Evaluation/Reflection

Overall, I am extremely happy with how this assignment has turned out. I feel that Alicia, Miranda and I have worked extremely well as a team to complete our iStopMotion film to the best of our abilities. As our assignment last term was extremely similar, I felt comfortable with the journal/blog documentation as I have gone well with this previously.

As Alicia was new to the subject, it was impressive how quickly she learnt how to do everything and she took charge with the sound aspect of the assignment. This worked really well as Miranda and I took control of the actual filming. Although it was this way, all three of us contributed to all aspects of the movie although we focused in different areas.

I hope our piece will refolect everyhting we have worked for because all; three of the group members are extremely happy with how it has turned out. We stuck to our storyboard until it needed to be modified, we worked effectively each lesson and because we did this we are able to present our piece. We are confident that Steve Blogs, the head of Pixur Group, will like our film as much as we do.

As I missed the last period, please see Miranda or Alicia's blog for a finished version of the film.

Version Nine

Version Eight

iStopMotion Script

Script:
NoseDive: Hello and welcome to today’s episode of ‘Dance or Die’. I am your host, the mighty duck and this season, we will have four dancers performing for us, Batman, ZAP, Bones and John Cena.

Batman theme song begins and Batman flies onto stage.

New song begins and Batman begins his dance

BLACKOUT

Music begins and ZAP is on the stage and begins his dance.

BLACKOUT

Bones is on stage ready to begin his dance, host in corner.

NoseDive: Actually folks, this is all that we have time for today, but join us next week to see Bones and John Cena perform. We will also be announcing the winner of this seasons ‘Dance or Death’ so tune in next week.

Although this is what we have currently planned, this script may be slightly adjusted and changed depending on the amoiunt of time left for the speech to go and other factors. It is not final.

Changes/Modification To Storyboard

At the beginning of the term when we first created our story board, we over estimated what we could achieve in the time period. We have only got halfway through our storyboard and our animation is due at the end of the week. Although we have not finihsed the original storyboard idea, we are happy with what we have completed and are very proud of it. I don't regret not completing this storyboard and am not disapointed, as we have worked extremely hard and simply bit off more than we could chew to begin with.



We have only completed to the end of ZAP's dance, and have ended it there. The host comes on stage and stops Bone's from doing his dance. He than talks about the next episod, like they do on the televison ad/trailers on televisdion which is in the criteria.

31.8.09

This lesson, Alicia was also absent. She was at morning tea and we planned out the lesson, but come sixth period she did not turn up. The original plan was for Miranda and I to complete the filming and for Alicia to work on the sound, but this was changed as Alicia was not there.



We originally thought that we would end with the same scence as we started with and the idea was to just take the begininng and paste it into the end. We decided though,m that we wanted Bones to be starting his dance and we wanted the host to come on stage, stop him and talk to the audience about the next episode of 'Dance and Die'. This required filming as this hd not been shot before. Although this was a more diffivult plan, we decided that it would work better and make the end product look better as it will be different. We filmed this ending this lesson, although we experienced both computer and camera troubles.


The laptop that I had checked out from the library was signed into windows and this could not be fixed by us. However, it was only aftr wasting fifteen minutes trying to fix it that we realised it, so I went to the library to hand it in to the librarian and borrow out a different laptop. When I returned from the library, Miranda and I discovered that the Camera we had borrowed out did not have a cable to attatch it to the computer, so Miranda went to track down the missing cord. When she returned we were finally ready to start filming, with only a little over fifteen minutes left of the lesson. Although we were rushed or time, we still managed to film the ending and have now completely finished filming which is a relief.

As I am leaving early on Thursday (12pm), and I will miss Thursdays lesson which is the final submission date for our film, as previously blogged. I am missing the lesson for a make up math test which means I will not be there for anymore creative media lessons where we will be working on this task. As it is a group task, Miranda and Alicia will still be able to work on the assignment, but I will have to catch up. Although I will not be there on the submission date, I still feel like I have contributed well to the assignment andf I don't think the time away has affcted me.

