The shopping List

The Equipment 

A Camera 

Dear Martin Evans

We are pleased to let you know that the following items have been dispatched today via Parcel Force. Order 50896490 dispatch notification

Items:
1x	Used Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body

The Lens

Sigma SG AF 10-20/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Nikon Lens

The Jib-Arm

8 Ft Jib-Arm in situe

THE SOFTWARE: 

Dear Martin,
Thank you for purchasing Dragonframe.
Here is your serial number. Use this to activate the software.
D3E01-*****-UDSK4-*****-****Kind regards,
Wes

Westley Wood | Director | Animation Toolkit LTD | Unit 7 114 The Washington Centre, 114 Broadway, Mediacity, Manchester, M50 2UW | www.animationtoolkit.com 

PIECES OF THE JIGSAW

So with the budget blown we have all the key equipment to start some tests.. 

Greenscreen Day

GREENSCREEN DAY

FRIDAY 22nd March 

So today was Greenscreen Day. As previously blogged it had taken a lot of planning just to get everyone together in the same room. As it was 'Open Day' at Staffordshire University the place was lively from the off plus there was free tea on offer. Bonus. In attendance were… Waiting for Susan, Tim Harborow, Mick the photographer, Christian the filmmaker and myself.

Green-screen Room - Stafford

                                                        ALLOCATION OF ROLES

Martin: (Director) Film work on GoPro Camera and to record aspects of the day.
Christian: Cameraman; Responsible for the bulk of the film work.
Tim: (Director of Photography) Photography and some Film work
Mick: Photography
WFS: Music

LIGHTING

The lighting of the room was troublesome as the Stafford site is being broken up to be sold off hence allot of the equipment was not hooked up as we would like. With some trial and error and ladder work we got the scene lit. On reflection the scene was overly bright and washed out some of the footage.  

Props 

THE BAND 

 WAITING FOR SUSAN inc. Susan 

WFS & Family 

TIME-LAPSE

This mini timelapse fell foul of bad lighting and low battery levels.  

Pre-Production / Uni Red-Tape

Now I had the concept I needed to think about the production practicalities which included: 

> A suitable venue.

> The equipment required to include, Camera, Jib Arm, Lens (Wide Angle), Stop-Motion Software and Lighting.

> An Actor (s)

And so Began the battle with Red-Tape.

VENUE: 

From: EVANS Martin
Sent: 24 January 2014 15:50
To: DINEEN Fintan
Cc: MESSINGER Stuart
Subject: Room Hire Requirements 2014

Hi Fintan,

Following our brief conversation today I will try to summerise my requirements within this mail.

I am a Level 6 Animation student, who, for my final project is looking at producing a body of work that requires a studio space or equivalent.

My course leader is Stuart Messinger t: 01782 294709

Although I commute into University I need to weigh up working from Stoke or hiring space nearer to home, in Cannock.

Hence, ideally if a room, a studio or equivalent is available within the University, it will save the expence of paying for commercial space.

The requirements are ;

A space of approx 10ft x 15ft minimum.
Ideally with electicity points for connecting lighting etc..
Heating ideal (although I could supply)

Timing
The project runs through till late May 2014 but ideally the room hire would only need be over an estimated 2-4 week period.

Equipment
Currently I'm trying to get hold of lighting & camera equipment so ideally it would be a secure room

Access
Depending on how access works in terms of hours per day/week-ends.

Note: I've looked at H009 / H008 but also aware that The Performance Centre or Studio 1 may fit the bill.

Hope this gives enough facts to work on.

Regards

Martin Evans
ek999203
m: 07595695828

The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee.  Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised.

If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, except for the purpose of delivery to the addressee, is prohibited and may be unlawful.  Kindly notify the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your computer.

VENUE: (Reply) 

Hi Martin,

Having looked at your requirements I am certain that we do not have the room capacity that you are looking for.

At present we are looking to ensure maximum use of all space across the Faculty and so having this level of space available for that period isn't something I can identify.

I think that Animation have stop motion rig areas in Henrion and in G013 Cadman.
Is it possible that these spaces are equivalent to your needs and some area in these rooms may be available?
Stuart may be best to confirm this availability.

Regards,

Fin

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fintan Dineen
Faculty Technical Manager

Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
L617 Flaxman Building
Staffordshire University
College Road
Stoke-0n-Trent
Staffordshire
ST4 2DE

Tel:      01782 294500
Mob:    07833 400470
Email:  f.dineen@staffs.ac.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls
and looks like work."                                      -- Thomas A. Edison
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Synopsis

David is tired of the rat race and decides to stop running in it, but he has no real idea of what to do next; only the vague conviction that there must be more to life...

So David quit his job today
He doesn't have a plan except to do things in his own sweet way
Got on the bus, went to the park
Sat down and thought for hours, until the sun went down and the sky went dark
And when the policeman asked if there was something wrong David said "Yes, there is..."

"I feel," he said, "There must be something more"
"Something out there that life's worth living for"
"I'm old enough to know that the time has come for me to look for"
"Something more."

So David went down to the beach
He's always loved it there, there's something so relaxing about the sea
The sun was hot upon his skin (the sea invited David in)
So David took off his clothes, left them on the beach and went for a swim
But still that wasn't enough to stop that nagging feeling that there was something wrong...

"I feel," he said, "There must be something more"
"Something out there that life's worth living for"
"I'm old enough to know that the time has come for me to look for"
"Something more."

"The problem Dave," his parents said
"Is that you're young and you've got this idea in your head"
"The grass must be greener, the air must be cleaner"
"And you'll think you're happy 'cos your life will be sweeter"
"You're not old enough son, I think you're jumping the gun"
"And pretty soon you'll realise that life's not all about fun"
"You're crossing the street to find a better life"
"But the sun is always brighter on the other side"

"I feel," he said, "There must be something more"
"Something out there that life's worth waiting for"
"I'm old enough to know that the time has come for me to look for"
"Something more."
"I feel," he said, "There must be something more"
"Something out there that life's worth living for"
"And if I never look then I will always wonder if there's..."
"It's time to bait my hook and cast my line to find out if there's..."
"I hear you but I need to find out for myself if there is"
"Something more."

Surely the lyrics of the song provide the synopsis of the project ? …

Deliberately chosen to reflect the strong storyline content there seemed enough direction built in to the song lyrics. Rather than over complicate things I could run with the theme and consider more how to visualise what was there rather than create from scratch. 

A phone conversation and a few e-mails later with Ian Pritchard and the agreement to use the song was in place.