The End!

This semester was a lot more overwhelming than I initially realized. I nearly did not get my first film or third film done. Ironically, my least favorite film, the stop motion film, turned out to be the easiest project. Probably because I felt like I had a firmer grip throughout the entire project of what to do and how to do it. Thus, in a way, I learned least from my second film. That is because my first and third films were entirely experimental. I had never used Toon Boom prior to MART 571C, but I come away from this class with a basic understanding and appreciation for the program. From here on out, I feel as though I can produce future and better projects in Toon Boom. I did not have to leave behind a whole lot this semester. Most of my original ideas developed into the films or exercises that I did for the class. I did trash my third film idea, but only because I knew it was not possibly to make it with my knowledge and experience in Toon Boom. However, I still like the idea and would like to reattempt it in the future.

Almost There...

Almost at the end! Huzzah! Just one minor problem: I am not happy with my third film at all. Unfortunately, I think I will be pulling a ‘Matt’ and start my entire project over. The problem is I find my idea interesting, but I have not resolution for the conflict. I have tried multiple possibilities and am not happy with any of them. However, I do have an idea where a guy meets himself from the future and has to time travel to the past to tell himself he must time travel into the further past and so on. Basically a little time loop. I like this idea because it dryly addresses time travel as nothing more than humans reminding themselves to do chores. I believe I am going to pursue this because even though it is a more recent idea than id, ego, and super ego, I feel as though it’s already more developed and will be easier to do in the long run.

Wormhole to the Beginning

So its you. The person who made my life what it is today. Well, I’m not saying you should drop a class, but the workload would have certainly been lighter. More importantly, understand, even though you are taking three 100 level classes, they will require the work of 300 and 400 level classes. Do not get behind, because if you do, you will catch up, but it will be hell to do so. If it makes you feel better, by this time, you have gotten most of your work out of your way so there isn’t to much more to do this semester. In theory. Just when you think you can take a breather, you find something else is due the following week, not necessarily for animation either. Also, you do not know as much about Toon Boom as you think you do. By the end, though, you’ll know more than you thought possible in a semester. So remember, focus on your work and get things done BEFORE their due date. Just incase you have to go back and touch up on something. But also, relax a little and know no matter what, no matter the odds, everything will get done and you will gain so much experience this semester. Enjoy!

Film Festivals

It feels weird to still be working on a film and already be looking at film festivals. One that I am looking at is Indie Grits since it is a local film festival and actually quite decent. However, their submissions are due in December, so I will not get in the 2012 line up. This does not mean I won’t apply for 2013 though. Another one I am looking at is the Animation Block Party in New York City. First off, it seems like a legit festival and not a scam. Second, it is in New York City, so if selected, my film has a higher chance of being noticed by someone who works in the film industry. Third, its an animation festival, so I feel if nothing else, my work will be taken more seriously than at non-animation festivals. Since I have applied to film festivals before, I am familiar with the procedure. Yet, since animation is still new to me, I do wonder what other animation festivals there are and which ones fit my style.

Film 2: Object

Film 2 went much better than expected. I had known about stop motion in theory, but it was very interesting putting it to practice. Literally, the entire film is I taking a picture, moving things a little, taking another picture, and so forth. From that, I actually created the illusion of motion and it still boggles my mind slightly. Possibly my favorite shot is at the end when the foot steps on the pencil. I was pleasantly surprised at how fluid the motion looked, especially since it was a person moving and not an object. However, there are certain parts I would change. First, I would want better audio equipment to make it sound nicer. Second, the movie moves to fast. I would go back and reshoot it with more pictures for each scene. That way it would give the impression of a pencil walking instead of possibly running. That is also something I want to watch out for in any film I do, especially animation. I have noticed that I will get fixated on a certain point that only amounts to some small number like 3 frames. While I might spend five minutes, possibly longer, I must remember that it is only a fraction of a second. That does not mean it isn’t important, just that I need to add more frames or pictures to it.

The Easy and the Hard

Hopefully by now its obvious that animation is the hardest thing concerning film that I have ever done. Nevertheless, this does not mean that I find everything about it hard. Story ideas and camera shots come easily to me. It normally takes only a couple of minutes to solidify an idea, and by that time, I have already thought about the camera shots to show the idea. Then, in Toon Boom, I have found it easy to position object and characters where I want them, even in a 3D environment. From there, it gets harder. Character development, more intricate features of Toon Boom, and animation itself are the hardest aspects for me. I know its because this is my first class and introduction to animation, but I still find myself getting frustrated. This just means I have to practice more and continue putting out shit so that I can break through and finally make something good in the future.

