Friday 21 October 2016
Thursday 20 October 2016
Planning the Camera Angles | Story | Storyboard
To help with adding camera angles into the script, I've been doing some really rough sketches of how the scene might look. These are quick 2 minute sketches with stick men not labour intensive pieces more for planning then definitive looks at some of the scenes.
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| Long shot of the cafe. Shows our 2 men centred with a glimpse at other people either eitherside. |
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| Looking at a low angle shot or a close up to show the baby crawling beneath the table. |
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| Trying to envision a Dutch Angle for when the Mafia Boss picks up the baby for the 1st time. |
Wednesday 19 October 2016
Writing up the Script & Adding Camera Angles | Story
The script so far has now been written up into Adobe Story and I'm now in the process of planning out the camera angles which are appropriate for each shot where possible. I have also broken the script down into manageable chunks and scenes to help with production in the future.
UPA | Style | Research
After a mini meeting with Alan on Thursday, he suggested that we should look into UPA for some inspiration and ideas for our backgrounds. We were originally looking at the old Warner Brothers cartoons for inspiration but this is a nice twist. UPA uses coloured backgrounds to convey emotions with simplistic drawings which give vague outlines of shapes or pieces, just enough to give the viewer an suggestion of what should be in the scene behind the characters.
Tuesday 18 October 2016
Superhero Camera Angles | Research
Our given genre was superheroes. To incorporate this into a script that otherwise would not necessarily fit, we've chosen to take the tropes and camera angles from the genre and work it into our piece like this instead.
During some research, I've discovered that there are 6 typical camera angles used in the superhero genre.
Birds eye view
These shots typically show scenes from a very high point, normally looking directly down on a scene or location below.
Low angle
These shots look up at characters or locations from a very low angle. They're more commonly used for dramatic shots but are also used in superhero films to inspire awe at characters.
Long shot
Long shots are views from further back than normal. They can be used to show a larger area of the scene or to include several characters in a spaced out formation. They are often followed by panoramic or close up shots.
Establishing shot
These are often used to display a new location or to give the audience an idea of the city in which the piece is set. They are for locations only and can sometimes include characters.
Dutch angle
The Dutch angle is also known as the 'Dutch Tilt', 'Oblique Angle' or 'German Angle'. For this shot, the camera is set at an angle. It's commonly used to portray 'psychological uneasiness or tension in the subject being filmed'. This shot works both for locations and characters.
High angle
The high angle shot is sometimes confused with the 'Birds Eye View'. This shot normally focuses on characters from a high angle and 'the point of focus often gets swallowed up'. These shots can be used to make the characters seem vulnerable and are often seen in action sequences.
The high angle shot is sometimes confused with the 'Birds Eye View'. This shot normally focuses on characters from a high angle and 'the point of focus often gets swallowed up'. These shots can be used to make the characters seem vulnerable and are often seen in action sequences.
Sunday 16 October 2016
Changes to the Opening Scene | The Mafia Baby | Story
The opening scene in our script felt a bit clunky and unbelievable so we came up with another idea. This feels like it flows into our story a little better. It now starts as follows...
The scene starts within a cafe. We see the Mafia Boss and another guy sat at a table. Polite conversation is exchanged while drinking coffee. During the conversation, a black duffel bag is kicked across the floor beneath the table from the stranger to the Mafia Boss. Its slightly open so we see some of the cash inside. A baby is shown crawling under the seat and climbs into the bag unbeknown to the two men. The meeting is closed and both men stand and shake hands before parting ways. The Mafia boss reaches under the table and grabs the bag, zipping it in one swift movement, trapping the baby inside and he is none the wiser that the infant is inside. Both men exit the cafe.
Thursday 13 October 2016
Art Style | Research | Influence Maps
Wednesday 12 October 2016
1st Draft of Script | The Mafia Baby | Story
Synopsis
A drug deal has gone wrong and left the Mafia boss with a baby and half the cash he should have had. He decides to go on with his day with the baby in tow. The animation will follow his journey as he tries to carry out a full day
Conflict: Man Vs Family
Ending: “I backed away from him without a word and got out of the room.”
Genre: “Superhero”
Starts with a drug deal. The Mafia Boss has his back to the camera and we see another guy hand over a black bag obviously bulging full of cash. The other guys turns and walks away.
Scene cuts to the Mafia boss walking through this office door and drops the bag on the floor before sitting at his desk. The bag tips over and a baby crawls out. It crawls over to the wall where a pen has been thrown and it proceeds to draw on the wall as it crawls along. The Boss looks up and see some of the drawings and storms over to investigate.
