Thesis Defense

Well, I passed my defense. It was so nerve racking. There are still a few things I would like to fix.
Here are the suggestions of the panel:
The credits - do a dissolve. Scrolling text has bugs in after effects.
Fix the lights
Bring the animation to that polished level (more movement)
Watch the cuts- on the one the guy’s arm should be in the shot

Thesis Due

I handed in my project about hour ago. I had so much trouble burning my dvd. Idvd keep taking the sound from the previous projects. It's finally in and done

Update

I got most of my shots rendered yesterday except for two and I still want to redo the occlusion pass. I want to tweak the animation on shot 4-20 a bit today. I’m also going to do the 2-d skeleton, tweak the color and fix the glow effect. The book is pretty much done; I’ll get it bound tomorrow, and burn the two disks than as well.

What I still need to work on

Three days left and I still need to:
Fix the animation for Shots 3-20 and 4-20
Re-render out the shots with new render layers
Composite and fix colors
Motion Blur
2-D skeleton
Fix the Book
Burn the DVD and Data CD

Update

My first shot has been taken 12 hours just for the beauty pass. The others seem to be ok. As I was compositing, I realized I set up my render layers wrong. For example I had the dog on a separate layer than the table, I thought that would work for the motion blur. Now the dogs hand is under the table. My lights need tweaking too. At least I should have a sample to show Mike tomorrow. I’m going to have to start re-rendering everything tomorrow and fix my layers and lights. I also want to fix the animation on two shots yet. My plan is to start re-rendering tomorrow on one computer. To fix the animation on another as well as fix the 2d skeleton for the electrocution shot. Rendering tomorrow night as well as I’ll have to fix my book. Hopefully I can work on compositing, and the motion blur on Tuesday any maybe burn my DVD on Tuesday night

Render Update

Well, my renders were quick. Now that the characters are smoothed out, the renders are taking much longer. My first shot has been rendering since 10:30 this morning and is still going. Luckily the lab is quite so I look over two more computers, one to render with and one to animate with. I got two more shots rendered and set another for tonight.

Animation Update

Well I'm still fixing four shots. My goal is to have everything ready for Monday to have Mike look at it and let me know what last minutes fixes I should make.

Things I need to do

Well it’s less than a week left, and I still have a big to do list.
Notes to self:
My shots I have to fix are two, five, ten and eleven
Shot one- tweak animation if time and render
Shot two- tweak animation and render
Shot three- tweak animation if time and render
Shot four- tweak animation if time and render
Shot five- tweak animation and render
Shot six- tweak animation if time and render
Shot seven- done :)
Shot eight- tweak animation if time and render and fix the 2-d effects
Shot nine- done
Shot ten- tweak animation and render
Shot eleven- tweak animation and render
Credit- make sure audio ends ok
Let not forget the book and DVD

Meet with Patricia

I meet with Patricia today, here's what I need to work on:
-More facial overall
-Shot two effects on his hand, blur, and add to the dog. Too stiff. Maybe tap fingers.
- Both characters to stiff
- When the light bulb goes out- more reaction from the dog, thinking, tilt of head
- Add to the frame when man in reacting with light bulb, have dog go out of that frame.
- When the man gets the light bulb, have him move bit more at the end, and facial look up, eyes. In the next shot, stiff all the animation keys
-Have action move from one to the next in cuts
-During electrocution, dogs are is to stiff. Shake the lamp
- Facial most at end, especially in dog, he's pissed- strain in ears and eyelids
-End Shot, bit more tilt on old man - grin
More emotion

Motion Blur Test

I used reel smart motion blur on the dog, here's the first shot.

Sound and Storm Update

Well here is the updated animatic with the edited sound and storm effects for the first shot. I'm still fixing the animation; I hope to be done with it on Sunday.

Background Images

I finished the background images that go into the picture frames today.

Stormy Weather Effect

Well, I worked on the weather today for the first shot as the camera dollies through the window. It didn't come out bad.

Sound Update

Here's the new version of the sound with Michael's voice.

Things to do this week

1- Refine Animation, and start refining final shots – I’d like to have all the animation done by next Sunday, that will give me a few days to but everything together
2- Fix any last poses for the images.
3- Fix the effects
4- By Sunday – start compositing and fixing the book

Paperwork Update

Only 10 days left, the countdown begins. I have all the pre-vis stuff together and some of the thesis documents. I'm going to work on some paperwork today. I need to make sure this is all in order.
Final Deliverables

1. DVD, encoded
1.1 This DVD should contain your final thesis project and play on regular consumer DVD players.
Its primary purpose is to present your final piece in front of a panel/audience. This will be the DVD played during your presentation. Double check that it works and is labeled!!! A DVD handed in presentation day will not be accepted and viewed for presentation.

2. Printed Documentation of the Production Process
2.1 Thesis Statement and Thesis Synopsis (Updated if different from PreViz)
2.2 Faculty Critique Report and copies of Evaluation Criteria Forms
3.3 Industry Critique Report and copies of Evaluation Criteria Forms
2.4 Additional research materials including images and text references
2.5 Additional or changed production design elements, modified visual script
2.6 Post Thesis Self Critique
2.7 Acknowledgements, Production Credits and Clearances
2.8 Bibliography & appendices as it applies

3. Printed Documentation of Thesis Previsualization
3.1 One printed color copy of your un-edited pre-visualization booklet
This document will NOT be graded! It is an important part of your oral defense to the panelists.

4. Data DVD/CD
The data DVD is required for archiving purposes. It should contain all major components of your project such as:
4.1 Quicktime DV version of your thesis project
4.2 PDF data file of your complete Previz Thesis Documentation including text and images
4.3 PDF data file of your complete Execution Project Thesis Documentation including text and images
4.4 Showcase Catalog Image 720x540 or HD hero shots for promotional purposes (see spec sheet)
4.5 Additional stills at least 720 X 540 of your final project for promotional purposes
4.6 Important reference materials, additional pictures, text files and video clips etc.
4.7 Animatics
4.8 Additional Proof of Concept Tests, animations, models etc.
4.9 All digital elements of your previz submission: animatics, proof of concepts, reference

Animation Update

I worked on 4 shots this week, and I feel like I brought them up another level. One I consider done for now. I’m going to bring the other shots up to that same level this week. I also got some of the effects working. I’m leaving tonight with a test render of the motion blur.

Animation Reference - Speedy

The witch meets speedy. The witch actually has some nice touches like when she speeds off, her hairpins fall out. The short has some good reference for motion blur which I’m working with on the dog. It also has some nice samples of smoke which, I might add to Flash, if I have time.

A -Haunting We Will Go
A-Haunting We Will Go. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 16 April 1966
Director: Robert McKimson

Voice Over

I meet with Michael and Alistair last night to record the voice over. Michael did a great job; I can't wait to hear the final cut.

Sound Update

I got Michael Schultz to record/act out the voice of the old man and dog for me. So Michael, Alistair and myself will meet up on Friday Night and record the sound.