STRENGTHS
My strengths consist of having a good understanding of creating stop motion animations, experimenting with different materials and manipulating photograph/ images. I believe I am good at all of these as these are what I have previously worked with before. I am constantly working with various materials in my spare time and during modules.
WEAKNESSES
My weaknesses are time keeping, being organised and researching other artists. I am not very good at timekeeping which I do hope to improve on. Being organised is also not a good quality of mine, I seem to leave my research work until the last minute which makes it look rushed and not in much detail. If I was more organised I would have the time for research and be able to do it at a much better quality.
OPPORTUNITIES
I try my best to go for any opportunities that come my way. As I have been replying to opportunities that come my way it has enabled me to do a filmography of a Marcus Colins photoshoot. I am also currently enhancing my skills in manipulating imagery by working for my friend to create name plates, this also enhances my skills in using photoshop and illustrator.
THREATS
My threats are that I am ill sometimes due to migraine attacks, I can control these if I keep my stress levels to a minimum which will be a lot easier if I am more organised.
Friday 18 October 2013
Wednesday 16 October 2013
Mind tools
During our second session of personal and professional practice, we were taught different methods of jotting our ideas down and the best ways to do it. Here are some of the methods:
Mind Mapping
- Have your page landscaped
- Start at the center of your page
- Use one word to describe
- Use curved lines instead of straight ones (helps you to remember more)
- Use plenty of colour
- Try to use imagery/ drawings
SCAMPER
- Substitute- By use different equipment/ materials, see if you can place different characters in, have different locations.
- Combine- Function as one, time management.
- Adapt- Is there something there you can adapt?
- Modify- What contexts can be used/ be emphasized?
- Put to other use- Other audiences, Ideas, can it be used for another project?
- Eliminate- Streamline the idea, remove plot lines etc, What can be toned down?
- Reverse- Can roles be swapped? Look at the story back to front, Reverse process.
SWOT
- Strengths- Internal controlled by you/ the team, What are you good at?
- Weaknesses- Internal controlled by you/ the team, What can you improve on?
- Opportunities- External controlled by others, What can you get out of it?
- Threats- External controlled by others, What do you need to keep an eye on?
Try to minimize/ convert your weaknesses, try to avoid any threats if possible. Match you strengths and opportunities.
SWOT is a PPP aid, which means it will be perfect when trying to complete any tasks within PPP.
This method helps you to analyse your strengths and weaknesses in order to improve on them. 
Critical Thinking App
- This is a lot like SCAMPER.
- Its a self directing prompt
The first image was collected from www.mindtools.com.
The second image was collected from www.mind-mapping.co.uk.
The rest was collected from google so may be subject to copyright.
Tuesday 15 October 2013
First Lecture - Introduction to COP2
Here are the notes I wrote on the first lecture.
The first lecture was pretty much an over view of what the later lectures will consist of. Examples where given to help us understand what sort of things we will look at.
Introduction to After Effects notes.
Today we were reintroduced to Adobe After Effects. I wrote down a lot of notes on what we were shown.
In these notes I learnt to create layers in After Effects, I also learnt to make the layers move from one side of the composition to the other. This created an animatic affect using layers. I learnt a lot of important keyboard shortcuts which should help me to manipulate a piece of footage fluently, without the need to search through the tabs for the button I need to use.
What my interests are and what I think I am good at.
I have many interests in the media business, I am mostly interested in creating stop motions. I feel that I have a good understanding in making stop motion animations. I have previously created stop motions to a deadline and have been successful. I have worked with plasticine before and I believe I have learnt from that experience, which has given me more skills in creating stop motions. In the making of the stop motions I learnt how to edit the final footage. This was the part I most enjoyed when making a film as I saw it all coming together. I think this was a part that I was good at as well as creating the models and sets, as I was able to work within a time limit, adjust the footage appropriately, add sounds, add title sequences and the end credits correctly.
I am currently working for my friend in making name plates. She has seen my previous work in creating characters and drawing them in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. She really liked the work I have produced and hired me to create what she calls name plates. I have been drawing them by hand first as I am good at drawing characters by hand. I will be scanning them into the computer and then redrawing them in Illustrator and Photoshop. I am good at manipulating images in Photoshop and Illustrator. I have quite a lot of experience in using them, however I do have more experience in using Photoshop than Illustrator. This is due to me using Photoshop right from the start of college approximately 3 years ago. Since starting Leeds College of Art I have been using Illustrator.
