Evaluation

I wrote and evaluation explaining what improvements I could make and what tasks I had to complete. I related to professional work and how my animations rose to professional standards. I evaluated on the focus group results and what they believe should be improved for example the narrator spoke too quickly in the 3D animation and in the 2D animation seemed to be too rushed. I took this to account and explained how I would improve this. I also evaluated on my contribution to the task and how I worked to professional standards for example the production schedule I explained the purpose of it and how it was changed if there was any problems that occurred. I also explained how the audience feedback developed on my individual skills for example it gives me the confidence to change the mistakes I made and to push myself to work harder for next time.

Editing

Before we began to edit the group discussed how the footage will develop. We decided to follow our storyboard creation very accurately, but only slightly had to make a few disapproved acceptions for example scenes and voice over clips that were unusable. We uploaded all the footage onto a computer and began to edit. We edited each scene individually it took a lot of hard work and effort because we imported many different sound effects from a programme called soundtrack pro to go with each scene such as phone ringing, door knocking and footsteps. We used a device called a dictaphone for recording our voice overs and imported most of the voice over to the clips but we have had problems that we need to overcome for example not all of the voice over has been recorded and the voice over was too long to fit in with all the clips. We layered sound clips for example we overlapped a voice over clip with the sound of a telephone ringing so whilst the narrator is presenting the story background noises can occur to create an professional effect.

Filming

The start of filming! We are really excited to get cracking, before we imported all of our creations together we held a discussion to understand what each position every team member would be portraying. I was held in charge of the snapping up the pictures on the computer and ensuring that the characters did not move much out of their place we achieved this by using onion skinning. We clamped our sets down to the table and set up the computer with the camera so we can take snapshots of each movement. We found it really difficult to make each movement as smooth as possible so we used a tool called onion skinning which helped allow us to see our previous image overlapping our new shot and began shooting in 2's, this was very useful. We involved the standard ceiling light, but our technician helped us install another light which held over our set so no shadowing or creases was noticable. We reviewed back constantly on our work we was gradually creating to ensure we was not making any mistakes and if so the scene would be completed again to get a perfect shoot. In the end we all shared positions of moving the objects, taking the pictures and ensuring everything was running smoothly, everyone helped each other. When filming the 2D animation we used a programme called iStopMotion to capture the images and began shooting in 2's. We slowly moved our creations and pictures in and out of the picture so once played back it will run smoothly. We decided to add colour and our own transitions for example making the letters weave in and out of the characters and ensured that no pieces of paper or props were seen when we shot our characters slowly. We took turns of moving the images and working on the computer to get the best outcome for our 2D animation and once played back through iStopMotion the footage ran smoothly and professionally.

Sets

Today we produced the sets for which our plasticine character Jerry will be performing in. Myself and Paige brought in big enough boxes so we can convert them to our animated character's (Jerry) hallway. In the making of Nytol which was created by professional company called Aardman used a similar box to the ones me and my team member brought in. Aardman's boxes were slightly bigger than ours and we resulted to cutting the sides of our boxes off to create a better camera angle for the scene. We wanted to make the set look a realistic as possible so I printed off wooden flooring, windows and doors so to stick to the box. We also became creative by using thin pieces of paper as skirting board in our set this is because once the box was covered in wallpaper and paper flooring the box was still noticable and looked unprofessional. Once the set was completed we had a last glance to check if anything else was needed to be added, but everything was perfect we now wait for the glue to dry and we will be ready for day 1 of filming!

Characters

Today the creation of Jerry was born! We commenced this task by choosing the correct colours we wanted our character to be presented in we done this by looking back at our designs for Jerry and agreed on the best colour scheme. We chose red for his sweater, blue for his jeans and yellow which will establish into his blonde curly hair. We began with a large rounded polystyrene ball as the body and used twisted aluminium wire for his arms and legs. We slowly built on the top half of  his body then used a small polystyrene ball for his head. I inserted another piece of aluminium wire into his head so both head and the body will be able to attach together. I then used plasticine to title his clothes, face and skin. Once Jerry was completed we were ready to begin making the sets.

