Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Feasibility Study

Aloha!

Well, the feaibility study critique was on Monday...havent had a chance to put in my thoughts, but here we go:

The presentation went well. The tutors were in a stiff stance, trying by fire every idea presented. They were hard, but fair. Still, the PowerPoint came across nicely and I talked openly and with detail...people seemed engaged [most importantly] and I was optimistic.

The film had problems with the sound; i.e. the room volume controls were on full-whack so everything peaked. This is not the case with the film, the speakers were just too loud. Watching people watching your film with fingers in their ears is not a nice experience.

But, I ventured on through, un-fazed, and accepted the critique given. Basically, the script still needs work and the visuals were questionned, but I don't think it's a big issue.

All in all, I came off a lot better than others, but there's still room for improvement.

Watch this space.

~breadmaker

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Evaluation

Aloha!

Well, the deadline for all my pre-production is almost here, and I've been busy the last few days just pooling everything togetether into a presentable state. It's all going fine and I'm happy with what's come out so far.


I have a few more character designs (drafted) but blogger refuses to let me upload them today. So, what I will do instead is deliver a copy of my Evaluation here, finish up the presentation and DVD for Monday's Feasibility Study Critique...and I'll be back on here to offer my thoughts and direction after that!

EVALUATION:

I have continued with the same idea that was presented in my negotiated proposal. This idea was received very well and I was confident I could deliver what I had proposed. I talked this over with lecturers, and prepared for the initial Animatic critique.

I began by studying Cartoon Modern by Amid Amidi, a book concerning the styles of 1950’s animators, as recommended at my initial proposal. I also followed my proposed avenues of research, which is documented in my production sketchbook.

James Manning also proposed that I should try new characters and allow the Animatic at this stage to be much longer than intended, to get a good overall critique on my ideas.

The film was considered too long and slow, plus some voices were not as funny as others. In response to this, I recorded some new ‘scratch’ recordings and then trimmed the length of the Animatic. This was a significant edit, reducing the screen time from 4mins 15secs to 2:55. I achieved this by eliminating the characters that were found least funny by the audience, such as the French Stick and the Bread Roll, and edited out lines that were not required, thus tightening the script also. This was an imperative process and one that makes me feel a lot better about the film. I went and experimented, even though they did not work particularly well.

Now that the Animatic had confirmed which characters I would be further developing, I took to making more designs and using textures of real bread, instead of block colour. This was also suggested by James early on. This approach seemed daunting at first, but I have managed to create a compromise of my cartoony-style, mixed with real-life textures. Against the 1950’s style backgrounds, the characters sometimes seem disjointed, but I am blending them to make them work.

My tests have received good comments overall, after being made available on YouTube and my blog. These tests proved how subtle the animation in this production needs to be, and although there are mistakes in both, they work well enough for me to feel positive I can achieve what I have set out to do. I have not received many comments on my blog since the first few weeks, but hope that it will be more vital next semester.

I am confident that this film can function well in entertaining an audience, due to the response to my Animatic thus far. I feel that I can direct the voice actors well enough to get their best performance from them and bring the characters to life. The animation for the Ice Cream film was achieved in under 2 weeks (ahead of schedule) and was some of the most difficult, but effective animation I’ve ever done. I am sure I can also complete this film to such a high standard. My compositing abilities and technical knowledge will not cause me problems in post production either. Until now, my weakness has rested in music. I love music, performing and listening, yet it has never quite been done correctly in my films, so I will not have any, except in the title screen, which has already been recorded to my satisfaction.

Andrew S. Gordon
December 4th 2006

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

WHOLEMEAL!

Here's a new design for the loveable (somehow) Wholemeal character. He'd make a great MySpace avatar if anyone wants it....lol....

~breadmaker

New Set Designs


Aloha!

I haven't been in Uni, but that doesn't mean I haven't been working :o) Here's some background's for you to gander at....



This is for the Sandwhiches scenes. This looked a bit flat...

...but this one has too much shadow. So, from herein, I tried making it more subtle!

This is the first shot in the film...


This is one of the last...The Brown Bread's board.




The Burnt toast, before the device that injured him...



"It's Dark in Here...I don't like it!"
Loads more to come...dissertation draft is DONE so expect some more BREAD activity over the next week or two. I'm also preparing the DVD for my end of semester presentation.
~breadmaker




Friday, November 17, 2006

This Morning

Aloha!

Another productive morning: I've bagged some new textures to go do some more character and set designs today/next week - plus I've just shaved the Animatic by a good 1min 15 seconds!

It's a much healthier 2'55 now, and already had some good comments on it. Sadly, it's too big for YouTube, but I will be showing it to James and the animation team shortly for its next inspection.

The time has been lost in cutting only 3 characters:
>French Stick: Because only one person found him funny.
>Bread Roll: Because the interviewer voice doesn't work.

I've also cut down some edits so the pace is nicer, plus cut some unneccessary lines from some of the characters, such as the Male sandwhich and a few of the Daredevil's lines. I'll go do a re-draft of the script as well to log these changes.