Overall I personally believe I have the skills needed to work in a team to create a stop motion. I have the skills needed to help edit a film and I have the skills needed to manipulate photographs/images or create images through Photoshop/Illustrator. I am interested in broadening from stop motions to other types of animations such as cut out, drawn or computer animation etc. I would also like to get more into film making as I have an interest in combining film and animations together.
I am currently working for my friend in making name plates. She has seen my previous work in creating characters and drawing them in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. She really liked the work I have produced and hired me to create what she calls name plates. I have been drawing them by hand first as I am good at drawing characters by hand. I will be scanning them into the computer and then redrawing them in Illustrator and Photoshop. I am good at manipulating images in Photoshop and Illustrator. I have quite a lot of experience in using them, however I do have more experience in using Photoshop than Illustrator. This is due to me using Photoshop right from the start of college approximately 3 years ago. Since starting Leeds College of Art I have been using Illustrator.
Overall I personally believe I have the skills needed to work in a team to create a stop motion. I have the skills needed to help edit a film and I have the skills needed to manipulate photographs/images or create images through Photoshop/Illustrator. I am interested in broadening from stop motions to other types of animations such as cut out, drawn or computer animation etc. I would also like to get more into film making as I have an interest in combining film and animations together.
More Competitions
Shooting People's Film of the Month
From the 1st to the 20th of each month you can upload a film for this competition. It can be any genre and any length made at any time. This is what you need for the 1st round, the audience can vote from 1 to 5 stars for each video.
The final round is the top 5 from the first round and 5 shooting people's wildcards. The ratings are set back to zero in order for people to vote again to find the top 3. The winners win a Vimeo+ membership and feedback about their film from the judges of that month. The judges will pick a winner out of the 3. In which the winners film will then be screened as one of the MUBI's films of the day. Each month additional prizes are announced.
FilmG
FilmG is a competition where you can enter a film but it must be in the Scottish Gaelic language. The deadline is the 20th January 2014. The theme is "run: love/intention/secret". It has to be between 3-5 minutes long including titles. They do offer language assistance through TalentG, however I have never spoken this language so I am unable to create a video in this language. So I will not be entering this competition. I do like the length you have to make the film and I do like the themes of it, so it would be good for someone who can speak this language and are into film making.
Filmaka Feature film competition
You have to create a 3 minute film for this competition surround the theme given. There are 15-20 Entry winners which are selected from each theme, they are then given one month to make a jury level submission. Three jury level winners are chosen from each theme who are then to progress through to the final round. At the end of the year they make another short and submit a proposal for the feature they would like to direct. I have looked through the website and it does sound intriguing however I have been unable to find what themes they have. Due to this I am unable to submit a video as I need a theme to make my video around it as it mentions that winners will be picked from each theme.
Mofilm Las Vegas Competition
Coke zero ask you to give your interpretation of a given film outlined. We are to create our version of the given concept. You can apply for production grants to cover any costs of making the film. The top winner will receive a trip for two to Las Vegas and $8000, the second prize is $4000, the third prize is $2000 and the fourth and fifth prize is $1000. iRobot, AOL and Chevrolet are in on this competition as well so if you would like a different brand other than Coke zero click on one of these instead.
From the 1st to the 20th of each month you can upload a film for this competition. It can be any genre and any length made at any time. This is what you need for the 1st round, the audience can vote from 1 to 5 stars for each video.
The final round is the top 5 from the first round and 5 shooting people's wildcards. The ratings are set back to zero in order for people to vote again to find the top 3. The winners win a Vimeo+ membership and feedback about their film from the judges of that month. The judges will pick a winner out of the 3. In which the winners film will then be screened as one of the MUBI's films of the day. Each month additional prizes are announced.
FilmG
FilmG is a competition where you can enter a film but it must be in the Scottish Gaelic language. The deadline is the 20th January 2014. The theme is "run: love/intention/secret". It has to be between 3-5 minutes long including titles. They do offer language assistance through TalentG, however I have never spoken this language so I am unable to create a video in this language. So I will not be entering this competition. I do like the length you have to make the film and I do like the themes of it, so it would be good for someone who can speak this language and are into film making.
