Final project completed

Hello again,



Well the course has completed and I successfully turned in my final project. However I'm still continuing to work on it as a personal project. Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy it.

Best,
russ

Rough Cut version 4

Here's my latest installment:


enjoy!
Russ

Rough Cut version 3: Adding audio

Last week I finished video taping my footage and editting it down to 30-seconds for the duration of the project. I also chose my final sound track. I went with something that's sort of comical and upbeat. I tried to pay close attention to the timing of my footage so it is syncronized with the sound track.

Adding visual effects

Hey there!
Check out my latest enhancements to the rough footage.

Draft 2

Best,
Russ

Rough cut: draft 1

Here I've already started compositing my footage into layers. Each scene is comprised of 3 components: 1) a background plate, 2) my character pass, and 3) a foreground element if necessary. I'm holding off with color correction for now. But I have experiemented with key mapping areas of the character's figure. Already I have had to trim some sequences from my project in order to keep the duration under 30-seconds.

Draft 1

enjoy!
russ

Story reel v. I: Trial and error

Greetings,

Thanks for the many recommendations during the critique 2wks ago. I've decided it would be more beneficial (from a production schedule) to develop my story in a more controlled environment, which is an apartment. Here is my revised animatic. I also wanted to try a couple of test runs with my digital camera. This way I find out if greenscreening is the appropriate method for the technique requirement for this assignment.

The Body Shop animatic (approx. 30secs)

Shot List

Here is the shot list of my final project.
Enjoy!

Shot List (in PDF Format)

Animatics

I've assembled an animatic of my sketchboard for my final project. I discovered this process of figuring out timing of sequences becomes more accurate when audio is added. Unfortunately, this also increases the file size exponentially. If anyone is interested in viewing my movie w/sound added let me know :-)


The Body Shop animatic (approx. 30secs)

Best,
Russ

The Body Shop Storyboard

Sorry, I'm having difficulty uploading the storyboards as PDFs. These are the same boards as the TIF files I'm using as alternatives because the file size for these pdfs are so great (approx. 4mb each). Let's try this again....

Storyboard page 1 (in PDF Format)

Storyboard page 2 (in PDF Format)

The Body Shop Storyboard

Here is my storyboard for my final project. As I figured something like this would occur, I ran into several visual complications and transitions when I sketched the storyboard from the split-screen script. For example, I decided to eliminate the first 18seconds of footage which was of a busy NYC street. Instead, everything takes place within the store scene. Also, I needed a stronger catalyst for my story. So, now the reason my character is shopping for the "perfect body" is to attend a party. This undoubtly happens quite often and I am glad I encountered these issues now rather than late in the production process. I am revising my script. I tried to imagine some interesting photography angles with emphasis on point of view and direction of interest. I really like one of the shots that happen late in the video in which the character stares at himself in a mirror. Enjoy!

Storyboard page 1 (in TIF Format)

Storyboard page 2 (in TIF Format)

Style Frame

Here is a style frame from my video presentation.

Split Screen Script

I found a couple of ways to trim my length down. By doing this, I managed to shave off 10-seconds from the previous version. Here is my updated files:

The Body Shop, Running Time 49 seconds (in PDF Format)
The Body Shop, Running Time 49 seconds (in Word Format)

I still need to cut down on my run time.

====================================

To day I am prepared to present my proposed script for my final project. I have discovered that after carefully estimating run times for some of my shot sequences, my duration is greater than 30-seconds. Therefore, I need to find ways to either remove some sequences, like setting up the establishing an environment, or decreasing the length of time allotted for a sequence to complete. Perhaps it isn't necessary to have the transition shot of a bustling NYC street into a little boutique? What will my music samples be for my sequences, and how will they transition from one scene to the next? I'm still in the process of brainstorming these issues.

The Body Shop, Running Time 59 seconds (in PDF Format)
The Body Shop, Running Time 59 seconds (in Word Format)

Enjoy!
Rp

Project Treatment

Picking up from last week's assignment about the Pitch, I've narrowed my idea to one topic. Here is a descriptive treatment for the "Body Shop" concept.

The Body Shop, Running Time 30 seconds (in Word Format)
The Body Shop, Running Time 30 seconds (in PDF Format)

Enjoy!

Final Project Pitches

Hey there!
Here are 3 concept descriptions for my project pitch(es):

Disgruntled Character
Technique: Type Animation
A character/symbol becomes disgruntle because of its' sparse usage in a comic strip panel and decides to act its frustration out against the other letters. Tracking will be used to superimpose typography against the movements of an actor.

The Body Shop
Technique: Greenscreening + Tracking
Instead of people shopping for clothes at a store, clothing shops for bodies to wear them. Actors in costume will be superimposed and tracked digitally.

Virtual Postcard
Technique: Morph
A ride in the park for a couple becomes a trip down memory lane. As the riders pass objects in the park, the objects morph into other elements that are connected to activities which occurred in the past.

Visual inspiration

I found this image in the August issue of Creative Review magazine. I really like the way the design studio, 2x4, fills the space with these larger than life cutouts for a fashion exhibition back in 2004. At first glance, I thought this image was of a bustling sidewalk in some major metropolitan city because of the way each figure is staggered. One image overlaps another giving the illusion of depth.

Another attribute I like is how the designers used the negative white space as a design element to outline each figure. I think of kewpie dolls or paper cutouts when I see it. It helps re-enforce the idea of 2-d objects interacting within a 3d space. That's pretty cool I say.

Werd! I remember seeing these ads all over Soho this summer. These are my favorite! And not just because I'm a carnivor. Ha! This image was also in the August issue of CR. Anyways, when I first saw these ads, on walls all around Broome Street and 6th Ave, I thought "hmm these remind me of old propaganda posters from the 1930s." And sure enough that's what the team from Crispin, Porter & Bogusky were trying to emulate in their designs. I love the type treatments. Everything is indicative to the WPA era from the minimal composition detail which gives you just enough visual information to explain the form, to almost heroic arrangement of the prominent figure or key visual. Those hard hats are too much! Is that style even around these days? The use of perspective is wonderful too! I'm a huge fan of authenticity. This is the way to take a concept/theme and carry it out from start to finish.

Alright, the scan doesn't really do justice to image, but you get the general idea.

When I look at this glass I imagine it's going to shatter if I stare too long! There's barely a hint of the glass. It's almost as if the brandy is floating in space. Mmmm I don't think a bottle of Old E can pull off the same type of response as this image. Words like elegance, pure, and sexy come to mind. The essence of a blue light are what reminds us of the form. Yeah I think the lighting is superb!

lift off!!

hi there,
this is my first posting ever! i hope you will enjoy it.