He grabs the kid and picks it up.
“Where did you come from kid?”
Baby gurgles. He looks over to the bag which is on its side with cash scattered around it.
“Are you kidding me?! They gave me half a bag of cash and a kid…what am I gunna do with you huh?”
Baby looks up at him and gurgles.
“Well kid, I don't even know you’re name…I guess I should name you. How’s about Snake Eyes”
Baby begins to cry
“Shit uhh I guess you don’t like that, Two face?”
Baby cries harder.
“Crap! Baby face just quieten down okay?!”
Baby stops crying.
“Baby face it is then”
Mafia boss is sat at his desk writing on something with the baby crawling around his feet.
“You must be thirsty little man. Here you go”
Boss hands the boss a bottle of beer instead of milk. The boss opens his own beer and continues with his work. The baby gets drunk and is wobbling about before passing out.
Scene changes to the boss talking to his crew with them passing the baby around. Someone hands it a knife and they laugh at it waving the knife about before it stabs one of the guys in the foot. The whole crew erupts into laughter.
Mafia boss take kid to drug deal. He’s rocking the baby in his arms trying to carry on but no one can take him seriously.
Scene changes to the boss talking to his crew with the baby wandering about grabbing cigarettes and cash from each persons pockets before shoving the evidence down its nappy. Crew stands up and arguments begin. Each blaming the other for their missing items.
The crew is shown sat around a big table all visibly annoyed and on edge. The Mafia Boss explains a heist drawn out on a board. Sends them all away before returning to his office.
Boss opens the office door to find the baby sat in his chair with other mafia members behind him with shotguns.
Fades to black
“I backed away from him without a word and got out of the room.”
Slowly reveals Mafia Boss in therapists chair.
“Doc you gotta believe me man - the kids been playing me all along!”
Tuesday 11 October 2016
Ending Idea | Story
Ending idea:
Boss opens the office door to find the baby sat in his chair with other mafia members behind him with shotguns.
Screen fades to black
“I backed away from him without a word and got out of the room.”
Scene fades in and slowly reveals Mafia Boss in therapists chair.
“Doc you gotta believe me man - the kids been playing me all a long!”
Saturday 8 October 2016
Initial Story Ideas | Roughing it Out | Story
This is our early script ideas for our story "The Mafia Baby". This is one of our earlier ideas as we feel this has a lot more potential. These are a few ideas that we have had for some of the scenes. and We'd love to have some feedback this early on :)
Synopsis
A Mafia boss has been left to look after a baby at the last minute and decides to go on with his day with the baby in toe. The animation will follow his journey as he tries to carry out a full day
Conflict: Man Vs Family
Ending: “I backed away from him without a word and got out of the room.”
Genre: “Superhero”
Mafia boss spins around in chair.
“Boss if you want me to do the job you’ll have to look after the kid”
“You mean Billy the kid or what?”
“No boss, my kid. Just for today. I can’t get no one to babysit and you’re the only guy here”
“Well kid, I don't even know you’re name…I guess I should name you. How’s about Snake Eyes”
Baby begins to cry
“Shit uhh i goes you don’t like that, Two face?”
Baby cries harder.
“Crap! Baby face just quieten down okay?!”
Baby stops crying.
“Baby face it is then”
Mafia boss take kid to drug deal. He’s rocking the baby in his arms trying to carry on but no one can take him seriously.
Boss hands the boss a bottle of beer instead of milk
Character Workshop | Conclusion
From our character workshop, we got started on some great ideas for our story and have began exploring several options. We also got our genre 'Superheroes' which we are thinking could drastically change our story.
At the moment we're a bit unsure if we should use the camera angles and shots from the superhero genre or if we should make it a bit more obvious and have a good character and an evil character.
After receiving our genre we have drastically changed our story but we may revert back to one of our original ideas as we feel this decision was a bit rushed.
At the moment we're a bit unsure if we should use the camera angles and shots from the superhero genre or if we should make it a bit more obvious and have a good character and an evil character.
After receiving our genre we have drastically changed our story but we may revert back to one of our original ideas as we feel this decision was a bit rushed.
Story Workshop | 27th September 2016
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| Early ideas based around our ending and conflict |
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| Working on our 4 strongest ideas |
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| Whittling the ideas down |
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| Spider diagram for thoughts on our ending |
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| Why babies? |
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| Spider diagram to help with our character |
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| Working on the "Mafia Baby" |
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| Genre made a big difference. New ideas! |
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