Storyboarding and mock up set

Productive brainstorming day today, running through our shot set up and storyboards for Axis Going Live project. Our group is working well together, with everyone contributing.
When we got confused with our storyboard and shot list we set out an improvised layout of the set, grabbing whatever was to hand...folders, toys, gloves, paper etc - so we could clearly see what our shots were, whether or not we were in danger of crossing the line and how to be effective and avoid any unnecessary modelling.

So the robot is the lie detector??? Sonic is He-Man and Gonzo is a Sylvanian Family Rabbit??!!

Rough fag-packet sketch of the set. 

 Rough storyboards

 The glove is a piggy bank, stuck in a dolls house.

Are we crossing the line?

 Yes. Back to the storyboard.

Mr Motivator becomes a troll doll. Gonzo and his chocolate rabbit siblings defend their innocence. He-Man (Sonic) is not impressed. The Robot delivers 'the truth!'

He-Man reaction shots.

A baffled audience (video cassette) looks on.

Our scribbled sofa

 
Our mock up set

Rough storyboard.

Bigger picture inspiration - Colonel Chris Hadfield

Reflective practice and conscious observation.... and another tidbit of inspiration, that has caught my attention today....

I was an avid follower of Col. Chris Hadfield, when he commanded the International Space Station. He made space very accessible for me....
He provided brilliant descriptions of being on a space walk. To the left the blackest black. To his right a fast moving kaleidoscope of colour.....it caught his attention as it swept past. It was Africa.

Here's his quote on facebook today. He's inspirational. As is his mother.

Col. Chris Hadfield

18 hrs · Toronto, Ontario · 

Today my 79-yr-old Mom got her ears pierced, to be able to wear the big new green earrings my 81-yr-old Dad bought for her. I love them

Reflective practice - Chemical Brothers reference

So as part of engaging in the new idea of reflective practice, I am going to make a conscious effort to include the references that catch my eye, make me ponder, and provoke day dreams, ideas and inspiration.

Thanks to Stathis on the course, we've all discovered this VFX footage. Totally bemused as to how it was created. Maybe a greenscreen suit?

Well the 'making of' has also been released. Brilliant use of software, motion capture and VFX. Inspiring.

Love the simplicity of the environment - no frills, which is a pefect backdrop for simple movement, allowing the real VFX feature to stand out. 

The making of:
https://vimeo.com/154038415

Concept sketch visuals, using Photoshop and Intuos Pro graphics tablet

Some sketch visual ideas for our Going Live project, using Photoshop and my new graphics tablet!

Run cycle in Maya

My first ever run cycle!
Animated in Maya...really enjoyed animating the arms and hands, to show the fingers loose and clenched, as he ran. Looking forward to practicing!
This model was provided, including a free rig.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

Graph editors.

'THAW' - final film ideas presentation

So following the reflective practice class last Thursday I've developed all of the ideas that I have and to date and have arrived at this idea for my final project. I'm very pleased as I wish to make a short film that has a simple storyline, examines an element of the human condition and also is a vehicle for a lot of 3D CGI.

Researching transformation themes, I have been inspired by the Brazilian artist, Nele Azevedo http://neleazevedo.com.br/, and her ice sculpture installation work 

MONUMENTO MÍNIMO | MINIMUM MONUMENT.

My film idea. 'THAW'

The story. Ice sculptures are melting. A child watches and is captivated. Remembrance of grandparents, family members, those who have gone before us. Two of the figures...a couple...slowly lean in and dissolve together. What is left is their memory...a water pool on the 

pavement.  Slowly the water brings life to a flower, which can grow from a crack in the stone. The circle of life. A theme of letting go.

For the actual method within the production I aim to explore a combination of live action, backplates, Maya, Mudbox, Realflow and compositing.

'THAW'

Inspiration

Ice in Maya

Maya Textures 

Specular sunlight and back-lit ice. Ice and textures in Maya and Realflow

Concept Storyboard

Reflecting practice - as a tool to shape an idea

Reflective practice is proving to be great in bringing sub-conscious ideas to the surface. Feels like I am revealing my creative process...not only to others, but to myself.

And in this reflective practice I am beginning to see that I have a few common themes that have run through all my ideas for my final project....

So, to keep my ideas conscious and highlight which themes inspire me, I've made a simple list of ideas to date and their common features:

Idea 1:

Exploring interactions between people, humourous and emotive. Set in an urban environment. A relationship begins between two people who never meet. Inspired by the interaction between this street artist and the council.

Idea 2:

Having experienced life inside DJCAD I was inspired by the possibilities and the software available. My ideas changed rapidly. 

A 2D woman is trapped hostage in a camera film negative and fights to break free and become 3D.

Similarly this idea explores a theme of freedom and restriction. I was particularly drawn in this idea to creating a 2D character and transforming her into 3D. A journey of growth. However, I felt that the story was weak and I wasn't convinced that there could be a good enough catalist for her to break free. How? Why? etc

Idea 3:

I've been inspired by Game of Thrones and the title sequence and have been researching how it was created. I was thinking of creating a film title sequence, using dynamics and highly polished VFX to create a stunning animated title sequence - possibly based on the story within idea 2.

This idea, whilst it could look amazing, lacks in a story. And a good title sequence, from the research I have done, all have a solid basis of a good story. So, I want to create some of the dynamics and high definition abstract images, but weld them into a good simple story.

So, back to the drawing board to reflect on my ideas so far, and to see what common themes there are.

And here are the themes that have interested me and the progression of my thoughts today and my final idea, that I'll work on presenting to Phillip Vaughan at DJCAD this week...

Flat to solid

          

 2D Neon outline

        

         

         

           

          

          2D tranforming into 3D

Monochrome to colour...

Tranformation

Abstract HD imagery

2D becoming solid

So my objective is to now get some real focus into what can be achieved in a one minute film...taking into account the ideas and themes above.

My starting point....an internet search for 'shortest stories.' 6 words or less!!

Here's my inspiration - particularly the first and second ones.

We kissed. She melted. Mop please!
James Patrick Kelly

See that shadow? (It's not yours.)
Jim Crace

Free to good home. Extraneous coffin.
Barbara Trapido

So, my mind is sparked with lots of new tangents and ideas - I thought I would show my train of thought both with a word and a picture....

Melting Jelly

Jelly Molds

Melting

Melting ice

Fire and Ice

People of ice and fire

Melting

Dark to Light

This image reminds me of the neon theme and the hostage idea. The fire of the hostage would melt the captor.

     Ice sculptures.        

     There may even be a story in this picture?

     One substance turning into another

Ice people

Ice melting

Aha! I remembered seeing images of this exhibition in Berlin. By the artist Nele Azevedo

http://neleazevedo.com.br/

And I am wondering if I can create a short story based on two ice characters that are in this exhibition? A simple theme of letting go and transformation.

I love designing to music. Mozart and Bach today....I think classical music will go well with this....

Ice figures

A young child watches

Together they melt

  They tranform

And the circle of life continues....