Filmaka Feature film competition
You have to create a 3 minute film for this competition surround the theme given. There are 15-20 Entry winners which are selected from each theme, they are then given one month to make a jury level submission. Three jury level winners are chosen from each theme who are then to progress through to the final round. At the end of the year they make another short and submit a proposal for the feature they would like to direct. I have looked through the website and it does sound intriguing however I have been unable to find what themes they have. Due to this I am unable to submit a video as I need a theme to make my video around it as it mentions that winners will be picked from each theme.
Mofilm Las Vegas Competition
Coke zero ask you to give your interpretation of a given film outlined. We are to create our version of the given concept. You can apply for production grants to cover any costs of making the film. The top winner will receive a trip for two to Las Vegas and $8000, the second prize is $4000, the third prize is $2000 and the fourth and fifth prize is $1000. iRobot, AOL and Chevrolet are in on this competition as well so if you would like a different brand other than Coke zero click on one of these instead.
All images are subject to copyright for each brand.
Monday 14 October 2013
Film Schedule
I have produced a film schedule to outline the basic timings for the weeks to come. This will help me to be more organised in the pre-production, production and post-production parts of create my film. hopefully I will follow these guidelines to the best of my ability. I will create a more specific timeline when I get cracking on more with the film.
Render Layers Maya
We have been learning how to create layers in Maya for certain things such as shadows etc. There was a file that we were to download with the correct needs for creating the layers. The tutorial guide we was given simply goes like this;
ColourPass
ColourPass
- Select from the outliner window Alpha block, Lamp light and Room light.
- Go to render in the Channel box/layer editor.
- Click create new layer and assign selected objects.
- Rename the layer ColourPass.
- Click render settings on the ColourPass layer.
- Right click the file name prefix.
- Go to remove layer override.
- Change the name in the render settings to ColourPass.
- Make it a TIFF file format.
- Select from the outliner window Alpha block, Table top, Placemat, Lamp light and Room light.
- Go to render in the Channel box/layer editor.
- Click create new a layer and assign selected objects.
- Rename the new layer ShadowPass.
- For the light object, click attribute editor.
- Right click use ray trace shadows.
- Create layer override.
- Click to enable shadows.
- For the amounts, they are to be set as; Light Radious-3, Shadow Rays-12, Ray depth limit-3.
- Select Placemat, go to attribute editor.
- Click render stats.
- Turn off cast shadows.
- Right click ShadowPass layer.
- Go to attributes.
- Click presets, then click shadow.
- Click render settings in the ShadowPass layer.
- Right click file name prefix.
- Go to remove layer override.
- Rename in the render setting ShadowPass.
- Make it a TIFF file format.
- Select from the outliner window Alpha block and Placemat.
- Go to render in the Channel box/layer editor.
- Click create new layer and assign selected objects.
- Rename the new layer ReflectionPass.
- Select the Alpha block.
- Assign existing material by right clicking the Alpha block.
- Assign the mirror shader.
- Add both light components to the ReflectionPass layer.
- Go to Alpha block attributes.
- Turn off primary visibility.
- Click Render settings of the ReflectionPass layer.
- Right click file name prefix.
- Remove layer override.
- Rename ReflectionPass.
- Make it a TIFF file format.
- Select from the outliner window Table top, Placemat and Alpha block.
- Go to Render in the Channel box/layer editor.
- Create new layer and assign selected objects.
- Rename OcclusionPass.
- Right click OcclusionPass layer.
- Go to attributes.
- Go to presets, click occlusion.
- Go to the OcclusionPass layer.
- Click render settings.
- Right click file name prefix.
- Remove layer override.
- Rename OcclusionPass.
- Right click image format.
- Remove layer override on the image format.
- Make it a JPEG file format.
- Change the settings to override the Alpha channels.
Rendering
- Space bar on hold in the perspective mode.
- Click render.
- Click batch render.
- Make sure the settings are correctly suited.
Thursday 10 October 2013
What is asked of us
In OUDF504 brief we are asked to complete a number of mini tutorial exercises in order for us to develop the skills we need to complete the module. Our short film must annotate at least one of these themes;
We are to follow the standard structure of making a film in order to create our film this starts off with pre-production then production and finally post-production.
These stages include various things we need to do before we have a final outcome. The pre-production consists of planning your time, research to develop a storyboard, animatics that show whats going to happen during the film and then a timed plan of what will happen during the production process. The production process includes, the development of your project from the animatic to the film, Consider all the effects needed before filming so then you know what shots need to be taken where. The final stage is the post-production which is where all the effects are created and rendered, you also need to edit your video and add sound to it during this stage. Planning is vital in creating a film as if you have no planning you won't know what you will need to do and when. Also planning is vital as you can see what you should get done during the time you have. We are to evaluate our work once it is completed.
