Animation Sand shot 7

Just before easter I finally started animating and started with the sand animation on the multi plane. This shot is when the Dad is telling the tale of the sand troll, inside the girl's mind. I think its a bit bright, so I'm going to darken it in post production and probably make it flicker like an old film.

Work Research

It has got to that point where I will be ending University soon and will be in search of a job. My plan is to apply to many companies, mainly children's T.V programmes. Companies I have found are from me searching on line work I like and my tutors giving information. I'm not too picky about what kind of job I do, but if I could choose then I would love to model making or set building. I also don't mind where it is either.

I guess my biggest goal/aim is to work for Aardman. So I've done a bit of research in to them.

They are based in Bristol and do many things ranging from feature films, T.V series, commercials. They also recently have a in house production in Salford.

Things they are working on that I would like to work under is either 'Timmy Time', 'Shaun the Sheep' or any of their commercials. On their website http://www.aardman.com/ they have a email links where you can send a showreel and a c.v. There is a link for enquiring about work placements as well.

I have also been lucky in this department because last summer I had a workshop making Gromit and was given a business card by Jim Parkyn, who makes Gromit for Aardman. Also, Miles Bullough Prodution manager came in and gave a talk and I have his contact details. He gave advice on whether to be a practitioner who make stuff or a creator who comes up with ideas. I personally see my self as a practitioner. Bullough said that they look for people who can produce ideas, they are happy to invest time and train. If I have nothing by October there is a Pitch festival that month to exhibit work, like storyboard or anamatic.

Overall Bullough said the best thing to do is have a strong showreel, have creative ideas and get your work across, like with a blog or vimeo (which I have got up and running).

Finished all Characters

I have finally finished all my characters. The little outfits were cut out of old clothes and have wire thread through the seem. The buttons I made myself out of milleput and painted. As for the hair and beard I bought some wool fibre and glued it to a wire mesh so it can be animated.

Dad

Sophie

Dad and Daughter

Sophie and Sand Troll

Altogether

Finished Cave

I have finally finished painting the cave and is ready to be set up and animated.

Front entrance shot

From the back of the cave

Cave

I've started making the cave. Here is two pictures from the storyboard I've drawn of the cave.

The cave is made from chicken-wire paper mache for the walls, and polystyrene for the stalactites and stalagmites.

I found some pictures of real stalactites and I thought is would be good to create this texture by pouring plaster over my work.

The plaster has worked really well and I am now in the process of painting it, and after that i can fill it with all different washed up treasures the Sand Troll keeps.

 

Sophie's head replacements

I've finished making and painting the replacements faces for the little girl. To give an even covering I spray painted them and then painted the eyes and mouths. On the back each one has ks tube that fits in to another ks tube attached to the armature's head.

Making Process

It's been a while since my last post, but I am now on the way to finishing my two puppets and sets.

First of all is my lighthouse which I've finally been able to making the railing out of tubing, and have now painted and is all textured. Now I only need to do the roof and the lens, which I want to make out of plastic bottles.

I have also done the stairs and have made them look like warn stone.

I have also done textured paint and a window for my small lighthouse. The only thing left to do is the door, but I am going to weight till I've done the big base first.

As for my puppets I have been having a hard time with the latex moulds and 1 out of 3 always goes wrong. like the welly on the left. Similar things have happened to the hands as well. Two moulds broke in the process as well and I sadly had to start from scratch with the welly mould.

I have also been working on finishing my puppets and I have finally made all the latex hands and wellington boots. I have also sprayed the faces white and are ready for their final caught. Next stage is hair and clothes and then they are finished.

Here are all 18 faces

Trying to move on to other work I have started making the big sand dune out of polystyrene, and have given the door a hinge so it can be animated being opened. My plan is to use paper mache or plaster to give a sharp edge to the base and cover the whole thing in sand. As for the grass i will use the bristols on a broom and paint them green. This sand dune will only be seen from outside, and I will have a different set for inside the cave.

I also did some samples of glued sand, the one on the right being the sand castle.