Thursday 15 October 2009
Different ways of creating animation
Whilst exploring different ways of creating animation, i came across this website on the internet. It was a bit difficult to use at first but it the end it was very simple to use. Even though it was not the style of animation we wanted to use, it was still interesting to have a look at.
http://www.fluxtime.com/animate.php
Wednesday 14 October 2009
filming.
We started our filming on monday as we had most of the props made. This went pretty well and i think we allowed ourself enough time to get everything filmed before we absolutely have to begin editing our footage. We've stuck mostly to what we planned on our storyboards, only making a few minor changes such as shooting from better angles. Although doing an animation is taking quite a while to film enough footage to fill 2 and a half minutes, we're uploading all of our footage to final cut after each shooting session, in order to check that we're happy with the results and don't need to re-do it. We was told today that we've got another week to shoot which should help us to get everything we planned to do done in time for the deadline. This weekend we'll be taking the camera home to film the only live footage in our video. Overall, everything is going well and to plan at the moment, we've just got to make sure we stay on schedule.
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Visual style ideas
Here are some images from music videos that have similar visual style to the one we hope to make...
These images are from the video 'I adore you' by Melpo Mene. I like the style of this video as the drawings are fairly simple and almost child-like, but it also manages to appear sophisticated and professional. I like the way the buildings in the first image have been drawn and might try to re-create something like that in our own video. Also, in the last image the background looks like it might be a black and white photo of grass, with some kind of effect on it making it not as clear, this is again something we could use in our video.
These images are from the video 'Point of view' by DV Boulevard. This is a different type of animation to the first video as it's 3D. This allows the visuals to be less precise and more basic. I like the fact that everything's made out of cardboard in this video, and the way they've created the street. This is something we might incorporate into our own product.
We've decided to make the visual style of our video fairly simple and childish-looking. We hope this will come across quite artistic and and inspired by Michel Gondry's work which uses many childish references as his signature style.
Response to blog feedback
We appreciate all the feedback you've given us, definately taking on board the point about making sure our drawings look realistic enough and we do hope to do some more test footage before we start filming if time allows. thanks :)
Blog Peer Feedback
1. Research into similar bands -
The detail in your post is very good, with lots of great visuals and good analysis.
2. Storyboard and Timelines -
Your storyboard is amazing, really clear and very detailed. Your initial ideas are great and something to be proud of.
3. Test Footage -
More video test footage could be added but your photo blogging is very very good and really great use of effects.
4. Concept of the Video
really good and very imaginative. If you get this done properly then it will be awesome!!!!!
The detail in your post is very good, with lots of great visuals and good analysis.
2. Storyboard and Timelines -
Your storyboard is amazing, really clear and very detailed. Your initial ideas are great and something to be proud of.
3. Test Footage -
More video test footage could be added but your photo blogging is very very good and really great use of effects.
4. Concept of the Video
really good and very imaginative. If you get this done properly then it will be awesome!!!!!
Group 27 Feedback
We think that the blog contains the correct and necessary elements.
-The storyboard is extremely detailed as is the research, it shows that the work has been thoroughly planned and well explained.
-The research on the similar bands is also really detailed and we can clearly see the relations from the previous plans and the concept ideas.
-the concept of the video is clearly laid out and shows innovative design ideas, and true understanding of the task.
- the blog looks very visual and doesn't bore easily, and there is a good balance of descriptive visuals and written visuals.
- All we can say is to be careful that the drawings and puppets look realistic enough to recognise and that they move smoothly for understanding of the story behind it.
9/10 good luck! hope it all goes well.
: )
t1 27-matt, katie and harriet
-The storyboard is extremely detailed as is the research, it shows that the work has been thoroughly planned and well explained.
-The research on the similar bands is also really detailed and we can clearly see the relations from the previous plans and the concept ideas.
-the concept of the video is clearly laid out and shows innovative design ideas, and true understanding of the task.
- the blog looks very visual and doesn't bore easily, and there is a good balance of descriptive visuals and written visuals.
- All we can say is to be careful that the drawings and puppets look realistic enough to recognise and that they move smoothly for understanding of the story behind it.
9/10 good luck! hope it all goes well.
: )
t1 27-matt, katie and harriet
Filming Preparation.
We've decided to start filming on Monday the 12th of October. Until then we'll be preparing everything we need to film with, including making props, characters and settings.
Props:
The main character, (male, made out of card) - done
A street setting (also made out of card - 2D but layered) - done
A nightclub setting (Card)
A street of houses (Card)
An alley setting (Card)
Alley/Pitch (Drawn 2D) - done
Optical illusion background - done
Vinyl record (added "dry-humping on dancefloors" label)
'Vote For John Kennedy' Poster
Photo of a guitar - done
Iron city beer bottle (card) - done
2 thought bubbles (card) - done
Bob Dylan (drawn onto card) - done
Hippie character (drawn onto card) - done
Thug character (drawn onto card)
American football player (drawn onto card)
silhouettes of couples (black card)
prostitute (drawn onto card)
'Curb crawler' (drawn onto card)
Romantic couple fighting (drawn onto card)
street fight victim (drawn onto card)
heart shapes (pink and red card) - done
music note shapes (black card) - done
bouncing heads (black and grey card)
'free love' placard (card) - done
record player (card)
Real-life footage:
shot 1
shot 2
shot 25
shot 26
Photo's to take:
guitar
windows
houses
front doors
Ideas for the visual style of these props will follow.
