasp exactly what an animatic should say and do.

Images I'll need

• sun
• sky scrapers
• buildings
• roads
• construction work
• pipes
• girders
• clouds
• bushes
• sky
• atmospheric devices
• small creatures
• train
• parts of a train
• steam engine
• smoke
• metal
• steel
• dirt
• light
• color

Ciara Phelan

http://www.ciaraphelan.com/

Collage artist and designer.

I like the fun she puts into all her work. Her collages have many elements but each has a purpose to the photo or theme she is given. 

She inspires me because she works both with traditional cut paper and digital collage techniques. 

Collage Animation 2014- Hannah Gee

This film is doing several things really well. The collage elements work together in tandem with the music. Even though the piece is without a clearly defined message, everything is slowly building up over the course of the film and getting even more crazy. It compounds any interpretation by each new addition. There are nature vs man, man vs god, man vs society, and man vs mind themes throughout the film.

This is a good example of the general mood, sense of disorientation I want to portray. I really enjoyed the technique used: combining found/ cut photos with drawings with 3d figures, all in stop motion. This film is much longer than the time we are given but it is still well deserved inspiration.

Finding Images

The Why and How

Using Images- Copyright and Fair use


Public Domain

http://www.pixnio.com/

http://search.creativecommons.org/

https://www.google.com/advanced_image_search

Terry Gilliam's cut out class

"The whole point of animation is tell a story, make a joke, express an idea."

• magazines, books, old pictures, newspaper- anywhere
• take image out of context, play around with scale, combine in amazing ways
• need 2 photographs/christmas cards for everything used 
•  cutout comes from one
• other retouched and used as background
• cheat as much as possible- save time creatively
• be aware of limitation of cutouts
• simple things and quick sudden movements work best
• forget about realistic motion
• first thing is storyboard
• can be crude
• write sound effects needed
• mark down approx time
• reminder for shooting (animatic)
• cutouts can be round and rich
• keep character parts together with envelope
• be aware of shadows
• tape down pieces when shooting

Horizon

I have learned a lesson today.

Beat boards

Early beat board ideas I never got around to posting!

Internship workshop w/ Zark

I had an opportunity to go to a workshop with Zark discussing internship opportunities. It was actually an unscheduled visit during an animation club meeting. During the presentation, I learned more on the new process for applying to internships and what internships were available next semester. The workshop was also beneficial to me because I am a peer mentor and there were a lot of freshmen that I can now educate on the process as well.

11-03 Presentation Materials and Critique Notes

Trying to put across the feel of Tranquility with this image:  I like the treatment of the shadows, can push the highlights and include other elements. Also playing with collage here (3 separate images ;)

Flat color shadow: thought I'd try out a inversion of the technique I used above and really pull out the shadows with a flat color. Should apply some type of texture, too flat may distract. Also try doing more to sand in general.

Collage test for environment: I like the integration of the different elements, need to be aware of the pixel sizes and scale of things, mountains much more clearer than sand.

Color Treatment 1: Meant to invoke a sense of impending doom or dread. 

Other color treatments 2-6: Be careful of posterizing effect, images feel to loud, make more subtle, believe in audience.

Overall Critique:

Utilize color as transitions between emotions- how quickly do I want to move between each feeling? This should inform the mood and therefore the color.

Try combining elements of collage with dp techniques- maybe even print out high quality image and alter using traditional materials then scan back in. <<< How does medium affect meaning?

"Hesitation" test is more like "Isolation"

Play with anxiousness more- what other environmental changes can be altered?

Pitch notes 10-13

experimental short film of a personal nature
- what is the method of construction?
- what is the momentum? Time confusion
- what makes emotions personal- what makes it feel real?

Organization/Format
Show inspiration as artists are mentioned
Mention symbolism influences
P.O.V? - scene for scene what are we seeing?
Cuts or one long take? how does time play a role?

Inspirations

Possible visual representations

Visual Sketches

Symbolism Analysis Cont.

How can the poem fit the images? 

anxiety, intimidation, freedom, solitude, tranquility- are these present in the poem??

Line by line explanation. IDEAL MEANING

"I stand by a line...to somewhere from somewhere else" - I'm in the midst of a decision.

"It stretches...half leaving. Half approaching" - The choice is large, the results unknown. Anxiety moves in.

   

"The great narrow....without direction. Sanctuary." - The pressure to choose encroaches on my mind.

"Behind a silent...out of reach." - I meditate on things. Anxiousness cannot reach me.

"I persist not of fear...my own expectation and belief." - I base my decisions on myself and what best for me, not because I am afraid.

"I am the mirror of decision." - I will not be forced to make a choice. I am what I do.