- Good vs Evil
- Triumph over Adversity
- Death as a part of Life
- Man/Woman vs Nature
We are to follow the standard structure of making a film in order to create our film this starts off with pre-production then production and finally post-production.
These stages include various things we need to do before we have a final outcome. The pre-production consists of planning your time, research to develop a storyboard, animatics that show whats going to happen during the film and then a timed plan of what will happen during the production process. The production process includes, the development of your project from the animatic to the film, Consider all the effects needed before filming so then you know what shots need to be taken where. The final stage is the post-production which is where all the effects are created and rendered, you also need to edit your video and add sound to it during this stage. Planning is vital in creating a film as if you have no planning you won't know what you will need to do and when. Also planning is vital as you can see what you should get done during the time you have. We are to evaluate our work once it is completed.
Lumiere Studios
Lumiere studios is a studio based on doing animations, motion graphics and VFX for advertisements and music videos. They specialized in 2D , 3D, VFX and motion graphics. They have done loads of work for commercials such as Head and Shoulders, Hobnobs, Strongbow Gold, Maxfactor, Rightguard, The Gadget Show and many more. They have created the Gossip music video and U2 crazy video. I personally really like their Cadbury's creme egg vfx adverts as they are very well put together and creative.
Images may be subject to copyright.
Wednesday 9 October 2013
Gabriel Martin
Gabriel Martin is a visual effects artist who graduated from Nad Center. He currently works in Vision Globale in Montreal as a FX artist. He also does a lot of freelancing work. Vision Globale has helped to do the VFX in films such as Mars et Avril, Resident Evil: Retribution, Upside Down, Pee-Wee 3D and The Colony. Vision Globale is one of the most important Canadian-owned company related to film.
Some of the work Martin has done is French Kiss (2011), Lord Of The Rings-War in the North, Mortal Kombat Teaser trailer, Rescue (2011), Fear 3 trailer and MK9 trailer. And some of his freelance work includes ICE experiments and Bell advertisement. I have personally looked at his work and I really like it, he is really hard working and inspirational.
Images may be subject to copyright.
Competitions I have found
For this brief we are to respond to a live or competitive brief. Here are a couple of competitions I have found.
Loopdeloop is a bimonthly animation challenge. A theme is chosen each month, this months theme is Hallucinations. On the last Tuesday of each month all the posted loops are screened to a live audience at Loop in Melbourne, Australia. During the screening a winner is declared. The winner enters the hall of fame and has their loop featured throughout the following month. There is no set time frame for your loop. Last months winner was Evan Borja for the theme Frustration.
Bang award is an international film animation competition. There are two themes- Cross Worlds, which is celebrating history, linked with technology, awakening culture awareness and visions against a background of diversity. Then there is the open theme which means it can be absolutely anything you can think of. There is a panel of judges that go through all the entrants and chose a winner. There is also an online vote which the viewers vote on a winner for best original animated film.
image are subject to copyright for each brand/company.
Visual effects
Visual effects are used in most movies. Some movies use the half and half method where have of the set is created and the other half is visual effects that are blended in really well. There are some many things that need to be done on order to make the visual effects, there are so many sectors that do different jobs but in the end they all come together to create fantastic VFX.
Visual effects can be categorized into:
Digital effects. This often involves the manipulation of still photographs and computer generated imagery in order to create and environment that can look realistic. It can be shortened to Digital FX or FX.
Live-action effects. Actors and models perform in front of a greenscreen or bluescreen.
Matte paintings and stills. This is paintings or photographs of background that can be key elements for rotoscoping.
Digital Animation. This includes modeling, lighting, rendering, texturing, animating and rigging for backgrounds or anything that needs visual effects.
Rise
Rise is a visual effects company who have helped to make the visual effects for Iron Man 3, Harry Potter, Captain America, X-Men First Class and Percy Jackson. Rise was founded in 2007 and consisted of four computers in a small room, it has now expanded to three floors and 750 square meters. Rise has become the largest visual effects studio in Germany. It has expanded internationally across Cologne, Vienna and Halle. One of my favourite movies is Iron Man 3, I found the visual effects to be phenomenal and they looked incredibly realistic other than you don't really have robotic suits of that type of quality. I have taken a real interest in visual effects and would hope to learn more about it. There are so many imaginative possibilities you could do when adding visual effects to a movie.
