Homework for Monday February 29th, 2016

Review the following homework assignment! I will be checking for this! You will be graded individually for this assignment!

Below are the chosen groups for the film.  Based on all the information I've received, I've divided the groups in the following. I have 2 groups of four in this setup, but if anyone is thinking about working as groups of 2, or has any questions, I am willing to switch groups around until MONDAY @ 5:30. (as long as all parties are in agreement,)

Selections are based on a mix of abilities, personal choices, etc. I did everything I could to make sure everyone's opinions were considered, save for a few personal elective choices.  If anyone has any complaints or concerns, contact me by email!

*in alphabetical order*
Group 1: Alexander, Jessica, Randell
Group 2: Alexia, Cortez, Conrad, Justice
Group 3: Emily, Sahina, Shelby
Group 4: Hector, Jeremy, Sarah, Taylor


A. Complete Everything from the blog post, Cinematic Storytelling 101.  Below is a listing of the final assignment from the blog post you MUST complete for Monday.

INSTRUCTIONS:  Find one short animated film (no longer than 10 minutes) online that inspires you to create great cartoons and movies.  Watch the film, then break down the story into each act, and each major segment.  Make an outline - by ACT - of what those major plot points are. 

Within that outline, be sure to point out these major sections of questioning:

ACT 1: (25% of your film's runtime)

1. Who is(are) the protagonist(s)?
2. What is the setting of the film?
3. How does the film begin?
4. What is the inciting incident? (What triggers the main plot of the story?  What is the protagonist looking for?)
5. What is the major first plot point that moves the story into act II?

ACT 2: (50% of your film's runtime)

1. What setbacks does the protagonist face in Act II?
2. How does the protagonist deal with those major plot points?
3. What is the second major plot point that finally kicks the protagonist's butt in gear? What is the jumping off point for Act 3?

ACT 3: (25% of your film's runtime)

1. What is the climax of the film? Does the protagonist get what is wanted, what is needed, or something else entirely?
2. In the Denouement, how does the film relax itself back to a state of equilibrium? How is everything resolved?
3. How does the film end?

B. Read Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of FRAMED INK!  We will be using both chapters during class next week!



C. With your group, brainstorm a number of ideas for your animation based on what we covered in class! Bring your ideas to class for us to work on Monday! We will create storyboards on that day.

• Create concept art for your movies!
• Create character designs and concepts.
• Create environment designs and concepts.
• Create an ongoing stack of reference imagery and inspiration from cartoons, movies, and artwork of your choosing! 
• Create outlines for your story, with respects to THREE ACT STRUCTURE!
• This requires you to make some time to converse with your group mates!  Exchanges numbers and contact information so you can begin developing a rapport with your team!
• Use the illustration images and reference materials (see the previous blog post for details) and come up with some conceptual ideas for your story!
• Mix and match ideas, and come to class ready to finalize a story idea! It is okay to work ahead, but bring multiple ideas so we can decide on a final idea during class. Our goal is to begin storyboarding by the end of class on Monday at the earliest, and the beginning of class Wednesday at the latest!

Homework for Wednesday, 2/24/2016

A. Find 1 or 2 people in class to work with for your film!  Talk with these people and come up with a proposal to work together! I need to know the following on Wednesday:

• Who is in your group?
• What are your individual strengths?
• What are your individual weaknesses?
• What kind of content do you want to create together?

Bring this information to me at the beginning of class on Wednesday!  I will take tallies, but as stated in class, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE GROUPS AROUND UNTIL THEY ARE FINALIZED! =D

In addition to that, review our notes from class today. Look at the films we watched in class. Look in them and make notes about how they capture the audience's attention!

 Here is a link of the videos we watched.

Bambi Vs Godzilla - Marv Newland
Simon's Cat In: Cat Man Do - Simon Toefield
Celles et Ceux des Cimes et Ceux - Gwenn Germain
Thought of You - Ryan Woodward
Kairos Trailer - Studio La Cachette

B. Read the following blog posts:

Cinematic Storytelling 101

Notes on the Collaborative Process

C. I also need everyone to review the following information below:

#1. Read Chapter 1 of Framed Ink. This covers film and cinematography techniques that will inform your decision-making process when choosing the best shots for your story. I mentioned that this textbook was a requirement this semester, and your first reading assignment will be this one. 

