Progress Update

Today I managed to complete a rough storyboard, a visual script if you will, and handed it to William Chow anf Finlay Goodall, who are going to be my storyboard artists for this project. The decision has been made to turn the Kiwi's 3D some time after they've arrived from the Island, I have to decide how that is going to happen tomorrow and to make sure that all of the arcs lead up to that point make sense. Also tomorrow I will be completing a comlete schedule and budget for the project, except for instead of money, I will be budgeting time. William has put up for debate a seperate character design remarkably different from the Kiwi, I shall take that in tomorrow aswell and get feedback from everyone to find out the general feeling audience will get from the character as well as how much the design ties into the story.

"Must lead by Example, Work hard to recieve hard work" -GH

Initial Concept

This is the initial concept of the main kiwi like characters, Designed by Rhian Williams
This paticular one is the design for the scared character

Next Step

Ok, so the basic script outline has been written, next step is to make sure all of the arcs are connected and easy to understand, getting rid of parts that are not needed get the timing down as well as a basic storyboard showing what I mean visually

Script: Act 3

3:1 they run towards the camera and come to rest close to it, slightly looking up at them
The critters come to a rest as they're no longer being chased
3:2 side view
Proto notices the brave one is missing
3:3 front view wider shot than 3:1
Everyone starts looking for him
3:4  close up, front view
The scared one starts to panic, backs up into a leaf, and really freaks out
3:5 higher up view over the shoulder
The scared one runs off into the jungle,
3:6 Close up front view
proto reaches out to stop him, but he's gone already
3:7 side view with proto on the right
Proto and the girl look at each other worried
3:8 close up of jungle
The scared one runs back
3:9 side view
Passes proto and the girl, who then turn to look back at where the scared one came from
3:9 same shot as 3:8
A boar bursts out running after the scared critter
3:10 close up, front view looking slightly down
Proto looks terrified then runs out of the way
3:11 close up side view
proto stops and looks back
3:12 looking down
The girl is still standing in the same place, scared stiff
3:13 close up, front view looking slightly down, then zooms as well as slightly looking up at proto
Proto looks scared, but then determined
3:14 from ground view with the boar in the background
Proto runs and tackles the girl out of the way just in time
3:15 proto is close to the camera eye level
The two dust them selves off
3:16  close up of shoulders and face, quarter view
Proto spots a flower, and decides to pick it, to give it to the girl
3:17 close up of flower, and the exchange
He hands the girl the flower
3:18 close up of girl
She looks at it, then at him, looks afronted and sticks up her nose, dropping the flower
3:19 Side view of the two
The Girl walks off
3:20 close up of proto before zooming out strait up into the air
Proto is heart broken


4:1 a very wide expansive shot during sunset,
Credits, and up a tree you can vaguelly make out the scared critter cluching the bark looking freaked out

Script: Act 2

2:1 eye line view with the ocean in the background
Proto is washed onto the 3D island, after recovering he looks around
2:2 proto's view point, looking toward the forest
Four other critters servived along side him, dreanched. the girl, the bully, a brave one and a scared one.
2:3 back to first view
The bully goes up to proto, who is closest to the water, and pushes him aside, and continues to walk towards the water's edge
2:4 looking at reflection
The bully checks himself out and style's his hair
2:5 back to first view
A giant prehistoric looking fish comes out and eats the bully
2:6 back to second view
The four critters left huddle together really freaked out, then burst off running away from the shore into the jungle
2:7  follows side view near the end of the stop to the stop
They come to a stop deeper in the joungle out of breath and take in their enviroment
2:8 over the leave's shoulder view
Proto feels the 3d leaves while the brave one is feeling a rock.
2:9  behind and higher than the critters
They continue to push their way through the joungle until they come into a clearing and view the expansive 3d plains
2:10  front view of the critters
Walking through the brush they hear a low grumbling sound
2:11 from critter's point of view, tree is about 20 feet away, then zoom up to panthers eyes
In a tree is a panther eyeing them up, ready to pounce
2:12 side view
The brave one readies himself to fight the panther and proto pulls him away
2:13 Entire chase sequence is yet to be decided upon
The critters all start running, starting an elaborate chase sequence

