Credits

Two ideas came to mind to complete the credits. One, to blast through them in after effects without much care for their appearance, two to use scrabble lettering to build the roles and names. as it was I wanted something that was lacking through large portions of the final piece. Continuity. Hence, dust off the old typewriter, a word document and voila end credits

Smith-Corona

Sketchbook Backgrounds - Late Addition

After months of searching for more suitable backgrounds to set the greenscreen against, by chance I came across some of the stills from the original greenscreen shoot. Mick, who attended that day had applied an effect (in-camera) called colour sketch under the 'effects' control. Here is an example from the day. 

Colour sketch 'effect'

 

What a cool effect and one I could create myself and apply to the project? 

So, better late than never I set about photographing some simple backgrounds with this 'colour sketch' effect applied so I could re-composite some of the band footage. Rather than stock footage it would now be mine. 

Here's a few of the jpg that I took and choose from… 

Pond Life

A bright crisp Spring morning, before 9 and the sun is at our back rather than in our (the lens) face.

It's to nice to be indoors and as I spent half a day preparing for the pond scene it needed to be done today, given submission is only 1 week away. After a minor change of camera angle and much faffing with string and paper mache the fishing began. 

Fishing for 'Something More' 

Despite loosing letters in the pond water on more than one occasion we wrapped this up in the 2 hours Marc had free. After a few glitches with timing this wrapped up the closing chorus ….  

The Sofa Scene

So to make it more of a collaboration and because the 3rd verse called for it the collective 'we' agreed to  meet to film a short scene. Nothing ground breaking but necessary. So one Thursday night it finally came together where David (Marc) finally got to meet the band who's video he so heavily featured and got to squish on a couch looking dismayed while his (parents), who for tonight would be godfather John & Wife of Ian, Mother to Chris & Rachel, Diane, got to shake fingers and lecture to the lyrics.

WFS&David - Verse 3

Slight Panic - Earlier this day, about 4 pm with filming due to take place at 8, I discovered that a Nikon D90 does not offer a movie setting of 1920x1080 hence slight panic set-in while I phoned and txt my address book for anyone with a DSLR with some half decent resolution. Luckily Mr Kur agreed to a 24 hour loan and so we were set to go again!

John & Diane

Concept v's Reality check:
So the verse 3 has the parents lecturing their son. However Martin hadn't briefed John hence singing the lyrics to camera having not read them before tonight proved impossible. A plan B was needed.

Hence John is scowling and wagging his pointy finger while Diane gets the singing role!

Walkcycle Test

WALK CYCLE TEST 

This was the first test I did after borrowing a uniform from a local amateur dramatics company called sundial theatre. Courtesy of Gill Jordan. 

Tiles, Props and Thinking Big

To create interest in the beach scene for verse 2 I wanted to introduce something besides our actor and encouraged by our course leader I hit upon the idea of a mosaic pattern in the form of a whale. Hobby craft sell miniature kit forms for kids but what's to stop, with some scaling up a animated 10+ foot whale entering the scene. So taking the miniature as a guide I worked out how many appropriate kitchen tiles would be needed. Here are the visuals showing the process of scaling up from concept to finished article..

Coaster Kit - mosaic

white tiles for teeth

tile cutting in progress

body tile 0-45

tail tile 45-77

Scaled up Whale in it's glory

Like Pebbles on the Shore

OFF THE ROLE

Printed PVC also offered a second texture and saved me from going to the stone yard with a rubble bag so I snapped up a few meters.

pebble pvc

SETTING THE SCENE - Verse 2 (Beach)

A large blue polythene sheet protects the flooring and allows the pvc and sand to be placed on top to create the beach scene for verse 2. 

Setting the scene - pebble pvc and genuine beach sand

TOP DOWN CAMERA VIEW

A Material World

Giving the scene's some texture meant introducing some materials into the frame. Inspiration came in the form of a trip to Dunelm Mill and scouring their cloth & material section for suitable colours.

These loose roll material was available to buy by the meter so I snapped up a sea, sky and a clear perspex sheet offered some texture for the on/underwater scenes. A meter of dakron was also added for the water splashes and clouds. 

The Venue

After weighing up the short list of venues and looking at expenses/ease of access/facilities/travel-time it became apparent that the best solution would be to approach my godfather who had previously given access to his home to a 3rd year film student, James Walker Sieradzki. James used the house and grounds to produce his final year film 'Laces' https://vimeo.com/23372552

The Ballroom/High Ceiling/Parquet Flooring

The Cast

MEET THE CAST 

THE BAND

Ian on Mandolin/Vocals 

Chris on Guitar/Vocals

Rachel on Violin/Tambourine/Vocals

DAVID

David aka Marc Edwards

THE POLICEMAN

Police aka John Foster

The Breakdown

THE BREAKDOWN

Mark Simon Hewis attended University and during his presentations I asked him about his approach to the music videos he had produced and directed. He basically drew a very simple diagram showing the timeline to the song and then a way of chopping the song up into its relevant verses. So simple but it helped break down a big task into the sum of its parts thus giving me a start point to begin. 

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. 

Prelude to Synopsis

Despite turning 40 in this year, and seemingly unlike the majority of my University peers I did not have a strong film idea I have nurtured since childhood that has been shaped from my various life experiences. But I always liked the idea of producing a music video! But to what song and what content should appear in the video?

So the search began with a marathon trip through the music vaults of my life to date, via my i-Tunes library.

Days later I came across a track called "David' from a local band whom I first encountered at an 'open mic' night at the pub where I work. Ah-ha I thought, a track where the lyrics connected with me and a band without any music videos!! 

So the idea took seed… (There is a bad pun involving Jam here somewhere) ..

The track features on an EP called 'People' by the band 'Waiting For Susan'. 

Next to get permission to get creative… 

Concept

After trawling through for the method/technique to choose for the video I considered the 25 best 
animated music videos and then opted for something entirely different. 

25 best-animated-music-videos


Instead I looked towards this and liked what I saw..

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

So it was decided to adopt these key aspects …

It would be primarily shot at one angle. 

ONE ANGLE 

It would use the animated technique of 

pix·i·la·tion

  [pik-suh-ley-shuhn] 

noun

1.

the state or quality of being pixilated.

2.

Movies. animation of people, where performers change their positions slightly between exposures ofone or two frames each, to obtain a comic effect of jerky movement when the film is projected atnormal speed.

Origin: 
1945–50; (in def 1) pixilate  + -ion; (in def 2) pixil(ated) + (anim)ation

Idea Development

ANIMATION DIRECTION AM50309-6

Here starts a reflective Direction Report for the FMP (Final Major Project) that sets out to document the key stages during the final term of my animation degree at Staffordshire University.

The module handbook referes to terms like 'professional practice' 'lead animator' and a 'professional level of quality'. Given this has felt like a solo project for the majority of the time I will run with 'lead animator' and suppress the 'professional' aspects as for the most part, if were being honest, it felt wholly amateur in nature.

It should have mentioned 'expensive' and how it 'may leave you feeling isolated, with bouts of mild depression and anxiety.

I should state that from the, Ask Yourself: section of the handbook, I was clear in my mind at the start of 2014 that …

> My career goals in animation may not extend past completing this degree.

> That this project was to be done solely to the aim of completing this module of my degree.

> That it will not be life defining and at the end of the day "it's only 'animation', not life or death".


Therefore for the question of will the target audience understand / care about my film.
The answer in my mind was probably neither, but lets give it a go and see what happens.

Moving on ….