24:00 - 8:00 = Animate.
8:00 - 13:00 = Crashed. Overslept alarm, ack!
13:00 - 13:30 = EAT.
13:30 - 15:00 = AP Calc. review.
15:00 - 17:00 = Animate.
17:00 - 18:00 = Rest. Check email. Breathed fresh air. Dinner.
18:00 - 19:00 = Assemblage of the final storyboard.
19:00 - 20:00 = Animate.
20:00 - 21:00 = Update blog.
21:00 - 21:30 = Break.
21:30 - 22:30 = Worked on presentation outline.
22:30 - 24:00 = Watched Angels and Demons while making the storyboard board.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Daily Reflection #22
I think it's safe to say that there is no way my animation is going to incorporate the entire first scene of my story. It's just too long. Thirty seconds have gone by in my film and Mark has merely opened the door to the chapel. So, the animation is definitely going to be a 1-minute scene, just not Act One of my story. I've barreled through 132 more frames as I am absolutely determined to get to that 720 mark. Not much else to say. How about another snapshot?
Something I am playing with is lighting. Since I forwent color for the sake of animation quality, I thought about other options to convey atmosphere. And though limited, I've incorporated a bit of transitional and mood lighting. I think it helps break up some of the monotony of the lineart.
Something I am playing with is lighting. Since I forwent color for the sake of animation quality, I thought about other options to convey atmosphere. And though limited, I've incorporated a bit of transitional and mood lighting. I think it helps break up some of the monotony of the lineart.
Daily Log #22
24:00 - 8:00 = Sleep.
8:00- 8:30 = Breakfast. Getting ready.
9:20 - 10:05 = Senior Chapel.
10:45 - 11:10= Update Ms. Fetters.
11:15 - 12:15 = Calculus.
12:20 - 13:20 = Review.
13:20 - 14:00 = Outdoor barbecue!
14:00 - 15:00 = Senior talent show!
16:00 - 17:00 = Animate.
17:00 - 18:00 = Plan and begin assembling of the final storyboard POSTERboard.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:00 = College woes.
19:00 - 21:00 = Animate.
21:00 - 22:00 = Update blog.
8:00- 8:30 = Breakfast. Getting ready.
9:20 - 10:05 = Senior Chapel.
10:45 - 11:10= Update Ms. Fetters.
11:15 - 12:15 = Calculus.
12:20 - 13:20 = Review.
13:20 - 14:00 = Outdoor barbecue!
14:00 - 15:00 = Senior talent show!
16:00 - 17:00 = Animate.
17:00 - 18:00 = Plan and begin assembling of the final storyboard POSTERboard.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:00 = College woes.
19:00 - 21:00 = Animate.
21:00 - 22:00 = Update blog.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Daily Reflection #21
I cannot believe it is already Wednesday. I feel as if week 1 was only yesterday! Well, anyway. I have been furiously attempting to finish this scene of animation. My goal from the beginning has been at least a minute of animation and I am determined to get it done. How about a picture update? This has been my life for the past billion or so hours.
[caption id="attachment_290" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Mark Opening Door"]
[/caption]
So, as you might be able to see, this is the sequence where Mark is opening the church door I talked about in a previous reflection. It's from his perspective, so it is as if you and he are both opening the door at the same time. There is a hand, but I've hidden that layer so as not to clutter up the door lines. See how they seem to darken as the door comes closer to you? That's onion skinning. The oldest frames are lightest, while the most current frames selected are darkest. This way you can see frame-by-frame how your subjects/objects are moving. It also makes in-betweening much easier. Though, it is still horrendously tedious and a strain to the eyes.
The tedium comes with the timing and pacing. For example, if you look at the door again, you see that there are more lines or more frames when the door is opening as opposed to its half-open end. This is because I want to convey weight to the door. Because I want a realistic door, I have to analyze how a door moves. A heavy door opens slowly in the beginning because you're fighting against full static friction and torque. Heavy doors move quickest halfway, and slow down again as they fully open. To slow down the motion, I add more frames. To speed up, I increase the distance between each frame, use less frames. So, I will have to add more frames to slow down the end of the door opening. Once you have the timing down, you've got the perspective to handle. And them comes the realization that this doesn't look right and you have to scrap about twenty or so frames. The most aggravating part is that such tedium is only rewarded with about 1.7 seconds worth of film. Ready to rip out your own hair? I am.
Worth it, though. If you look closely at the photo, at the numbers in the top right, you can see that I have officially passed the 300 frame mark. YAY. Ugh, it is time for sleep.
[caption id="attachment_290" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Mark Opening Door"]
[/caption]So, as you might be able to see, this is the sequence where Mark is opening the church door I talked about in a previous reflection. It's from his perspective, so it is as if you and he are both opening the door at the same time. There is a hand, but I've hidden that layer so as not to clutter up the door lines. See how they seem to darken as the door comes closer to you? That's onion skinning. The oldest frames are lightest, while the most current frames selected are darkest. This way you can see frame-by-frame how your subjects/objects are moving. It also makes in-betweening much easier. Though, it is still horrendously tedious and a strain to the eyes.
The tedium comes with the timing and pacing. For example, if you look at the door again, you see that there are more lines or more frames when the door is opening as opposed to its half-open end. This is because I want to convey weight to the door. Because I want a realistic door, I have to analyze how a door moves. A heavy door opens slowly in the beginning because you're fighting against full static friction and torque. Heavy doors move quickest halfway, and slow down again as they fully open. To slow down the motion, I add more frames. To speed up, I increase the distance between each frame, use less frames. So, I will have to add more frames to slow down the end of the door opening. Once you have the timing down, you've got the perspective to handle. And them comes the realization that this doesn't look right and you have to scrap about twenty or so frames. The most aggravating part is that such tedium is only rewarded with about 1.7 seconds worth of film. Ready to rip out your own hair? I am.
Worth it, though. If you look closely at the photo, at the numbers in the top right, you can see that I have officially passed the 300 frame mark. YAY. Ugh, it is time for sleep.
Daily Log #21
24:00 - 9:00 = Sleep.
9:00 - 10:00 = Breakfast.
10:00 - 13:00 = Animate.
13:00 - 14:00 = Draw backgrounds.
14:00 - 14:30 = Snack/leg break.
14:50 - 16:00 = Animate.
16:00 - 17:00 = Review.
17:00 - 20:00 = Animate.
20:00 - 21:00 = Break.
21:00 - 23:00 = Animate.
23:00 - 24:00 = Update blog.
9:00 - 10:00 = Breakfast.
10:00 - 13:00 = Animate.
13:00 - 14:00 = Draw backgrounds.
14:00 - 14:30 = Snack/leg break.
14:50 - 16:00 = Animate.
16:00 - 17:00 = Review.
17:00 - 20:00 = Animate.
20:00 - 21:00 = Break.
21:00 - 23:00 = Animate.
23:00 - 24:00 = Update blog.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Daily Reflection #20
I must admit that my life right now is pretty monotonous. I wake, eat, work, study, eat, work, sleep, repeat. Most of the intrigue and mystery has faded from the project at this point. But, it's still fun. Drawing for hours on end is fun. Thinking creatively and pushing my skills to the limit are both fun. Even if my hand is sore from it all. Something about the way your wrist moves on the tablet just invites cramps. Anyway, I think in this post I will actually reveal my story. I think I've maintained enough suspense.
The air was thick with the cloying scent of white lilies and white roses. The eight-by-twelve-photo of himself framed and drowning in white petals stared back at him. It was an old photo, from two years ago, before he’d given up on smiling. Before he’d grown tired of looking exactly like him.
Ridiculous. For seventeen years, no one could tell him apart from his brother. And now that their faces were different, the casket was closed. No one wanted to look at his brother’s mangled face. Mark wanted to scream.
Shifting his gaze around the room, the silence weighed heavily on all the stiff black shoulders of the people in the pews.
“It’s the younger child, but they looked so much alike. Can you imagine?”
“The poor woman…”
Arrogant pricks. Turning away from the women and the men standing behind them crossing and uncrossing their arms, his eyes locked with one of his brother’s friends Sally. Her blue eyes were dark and focused on him. He shifted, the collared shirt suddenly too tight around his neck. Sally was the only one of Sam’s friends with any sort of intelligence.
He didn’t dare challenge those eyes; instead, tracing the curved outline of her pink lips; her pale skin, her dress. Black like all the rest, but it looked so different on her. Warm and inviting. The seams kissed across the snug fabric, which fluttered at the hem, floating on delicate ankles. Mark’s face grew hot.
Suddenly, her pale legs were moving, stalking towards him. Her glare hadn’t faltered. He swallowed. She knew. She knew. She knew. It was all over. God, he was so stupid! Of course he wouldn’t get away with this. Fuck. His heart stuttered in his ears, the hammering beats growing louder and faster with each click of her heels.
But Sally didn’t say anything to him as she swept past him with her parents towards the pews. Mark watched her go, swallowing dryly. The pounding in his chest eased to faint tremors. Letting out a small breath, his knees wobbled as he steadied himself against the table behind him.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” said a voice to the right. It was a tall woman clasping hands with his mother. His mother’s tear-stained face tightened before she squeaked through pursed lips a frail thank you. His father didn’t say anything, only jutted his square chin once.
Mark looked away, his brows knit together, only to see Sam’s best friend Derek, who pressed his lips into the smallest of smiles. Mark nodded back even though he didn’t want to.
“Hey, man. You doing okay?” Derek said, shoving his hands further into his pants pockets. From the hunch in his shoulders to the worried crease in his forehead, he was the perfect concerned friend while still maintaining the ridiculous “cool” factor the girls at school jumped through hoops for. Would Sam be like this if he were here?
Mark nodded again. His neck was starting to ache from the acquired habit.
Standing silent for a moment, Derek sighed. He reached out and held Mark’s forearm in a grip just tight enough to rumple his black suit. “Seriously...”
Mark looked down, letting his bangs cover his eyes, the same way Sam used to. A cold tightness coiled around his gut. Images of grass and glaring lights spun around him. Cheering, laughter, his parents, Derek, and Sam… The grips around his arm seared into him, nauseating. Biting down on his lip, he managed to mumble out a “yeah” and Derek let go of him. Derek’s shoes stood there for a moment before shuffling away. Some of the leaden pressure eased.
More of his brother’s friends, people Mark had only ever watched from afar, passed by; most of them held his hands and all of them said words that he didn’t want to hear. They didn’t know anything about him. Idiots. Every single one of them.
“Son, “ his father said, his heavy hand saddling his shoulder. “It’s time.”
Mark ignored how his stomach curdled at the words and controlled the urge to shake off the foreign feel of his father’s callused fingers. He nodded mutely, in perfect imitation of the man. He followed him down the aisle to the front of the room where the pollen was the thickest. It formed an invisible shroud around the long wooden box, as if the saccharine perfume could hide the fact that he was dead.
“We are gathered here today, in remembrance of someone dear to our hearts.”
Mark fidgeted in his seat, swallowing the itch caught in his throat.
“He was a loving brother. A bright student with such promise. His talent in theater was truly unique from his brother…”
Biting back a laugh, Mark hid from his father’s eyes under his bangs. Sam would laugh too, he was sure. He was, after all, good for nothing. What a joke. No one knew anything about the body in that casket.