Script: Act 1

1:1 Wide shot, then scroll and zoom onto 2d island
The short film starts with an establishing shot of the two islands, the 2d island more animated, with music emanating.
1:2 wide shot about 10 ft in the air
There is a bonfire in the middle with lots of critters dancing and playing all over the island.
1:3 Quickly zoom over from shot 1:2
A bit over to the left of all the fun is a close up of a bush, the bush shakes and out pops the main protagonist critter's head. (I shall dub him proto for this script) he looks around
1:4 Zoom upon the flower
Proto spots a flower near the base of a cliff
1:5 Side shot, you can see the small cliff as well as other critters playing in the background
Proto gets excited and runs over to the flower, examines it and starts to try pulling it out with his beak.
He manages to pull it out, but the resault is a crack and a rumble, the rumble stops, and then part of the cliff breaks off and smashes one of the back ground character, the others laugh at the smashed critter.
1:6 Close up of proto's face
Proto ignores the incident and looks over at the chick critter all lovey dovey like.
1:7 side view
Proto starts running over to the girl, but along the way gets tripped by a bigger critter who looks quite smug and pleased with himself as all of the critters around laugh at him
1:8 Camera angle slightly higher than eye level to be looking down on him
Proto starts shaking with anger, then realizes that it's not him shaking and looks around
1:9 Shot is above three critters at a 120 degree angle
The ground is shaking around a group of critters and a hole opens up causing one of them to fall in, only to go bursting out a second later.
1:10
The ground continues to shake and fissures start opening up everywhere, causing more birdy boiler incidents as well as panic.
1:11 Cose up of one of the cracks
Lava starts flowing out of the ground
1:12
Proto and present company looks scared and start making a run for it, avoiding newly opening fissures and streams of lava, they make it to the shore and turn around
1:13 Shot of entire island
you can see the whole island rummbling violently, then suddenly sinking, causing a big wave and lots of little critters floating in the water.

First Meeting

Dday has had their first group meeting today and we've discussed a few integeral matters. My plan of action for this week is to creat a script. I've assigned Rhian and Finlay to creat a few tests using various 2D mediums to see which would produce the desired aesthetic for the project, to be completed by friday. The other issue we discussed was the actual creature itself, it's been decided that they aren't actually going to be dodo's, but a unique creature we're creating ourselves, I've decided they will look more like a Kiwi. The deadline for the general look of the creature is set to be completed by next friday, the 21st of october.

Calm before the storm

So we have the initial ideas and the tests and methods, timing, scale, etc, all figured out. but before we actually dive head long into this project, we all have advance tech projects that each class and year are working on. Still, I need to get this animatic going, or else we won't be able to recruit anyone and this project will die before it even starts!

Testing 2D animation in a 3D enviroment

Here is my first test placing a 2D animation in a 3D enviroment using:

• Animation: Will Chow's 1st year final major project
• 3D objects: 3DS Max
• Compositing Software: Premier and After Effects

Things I've learned:

• I need to find the best ratio for Everyone to work in
• I need to specify the frame rate of ech scene. 24fps for action scenes. 12 for all others
• 2D has to be rendered out as PNG with an alpha channel
• Premier is quicker and easier to use, but After Effects can change the lighting and blend the layers together if the scene needs it.

Premier Test:

After Effects Test:

D-Day Project Begins

Welcome to my D-Day blog site.

This is where I will be posting ideas and updates on my new project, currently titled D-Day.
It's a movie short about 2 Islands, one in 2D and one in 3D. in this movie the 2D island is destroyed by a volcano and the Dodo like 2D birds are washed ashore the dangerous 3D island where they are gradually annihalated. It's a Hero's journey about survival and change, with a little trying to win the girl thrown in there for good measure.