DGA140-Title Sequence Frankenstein

DGA130-Experimental Film Evaluation

The first part to planning my experimental film was gathering a number of sources to what an experimental film was in terms of themes that are usually found within an experimental film and its purpose.

After gathering these sources I found a list of artists's definitions of what an experimental film was. I found one source particularly helpful, as it stated usually an experimental film's purpose is to provoke change within society through the expressive method. Furthermore, Isabella Rossellini was said to explain the film is not there to promote profit but for pure enjoyment.

After watching further abstract clips which included a range of abstract shapes/silhouettes/psychological dysmorphic images I further developed my research by researching the history of experimental film.

The previous source further stated experimental films components consist of expression through colour/shapes/sizes and movement through image. Wikipedia goes on to say due to the psychological themes experimental film has provoked influence over the advertising industry.

The next part was gathering a list of of traditional experimental film makers.

Another interesting fact about experimental film is that some film makers use them as a source of reference for greater solid/refined films.

The next part of my research was planning vague ideas/notes. For example splitting parts of what I wanted to express within myself included to intertwine the key parts required on the experimental film brief.

I decided I wanted to express each key feature of form of expression with colour and typography using a sketch/doodle label. I also wrote a script of what I like and what parts of things I like to include so I didn’t over complicate the film (as the film was required to be 1 minute and 30 minutes long and not a profound life story)

The next stage of research was a further developed script where I split up parts into 1)introduction and where I live 2) my hoopes and aspirations for the future 3) my hobbies and likes

4) My dislikes 5) How I see myself

All components included role models that inspire me such as Tim Burton or music artists. My likes and dislikes included food/artist platforms or lifestyle choices. How I saw myself, I wanted to include an element of philosophy and outlook on life. I printed this script off with boxes as I originally planned to include thumbnails.

But later on I decided I didn’t need to draw a sketch for each component as time was limited. I then set out rough vague concepts/notes of ideas to express the concepts in the scripts. I then recorded the scrip read out and realized it was too long and proceeded to make a simplified script of what components were most important to me . After planning this simplified script I did some more artist film/filmmakers research.

The artist I had in mind were more modern contemporary film makers who had created what I thought to believe refreshingly personal films about themselves and their hometowns/ out look on life. I compared Savanna’s Brown Ohio and loving like an existentialist to the mad men scene of nostalgia entitled Carousel. After this artist research I decided I wanted to include a part of my friends in the film to bring that sense of home. Furthermore, created a brief philosophy of how I wanted to view myself. The next part was having a look at an artist named Rebecca Brown’s Clone Photography. I wanted to reincorporate her use of colour and movement in the film amongst this mood clash of identity.

After this artist research and annotation I decided I wanted to include the soundtrack of Melanie Martinze’s “Dollhouse”. This was to express my expression of expectation of happiness or perfection due to the stigma of past mental health issues. Furthermore, a sense of guilt of a past believer and now an agnostic. The soundtrack was an expression of lack of freedom to a type of mistaught guilt I had found within religion. If I were to improve my film I would edit the photography to the right ratio so there wasn’t a sense of amateur perspective created by the blackbars. However, I feel they bring a sense of homeliness. Furthermore I feel I would incorporate more aspects of myself within my original script however, I am happy with the simplicity of the film as I feel the 2D doodley Savannah Brow inspired doodles create a charming, guilty aspect to the film to take away the sinister dark colour/music sound themes.

How I created my photographs was the sure of Photoshop the woodland photography was done on one afternoon using my phone and mini-tripod. The editing of the photos with illustrations took about 3 days and the editing of the film in terms of timing/editing and sound.

DGA140 Title Sequence Project-Pre-1930s Sci-fi

Doctor Frankenstein reanimating a corpse moodboard/referance photos for 2D animation

Draft sketch- experimenting with angles, colour, tone. Improvements to be made-adjust line work with shoulder, make sure Doctor Frankenstein is behind the table could add more texture. Angle of the table doesn't look quite right.

DGA130 Digital Nature/Tree Artist for 2D Background/Layout project

Here are three artists I have researched for my 2D Background Layout project, I have chosen Aaron Blaise (The well re-known Disney animator), Andree Wallen and Nick Diggigaris. I have decided to create a mood board for each of their work to get an overview of their styles. I have chosen these three artists as I love atmosphere they depict in their work. Aaron Blaise has a wonderful free-like mood to his work in the bright colours. Andree Wallen more of a concept/game-like fantasy atmosphere (When I say game-like fantasy mood, I mean I can imagine it being used in a an mysterious apocalypse sort of narrative). Nick Digigaris's work reminds me of JR Tolkein's work in terms of the woodlike houses, wizards, knight and old scholar characters amongst his work. My aim is to use each of their style to combine to find my own but while capturing their enchanting textures, shading and colour amongst my own experimental creations.