Creating Pitch

Today we individually wrote a section of our group pitch. I was assigned the section of explaining the fact that who our target audience is which is males and females aged 18+ and the results from the questionnaires we created. I also produced graphs to show the results of our questionnaires and explained our mood board creation and comparison with other adverts of our topic. I described what creative ideas was established from our brainstorming and research to attract our target audience. I also elaborated the description of production schedules by describing about the constraints of production and contingency factors. We presented each document with our original copyrighted logo to retain a formal look throughout our presentation and to live up to professional standards.

Storyboards

26/01/12

As a group (Shazam) we was assigned a task to produce a storyboard for our advert. Paige was voted by the group to be the main illustrator for the storyboards because her drawing skills are outstanding. We then wrote out each shot for each keyframe and a brief description of what the action is involved in the image. This is a visual outlook at what the advert will evolve like a storyboard also makes it clear on what is expected in the advert. I wrote a script for the advert because I have provided many successful scripts in the past so I was confident in doing this task and by doing this it was easy to produce a storyboard. Making a storyboard makes its easy to follow when producing the advert, but there may be slight additions or subtractions. We also reenacted and filmed our storyboards and script ourselves. This is an important technique Aardman used when making the the advert Nytol as it helps to understand the timing gestures of the characters and the adjustment of the narration to fit each key frame.

2D Development

Each member of our group planned a mind map of how we can adapt our 2D animation. We held practical sessions to help us understand the developmental gestures with the 2D characters and watched video clips such as the Alan Carr animation and the Nikki from Big Brother cut out animation. As our 2D animation we decided to use cut out animation because we found it to be the most successful and easiest form of animation we could do. We cut out pictures from magazines and from the internet to try and make the characters look realistic and similar to ourselves. We coloured in the drawings and began shooting our 2D animation we used the Nikki from Big Brother animation to compare and contrast our animation and watched how they moved their cut out pieces to make an effective 2D animation.

Pre-Production

18/01/12

Previously, in our animation groups we began our pre-production for our 3D animation advert. I produced a production schedule which is a plan of what will be in throughout the production, when it will be done and who it will be completed by. We also created mind maps to brainstorm ideas of our 2D and 3D animation. We merged together our ideas and displayed a final mind map for each animation. Other pre-production tasks that other members of the group (Shazam) completed was plans/drawings of our character and set designs. I didn't think that pre-production was at all important because in previous assignments the pre-production has either been completed at the end or changed. By completing all of the pre-production first I now fully understand how it works and it is much easier to follow when producing the advert.

Proposal

Today in my production group (Shazam) we individually wrote a proposal which we need to present to our client. I particularly wrote about our specific target audience which is both males and females aged 18+ and why we have targeted this certain audience. I have also discussed the results we received from our questionnaires. We surveyed 16 people and asked them questions about debt and beating it because this is our chosen subject we wish to advertise. I described our research content and how we developed our ideas together from researching and brainstorming. For example I researched different beating debt adverts on the internet to get and idea of what different aesthetic qualities have been used in adverts and how we can attract our target audience to our advert. I included the fact that we produced a mood board to show the style of our animation and the visual look for our story outline. The fact that our target audience is at an age range of 18+, I explained how we would organise a focus group. Which is a group of members of our target audience that watch our advert and give us honest feedback, this is so we can evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and to improve our work if were to do it again.

Animation Styles

I have previously studied the different style techniques in animation. for me, the most interesting aspect was how Drawing and Rotoscoping can combine together. At the time I did not know that Rotoscoping was used to draw real life movement to create an animation. For example Max Fleischer's character Betty Boop was drawn by tracing the movement of a human lady dancing to make the animation realistic as possible. Having learned the techniques in animation I now feel confident in that particular area.