RISE
Visual effects can be categorized into:
Digital effects. This often involves the manipulation of still photographs and computer generated imagery in order to create and environment that can look realistic. It can be shortened to Digital FX or FX.
Live-action effects. Actors and models perform in front of a greenscreen or bluescreen.
Matte paintings and stills. This is paintings or photographs of background that can be key elements for rotoscoping.
Digital Animation. This includes modeling, lighting, rendering, texturing, animating and rigging for backgrounds or anything that needs visual effects.
Rise
Rise is a visual effects company who have helped to make the visual effects for Iron Man 3, Harry Potter, Captain America, X-Men First Class and Percy Jackson. Rise was founded in 2007 and consisted of four computers in a small room, it has now expanded to three floors and 750 square meters. Rise has become the largest visual effects studio in Germany. It has expanded internationally across Cologne, Vienna and Halle. One of my favourite movies is Iron Man 3, I found the visual effects to be phenomenal and they looked incredibly realistic other than you don't really have robotic suits of that type of quality. I have taken a real interest in visual effects and would hope to learn more about it. There are so many imaginative possibilities you could do when adding visual effects to a movie.
RISE
Images may be subject to copyright.
First Brief in Level 5
We got our first brief today titled "Visual Effects and Animation in Film Production". During this module we are expected to create a short, showing visual effect we have learnt throughout the module. We are to document everything we learn and do throughout the module, this will enable people to understand what technical skills we have acquired. It will also show how we have come to our final short and what work we have put in to it, in order to get it looking the way it is. There are many research suggestions and useful links to help us to look at other peoples work and learn from them. Evidence we must submit is a Development portfolio including a 1500 word evaluation and The finish visual effects film and a short showing a breakdown of some of the visual effects used in the film. I am looking forward to starting as I have a personal interest in Visual Effects in film making. At the moment I do not have an idea in what I will produce for my final film but I certainly will soon.
Tuesday 8 October 2013
Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith
Today I watch the documentary "Within A Minute". I found it very interesting as it showed me all the steps into making a scene in Star Wars. It was incredible to find out how much work actually goes into it, I was quite surprised.
Firstly a script is wrote to show what will happen and when it will happen. It will also give the artist a faint idea on what it will look like.
Then the art department gets involved. The art department draw their ideas on what it may look like. There are many different ideas presented to the writer surrounding his original idea. some of the ideas are taken into consideration however some are also not used at all. this is bound to happen as it is the writers/directors decision on what goes into the film. It takes a number of weeks to get final visual images showing what it will look like.
After that there is a Pre-visualisation, this is where a 3D visualisation is presented created form the art department sketch work. The ones that are chosen by the writer is usually the one that are created in 3D to give a detailed look of what will happen and how it will look.
The Production Office starts to get more involved at this stage. They are the ones who makes the arrangements for what happens and where. They make sure that everything is organised for when the writer wants it. They also make sure they have the actors they want when needed.
As the workers are very busy on set, they get hungry and people working on empty stomachs aren't going to create good quality work as they do when they are satisfied. Due to this in the making of the film they have caterers, making food for them. The workers don't have much time to eat as they are working approximately 12 hours a day.
Production Design is a massive part in the making of this film as this is where they decide what parts of the set need to be created to make it look realistic. Only certain parts of the set need to be created as the rest are created through visual effects. The parts that do need to be created are the bits where the actors are standing on the set. It is much easier to create parts of the set and blending it in with visual effects that building a whole set with no visual effects. If that was the case you wouldn't get the huge lava explosions that are in the movie now.
Construction is another huge part as this is when the sets are built. There are so many people in different groups doing different things such as the carpenters, the steel rod builders, the lift operators, the moulders and final touches in painting. The final touches is what makes the set look realistic.
Props are everything used in the film such as light switches, glasses, light-sabers etc. Every single prop is created by the prop creators. In order for them to be made they are moulded and casted etc... Also there are many copies of the props made out of different materials such as soft materials, heavy materials or light materials. This is to help with every inch of creating the film.
Hair and Make Up is happening whilst on the set and before a scene is happening. It happens all the time as the make up artists are to create every single look at time goes on within the film. For instance if a fight scene is going on the makeup artist will have to create the sweaty look, injuries and dirt when dirt is in the scene. This is to create a more realistic fight or whatever is happening.