Hindering and Helping

The biggest things that are hindering me are other classes. I did not realize now much work would be require from my other classes, especially three 100 level classes. This cuts into a lot of my animation time and I find myself not getting as much finished, as I would like to. I do not regret not dropping anything, but I wish I could go back to the guy from week 2 and tell him just how frustrating this semester is going to get. I then might have dropped a class if for no other reason than I could work on my animations just a little bit longer. As far as helpful things are concerned, I found a website of Toon Boom tutorials that is really accelerating my comprehension of the program. In spite of this, I know there are many features that I will not be able to use to the fullest until I practice with them more. I find the classmates and in-class discussions quite helpful. It is very reassuring to know that I am not the only one struggling in certain regards. Animation is proving to be the most difficult thing I have done yet, but I do not think I have been more fascinated. Experimentation is also helping a lot. On some days, I will try to create a clip of just a couple of seconds and have a character do something, like sit or pick up a banana. These personal exercises are helping me figure out both what Toon Boom and I can do.

Film 1: Scar

I believe Film 1 went ok. It was the first project I have created using Toon Boom, so I happy anything came out. My favorite moment is the transition from the child to the adult. I did not think I had the knowledge to make that part, so I am very pleased with that end result. I think Film 1 shows that I have an understanding of the basics of Toon Boom, which means my projects will only get better from now on. As with every project, I desire I had more time to work on it, but sometimes you need to be done with one thing so you can work on the next one. I wish I could draw better in the program so I could have something nicer than glorified stick figures, but that just takes practice. I like the shots within the film, but if I could have, I would have added a lot more movement, such as swinging arms and running legs. As far as my skill level currently goes, I do not think I could have made a much better film, but this just shows me that I have a very long way to go before I produce anything good.

Daily Practice

Unfortunately since I am currently in school, my daily practice is not how I would like it. Ideally, I would like a profession that has me working with film all day. However, I normally only have one class a semester that focuses on film and I have to devote the rest of my time to other classes. For MART 571C, I try to work in Toon Boom every day, if even for a little bit. This is the first time I have ever used this program and am completely unfamiliar with it, though some features are similar to Adobe Creative Suite. In spite of that, I try to learn a new aspect to Toon Boom everyday so I can understand the program more as a whole. I will admit it is a slow and difficult process, yet I know this is the beginning and as I become more acquainted with the program, the easier it will become.

Why?

Film is my passion and obsession. As a child, I remember spending countless hours watching films and being enthralled by the stories weaved by the filmmakers. I would not understand that films are people’s jobs until my sophomore year in high school. I remember watching the appendices to Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and thinking “that’s their job. They wake up every morning and step into a fantasy world and seem to by having the time of their lives. I want to do that.” And then I realized, I could do it. The next day, I went to the principal of my high school to try and get a news program at our school that I could help run. It was granted. The next week, I did my first shoot ever, and the end result was horrible. However, the feeling of working behind a camera and creating something from nothing was the best feeling ever. I knew I only wanted to be a filmmaker and nothing would stop me. I quickly picked up skills and techniques and now, while I am certainly no Spielberg or Tarantino yet, I feel confident enough that I could actually make a living out of this. As far as animation is concerned, I have always been interested, but uncertain about it. With live action, all you need is a camera and you could, in theory, make a movie. However, I had no idea where to start with animation. It’s probably the biggest reason why I am taking MART 571C, so I can understand and create my own animations. I have found that animation is probably the hardest thing concerning film that I have done to date, yet I find it the most interesting. Animation is unique and creates a separate world from live action. This fascination, which started in my childhood, is the driving force that pushes me to further explore and understand animation.

My Methods

I start simple. A single word, thought, emotion, or question sets into motion the mechanics of my brain. It kind of depends on the mood I am in and what is currently happening in my life. So I guess you could say that all of my work is in a way very personal. Once I have the idea, I start searching for the story. I wonder what the plot is, the characters who fill it, and what medium I want to use. I picked the medium early on because the way I work on a stop motion film is different than how I would approach a flipbook. Not necessarily my methods, but my mindset is different. From there, I set out and begin actually making a project. If there is need for one, I first make a script, followed by a screenplay, then the film itself. This is the process that I have found works best for me. It has never been difficult coming up with an idea; actually making the film is. Yet once it’s completed, it’s the most gratifying feeling in the world. As far as my first project for MART 571C is concerned, I am right on tack and have everything under control.

MART 571C: Animation

I have never been good with blogs. I do not understand them, nor use them in my everyday life. If I have every started a blog, within two weeks it is forgotten and I never use it again. Something similar has occurred to my blog for MART 571C: Animation. Its not an excuse, but I did sincerely forget about this blog. I know I will not be graded on the following posts, but I thought it was important to at least write them and turn them in so I have done the work.