Extended Practice: Timetable

For this module I decided to make a timetable scheduling where I should be at certain points throughout the module. I feel like this should help my time management and keep me organised because I have sometimes just forgot what I need to do next or rush one stage and then take my time on another, so this should equal the work load out between each stage in the process.

I also have to think about managing my time working with Emma on her project where I'm a background 3D builder and background animator. Working with Emma, I'll have to go through with her what I'll be working on and how much she'll want me to build because I can't be doing too much due to the fact that I will be working on my own project and I'll need to focus on that as my main priority.

Extended Practice: Further Idea Development

For my extended practice I wanted to continue on from my CoP 3 with particle simulations, however for this I want to incorporate a character and then have particles flow off of the character to then reveal something from underneath the skin. I do have more ideas than this but they stay in the same theme of using a character and having particles flowing off them.

One idea was to have a character dance around but have there skin or appearance change using particle simulations so like there body is full of hair, or dust is flying off them etc. I figured that this would be a series of videos trying out different simulations using motion capture to record the movement of the character and then paste the data onto a model I create within Maya. This idea would be very experimental and I would need to organise my time so that I can use different methods of motion capture i.e. having someone in a Mocap suit and make them dance around while cameras a set up in a circle surrounding the dancer to capture the data, or use the software IPI and capture the dancer using two or more xbox kinects.

My other idea was to just have a 2 minute video where I can get a dancer to perform to a piece of music, that I will get someone to make from the Leeds College of Music, and have particles emit from the dancer which will then reveal a robotic like form underneath the skin. This will be harder to create because I'll be collaborating with others so I'll have to organise them both and gather what I need early so I can start experimenting with different materials for the particle simulation. I figured that I would start the video off with live action and then go into a CG character I have build in Maya but again I'll have to do test to see if this would work.

Extended Practice: Start of My Final Project and My Rationale

Subjects and Themes

Broadly speaking what are you interested in exploring and why?

I'd like to explore into motion capture and 3D environments because I feel like it will help me gain new skills and help me with compositing my work in post production.

I'd also like to experiment with performance in Motion Capture and see how I can apply the data from the performance to a rigged character in Maya.   

Rationale

What you want to do during this module? Be as specific as you can at this moment in time.

If you plan on working on multiple briefs to demonstrate your practice, identify clearly each brief.

I plan to work with Emma as her 3D background designer/builder, working in maya and testing out using 2D textures on a 3D plane.

I also want to experiment with motion capture and see which software is better to use than others for capturing a performance. but then make an animation out of the motion captured performance and create a 3D environment. I haven't thought about a story for the animation yet so I might ask my peers to help out there.

Creating an environment will also continue me research from CoP into environmental vfx/fluid/smoke/dust simulations.

Explain how this will be developing your Specialist Practice?

This will develop my specialist skills by making myself work within 3D elements and learn visual effects to apply onto my animation(s).

this will also help me research and develop my knowledge into the specialist area of my study.  

Resources and Workshops

What do you need and by When?

I'll need to try and go to sheffield and experiment with their motion capture facilities, this will be around February/March time  

Will you be working on a group project or brief?

( If YES explain )

Yes I'll be working with Emma on her project as the 3D background artist/builder as she would like to try a hybrid of the two 2D and 3D.

Are there any stakeholders in your project?

If YES, explain who they are and what their responsibilities are? - This is essential if you've got a Live Brief from a client

No

What, where and when do you need to research. Begin to identify and artists, practitioners, companies or organisations that you will need to talk to. This could include getting to speak to people at conferences, events and other organisations.

Research into Motion capture softwares/Facilities, I'd like to talk to Blue Zoo/Double negative/ imaginarium, visit festivals like Animex, the vfx festival, Chester international film festival, and Leeds young film festival   

Please identify at least 6 books, periodicals, websites or other media that may be informing your rationale. Please use Harvard referencing.

Hayes, D. and Webster, C. (2013) Acting and performance for animation. Oxford: Taylor & Francis.

Kerlow, I.V.V. (2009) The art of 3-D: Computer animation and effects. 3rd edn. United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.

Monaco, J. (2008) How to read a film: Movies, media, and beyond. 30th edn. New York: Oxford University Press.

TheAloomaX (2014) VFX: Going behind the magic, episode 1: ILM creating the impossible. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDoVcGPw_3o (Accessed: 9 October 2016).

Wolfe, J. (2015) Autodesk tools used on 14 Oscar-Nominated films. Available at: http://www.awn.com/news/autodesk-tools-used-14-oscar-nominated-films (Accessed: 17 October 2016).

Motion, O. · (2016) Motion capture software and Mocap tracking Info.

Available at: http://www.organicmotion.com/motion-capture/ (Accessed: 9 November 2016)