Where was he getting these lines? Mark tuned out what the fraud was saying. He didn’t believe in God; not anymore. Yet, as they bowed their heads, he closed his eyes and prayed that no one would ever open that casket again.
All too soon, they were standing up and he was helping his father and other men he didn’t know carry the coffin out into the sunshine. The varnished wood reflected his face and Mark’s stomach twisted; bile stung the back of his throat. He wanted to let go and run away, drop the handle and forget this terrible nightmare.
He tightened his grip and didn’t look down again. It was too late for that. This is what he wanted, wasn’t it? What he’d chosen three days ago.
The stand erupted into cheers, the rickety metallic benches thrumming and shaking under the crowd. The sweat-slicked skin under neon jerseys glowed under the blinding lights of the stadium. Victory. The brutes slammed into each other in celebration, their limbs flailing to the crowd who answered back in ear-splitting volume.
Mark glanced at his watch for the fifth time that night. Ten thirty-four. Three hours of his life wasted. Mom always forced him to come. It wasn't fair. It’s not like she forced Sam to come to any of his plays.
“We won! We won!”
Sam was passed between jostling bodies that whooped and clapped, his face grinning as laughter echoed throughout the team. He nodded his head to someone else in the garish red uniform, before he turned, his eyes scanning the crowd.
“Mom!” Sam shouted, jogging towards them. Mom beamed, wrapping her arms around his sweaty glory. “Don’t forget I’m going to Derek’s.”
She nodded, dabbing at his face with a small hand towel.
Derek pushed it out of his face. “Mom!”
“Be back by curfew, “ Dad said, his palm patting Sam’s shoulder before squeezing once and letting go.
Sam grinned and nodded. His eyes met Mark’s for a second before he grabbed the towel out of Mom’s hand and ran the terry cloth through his dripping hair.
It was disgusting. Mark shrugged into his coat. It was freezing and he hadn’t just run back and forth across a field chasing an abused ball for half the night. Sam started to blather on about the enlightening maneuver he’d made ten minutes ago. Groan.
Sam paused mid-sentence, staring him straight in the eye. “Well, I should get going.”
Dad nodded, reaching out to take the soiled towel from his brother. Mark looked away only to see his Mom watching him. His lips thinned.
“Sam,” Mom said slowly, eyes never leaving him. “Couldn’t you take Mark with you?”
“What?” Sam’s eyes swerved towards him and narrowed. “Why?”
“What?” Mark repeated, for once not caring the he agreed with his brother.
“Just this once. Please?” she said, her hand reaching out to brush the damp bangs out of Sam’s face.
Sam lurched back, scowling. He looked at him once, then Mom, then back at him. His eyes darted to his father, who stayed silent. His mouth opened, then closed.
“Fine.”
“God, stop following me!” Sam shouted. He twisted around, swaying in small circles. Lumbering forward, the reek of alcohol seared into Mark’s sense. Mark’s jaw clenched as a finger jabbed into his chest. "Humiliating."
“We live in the same house, genius.” Mark pushed past his brother, his shoulder knocking him to the side with his arms flailing. He shook his head. Idiot.
“‘m so tired of you!” Sam shrieked, stumbling after him and grabbing his shirt. “Hey, ‘m talking to you!”
“Just shut up!” Mark snapped, twisting out of his brother’s drunken grip and walking faster.
Suddenly shoved forward, his knees smacked the sidewalk. Concrete breaking skin. “Fuck! Sam!” He stood shakily, cursing again as his knees buckled.
Sam laughed, his guffaws echoing through the empty street.
Mark ground his teeth together, shoulders clenching. “You’re going to regret that.”
“Yeah,” Sam gasped, “what are you going to do?” He crossed his arms and snickered. “You can’t do shit!”
“Shut up!” Mark dug his fingernails deeper into his raw palms. “Just, shut it!”
“Everybody thinks so,” Sam drawled, “Mom, Dad. They just don’t say anything.”
Mark’s jaw ached. Ignore him. He’s drunk. Just walk away.
“You know it too! What they say…”
“I swear-“
Sam snorted. “What? What are you going to do, Mark? You,” he sang. “The other twin. The disappointment. The freak. Freeeeak." Sam squinted, scratching his chin like the dumb, drunken ape he was. "Who’s Mark? Oh, you know, he's that theater fa-“
Mark’s fist cracked against Sam’s cheek hard enough to send him staggering into the street. Wincing at the sting in his knuckles, he cradled his throbbing fingers in his other hand. Christ, that hurt! Mark froze. He just hit Sam.
Sam roared, seven years of soccer charging into him. They crashed into the asphalt, Mark’s knees and shoulders screaming from the impact. He couldn't see. Hurt too much. He threw out a fist, relishing in Sam’s curse. It was short lived as his brother’s fist slammed into his ribs. Soundless shrieks with each pound, no air. Pain.
“Piece of... Get. Your own. Life!”
Mark whimpered, the pain from each punch wrapping around his chest and lighting on fire. Pushing desperately, his skin scraped against the street as he scrambled onto his knees. Gasping. Hurt too much to stand.
"Mark, Mark," Sam sang, breathless. He stilled, his breath evening out quickly; he looked almost normal aside from the drunken sway. His lopsided grin and eyes froze Mark to the spot. "Bet Sally thinks you're a fag too."
“I hate you!” Mark screeched. Eyes stinging from sweat. Spit dribbled down his chin. Blood down his legs. Sam was slow. Mark rushed forward, slamming his foot into Sam’s side. Hard. The impact shattered up his shin.
Sam grunted, falling down on to the street. Mark snorted.
“Yeah, you drunk idiot. I told you you’d regret it.” Groaning, Mark took two steps forward and buckled beside his brother, two pinpricks of light blinding him before black.
The car. God. He was right next to him. His stomach twisted again. He couldn’t do this. God, he just couldn’t.
They lowered him into the earth, the gaping hole in the ground filling in shovel by shovel. Everyone watched. As slowly, methodically, Sam was erased. No one but him could know.
Mark wanted to laugh; instead, some strangled sound leaked out from his throat. His mother’s arm wrapped around him. Sam…
People were starting to leave. All that was left was a patch of dirt and a headstone. He read the false words over and over again, taking in every etching in the rock, waiting for the truth to reveal itself.
He was crying now. The name in front of him started to blur, but it didn’t change. It shouldn’t be his name!
He coughed wetly, mucus, tears, and saliva choking him. His mom was rubbing small circles into his shoulder blades. The friction was too hot to ignore. It burned into his back, branding him. He could feel his father’s gaze. Heavy and unfamiliar. Loving… He was going to vomit.
“Come on, let’s go home,” his father said, his arm shuffling his mother forward. “Let’s go, Sam.”
Mark nodded and followed his dad and his mom to the car. He didn’t look back.
So, that's my short story. It is, in and of itself, still a work in progress, (every draft and you get close and closer to seeing David!), but I've storyboarded this version of my baby and am animating the first scene of it. Hope you enjoyed.
Twins
by Jennifer Choi
The air was thick with the cloying scent of white lilies and white roses. The eight-by-twelve-photo of himself framed and drowning in white petals stared back at him. It was an old photo, from two years ago, before he’d given up on smiling. Before he’d grown tired of looking exactly like him.
Ridiculous. For seventeen years, no one could tell him apart from his brother. And now that their faces were different, the casket was closed. No one wanted to look at his brother’s mangled face. Mark wanted to scream.
Shifting his gaze around the room, the silence weighed heavily on all the stiff black shoulders of the people in the pews.
“It’s the younger child, but they looked so much alike. Can you imagine?”
“The poor woman…”
Arrogant pricks. Turning away from the women and the men standing behind them crossing and uncrossing their arms, his eyes locked with one of his brother’s friends Sally. Her blue eyes were dark and focused on him. He shifted, the collared shirt suddenly too tight around his neck. Sally was the only one of Sam’s friends with any sort of intelligence.
He didn’t dare challenge those eyes; instead, tracing the curved outline of her pink lips; her pale skin, her dress. Black like all the rest, but it looked so different on her. Warm and inviting. The seams kissed across the snug fabric, which fluttered at the hem, floating on delicate ankles. Mark’s face grew hot.
Suddenly, her pale legs were moving, stalking towards him. Her glare hadn’t faltered. He swallowed. She knew. She knew. She knew. It was all over. God, he was so stupid! Of course he wouldn’t get away with this. Fuck. His heart stuttered in his ears, the hammering beats growing louder and faster with each click of her heels.
But Sally didn’t say anything to him as she swept past him with her parents towards the pews. Mark watched her go, swallowing dryly. The pounding in his chest eased to faint tremors. Letting out a small breath, his knees wobbled as he steadied himself against the table behind him.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” said a voice to the right. It was a tall woman clasping hands with his mother. His mother’s tear-stained face tightened before she squeaked through pursed lips a frail thank you. His father didn’t say anything, only jutted his square chin once.
Mark looked away, his brows knit together, only to see Sam’s best friend Derek, who pressed his lips into the smallest of smiles. Mark nodded back even though he didn’t want to.
“Hey, man. You doing okay?” Derek said, shoving his hands further into his pants pockets. From the hunch in his shoulders to the worried crease in his forehead, he was the perfect concerned friend while still maintaining the ridiculous “cool” factor the girls at school jumped through hoops for. Would Sam be like this if he were here?
Mark nodded again. His neck was starting to ache from the acquired habit.
Standing silent for a moment, Derek sighed. He reached out and held Mark’s forearm in a grip just tight enough to rumple his black suit. “Seriously...”
Mark looked down, letting his bangs cover his eyes, the same way Sam used to. A cold tightness coiled around his gut. Images of grass and glaring lights spun around him. Cheering, laughter, his parents, Derek, and Sam… The grips around his arm seared into him, nauseating. Biting down on his lip, he managed to mumble out a “yeah” and Derek let go of him. Derek’s shoes stood there for a moment before shuffling away. Some of the leaden pressure eased.
More of his brother’s friends, people Mark had only ever watched from afar, passed by; most of them held his hands and all of them said words that he didn’t want to hear. They didn’t know anything about him. Idiots. Every single one of them.
“Son, “ his father said, his heavy hand saddling his shoulder. “It’s time.”
Mark ignored how his stomach curdled at the words and controlled the urge to shake off the foreign feel of his father’s callused fingers. He nodded mutely, in perfect imitation of the man. He followed him down the aisle to the front of the room where the pollen was the thickest. It formed an invisible shroud around the long wooden box, as if the saccharine perfume could hide the fact that he was dead.
“We are gathered here today, in remembrance of someone dear to our hearts.”
Mark fidgeted in his seat, swallowing the itch caught in his throat.
“He was a loving brother. A bright student with such promise. His talent in theater was truly unique from his brother…”
Biting back a laugh, Mark hid from his father’s eyes under his bangs. Sam would laugh too, he was sure. He was, after all, good for nothing. What a joke. No one knew anything about the body in that casket.
Where was he getting these lines? Mark tuned out what the fraud was saying. He didn’t believe in God; not anymore. Yet, as they bowed their heads, he closed his eyes and prayed that no one would ever open that casket again.
