VIDEO AND SOUND PRODUCTION / FINAL PROJECT

29.3.2021 -30.1.2021 (week 1 - week 4) 
Phoebie Ng / 0341172 / Bachelor of creative media

Video and Sound Production / Final Project

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INSTRUCTIONS

fig 2.1: Module Information Booklet (29.3.2020)

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TASK

week 1 (30.4.2021)

We were asked to choose 3 stop motion videos and post them on the blog. Below are the stop motion videos that I found from YouTube that I think it's quite interesting. I notice that I will focus more on the storyline than the art style or the skills that the producer use for the video.

fig 1.1 'Negative Space l Oscar Nominated Stop-Motion Animation' 05.4.2021 

fig 1.2 lighting changing scene 05.4.2021

fig 1.3 lighting changing scene 05.4.2021

fig 1.4 lighting changing scene 05.4.2021

fig 1.5 changing scene 05.4.2021

This is the first video that I watched and also the favorite of mine among the 3 videos that I chose. The reason that I like this video is because of the scene changing (refer to fig1.5), the lighting changing of the scenes that changes (refer to fig1.2- fig 1.4) along the emotions. The detail of the video is also one of the things that attract me, which how the character and the object's movement are very smooth and creative. 

fig 1.6 Lost & Found l Oscar Shortlisted Stop-Motion Animation 5.4.2021

fig 1.7 scene that the dinosaur disappearing 5.4.2021

This is the second video that I found on YouTube, I think the storyline attracts me the most in this video. The music and the scene drag my emotions into the video that I almost cry when the dinosaur is disappearing just to save the fox. Some of the scenes are also very interesting. I would say the music of the video is also very on point. 

fig 1.8 Shiny 5.4.2021

Compare to the first 2 videos that I found, this is more like a 2D animation which is a flat animation, but the interesting point from this video is that the producer brings life to the clothes that make them look like they are alive. The movement of the stop motion is very smooth as well. 

week 4 ( 30.4.2021)

In this week, we were asked to choose the style and topic that we want to do for the final project.  I am choosing between clay and object motion because I don't have Lego in my house. I did some video research on YouTube to roughly know which topic that I want to do. 

fig 1.9 teach children about plastic pollution 2.5.2021

fig 1.10 facts about plastic pollution 2.5.2021

As the first 2 stop motion videos that I like the most are using toys, I want to use them in my final project as well. 

fig 1.11 If you don't pick up, they will.

Final decision: 

Topic: Workers are not your tools

Style: Lego

week 9 ( 25.5.2021)

This week, we were asked to come out with our proposal for the Final Project and submit it to google classroom. I had changed my topic during the independent learning week because I think I had found another quite interesting topic to do which is workers are not your tool. Below is my Proposal draft 1 attached. 

fig 1.12 proposal draft 1 25.5.2021

week 10 (1.6.2021)

I had revised my proposal according to Mr. Martin's feedback. Below is my final proposal. We were also asked to create a storyboard, floor plan for our final project. 

fig 1.13 final proposal 1 1.6.2021

week 11 (8.6.2021)

After getting Mr. Martin's feedback, I had changed some of the scenes and plot, to convey the message better. After my lego sets arrived at my house, I started to build them up according to my floor plan. 

fig 1.14 props preparation 1 8.6.2021

fig 1.15 props preparation 2 8.6.2021

fig 1.16 props preparation 3 8.6.2021

After prepared all the props, I did my first trial shoot.

fig 1.17 trail shoot 8.6.2021

Above is my first trial shoot.

week 12 (15.6.2021)

After receiving feedback from Mr.Martin, I shoot all the scenes according to my storyboard. I had also added and change some scenes composition during the shooting. 

fig 1.18 shoots folder 15.6.2021

fig 1.19 draft 1 15.6.2021

Above is my draft 1 video, without any color correction. 

week 13 (22.6.2021)

After receiving feedback from Mr. Martin, I had to reshoot some scenes because it looks shaky. 

fig 1.20 draft 2 15.6.2021

Above is my draft 1 video, without any color correction. 

week 14 (29.6.2021)

For this week, I had shown Mr. Martin my draft 2 and he says that I could proceed with my color correction and putting sound effects. 

fig 1.21 Adobe audition screenshot 30.6.2021

fig 1.22 Adobe audition screenshot 30.6.2021

Final Outcome

fig 1.23 Final Outcome 7.7.2021

Above is my final submission of this final project.

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FEEDBACK

week 10 (1.6.2021)

Mr. Martin suggested I change the story plot a bit to make it more interesting and it's hard to pass the message to the audience. 

week 11 (8.6.2021)

Mr. Martin suggested I add some scenes to make it pass the message better.

week 12 (15.6.2021)

Mr. Martin suggested I add more legos to the last scene, it doesn't have to be black and white only as lego is not a serious thing. 

week 13 (22.6.2021)

Mr. Martin said that I could proceed with my color correction and sound effect. 

week 14 (29.6.2021)

Mr. Martin said it's good and I could submit it already.

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REFLECTION

Experience: For this final project, I was struggling at thinking of the story, I have the idea but I don't know how to express it out in storytelling. However, thanks to Mr. Martin, I managed to come out with a story that could convey the message. At first, I thought lego is easy to build, but no, it's hard. I spent like 1 day building the small room. As I bought 2 sets of different buildings, I need to find suitable pieces to build the scene. In the end, I couldn't find more pieces that I need to find pieces that could make the scene and table consistent. This is also one of my difficulties in this project. During the shooting day, I was so lucky that I have a touch shutter in my camera because it's hard to take stop motion pictures that are not shaky. 

Observation: There are a lot of things that need to consider while shooting the stop motion, for example, the lighting, composition, and the movement of the lego. There were a few times that my lego stuck there and I pull it too hard, the whole things break and I need to rebuild it. It needs to be very careful to change the movement of the lego.

Finding: I found that it's not easy to do stop motions as it needs a lot of planning before starting the shooting.