This was certainly the most challenging aspect of the project so far, and, in some ways, it feels like I've been trying to 'run before I can walk'. It's fallen short in some ways from what I intended, but it also represents substantial personal progress and a lot of invaluable lessons learnt and tucked away for the future.
I'm pleased with meeting the challenge of new materials, some of the controllability of the character and the overall look and texture. He's fallen short in that the weight of the puppet is a bit too much for the armature I built (i.e. his jointed metal 'skeleton') and so, even with some adaptations, requires the use of a rig a lot of the time (i.e. a heavier duty, jointed support arm that screws into the back of the puppet and can also be used to suspend him mid air for jumping, running, flying, etc). I also didn't reach the level mobility I wanted for his facial features - he does have some mobility to eyelids and mouth shapes, but not as much as I'd intended and hoped for.
The photos show Poppet in 'insect' and 'human' poses, the first pic shows the scene lighting for the table top where the majority of animation occurs (I'd love to say I made Poppet's guitar, but that would be a big, steaming lie. Luckily, there are a bunch of mini instruments available through eBay, etc - definitely promising props for a future music vid when I have enough puppets to form a band)
It was shot in RAW a bit underexposed, both for the sense of gloom and to have a fair margin to play with the highlights and ramp these up a bit without the nasty clipping that is characteristic of blown highlights on digital photos and allows for something a bit closer to the elegant, less abrupt 'shoulder' that's characteristic of maxxed out highlights on film. This is another area I'm still very much getting to grips with, but am pleased with progress on so far. I also intend to tone down the blue edge/kicker light with a subtler, paler blue gel than what I had available.
Annotations, poses, expressions and action shots will follow in future posts and edits. Pics are clickable for big versions...
I'm loving what you are doing with your stop motion animation. If I can help in anyway with the post production, I would be more than happy.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting, with eager anticipation to see this production. I know it's going to be awesome. Better for it to be a labour of love and it to take years to complete than it to be an opportunity lost because it was finished before it's time.
Bette to be remembered for one master piece than not to be remembered for producing something that fell to pieces.
I know it won't happen to you, you're too much of a professional
Cheers bro! Hopefully not years, but, as you say, better a labour of love that takes as long as it has to than a wasted opportunity from rushing it and cutting corners. It's certainly a labour, and I do feel the love from time to time as well (c;
ReplyDeleteI just hope it lives up to those expectations lol. And I'll certainly be stepping back and bouncing thoughts with people who's knowledge and ideas I respect (such as yourself) when it comes to post production, so that's very much appreciated, too.