New link to booking system

Hi everyone, here's the new link: www.openwindow.co.za/toweq/Web

Two stop motion gems I found.

http://www.nowness.com/day/2012/4/18/2072/the-shins-the-rifle-s-spiral#replay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssSbwFI68rI&feature=player_embedded

Class notes

Hi everyone

Week 1 and 2's class notes (animation principles and brief history) can now be found under the "Class notes and homework assignments" link above, or by clicking here.

Films or clips shown in the past few weeks can be found under the "video archive" link above, or by clicking here.

For Final Cut Pro export instructions, click here.

Our guest speaker has been confirmed for tomorrow's (Wed 28/02) third year class. If you would like to attend, please join us at the Cube at around 14:50.

Have a lovely week!

Welcome

Hi everyone and welcome to stop-motion II!

Above you will find links to the grid and brief and we will be posting links to videos, homework assignments and class notes as we go along.

Once you have received an invite, you will be able to join the blog using a google account. Please feel free to post any relevant and interesting material you come across.

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.