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Week 1

Learn more about Magic:

"The real secret of magic lies in the performance." David Copperfield

"stunning visuals starts with great storyboards "

Split class into Wednesday and Thursday homework groups.

Sketches
Written story brief
Storyboards
week1 tutorials
Due next class

Sketches:
design and draw orthographic views of the objects that will be used in you magic act. you will need both side and front views for best results. also sketch all the architecture and props that will be used in your teams magic act. (72 dpi) )each image should fit in the 720 by 540 pixel size in PS

story:
write a story brief that clearly articulates a strong dramatic arc. there are many forms for a dramatic arc. we will use Freytag's as a starting point in this class

.da

address each of the following with some detail:

 

Story Boards:
When creating your storyboards divide them into clearly articulated camera shots. Try to incorporate meaningful camera cuts that allow the story to flow. The shots will be divided among team members and each team members will animate a series of shots. Include the list of who will be responsible for each shot on the storyboards.
Since you will present scanned boards in class next week, draw boards on larger pieces of paper. (5x 8 index cards or larger) (remember: all story should start and end on black, work with this constraint as a story element, i.e., how do the lights come on and off. You have access to spotlights that function like theatrical lights)
Incorporate what was learned from Freff article from last semester.

When drawing the storyboards, number each scene and shot. Set up each shot from the camera angle you want to use. Use film language, camera angles and cutting to compress time into short 45-60 second time period. Close-ups and mid shots are very effect in this media. Use establishment shots only when needed. Cut, Cut Cut.
check out:
City of the Gods: chase scene
Battleship Potemkin Sergei Eisenstein(and descendants)
Raging Bull 1980
Walle thelma schoonmaker
When animating each scene you will first set up the camera angle and lighting for the shot and then create the movements within that frame. When camera angle changes, articulate if the camera position changes will take place with a hard cut or pan of some type. The more close ups you employ the more your audience will identify with your character.
Think about the element of surprise, surrealism, etc.
Only include shots that are essential to telling your story. Use camera language vocabulary introduced in DM2. Try to tell the story with single shots 1st. Use camera cuts to shorten time. For example: if an object is falling from a great height, you can depict this very briefly using 2 or 3 camera shots. Animation concepts such as timing, anticipation, drag and follow thru should be used. When animating your character, you need to understand your characters motivation for doing what ever he/she/it is doing. Total animation time: 45-60 seconds. The story-board you develop is not carved in stone. Modifications will take place thru-out the semester. However, the better job you do of providing information about when close up, mid and long camera shots will take place and what type of gestures your character will need to make, the easier the process will become. Be critical. What is the entertainment value? Can your story-board keep an audience interested?

spoken word
Extra credit will be given to teams that use dialog in an interesting manner. If your piece will incorporate spoken word you will need to record voice as soon as possible. write dialog. keep it as simple as possible.

Demonstrate
project folder concept. interface, the and norman_Rig, rendering an image.

When modeling parts always start with the "magic act project folder". Save with new name. You will then be able to see the characters head and body while modeling parts.

View
Before writing story-boards watch: "laughing matters":
http://www.carlosbaena.com/resource/anim_funnybusiness.html
what is funny: http://www.thinctanc.co.uk/words/comedy.html Review: Principals of Animation as they relate to your story-board.
burning safari and coccette minute
Gobelins - Annecy 2009

story-board art links:
http://storyboardsinc.com/
http://www.action-artists.com/
http://www.storyboardsquad.com/
http://www.frameworks-la.com/?gclid=CPT8sNTOuJUCFQoFGgodwWyLPw

week1 tutorials in dm resources folder

Due next class:
All homework elements are due Tuesday.
Begin homework the day after it is assigned
Always turn in work, even if incomplete

Deposit into warp and woof for week one grade and evaluation:

    1. story brief (use text edit only)
    2. story-board (scanned or converted to 72 dpi)
      • use index cards for boards
      • each card should fit in the 720 by 540 pixel size in PS
      • number each shot
      • list of who is animating which shot
      • highlight disney's principals of animation in story-boards
    3. orthographic drawings(scanned (72 dpi) )
      • front and side of each element
      • each card should fit in the 720 by 540 pixel size in PS
    4. text edit note stating if you viewed the tutorials
    5. extra credit:
      • maya project folder with views and drawings set up for modeling.

The above list should be turned into warp and woof. They will be graded for wk 1. Homework files will eventually be thrown out of the warp and woof server. Warp and Woof is for weekly grading. It is not safe for storage.

Name all files this semester with yourlastName_wk#


warp and woof ip#: 134.88.74.60
tutorials resources: cifs://netwin.umassd.edu/HG-DigitalMedia


http://www.des.massd.edu/media