Video & Sound Production [Final Project]
04.07.2024 - 25.07.2024 / week 11 - week 14
Sheryne Axellia Putri / 0367267 / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative MediaVideo & Sound Production
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Lectures
2. Instructions
3. Feedback
4. Reflection
PRACTICAL
- Stop motion trial shoot
The trial shoot allows students experience shooting of clay stop-motion, and paper cut stop-motion. Each scene will be shot twice, once with DSLR, once with smart phone.
- Clay: The Cost of the Call 1st scene: 00:04-00:13 (Stop at 00:13 second, no need lego background)
- Paper cut: Adopt Don't Shop 2nd scene: 00:19-00:43
- Equipment:
- DSLR, tripod provided by school.
- Smart Phone, tripod with bluetooth remote by students (Install stop motion app before the shoot:
- Materials:
- Clay: Clay can be bought from Mr. DIY (RM 1.40 per package)
- Paper cut: Pasteboard paper. Don’t use printing paper, too thin!
- Please have all puppets, props ready before the shoot. Each team have 1 hr only!
For this exercise, we were divided into groups again. This time, I was given the chance to take on the role of a producer. Here are my group members and their roles:
Figure 1.1 Week 11 (04/07/2023) Group members and crews.
I was also the one who made the clay for the first clay stop motion. It's so funny looking.
Figure 1.2 Week 12 (11/07/2023) Clay for stop motion.
During the shooting, our main challenge was adjusting the phone tripod to record our stop motion. It took us a while to perfectly capture the whole scene, and we also needed to adjust the lighting using props from the studio. We started with the paper cut stop motion using a phone and found that using the stop motion app was much easier.
At one point, the wind bothered us and ruined some shots. Once we were done with the phone, we used a camera to film the paper cut stop motion. While Graciella and I were working on the paper cut stop motion with the camera, the others helped shoot the clay animation using the phone. Lastly, we shot the clay animation using the camera.
Next class, Mr. Martin taught us how to export images and create an animation using Premiere Pro or After Effects. I found that using After Effects is much simpler.
Figure 1.3 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Exporting the stop motion frames.
1. Stop motion - exercise by phone:
1a.) Clay stop motion
Figure 1.4 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Clay stop motion by phone.
Our initial try at this project is quite unorganized and hurried. The lighting in each frame varies, making the overall footage appear inconsistent.
Figure 1.5 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Paper cut stop motion by phone.
2. Stop motion - exercise by camera:
2a.) Clay stop motion
Figure 1.6 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Clay stop motion by camera.
2b.) Paper-cut stop motion
Figure 1.7 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Paper cut stop motion by camera.
The stop motion shot using a camera looked better because we were able to adjust the movement of the objects while shooting.
INSTRUCTIONS
Figure 2.1 Week 4 (16/05/2024) Module Information Booklet.
1.1 Progress
1a) Research
Stop motion animation that I like
1. King Midas
Figure 2.2 Week 4 (16/05/2024) King Midas.
2. Frog and Toad are friends
Figure 2.3 Week 4 (16/05/2024) Frog and Toad are friends
3. Madame Tutli Putli
Figure 2.5 Week 4 (16/05/2024) Madame Tutli Putli.
1b) Ideation
The scene opens with a dimly lit stage, as the curtain opens revealing a ballerina. She gracefully her ballet, her movements smooth and mesmerizing. The camera zooms in on her serene face. Suddenly, a loud crack echoes through the room. The ballerina's movements become jerky and erratic. The camera pans to reveal a small crack forming on her arm and leg.
Her expression changes from serene to horrified. The crack spreads rapidly across her body as the cracks fell into the floor into pieces. Camera shifts from the floor to the ballerina’s face which only left her flesh. In the final moment, the camera zooms out to reveal the ballerina as a cracked, monstrous figure, frozen in a grotesque pose as the stage fades to black.
Because animating a ballet dance is quite complex due to the intricate movements involved, I'm using a reference from a specific video of a ballet dance to ensure accuracy and detail in the animation. And I will be using the same song from this video.
1c) Moodboard
For the art direction, I want a vibrant color palette infused with a touch of melancholy, balancing the combination of brightness and darkness to create a visually captivating eerie atmosphere.
Figure 2.7 Week 12 (11/07/2024) Moodboard.
1d) Sketches & storyboard
Figure 2.7 Week 12 (11/07/2024) Ballerina character sheet.
I have made some adjustments to the ballerina's profile. The first and second profiles are identical, except for the different hairstyles. I simplified the style to make it easier for me to sketch the frames, and I also changed her clothing to all pink to make her the focal point of the subject.
Figure 2.8 Week 12 (11/07/2024) Storyboard.
1e) Production
I started sketching and coloring my frames using watercolors. To be honest, I bought these watercolors in a hurry, and they were very cheap. Unfortunately, the quality is very poor, but they still work like regular watercolors.
Figure 2.9 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Ballerina character sheet.
I use watercolor paper for my drawings because it has the right thickness and texture for this kind of story. Throughout the process of creating each frame, I took care to ensure that certain parts of the character's body were made separately. This allowed me to capture the subtle and delicate movements of her dance more effectively. However, I must admit that creating a large number of frames did add a bit of stress to the process.
Figure 2.10 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Progress #1.
After meticulously crafting each frame to capture the her eyes, I found it somewhat annoying to have to make precise cuts. However, once I ensured that every detail was perfect, I was finally able to commence with the stop-motion shooting process.
Figure 2.11 Week 13 (18/07/2024) Progress #2.
This thing helped me make my stop-motion animation easier, it temporarily glued the parts of her body that I wanted, and I could easily remove the glue to change to other parts.
Figure 2.13 Week 14 (25/07/2024) Progress #3.
- The unedited version of Fractured Dance
When I record, I prefer to use dim lights in my own room. I take great care to ensure that the background remains steady even when I move objects on top of it. I'm pleased with how the dancer's movements have been captured, as they reflect the exact vision I had in mind.
Figure 2.14 Week 14 (25/07/2024) Fractured Dance - unedited.
I just need to crop out the unnecessary parts of the image and then adjust the canvas size. After that, I'll add some background music, and maybe enhance it further by adjusting the shadows and contrast.
1.2 Final Outcome
Figure 2.15 Week 14 (25/07/2024) Fractured Dance.
FEEDBACK
Week 11
- Specific feedback: The idea is fine and makes sense as a metaphorical story. Just ensure that when animating the dance, her movements are clear and discernible.
Week 13
- Specific feedback: The stop motion is ok, just need to fix some of the framings.
REFLECTIONS
Experience
I thoroughly enjoyed making this final project as it allowed me to indulge in storytelling and illustration. The process of creating a narrative format, complete with original illustrations, was tiring. Despite the demanding nature of the project, taking a toll on my sleep with two all-nighters, I was determined to balance it with other module tasks and complete everything before the looming deadline.
Observation
Since the genre of this stop-motion film is horror, I'm happy with how I've managed to create tension in the animation, transitioning from a calm atmosphere to an eerie one. I believe the ballerina's struggling expression adds to the intensity before the reveal of the red figure.
Findings
I also learned that subtle movements in stop-motion are crucial for effectively conveying the details of the story. In my case when animating the ballerina struggle to move freely.
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