(The photos at the top are the digital mood board and the pictures below are the images I have in my sketchbook layout)

DGA130 Experimental Film

This is my Experimental Film portraying where I am from, my likes and dislikes, my ambitions and my philosophy on how I portray myself to the world.  The doodled illustrations over the dark surreal photography is inspired by a Poet named Savanna Brown who has created films with poetry cinematography with doodles over the film. The cloning photography is an expression of clash of identity with having to portray a perfect depiction of happiness clashed with insanity and darkness within the identity. This I believe the Artist Rebecca Brown has depicted in her photography.

DGA 130 Experimental Film Photography tests and samples

DGA160 Storytelling Module- The Lost Pirate Treasure Animatic

Good things and Improvements: 

This clip is my animatic of for the DGA160 Storytelling Module. I feel the movement amongst the audio was overall successful. I asked my four friends to do the voices for the characters: Pirate Narrative/Captain, Extra Pirates and crew (Chasing parrott and monkey) furthermore, one of my course mates actually did the audio for the parrot. I believe the character voices were very fitting overall. I received help with using the audio recorder form the same friend who did the voice of the monkey.

 Overall, it was an interesting experiencing of collaborating with other course mates in directing/producing. I also recorded the sea audio at Falmouth beech. Some extra dialogue was added towards the end when the ship was about to go under as it was improvising dialogue by the same coursemate who was the voice actor for the Pirate Captain, which I thought was too comedic not to include.
Improvements for some may to be erase this improv as the scene may be serious for the target audience. Furthermore, the audio could have been improved similarly to the storyboard with including more of the other pirate's voices.

DGA110-Digital Animation Practice One-Walk Cycle (Attempt 2)

Good things and Improvements: For this exercise, I attempted to create the second walk cycle (as my last one I had described as disproportional in terms the movement of the limbs. The arms and legs in this I feel are greater of keeping their shape. I feel the clarity of the motion is greater. To improve I feel adding the shadows and tone or colour to the figure whould bring greater character, furthermore the face is non expressive so adding facial expressions could help the aesthetic and allow the expressiveness bring the animation more to life. 

DGA160-Storytelling for Animation-"The Lost Treasure" Animatic Storyboard

Good things and Improvements: For this task I created a watercolor and ink-storyboard for my animatic for the DGA160 each panel going from the top left to top right, to middle left to middle right display what is happening amongst the animatic. The storyboard was a depiction of Andy Guest and Yuki Hau's "The Lost Pirate Treasure Narrative". The file below the colored storyboard is the format I used for my submission. I decided to edit the storyboard to black and white as I felt it suited the mood of the narrative more accurately. I feel overall, this was a fairly strong piece in terms of texture and aesthetic. I felt the line work depicted the key parts of the scene fairly well. I was happy the watercolour and texture contributed to the scene of the Pirate narrative. To improve I would possibly refine some of the lines in which the pirate captain is confused about what is going on outside (Seen on page 6) Furthermore, in the script I could have included a greater part of the monkey and other pirates dancing/chasing the monkey. Also the composition and proportions of the deck could be depicted more accurately. But overall, I am happy with the colour, texture and expressions of the pirates.

DGA110-Digital Animation Practice One-Character Walk Animation

Good things and Improvements:
This animation is a stopmotion character walking on to the stage (camera) and then breaking into dance in the style of Michael Jackson's thriller. I feel the first few steps have strengths in realistic motion, however, I feel improvements could be made by the length of the dance to clarify the actual motion, I feel to some viewers the dance may be to short, to understand what the character is actually doing. Furthermore the lighting has a few faults in the fact the lights is on then off then on. I believe I could improve by simply observing the lights at a greater focus next time.

DGA110-Digital Animation Practice One-Anxious Character Stop Motion Throw (First attempt)

Good things and Improvements: For this animation exercise we had to animate a stopmotion puppet throwing a ball. I felt the stance was very wobbling and overall the mood was that the character was scared of being judged for his throwing ability. To improve I would observe a more fluent and confident thrower. I feel this would allow me to capture a greater motion and representation of the movement of the stopmotion throw. Good things however, I feel the movement does include an interesting capture movement.