All too soon, they were standing up and he was helping his father and other men he didn’t know carry the coffin out into the sunshine. The varnished wood reflected his face and Mark’s stomach twisted; bile stung the back of his throat. He wanted to let go and run away, drop the handle and forget this terrible nightmare.
He tightened his grip and didn’t look down again. It was too late for that. This is what he wanted, wasn’t it? What he’d chosen three days ago.
*
The stand erupted into cheers, the rickety metallic benches thrumming and shaking under the crowd. The sweat-slicked skin under neon jerseys glowed under the blinding lights of the stadium. Victory. The brutes slammed into each other in celebration, their limbs flailing to the crowd who answered back in ear-splitting volume.
Mark glanced at his watch for the fifth time that night. Ten thirty-four. Three hours of his life wasted. Mom always forced him to come. It wasn't fair. It’s not like she forced Sam to come to any of his plays.
“We won! We won!”
Sam was passed between jostling bodies that whooped and clapped, his face grinning as laughter echoed throughout the team. He nodded his head to someone else in the garish red uniform, before he turned, his eyes scanning the crowd.
“Mom!” Sam shouted, jogging towards them. Mom beamed, wrapping her arms around his sweaty glory. “Don’t forget I’m going to Derek’s.”
She nodded, dabbing at his face with a small hand towel.
Derek pushed it out of his face. “Mom!”
“Be back by curfew, “ Dad said, his palm patting Sam’s shoulder before squeezing once and letting go.
Sam grinned and nodded. His eyes met Mark’s for a second before he grabbed the towel out of Mom’s hand and ran the terry cloth through his dripping hair.
It was disgusting. Mark shrugged into his coat. It was freezing and he hadn’t just run back and forth across a field chasing an abused ball for half the night. Sam started to blather on about the enlightening maneuver he’d made ten minutes ago. Groan.
Sam paused mid-sentence, staring him straight in the eye. “Well, I should get going.”
Dad nodded, reaching out to take the soiled towel from his brother. Mark looked away only to see his Mom watching him. His lips thinned.
“Sam,” Mom said slowly, eyes never leaving him. “Couldn’t you take Mark with you?”
“What?” Sam’s eyes swerved towards him and narrowed. “Why?”
“What?” Mark repeated, for once not caring the he agreed with his brother.
“Just this once. Please?” she said, her hand reaching out to brush the damp bangs out of Sam’s face.
Sam lurched back, scowling. He looked at him once, then Mom, then back at him. His eyes darted to his father, who stayed silent. His mouth opened, then closed.
“Fine.”
*
“God, stop following me!” Sam shouted. He twisted around, swaying in small circles. Lumbering forward, the reek of alcohol seared into Mark’s sense. Mark’s jaw clenched as a finger jabbed into his chest. "Humiliating."
“We live in the same house, genius.” Mark pushed past his brother, his shoulder knocking him to the side with his arms flailing. He shook his head. Idiot.
“‘m so tired of you!” Sam shrieked, stumbling after him and grabbing his shirt. “Hey, ‘m talking to you!”
“Just shut up!” Mark snapped, twisting out of his brother’s drunken grip and walking faster.
Suddenly shoved forward, his knees smacked the sidewalk. Concrete breaking skin. “Fuck! Sam!” He stood shakily, cursing again as his knees buckled.
Sam laughed, his guffaws echoing through the empty street.
Mark ground his teeth together, shoulders clenching. “You’re going to regret that.”
“Yeah,” Sam gasped, “what are you going to do?” He crossed his arms and snickered. “You can’t do shit!”
“Shut up!” Mark dug his fingernails deeper into his raw palms. “Just, shut it!”
“Everybody thinks so,” Sam drawled, “Mom, Dad. They just don’t say anything.”
Mark’s jaw ached. Ignore him. He’s drunk. Just walk away.
“You know it too! What they say…”
“I swear-“
Sam snorted. “What? What are you going to do, Mark? You,” he sang. “The other twin. The disappointment. The freak. Freeeeak." Sam squinted, scratching his chin like the dumb, drunken ape he was. "Who’s Mark? Oh, you know, he's that theater fa-“
Mark’s fist cracked against Sam’s cheek hard enough to send him staggering into the street. Wincing at the sting in his knuckles, he cradled his throbbing fingers in his other hand. Christ, that hurt! Mark froze. He just hit Sam.
Sam roared, seven years of soccer charging into him. They crashed into the asphalt, Mark’s knees and shoulders screaming from the impact. He couldn't see. Hurt too much. He threw out a fist, relishing in Sam’s curse. It was short lived as his brother’s fist slammed into his ribs. Soundless shrieks with each pound, no air. Pain.
“Piece of... Get. Your own. Life!”
Mark whimpered, the pain from each punch wrapping around his chest and lighting on fire. Pushing desperately, his skin scraped against the street as he scrambled onto his knees. Gasping. Hurt too much to stand.
"Mark, Mark," Sam sang, breathless. He stilled, his breath evening out quickly; he looked almost normal aside from the drunken sway. His lopsided grin and eyes froze Mark to the spot. "Bet Sally thinks you're a fag too."
“I hate you!” Mark screeched. Eyes stinging from sweat. Spit dribbled down his chin. Blood down his legs. Sam was slow. Mark rushed forward, slamming his foot into Sam’s side. Hard. The impact shattered up his shin.
Sam grunted, falling down on to the street. Mark snorted.
“Yeah, you drunk idiot. I told you you’d regret it.” Groaning, Mark took two steps forward and buckled beside his brother, two pinpricks of light blinding him before black.
*
The car. God. He was right next to him. His stomach twisted again. He couldn’t do this. God, he just couldn’t.
They lowered him into the earth, the gaping hole in the ground filling in shovel by shovel. Everyone watched. As slowly, methodically, Sam was erased. No one but him could know.
Mark wanted to laugh; instead, some strangled sound leaked out from his throat. His mother’s arm wrapped around him. Sam…
People were starting to leave. All that was left was a patch of dirt and a headstone. He read the false words over and over again, taking in every etching in the rock, waiting for the truth to reveal itself.
He was crying now. The name in front of him started to blur, but it didn’t change. It shouldn’t be his name!
He coughed wetly, mucus, tears, and saliva choking him. His mom was rubbing small circles into his shoulder blades. The friction was too hot to ignore. It burned into his back, branding him. He could feel his father’s gaze. Heavy and unfamiliar. Loving… He was going to vomit.
“Come on, let’s go home,” his father said, his arm shuffling his mother forward. “Let’s go, Sam.”
Mark nodded and followed his dad and his mom to the car. He didn’t look back.
*
So, that's my short story. It is, in and of itself, still a work in progress, (every draft and you get close and closer to seeing David!), but I've storyboarded this version of my baby and am animating the first scene of it. Hope you enjoyed.
Daily Log #20
24:00 - 8:00 = Sleep.
8:30 - 9:00 = Breakfast.
9:00 - 10:00 = Animate.
10:00 - 11:00 = Review.
12:05 - 13:10 = AP Calculus.
13:15 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:00 = Violin lesson.
15:30 - 17:30 = Storyboard/Animate.
18:00 - 19:00 = Dinner. Break.
19:00 - 21:00 = Animate.
21:00 - 21:45 = Review.
22:00 - 23:00 = Update blog.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
8:30 - 9:00 = Breakfast.
9:00 - 10:00 = Animate.
10:00 - 11:00 = Review.
12:05 - 13:10 = AP Calculus.
13:15 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:00 = Violin lesson.
15:30 - 17:30 = Storyboard/Animate.
18:00 - 19:00 = Dinner. Break.
19:00 - 21:00 = Animate.
21:00 - 21:45 = Review.
22:00 - 23:00 = Update blog.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Daily Reflection #19
I continue to animate. I've officially passed the 100 frame mark and it feels scary good. Gosh, I'm thinking about reducing the 15 frames per second animation down to 12. The frames I'm doing now are still major keyframes, so I won't have to change anything. This just means I won't have to draw almost half as many inbetweens. Movements will be somewhat less smooth, but still darn good. Most cartoons today don't even use 15 fps, so I'm not chopping off an arm here. I just need to let go, go with the flow, and ARGH, yes, I feel every shortcut I am taking in the chest. And it wounds. But, really, this is all part of the process. So, I'm sucking it up and working. No time for regrets or kicking myself. Back to work!
Daily Log #19
24:00 - 10:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 11:00 = Brunch.
11:00 - 12:00 = AP Calc. review.
12:00 - 15:00 = Animation.
15:00 - 16:00 = Break.
16:00 - 19:00 = Animation.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
19:30 - 21:00 = AP Physics review.
21:00 - 22:00 = Update blog.
22:00 - 23:00 = Animation.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 11:00 = Brunch.
11:00 - 12:00 = AP Calc. review.
12:00 - 15:00 = Animation.
15:00 - 16:00 = Break.
16:00 - 19:00 = Animation.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
19:30 - 21:00 = AP Physics review.
21:00 - 22:00 = Update blog.
22:00 - 23:00 = Animation.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Daily Reflection #18
Hm, the more and more I slave away at these keyframes, I wonder if color is something I truly need to incorporate. I have about sixty frames done now and I really don't think coloring to the depth I originally planned is an option. From the beginning, I knew tackling storyboarding and animating would be an enormous challenge and with my week left, I really need to prioritize and be realistic. Getting this lineart animation done is priority and I'm struggling with that alone. Some sacrifice is in order. I plan on focusing on really working the animation. Making it as smooth and awesome as possible and leave color as something for the future. Ultimately, I think this project is turning out to be a model of creation. A way to show the creative process of taking a written story into a visual form. The focus is not about the final product, though that is a large part, but the process from birth, to translation, to editing, refining, transference, and back to editing and refining. I think my theme for the project has evolved from just doing to really showing. And honestly, I think more people will be engaged and intrigued by this process, learning how something starts and ends than just having a short film shoved in front of their eyes.
And the more I think about it, the more I like the fact that this project transcends this month. Even after next Tuesday, when I present to committee (which I am already sweating about), this project continues with me. And that's kind of awesome, in my opinion. It's just so un-highschool. Here you write a paper, turn it in, and let it fade away in some writing folder no one really keeps track of. Take a test and forget everything you've ever crammed. This animation project is something I'll be working on throughout the summer and possibly my collegeate life. And I think that's what this project is all about. It really comes down to doing something you love; and really, what you love doesn't fit into a month long program. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing being allowed this opportunity to show our passions to our fellow classmates, but I think it stretches beyond that. In the end, I'm not doing this for a grade or an easy ticket to graduation. I'm just sharing what I've been doing all my life and hoping that people find some enjoyment from the fruits of my labor.
And the more I think about it, the more I like the fact that this project transcends this month. Even after next Tuesday, when I present to committee (which I am already sweating about), this project continues with me. And that's kind of awesome, in my opinion. It's just so un-highschool. Here you write a paper, turn it in, and let it fade away in some writing folder no one really keeps track of. Take a test and forget everything you've ever crammed. This animation project is something I'll be working on throughout the summer and possibly my collegeate life. And I think that's what this project is all about. It really comes down to doing something you love; and really, what you love doesn't fit into a month long program. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing being allowed this opportunity to show our passions to our fellow classmates, but I think it stretches beyond that. In the end, I'm not doing this for a grade or an easy ticket to graduation. I'm just sharing what I've been doing all my life and hoping that people find some enjoyment from the fruits of my labor.
