In Class Exercises due Week 12

Working against deadlines myself, we're almost at the end, guys :D Just a few weeks for all of us.

Just re-iterating that the In-class exercises are indeed due this coming week, just so that it's out of the way for you to be able to get a presentation done for week 13, and finalized files from Assessment 2 for week 14.
Try to get the exercises together as a PDF by Tuesday and uploaded to 'Learning @ GU', under the 'In-Class Exercises' tab on the Discussion board (already up if you go check the 2107GFS tab). Easy :D

Any scans and revisions are welcome, as I bet you've learnt some things since the first few weeks :) Otherwise, all good, PDF away. Any problems, such as a file being too big to upload, email me. I recommend if you have any issues like this, leave a message on the 'Learning @ GU' discussion forum, and email me the bigger file via www.yousendit.com

See you all Tuesday :D Info re: Week 13 and 14 in class.

Assessment 2 help: Visual Script development

Ok, a couple of you wanted to double check this, hence the reason behind this post :)

A couple of rough examples of what each submitted element should (roughly) look like. Obviously, this will vary according to your style etc. etc. Any questions, email me!

Also, for those who needed that quick rundown of Adobe After Effects/Premier in class for the animatic process, and have forgotten any steps needed to complete yours, email me and I can walk you through it. Otherwise, there's still 2 weeks after next week, I can help you out in class.

So as you know, the assessment is: (my comments in red)

"Create a story for a predominantly animated short film, however this is not limited to cartoon style

character animation. The story should be around 3 minutes long."

If you have a script, great. If you don't, a story breakdown/synopsis is perfectly fine. IF you're taken a fable and adapted it, and have made any changes for story/logic reasons, state this too :)

Deliverables include:

"visual development artwork (environments, character profile and design, preliminary sketches and reference image folio),"

So, Mood boards/reference folders categorized into environments  costumes/characters, props etc. Basically, if for example your character is a samurai, and you've designed a turnaround shot of a samurai, I want to see images of where you were inspired from, what's the Armour look like, is it the correct century your story is set in etc.

Let's pretend I'm doing a character called "Batman", featuring a short sequence with a Tank/Sports Car-like "Batmobile", in a dark city, and some goons to fight. Some Concept stuff might look like this.

 

Etc. etc. You get the idea. Check your lecture notes on "Thumbnailing" and "Referencing"

"storyboard (including text/dialogue elements, sound design direction and general directors notes)."

Thumbnails, Roughs and the proper clean up storyboards, compelee with camera movements, arrows etc. where applicable. Try to present storyboards in any of the ways shown in class. There are templates available for the 3 panel widescreen film style in the Course content tab- inclass exercises-Exercise 2: Camera Conventions Folder at Learning @ GU, or on the Right hand side of this blog for the 3 across 2D animation still boards. 3-6 panels a page is fine.

Template at Learning @ GU, or click and "Save As"

"examples of moodboards of two sequences of varying tones"

A Typo: Do Colourboards instead (Moodboards are part of referencing anyway). See Week 9 Lecture notes.

"Full-colour Treatment image (style, genre, proposed visual treatment) - The "look" shot"

WHAT WILL YOUR FILM LOOK LIKE

"3 or 4 correctly structured layout or pre-viz shots that concur with industry standards"

See Andi's Week 10 notes on Layout and Pre-Viz, and try to include field guides (templates under the Graticules folder in Course content tab.

Or 2D examples:

NOTE: If your project is live action, still do this as if it was "Set design", much like the character turnaround shot would be "Costume Design".

"An animatic is also required that indicates broad timing and pacing for the project."

Either 3 minutes of rough "key" shots, or 1.5 minutes of "every" intended shot is fine, if a full 3 minute animatic is too overwhelming. Do your best. Also, you don't need dialogue or sound effects, but a bit of appropriate music might be an idea to help with your intended editing/pacing/rhythm  

Further details  and delivery instructions to be announced in class and with assignment handouts in week 2. The project is designed to develop a feasible script for possible production as a graduating project during the program. this is NOT intended to be the final idea that will be made, but a draft development exercise in realising the range of aspects that need to be determined to develop a good short project

LAST IN-CLASS EXERCISES TO DO: Updates for next week's Class- Wk 12

A couple of quick points before I post the Week 11 Tute clips and some assessment 2 info:

The week 10 lecture that Andi conducted on Layouts and Pre-Viz are in the 'Lecture notes' folder in th 'Course Content' tab at Learning @ GU. I recommend re-reading this in relation to making your layout shots for Assessment 2 (Visual Script development).