Thursday 1 October 2009
Defferent Effects That Can Be Used In Our Animation
Animated music videos.
A-Ha - Take on me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgMTIgwS6s
Badly Drawn Boy - Year Of The Rat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScUdYTO0UM
Blur - Good Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRrJugyk1Yw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgMTIgwS6s
Badly Drawn Boy - Year Of The Rat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScUdYTO0UM
Blur - Good Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRrJugyk1Yw
The Thrills Influence.
The Thrills' music, videos and image are all heavily influenced by 1960's/70's America, particularly the west coast. They've been discribed as retro, surf po
p, country, rock and indie, which allows us to be more inventive as it gives us a wide scope for making a music video for them as it doesnt have to fit many conventions of a particular music genre. The most constant theme that runs through The Thrill's entire body of work (music, lyrics, videos, image, album covers and advertising), is 60's/70's America. This is evident through lyrics such as "hey, hey you're the Monkees, people said you monkee'd around", the california settings of their videos, the old-fashioned, slightly sepia tint that they use on the shots in their videos and many more nostalgic American references in their songs.
We are also going to further this nostalgic 60's America notion, by using intertextual references in our video. For example i have researched televsion programmes, films and bands/singers that were around during the 60's.
p, country, rock and indie, which allows us to be more inventive as it gives us a wide scope for making a music video for them as it doesnt have to fit many conventions of a particular music genre. The most constant theme that runs through The Thrill's entire body of work (music, lyrics, videos, image, album covers and advertising), is 60's/70's America. This is evident through lyrics such as "hey, hey you're the Monkees, people said you monkee'd around", the california settings of their videos, the old-fashioned, slightly sepia tint that they use on the shots in their videos and many more nostalgic American references in their songs. In our video, we plan to try and capture the 60's/70's American spirit by using historical references such as the hippie age, Bob Dylan, and John F. Kennedy, and also striving to create the same sepia effect on our shots that is particularly evident in 'Big Sur' (image shown below).
We are also going to further this nostalgic 60's America notion, by using intertextual references in our video. For example i have researched televsion programmes, films and bands/singers that were around during the 60's. Television programmes: The Beverly Hillbillies, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, Popeye and The Alvin Show.
Films: Lolita, The Music Man, To Kill A Mockingbird, Psycho and Spartacus.
Bands/Singers: Elvis Presley, Surfaris, The Crossfires, Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan.
Although some of the above are better known than others, we will try to include a few intertextual references sourced from them to make our video as authentic and in tone with the rest of The Thrill's videos.
Intertexuality.
Goodwin's idea of using intertextuality references in music videos to provoke nostalgic connotations and introduce new ideas can be inspired by many different sources, for example, cinema, fashion, and more recently, video games (Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californication). Below is a few examples of intertextuality in music videos.
The music video for The beastie Boys - Sabotage parodies 1970's cop shows through the use of costume, props, narrative, fast-cut editing, a vast combination of camera shots and angles, and even freeze frame credits introducing the characters. The video light-heartedly mocks 70's cop shows such as Starsky and Hutch, S.W.A.T. and The Rookies, in an inventive and artistic style, bringing about notions of reminiscence for the 70's era.
Television: Beastie Boys - Sabotage.
The music video for The beastie Boys - Sabotage parodies 1970's cop shows through the use of costume, props, narrative, fast-cut editing, a vast combination of camera shots and angles, and even freeze frame credits introducing the characters. The video light-heartedly mocks 70's cop shows such as Starsky and Hutch, S.W.A.T. and The Rookies, in an inventive and artistic style, bringing about notions of reminiscence for the 70's era.Cinema: Beastie Boys - Intergalactic/Jennifer Lopez - I'm Glad.
The Beastie Boys video for 'Intergalactic' parodies Japanese Kaiju film. These typically feature a giant monster of some sort, destructing a Japanese city. The most famous Kaiju film being 'Godzilla'. 'Intergalactic' stars a giant, dancing robot terrorising a Japanese city. The costumes worn by the band are the uniforms of Japanese construction workers, adding to the authenticity of the video.
The well-known film Flashdance heavily influences Jennifer Lopez's video for I'm Glad. Costume, dancemoves, poses, settings and even the iconic 'water scene' is re-enacted in J-lo's video to revive the essence of the film. This parody is slightly more obvious than 'Intergalactic's' parody on Kaiji films as it uses a lot more of the noticeable elements of 'Flashdance'.
Fashion
Robert Palmer - Addicted to love (1986)
Shania Twain - Man, i feel like a woman (1999)