Daily Log #18
24:00 - 9:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 14:00 = Church.
15:00 - 16:30 = Piano recital.
17:00 - 18:00 = AP review.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
19:00 - 20:00 = Relaxation time.
20:00 - 22:00 = Animating.
22:00 - 23:00 = AP review.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 14:00 = Church.
15:00 - 16:30 = Piano recital.
17:00 - 18:00 = AP review.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
19:00 - 20:00 = Relaxation time.
20:00 - 22:00 = Animating.
22:00 - 23:00 = AP review.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Daily Reflection #17
More keyframing today. Endless, endless keyframing. I managed to draw forty-two keyframes today. I can't believe I managed to eke out forty-two drawings. I am definitely getting quicker about each individual drawing. Which isn't surprising, since I'm spending less time cleaning up my lines and getting it drawn the first time around. So, I haven't really elaborated on what I am actually drawing, and it's really not that much of a mystery. I am taking each panel of my final storyboard, scanning it into the computer, and "tracing" each one. From those keyframes, I draw the inbetween keyframes. After I get these major keyframes done, I will onion skin and fill in more and more inbetweens till the space in between each keyframe becomes a smooth transition. So actually, with the more keyframes I have, the faster production rate gets, since each frame becomes a matter of a little tweak to the previous frame. Still, I must remain diligent. This is beyond tedious. Many more frames to go!
Daily Log #17
24:00 – 2:00 = Sleep.
2:00 – 5:00 = Draw backgrounds for storyboard. Keyframing animation.
5:00 – 10:00 = Sleep.
10:00 – 11:00 = Brunch.
11:00 – 12:00 = AP Gov. review.
12:00 – 14:00 = Free time. Internet!
14:00 – 15:00 = AP Physics review.
15:00 – 17:00 = Storyboard.
17:00 – 19:00 = Free draw.
19:00 – 20:00 = EAT.
20:00 – 21:00 = Reading.
21:30 – 23:00 = Storyboard. Animate.
23:00 – 24:00 = Daily Log. Daily Reflection.
2:00 – 5:00 = Draw backgrounds for storyboard. Keyframing animation.
5:00 – 10:00 = Sleep.
10:00 – 11:00 = Brunch.
11:00 – 12:00 = AP Gov. review.
12:00 – 14:00 = Free time. Internet!
14:00 – 15:00 = AP Physics review.
15:00 – 17:00 = Storyboard.
17:00 – 19:00 = Free draw.
19:00 – 20:00 = EAT.
20:00 – 21:00 = Reading.
21:30 – 23:00 = Storyboard. Animate.
23:00 – 24:00 = Daily Log. Daily Reflection.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Daily Reflection #16
I despise airports. Why? Because I despise disease, large crowds, obnoxious noise, chaos, wasting time, and stress, all of which seem to be in inordinate amounts at the airport whichever and wherever you go. As I tell everyone, a little part of my introverted soul dies with each trip. But, more relevantly, I didn't get much time to work on my animation due to the multiple deaths of my soul. So in this blog entry, I will elaborate upon what is onion-skinning. No, it is not a cooking method, though maybe it is; who knows? Onion-skinning is basically a flash animation technique where you can see multiple selected frames at once. This way, you can see the relationship between the the figure over the course of say four frames and see the sequence of motion. To smoothen out the action of the figure, you draw another frame between say frames 1 and 2, 2 and 3, and 3 and 4. Resulting in 7 frames for the action from the previous 4, which smoothes out the motion. Apparently, this is how the motion blurs are done in The Matrix when the agents and Neo are dodging bullets. Sweet. Didn't know that.
Daily Log #16
24:00 - 4:00 = Sleep.
4:00 - 7:00 = Airport awfulness.
8:00 - 16:30 = Barnard college visit.
17:00 - 20:00 = Flight to Boston. Want traversable wormholes.
20:00 - 22:00 = Reading.
22:30 - 8:00 = Sleep.
9:00 - 14:00 = Wellesley college visit.
15:00 - 18:30 = Airport killing my soul.
19:00 - 21:00 = Sleep.
21:00 - 22:00 = Daily log.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
4:00 - 7:00 = Airport awfulness.
8:00 - 16:30 = Barnard college visit.
17:00 - 20:00 = Flight to Boston. Want traversable wormholes.
20:00 - 22:00 = Reading.
22:30 - 8:00 = Sleep.
9:00 - 14:00 = Wellesley college visit.
15:00 - 18:30 = Airport killing my soul.
19:00 - 21:00 = Sleep.
21:00 - 22:00 = Daily log.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Daily Reflection #14 - 15
Spent yesterday in Minnesota at Carleton, so no progress there. Spent much of today playing catch-up. Drew twenty-three more keyframes. When my eyes start to somewhat ache from staring at the screen, I return to coloring the storyboard. It's more tedious than I expected, drawing these keyframes. I'm just barreling through it as best as I can. I'm actually trying to get essential keyframes done right now and not worrying about the smoothening out of the transitional movements. Which will be even more tedious, I know. Urgh. But, perseverance and stubbornness are all I can rely on right now. Oh, and eye drops. Sigh. I have two more college visits, I am stressed about time. Oh and my future. May first is approaching too quickly! I need sleep.
Daily Log #15
24:00 - 10:00 = Sleep.
10:30 - 11:30 = Drew more keyframes.
12:05 - 13:10 = Calculus.
13:10 - 13:30 = Updated Ms. Fetters with project details.
13:30 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:00 = Review for AP Calc. quiz.
15:15 - 16:00 = Calc. quiz!
16:00 - 17:00 = Began coloring some of the final storyboard.
17:00 - 18:00 = Dinner and break.
18:00 - 20:00 = More animation work.
20:00 - 20:30 = AP Review.
21:00 - 23:00 = Update blog.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
10:30 - 11:30 = Drew more keyframes.
12:05 - 13:10 = Calculus.
13:10 - 13:30 = Updated Ms. Fetters with project details.
13:30 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:00 = Review for AP Calc. quiz.
15:15 - 16:00 = Calc. quiz!
16:00 - 17:00 = Began coloring some of the final storyboard.
17:00 - 18:00 = Dinner and break.
18:00 - 20:00 = More animation work.
20:00 - 20:30 = AP Review.
21:00 - 23:00 = Update blog.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Daily Log #14
24:00 - 4:00 = Sleep.
4:00 - 7:00 = Airport hell.
7:30 - 10:30 = Sleep.
11:00 - 16:00 = Carleton College visit.
17:15 - 19:00 = AP review.
21:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
4:00 - 7:00 = Airport hell.
7:30 - 10:30 = Sleep.
11:00 - 16:00 = Carleton College visit.
17:15 - 19:00 = AP review.
21:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Daily Reflection #13
Ah, so today I officially began the dun dun dun... animation. SHRIEK. It was rather frightening, well daunting to be exact, making that first stroke. Albeit, I was tracing over my drawing, but still. Daunting. I'm actually not starting with the very first panel of the storyboard, which is Mark walking, but the sixth, which is Mark opening the door. Riveting, I know.
You see, in the process of flash animation, it is essential to draw keyframes. Keyframes are the defining points of an action that the viewer sees. In between keyframes, there are "inbetweens" that convey the actual motion. Wikiedia sums it up perfectly. "A key frame in animation and filmmaking is a drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. They are called "frames" because their position in time is measured in frames on a strip of film. A sequence of keyframes defines which movement the spectator will see, whereas the position of the keyframes on the film, video or animation defines the timing of the movement. Because only two or three keyframes over the span of a second do not create the illusion of movement, the remaining frames are filled with inbetweens."
In my animation, however, just about every frame will be a keyframe. This means that each frame will be unique. No inbetween short cuts, unless it is say, a background transition. This technique is called Keyframing, for obvious reasons, and allows for more control in respect to animation quality. Keyframing is essentially the same as traditional animation, only with the assistance of a computer program to store all the pages for you. For more information, read Keyframing.
I started with Mark opening the door, because in the first five panels, everything is reliant upon camera motion. So, that is a simple matter of drawing the background and tweening. The long hours of onion-skinning for each action is what worries me, which I will do and talk about later. I drew thirteen keyframes today, only many, many more to go.
You see, in the process of flash animation, it is essential to draw keyframes. Keyframes are the defining points of an action that the viewer sees. In between keyframes, there are "inbetweens" that convey the actual motion. Wikiedia sums it up perfectly. "A key frame in animation and filmmaking is a drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. They are called "frames" because their position in time is measured in frames on a strip of film. A sequence of keyframes defines which movement the spectator will see, whereas the position of the keyframes on the film, video or animation defines the timing of the movement. Because only two or three keyframes over the span of a second do not create the illusion of movement, the remaining frames are filled with inbetweens."
In my animation, however, just about every frame will be a keyframe. This means that each frame will be unique. No inbetween short cuts, unless it is say, a background transition. This technique is called Keyframing, for obvious reasons, and allows for more control in respect to animation quality. Keyframing is essentially the same as traditional animation, only with the assistance of a computer program to store all the pages for you. For more information, read Keyframing.
I started with Mark opening the door, because in the first five panels, everything is reliant upon camera motion. So, that is a simple matter of drawing the background and tweening. The long hours of onion-skinning for each action is what worries me, which I will do and talk about later. I drew thirteen keyframes today, only many, many more to go.
Daily Log #13
24:00 - 10:00 = Sleep.
10:55 - 12:00 = Calculus.
12:00 - 13:00 = Piano lesson.
13:00 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:30 - 16:00 = Nap.
16:00 - 18:00 = Started keyframing animation.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:30 = AP review.
19:30 - 21:00 = Break.
21:00 - 22:00 = Update Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
22:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
10:55 - 12:00 = Calculus.
12:00 - 13:00 = Piano lesson.
13:00 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:30 - 16:00 = Nap.
16:00 - 18:00 = Started keyframing animation.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:30 = AP review.
19:30 - 21:00 = Break.
21:00 - 22:00 = Update Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
22:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Daily Reflection #12
You know, you never really realize how short your weekends are till you start breaking them down hour by hour. Drawing like a madman, I only managed to get through the first and third scene of the final storyboard lineart. Originally, I had planned to ink these, but the more I think about it, this would be an unnecessary and time-consuming endeavor. After all, I am going to have to redraw all of it onto Flash anyway, so it really would be rather pointless. Aside from the aesthetics. But looks aren't everything, right? Right? Right. I am still planning on coloring these sketches. If I think of color scheme now, I won't have to agonize as much over it later during the animation process.
It's stressful and aggravating, but I'm learning how to prioritize. I can see my deadline looming near. Gosh, it's already at the halfway mark! AP exams are in two weeks. GAH! I'm also going on college visits on Tuseday, Thursday, and Friday, so pressure is ON. Like a rice-cooker. Ugh. Time for sleep.
It's stressful and aggravating, but I'm learning how to prioritize. I can see my deadline looming near. Gosh, it's already at the halfway mark! AP exams are in two weeks. GAH! I'm also going on college visits on Tuseday, Thursday, and Friday, so pressure is ON. Like a rice-cooker. Ugh. Time for sleep.