Costume is something that has to really show time passing in the film as if you start of with a clean fresh outfit at the end of a couple of days, depending on what time scale the movie goes by you're not going to still have a clean fresh outfit as during fights people sweat and clothing gets damaged. So the costume designers have to create numerous sets of the same outfits showing the start and when it gets damaged. When watching the documentary Trisha Biggar (Costume designer) says that "Usually 14 sets of each costume is created" That shows just how much each outfit needs to be created.
Stunts have to be timed and coordinated correctly in order for things to move smoothly. Test footage is needed throughout the rehearsals in order to show what it will look like etc... The choreography is essential and the writer takes part in helping to decide how the choreography will look. During the test footage, sound effects and visual effects are added on to it to give the writer and everyone a detailed picture in how it will look when it is finished.
The director overseas everything to point it into the direction it needs to go. He makes sure it is coming together exactly as he imagines. you have to work very quickly in order to keep on target for when the film needs to be finished. He needs to be able to communicate his ideas correctly in order to tell them what should happen when. There are assistant directors who help to sort out any changes that occur during the making of the film. They help to sort out any problems the director has.
The director of photography and cinematography capture the directors vision and views. They work on the lighting during a scene to give it the emotions it needs. There are two cameras, A camera and B camera that either shoot from different angles or slightly similar or close ups etc...
The sound crew has to make sure the sound goes perfectly with the film. The sounds are recorded through boom operators and pre recordings are needed through certain scenes.
The editorial team have to shape the overall visual communication of the movie. They bring the movie together. They work very closely with George the writer/director. It is one of the most difficult tasks in the production. The animatics will get involved in this part as they help to come up with solutions to problems.
ILM production is the visual effects used in Star Wars, there are so many visual effect taking place from the light-saber battles to creating a huge volcanic planet. There are so many technical side of creating the visual effects. It takes numerous people to get the effects created.
VFX supervisors work from the very beginning of the movie to maintain quality control and to make sure they have everything they need to add the visual effects. They also supervise the ILM people to help them to get it right.
3D match move/layout need to actively recreate the perspective and angle in order to add the background in green screen shots. You need markers in the blue/green screens that show where things are meant to be, they're like guidelines for the visual effects.
The animation department are responsible for creating the digital character they have to makes sure they seem realistic with the other characters. They are fully animated with out motion capture. If they do it right people wouldn't know it is animated.
The digital environment apply their skills in order to make fully virtual environments.
Lighting and Rendering task are to light a 3D scene, that means not only lighting the objects but creating shadows and reflections as well. The lighting is important as its what gives the objects shape and set the general feelings in the scene.
Digital modelling is the equivalent of a construction team as they build, break and rebuild things.
Practical models is the old fashioned way of creating visual effects. This type of modelling is used in Star Wars. They have their own team that specialises in creating effects.
Motion control enables them to capture environment when the camera moves, this helps to capture different angle etc.
Rotoscoping isolates the individual aspects of the green screen and the actors.
The compositing group brings it all together, they are pretty much one of the last bit of the production in making the film.
The sound designers thing about every single shot and create the perfect sound with music. This requires so much work to make it create the atmosphere in each scene. They have to rerecord the actors sounds so they sound more realistic. There job is so important to the overall movie.
Score is the music that is created for the film it is very powerful and exciting to listen to the soundtrack from Star Wars. The music is what bring the total emotions to the movie.
The sound mixers job is to make sense of all the sounds given to them, they are to find the right balance for each scene.
as you can see a lot goes into the making of a movie there is so much that needs to be done for just one scene.
My favourite parts that took most of my interest was the ILM production and the Animation creating as I like to see imaginative things come to life on screen.
Images maybe subject to copyright.
Then the art department gets involved. The art department draw their ideas on what it may look like. There are many different ideas presented to the writer surrounding his original idea. some of the ideas are taken into consideration however some are also not used at all. this is bound to happen as it is the writers/directors decision on what goes into the film. It takes a number of weeks to get final visual images showing what it will look like.
After that there is a Pre-visualisation, this is where a 3D visualisation is presented created form the art department sketch work. The ones that are chosen by the writer is usually the one that are created in 3D to give a detailed look of what will happen and how it will look.
The Production Office starts to get more involved at this stage. They are the ones who makes the arrangements for what happens and where. They make sure that everything is organised for when the writer wants it. They also make sure they have the actors they want when needed.