Exporting To Movie Format

As the films are created on iStopMotion, they are saved as that file. Although that is the file that they are automatically saved as, it is not an effective way to save for purposes other than working on the project. Posting the work up on blogger, for example, is impossible to do if the piece is saved as an iStopMotion file. The way to change the formatting of the file is, insteading of saving using the save button, you simply export the file. Doing this, you can choose from a large list the type of file you wish to save the project as. My group saves the piece as both and iSopMotionpiece to work on it and as a Quicktime piece which is the movie format. This format plays on PC computers while the other format doesn't as iStopMotion is only a Mac program.

Duplicating Frames

One frame on the iStopMotion program only goes for one tenth of a second and, when played, this is extremely fast. If one desires a frame to go longer than this, all one has to do is duplicate the frame, creating another frame which is identical. This results with the frame going for two tenths of a second even though they are actually two different frames. If it is desired that the smae frame go on for five seconds, all that needs to be done, instead of trying to caaputure the scene fifty times, is that the one frame need only be duplicated 49 times, guaranteed to be identical.



If it is desired for something to go over a long period of time, it can be a long proccess capturing the scene so many times. It is also possible for things to be moved or go off balance etc. wwhich recks the entire mood of the piece, particualy when it becomes obvious that there has been movement which it often is as it is difficult to get the pieces i the exact same positions. Even the slightest movement an be detecatable when watching the final product.



-stops moving of set and props.

Examples of iStopMotion

http://monstervine.com/wp-content/2009/03/wallace-and-gromit.jpg

WALLACE AND GROMIT

Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a series of four British, animated short films as well as one feature film. All the characters in the show were made from moulded plasticine and modelling clay on metal armatures and filmed with an iStopMotion program.

The story line of the series is about Wallace (an inventor who is extremely enthusiastic about cheese) and his kanine companion Gromit is anthromorphic, (the attribution of human characteristics to non-human creatures) and extremley intelligent. Although Wallace does speak, Gromit does not (Staying true to his role as a dog), although he is extremely success ful at conveying his thoughts and feelings through this bodylanguage and facial expressions with a focus on the eyebrows. The pair go on many fun and crazy adventures as the many storylines take them to different places.

The series was created by Nick Park and is the most successful and famous Stop Motion piece to date even recieving an Oscar. It was first started in 1989 and is still continuing at present with a new installment announced to be released on October the 3rd 2007. Wallace and gromit is created using Stop Motion with all characters created out of Clay. As a result of the technique used, Walllace and gromit takes a long time to be created, but it definetly pays of as the shows is so popular and enjoyable to watch.

26.8.09

This lesson, Alicia was basent from school. We have just fallen into a pattern every lesson: Miranda gets film camera and stand and sets them up. Fynn Borrows a laptop from the library and sets that up, realdy to go. Alicia travels to the scheduled classroom and tells Mr Powell the plan and after that, she also borrows out a laptop. She usually focuses on the sound so we can complete multiple tasks at once. As we only had two lessons together after this lesson,we need all the filming time possible and are trying to get the sound done as well as the filming.

This lesson, we began to film our bones piece. We were making sure that we were reguarly saving our work (Miranda was moving bones and I was working the camera/laptop computer) when teh program shut down. As we had been saving reguarly, we didn't lose that much work which was lucky, but we did lose a little section that was unsaved which was very annoying. Not only this, but the laptop freezed up meaning that we not only lost work, but we couldn't get right back into it. We ended up having no progress on Bone's dance made in this lesson as we were doing work on the time inbetween ZAP and Boness dances which isn't an obvious improvement.

I have found out that I will be away on friday, the day that this piece is due. This is very frustrating as it means I will only be able to be there on the last lesson, meaning that the other two in my group will have more work to do. THis means that we only have two more lessons as a group. On Monday's lesson, the plan is to complete Bone's dance, and we will have to be quick to set up and get maximum filming time to achieve this. On Wednesday's lesson, we will have hopefully finished Bone's dance, but if not, we will finish it then. We will then complete the voice overs and soundtrack to finish it. I am confidenty that we will be able to complete everything on time, but we will have to work well to do this, which I know we are capable of doing. I am hoping that our final product will be a really well made film as we have worked so hard to produce it and finish it on time.

