Artefact One Test from Alyssa Brookes on Vimeo.
The purpose of my
first artefact was to show a baseline animated performance through a character’s
inner feelings, constructing interior monologue. I chose a clip from the
film 'The Birdcage, 1996', as I enjoyed how the clip comes across quite dramatic
and I feel it gave me an advantage to start off with more exaggerated movements
through acting.
The process involved starting out with knowing
the background of the character and what he would be feeling throughout the scene,
as this is an important part regarding interior monologue. I then went on to
block out my key poses, making sure I gave the computer enough information for
what I wanted my character to do. I am the animator, not the computer.
The feedback was generally quite positive. However, from
the context of the research there were still aspects which could be improved to
create a better piece for a baseline performance. I feel I could have animated
the performance using more subtext and subtleties. Also, a few of the audience didn't really understand the dialogue of the clip, which therefore I could have
explored more into and improved the story telling within the performance. As
performed by Nathan Lane in the film, I felt as though he didn't exaggerate his
acting that much within the scene, I believed he used a lot more subtle
movements, especially at the start of the dialogue. I believe my acting choices
were a lot more exaggerated than in the film, although I didn't intend to copy
the film certain areas of the movements were quite blocky and the timing of
some of the reactions were a bit out. The audience also noticed the lip syncs were not as exaggerated as the body language. This would be something to definitely improve
when taking another pass at it.
As I feel more
subtleties and subtext could be added to this performance, in my second
Artefact I will go ahead to research further reading into subtext, to create a
performance which shows what the character’s thought process is behind the
dialogue. Subtext is key within performance.
For the External Client project I have decided to change to the HSI brief on the D&AD Awards. I feel this brief will refresh my modelling, rigging and animating skills and it will work stronger for my portfolio at the end of graduating. Especially since I want to progress into character animation.
Brief below:
D&AD Student Awards Brief 2008
Overview
The Animation Division at HSI London represents directors with a variety of styles. We have no set house style and look for work that is diverse and fresh; particularly styles that will work within the commercial and music industry. We work with directors who are animators and artists themselves, so the talent is inherent to each director, not just the team behind them.
The animation industry is becoming an ever expanding and popular platform for communication and entertainment, and we are excited to be evolving and expanding with it. Creatively this is one industry where there genuinely are no limits.
Sponsor
Considerations
The brief can be interpreted literally or non-literally. The character could be yourself or someone you identify with, or if you prefer, a completely fictional personality, or thing/creature.
Show your ability to animate a personality as opposed to just a character’s appearance. Observe carefully how personality is expressed and try to achieve the same effect with animation. Think about your character’s quirks, aspirations and dreams; its worst nightmare, political standpoint, dress-sense or lack of one, and so on; all the things that make us individual. Then make sure that every detail of your animation expresses that personality.
Don’t over think or over develop your character in terms of design; whilst aesthetic forms an important and engaging part of a character, the way in which personality is brought to life is just as important as making an audience ‘believe’ in that character as a living, breathing entity. It is therefore essential to have a well-prepared storyboard to ensure a good narrative structure for your animation (for example, to set the amount of scenes, shots
and also the composition).
Mandatory requirements
Your final outcome should consist of two main parts; the creation and subsequent animation of your character, submitted as follows:
• Creation: storyboards succinctly showing the process of how you created the character
• Animation: a finished piece (between 20 and 60 seconds)
Your character must be fully developed and the film should express his/her/its essential personality traits –behaviour, appearance and interacting with surroundings.
Explore new and innovative techniques as well as more traditional approaches. Ideally your outcome will demonstrate an aptitude for animation, the ability to bring personality to a static image, good design skills and the ability to answer this brief with an engaging and creative overall concept.
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