    

Symbolism Analysis- Current

Desert

  + vast, wide open-
        emptiness
        solitude
        freedom
        clarity
        time
  +  hot-
        importance of the sun
        visually exhausting
  +  mirages- illusions-
        the mind
        a warning/ sign of exhaustion /dehydration

Train
   
 + travel, a journey
 + anxiety-
       fast moving and speed
       waiting game
  + they have  set destinations
  + Intimidating-
       large object coming at your face


Train w/o tracks

  + reckless abandon
  + still moving forward-
        not in positive way
  + even more intimidating
  + nightmare fuel


The beginning is the end

  + a cycle-
       samsara in a way
  + all the chaos disappears
  + not much of and ending-
       "it ends"

Hummingbird

  + "the nectar within"-
       beaks
  + may be better as rep of anxiety-
       hovering
       shaking
       speedy
       blur
  + slowed wings very symbolic-
        breathe
        one flap a second


Pond

  + water-
         refreshing
         pleasure
  + in desert is life
  + reflects like mirror
  + shallow-
        underrated
        useless
  + deep-
       scary
       dark
       endless
 + different environment-
       transported
       portal

     

Sept 12 revision

I grew up quickly.

Encouraged to believe, I took my first steps and walked toward expectation. not knowing I was meant to run,

The life I was told to live.

But I was nervous.

Every step I left behind began to fade until I was divided.

Half gone and half approaching.

I began to wonder.

Were there many ways forward but only one way back? What was it that I came for? 

I was only told to be great.

I saw so little.

I began on the word of others and forgot what I could do myself.

And when I finally  stopped I became something else.

But I looked back and saw so little that I couldnt see.

And after I fulfilled their goals

I lost mine. 

Inspirations

Tone:

https://vimeo.com/114129481

https://vimeo.com/96859342


https://vimeo.com/93052696

Poem rough Sept 6

I was told to be great

They walked with trepidation but they did not give

From expectation they grew into the life they were told to live 

Encouraged to believe they crawl forward one by one

not knowing they were meant to run 

The pressure's compacting

confusion impacting

it forces reacting

But they are adapting.

They lie at night thinking "this is what we wanted."

And how could I think they're lying? Im still trying

I was told to be great

And I worked hard to earn their fate.

And after I fulfilled their goals, success undefined,

I lost mine. 

Artist Statement part 2

I have stated before that I became a digital media artist because I wanted to "bring my ideas to life." While this is still a driving factor for anyone in the motion media field, the reason I became a digital artist is because I have something to say. Digital art still is one of the best mediums for spreading works over the internet and whether or not I become internationally recognized, the most important thing to me is putting myself and my work out there, building a portfolio, and reaching for my goals.

I want to be an animation or an art director. I've listed both of these because they both take years of experience in the animation and film field and illustration, design or film field respectively. Having my goal be a job that requires time spent in the industry is beneficial to me as I'd actively seek out relevant experiences and positions to coincide with these careers.

After years in career in either of these, my final, biggest aspiration can be realized; to start my own animation studio. Animation directors are required to be well knowledgable in every step of the animation and creation process, working right with the overall production director. Art directors also need to know the creation process as well as management skills and an eye for style. If I build several years of networking and experience in these jobs, I am confident that I will be able to start my own business.


My idea for BFA is one that would showcase my ability to animate, stylistic vision, use of multiple art platforms, and propensity for compelling stories. Just as I have big dreams, I also have big fears. My BFA will examine the pressure to succeed and the fear of failure. For those out there who have ever aimed for a goal they feel is out of reach, felt anxious about the future or when making plans, this film is for them. It questions why there's so much pressure to succeed and why we need it.

Sept. 1 pitch

Hi my name is Alison Johnson. I, like many of you, have big dreams and aspire to do great things in life. My BFA will examine the pressure to succeed and the fear of failure.

I plan to create a visual poem that focuses on the the underdogs in a society that values winners and victory. I want the words to be an insight into why we feel we must succeed and challenge the value of success.
The images will marry with the words in a complimentary fashion that stays critical while also asking why we acknowledge certain levels of accomplishment and disregard others. It will not be a straight forward narrative, rather, the combination of words and visuals will contribute multiple layers of comprehension and perception.

I would like to go with a more somber tone but not without hope; the visuals will provide a positivity to the introspective, almost analytical words.

My target audience is anyone old enough to feel anxious about the future or aiming for a goal they feel is out of reach. I want them to take a harder look on why they put that pressure on themselves to rise up and remind them that they're not alone.

The themes I am dealing with are society values and self esteem.

This project relates to my larger career goals by combining multiple forms of art, showcasing my proficiency in abstract forms of animation, and getting a point across with words and animation.

Artist Statement

I chose digital media and animation because I wanted to bring my ideas to life. The art of making something move is an involved process and takes time and patience. But it is also an art where success can literally be measured. My goal is to connect with people through my art and to inspire others. As a digital artist there is the ability to quickly make these connections over the internet. I also want to be able to use the skills I have accomplished to produce entertaining personal work and possibly start my own production company outsourcing animation, film and illustration.