I didn’t get much accomplished today. I started working on some concepts for the castle, and just couldn’t quite make it work. I’m going to need to play around with this one some more tomorrow.
… but, tonight I need to work on a card commission, and make some money. Freaking money, I hate it! … but unfortunately need it (its worse than an ex-girlfriend you can't forget)
Here’s an older piece of concept art I created for the guard puppet. That puppet I did end up making … and here is the shot with him in it.
I actually had a guy comment, (not here, over at facebook) he asked me if I was ‘just’ drawing out all these ideas and then handing them off for someone else to sculpt and animate???
I’ve got to admit, it annoyed me a little ... especially since I’ve put like a year and a half into trying to figure out how to do all this stuff!
Making armatures, making puppets, making silicone hands, making a set in my freaking living room, and props. Buying software and a $500 camera. Not to put to fine a point on it, but I’m waist deep in this sh*t, dude!
Anyway, who cares, it didn’t really bother me and I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it.
I do love this shot though! The motion isn’t all that great, kind of jerky, but this was back when I was using the wire armatures. I’ve noticed the newer ball and socket armatures I’ve built, are a lot smoother and easier to animate.
The face was another thing that kind of bugged me. I actually liked the movement and expression, but over all it was just kind of creepy.
I have this thing against creepy looking dolls and puppets. Some people are freaked out by clowns, I hate creepy little dolls. You know, the ones that sit on the shelf and stare at you like they’re plotting your death.
Believe me, I’ve defiantly thought about it while I’m trying to make these little things so real. With blinking eyes and 30 plus points of articulation. I mean, we're all just asking for a puppet-ocalypse at some point!
Who cares about the zombies, as animators, we’re all going to wake up to the end of the world with tiny, little, individually wired silicone fingers at our throats!
Anyway, I won’t have to worry about all that for a while.
What I ‘do’ love about this shot, is the lighting!
I got that just exactly the way I wanted it. Also the costume and the set, I thought were great … and the big dramatic camera move too. I was real satisfied with all that stuff.
Even though I was just complaining about it, if I could get the whole movie to look like this, I would be pretty happy with it.
See you all tomorrow.
Jeff
read the previous update ...
6 comments:
I really like the point of view and the camera move too, you're right, it's very good ! Congratulations for this sequence and for the castle too, it's very nice !
More top work! I love the castle - looks like part of a citadel. 'However', it does look a little more Disney Princess than Curse of the Wolf's Heart. *BUT*, I'm sure that's because you've drawn it in pink and blue. It still looks great.
I'm sure the guy who was asking about your film meant no disrespect. It sounds like he was just interested in what you are doing.
And, interesting theory on the puppet-ocalypse. I think you could use a break. Haha! :D
Thanks Manu!
Your totally right Dean, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it ... but after I wrote out my little rant and re-read it, I thought it was funny so I kept it in.
Hopefully he won't read it and get mad at me.
Thanks for the comment, man.
Jeff
Neck deep in it over here, dude. I understand you.
I read that guy's question to you as a compliment b/c it is unusual for someone to do the whole enchilada themselves. Plus your drawings style is so different than your puppet style.
I think a lot about the question of reproducing life's movement vs. strictly storytelling too. A friend made a fantastic point about this very thing the other day.
From his post on this: "...Anthropomorphism is highly reflexive/instinctive I think, but if something is too close to “life” then I think instincts that are to do with revulsion to dead-things starts creeping in."
"...Anthropomorphism is highly reflexive/instinctive I think, but if something is too close to “life” then I think instincts that are to do with revulsion to dead-things starts creeping in."
Coooooool! :D
Good point Shelley, and I think your right.
Thanks again for all the comments everyone!
Jeff
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