You will look at CHAPTER 2 and 3 on the weekend.

#2. Complete the assignment at the end of storytelling 101.

#3. Monday is a brainstorming day for the entire class, where we talk about animation filmmaking 101. Every student must come to class with a rough idea of the kind of story you would like to make. (As groups have not been selected yet, this may not be the story you create this semester, but we need to know where your mindset currently lies when it comes to cartoon creation.)

Bring the following:

An elevator pitch for a story. This is a 1-2 sentence description depicting what the story is about. You could bring multiple ones.

For each idea you come up with, bring visual materials that describe what each story is about.

Bring visual materials to help visualize the kinds of stories you would like to create!

Bring samples of both your own work (small, rough sketches of either character ideas, environment ideas) and screen shots of other movies and cartoons to illustrate the kind of visual art you would like to create by the end of the semester! Print out any visual materials you bring!

Cinematic Storytelling 101

1: Review these Sites on Scriptwriting:

1. The 3 Main Elements of a Script:
• http://www.bloopanimation.com/writing-a-script/
• REMEMBER: MOST IMPORATNT PARTS OF SCRIPT:  Location, Action, Dialogue.
2. Jeffrey Scott's Website (super amazing writer for cartoons)
• http://www.jeffreyscott.tv/Scripts.htm (tons of example scripts for download; also a lesson on excellent website design)
• http://www.jeffreyscott.tv/
3. A great resource for color selection and color thoery:
• http://kuler.adobe.com

2.  Review the formula for a movie's "Three Act Structure" at these links:

 http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThreeActStructure

http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/pruter/film/threeact.htm

http://scripteach.com/?page_id=223

3.  Find one short animated film (no longer than 10 minutes) online that inspires you to create great cartoons and movies.  Watch the film, then break down the story into each act, and each major segment.  Make an outline - by ACT - of what those major plot points are. 

Within that outline, be sure to point out these major sections of questioning:

ACT 1: (25% of your film's runtime)

1. Who is(are) the protagonist(s)?
2. What is the setting of the film?
3. How does the film begin?
4. What is the inciting incident? (What triggers the main plot of the story?  What is the protagonist looking for?)
5. What is the major first plot point that moves the story into act II?

ACT 2: (50% of your film's runtime)

1. What setbacks does the protagonist face in Act II?
2. How does the protagonist deal with those major plot points?
3. What is the second major plot point that finally kicks the protagonist's butt in gear? What is the jumping off point for Act 3?

ACT 3: (25% of your film's runtime)

1. What is the climax of the film? Does the protagonist get what is wanted, what is needed, or something else entirely?
2. In the Denouement, how does the film relax itself back to a state of equilibrium? How is everything resolved?
3. How does the film end?

Notes on the Collaborative Art Process

While we have yet to select groups for our film, the time to select them is soon coming!  These are tips for maximum success when creating art as a team!

One of the important facets of artistic creation is the collaborative environment. Everyone must gain the important skill of being able to work with others!  It gives you new points of view for problem solving, and a chance to work on something much larger than an individual could produce in that time. Learn from each other, be willing to teach when necessary, and make something awesome!

Here are some tips to make the collaborative process easier and more enjoyable. Begin reviewing the following information and we will discuss on Wednesday!

1. Allocate responsibilities!

Every member is good at something. Spending 30 minutes in the beginning making a list of what everyone is good at, will help the group succeed in the long run!

2. Check in every two days as a group with progress updates!

You should not tackle this large assignment with an “everyone do their part, we’ll put it together in the end” attitude.  Instead, create a list of small, objective-based goals that will help you see your project through to the end!

3. Create a schedule!

Design a timeline that has, at minimum the following milestones!

1. Story finalized! (do you need a script written? it may help!)
2. Vocals recorded!
3. Music begins production!
4. All sound recorded!
5. All sound effects created!
6. Music is completed and ready to test!
7. Audio mixing begins!
8. In-Progress Track is fully mixed and ready to test!
9. Final mixing is completed and ready to test!
10. Music is revised!
11. Final adjustments complete!