Importing and Exporting Images

At the beginning of this term, Mr Powell explained and showed us how it is possible to import and export a frame as an image from iStopMotion. Using this, it is possible to take a frame from iStopMotion and bring it into photshop. On photoshop, we can use the abilities learnt in term one during the photoshop/avatar unit and edit the image. This could include drawing over the top, adding other puctures on top, chanigning the colours and adding writing. After the image has be edited and changed, it can be put back into the piece. This can make the piece look more impressive and effective. The problem with this is that they must be edited frame by frame, and could be an extremely lenghty process.

Using Plasticine

When filming ZAP's dance, we were finding it extremely hard to get him to stand up by himself. We wanted him to complete moves which weren't able to be done. During our last filming lesson, I had a stroke of genius, PLASTICINE! We found some black plasticine and although one might think it looks obvious, but as the plastisine is black, it easily blends into the background when placed right, similar to the black glove effect which has been used by many. This technique has allowed us to make ZAP do some things which look amazing, but could not have been done without the support of the plasticine. The two main problems are the placement of the plasticine and the smoothness of the plasticine, which both result in it being visible to one watching the piece. If it is plaed off to the side or is suddenly moved, it becomes very obvious that the plasticine has been used. Another problem is that if the plasticine is lumpy or seperated, the joining areas are visible. We have solved these problems by smoothing down the plasticine continuously and ensuring that the plasticine can not be seen with the camera man checking these things.

24.8.09

This lesson we re-filmed the work we had lost the previous lesson. Alicia kept working on the soundtrack for the piece and Miranda and I worked on the iStopMotion piece. We were extremely happy as we were able to finish the whole of ZAP's dance this lesson. Usually, it takes us around two entire lesson to film a characters dance which means we cut off half the time. I am very happy with the end product as it looks really good. As ZAP is very unique and has a bone structure which allows him to do amazing things, it was hard to get him to complete some things. To begin we thought it would be really easy for him as the figurine has no bones/joints, but it was actually quite difficult. As he has no structure in his limbs and small feet, it turned out to be extremely hard to keep him balanced. This was also a problem with batman but as his moves were supposed to be jerky, as he was doing the robot, this worked out well. I was also difficult to make his movements appear fluent and we didn't have the same excuse as with batman as ZAP's movements were supposed to be extremely smooth and fluent.

Next lesson we will be working on Bones's dance. His dance is different to both and it is extremely individual. The way the figurine is built will make it easier than the other two to move. This is because he has extremely easy to move limbs as we have found out and the style of dance will allow for the finished product to be extremely smooth and hopefully love really effective.

20.8.09

This creative media lesson we continued filming our piece. This lesson, I was moving ZAP and Miranda was operating the camera/laptop and the product looked very good. Alicia worked on the soundtrack for the piece and we will continue doing this as the third prson will be able to serve a purpose. This lesson, Alicia got the theme song from batman and chopped it up until we had around seven seconds that were perfectly matching our iStopMotion film. However, about 20 minutes away from the end of the lesson, the computer shut down and the work hadn't been saved. It ws very upsetting as an entire lesson of filming was wasted and we don't have many left. Although it was devestating, we just have to move forward as it was entirely our own fault, a silly mistake. The reason we hadn't been saving as much as we should have, was that the way we were saving our work took up to 10 minutes to save, wasting lots of valuable filming time. We have to see the silver lining, that we will never make that mistake again.

19.8.09 Lesson

This lesson, Miranda and Alicia did not com until near the end. Mr Powell taught me how to set up the camera so I can do that now. I basically watched he enteries for the minus-60 film festival and waited for them to come back as the saved version was not on my USB as I saved the wrong version previously. Watching the enteries was entertaining as I got to watch everyones movies, but I also got some ideas of things tht e wuld incorporate into our piece.

