Adaptation: 'Making Plans for Nigel' Editing Update

'Making Plans for Nigel' Editing Update

Back by semi-popular demand are the repetitious visual motifs (currently comprised of my Pre-Vis placeholders, but soon to be updated) and the snippets of advertisements from the past, as seen in the Pre-Vis. I've also added Barbara Kruger/They Live-inspired still text elements, which I had considered using early on in the project. The particular set in this update uses the slogan of a popular online auction site (Hint: it rhymes with 'leeway').

I'm fairly pleased with how it is coming along so far, but I felt I ought to upload the first minute or so of footage to see if this is feeling was unanimous.

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated, and the final edit should be complete this evening (although the final visual motifs will be added tomorrow, along with the final clips currently rendering at uni).

Adaptation: 'Making Plans for Nigel' Rough Cut

 'Making Plans for Nigel' Rough Cut

This is a rough cut of the final video for Making Plans for Nigel. The rhythm is pretty much there, although it needs tidying up.

Originally, I was going to intersplice two-dimensional animated footage, created in After Effects, between the rendered footage (as seen in my Pre-Vis). Although, I feel as though the repetition of the rendered footage provides the same experience that the After Effects segments had provided before, without forcing the viewer to adjust to shifting visual styles. There is a chance I may still include them, as well as the advertising video footage, but at the moment, I am satisfied with the result so far. I think the video may end up coming off as cluttered and a bit slapdash if I continue to lump elements on, even though they were planned to be included initially.

As well as the changes above, I have also shortened the song by about a minute, as the 3:30 limit was proving to be a bit of a struggle to reach, without the footage outstaying its welcome. Also, the title in the footage is currently a placeholder, and will be changed for the final video.

Any critique and feedback would be greatly appreciated whilst I tidy up and apply the finishing touches to the video. Thanks!

Adaptation: Rendered Footage Preview

Rendered Footage Preview

After a while of no posts, I finally have some progress to display. This is a low quality preview of the rendered animation so far. 

I have a bit more left to animate, as well as a lot of footage that is currently rendering as I create this post. The total length of the footage will likely be around 1:30-2:00. Whilst this doesn't fit the approx. 3:00 length of the track, this will be extended by cutting in samples of found video footage and still images, as displayed in my Pre-Vis. As for the repetitive After Effects segments, I plan to construct these once the bulk of the footage is compiled. I'm fairly comfortable working with After Effects, so this is fairly achievable as long as things go smoothly. I am cutting things incredibly close at this point, but I suppose its better to push things to the extreme instead of slowing down to a stop. 

All in all, I'm fairly confident (touch wood) that I will get the rendered animation finished, if nothing else, by the crit.

Adaptation: Housewife Walk Cycle

Housewife Walk Cycle

This is the basic walk cycle for the Housewife character. In each of the scenes, the Housewife walks in from outside the frame, so getting this right was pretty vital. I've saved the key poses using PoseLib, so I can transfer the basic walk cycle structure between scenes and save myself a bit of time animating what is probably the longest shot in each of the scenes. It needs a bit of polish here and there, but overall, I'm pretty happy with it so far.

Housewife Walk Cycle Front

Housewife Walk Cycle Side

As for the rest of the animation, I plan to do several passes of animation, blocking it all in initially and then refining it once everything is in place. I'm cutting it fairly close to the deadline, so at least if I animate this way, I can make sure I have everything basically animated by the crit, even if it isn't perfect in places.