So, I'll go get that done - meanwhile this weekend I am recording a CD at Pathway Studios, Caerwent with a freind. It's an acoustic worship-CD to go along with a Day-By-Day book that is being sold from next week!

Laters
~breadmaker


PS: Can someone please buy me these for Christmas? I especially like the 'Happy Toast' :O)
http://www.mypapercrane.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_14

Heat Haze Test


This is a short HeatHaze test for the interior toaster shots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cavd_SB5slI

YouTube is being a pain and refuses to imbed the video - but please try the link above - it works this time!



~breadmaker

Thursday, November 16, 2006

New texture tests

Aloha!

After a busy week of Dissertation writing; I give to you...Texture tests!






These tests represent a very, very short amount of time in Photoshop editing and I'm glad that they at least look better than my last colour tests. The Toaster one I am very pleased with, and if you guys like it, then I will consider turning it into a Flash symbol and warping it along with some animation so it moves and comes to life, whilst maintaining the texture.

Barry isn't quite looking as great (with his rear not being textured) but I am unsure whether I want to texture the whole body or just the face. Any ideas?

The other test is merely a quick graffiti job, as I wondered what it would be like just animating faces onto pictures of bread [I could take]...but we'll see. I don't particularly like it too much, but it does have certain affluency about it.


Please comment!
Coming Soon: Lots more animation tests!
Plus my Pre-Production sketchbook looks all swish now! :o)

~breadmaker

Friday, November 10, 2006

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Happy November

Aloha!

Sorry about the lack of posting recently...that is because my dissertation has taken the last week away from me, and a little thing called 'life' that gets in the way a lot too...so much to do during the days...


But, I can inform you the first *real* actual-factual animation test for Bread is coming. I started it this morning. I'm trying to go for more subtle animation and more life-like movement. The Ice Cream Film was fantastic in teaching me skills in animation, and my abilities tripled easily. I'm hoping of course to go one better in Bread.

I'll try to post it on YouTube soon... :O)

~breadmaker

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Animatic Crit

Aloha!

Well, yesterday was the Animatic Crit - which seemed to go down fairly well. There wasn't any major 'laugh-out-loud' moments, but the Barry flashback and Bread Roll went down extremely well. There was a sense it was too long and slow (but it was intentionally left open for criticism, totaling 4'15 runtime) which will be severely edited later.


The voice acting will be more organic - and interestingly from yesterday - perhaps actually held as an interview with my voice actors. This will have to come under lots of direction and careful questionning to get what I want, but could also open the doors for more subtle and improvised lines.

But the quality stood up well against the others - being my most polished animatic to date - so I am still happy with how this film will be made and work alongside my peers.

"But it's definitly going somewhere..." said James.

Fantastic!
Back to the drawing board...


~breadmaker

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Animatic Day #2

Yesterday - Tuesday - was spent mixing and editing all the scratch recordings (completed just last night) with my temporary actors;

Dan Sims
Mark Rogers
Mike Bithell
Kerry Dyer
Andrew Gordon

And I also completed all the sketches on Monday afternoon! It was a great process of freedom and some of my best work...easily. I have a good feeling about this film.

Today, I will start peicing it together and see if it actually works...here goes everything...

Monday, October 23, 2006

Animatic Day #1

Aloha!

Well, today is the first official Animatic Day! I'm going to be doing some scratch recording on my minidisc with some chosen-friends, then start hacking out as much of the rough animation as I can!

Timing is all important in this film...more so than aesthetics right now...


I'd rather get all the proper voice recording done, fully mixed in the studio but time is short to complete the animatic, but at least this gives me a chance to test-run the script with more people and work around some stuff.

PS: More sketches and characters have been written, but may not necessarily make it into the final animatic/film. However, I can announce that a certain loud, brashy and self-absorbed wholemeal loaf could be a runner.

"WHOLE MEAL! WHOLE MEAL! Yeah! I'm no side order! I'm a WHOLE MEAL baby! YEAH!"

:)
~breadmaker

Thursday, October 19, 2006

YEAH TOAST!

Aloha!
Anyone ever heard the Wierd Al Yankovic song; "Toast"? It's great...heard it a few months ago...I'll try and find a link to it. Also, my Dad found a band called "Bread" which may become part of the soundtrack. "Baby I'm a Want You" is a classic. Buy the CD here!

In other news, I did some tests for the interior of the Toaster. There's two, check out the development (not a great deal as the two were both done yesterday afternoon - but there is significant differences). I want these scenes to look very intense and hot...a film that makes people sweat...hmmm...!



Personally, I prefer the bars by far. A base may be added - plus I'm going to see if After Effects can fake some 'heat haze' for me so it moves around and looks boiling in there!
~breadmaker

Kitchen Designs

Aloha!

Here's some shiny new kitchen designs for you to take a wee look at - Remember - it's all in 1950's style, both in terms of interior design, utilities and following the aesthetics of the animation at the time.

Kitchen 01 - First test; too thick, blocky, but nice colours.

Table 01 - A test for an overhead shot I thought would be cool during the storyboard stage.
Kitchen 02 - Far more dignified and sleek. Check out the funky drawers and the wonderful colour of toasters from this era. I used to have a hoover that was similar...ah, Gerald....
Please comment! :)
~breadmaker

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Tutorial #1

Aloha!

