Stop Motion Workshop

Did a stop motion workshop the equipment was awesome. A clicker and onion skin would be so useful in my work. Onion skin shows the active frame you're setting up live on the computer, but also puts transparent version of the previous frame. This can be used to see how much you've moved things what you still need to move etc. The workshop also taught me how much to move a piece, and the importance of keeping everything moving even tiny background elements or the piece lacks life and professionalism. I plan to work in 12 fps to speed the process it will be slightly jumpier than 25 but will still look fine as it is used in industry. It took about 4 hours for less than 30 seconds of footage, it was hard work.

Ancillary 1

Looking through http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--1007/types-of-grain.asp i think i prefer a large oval shaped grain, perhaps wheat or barley.

Here is the head i ordered. Creepy no?I decided on this one as i liked the dull eyes and expression. it is polystyrene but if it look too bad i will paint it or use a shot which masks the dodgy parts. Other ones i looked at looked too happy / plastic however that couldve been creepy as well.

3 December - Stop-animation workshop
4-5 start filming (therefore prop and location deadline)
10 December - Models made
3 January - All filming complete
10 January - Rough cut complete
21 January - Have final cut completed
28 January - Final deadline for main task
11 February - Complete ancillary task
18 February - Final deadline for ancillary task

prop list (going shopping over the weekend)

Head
Soldiers?
grain
smoke grenade
something cool possible to smash???
location

SOIL THING CRYSTAL FIGHTERS

Pop Music video history DVD

Musicals
rock n roll movies
hard days night
variety shows
strawberry fields forever
top of the pops

After huge Micheal Jackson and will smith budgets of several millions antivideos came in. One shot one idea one camera a day around the local area.

Eugene Riecansky

Recently we had a lecture in school from a leading music video director, having worked with The Prodigy and Madonna he really was a great insight into the industry. He gave us some good advice and though perhaps some of it was not applicable to my video as i don't really have a budget to look after. He did highlight the importance of flexibility. Weather might change, a shot/inspiration might spring to mind halfway through. He also showed that the order in which you film is important. Minimising moving around and costume changes etc. His biggest tip was that the idea is what counts. He went on to say that with a good idea and some simple cheap equipment a quality video can be made.

So red and white and black and creamy orange are the colours of choice. Slanted text and images, from a low angles perspective.

I can take inspiration from the camera shots in this. (the pulsing) It is quite like what i had planned in my head. I think it highlights the need for good quality props. It has also made me think about increasing a sense of narrative story into my piece. So far i had more or less thought of several unconnected set pieces. I feel linking them up would be good.

Here is a bit of experimenting for the album cover

My first draft of an album cover features a Russian font. This is due to the Leningrad basis of the song. I included barbed wire and a blood drip. I need to look at getting some colour, and the design is quite minimal but that might be a good thing. I also think that the overlap between text and background is confusing. 'The Decemberists' is too hard to read.

Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak[2] is often used generically, even when the media holder is a hub or "Soft Spot"[3] rather than a full plastic tray.

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak (DVDigipak)[4] is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets. Because such packaging is less resistant to abrasion than jewel cases, it tends to show signs of wear relatively quickly. Licensed digipak manufacturers such as domestic U.S. printer and disc replicator Oasis Disc Manufacturing[5] recommend coating the raw printed paper with a protective UV coating, thus ensuring greater longevity.

Although less vulnerable to cracking than a jewel case, the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s.

Manufacturers have sought to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into its trays; one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled bottles,[6] which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth". Many printers use recycled or sustainable material for the board stock.

Historically, Digipak was only available in large quantities. However, AGI has recently introduced a new product called digipak i-create for the consumer market. Digipak i-create is a web-supported concept that is aimed at the download, music, photo and creative markets.

Action Plan part 2

I need to go out and get my props and location finalised. I really need some pictures of potential locations.

A more detailed story board.

Some short experimental clips.

Then Start?!?!?

also i need to being planning and finish the research for the digipack.

Rough early storyboard

Here is the roughest ever outline of a couple of moments in my potential video.

I made this on photoshop it is a quick look at how my ideas would kinda look. It is inspired by monty python cartoony bits.

My idea so far is a mix of stop motion and real life, with the use of models and other objects to create a minature world. Scenes will mix between linking in with the lyrics directly and not. How ever the feel and mood will represent the song throughout.

Here is an email I sent to the band

Here is the Decemberists' Artist

She has a nice style but alot more refined and neat than mine, I think designer's gauche and some patience could lead to me producing something in her style. Or i could go totally away from it. The art is generally light, restrained, with use of flowers and boarders being common.
http://www.carsonellis.com/portfolio.html

The band's songs range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads, and often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In its lyrics, the band eschews the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist" from the 5 Songs EP and "The Mariner's Revenge Song" on Picaresque. The band's songs convey tales ranging from whimsical ("The Sporting Life") to epic ("The Tain") to dark ("Odalisque"), and often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists' musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel.