Daily Log #12
24:00 - 2:00 = Began final storyboard.
2:00 - 8:00 = Sleep.
9:00 - 10:00 = AP Review.
10:00 - 11:30 = Worked on storyboard.
11:30 - 12:00 = Lunch.
13:00 - 15:00 = Nap.
15:00 - 16:30 = Dinner.
17:30 - 19:00 = Worked on storyboard.
19:00 - 20:00 = Break time.
20:00 - 22:00 = AP Review.
22:00 - 23:00 = Piano practice.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
24:00 - 6:00 = Sleep continued.
6:00 - 8:00 = Halfway finished with lineart of the final storyboard.
8:00 - 9:00 = Breakfast. Exercise.
9:30 - 10:30 = College research for trip.
10:30 - 11:30 = Worked on storyboard.
12:00 - 14:00 = AP review.
14:00 - 16:00 = Free time.
16:00 - 16:30 = Free draw.
17:30 - 18:00 = Dinner.
18:00 - 20:00 = Finished third scene of storyboard lineart.
20:00 - 21:00 = AP Review.
21:30 - 23:00 = Update Daily Log and Reflection.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
2:00 - 8:00 = Sleep.
9:00 - 10:00 = AP Review.
10:00 - 11:30 = Worked on storyboard.
11:30 - 12:00 = Lunch.
13:00 - 15:00 = Nap.
15:00 - 16:30 = Dinner.
17:30 - 19:00 = Worked on storyboard.
19:00 - 20:00 = Break time.
20:00 - 22:00 = AP Review.
22:00 - 23:00 = Piano practice.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
24:00 - 6:00 = Sleep continued.
6:00 - 8:00 = Halfway finished with lineart of the final storyboard.
8:00 - 9:00 = Breakfast. Exercise.
9:30 - 10:30 = College research for trip.
10:30 - 11:30 = Worked on storyboard.
12:00 - 14:00 = AP review.
14:00 - 16:00 = Free time.
16:00 - 16:30 = Free draw.
17:30 - 18:00 = Dinner.
18:00 - 20:00 = Finished third scene of storyboard lineart.
20:00 - 21:00 = AP Review.
21:30 - 23:00 = Update Daily Log and Reflection.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Daily Reflection #11
Finshed. Finished. FINISHED. My storyboard draft is finished. And it feels GREAT. The baby is delivered and I am now staring at its beautiful pages, shuffling them again and again in disbelief. "There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can't explain what happened." Yes, I feel like Schmi right now. Yes, from Star Wars. No, don't mock me. So, yes, the storyboard draft is officially finished. And I feel very accomplished.
Now I can start tackling final draft of the storyboard. Which will be done on 4x6 panels instead of 2x3. I collected all my materials today, the actual board and the papers I will be using. I also refined many of my backgrounds, which will serve as references for the final storyboard and animation. Having them detailed and fleshed out for reference makes it much easier during the actual drawing process, because then you don't have to constantly stop and think," what's in the background again?" You just look and copy. And for the animating itself, it's very useful in terms of
"camera movement." Since much of the film will be from Mark's perspective, a lot of the film's "narration" comes from what Mark is seeing, which not only includes people, but backgrounds. Direction also depends upon the movement of background. If I want to convey Mark looking left, I would have to make the wall he's initially looking at move right. Simple enough, eh?
And now, sleep. I will tackle the rest 'morrow. Thank goodness it's the weekend.
Now I can start tackling final draft of the storyboard. Which will be done on 4x6 panels instead of 2x3. I collected all my materials today, the actual board and the papers I will be using. I also refined many of my backgrounds, which will serve as references for the final storyboard and animation. Having them detailed and fleshed out for reference makes it much easier during the actual drawing process, because then you don't have to constantly stop and think," what's in the background again?" You just look and copy. And for the animating itself, it's very useful in terms of
"camera movement." Since much of the film will be from Mark's perspective, a lot of the film's "narration" comes from what Mark is seeing, which not only includes people, but backgrounds. Direction also depends upon the movement of background. If I want to convey Mark looking left, I would have to make the wall he's initially looking at move right. Simple enough, eh?
And now, sleep. I will tackle the rest 'morrow. Thank goodness it's the weekend.
Daily Log #11
24:00 - 3:00 = Push push push... storyboarding.
3:00 - 10:00 = Crashed.
11:00 - 12:00 = Brunch.
12:00 - 13:00 = FINSHED STORYBOARD DRAFT!!!
13:00 - 14:00 = Celebratory break. Laze about listening to music.
14:00 - 14:30 = Check gmail and facebook incessantly.
15:00 - 16:00 = Storyboard draft cleanup. Get final storyboard materials together.
16:30 - 17:00 = Review for AP Physics. Scream.
17:00 - 18:00 = Free time. Classified.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 20:00 = Background designs.
20:00 - 22:00 = Sleep.
22:30 - 24:00 = Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
3:00 - 10:00 = Crashed.
11:00 - 12:00 = Brunch.
12:00 - 13:00 = FINSHED STORYBOARD DRAFT!!!
13:00 - 14:00 = Celebratory break. Laze about listening to music.
14:00 - 14:30 = Check gmail and facebook incessantly.
15:00 - 16:00 = Storyboard draft cleanup. Get final storyboard materials together.
16:30 - 17:00 = Review for AP Physics. Scream.
17:00 - 18:00 = Free time. Classified.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 20:00 = Background designs.
20:00 - 22:00 = Sleep.
22:30 - 24:00 = Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
Daily Reflection #10
Storyboarding is a test of endurance. I don't care what anyone says; I feel like an athlete eking out that last mile on some horrendous marathon or something. My hand has been cramping and my music playlist is starting to bore me. Every waking moment of my life revolves around finishing this storyboard. Ugh. I have finished the third scene, the fight scene. Not fun. Actually, I take that back. It is fun. I feel like a martial arts coordinator. I get to set up each hit, each camera swivel as Sam and Mark battle for their honor... though, Mark and Sam are brawling more than anything disciplined and awesome. Still, lots of fun. There isn't much else to say. I've been drawing nonstop while pulling resources like Posemaniacs to help me along. There is no doubt that I am getting much practice with my anatomy during this process. I have only one more scene after this one. Push, Jennifer, push!
Hm. That makes me sound like I'm delivering a baby. Not exactly the most pleasant metaphor, but I guess it still works.
Hm. That makes me sound like I'm delivering a baby. Not exactly the most pleasant metaphor, but I guess it still works.
Daily Log #10
4:00 - 5:00 = Storyboarding.
5:00 - 10:00 = Sleep.
12:05 - 13:10 = Calculus.
13:10 - 13:45 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:00 = Violin lesson.
16:00 - 18:00 = Nap.
18:00 - 19:00 = AP Gov.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
19:30 - 22:00 = Storyboarding.
22:00 - 22:30 = Break.
23:00 - 24:00 = Storyboarding.
5:00 - 10:00 = Sleep.
12:05 - 13:10 = Calculus.
13:10 - 13:45 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:00 = Violin lesson.
16:00 - 18:00 = Nap.
18:00 - 19:00 = AP Gov.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
19:30 - 22:00 = Storyboarding.
22:00 - 22:30 = Break.
23:00 - 24:00 = Storyboarding.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Daily Reflection #9
Today was a rough day. Waking with a throbbing headache is indescribably frustrating and inhibiting. Well, that is what I get for staying up late so often, I suppose. Anyway, in the early, black hours of the day, I reworked some of the awkward parts of the second scene. I just didn't like some of the angles of perspective and general sizing of certain people. Since I am trying to convey everything through Mark's eyes, depth and angle is everything. Actually, this music video uses this same technique for the main character's memories. So it makes forth good reference material. (The song's pretty catchy too.)
Later, I met with my advisor Ms. Fetters to update her on my progress. I discussed some of the changes I'd made regarding flashbacks and dialogue. I've decided to incorporate some of the dialogue and inner monologue through animated text, where the text itself will have its own visual weight. Imagine subtitles swirling and fading like smoke in and around you. How cool would that be in real life? Mm.
Today, I also made it a priority to brush up on my tablet skills. Since I will be animating on Adobe Flash, I will have to be proficient in transferring all my hand-drawings onto the program, frame by painstaking frame. So I'd rather not be rusty. Overall, good progress today. The half-way mark is near. So near.
Later, I met with my advisor Ms. Fetters to update her on my progress. I discussed some of the changes I'd made regarding flashbacks and dialogue. I've decided to incorporate some of the dialogue and inner monologue through animated text, where the text itself will have its own visual weight. Imagine subtitles swirling and fading like smoke in and around you. How cool would that be in real life? Mm.
Today, I also made it a priority to brush up on my tablet skills. Since I will be animating on Adobe Flash, I will have to be proficient in transferring all my hand-drawings onto the program, frame by painstaking frame. So I'd rather not be rusty. Overall, good progress today. The half-way mark is near. So near.
Daily Log #9
1:00 - 3:00 = Re-work second scene of the storyboard.
3:30 - 9:00 = Sleep.
10:55 - 12:00 = AP Calc.
12:05 - 13:05 = Meeting with Ms. Fetters.
13:10 - 13:50 = Lunch.
14:30 - 16:00 = Nap.
16:00 - 17:00 = AP Physics review.
17:30 - 18:00 = Dinner.
18:00 -19:00 = Finished marking up third scene of story.
19:00 - 19:45 = AP Law & Gov.
20:00 - 22:00 = Lineart practice.
22:00 - 23:00 = Break. Free time. Classified.
23:00 - 24:00 = Daily Log and Reflection.
3:30 - 9:00 = Sleep.
10:55 - 12:00 = AP Calc.
12:05 - 13:05 = Meeting with Ms. Fetters.
13:10 - 13:50 = Lunch.
14:30 - 16:00 = Nap.
16:00 - 17:00 = AP Physics review.
17:30 - 18:00 = Dinner.
18:00 -19:00 = Finished marking up third scene of story.
19:00 - 19:45 = AP Law & Gov.
20:00 - 22:00 = Lineart practice.
22:00 - 23:00 = Break. Free time. Classified.
23:00 - 24:00 = Daily Log and Reflection.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Daily Reflection #8
Scribble scribble scribble. It's crazy the amount of drawing I've been doing in the last few days. But in an awesome, I could get very used to this life, very fast, kind of way. I have finished the second scene of the storyboard today, but no time to celebrate. I really have to pick up the pace. Or at least, not slow down. Having organized my schedule, I realized that AP Exams are just around the corner; so more and more of my time will have to be dedicated to reviewing and I will have to be even more efficient with my time. I'm not going to lie, I am definitely starting to feel some of the pressure starting. I've still got a long way to go. But, no reason to stress. Stress is a mental roadblock to which I refuse to succumb. I just have to stay focused and diligent. So, back to work!
Daily Log #8
24:00 - 9:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 11:00 = Finshed second scene of the storyboard.
11:00 - 12:00 = Planned out schedule for the rest of the project.
12:00 - 13:00 = Long lunch.
13:00 - 15:00 = Art commissions.
15:00 - 16:00 = Marked up next scene of story for storyboarding.