After a good tutorial with James yesterday, I have been thinking a lot more about the content of the film. There's going to be some action taken - so here's a head's up;


Aesthetically - we're going to aim for a slightly-less cartoony feel (not too much away though) by moving towards how we can make it look more like a documentary - ie; some pictures and other graphics manipulated. These will be purely tests for now - but I have a great idea which if it works could bridge the gap between photography, graphic design and the 1950's look I'm going for. Expect imagery by the end of the week.

We're also going to aim for more content - a flurry of new designs, new characters and new jokes which I can then reduce down later. The animatic may seem a little schizo - but that's ok. Again, I will cut it down, but allow myself the open freedom right now.

Also - Cartoon Modern arrived yesterday and is a gem of a book. I'll be scanning some bits and offering thoughts soon.

Gotta catch the bus - keep smiling!
~breadmaker

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Simply The Test

Aloha!

Well, Pre-Production is nicely working out - I've found it very hard in the past to design good characters and colour charts but they seem to be coming together (but you can be the judge of that!) So - the other day I did some Texture Tests in Photoshop to see how to make the Burnt Toast character - the elements used are written underneath so let me know which ones you like best!



I also took a look at designing the Daredevil Character, of which here are a few of my favourites. There was a cool rough sketch of him wearing an Evil-Kenevil style cape...but I thought it was a wee bit superfluous!




More rough sketches will come as soon as I scan them. I've been doing some cool picture research and have been studying my local bakeries for some cool bread! :)
I also ordered the new Cartoon Modern book - which James recommended - but also check out the
blog until then! It's ace!

Please comment!
PS: If you take all the 'evil' out of 'Evil Kenevil' you are only left with 'Ken'. And "Ken the Stuntman" just doesn't have the same ring to it...!

Monday, October 09, 2006

The Scoop

Aloha!

OK - so you've seen a few images and know about the film...but what is it actually about? I realise I haven't clearly stated this here, so for all you who missed the presentation; here's the scoop:

Premise:
A short tongue-in-cheek documentary discussing optimism and pessimism...as told by bread.

Outline:
This is a short film (3 mins) presented in the style of a documentary, where various types of bread are being interviewed, recounting stories and being viewed in natural habitat - or i some cases; out of their comfort zones - all discussing their lives in either an optimistic or pessimistic way. Each type of bread will be countered with another so that people can see their views being challanged.

Treatment:
This will be a predominantly narrative peice, in a documentary style. My best work so far has been in documenatries (A Bin's Story, The Ice Cream Film, and Don't Panic, I'm Islamic as seen on BBC3) and it is where I currently see myself being fulfilled in the future. It's all in 2D, most likely a blend of Photoshop, Flash, After Effects and Premiere Pro. The background with be provided by a kitchen, styled in 1950's/60's style with loving pastel colours and abstract shapes, with bright block-coloured bread leaping out in the foreground, with a host of colourful characters who currently include a loaf, his sliced friend Barry, a burnt peice of toast who reacts as a burns victim, a daredevil bread being toasted who believes it's the ultimate thrill and test of endurance, a sandwhich which acts like married couple, white and brown bread discussing racism and a cowardly loaf who finds the bread bin a dark and scary place.

My Mission Statement:
I'm not afraid of tackling some issues, raising some laughs and hopefully will allow an audience to think about they've seen, without throwing it in their face or telling them what to think. I believe a documentary should open discussion, but to be fair and balanced must not cling to one viewpoint. All in all, it'll be a fun, vibrant and honestly intimate peice of entertainment, that everyone can enjoy.

So there you have it! Some ideology for you to chew on, while I prepare some more images for you! Keep smiling!
~breadmaker

Friday, October 06, 2006

First Steps


Aloha!

Okay - so where is the project standing right now? Everything has to crawl before it can stand up (you only have to look outside a pub on a Friday night to prove this). Other times, you crawl, stand, then fall flat on you face back into a crawl. Hopefully that won't happen with this film.

After the Initial Propoal Presentation when down fantastically on Monday, I've been working away to see whether I can actually produce what I have in mind.

There's been some more rough sketches: (see below for the first concept image that the rest of film is based upon!)




Also, I am now on the 3rd draft of the script - which segments of may be posted on here as and when the time is necessary. I will be talking to lecturers during next week hopefully on how to make the script as tight as possible. It's totaling around 15 scenes within 3 minutes - but the pace is nice, open and I'm leaving room for little sweet moments of character.

I also created a nice banner to advertise the film, (top) which you may put on your page and link this site to - or even just to have as lovely decoration! This is based on the colour tests that have been started, which there will be more images of next week...
I'm away for the weekend now, to a Christian Youth Conference in Cefn Lea, so remember to treat your bread nicely and enjoy it! :)
~breadmaker

Aloha

Aloha!

Welcome to the blog for BREAD - my new animated film. Please bear with me as I set things up over the next few days and get ready for lots of images and other cool information as the films gets made!


Save this address in your 'favourites' and come back often!

Keep smiling
~breadmaker