When deciding whether or not to use stop motion for a project think to yourself, “Can I use any other medium to capture this?” If you can answer, “yes,” use the other medium.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Q: What types of animation can I use?<br/>
A: You can use almost any stop motion technique: clay, cut-outs (paper), sand on glass, paint on glass with oils or clay, chalk drawing, and found object. Since the final is to assess your hold on stop motion animation, you aren’t allowed to use real people as your main characters (since they would more than likely be moving themselves–taking the act of animating out of your hands). You also are not allowed to use any animation or movie software to enhance your film (i.e., zooms, add light, special effects, etc.). Those effects should all be done in camera/on set/during animation. You may only use the software for a green screen composite or to take out a rig, but that is it. If you do use a green screen, make sure your lighting matches up well. If you do not know how to do this so that I cannot tell that it is a composite shot, do not use a green screen.<br/>
<br/>
Q: Do I have to take out the rig? What if I don’t know how?<br/>
A: I don’t care if you leave the rig in. It will not affect your grade in any way if you leave it in or take it out. This is a stop motion class, not a composite class.<br/>
<br/>
Q: Can I create my own narrative for the final project?<br/>
A: Yes, but a word of warning: People tend to get very caught up in creating their own narrative. Usually, the narrative (and the props and sets that go along with it) is quite grandiose for the allotted time frame. I suggest using the wire frame puppets we built in class, a set in one or two colors made from foam core, and found objects as props and pieces of your set. Think of ways that you can showcase what you’ve done over the past 10 weeks with as little extra work building as possible. Sometimes simple lets your narrative shine.<br/>
<br/>
    walk cycle – have your puppet traverse over terrain, jump over objects<br/>
    show weight, gravity, and line of action by having something fall, be thrown, kicked, hit, having your character get sucked into something, repelled away from something, etc.<br/>
    timing – change it up, have something sneak, attack, mosey, run, add music and use that as a timing mechanism, etc.<br/>
    show character and thought process – does he try to plant something? lift something heavy? Create a way to fly? Devise a plan to get a girl?<br/>
    be clever! Can you use found objects as props instead of building them? Think of the Potato Hunter. What about cutting out pictures from magazines, mounting them on cardboard, and propping them up like a picture frame?<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Q: But I had this idea that was different…<br/>
A: Again, I recommend using a narrative that has already been created. Your animation will never fly if your story line isn’t solid. Look to the following sources for inspiration:<br/>
1) fairy tale<br/>
2) poem<br/>
3) song<br/>
4) super short story<br/>
<br/>
Another storyline option that could be good for your reel is to create a commercial for an actual product. This gives you something solid to start from, but allows you a little more creative freedom if you are set on developing a narrative.<br/>
<br/>
Q: Do I have to run my final project by you?<br/>
A: Yes. Your final project must be approved by me in a one on one meeting. During this meeting you will be responsible for presenting a narrative, storyboards and a plausible timeline. If after you are approved you are not sticking to your deadlines or your final appears to be going astray, you may be asked to rethink your focus.<br/>
<br/>
Q: How long should my final project be?<br/>
A: I would aim for about 2 1/2 minutes of animation. Any final under 1 minute of animation will be considered incomplete. Titles and credits are not included in the final duration of the piece.<br/>
<br/>
Q: How will my final project be graded?<br/>
A: Your final project makes up 35% of your overall grade.<br/>
<br/>
    2% = storyboard<br/>
    4%= props, puppets, sets (Properly constructed, clean, neat, lighting was good)<br/>
    25% = Animation: Did you show emotion? Was there clear movement (i.e., weight, gravity, line of action)? Did everything that was supposed to remain steady stay still from frame to frame? Were transitions interesting?  Did they keep the viewer guessing?<br/>
    4% = Narrative  (did your story make sense? Was it clear? Clever?)<br/>
<br/>
Please take note that ANIMATION should be your main focus. Although beautiful sets and puppets are pleasing to the eye, you should not spend the majority of your time constructing these pieces. Bad animation is bad animation – great sets do not make up for poor technique. However, great animation will always forgive a lack of set.<br/>
<br/>
Q: When is the final project due?<br/>
A: Final projects are due May 17th at 3 pm. They must be handing in in 3 ways:<br/>
• uploaded onto the blog with self-commentary/critique by 3 pm May 17, 2010<br/>
• presented in class on May 17, 2010<br/>
• burned on a CD and given to me no later than 5:40 pm on May 17, 2010<br/>
<br/>
Failure to complete any of the above mentioned will result in your final being dropped by one complete letter grade (i.e., A to a B). Your grade will continue to drop one complete letter grade for each subsequent day it is late (the end of day being 5:40 pm).<br/><br/><br/>