16:00 - 17:00 = Break. Internet surfing.
17:00 - 18:00 = Study AP Physics.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:30 = Read AP Law & Gov.
20:00 - 22:00 = Update Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
10:00 - 11:00 = Finshed second scene of the storyboard.
11:00 - 12:00 = Planned out schedule for the rest of the project.
12:00 - 13:00 = Long lunch.
13:00 - 15:00 = Art commissions.
15:00 - 16:00 = Marked up next scene of story for storyboarding.
16:00 - 17:00 = Break. Internet surfing.
17:00 - 18:00 = Study AP Physics.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:30 = Read AP Law & Gov.
20:00 - 22:00 = Update Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
Daily Reflection #7
Nothing terribly new to update. I continue to slave away at my storyboard, onto scene two! Considering there are only four scenes total, I am on a steady albeit tight schedule. My plan is to start lineart animation by April 17th so that I have a solid two weeks to animate.
For animating encouragement, I decided to watch The Lion King. God, Disney amazes me. The fluidity of the animation, the colors, and the story itself. Which reminds me, I unearthed this quote on one of my research bouts and I do believe it will shed light on my fascination with animation.
"The goal of motion pictures is not to recreate reality, it's not even to show reality. I want to create a little psychic link between you and my pictures. I want to suck you into the world of the story, suspend your disbelief and make you forget about yourself and your life and just be in the moment of the film.
For animating encouragement, I decided to watch The Lion King. God, Disney amazes me. The fluidity of the animation, the colors, and the story itself. Which reminds me, I unearthed this quote on one of my research bouts and I do believe it will shed light on my fascination with animation.
"The goal of motion pictures is not to recreate reality, it's not even to show reality. I want to create a little psychic link between you and my pictures. I want to suck you into the world of the story, suspend your disbelief and make you forget about yourself and your life and just be in the moment of the film.
By not showing enough visual information, we force the brain into filling in the gaps... it draws you in even more. It's part of how you let go to the point where you can laugh or cry or feel tense or afraid or elated." Source.
Basically, we love movies because they provide us with an escape. A little fantasy or entertainment in between the bustle of our day. Animation just takes the fantasy one step further. Anything can happen in animation, from flying elephants to electric mice that you can battle with. It is... pure imagination. Limitless. And, as the quote says, it opens your mind to the possibilities. Out from al the boxes reality places around our bodies and minds with concepts like gravity, time, and death. You can see the advantages of such in computer graphics or computer-generated imagery which bridges the gap between animation and reality. It comes down to creating an illusion, one that mesmerizes, entertains, and perhaps even inspires or influences.
This is what I want to achieve at the end of my project. A connection between my film and viewer.
Daily Log #7
3:00 - 4:00 = Sketched Mark.
4:00 - 9:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 11:00 = Worked on the next scene of the storyboard.
12:05 - 13:10 = AP Calculus.
13:10 - 13:50 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:30 = Studied AP Law & Gov.
15:30 - 16:15 = Piano lesson.
16:45 - 18:30 = Nap.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
20:00 - 22:00 = Watched The Lion King.
22:00 - 22:30 = Daily Log and Reflection.
22:30 - 23:20 = Sketched Derek.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
4:00 - 9:00 = Sleep.
10:00 - 11:00 = Worked on the next scene of the storyboard.
12:05 - 13:10 = AP Calculus.
13:10 - 13:50 = Lunch.
14:00 - 15:30 = Studied AP Law & Gov.
15:30 - 16:15 = Piano lesson.
16:45 - 18:30 = Nap.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
20:00 - 22:00 = Watched The Lion King.
22:00 - 22:30 = Daily Log and Reflection.
22:30 - 23:20 = Sketched Derek.
23:30 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Daily Reflection #6
The weekend went by in a flash, caught in between studying, watching reference materials, and storyboarding. The amount of time it takes me to storyboard is worrying my slightly. It's slow progress because I am editing as I go along. I draw a scene, change my mind, redraw, and repeat for each box. I have about 54 boxes so far with quite a few more to go. However, I do think that this process is crucial for this first draft. After all, a better first draft means less work for the second draft. And, thusly, will actually quicken the editing process before I finally produce the final version of the storyboard that I will be presenting.
So, outside of the art room, I went to Blockbuster to get movies and am happy to say that I've rented The Spanish Prisoner, Nosferatu, and Vertigo. I am a bit anxious about time, so I think I am going to have to limit myself on films. Er, though, I ended up watching Jennifer's Body Saturday night due to an odd hankering for an awful, highschool slasher. It did, however, provide useful information. For example, the film starts off with Needy in an asylum where she proceeds to narrate how she ends up in her predicament. The initial pacing was interesting and somewhat mirrored how my story is paced as well, with Mark at a funeral and recalling how the death came about up until when time catches up to his current situation. Narrating seems to be a viable option for the transitions between time jumps. Now I just need to find someone to narrate. Well, I'll worry about that once my storyboard is complete.
So, outside of the art room, I went to Blockbuster to get movies and am happy to say that I've rented The Spanish Prisoner, Nosferatu, and Vertigo. I am a bit anxious about time, so I think I am going to have to limit myself on films. Er, though, I ended up watching Jennifer's Body Saturday night due to an odd hankering for an awful, highschool slasher. It did, however, provide useful information. For example, the film starts off with Needy in an asylum where she proceeds to narrate how she ends up in her predicament. The initial pacing was interesting and somewhat mirrored how my story is paced as well, with Mark at a funeral and recalling how the death came about up until when time catches up to his current situation. Narrating seems to be a viable option for the transitions between time jumps. Now I just need to find someone to narrate. Well, I'll worry about that once my storyboard is complete.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Daily Log #6
Saturday and Sunday's Log.
9:00 - 10:00 = Reading.
10:00 - 12:00 = Studying.
12:00 - 13:00 = Lunch.
13:00 - 14:30 = Watched Samurai Champloo.
14:30 - 16:00 = Worked on storyboard.
17:00 - 18:00 = Went to Blockbuster.
18:00 - 20:00 = Free time. Classified.
20:00 - 23:00 = Watched Jennifer's Body.
23:30 - 8:00 = Bed.
9:30 - 14:30 = Church.
15:00 - 16:00 = Chilled.
16:00 - 18:00 = Studied.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
19:00 - 21:00 = Marked up next scene of the story for story-boarding.
21:00 - 22:00 = Caught up on my art commissions.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
9:00 - 10:00 = Reading.
10:00 - 12:00 = Studying.
12:00 - 13:00 = Lunch.
13:00 - 14:30 = Watched Samurai Champloo.
14:30 - 16:00 = Worked on storyboard.
17:00 - 18:00 = Went to Blockbuster.
18:00 - 20:00 = Free time. Classified.
20:00 - 23:00 = Watched Jennifer's Body.
23:30 - 8:00 = Bed.
9:30 - 14:30 = Church.
15:00 - 16:00 = Chilled.
16:00 - 18:00 = Studied.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
19:00 - 21:00 = Marked up next scene of the story for story-boarding.
21:00 - 22:00 = Caught up on my art commissions.
23:00 - 24:00 = Sleep.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Daily Reflection #5
Yesterday was a reminder of how fickle art is. So. Initially, I had begun my story-boarding from a third person point of view, since my story itself is written from this perspective. But, I was struck with a whole new idea late into the night (thanks a lot, Lady Muse). How about shooting the film from Mark's perspective? Images of sidewalks rolling beneath you and people's faces the way Mark sees it. The viewer would be feeling Mark's actions as he is doing them. It was part of the solution as to the whole "how do I convey thoughts" problem. Only, I had already begun several pages of the storyboard already. Scrapping those sheets of late night labor was not fun. But, it was worth it. The process is actually flowing much smoother now that I've gotten this perspective narrowed down somewhat. Though, there are still a few surprises regarding perspective. I'm having a blast coming up with clues and different little "surprises" to infuse the film with. I'm inspired by The Sixth Sense and Schindler's List which both incorporate certain specific visual clues to intrigue the audience. Nothing compares to feeling of finding a subtle hint in the second or third time of watching a film through. Keen attention to detail by directors and producers is something I've always appreciated in films and I hope I'm able to convey that to everyone in my final product.
Argh. It's frustrating thinking about the final product. My meeting with Ms. Fetters went great and while we both agreed I made a lot of progress this first week, I have such a long way to go! I'm still on my first "official" draft, that's right, draft of the storyboard and I'm not even halfway through my story yet. Well, in the echo of Sam's father, the first beginning of anything is always the hardest most taxing part of the journey. I know that once I get the first draft of this odyssey down I will be on my way back to Ithaca. And, it's official; the odd hours of working are starting to wear on me a bit. Going to catch up on my sleep today.
Argh. It's frustrating thinking about the final product. My meeting with Ms. Fetters went great and while we both agreed I made a lot of progress this first week, I have such a long way to go! I'm still on my first "official" draft, that's right, draft of the storyboard and I'm not even halfway through my story yet. Well, in the echo of Sam's father, the first beginning of anything is always the hardest most taxing part of the journey. I know that once I get the first draft of this odyssey down I will be on my way back to Ithaca. And, it's official; the odd hours of working are starting to wear on me a bit. Going to catch up on my sleep today.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Daily Log #5
24:00 - 2:30 = Started a new storyboard.
3:00 - 9:00 = Slept.
9:00 - 10:00 = Filler.
10:00 - 10:30 = Calculus homework.
10:30 - 11:00 = Marked up the next scene in Twins. Daily Reflection for yesterday.
11:45 - 12:00 = AP Calculus. Bob, Will, Erich, and Joey wish they had done an SP.
12:05 - 13:10 = Met with Ms. Fetters.
13:15 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:00 - 14:15 = Interview with Maggie.
14:15 - 14:30 = Second lunch.
14:30 - 15:00 = Daily Log. Chilled with Jason Lazeur, who got a 95 on his Weirdness Paper. Very awesome.
15:00 - 16:00 = Piano lesson.
16:00 - 16:30 = Grocery shopping.
17:00 - 18:00 = Studied.
18:00 - 19:30 = Free draw.
19:30 - 20:00 = Marked up next scene of Twins.
22:00 - 24:00 = Slept.
Total Time Worked: 5 hours.
3:00 - 9:00 = Slept.
9:00 - 10:00 = Filler.
10:00 - 10:30 = Calculus homework.
10:30 - 11:00 = Marked up the next scene in Twins. Daily Reflection for yesterday.
11:45 - 12:00 = AP Calculus. Bob, Will, Erich, and Joey wish they had done an SP.
12:05 - 13:10 = Met with Ms. Fetters.
13:15 - 14:00 = Lunch.
14:00 - 14:15 = Interview with Maggie.
14:15 - 14:30 = Second lunch.
14:30 - 15:00 = Daily Log. Chilled with Jason Lazeur, who got a 95 on his Weirdness Paper. Very awesome.
15:00 - 16:00 = Piano lesson.
16:00 - 16:30 = Grocery shopping.
17:00 - 18:00 = Studied.
18:00 - 19:30 = Free draw.
19:30 - 20:00 = Marked up next scene of Twins.
22:00 - 24:00 = Slept.
Total Time Worked: 5 hours.