As the workers are very busy on set, they get hungry and people working on empty stomachs aren't going to create good quality work as they do when they are satisfied. Due to this in the making of the film they have caterers, making food for them. The workers don't have much time to eat as they are working approximately 12 hours a day.
Production Design is a massive part in the making of this film as this is where they decide what parts of the set need to be created to make it look realistic. Only certain parts of the set need to be created as the rest are created through visual effects. The parts that do need to be created are the bits where the actors are standing on the set. It is much easier to create parts of the set and blending it in with visual effects that building a whole set with no visual effects. If that was the case you wouldn't get the huge lava explosions that are in the movie now.
Construction is another huge part as this is when the sets are built. There are so many people in different groups doing different things such as the carpenters, the steel rod builders, the lift operators, the moulders and final touches in painting. The final touches is what makes the set look realistic.
Props are everything used in the film such as light switches, glasses, light-sabers etc. Every single prop is created by the prop creators. In order for them to be made they are moulded and casted etc... Also there are many copies of the props made out of different materials such as soft materials, heavy materials or light materials. This is to help with every inch of creating the film.
Costume is something that has to really show time passing in the film as if you start of with a clean fresh outfit at the end of a couple of days, depending on what time scale the movie goes by you're not going to still have a clean fresh outfit as during fights people sweat and clothing gets damaged. So the costume designers have to create numerous sets of the same outfits showing the start and when it gets damaged. When watching the documentary Trisha Biggar (Costume designer) says that "Usually 14 sets of each costume is created" That shows just how much each outfit needs to be created.
Stunts have to be timed and coordinated correctly in order for things to move smoothly. Test footage is needed throughout the rehearsals in order to show what it will look like etc... The choreography is essential and the writer takes part in helping to decide how the choreography will look. During the test footage, sound effects and visual effects are added on to it to give the writer and everyone a detailed picture in how it will look when it is finished.
The director overseas everything to point it into the direction it needs to go. He makes sure it is coming together exactly as he imagines. you have to work very quickly in order to keep on target for when the film needs to be finished. He needs to be able to communicate his ideas correctly in order to tell them what should happen when. There are assistant directors who help to sort out any changes that occur during the making of the film. They help to sort out any problems the director has.
The sound crew has to make sure the sound goes perfectly with the film. The sounds are recorded through boom operators and pre recordings are needed through certain scenes.
The editorial team have to shape the overall visual communication of the movie. They bring the movie together. They work very closely with George the writer/director. It is one of the most difficult tasks in the production. The animatics will get involved in this part as they help to come up with solutions to problems.
ILM production is the visual effects used in Star Wars, there are so many visual effect taking place from the light-saber battles to creating a huge volcanic planet. There are so many technical side of creating the visual effects. It takes numerous people to get the effects created.
VFX supervisors work from the very beginning of the movie to maintain quality control and to make sure they have everything they need to add the visual effects. They also supervise the ILM people to help them to get it right.
3D match move/layout need to actively recreate the perspective and angle in order to add the background in green screen shots. You need markers in the blue/green screens that show where things are meant to be, they're like guidelines for the visual effects.
The animation department are responsible for creating the digital character they have to makes sure they seem realistic with the other characters. They are fully animated with out motion capture. If they do it right people wouldn't know it is animated.
The digital environment apply their skills in order to make fully virtual environments.
Lighting and Rendering task are to light a 3D scene, that means not only lighting the objects but creating shadows and reflections as well. The lighting is important as its what gives the objects shape and set the general feelings in the scene.
Practical models is the old fashioned way of creating visual effects. This type of modelling is used in Star Wars. They have their own team that specialises in creating effects.
Motion control enables them to capture environment when the camera moves, this helps to capture different angle etc.
Rotoscoping isolates the individual aspects of the green screen and the actors.
The compositing group brings it all together, they are pretty much one of the last bit of the production in making the film.
The sound designers thing about every single shot and create the perfect sound with music. This requires so much work to make it create the atmosphere in each scene. They have to rerecord the actors sounds so they sound more realistic. There job is so important to the overall movie.
Score is the music that is created for the film it is very powerful and exciting to listen to the soundtrack from Star Wars. The music is what bring the total emotions to the movie.
The sound mixers job is to make sense of all the sounds given to them, they are to find the right balance for each scene.
as you can see a lot goes into the making of a movie there is so much that needs to be done for just one scene.
My favourite parts that took most of my interest was the ILM production and the Animation creating as I like to see imaginative things come to life on screen.
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