The Johnny Cash project

Have a look at this amazing collaborative project. Each frame from the video is drawn by a different person. The project is still in progress, so you can contribute.

http://www.thejohnnycashproject.com/#

Be sure to watch what they have so far (actual music video starts around 02:50)

Sound Design

Greetings people.

I'm working on getting together a list of links to sound design resources. In the mean time, do yourself a favour and register at freesound.org. It is one of the better free sound libraries and it includes many good sound effects and ambience tracks. Everything in their library has been placed under the Creative Commons licence.

Also, feel free to e-mail me at blouhond {at} gmail. com if you have any questions.

Happy stop motioning!

:jozua

The radness that is Stefan Nadelman

Guys, if you haven't checked out this animator yet, do so NOW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8eksPdM9e0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-yldqNkGfo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga0ohgZFVqc

Your welcome.

Getting ready to shoot

Click here for a list of things the studio does and doesn't supply.

Click here to watch tutorials on how to use Dragon.

Dragon tips:

• If you have any image stabilization/vibration reduction function on your camera, TURN IT OFF. For some reason it makes the frames jump around a bit when using Dragon.
• If your camera does not show up automatically once it's connected to Dragon, the best way to find it is to go to the help menu at the top and click "camera test". At this point it will probably register your camera, but you might still need to set the capture and video source under the capture menu.
• Adjust your camera settings via the cinematography window (eye icon on top right) and lock them down to ensure that the settings don't change accidentally during shooting

Building flexible heads with latex

Ryan Woodward

http://ryanwoodwardart.com/short-films/

Flat 4 Animation Evening (Thursday 2 June)

See below for invite, or visit their Facebook page for more info.

After a two month break animation is back at FLaT 4 Studio 

2nd June •THURSDAY • 8pm.

We'll be screening A TOWN CALLED PANIC by Stephane Aubier and Vincent Patar.

A whacky full-length fliek which "is like a very lo-fi Toy Story with the vibe of a live-action Terry Gilliam cartoon and the addled craziness of SpongeBob Squarepants".. it's funny and refreshing in a 'barking mad sort of a way'...at least one fit of giggles is guaranteed." 
                                                    - Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian

There'll be food for sale from the kitchen (most likely a meat-based minestrone soup if the weather continues in this vein) and the movie is free. Please inform Artemis (flat4studio@gmail.com) of your attendance.

See you next Thursday!

Stop Motion Studio

As some of you may have noticed, our shooting studio is nearing completion and is already open for use. So far, there is one multiplane shooter and another two are on their way. There are also 3 shooting booths with removable table-tops and a grid above to attach rigging and lighting.

Be aware that you need to bring your own lights in order to shoot in the space. The booths are small, so the smaller the lights, the better.

In order to secure space in the studio, you must book time-slots through Open Window's new online booking system.

Take note of the new page in the toolbar above in order to view the booking page.

Woodworking Workshop 14 May

The camera rig + puppet rig workshop will take place on Saturday 14 May at 9:30 in the Auditorium for about 6 hours depending on progress.

The day will start with an introduction to basic woodworking skills and then you will be guided through the process of building either a camera rig or another animation related construction of your choice.

The cost of the workshop will be R250, which includes materials like wood, screws etc.

You must pay by Tuesday 10 May if you would like to attend.

You will need to supply your own safety gear. If you do not come with the following you will not be allowed to attend the workshop:

• Earplugs or earmuffs
• Eye protection
• Dust mask

(all of which can be bought cheaply at a hardware store)

Clothing regulations:

• Closed-toe shoes (i.e. no sandals)
• No dangling jewellery or clothing like tassels or frills
• Wear clothes that can get saw-dusty

If you own or have access to any of the following, PLEASE bring it along, we need all the extra tools we can get:

•   Jigsaw
•   Drill (corded or cordless)
•   Drill bits
•   Screw drivers
•   Clamps, we need lots of clamps
•   Vice
•   Scrap wood for practice

NOTES:
We will supply enough wood to build a camera rig and perhaps a small puppet rig as well. If the thing you want to build requires a lot more wood than this, be sure to bring some of your own.

Workshop Sat 30 April

As discussed in class, we will be having a creative workshop in the Auditorium on Saturday 30 April at 10:30 for +- 3 hours

For those of you who are feeling stuck with your film, this will help you get out of your rut. For those of you who are comfortable with your progress, use this as an opportunity to work on your puppets, props, set or storyboard. The idea is to generate more material for your film, around your peers, so that you can brainstorm, ask questions and problem solve. 

Please bring:

pencils, paints, paper, reference material, magazines, cardboard, scissors, glue, any materials specific to your film etc.

Also, if you would like to be notified of Diek Grobler's next animation evening, be sure to "like" Flat 4 Studio's facebook page. They generally take place on the last Thursday of every month at Flat 4 in Eastwood St, near the Arcadia Cafe 41.