Daily Reflection #4
My apologies for the delay, folks; Lady Muse decided to stay late into the night. Yesterday was productive enough. I got into the nitty gritty storyboarding work early in the day. I was recommended a great animation blog done by one of my favorite artists online, jisuk, thanks to which, I thought up a few new tricks to add to my own storyboarding. Like this nifty stencil thing I made out of chipboard.
(I sympathize with your X-acto knife pains, Sam.) And, it also reminded me that I need to push my angles in regards to perspective.
Later in the day, I revised Twins again. I'm just not quite satisfied with Mark's characterization, yet. Which reminds me, it seems people think that I am sketching Mark Morel's face for my senior project. Oh, you people amuse me. As much fun as it would be drawing Wisdom (Triforce)'s face for 900 frames, I'm afraid this rumor is mistaken. Mark is the main character of my short story Twins, while Sally is a minor character along with sure to be mentioned Sam and Derek.
Unfortunately, Lady Muse decided to inform me that I should actually be doing my storyboard in a completely different way after I had finished about four pages worth without that little input. Sigh. Well, now that I've restarted, things look much more promising. I really like how it's turning out. Here's a teaser:
I'm a bit anxious about what Ms. Fetters will say about it, but I need the feedback.
More to come later.
(I sympathize with your X-acto knife pains, Sam.) And, it also reminded me that I need to push my angles in regards to perspective.
Later in the day, I revised Twins again. I'm just not quite satisfied with Mark's characterization, yet. Which reminds me, it seems people think that I am sketching Mark Morel's face for my senior project. Oh, you people amuse me. As much fun as it would be drawing Wisdom (Triforce)'s face for 900 frames, I'm afraid this rumor is mistaken. Mark is the main character of my short story Twins, while Sally is a minor character along with sure to be mentioned Sam and Derek.
Unfortunately, Lady Muse decided to inform me that I should actually be doing my storyboard in a completely different way after I had finished about four pages worth without that little input. Sigh. Well, now that I've restarted, things look much more promising. I really like how it's turning out. Here's a teaser:
I'm a bit anxious about what Ms. Fetters will say about it, but I need the feedback.
More to come later.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Daily Log #4
24:00 - 3:40 = Really rough story-boarding.
4:00 - 8:30 = Sleep.
9:00 - 9:40 = Daily Reflection for yesterday.
10:00 - 10:30 = Sorted out the attendance problem regarding AP Physics and the S.P. Caught up with COURTNEY. Was captured by xALYSHAH. High-fived JASON LAZEUR.
10:55 - 12:00 = AP Calculus. Endorsing of my blog.
12:00 - 13:10 = Read over (absorbed) jisuk's animation blog.
13:10 - 14:00 = Lunch. People who commented on my presence, five.
14:00 - 15:00 = Violin lesson.
15:30 - 18:00 = Crashed. Nap time.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:30 = Revised Twins again.
19:30 - 21:00 = Free time. Classified.
21:00 - 22:00 = Studied AP Physics.
22:00 - 23:00 = Continue rough story-boarding.
23:00 - 23:15 = Hunt for camera. Try to take photos of progress. Camera out of battery.
23:15 - 23:30 = Hunt for camera battery charger. No luck.
Total time worked: 5 hours 30 minutes.
4:00 - 8:30 = Sleep.
9:00 - 9:40 = Daily Reflection for yesterday.
10:00 - 10:30 = Sorted out the attendance problem regarding AP Physics and the S.P. Caught up with COURTNEY. Was captured by xALYSHAH. High-fived JASON LAZEUR.
10:55 - 12:00 = AP Calculus. Endorsing of my blog.
12:00 - 13:10 = Read over (absorbed) jisuk's animation blog.
13:10 - 14:00 = Lunch. People who commented on my presence, five.
14:00 - 15:00 = Violin lesson.
15:30 - 18:00 = Crashed. Nap time.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 19:30 = Revised Twins again.
19:30 - 21:00 = Free time. Classified.
21:00 - 22:00 = Studied AP Physics.
22:00 - 23:00 = Continue rough story-boarding.
23:00 - 23:15 = Hunt for camera. Try to take photos of progress. Camera out of battery.
23:15 - 23:30 = Hunt for camera battery charger. No luck.
Total time worked: 5 hours 30 minutes.
Daily Reflection #3
"Chase the morning. Yield for nothing."
Ack, the morning seems to just creep up on me. Today, well technically, yesterday, was great. And I'm not just saying that because I didn't have a class to attend. I started the day with some light reading, Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. I'm not fond of her writing style (honestly, I think it's rather mediocre); the story is told in third person limited, but she writes out the Main Character's thoughts in italics which just bothers me; since, it's all about showing and not telling, right Mr. May Beaver? Well, it's not really a violation of the Ten Commandments and breaking the rules is fun, but basically, it reminded me of the major disparity I'm going to have to bridge taking my story from words to pictures. Exactly how am I going to get Mark's thoughts across? Will showing his actions be enough? Or, am I going to have to stick in "italicized" narration? I kept those thoughts in my mind as I revised my story.
After lunch, I needed to shift gears for drawing, since that will be the largest part of my project and I really want to be in tip top shape for the actual story-boarding and animating. It's like athletes stretching for a meet. You guys don't run races cold, right? Not that I would know from personal experience, just this is what I have generally observed from the shadows. So, I decided to watch Repo! The Genetic Opera. It is interesting (AWESOME). What surprised me was the use of "comics" for transitions and background info. Even though they possessed limited animation, they are visually stimulating and effective. I might incorporate a similar technique. And a side observation, SOUNDS. Wow, I was really disgusted by many of the squelchy sound effects and screaming in general and I'm a gore pro. Like when Repoman is tearing into that guy to recollect his spine? Singing and slicing? Yuck... (Go watch it! It's great. Even though the ending is lame, the rest is chill.)
Speaking of sounds, did I mention the songs? "Chase the Morning" inspired me to start sketching the background for the chapel in the first animation sequence. I looked up several chapels on google images, but I think I'm going to have to look up new references. These aren't cutting it. Anyone know any chapels in Atlanta that are small to medium in size? Pretty, but not too ornate?
Later, I watched some anime. Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. And yes, I did do research, even if I enjoyed every minute of said research material. I mostly noted the use of layered animation. Now, while most animes use traditional animation, you can see the short cuts they use with backgrounds, perspective, and generally making more things seem animate than they actually are expending labor producing. Wikipedia does a good job of summarizing the things I'd noticed under "Animation Technique".
After a quick nap, I began actually story-boarding. Well, planning it, anyway. It's just ridiculous how many ways you can convey a line of text. After attempting to just "wing it" and see where the wind takes me, I just could not handle the amount of times I X-ed through the same scene in multiple angles. So, I changed tactics; I decided to analyze the first scene of my story. Figure out exactly what I wanted to convey. After marking down specific actions, sketching became a matter of, "alright, this works. Maybe I'll think of something that works better later, but I think can move on to the next bullet point. Yay!" Major success. Proof? I got so caught up in my groove, I continued on till around 4 in the morning. I crashed right after (did I really use to get up at 5:30 for school? I can no longer fathom...), which is why this reflection is a smidgen late. But, look forward to today's "official" reflection. I will be uploading pictures of my progress!
Over and out.
Ack, the morning seems to just creep up on me. Today, well technically, yesterday, was great. And I'm not just saying that because I didn't have a class to attend. I started the day with some light reading, Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. I'm not fond of her writing style (honestly, I think it's rather mediocre); the story is told in third person limited, but she writes out the Main Character's thoughts in italics which just bothers me; since, it's all about showing and not telling, right Mr. May Beaver? Well, it's not really a violation of the Ten Commandments and breaking the rules is fun, but basically, it reminded me of the major disparity I'm going to have to bridge taking my story from words to pictures. Exactly how am I going to get Mark's thoughts across? Will showing his actions be enough? Or, am I going to have to stick in "italicized" narration? I kept those thoughts in my mind as I revised my story.
After lunch, I needed to shift gears for drawing, since that will be the largest part of my project and I really want to be in tip top shape for the actual story-boarding and animating. It's like athletes stretching for a meet. You guys don't run races cold, right? Not that I would know from personal experience, just this is what I have generally observed from the shadows. So, I decided to watch Repo! The Genetic Opera. It is interesting (AWESOME). What surprised me was the use of "comics" for transitions and background info. Even though they possessed limited animation, they are visually stimulating and effective. I might incorporate a similar technique. And a side observation, SOUNDS. Wow, I was really disgusted by many of the squelchy sound effects and screaming in general and I'm a gore pro. Like when Repoman is tearing into that guy to recollect his spine? Singing and slicing? Yuck... (Go watch it! It's great. Even though the ending is lame, the rest is chill.)
Speaking of sounds, did I mention the songs? "Chase the Morning" inspired me to start sketching the background for the chapel in the first animation sequence. I looked up several chapels on google images, but I think I'm going to have to look up new references. These aren't cutting it. Anyone know any chapels in Atlanta that are small to medium in size? Pretty, but not too ornate?
Later, I watched some anime. Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. And yes, I did do research, even if I enjoyed every minute of said research material. I mostly noted the use of layered animation. Now, while most animes use traditional animation, you can see the short cuts they use with backgrounds, perspective, and generally making more things seem animate than they actually are expending labor producing. Wikipedia does a good job of summarizing the things I'd noticed under "Animation Technique".
After a quick nap, I began actually story-boarding. Well, planning it, anyway. It's just ridiculous how many ways you can convey a line of text. After attempting to just "wing it" and see where the wind takes me, I just could not handle the amount of times I X-ed through the same scene in multiple angles. So, I changed tactics; I decided to analyze the first scene of my story. Figure out exactly what I wanted to convey. After marking down specific actions, sketching became a matter of, "alright, this works. Maybe I'll think of something that works better later, but I think can move on to the next bullet point. Yay!" Major success. Proof? I got so caught up in my groove, I continued on till around 4 in the morning. I crashed right after (did I really use to get up at 5:30 for school? I can no longer fathom...), which is why this reflection is a smidgen late. But, look forward to today's "official" reflection. I will be uploading pictures of my progress!
Over and out.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Daily Log #3
9:00 - 10:00 = Reading.
10:00 - 10:50 = Breakfast/shower.
11:00 - 12:30 = Revised my short story "Twins."
12:30 - 13:00 = Lunch.
13:00 - 15:00 = Watched Repo! The Genetic Opera.
15:00 - 15:30 = Inspired to sketch out funeral chapel.
15:30 - 18:00 = Studied AP materials.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 20:00 = Filler. Life. Classified.
20:00 - 21:00 = Watched Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.
21:00 - 22:00 = Nap.
22:00 - 24:00 = Sketched and brainstormed storyboard scenes. Planned the breakup of the story.
Total Time Worked: 8 hours.
10:00 - 10:50 = Breakfast/shower.
11:00 - 12:30 = Revised my short story "Twins."
12:30 - 13:00 = Lunch.
13:00 - 15:00 = Watched Repo! The Genetic Opera.
15:00 - 15:30 = Inspired to sketch out funeral chapel.
15:30 - 18:00 = Studied AP materials.
18:00 - 18:30 = Dinner.
18:30 - 20:00 = Filler. Life. Classified.