Those are clear objectives that help you make artwork within a group setting. Any large jobs should be broken up into smaller groups.  To help you better function, be willing to help someone with one part of their work with the added notion that that person helps you with your work as well!

4. Brainstorm ideas!  

Go one by one, across the entire group 4 or 5 times.  Pick a person to take notes, and write down every idea everyone has first!  Ask each other why the idea came to mind, and what quality scenarios could be made from the idea.  (The question mentioned just now is what you call an OBJECTIVE question. It gets you thinking in terms of specific goals, and not open-ended thoughts that often end with everyone going "I don't know...")

Sift through each idea with pro and cons lists and see what sticks from each idea! Find a way to incorporate something that everyone likes to create a piece that is greater than the sum of it’s parts!

5. Take turns leading and following when working together!  

If you have an idea, be willing to share it! But make note that you may be working with someone in your group who is usually more on the quiet side. Because of this, be willing to periodically ask the members of your group one of these simple questions:

"What do you think?  How can we get this done?  Do you think there is a better way?  What would you do differently?"

This encourages group participation and encourages critical thinking on all ends of the process!

6. The goal of collaborative art making is twofold: Make incredible art, and have a good time doing it.  

Follow the steps above to make the experience an enjoyable one!

7. Clear Objectives 2:

Be sure to have a goal for all class periods! Someone should take notes of all ideas mentioned.

8. COMMUNICATE!

Before you do anything else, make a list of everyone’s contact information. Emails, phone numbers, instant messengers, and even Facebook addresses if need be.  Once you have an idea you’re happy with, you need to make time during the week to meet together to make epic sound projects!

If you find that you’re having problems, nip it in the bud and talk it out early!  Be cordial, and try to avoid hostile language.  Be mindful that your idea of natural speaking patterns may not be the same as someone’s else. If you make controversial jokes, like to use excessive four-letter language or the like, make sure everyone else in your group is cool with it.  Yes, we're an art school, but you never know. It’s better to check early.

If you often have medical issues, or something unavoidable that you feel may cause you to leave from a collaborative session early, talk with everyone ahead of time.  The best thing you can do is communicate!

Make note of email chains! Start an ongoing conversation with your group mates and make use of the "Reply All" button!

UTILIZE facebook or skype for group conversation when not in class!

If you find that you have a dispute and you need a mediator outside your group, that is what I am here for. Let me know of the problem early, before it becomes much larger! (note: if you feel like you're on the verge of speaking with hostility and a few 4 letter words, stop, take a breather, and come back to the situation when you've calmed down.)

9.  Find each other's strengths!

Everyone, EVERYONE, is good at something.  And part of the collaborative process is finding out what someone else can do, that is done much better than you!  Being open and honest about this makes it easier for you to learn new strategies for alleviating your greatest weaknesses, while helping someone else do the same!  Be open, ask questions, and be willing to ask each other about processes you have yet to try!

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One of the important facets of artistic creation is the collaborative environment. Everyone must gain the important skill of being able to work with others!  It gives you new points of view for problem solving, and a chance to work on something much larger than an individual could produce in that time. Learn from each other, be willing to teach when necessary, and make something awesome!

Homework for Monday, February 8th 2016!

A. Come to class with a solid idea for your lip synch animation!

1. *You need A sentence for your character to say!
1. Make sure the sentence is interesting. And think about how the body will be animated in ADDITION to the speech!
2. Make thumbnail drawings and storyboards just like we did for our last project!
3. Estimate the number of key drawings for the body language, and the TIMING for each key drawing!
4. If you have multiple ideas, bring thumbnails and storyboards for each idea!
5. You need to design a character for your animation!  It can be designed only for the waist up! Make sure I see a front, side, and 3/4 pose for your character!
2. PICK AN ACTOR FOR YOUR PROJECT!
1. it could be you, it could be someone else! Make sure if it is someone else, it is someone from our class! You will be the director for that person!

B. Read Pages 304-326 and page 348 in Animator’s Survival Kit Extended Edition!

C. Finish the exercise we started in class today! You should animate the following words:

1) Want(Wahnt), Dude(Doo), Pumpkin(PumH-Kin), Ladder(Lah-Durr), Distraction(Diss-Trah-Shun) Electric (E-LeK-TriK)