14.8.09

This lesson we had to completely set up our stage again as someone had moved it. Despite our best efforts, it is still visible in the piece which is upsetting. We finished batmans dancing this lesson which was exciting. Next lesson, we will start with ZAP's dance. I think I am going to be moving the figurine when we move onto the next dance so I am not sure how that will go. As I had been absent prior to this, I was a little rusty and needed some help when doing some simple things although I have the hang of it now.

17.8.09 Lesson

During today's lesson, we continued filming. I moved the figures this time as it has been Miranda and Alicia which have done this up to this point, mainly Miranda. I think I need some more practice until I have it up to their standards but I think it was a good first attempt. I enjoyed doing this as I learnt how to move the limbs etc. just a small amount.

Version Seven

THis is the seventh version of our iStopMotion piece. Since the last version, ZAP has begun his dance. Up until now, Miranda and Alicia have moved the figurines, but I was the one who moved ZAP. We feel as if we may repeat this filmingas we are not very happy with it but I am glad that I had an opportunity to move the figures. Naturally, I was not expecting it to be that good as it ws my first try.

Version Six

This is the sixth version of our iStopMotion piece

Onion Skin

Onion skins are when you open an existing project and are able to use where you finished off with the last frame and line upyour new frame if you wish to continue. It allows you to line up the frames so that you can set up your stage and props, looking as though it remained the same the entire time. It allows you to see the two layers, one almost transparent and this is how you can libne them up. If the onion skin was not available, it woud be basically impossibvle to film on different days without that being obvious.

Barbie Flashdance Inspiration

THis piece is very famous within the StHildas school community. It was created by a student here, and has been shown both in class and during assemblies. It was created using iStopMotion and I think it is amazing. I hope we will be able to produce work half as good as it.

iSopMotion Inspiration

This is an example of a short film created by iStopMotion. The creator, Pez, creates many similar pieces. I hope that our end product will be as effectuve as this, although it will be longer. When we were shown these in class, I was inspired and I realised that to create something short and effective like this would be achievable for us.

Items Going Missing

One of the issues we have had with our filming, is that we have been storing our props in a bad in the cupboard where we were instructed, and other students have been touching, moving and taking tese things. We had the blue snoopy bag we were using go missing for around a week until it was found, and some figures have had limbs snapped off. Luckily, they were not figures we were using but it is still disrespetful of other peoples property to do somthing like that. We now keep our figures hidden in a boxish container, as every lesson when we go to get our characters, we find them strewn across the different lockers. On one occassion, we couldn't find a character and if it hadn't been for Mr Powell finding it, we woudl have presumed it lost.

Verson Five

This is the fifth version of our iStopMotion piece. No nem filming has taken place, but when you compare this version to the previuos one there are drastic imrovements. It has been fixed up and messy parts have be removed or changed. There are no hands or body parts in any shots and everythig goes together smoothly now. I wa absent while this version was taking place, and Miranda and Alicia did this as they could not film while I was away.

Version Four

This is the fourth version of our iStopMotion piece. It now goes for 32 seconds. Although I think thr movement quality is great, some parts need to be fixed up. There arepaces where you can see shadows moving and where it is obvious the stage etc. has been moved or reset. There is one part inperticular before he has flown in where there is a couple of seconds of the camera just all over the place which has to be changed as it looks very messy and unproffessional.

Version Three

This is the third verson of our iStopMotion piece. We now have batman, the first dancer in our competion, fly onto the stage and begin his dance. We have chosen to have him fly into the scene as it suits his character. Batman does a kind of robot like stiff dance. We got him to fly in by using fishing wire and holding this where it is not viible to the camera.

Version Two

This is the second version of our iStopMotion piece. Since the first version, no more filming has actually taken place. The difference between this verion adn the last version, it that we have duplicated the previous footage of three seconds six times so that it now goes for eighteen seconds. We did this as we thought it would be very hard to continue filming as we would have to se u again. The alinments would be different and it would be obvious that the stage has been set up again as it is basically impossible to get all the props etc. in the exact same place.

