Objects At Rest

explorations in audio and moving imagery

Category: Animation

  • Updated: Applied Flash-based Choreography

    I used the Flash pre-visualization test (see previous post) to assist with a very short test using my actual set and objects. I printed out the Flash movie as a series of small thumbnails on 8.5″ x 11″ paper. I then used the printed sheets of individual frames for visual reference when animating the objects, very similar to a storyboard.

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    This is a small sample of the actual prints which take about 3 sheets of paper. I also wrote notes on the paper such as the tops of the objects and rotation heading so I could keep track of which way to move things with each shot. I discovered I needed to do that in the middle of shooting when I forgot which way something should be turning!

  • Updated: Pre-Visualization and Choreography With Flash

    I spent [another] hour with Macromedia/Adobe Flash tonight to experiment with animation timing and choreography of multiple objects. The result is the clip you see above. I used motion tweens to smooth everything out and added rotation to the objects to make the movement more dynamic. View the first version which was has very rough motion.

    The idea is to work out a sequence ahead of time and to know when to move each object or character throughout that sequence when there are multiple things going on. I can see some benefit to this especially if I had a second computer running the Flash file for frame by frame reference. The Flash document settings for this clip are set at 24fps [originally it was 15fps which is what I am currently shooting at but I may move to 24p] so theoretically I could advance it one frame at a time and use it as a guide for taking each shot with the digital camera. I suppose this would be some kind of “action assist” for multiple movements to supplement the more common video assist and gauges for visual placement.

  • Vitruvius: Building a Prologue, Establishing Authority

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    The secondary set (aka the Serlio Set) is almost done. Part of this secondary set development includes another minimal set that will be used for my prologue. I want to include some form of introductory segment in the Vitruvius film. The idea for a prologue emerged after listening to comments from people who saw my Man Drawing… film and the need to perhaps begin my films with some cursory information to inform the viewer about the nature of the film they are about to view.

    This idea also falls in line with Chuck Palahniuk’s advice on establishing authority in writing. He calls this action the “heart method” or the “head method”.

    …Next is the Head Method for establishing authority. This is where you use interesting facts and tidbits of knowledge to impress the reader that your narrator is smart. To do this effectively, you need to do some research. Then, find a way to work this information into your story. Don’t try to impress the reader with mere cleverness. Instead, invite the reader to share in a special world of insider knowledge, with facts that actually move the story forward.
    – Source: Chuck Palahniuk’s web site.

    I’m leaning toward the head method by introducing historic writers in the field of architecture, specifically Serlio and his work. The photo for this posting is a test shot for introducing the 5 books of architecture by Serlio.

  • Vitruvius Update Revisited: Secondary Set Development

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    REVISED UPDATE – NEW PHOTO OF SECONDARY SET:
    Update to my update. I’m playing around with a desk, chair, and props for the puppet.

    ORIGINAL POST:
    The secondary set is almost done. It is a minimal and basic set for the Serlio character which is also being modified a little. I need to make a desk so he can write his books properly. He may also need a beard depending on what I find during some more research. I’ve seen one depiction of Palladio with a beard so I may extrapolate that style for my Serlio.

    I’ve been busy working with my Nikon DSLR and trying out Stop Motion Pro and Stop Motion Maker Advance software. I’ve also begun shooting some initial footage to test various aspects of the film such as rig-removal in Photoshop and post-processing in Sony Vegas.

  • StopMo Community Roundup for July 2006

    A growing number of stop motion animators are using services like blogger, wordpress, or moveabletype to run their webs sites. As such, the sites are usually accompanied by a web feed (RSS feed) which allows people to subscribe and keep up with new postings without having to surf around the web all day. It makes it possible to assemble a personal newspaper with the latest updates from the things you want to follow.

    I usually keep up with stop motion information via web feeds (aka RSS feeds) and Bloglines as opposed to surfing and clicking around on the web. It saves a lot of time and needless clicking around and I can keep up with what’s going on.

    In my Bloglines reader I have a handful of sites such as Darkmatters, Ubatuber, Notes from Halfland, Scarlet Letters, AnimateClay, and Red Hatchet Films. Sites such as these offer fairly regular postings with updates occurring either many times a week or at least something each month. I would love to see the sites from Nick, Lio, Stopmotionanimation.com and Stopmoshorts.com offer web feeds. If they have feeds then either they aren’t advertising them or making them easily discoverable or I’m missing something.

    Big thanks to Jeffrey and Shelley for sending some very nice gifts. I got a limited edition woodcut print from the “Jenny Greenteeth” project.

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    I also have a collectible button for the “Halfland” project.

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    Other animators are also getting into the online store venture with items available from Phil Dale and Mike Brent. There’s probably more out there. I wonder if there is some way to compile a directory of stopmotion shopping somewhere to see all this merchandise at one location.

    Tennessee Reid continues to post various animations he finds on the web. Mike Brent also continues to add to his collection of top-notch animation clips with some recent work by Suzie Templeton. Mike has also posted some info and a sample of the importance of music to film/animation. A lot of films are making their way onto places like YouTube which illustrates how the web can help expose people to work they might never see or consider in the first place. Michael, at Red Hatchet Films, has also put some of his work online and is using a service where, apparently, he gets compensated financially if viewers click the ad at the end of the film. He has started a series called Dredd Manor which looks promising. His film, A Winter’s Tale, is also really good. I particularly like the way each scene is viewed through the windows of the house like little vignettes.

    Jeffrey’s film, Jenny Greenteeth continues to develop and his site is one of the more consistent production blogs with many behind the scenes photos and information about his film posted fairly regularly. Shelley’s Halfland project is also unfolding with recent work in set design. Sven at Scarlet Letters has posted some excellent information regarding metal armature creation and also posted animation tests worth checking out. Leevi continues to upload scenes from his HarmoniCa project. I notice some missing scene numbers so he is either shooting out of order or holding them offline until the day we may get to see the complete work. In any case it just gets better and better with every clip he releases.

    Lastly, my film Man Drawing… has been submitted to a handful of film festivals but no word yet on acceptance. My Vitruvius project continues with June and July activities consisting of building the secondary stage, more puppet costume work, lighting and camera tests, and framegrabbing software tests. I’ve also started running some test animations for compositing tests and choreography of motion.