Final Motion Graphics Blog… Ever?!

This is one project I really connected with. I had an image in my head, of how it would look, and I think it is almost spot on to what I imagined!
Below (Left) is my key influence in terms of style and (Right) my video.

Issues

I obviously had a few issues. Obtaining a soundtrack that built up in my 30 second window, was one major one. I sent out emails asking for permissions- got no replies.
Another was sound effects. I spent an entire day looking for sounds that fit well and annoyingly the sound is something always taken for granted, and the effort taken to get it right is never noticed.

More Convincing Camera Shake

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/earthquake_with_32bpc/

The second half of this video (suggested by Simon) is exactly what I need, really detailed and perfect for what I need to do.

Music

My two ideal contenders for background music. “Get It Together” would be perfect I think.

So, I sent an email :

Hi,

I’m a university student, studying graphic design, and I’ve been searching for the perfect background music to an animation I’m working on.
I came across “Get It Together” and “Super Triangle” and believe that one of them songs would work well.
So I’m asking your permission to use one of the songs (and possibly trim it to fit the animation)

You would be credited.

I hope you agree,

Thanks A Lot,

Luke Sutton

If they say “No” or do not respond I have been searching for royalty free music. Below is one that I think could also work.

http://www.freesound.org/people/Xythe/sounds/100870/

(updated 07/02/2012)

Below is a link for a Royalty Free site, more specifically a genre within it (that I’d never heard of) called ‘Polka’. Out of curiosity, I played some and immediatley thought they would work really well! But when played along side my quick render I thought differently..
http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/index.html?genre=Polka

This one below has some good sounds, “Kick Shock” stood out to me, even when played with my quick edit

http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/index.html?genre=Electronica&page=3

Script for Animation

To clarify the story I thought that a voice over might work.
I mentioned previously that Sir Ian McKellen would be perfect so..

I tweeted him! Obviously it’s probably not going to happen but there is no harm in trying..
With the intention that this wasn’t going to work I emailed this guy asking if he would be interested..

Hunter Davis is an American actor, popular for his Ian McKellen impressions on YouTube. I came across him when looking for an example of McKellen’s voice for one of the previous posts and didn’t think about asking him until today.

Anyway we shall see what they say, if anything.. But until then, here is the script of what I want the voice over to be saying:

script.pdf

Hollow

I am watching my video whilst downloading sound FX and I reeeally need to add more content!

There is very little going on and I had images of a crazy and busy screen with the viewer not knowing where to look- at the moment things fly our one at a time.
It is good that it is ordered, for the story to be clear, but it needs so much more.

Clearer Narrative

I have my 30 seconds clip but am unsure about how clear the story (the arch of my life) is.

I was thinking about ways to make it clearer and two thoughts I had were to have some sort of typography to clarify it or a voice-over.
Straight away a voice I thought would work  is similar to Sir Ian McKellen..

or Sir Patrick Stewart…

A truly English  voice would suit well I think.
But then how am I going to make a speech that clarifies the arch in 30 seconds..?

30 Seconds Filled..

I have got the beginning, middle and end of my animation.
It is missing sound effects, music, possible voice over, camera shake and a bit more animation to make it busier but I am uploading it just to be able to see a progression.

[the quality is poor, just so it uploads quicker]

Unplanned Influence

I have had this album for around a year and it came on my iPod earlier and it suddenly hit me, this looks a lot like my style!!
It wasn’t planned and was in no way a conscience choice but I must have seen this idea and liked it, so much so that I am doing my video on it.

It even has the little doodles that I want to come out of mine, and if I would now compare my work (still in progress) to this one, I would say mine needs to be busier..

Expression

My video is coming along slowly, tediously but it is coming along nonetheless. I am annoying making life harder for myself (extra detail like adding shadows to each thing coming out of my head) but hopefully it will make for a better animation.

It was mentioned to me that I should look at making my face show different expressions through out. I did consider this, but because of the filters and techniques applied to it, even the slightest difference in lighting would ruin the seamlessness needed to make changes in emotion convincing.

I did take different expressions when I took images for the elements, annoyingly however, I came across this issue and just deleted them.

Storyboard..

I have decided not to worry about a story board. Instead I have the list of what will come out of my head and how it looks.

I think this is enough to understand my intentions, direction and effectively does the same thing.