The Johnny Cash project

Have a look at this amazing collaborative project. Each frame from the video is drawn by a different person. The project is still in progress, so you can contribute.

http://www.thejohnnycashproject.com/#

Be sure to watch what they have so far (actual music video starts around 02:50)

Class recap

Homework for 23/24 Aug:
A walk sequence at 24 fps consisting of at least 5 steps, at least 12 frames apart. Before you start animating, draw up a plan to follow and plot it into a timing sheet. Hand this in together with your sequence.
Also, bring a refined storyboard.

Here is a link to all the fables in case anyone needs it.

Class notes

Remember to prepare at least 5 pages of reference material and drawings for class on 16/08 or 17/08. This may include a draft of a storyboard.

Half the class will be spent on individual feedback and the rest will be a demonstration on how to create walk sequences.

Stop-Motion Studio:

Click here for a list of things the studio does and doesn't supply.

• Please remember to place the shooting keypads back in their plastic bags when you're finished.
• Please clean the glass in the multi-planes with window-cleaner (supplied in studio) when you're finished shooting.

Dragon tips:

• If you have any image stabilization/vibration reduction function on your camera, TURN IT OFF. For some reason it makes the frames jump around a bit when using Dragon.
• If your camera does not show up automatically once it's connected to Dragon, the best way to find it is to go to the help menu at the top and click "camera test". At this point it will probably register your camera, but you might still need to set the capture and video source under the capture menu.
• Adjust your camera settings via the cinematography window (eye icon on top right) and lock them down to ensure that the settings don't change accidentally during shooting

Click here to watch tutorials on how to use Dragon.

A little help...

Orinoco Flow

Hey Stop Motion People!

Just something I came across in relation to the note on: "How to make money out of Stop motion"... Music videos!

Have a watch. Quite cool for the Enya fans ;]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfVJ11GXzXQ

Project 3

Hi everyone

The new grid and brief has been posted in its page on the toolbar above. Names of films shown in class have also been posted in the Video Archive page.

Your homework for 3 August is to plot out the 5 second video clip of the ballet dancer into a timing sheet (at 30 fps). The timing sheet template (print out, preferably A3 size), as well as the video clip is in a folder titled "Timing sheet exercise" on the desktop on the Cube's computer. For more info, click here

Click here for a link to Megan Brain's (the paper artist) blog.

Also for 3 August, be prepared to show reference material (this can be films, photographs, paintings etc), sketches, a rough storyboard and whatever else you need to get going with your pre-production.

Flat 4 Animation Evening (Thursday 2 June)

See below for invite, or visit their Facebook page for more info.

After a two month break animation is back at FLaT 4 Studio 

2nd June •THURSDAY • 8pm.

We'll be screening A TOWN CALLED PANIC by Stephane Aubier and Vincent Patar.

A whacky full-length fliek which "is like a very lo-fi Toy Story with the vibe of a live-action Terry Gilliam cartoon and the addled craziness of SpongeBob Squarepants".. it's funny and refreshing in a 'barking mad sort of a way'...at least one fit of giggles is guaranteed." 
                                                    - Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian

There'll be food for sale from the kitchen (most likely a meat-based minestrone soup if the weather continues in this vein) and the movie is free. Please inform Artemis (flat4studio@gmail.com) of your attendance.

See you next Thursday!

Stop Motion Studio

As some of you may have noticed, our shooting studio is nearing completion and is already open for use. So far, there is one multiplane shooter and another two are on their way. There are also 3 shooting booths with removable table-tops and a grid above to attach rigging and lighting.

Be aware that you need to bring your own lights in order to shoot in the space. The booths are small, so the smaller the lights, the better.

In order to secure space in the studio, you must book time-slots through Open Window's new online booking system.

Take note of the new page in the toolbar above in order to view the booking page.

Animator presentations

Remember that everyone needs to present on an animator tomorrow as well as hand in a written assignment.

Music Video competition

Saatchi and Saatchi + Vimeo challenge

The deadline is 9 May and your film could be screened at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Project 2 due dates and guidelines

For due dates, assignment outlines and info on where to get materials mentioned, go to the "Class notes and homework assignments" page or click here.

