Film Studies & Cinematography Project 1
Film Studies & Cinematography
Name : Chan Huei Lian (0351597)
Film Studies & Cinematography | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media | Taylor's University
Project 1 : Ideation
INSTRUCTIONS
Week 1 : Briefing
Mr. Martin briefed us about what is expected of this module and why is it important for us to learn film studies and cinematography for animation. He also showed us works from different types of animators and urged us to find out which type suits us the most and how we could venture into different styles in the future. As for our assignments, for Project 1, synopsis of the vivid memory to be written, Project 2, pitching bubble to be completed as well as teaser animation. For final project, Final animation to be produced. Then, we were briefed on the tasks we need to complete for this week, which is to watch a Netflix series titled : Love, Death & Robots. We also need to think of a vivid memory to be presented in a form of voice script by this Saturday in google drive.
Week 2 : Lecture
Mr. Martin began by giving us a lecture about the pre-production process, which are Idea Development, Script & Storyboarding, Character Design and Production Design.
According to Pixar's story development process, connect a concept or idea with your own personal experience and feelings, so that it has the ability to create emotional connection with the audience. Talk about how you feel, so that the audience would understand how you felt at that particular time.
1) Strong personal memory
2) Beautiful animation form
Moments that we gain insights from, and things we realise when we look back at the memory and reflect to the lessons learnt. 'What if' is the key ingredient to make a great story, making amazing assumptions that seems impossible and illogical, and lets you engage the dream part of your brain, and let you wonder in the world of imagination. We were tasked to find the 'What If' moment in our personal memory, and have at least one idea. What are the emotions identified in your personal memory? Identify them and you would determine the theme of your story. Do 2 mind maps about the character emotion, and assumption / realisation and also doing the mood board of the art direction. Sketch an abstract art to represent the story / feelings. Find music that can best describe the mood and emotion of the story.
Week 2 To-Do :
1) Mind maps for Character's Emotion, and Assumption / Realisation.
2) Mood boards for Character and World Design.
Always remember the initial feeling that draw you to that idea throughout the project.
Mr. Martin asked us to share about our favourite animation or the animation that made us start to like animation. I shared about Jun Maeda's work, which is Angel Beats. This animation is like a starting point that got me into animation, being amazed by how well these stories depicted the concept of life and death, and how well the characters are designed to have depth in their own personality and character development.
Week 3 : Lecture
- For final project, to pick a few short scenes for the trailer, to depict and express how the character react and felt.
- Watched 'Perfect Human' and interpreted with abstract image and mind map.
- Storytelling is important, but it is not everything. Some animation do not tell stories in form of plots, instead, they focus on developing a strong concept or meaning that creates the interrelation with the audience to understand.
- Story structure, arrange the plot into 3 parts : introduction, confrontation, resolution.
- Do the story first in point form, stating the events, then only add in the plot with 'because of that'.
- NOT necessarily to have climax. Can be imaginative. Express your authentic feelings instead of forcing yourself to develop a 'perfect' story.
- Story beats : not to go into detailed plots, define actions with no clear cause and actions.
- Story spine formula :
a) Once upon a time...
b) Every day...
c) Until one day...
d) Because of that... (repeated as many you need) (cause and effect)
e) Until finally...
Week 3 To-Do :
1) Story beats.
2) Decide your 20s animation shots.
Week 4 : Consultation
Today, we had a one to one consultation with Mr. Martin via Microsoft Teams regarding our story beats and sketches.
Animation Recommendations
I started watching this anime when I was 14 year-old. I love the story plot of this anime, as it talks about teenagers who died early without fulfilling their dreams or having regrets. They found out that they were in a world where all teenagers who died are gathered. They are people who have experienced trauma or hardships in life and must overcome them before passing on and being reincarnated. At first, they could not accept their death and also the hardships they have had when they lived, and rebelled against God. At last, they finally get to let go of their past and trauma, and gained the courage pass onto their reincarnation to experience life again.
Out Of Sight
This short animation is one of my favourite that I have came across last year. It revolves around a small girl who is blind, taking a stroll with her dog. Her bag was snatched by a robber, and her dog went to chase after the man. The girl then used her hearing sense, touch sense and smell sense to an unfamiliar street, where she began her adventure of discovering and fun. Great storytelling, great animation.
Wings
This is a heartwarming story about a mouse who yearned to fly like a bird. One day, the mouse is on its way back home when it started to rain, he quickly ran under a mushroom to take shelter. He noticed that a bird is being caught up by a net, and could not fly. The mouse is scared of the bird (as they are supposed to be prey-predator relationship), but could not bear to see the bird's struggle to no avail. Hence, it helped the bird to bite the net and set it free. But the bird is still unable to fly due to his wings being injured, so the mouse invited the bird to his house and treat his wounds until he is good enough to fly again. After a few weeks, the bird has finally healed and ready to fly again. The mouse is happy for his friend, but at the same time, he felt sad that the bird is going to leave. The bird then spread his wings to the ground and ask the mouse to climb on his back. The bird then took the mouse for a flying experience, and with that, his wish was granted. Again, really good animation and story plot. The mouse is so cutee uwuuu
PROJECT 1 : PROGRESSION
Ideation
Week 2 progress
Ideation
Week 3 progress
Important shots / events for animation trailer.
- kid let go of mum's hand.
- kid looking into the glass window of a toy shop.
- kid standing alone on the streets full of strangers.
- kid crying while standing beside a shop.
- shopkeeper lending a hand to the kid.
Story beats.
From memory
- kid accompanying mum at shopping district.
- kid got bored.
- kid sneaked away from mum.
- kid exploring the shopping district.
- kid going into a toy shop.
- kid enjoying looking at toys.
- kid leaving the toy shop.
- kid couldn't find her mum at initial spot.
- kid standing alone on the streets full of strangers.
- kid trying to find her mum among strangers.
- kid crying while standing beside a shop.
- shopkeeper lending a hand to the kid.
- kid and mum hugging each other.
Fictional Story Development based by memory
Get story done by Sat.
W3 Story beats and sketches Slides
Feedback from Mr. Martin Consultation on Tues (19/4) :
- Need to build up the upper class experience in the shopping district atmosphere and environment at the start. The visual needs to be stronger / distinct to portray the classy environment which mum is enjoying, but not the little kid.
- When the kid entered the toy shop, you have to depict it like a different world, like kids in a candy shop, the style, colour scheme have to be different.
- What the character felt is important, portraying the emotions like scared, feeling alone etc.
- Pick the scenes that can portray the most important emotions for the trailer.
- Revisit moodboard, two different world design (normal and scary)
Reference of toys shop animation :
https://youtu.be/0MEr2Cxczc0
https://youtu.be/Jm_HUhHKWC0
Edited Story Beats and sketches after feedback (W4) :
Ideation Progress W4 :
Ideation Final Progress W5 :
