Video and Sound Production / Project 3: Stop-Motion Animation

28.3.2022 - 10.7.2022 (Week 1 - Week 15)
Britney Chow Pei Jun / 0350043 / BDCM
Video and Sound Production
Project 3: Stop-Motion Animation  


JUMPLINKS


INSTRUCTIONS



PROJECT 3: STOP-MOTION ANIMATION

Proposal

In this project, we got to choose whether we wanted to do a stop-motion animation, or a visual effect video, I have chose to do a stop-motion animation. We are to create a stop-motion animation, and edit it with all the knowledge we have gained. First, we need to write out our proposal for our final project, below is mine: 

Fig 1.1; Final Project Proposal;

Storyboard

Next, we need to start doing a storyboard for it so that we have an idea on how to execute our final project. From fig 1.1, you can see that I have chosen to use paper cut outs. Below is my brief storyboard:

Fig 1.2; Final Project Storyboard; 

Shooting and Editing

Since I'm using paper cut outs, I have decided to prepare my own materials, I have spend 2 whole days making these materials. 

Fig 1.3; Materials Prep;

For this, I drew out the people, colored them with my water colors and proceed to cut them out. In order to make them move freely, meaning, moving their limbs, I either used a thumb tack or brads. This process took me quite some time as I haven't been touching stuff relating to handcraft for a long time, it definitely brings back memories. After finishing the materials, I proceed to shoot them. I booked the studio from our lecturer, and film it over there. Here is my first draft: 


Fig 1.4; Final Project First Shooting Draft 1; 

After some feedbacks that Mr. Martin, our lecturer provided, I decided to reshoot it. You can access my first draft here: 

Here is my second Draft: 

Fig 1.5; Final Project Second Shooting Draft 2; 

After that, I then added a background music and also sound effects. The sound effects are from both YouTube and Freesound.org. You can access my second draft here: 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1092UkqMfcTgsvyBE0pDPQ8kVLm973_4O?usp=sharing

Here is my third draft: 

Fig 1.6; Final Project Second Shooting Draft 3;

However, I have received a lot of feedbacks from our lecturer, and there is actually quite a lot of problems with it as well, for example, there won't be anyone who can understand the TV person and Rose person part. After the feedback session, I then make some changes to it. 

Final Project 3: Stop-Motion Animation

Fig 1.7; Final Project: Stop-Motion Animation; 


FEEDBACKS

Specific Feedbacks: 
The storyboard looks fine, since you chose paper cut-outs, the things that you plan to do are able to be executed, however, how you execute it is the problem.

The first draft looks okay, however, the transition between the main character falling asleep and straight away to the fire seems weird, it should have something there. Yes, you can add a thought bubble to it. 

The third draft have quite some problems. First of all, the choice of background music seems too upbeat to be sad, you should change that. Furthermore, I do not think that people can understand well what you are trying to say in the second scene (TV person, Rose woman), the things you're trying to say is too much, you can't clamp it in a short video like this. Furthermore, the colors for your animation looks too raw, there's no difference between the first scene, which is a happy one compared to the other scenes which shows that she is sad. Moreover, there's a lack of reaction from the main character, there's no sound effects for her as well. You can add a dropping into the ocean sound effect, as you have missed that, the same for the last scene where the main character is in the coffin, you can add some sound effects like coffin or funeral sounds to further indicate that part. 


REFLECTIONS

This project is definitely the most stressful one compared to the others, what's more is that there are also other module's assignments that are coming up. I found out from this project, that I really have no sense at all and also very poor in animating, as this project reminds me of IVN, which is Illustrations and Visual Narratives. I didn't do too good in that module's final project as well. I thought I would be able to execute the things that I planned well, as I have the idea on how I should do it. Though when it comes to the real thing, I do not know how to execute it. I have the idea, but not the way to do it. This happens in a lot of my previous projects and assignments as well. I think that I should be using my time wisely to improve myself on my own's execution skills. Furthermore, I think that the way I insert the things are also a problem for myself, as sometimes I would either miss something out or insert the wrong thing. It's really a shame that I couldn't do this project the way I wanted it to, nonetheless, I find myself enjoying the process. I remember that when I was filming this project, I felt like both my back and my legs are going to break soon, as I have to stand and bend for long hours. I also remember that I have to redo it sometimes because the position is off. That's really frustrating. Besides that, I also remember the effort I poured into making the paper puppets. It's been a long time since I touched those, so I feel like my skills have become rusty, though it's not like it's good from beginning, I ought to improve myself. Despite all of that, I feel that this whole module is very fun meaningful as I got to learn a lot of skills and gain a lot of knowledge, though I'm also very scared that I'm gonna fail due to how poor my work is. Even so, I'm still very grateful and thankful for my friends that helped me out and also my lecturer, Mr. Martin, as I do not think I will be able to go through the module without them. 

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