Being Absent

...jeib

FIlming Lesson Two

THis was our second lesson of filming. We were in R3 for this lesson and we all preferd this better as it better suited our style. We have decied to leave our set up there permenentley and just travel there each lesson to wor. We have decided upon this as we believe it will be much easier for us this way as having to set up each lesson and pack up is very hard. If we dicided to just take everything with us and set it up agin each time, making sure it almost perfectly replicates the last one, we would only get around fifteen minutes of filming time each lesson and that will not allow us to finish shooting our movie. This will allow us to accomplish much more and produce work of a higher standard as we will not be rushed for time. When setting things up again there is also the issue of making the two look the same. In our experiences is is practically impossible to make the two look the same, particualry in this scenario as the fabric we use for our background will fall differently each time we re-esemble our stage set.

Using Camera Over Macbook

At the begining of our first filming lesson, we were prepared and expercting to be using a macbook to film our iStopMotion. Just as we were ablout to start filming, Mr Powell suggested to us that we use a video camera to film our movie apposed to the laptop. Using a camera allows us to zoom in and out which has been very useful to us already, and we are still filming our openning sequence. It will also dramatically improve the quality of our end product. As holding a laptop is extremely inpractical, using he tripod is also very helpful and will make sure there is no bumping/moving.

Chosing a Background

We have decided to use a gold background for the competition segment of the movie and a black backdrop when the losers are transported to the other world. We have decided that it will provide a good contrast, changing the mood of the film significantly and making it very clar to any viewers that something important has just taken place. We decided to use the good for the competition because it is exciting and fun. THe competitors are competing for awesome prizes and are all estatic that they have been chosen to be on the show. When the losers are transported, it changes fro the the excitement of the gold to a dull, black wastleland that they are trapped in.

Version One

This is is the first version of our iStopMotion piece. It only goes for three seconds, and this was actually suprisingly difficult. It was harder than I thought it would be has has me a little bit worried about finishing the piece by the end of week eifght which is actually sooner than it seems. We aren't finished this scene yet, as the host isn't finihsed speaking, and we have estimated that just under twenty seconds of dialoge will be needed from the host at this point.

First Filming Lesson

This lesson, Miranda and I began to film our movie. When we arrived at the classroom, we realised that Alicia wasn't at school. As she was supposed to bring items, such as a stage (shoebox) and black fabric for a backdrop, this set us back a little. After discussion, MIranda and I decided to fgo ahead with the filming as we both know from experience that fifteen weeks can go like 'that'.

As we were missing some bits and pieces, we decided to loo around for a few items. We found something to use as aa stage and set up our set for the first scene. Then, after discussiong with Mr Powell, we decided that it would be to our advantage if we used a video camera to film opposed to a laptop. There are many advantages of using a camera instead of a laptop, these are outlined in a seperate post.

While I went to find a camera, Miranda scavenged around the classroom so we were almost ready to go. We had a little trouble setting up the tripod and the camera, but when we sorted it out we were ready to go. After one attempt, we quickly learnt that you ready do need tiny movements to make a film look effective. After one take of bigger movement, we had to start again as we realised that it didn't look at all realistic.

NExt lesson, we are aiming to finish off the introduction. IT is unlikel that we will get into the individual dances buut we would like to be up to them next week. As we will have three people next lesson, it will, hopefully be easier to do more. We also wasted a lot of time working out how to use the tripods and cameras, with onbly around ten minutes of filming taking place, including our experimental work and connecting the video camera to the laptop.

BONES Personality Profile

Bones is a skeleton who is currently living in Hollywood but is originally from Sweden. He is currently trying to break into the movie business. His attempts have been unfruitful so far, with only a few minor roles. He also releases his debut album "To be bones" next week, and is expecting it to be a number one. Bones lived in Sweden until he landed a small role in a local horror film. After many amazing reviews, he decided to make the move to Hollywood. He scored a small role in the latest 'Pirates of the Caribean' movie installment, but has had nothing since. He entered the competition as the thought it would be a good opportunity to become well known and famous. He has a one track mind and being famous and starring in movies is his dream. His greatest life ambition is to write, direct and star in the greatest horror movie of all time. Originally known as Skelly, he lived with his family in the local graveyard until he says he murdered his brother and had to go on the run from the law. He then changed his name to Bones and began his new life.

