WORK/ CHILDREN’S EVENT/ HISTORICAL BUILDING
Exploring ideas based around this location.
Pages from sketchbook: documenting
Pages from Sketchbook: Sketching the surrounding achitecture
Starting to think, whilst observing, about the overlap of such a grand, historic and rather dormant place paired with noisy, excited little people running around it’s corridors. I noted how it was rather tricky taking pictures of the children (due to the subject and the fact I was an employee of the venue) however I believed it would be nice:
to represent the children in some way.
My thoughts:
Involved something along the lines of animated little balls of colour or light bouncing around the scene or even little bright costumes moving of their own accord- no figure need, more like a faceless representation of the youth.
ANIMATION- JERKY MOVEMENTS:
V dark narrative but I really like the look to it- the pans/ zooms etc and the movements of the bright figures.
The use of text is really interesting but I like it primarily as inspiration for animating.
ANIMATIC
Very first play with storyboard.Quite slow- get an idea of where i’m going with the story/ images are little clearer.
All about little balls of light/ life appearing in a very old dark, elegant place and their movements- bouncing off the walls etc.
Aiming to develop how they might move, appear etc.
Hoping to develop the idea of pace and view point- lots of contrast from wideshots to close-ups???
Thinking more about this shot in particular- want the balls to have more contact with the surroundings.
Storyboard 2
From the first storyboard ( as seen in action in the animatic above) I have developed a little more the idea of movement in the film.
I have looked more at transitions between images and what flows nicely for the narrative. I very much want to get the feeling across that this is a very beautiful, structured building and it is being over run by little balls of energy.I have also expanded the idea with the way in which these balls emerge (for example the hitting objects and pillars and bursting into more.)
Starting to look more at different angles and composition of the frame.
Second animatic
Animatic from second (colour) storyboard- looking more at composition and the way the shapes will move.
Experiment
Drawn ball- stop motion
Quick Animation experiment 2
Auto shape ball experiment- had a go on Photoshop and flash at compiling a very quick extract. I would like to create the effect that the ball bounces onto a pillar (interacting with the environment) and then bursts into more balls. The balls are lovely and bright but have no depth- I would need to use illustrator to create some shading etc- however just cant get to grips with that programme!
Am very keen to perhaps go the handmade route and capture the frames with a camera .
Need to work on the frame size for a smooth continuity.
Opening sequence trial
Just a quick experiment with jpegs. Have cut up the image of floor tiles so they POP onto the screen gradually.
Would like to incorporate popping sounds- add to the playful mood.
Mixing up with the combination of playful sounds and the emerging of the bright balls, next to the earth colours and the building’s structure.
Similar trial- just adding transitions and an idea of dissolving into a diamond patterned window pane.
Looking at the type of media I should use for the ball. Decided I quite liked the painted effect.
This is just a page of quick experiments with paint, pen etc.
Final experiment- editing with final cut
With my final experiment I brought together the idea of a structured location being practically overrun by little ‘balls of energy’. What was so interesting about the surroundings was the way the children responded when called. The figure of a storyteller in medieval costume held some power over the audience. He carried with him a large horn and when he blew it the children flocked to him and were quiet for his stories. It had a real element of fairy tale that day as it was a themed event so I wanted to incorporate this into the piece.
For a quick outcome I worked with backgrounds, cut outs and a camera. Even though the shots don’t run entirely smoothly I like the jerky effect that is created. It adds to the bubbly and chaotic atmosphere. The use of the cut- outs add to the playfulness against the structured surroundings. I was pleased with the movement of balls-it all looks rather fast paced and fun however I feel it would be very effective with smoother movement. Looking back at the animation I am not entirely sure about the figure. I like the idea of a greater source controlling the bright shapes however I think it could be something more abstract. There seems something of a storybook about the ‘magician’ elements- it is almost resembles Fantasia- not exactly what I was after.
The editing process was a tricky one as the jpegs I animated with were extremely big- have learned that to make things easier DON’T WORK/ SAVE TO THE MEMORY STICK- start on the system and save the relevant to the stick. There was lots of panic at the end of the day attempting to export with such big files and so little space!!!
Further Exploration
Going further with this idea, I would like to smooth out the animation. Really taking the time with the animating process could result in a nice, slick finish. I do like the handcrafted, jerky look of the piece but overall it is all about the movement of the balls of colour and the flicking of the frame and the stopping and starting can be a distraction.
I like how the idea of movement and excitability comes across though- I could be unhappy with it because it isn’t to that slick standard I would prefer!
Sound
Sound was something I was very excited about incorporating- looking at rich sound effects assist the imagery and even some music to add to the atmosphere. HOWEVER the long process of animating and editing really did take over and I will definitely be involving sound by assessment time! I think it could do with some to draw out the fun element and the magical tone to the piece.
For now it is all about the visual and I suppose rather hypnotic in the way the balls move.
VERSION 2- Adding sound
I have taken the film a step further and added sound. I was extremely keen to have sound effects for the balls, however rather than just plainly adding the sound of bouncing I wanted to show that is was a representation of children so used the sound effect of children giggling. It is a nice effect as giggles are extremely mischievous matching the naughty nature of the balls. Along with this I thought it would nice to continue with rich sound effects to get the magical atmosphere across.
There is also the use of a musical track overlaid. It is in fact the intro to a song and I believed that the sweet, jolly sound of it effectively accompanies the visuals. There is also an underlying progressive beat that really has effect when the balls are in a procession and heading back into the box. Helps to add the impression that order is restored etc, but with a nice nature.
Over all it was an extremely pleasant day that I spent at work. A lovely atmosphere, a beautiful location and lots of individuals having a nice time. I think that there is something very jolly about the piece and that is reflects the day in question. Also, there is a real element of contrast as these young, balls of energy ran amok in the sophisticated and historical location.