Also, remember to like Flat 4 Studio's facebook page in order to be notified of Diek Grobler's next animation evening. The next one will probably take place on Thur 28 April.

Happy holidays!

Please bring to class (19/20 April)

Hi everyone, please bring your cameras and tripods to class tomorrow/wednesday.

Animation Evening this Thursday

Diek Grobler hosts a monthly animation evening at Flat 4 in Eastwood St. The next one is this Thursday (31 March) At 7pm and they're screening The Illusionist by Sylvain Chomet (Director of Triplets of Bellville)

For more info, visit the facebook page: Flat 4 event

Aardman launches South African animation academy

Read

Andrew Bird - Music Video - Cool Example Of Plasticine Animation

Thought this was a very cool example of Plasticine clay animation. Also thought it could serve as some inspiration for the other students :) .

Final work due Week 8

For next week (22nd/23rd March), you need:

At least 30 seconds of stop-motion animated footage edited together as one .mov or .avi clip.

These 30 secs do NOT include your rhythm reference (live-action) footage, your in-class group exercises or your spacing chart I gave you this week (which you still need to hand in).

For the rest it can be made up of any combination of footage that you've filmed this year. You're welcome to re-shoot anything or film something of your own invention. We're going to mark you based on these 30+ seconds, so show us what you want us to see.
Have a look at Marinda's previous post to see the marking criteria. 
You may include sound effects, but NO MUSIC.

This means that you don't have to finish the 8 sec claymation by week 8. But if you don't, you will need to complete a 15 second claymation (plasticine) film for week 9, after the holiday.

NO late work will be accepted. If you have to be absent, make sure your work is on the computer in the Cube by the time class starts.

Homework due week 7 (15/03 or 16/03)

Please check the requirements for your next homework assignment in the link on the right.
This is your last project for this module, so make it count!

Please note: the guidelines have changed slightly since 03/03, so make sure you're up to date with the current version.

Tripods and cameras

Please remember to bring your tripods and cameras and USB cables to class tomorrow or Wednesday, we are going to be doing in-class exercises. If you don't own a camera yet, you can share with someone for tomorrow.

PEACEFUL

Well basically, the is no conflict present between the wind and the flower, the rhythm of the stem and the leaves is controlled by the force of the wind, as well as the strength of the structure... therefore peace is signified

Excitement

Here follows a short clip of how water can simulate the bubbly feeling of excitement. ^^

Loneliness

The seperated drops indicate a feeling of loneliness where the repetition and rhythm of the drops translate into an ongoing experience of this particular emotion, contributing to the feeling of loneliness...

Highly Recommended: Mummenschanz

Mummenschanz, a Swiss theater troupe is going to be performing at the State Theater from the 22nd - 27th Feb.  I watched them when they came in 2008 and I'm definitely going again this time. It's wonderful to look at in terms of rhythm and timing, characterization through objects and conveying emotion without dialogue.

Tickets available from Computicket

To give you a taste:

Regarding Cameras

I received one or two questions regarding which camera is best for the class. The answer is, any digital camera with a manual setting is fine, but if you're serious about continuing with stop motion and your budget allows it, I would recommend investing in a Canon or Nikon DSLR even if only for the fact that DSLRs have a manual focus and zoom. I believe the Canon PowerShot has a focus lock setting, so this would be a cheaper alternative. Automatic focus can become annoying when animating, so keep that in mind if you're about to buy a new camera. But again, you don't have to get a DSLR and you won't be marked on the quality of your camera, but it will make animating easier.

In a later module I will be teaching you how to use a stop motion frame grabbing program called Dragon. It is supposed to be compatible with all digital cameras, but here is a list of the ones they recommend working with: Canon EOS DSLRs, Nikon DSLRs, Olympus DSLRs, Canon PowerShot (Gx, Sx IS, others)

-Nina

TCM Terry Gilliam Interview

Read and be prepared to discuss: Week 3 (15/16 Feb)
Director/animator Terry Gilliam speaks about topics like working with a low budget, pushing boundaries and what he likes about old films. Follow this link to read the full transcript Terry Gilliam interview