Mash-Up

We were set an editing tak to create a mash up , a new spin on two film trailers to make a new film trailer. Out of the choice of clips i originally planned to use the footage from Bambi and the sound from Dracula but decided there werent enough appropriate clips to use so changed to using pretty woman, casting Richard Gere as Dracula.

Ratty

Ratty needs to look a little more cartoon like and more vicious and the moment he looks too friendly and normal to devour a human.

How much do I know about compositing?

Very little. So the prospect of having to complete a piece by next thursday having only recieved the brief today is stressing me out! I emailed Pete to ask if he would be on hand if I get completely lost on friday, when I am going to try to get it done and he popped down to the studio to find out what the brief was. Having shown it to him, even he seemed a little stumped but said he would do his best to help. This is not very reasurring as Pete is the chap that has taught me most of the stuff I know about after effects. I am a little frustrated that I am going to have so little time to spend on something that is being graded, as I dont want to hand in sub standard work but dont have many other options. o well..

What should I do?

So Andy has said that I may be able to just submit one episode of the card trick for the 'Talking Dog' project, So I may be able to work on my own. Which is appealing but at the same time I am concerned that I wouldnt be able to produce a good piece of Animation on my own. On the one hand I would be adding to my personal portfolio but on the other hand I did ask to join the Strat Equette team.

I think I will try to do one by myself so that I can work on it over easter and offer to help the other team with whatever they need.

Train folk

Character designs for the Train skecth for Strat Etquette, the large leaning man.




This is a research piece of the underground and commuters, just to get an idea of what it is like.

Change of plans, it seems...

Ok so I got back from my group tutorial with Ann, which went well. She suggested sevreal books for me to look at for my dissertation topic, which I have decided upon. The working title at the moment is 'the representation of women in western mainstream animation'.
When I arrived back in the studio, I was told that I am no longer working on 'the card tricks' as my team members had decided without me that it was too much work and joined another team already. Great. Back to square one for me, so I am now working on a different sketch with Nat and Ceri.

'Talking Dog'

So Charlotte, Holly and Myself are going to be working on the playing cards project and as there are three skecthes we hvae chosen one each to the the pre production on. We then plan to show each other the work that we have come up with and come to an agreement on the design style we should work with. I am working on the operating theatre.

Let's get organised!

So I have taken Anne's advice and got myself a reasonable sized diary, Written in all of the workshops and the timetable for the rest of the year. I plan to make a schedule to keep myself on track with the work load.

Dissertation Research.
I am kind of excited at the prospect of getting on with our dissertaion but I am, at the moment, struggling with deciding on a topic to look into, as its is a year of my life I will be spending on it. I think I may have a better idea of what to do, after I complete the reading week task.

Editing Workshop
This morning we had our first workshop on editing, for which we are expected to produce a 'Mash Up', which is two kinds of film trailers, of differetn genres, to create a new film trailer. I think I am going to use Baambi and Dracula. I am looking forwrad to getting started, and plan tocome in tomorrow morning to begin working on it.

Scripting and Programming
AlthoughI was quite hesitant to learn how to do this, I feel I have taken in what we have been taught today, the very basics! But I am strggling to understand how I will actually use it by myself. I sure it will become clear as the weeks go on.

Storyboards
I collected my sketchbook for the project today, having seen my mark last night, 60%. The feedback that I was givenm suggested that if I put in some more work and added a lots more frame, of the same standard of work the grade could be higher, so that is what I will do.

Not so good...

I feel that I did really badly with the Character Animation Project. My character Bob, started out as a fairly amiable looking fellow, and I somehow managed to make him look horrible and unloveable. My Florist design was let down by the fact that I ran out of time to fully animate the dying flowers. The only thing I think I did well with was the lip sync, but during the screenings that didnt seem to get a mention so I've not idea what anyone else thought, kinda wish I had done a tash or a shadowed character. :(

1. The birds fly in. 2. Land. 3. Text bubble starts to appear. 4. continues

I am not happy with this at all, but I have been focusing a bit too much of my attention on the storyboarding project. I am disappointed in myself, that I didnt try harder with this animation. I might try to re work it in my free time.

back to lip synching

today I am lip synching for the character animation project. I'm finding my dope sheet really useful to get the timing of the piece right and it seems to be running a lot smoother than previous attempts. I 'll load up my final anaimtion once it is complete.