20:00 - 21:00 = Watched Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.
21:00 - 22:00 = Nap.
22:00 - 24:00 = Sketched and brainstormed storyboard scenes. Planned the breakup of the story.
Total Time Worked: 8 hours.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Daily Reflection #2
Art is fun. Pollen is not.
Today was rather uneventful. I slept in and woke for my only class I'm continuing, AP Calculus. Attended class and went to lunch. I find it funny that people are confused by my presence at Lovett. Some people greet me habitually and then double take. Some look, squint, and then inquire. But, about the lunch thing, if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. All my friends are in school; I'd rather not eat out by myself. Plus, free meal? Well, sort of. I digress.
After lunch, I made sure to meet up with Ms. Fetters to plan our first official Senior Project meeting, even though we've been discussing it since January. She's an awesome advisor. And, she has great movie recommendations for my project. Movies that test psychological boundaries, have uniquely shot and directed scenes, or have distinct pacing and storytelling are all part of the creative inspiration for my own movie. They are my textbooks from which I must study and learn. Some films I plan on watching for research are: Ordinary People, Equus, The Spanish Prisoner, House of Games, Notorious, Vertigo, Nosferatu, Taxi Driver, and Personna.
When I arrived home, I drew numerous quick sketches or gesture drawings. I've gotten rusty with conveying "thrust," as I was told models should portray at RISD's pre-college program I attended in 2008. Thrust is... a feeling. It is the ability for lines to convey not action but the direction, the "thrust" of the body. I still struggle with understanding it too. I drew a few girls and boys in various stages of walking, sitting, standing, hunching, and squatting. Then, I needed a stretch break, so I decided to take a walk outside. Beautiful weather today. Balmy and bright. Too bad spring also means pollen. Once I was nearly crying from allergies, I returned indoors, took a Zyrtec, and resumed working.
I researched flash animation techniques. I have animated before, but never for a project of this scale and importance. It's vital that I review. And, there is still much to learn and discover about it all. Some of the materials I read over: Flash Tools, Keyframes and In-Between Basics, Detailed Animation Part I, Detailed Animation Part II, Detailed Animation Part III, Detailed Animation Part IV, Detailed Animation Part V, Detailed Animation Part VI, Detailed Animation Part VII, and Flash Animation Tutorial.
After dinner, I sat down at my work table to try and redraw Mark. But, the juices just weren't flowing. Instead of trying to force out something mediocre, I decided to free draw. I think it's important I remember that art isn't something I can fish out of my pocket. My brain needs some time to think. And while I know I'm a on a tight schedule, rushing everything isn't going to help. And, in the end, even the drawing of my humanoid Kabutops was conducive to establishing the style of my characters for my animation. I'm beginning to get used to this semi-realistic yet still anime-ish style.
I love this project.
Today was rather uneventful. I slept in and woke for my only class I'm continuing, AP Calculus. Attended class and went to lunch. I find it funny that people are confused by my presence at Lovett. Some people greet me habitually and then double take. Some look, squint, and then inquire. But, about the lunch thing, if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. All my friends are in school; I'd rather not eat out by myself. Plus, free meal? Well, sort of. I digress.
After lunch, I made sure to meet up with Ms. Fetters to plan our first official Senior Project meeting, even though we've been discussing it since January. She's an awesome advisor. And, she has great movie recommendations for my project. Movies that test psychological boundaries, have uniquely shot and directed scenes, or have distinct pacing and storytelling are all part of the creative inspiration for my own movie. They are my textbooks from which I must study and learn. Some films I plan on watching for research are: Ordinary People, Equus, The Spanish Prisoner, House of Games, Notorious, Vertigo, Nosferatu, Taxi Driver, and Personna.
When I arrived home, I drew numerous quick sketches or gesture drawings. I've gotten rusty with conveying "thrust," as I was told models should portray at RISD's pre-college program I attended in 2008. Thrust is... a feeling. It is the ability for lines to convey not action but the direction, the "thrust" of the body. I still struggle with understanding it too. I drew a few girls and boys in various stages of walking, sitting, standing, hunching, and squatting. Then, I needed a stretch break, so I decided to take a walk outside. Beautiful weather today. Balmy and bright. Too bad spring also means pollen. Once I was nearly crying from allergies, I returned indoors, took a Zyrtec, and resumed working.
I researched flash animation techniques. I have animated before, but never for a project of this scale and importance. It's vital that I review. And, there is still much to learn and discover about it all. Some of the materials I read over: Flash Tools, Keyframes and In-Between Basics, Detailed Animation Part I, Detailed Animation Part II, Detailed Animation Part III, Detailed Animation Part IV, Detailed Animation Part V, Detailed Animation Part VI, Detailed Animation Part VII, and Flash Animation Tutorial.
After dinner, I sat down at my work table to try and redraw Mark. But, the juices just weren't flowing. Instead of trying to force out something mediocre, I decided to free draw. I think it's important I remember that art isn't something I can fish out of my pocket. My brain needs some time to think. And while I know I'm a on a tight schedule, rushing everything isn't going to help. And, in the end, even the drawing of my humanoid Kabutops was conducive to establishing the style of my characters for my animation. I'm beginning to get used to this semi-realistic yet still anime-ish style.
I love this project.
Daily Log #2
11:00 - 11:30 = Breakfast.
12:05 - 13:10 = AP Calculus. And, of course, gloating about the freedom brought upon by the Senior Project.
13:10 - 13:50 = Lunch at Lovett. More gloating. Endorsement of my blog.
13:50 - 14:00 = Catch up with Ms Fetters. Set up an appointment for Thursday.
14:30 - 16:00 = Practiced motion sketches of various stages of walking. And general positions such as sitting, standing, hunching, squatting.
16:00 - 17:00 = Took a walk outside. What a nice day.
17:00 - 19:00 = Researched and reviewed various flash animation techniques.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
19:30 - 20:00 = Planned various college visits.
20:00 - 20:40 = Free draw to prevent art block and invite inspiration.
20:40 - 21:00 = Daily Log.
22:00 - 23:30 = Daily Reflection.
Total time worked: 6 hours.
12:05 - 13:10 = AP Calculus. And, of course, gloating about the freedom brought upon by the Senior Project.
13:10 - 13:50 = Lunch at Lovett. More gloating. Endorsement of my blog.
13:50 - 14:00 = Catch up with Ms Fetters. Set up an appointment for Thursday.
14:30 - 16:00 = Practiced motion sketches of various stages of walking. And general positions such as sitting, standing, hunching, squatting.
16:00 - 17:00 = Took a walk outside. What a nice day.
17:00 - 19:00 = Researched and reviewed various flash animation techniques.
19:00 - 19:30 = Dinner.
19:30 - 20:00 = Planned various college visits.
20:00 - 20:40 = Free draw to prevent art block and invite inspiration.
20:40 - 21:00 = Daily Log.
22:00 - 23:30 = Daily Reflection.
Total time worked: 6 hours.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Daily Reflection #1
Lady Muse must live in a different time zone. Or, she's just plain rude.
Today was a good day. It's finally beginning to hit me that this is my reality. That my year of schooling is no longer hours spent in classrooms waiting for the 3 o'clock bell. I can spend the entire day (when I'm not reviewing for AP Exams) doodling and feeding my inspirations instead of shoving them away hastily into the cramped closet of my mind to starve and die as babes. It's a swell feeling, this epiphany. I'm grinning. Like a loon. Heh.
Anyway, the early morning (this is always the time Lady Muse seems to visit me) and the evening, I spent sketching and brainstorming character designs. I'm currently trying to flesh out their general appearances and more specifically, the style of drawing for the whole project. I'm teetering between a personal style I've adopted over the years and a more realistic design I've recently been experimenting with. Sally is turning out fairly well in this new style; whereas Mark ended in utter failure. Well, not exactly. At least I know what he is not going to look like. I need to look up some reference photos tomorrow. And, perhaps tomorrow I will also upload a few sketches, if I'm feeling generous confident enough.
I also watched March of the Penguins to study the art of narration. For my animation, I am considering not having any dialogue between my characters, only narration; since, I want to avoid the labor of finding multiple voice actors. This could be a very viable option. I also noted the use of slow motion and different musics for mood.
On a side note, I am wryly amused by how well my plan to keep my project on the down low has carried out. It's merely a ploy to get more readers, obviously. I wouldn't want my musings lost to the cosmos.
I am excited for the new day.
And now, I retire.
Today was a good day. It's finally beginning to hit me that this is my reality. That my year of schooling is no longer hours spent in classrooms waiting for the 3 o'clock bell. I can spend the entire day (when I'm not reviewing for AP Exams) doodling and feeding my inspirations instead of shoving them away hastily into the cramped closet of my mind to starve and die as babes. It's a swell feeling, this epiphany. I'm grinning. Like a loon. Heh.
Anyway, the early morning (this is always the time Lady Muse seems to visit me) and the evening, I spent sketching and brainstorming character designs. I'm currently trying to flesh out their general appearances and more specifically, the style of drawing for the whole project. I'm teetering between a personal style I've adopted over the years and a more realistic design I've recently been experimenting with. Sally is turning out fairly well in this new style; whereas Mark ended in utter failure. Well, not exactly. At least I know what he is not going to look like. I need to look up some reference photos tomorrow. And, perhaps tomorrow I will also upload a few sketches, if I'm feeling generous confident enough.
I also watched March of the Penguins to study the art of narration. For my animation, I am considering not having any dialogue between my characters, only narration; since, I want to avoid the labor of finding multiple voice actors. This could be a very viable option. I also noted the use of slow motion and different musics for mood.
On a side note, I am wryly amused by how well my plan to keep my project on the down low has carried out. It's merely a ploy to get more readers, obviously. I wouldn't want my musings lost to the cosmos.
I am excited for the new day.
And now, I retire.
Daily Log #1
1:00 - 3:00 = Inspired; sketched some new ideas for character designs (Sally and Mark).
3:00 - 4:30 = Watched March of the Penguins. Morgan Freeman's voice is God; lulled to sleep.
4:30 - 9:35 = Slept.
9:35 - 9:45 = Payal called three times. Adequately roused.
9:45 - 12:00 = Filler/lazed around/showered/etc.
12:30 - 15:00 = Lunch at Figos plus Yoforia.
15:30 - 16:00 = Digested.
16:00 - 18:00 = Looked over sketches. Added in more details. Scrapped Mark's design. Updated project schedule.
18:00 - 22:30 = Filler/AP Calc. review/Nap.
22:30 - 23:00 = Writing my Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
Total time worked: 6 hours.
3:00 - 4:30 = Watched March of the Penguins. Morgan Freeman's voice is God; lulled to sleep.
4:30 - 9:35 = Slept.
9:35 - 9:45 = Payal called three times. Adequately roused.
9:45 - 12:00 = Filler/lazed around/showered/etc.
12:30 - 15:00 = Lunch at Figos plus Yoforia.
15:30 - 16:00 = Digested.
16:00 - 18:00 = Looked over sketches. Added in more details. Scrapped Mark's design. Updated project schedule.
18:00 - 22:30 = Filler/AP Calc. review/Nap.
22:30 - 23:00 = Writing my Daily Log and Daily Reflection.
Total time worked: 6 hours.
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