[edit] Influences
On their website, the band claims that their official drink is Orangina, and that they "adore" the bands Norfolk & Western, The Places, The Long Winters, Death Cab for Cutie, Dokken, Tracker, The Shins, Sleater-Kinney, Electrelane, Camera Obscura, Clearlake, Tom Heinl, The Thermals, Swords and Earlimart. The band's official biography, keeping up their reputation for grandiloquence, describes how they met in a Turkish bath. A footnote following the biography claims, "The Decemberists travel exclusively by Dr. Herring's Brand Dirigible Balloons." Colin Meloy has listed Anne Briggs, Nic Jones, and Shirley Collins – who led the 1960s British folk revival – as major influences on The Hazards of Love. Meloy has also confessed a "slavish love" for Morrissey, one of his principal influences.[3] The band has also cited their liking for Siouxsie and the Banshees,[4] and the pop tunes of R.E.M. and XTC. The band also draws inspiration from communism, occasionally opening shows with the Soviet national anthem.

When The War Came
This song is a portrayal of the 900 day Siege of Leningrad during WWII. During this siege, the German army surrounded the city entirely, preventing anything from going in or out. As a result, many died of starvation, and the final death-toll is estimated to be over one million dead. The song also has a political undertone to it; it is stated that despite the fact that people put their faith in the government which swore to protect them, they ended up being left unprepared and unequipped to fight the Germans off.[3] The song references Nikolai Vavilov, a Russian botanist who was murdered by Stalin, in the lyrics.

"The last great book I read was Hunger by Elise Blackwell. It’s about the siege of Leningrad in World War II, and there was a botanical institute. During the siege, which lasted a long time, the entire population was starving, but all of the botanists in the institute swore themselves to protect the catalog of seeds and plants and things, from not only a starving population, but also from themselves. It’s pretty amazing. I actually ended up writing "When the War Came", a song on the new record, about that." - Colin Meloy[3]


~~~~~~~~~

This is a bit about the band and even the song from wikipedia. I didn't realise it was about Leningrad.

~~~~~~~~~

The implications on my work that can be drawn from this infomation are that:

-The song is about leningrad and the protection of shrubs from the starving.
-The portayal of a physical form of grandiloquence would be totally appropriate.

Here is me practicing stop motion, I made it in window movie maker. The duration of each picture is 0.125 seconds. It was around 80 pictures to make a realitively jerky 15 seconds of stop animation.