Story Board

This is the storyboard of our animation. Of the twelve scences on the storyboard, I contributed to six. I drew them and wrote about it. I am not a very talented artist so I was happy with how the storyboard turned out. I think that this storyboard turned out very effective. I am confident that we will be able to use this storyboard and complete our istopmotion piece effectively.

ZAP Personality Profile

Zap is one of the competitors in the competition. He entered he competition as he loves to dance and thought it would be a great opportunity for him to showcase his amazing dancing. His style of dance is very unique in his dancing style as there are few others who can do what he can do. He had always been a dancer, in fact he danced two or three times a week since he was six years old. On this fifteenth birthday, he was involved in a horrendous accident which left him in a coma for six months. He awoke to be almost unscathed, although all of his bones had become extremely flexible, like jelly. He can amazing things as a result of this. When he does not win the competition he is extremely upset, and he is very afraid when he finds himself in a new world. He has been nicknamed ZAP because he is so amazing, one of a kind. He wears his ZAP suit so he stands out and is unforgettable. ZAP is a little over confident going into the competition, which is one of the reasons why he is so devastated when he doesn't win. His favourite foods are spinach as he thinks they make him faster. His favourite show is pop-eye, hence the spinach. He is married to ZIP, a woman he met in the hospital and they have one daughter called ZOP. He also travelled with the circus for a while until he decided it wasn't for him.

Lesson One, Week Two

This lesson, we started our actual story board. We began to draw a square each, but we didn't get very far along and Miranda and I decided to finish it off in boarding, meaning Alicia will be unable to do it. We also used the lesson to catch Miranda up on the things that she missed due to sickness. We made a list of all props and equipment we will need, it is my job to get fabric for the back drop and a torch to use as a spotlight during the competition. We finalized which characters would do what and developed some dances they will do. We have decided that John Cena will do ballet and we decided this as it conflict with his appearance so extremely. We hope to start film ming soon.

Week One Lesson Two

We have agreed to work in a group of three with Miranda, Alicia and I. This Lesson, Miranda was away as she is sick, so Alicia and I drafted a story board.

Barbie Flashdance

Our Idea

Miranda and I brainstormed over the holidays and before the break to deicde what we are doing and finialized this plan the first lesson. The openning scence is a dance competition. There are four competiotors and one host/annoucer, so there are five characters. Each dancer will have a little solo, lasting for just a few seconds. The winner will be announced and the winner and host leave the stage. The three losers then, somehow, are transported to a different setting, a loser land full of endless horrors. While in the loser land, they are attacked by clay, and fight it off. We are not yet sure how it will end, although we will sort it out so we can complete our story board next lesson.

Term Three Beginning

This was our first creative media lesson for the term. Miranda and I had organised figuines and know what we are doing. We spent the lesson deciding which figurines were useable and we picked theis based on the range in movements. As we want them to be able to move freely around and do many different thing, such as dance, we need them to be able to be moved easily. We have a possible addition to our group, but the bell rang so we will have to sort that out next lesson.

Our lesson today was spent watching examples. We watched the first ever stop motion film which was created in the sixties.

following fro behind

We also watched an example of a newer film, called 'from behind'.

Lesson One

Last lesson we learnt about how we could use photoshop in istop motion to add different effects. We watched this video below as it is an example of how a music video was created using i-stop motion and animation. MIranda and I thought about what we could do but we didn't reach many decisions. We have so far decided that we want to use figures. As we both have younger siblings, we both have access to things which we can use. I experimented this lesson by taking a photo series of myself and editing it in photoshop. I changed it so I was pink. It was not very good, but I now know how to edit the frames in photo shop.



ADD VIDEO

Introduction

This term I will be completing an istop motion piece. I am going to work with Miranda Amey and I think we will be able to made a piece which will be of a really good quality. We are aiming to have our idea finalized and our story board completed by the end of this term.