Conclusion: VFX101 - Assignment #3

As annoyed as I am with my animation and the response it got, I genuinely feel that it was a positive learning experience.
For pretty much all of my life I've put the minimum amount of effort which has always been enough to get a pass. But now, after producing an animation that I was truly ashamed of and most probably failing this subject I realise what was the point in getting "bare-ass" passes in the first place? Sure I got a bit more time to sit around being lazy, but that's about it.
Since the kick in the backside I figure why not work hard on my assignments and create something that I can be proud of. By doing that I would also improve my chances of getting a job, as this would add quality work to my portfolio.

Okay, back to my Assignment #3 animation. Here's a breakdown of what I did, and what I will do in the future:

(Based off the VFX101 Subject Outline)

Pitch:
This Time: Believe it or not but I did have a pitch ready on the date requested. However after the pitches were delayed to the next week, then cancelled I didn't chase my lecturers up to present my pitch.

Next Time: Next time I'm assuming that we will have another lesson dedicated to our pitches, but if not I will make sure to visit either of our lectures and make sure to have my pitch approved before continuing on.


Animatic:
**I did have sketches and a storyboard drawn up. I also had my plot finalised**
This Time: I didn't believe that an animatic was necessary for particular animation, and the closest thing to an animatic I used was the early production files for my animation. (Even though I don't think and animatic was necessary for this animation, I still should have shown the timing and basic structure from my earlier production files).

Next Time: I aim to have a basic animatic, with my storyboard, within a week of my pitch being approved and will screen it at the dailies. I will then modify it accordingly from the critiques. (This is something I didn't do for the whole of my previous animation.)


Pre-vis Sequence:
This Time: I did not do this step at all in my previous animation, however I don't think we were expected to as I don't think it was discussed in the lectures or workshops.

Next Time: I will endeavourer to ask about this step for my next animation. If it is advised I will show/discuss my previs sequence with my lectures.


Preview Screening:
This Time: I didn't submit work for any of the dailies/preview screenings.

Next Time: In the VFX101 Subject Outline the description for this step is the exact same as for the previous step (I'm assuming they are not actually the same). I will aim to screen my Work In Progress once or possibly twice weekly to gain maximum feedback.


Final Animation:
This Time: My animation was completed on the night before it was due and the disc was compiled on the morning it was due. Because of this my final animation had several problems (such as my sound not working).

Next Time: To help prevent late-minute stuff ups and unforeseen problems I am aiming to have my animation finished two days before it is due, so I can have time (and less stress) to fix up and minor problems.


Other Notes:
Sound: To improve the quality of my work I also need sound. Instead of adding sound a couple of days before the animation is due, I plan to have my sound recorded (even a rough/basic recording) for my animatic. When it comes time for proper sound recording I will have to get help/info from my lectures

Hopefully next time my conclusion will me much improved :D

Aftermath...

Well today went even worse than expected, and my piece ended up being really cliché, but its probably best if I don't even bother talking about it. As promised though, here is my animation:

Sight_Compressed.avi

I'm not sure whether it is necessary or not, but I will be writing another post on thursday/friday regarding what I have learnt and how I should approach assignments in the future, as I think I need too.

Bad News

There's nothing really to say except that I'm very disappointed with the state of my animation.
I didn't leave myself nearly enough time and I'm dreading going to the critique tomorrow.

Oh well, for now ill try to see what I can do to improve my piece.

*Also note that I was forced to change my plot again due to my poor time management skills. I will post my finished animation tomorrow, if I'm still alive....

Nearly done, with major changes...

Nearly finished up now, just some minor tweaking and adding sound.

However I've make some drastic changes from my original idea. The animation no longer contains the two desk scenes as they turn out to be alot more troublesome then I once thought. Because they were to be represented in a kind of 3D environment the brush would have needed to have painted on an angle which would have been way too much effort for what it was.
Instead I increased the time for the scene with the photo frames. I also altered the paths, as shown in this image:



The image is made up of my sketches with other elements from Photoshop.
The camera will also move around and follow the hand/finger.

Intro completed

I finished the first scene on Thursday, but I ran out of internet credit. So here it is now!
Sight Intro (I would suggest steaming it, not downloading it!)


*UPDATE* intro is remove because the animation is complete, download it here

Plot, Sketches and Storyboard

Plot: This animation could be seen as the viewpoint of a newly blind person rediscovering sight through touch, but it also shows the drawbacks
*When a finger touches a part of the wall, that part of the wall becomes visible. As a finger touches the wall a single note plays, when another finger touches the wall another single note plays. This continues as the character continues feel(see) the wall. The random notes blend into music as the hand unveils the title; "Sight".
After the title fades the screen goes blank and the hand moves along the screen from the right, the hand "sees" the edge of something and traces around it, etc. (becomes the edge of photo frames)
Cuts to blank screen again. Same thing happens as before, but with desk and jewellery chest.
Same as above, but with but with desk with closed books.

Cuts between the three scenes as the hand reveals more.
Eventually the hand reaches the; Inside of the photoframe; the mirror next to the chest; and the open book, The character realises that he/she cannot see everything although they hard (by rubbing at the glass, mirror and book) As this happens the music builds up,
then it ends in some way or another.


This storyboard roughly shows the plot. The red IS NOT blood, its what the hand reveals. the blue is when the character realises that he/she cannot see everything.

Below is just some rough sketches when is was planing out my scene.

Intro to my VFX101 1-2min animation "Sight"

Okay, okay..... I know I'm really late in doing this, and I know that there’s no excuse (except that I'm stupid and lazy)
Just so you know I don’t like showing people my work until I'm 100% happy with it, so I'm not really enjoying this.

Now we’ve go those bits out of the way he’s my assignment so far, starting with my pitch:

My animation is a serious piece. It is from the viewpoint of a blind person, who views the world through his/her hands. The animation will consist of 3 or 4 hand drawn images that will slowly be revealed by the blind person’s fingers/hand.