Also: for the In-Class Exericses: I want two extra things done, which should only take you 20-30 mins. (since we were unable to do this in class with numbers vs. computers available).

1: Go to the lecture notes for week 10 (Layout and Pre Viz). Andi suggested this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNMpa5yBf5o
Pick two shots from Toy Story 3 trailer and break them back down into the layers, levels, camera positions, timing and key pose set-ups.

Do this by making notes (just some dot points is fine), grabbing screen shots and creating a logical labeling code

2: The other one is, take the X-Men 2 sample script I gave out for the storyboarding exercise (if you don't have it, go to the "in Class Exercises' folder in the 'Course Content' tab, and go to 'Thumbnailing from a Script' section.

 I want a Mood board for the X-Men hallway/mansion scene sample- If "you" were the concept artist, how would that scene look? Grab images from the internet and make up a mood board as if you were then going to go off and create some concept art.

Getting clarification for the In-classes exercises, as the assessment sheet states this will due next week (week 12) in PDF format. Treat this as the due date until I can clarify.

There is a Guest Lecture on at 3pm at the Central Lecture theatre, by Professor INGO PETZKE https://learning.secure.griffith.edu.au/courses/1/2107GFS_3125_SB/content/_2420249_1/The%20Life%20and%20Works%20of%20Oskar%20Fischinger.pdf?bsession=99405869&bsession_str=session_id=99405869,user_id_pk1=56295,user_id_sos_id_pk2=1,one_time_token=

Info at Learning @GU. Lecture will be as normal at 1pm, which will give us 2 hours to play with. Email me with any questions.

"What if?"...Animated Indiana Jones Concept art

Awesome :D
 By Artist Patrick Schmoenmaker, see the link under the image.
It also gives you an idea of what is possible in relation to the deliverable/concept art for the final assessment- I.e.: Character model sheet, and "the look" shots- Concepts for scenes, backgrounds, colour choices etc.


http://geektyrant.com/news/2012/9/25/indiana-jones-animated-style-art.html

More on assessment examples and recap of today's class sometime this week. AS usual, any dramas, questions etc. shoot me an email :)

Assessments and Recap for those that missed it: 'Fill in The Gaps"

https://courseprofile.secure.griffith.edu.au/student_section_loader.php?section=5&profileId=68225

Find your assessments at the link above ;)

In Class Exercise 1 was the 'Fill in the Gaps', for those that missed it, very simple: You have this model sheet of my Koala character ('Baz'), and you have a 9 panel sequence, where the 2nd board is done, and the last board is "half done"- you need to include the Background/resolve/punchline to the short sequence. Try to stay to the 9 panels total if you can. When doing this, bear in mind the information given in that 2nd panel (but still open to a myriad of interpretations), and selecting appropriate shots, keeping in mind the 180 degree rule too.

And, to remind you, you need to get a solid idea for the final assessment task_ we'll talk more about this next week (taken from the link at the top):

Type: Assignment - Practice-based Assignment
Learning Objectives Assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Due Date: 
         22 Oct 12     In class presentation, delivery Week 14
Weight: 50%
Task Description: 

Create a story for a predominantly animated short film, however this is not limited to cartoon style
character animation. The story should be around 3 minutes long.

Deliverables include:

visual development artwork (environments, character profile and design, preliminary sketches and reference image folio),

storyboard (including text/dialogue elements, sound design direction and general directors notes).

examples of moodboards of two sequences of varying tones

Full-colour Treatment image (style, genre, proposed visual treatment) - The "look" shot

3 or 4 correctly structured layout or pre-viz shots that concur with industry standards

An animatic is also required that indicates broad timing and pacing for the project.

Further details  and delivery instructions to be announced in class and with assignment handouts in week 2. The project is designed to develop a feasible script for possible production as a graduating project during the program. this is NOT intended to be the final idea that will be made, but a draft development exercise in realising the range of aspects that need to be determined to develop a good short project

NOTE: It is essential that this assignment be developed over the course of the semester, with demonstreted weekly updates on progress and creative development included in the deliverable. Each of the in-class exercises should be attempted alog the theme of this final projecct to develop the idea in many iterations.

Ok, that's all for this post ;)