It's been a few months since my last blog update, but here's where we stand one week before the spring semester starts! I took some time for myself and my loved ones, but we're back in the capstone grind in full swing! Here's to the next ~15 weeks.
New week, new animatic! I'm hoping this will be the last pass with big changes. My one concern is transitioning into the montage-y bit, but I'm hoping to get feedback on that today since I'm presenting for the group. As far as progress that can't be necessarily seen yet, I am planning my game plan for vertical slice, the character rig is coming along nicely, and I am actively researching how to get the visual style that I want.
Hey everyone! It’s been a difficult few weeks, but luckily I had the opportunity to meet with one of my professors regarding my film, and that relit my motivational spark. However, with family in town the last few days I haven’t been able to give my film the time I would have liked. Despite being unable to bring a visual update today, I have the critiques I received on Animatic Night and a game plan for moving forward.
Generally, the feedback I received was as follows:
- there should be a bigger emphasis placed on the environment. It needs to shine!
- I need to vary up shot types a bit more. The close ups work, but they need to be broken up a bit more so we get more environment.
- Figure out what others are thinking/how they approach Rosa. My rationale here is that it’s a very close-knit community, so it’s very approachable. They know Rosa, they’ve seen her around, and they’re keeping an eye out for her. However, they’re not outright doing things for her. They’re letting her figure it out and just making sure she’s safe!
- some of the pacing is too quick. Give some shots, especially the ending and the note shot more time.
- make the stakes and the objective feel higher. Is there some sort of obstacle that can be added?
- I received feedback that my film was a bit boring so far, and the character feels flat. A lot of the character will be solved through performance, but as for the story feeling boring, I think the plan will be to make it more concise and to adjust how some things happen. More on that later!
I met with Professor O’Brien and he gave me some great feedback as well! He mentioned that overall it feels too long, so to tighten up some of the timing. He agreed to vary up camera angles and mentioned that I can add a conflict without making it too bad. For a child, little things can feel bigger after all. He emphasized that for this film to shine, the performance and the environment need to work well. If either falls flat, so will the rest of the film.
My plan with the story is to make the beginning have snappier timing. I want to add a pov shot of the environment when she looks around as she arrives at the plaza. She gets her maraca as planned, but I’ll have a shot emphasizing the note left on the table and its forgottenness, probably even getting blown away as she dances around. Before being given the sombrero, she will trip in front of the band, and be given it as consolation. From here will be a series of short shots highlighting her grabbing things and emphasizing her distractions, before getting to the doll. It would be in a pristine box, and her hands would be filthy from everything she’s done, touched, and eaten. She experiences a softer version of the “doll rejection” but not based on money per se. When she sniffs and gets distracted, the yummy smell /is/ the bakery, and she takes the same contemplative moment before going in. There will be a shot of her walking victoriously home before the last shot through the door when she pulls out the cake.
I’ve been drawing panels to replace the parts that have changed, and I’ve loosely started on my 3D animatic. Most of my cameras are in place, and my character is coming along well in the rigging process.
I’m a bit frustrated to not be able to show more today, but that just means it will be a busy busy few days!
We officially have a working scratch sound! Even though I'm sure it'll go through many stages, I'm delighted with how this is working for right now. Very very soon we shall have some 3D going for us other than just Rosa's character model. Exciting!!
I'm very excited by the state this is in! Finally adjusted the ending to be more than the original beat panel, and made revisions to the beginning based on feedback. Sending this version off to get a very rough cut of sound, and, hopefully, next time I post an update it'll be accompanied by some fun stuff happening in 3D!
Week 5 is very much underway! 25 (more or less haha) left!
It's been a long week, and, of course, I get sick through most of it, but the second pass is coming along nicely! will be updating again soon with further adjustments that I haven't gotten to yet. Main new things here: completely new opening shot and title shot, new approach to Rosa's arrival to the plaza, and different camera angle for the teetering until she sees the doll. I plan on clarifying the dancing shot moreto solidify it, and I'll also add more substance to the last shot.
Until next time!