Questionnaire I used facebook to send this to people on my friends list who represent my target audience, they are all teenagers with a keen interest in music.



~~~~~~~

In summery I should avoid cliches and the obvious, and also too many shots of the band.

This is releveant artwork which will effect the cd sleeve, poster and my music video. The themes are surreal nature old fashioned and often rural objects.

This is a ledum shrub

Lyrics For When The War Came
by the Decemberists

With all the grain of babylon
To cultivate to make us strong
And hidden here behind the walls
Are shoulders wide and timber on
'Til the war came
'Til the war came

A terrible autonomy
Is grafted onto you and me
A trust put in the government
Is all their lies are heaven sent
'Til the war came
'Til the war came

And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
And they're picking out a rise by coal and candlelight
When the war came, the war came hard

We made our huts of avaram
We'd not betray the sole Ledum
The acres of hysterisy
To our own pangs of starvation
When the war came
When the war came

And the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
And the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
And they're picking out a rise by coal and candlelight
When the war came, the war came hard

With all the grain of Babylon

Noun 1. avaram - evergreen Indian shrub with vivid yellow flowers whose bark is used in tanning; sometimes placed in genus Cassia

cat·er·waul (ktr-wôl)
intr.v. cat·er·wauled, cat·er·waul·ing, cat·er·wauls
1. To cry or screech like a cat in heat.
2. To make a shrill, discordant sound.
3. To have a noisy argument

The song contrasts between nice shrubs and coal and cannon balls. My video could do this also.

This is an example of what can be achieved with stop motion. Things usually impossible can be done. I think this piece is amazing and I love the music. It is quite an old piece but things still being made today are very similar. The ideas have noe become what is expected from stop motion, toys + dolls + creepiness. I need to decide whether to embrace these conventions or challange them.



This film has given me ideas for possible stop animation drawings, (i think pen and ink would look good) and is just so amazing. The imagination of this guy must be insane.



This is a trailer for a film the band made
I think i can reference this in my music video. There is a small ammount of stop motion in the film, seeds and plants form patterns much like a kaleidoscope.

Here is my favourite music video by the band i plan to make a video for.
The home made feel means I would be able to achieve something close to it. I may well use the bands love of eccentriv victorian objects and dress in my video. The also like nautical things and nature.

location

maybe a warehouse or outside on some dirt. . . a kind of plain baron looking place.
I am not sure how important the location will be as it will hardly be seen. The shots will rarely show the background and when it does the foreground will be in focus. However i think fitting in with the general feel of the band will be important. So perhaps a field or old fashioned feeling place will be best.

Prop hunting

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A2%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1&rt=nc&_nkw=mannequin%20head&_sop=2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1513&_pgn=1

I think I want some plastic men NOT SOLDIERS!

This ^^^ was written before i thought of the song being called when the WAR came. So I think it is ok to use soldiers in this case even if it is a bit cliche.

I need some grain...

maybe a smoke grenade.

My target audience is an under 25 'indie' audience, he drinks tea at the playhouse/art centre and wears tweed and hats and corderoy and denim. his name is archibald. He has a keen interest in underground film, he goes to cinema city.

This year I want to:
Make my blog detailed and coool.
I want to have more options rather than a single avenue.
Take LOADS of takes and extra footage.

This year I will avoid:
A poor blog
having to go back and do the things on my blog which i shouldve done before.

G325

Digital Technology

• How has digital technology helped you to capture your ideas for media production?

Imovie allowed me to change my mise en scene which was a huge factor in the atmoshpere which was my main idea - a creepy bleached out isolated ancient landscape.

• What benefits do digital technologies offer? Are there any disadvantages?

They offer a huge range of and easy to use possibilities. Everyone uses similar programs which can mean there are similar outcomes.

• How did digital technology influence your work in post-production – for example in the creation of video effects, or the manipulation of images.

I used the timings in several ways, slowing things down for dramatic effect and continuity, i also sped up the clouds to increase the sense of urgency. As previously mentioned i changed coulour to created a mise en scene.


• How have your skills with digital technology developed, and how has this influenced your productions?

• What role might digital technology play in the distribution of work such as yours?

Youtube offers the potential of millions of viewers with no cost to release.

G324 Action Plan

Research some music videos in my genre, in terms of mise en scene, sound and editing.
I want to make loads of storyboards,
and also make a pilot of a few seconds to see how viable things are.
I also want to do some audience research with both questionnaires and interviews, with sample videos, and I want it to be done in a cool way utilising the technology available to me. Vox pops at the playhouse?
I need to sort out props and setting, with some reccy's and a trawl of the charity shops and other cheapo places.
I also need to email the band.

Stop motion plan??

Research and planning

• How did your research into genre contribute to your production work?
My interviews made me think that atmosphere was one of the most important aspects for a horror film.

• How did your research into audience contribute to your production work?
i dont think it did really

• How did your research into institutions responsible for the production and regulation of the media influence your production work?
i dont think it did really.

• What pre-production planning techniques did you employ (scripting, storyboarding, shot-lists etc.)? How effective was your planning – how did it help you in the production phase?
I made several storyboards which gave me good ideas for which shots i would need to take when i was out, and an idea how it would look like. I think it helped but i didnt always stick to it.

• What did you learn from planning your first production that helped you to improve your planning for the second?

• How did you use audience feedback to influence your production work while it was in progress?
One of the major changes was in the film's tempo. but i made several tweaks after someone made a suggestion.

G324

Childrens tv idea: Hire a funny suit and use a funny voice and silly words. bingo the bear huh huh huh hello kids!!!! where mr splot? he's behind you et cetera. in a fun colourful world full of niceness with no shadows, BUT there is an evil guy called kinrade who the kids and bingo must defeat each week to keep happy town running, they defeat him with the power of maths!!!!

short film: a classic corny horror complete with poster: NIGHT OF THE LIVING WHEELIE BINS in scary font. people get chased by stop motion wheelie bins which eat them. film niory shots black and white maybe lots of running round deserted new york at night.

Where will you film it?
How will the wheelie bins move, if they move?

• What features of your work would you say are original to you?
Literally nothing

• Which media texts and producers have influenced your creative decisions?
The Shining's edit. The Wickerman's location. The shots which spring to mind a the eye painted on the boat and when the masked people pop up from behind the wall. Horror film genre in general.

• How successfully does your work engage its audience and provoke its interest?
I think it's quite interesting several people said they want to know what happens. The scene is progressive the walking gives it a sense of it going somewhere a sense of anticipation.

• Consider some of the creative choices you had to make during the course of your production – how to use cameras, lighting, dialogue, colour etc. How did you make these decisions, and how did these contribute to the final production?
I made the decisions taking firstly into account personal preference and then practicality. I think my natural lighting and washed out colour gave the film a bleak feel, the lack of dialogue creates an eerie isolated feel. I think the single character wide empty shots all add to the sense of isolation which is a creepy element i focused on.

Children TV

One option is an original children tv drama, i don't think i want to do it. . .

whats in a2

g325 is your g324 portfolio work 1 hour 2 questions
1 development and progress across AS and A2
2 focus on A2 in relation to a topic. . . .

1. My research tasks were audience research via interview
a reccy
watching several similar texts/

2. Several storyboard and photo edits into the feel of the film
designs for costume and a fitting?!?!?!

3. well i spent ages editing and there were loads of issues like mise en scene dubbing and timing

finish the bits up there ^
look at kerry and harriets blog
then go onto ocr