Film Studies and Cinematography - Final Project

 24.09.2024 - .2024 (Week 1 - Week 14)

Low Li Vern/ 0362678

Film Studies and Cinematography / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Final Project

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INSTRUCTIONS

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Final Project: ANIMATIC STORYBOARD PRODUCTION

The objective of this project is to produce a 1-3 minute animatics storyboard based on your approved short animation. 

#Thumbnail Progress

For my Final Project in Film Studies, I began by creating thumbnail drawings as a foundation for my visual storytelling. Starting on paper, I sketched out rough ideas for different scenes to explore concepts during the brainstorming phase.

The key focus in this stage was on the positioning of the characters and the angles of the scenes, as these elements are crucial for conveying emotions and guiding the viewer's perspective. Thumbnail sketches allow me to quickly iterate on different ideas, ensuring that each scene is visually compelling and aligns with the story's tone and pacing.

Fig Rough sketch for thumbnail

After sketching ideas on paper, I transitioned to creating thumbnail sketches digitally. I enjoy working digitally because it provides a clearer view of the composition and allows for smoother, more precise drawing compared to paper.

In my digital thumbnails, I use simple shapes to represent buildings and other environmental elements, focusing on the overall layout rather than intricate details. For the characters, I also keep the drawings simplified but dedicate more time to capturing their emotions and expressions. This helps convey the mood and story of each scene effectively, even at this early stage of development.

#Storyboard Progress

After completing the thumbnail sketches, I moved on to creating the storyboard. For me, the most important aspects of storyboarding are timing and transitions. These elements are crucial for ensuring a smooth flow between scenes and effectively conveying the narrative. One challenge I faced was determining the proper timing for each shot, especially since the final outcome isn’t fully realized at this stage. To address this, I spent extra time experimenting with timing, making adjustments to ensure the pacing aligns with the story’s tone and emotional beats.

#Animatic Progress

Lastly, I moved on to creating the animatics, using Krita as my primary tool. I enjoy working in Krita because it offers a wide variety of brushes, which allows me to add texture and detail to my drawings. To stay organized, I save separate files for each scene, making it easier to manage and refine individual shots.

Fig Drawing Progress

While drawing, I focus on whether each scene is suitable for the planned transitions to ensure a cohesive flow. Additionally, I dedicate time to incorporating thematic elements that enhance the atmosphere. For this project, I included details that evoke a Halloween vibe, helping to immerse the audience in the story’s setting and mood.

Fig Animation scenes

For this animatic session, I drew around 40 frames.

After completing all the scenes, I exported some of them and enhanced the animations using Adobe After Effects, which added smoother transitions and fluidity to the movements. Most of the animation frames, however, were created in Adobe Animate and Krita, where I focused on crafting and refining the details. By combining the strengths of these tools, I achieved a harmonious blend of smooth motion and expressive, hand-drawn elements.

After that, I brought the videos together in Adobe After Effects and added background music along with some sound effects to enhance the overall atmosphere.

Fig Combination in After Effect

Besides, I recorded my own voice for the character conversations. After recording, I used Adobe Audition for noise reduction and to adjust the pitch for different characters. For Boo, I applied a helium sound to match his cute appearance, while for the other ghost, I used a low pitch to create a spooky effect.

Fig Adobe Audition Progress

Fig Sound Record

Final Outcome

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REFLECTIONS

For my Final Project in Film Studies: Animatic Storyboard Production, I gained a deep understanding of the importance of storytelling and how to translate ideas into visual forms. Throughout the process, I learned how crucial it is to think about not only the narrative but also how to present it in a way that captivates the audience. Storyboarding has shown me how every shot, angle, and transition must align with the story’s tone and pacing to create a cohesive experience.

Though the project was completed under time constraints, and I couldn’t perfect every detail, I’m proud of the work I’ve accomplished. With more time, I feel I could have focused on refining the animation and the overall flow to enhance the emotional impact. However, despite these limitations, I’m pleased with how the animatic turned out.

This project has been a great learning experience, allowing me to explore the different aspects of animatics and animation in depth. It was especially meaningful to me because I feel that I’ve truly embodied the role of an animator during this process. Storyboarding is one of the most important steps in animation, as it sets the foundation for everything that follows, and working on this project has strengthened my understanding of its significance.

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