The Sun and the Seed

Another animation by Jamie Caliri (of United Airlines Dragon and Heart commercials + co-creator of Dragon Stop-Motion)

The Sun and the Seed

This little film is just over 4 minutes long and the materials they used are pretty low-tech, but the film does everything it needs to do quite elegantly. With the skill-sets, time and materials you all have available already, there is nothing stopping you from achieving something of this quality or higher.

nuts and bolts

Not saying you have to attempt this intense tie-down technique, but the video does give you a good sense of how to bolt your puppets to your set:

Villiam - Paper cut-outs

I found this wonderful little animation on vimeo. Dunno how much have been added in AE, but worth taking a look at :)

http://vimeo.com/21259793

Aardman launches South African animation academy

Read

Due Week 8 (22/03)

Please bring to class:

• Your armature
• Your 10 second test sequence (at 24 fps including at least 5 seconds of walking). If you made use of a timing sheet and/or sketches to plan your walk, please bring those too.
• Your compiled sketches, ideas, drafts, reference material etc. We're going to give you a progress mark based on the material you bring.

No late work will be accepted. If you cannot be there for class, make sure your work is.

If anyone is having difficulty exporting a sequence, click here for instructions on how to do it in Final Cut Pro.

For your curiosity...

Disney rejection letter

 

This is supposedly a real letter, although you never know with the internet!

Norstein's Studio

Have a look at this link to see more photos from Norstein in his studio while working on The Overcoat (which has been in production since 1981)

Norstein's Studio

Documentary on The Overcoat  - has some nice clips from the film and his studio. You just have to ignore the fact that it's in Russian.

Due this Tuesday (15 March):

Please bring:

•        Your completed timing sheet exercise. No exceptions. If you still haven’t received my email with the video clip, please let me know or get it from a fellow classmate.

•      Further development of your idea including a rough draft of your storyboard, numerous character designs, set designs, reference material etc. The more material you have, the more you can refine it.

Professional Practice Seminar 12, 13 April

Art Source South Africa is hosting a seminar on professional practice in visual arts. For those of you who want a better idea on how to function in a creative industry, this is a very good place to start.

PDF of invitation detailing topics that will be covered
Art Source website

United Airlines Heart 2008

The style is more or less the same than the one with the dragon. I'm not sure, however, if it's the same animators. But check it out anyway, it's beautiful.

Notes from Week 6 (rigs, etc.)

Electronics123: Store in Faerie Glen that stocks "helping hands soldering clamps" (for R26 upwards) that can be converted into rigs + heat-shrink tubing to cover your armature wire in. Click here for website.

Making of United Airlines Dragon commercial (Directed by Jaimie Caliri)

 

Check in the class notes and homework assignments link on the right for more images and notes.

What to bring next class (week 6, 08/03)

• Timing sheet exercise
• The armature you've been building in Marinda's class
• More developed sketches and ideas, plus the beginnings of a storyboard
• Your tripod

Note: sorry about previous misprint of the date. Won't happen again (hopefully).

Latest Aardman commercial

Making of Swedbank commercial:

more Mummenschanz

I've just bought tickets for the Sat 2:30 show. 
If anyone else is planning on going that time, I'll be in the vicinity of that big refreshments counter at 2:15.

Mummenschanz

The most amazing show I've ever seen! Was easy to get tickets last night, please try and go see them during the week, incredibly inspirational, fun and innovative!

World's Smallest Stop Motion

Don't know how many of you have seen this but it's worth the watch. wow.

The Animator's Survival Kit

Last week someone mentioned they have the tutorials for the ASK by Richard Williams. Will it be possible for you to bring to TOW?

Email list

If you have not received an email from me regarding the timing sheet exercise, or you have not received an invite to the blog, please email me ASAP so that I can finalize the class mailing list.
-Nina

Karen Yasinsky

She is a fine artist and she uses stop-motion to tell her ambiguous stories of personal interaction

La Nuit

Highly Recommended: Mummenschanz

Mummenschanz, a Swiss theater troupe is going to be performing at the State Theater from the 22nd - 27th Feb.  I watched them when they came in 2008 and I'm definitely going again this time. It's wonderful to look at in terms of rhythm and timing, characterization through objects and conveying emotion without dialogue.

Tickets available from Computicket

To give you a taste:

Your work

Please bring CDs of your paper cutout animations from last year to Marinda's class this week (08/02). I (Nina) will be there to collect them. I want to get an idea of what your work looks like, so if you have any other work like drawings, paintings, sculptures, designs, digital animations etc. that you're proud of, please put those on the CD too.

TCM Terry Gilliam Interview

Read and be prepared to discuss: Week 3 (15 Feb)
Director/animator Terry Gilliam speaks about topics like working with a low budget, pushing boundaries and what he likes about old films. Follow this link to read the full transcript  Terry Gilliam Interview