#workshop notes

Throwback Thursday -- Wade Rouse Workshop on 4/17/14...

Write in a way that allows you to make sense of the world

Stop defining yourself in the eyes of others

Take the effort and the time to detox and slow down and find yourself

Step out of the safe zone and replace fear with freedom

Read screenplays to help with dialogue

Define your space - make it you and make it a habit

Don’t tamp yourself down

Look into local magazines and newspapers to publish articles to build a fan base

On Query Letters:

First paragraph - one paragraph to sum up your work

Second paragraph - specifics: genre, length, title

Third paragraph - resume/bio - educational background, writing, etc

Wrap up - describe why you are contacting the agent

Research the agents and write to them specifically

Be as professional as possible. Don’t make any spelling or grammar mistakes

Show the motivation of the character and the direction of the book

Remember they are busy - gain their focus

Thank them for taking the time to review your query

Interesting and probably useful guidelines of approach for similar workshops.

Task 1

• We were given a sheet of ink blots and black shapes.

• The first task was to turn into or combine the ink blots into characters

Task 2

• combine the black shapes in the into character silhouettes

Task 3

• using the past two tasks as reference, create a simple character in the circle in the middle.

Task 4

• everyone’s characters were photographed and put on the projector.

• We then had to draw our own versions of the characters in our own style, adding components and limbs that were missing.

Here is everyone’s version of my character

Basic Character Design Principles

Shape

• Characters can be made up of 3 core shapes (and variations of these shapes).

• Shape can often dictate the personality of the character, e.g. sharp angles often relate to evil characters.

Silhouette

• Used for clarity and appeal.

• Can the characters be identified without any of their features/colours?

Asymmetry

• symmetrical characters are visually unappealing

• asymmetry can come from character design, or avoiding posing the character straight on.

Abstraction

• Abstracting the human/animal form to communicate emotion of the character or tone of the animation

• Finding your own visual language and style of character design.

Appeal

• Character has to be visually appealing from all angles

• Makes the character more dynamic, can be shot from all angles.

Anticipation and follow through

Alan Becker

• Anticipation- https://youtu.be/F8OtE60T8yU

• Follow through- https://youtu.be/4OxphYV8W3E

The principles

• make it easy as possible for the audience to know what is going on?

• The principles are a sort of ‘check list’

• Always observe where they can be applied to enhance movement and communication

Anticipation

• movement requires an energy or a force

• Anticipation - the force is gathered before the movement happens.

• Anticipation is used to prepare the audience for an action, giving them a visual clue.

• It will make the movement appear more realistic

Follow through

• energy is also required to stop a movement

Walk Cycle Notes

• walking on the spot

• 16 frames for one step

• Drew a ‘floor’ and a line above the head to mark change in height of walker.

• 1st keyframe is contact with the ground- Contact 1

• 5th Frame: Trailing leg has just left the ground- Low 1

• 9th Frame: Leg is straight so body and head are higher, trailing leg about to take lead- Passing Point

• 13th Frame: Straight leg has ankle raised- High 1

• 16th Frame, second contact with ground- Contact 2

Arms

• opposite- if the left leg is forward, the right arm is forward

• Pattern of arm swing is very changeable to give district walks for characters

Secondary action

• adding secondary action gives more of a sense of life

Imagine a person walking

• Primary action is legs

• Secondary action is arm swings and head bobs

• Secondary action should not distract from primary, should emphasise

Watch ted ed animation basics- https://youtu.be/KRVhtMxQWRs

• More frames- slower action and vice versa

• Forces- gravity and momentum

• Properties of the ball- bouncy, golf, beach and bowling. All affect the bounce.

• Upward momentum overcome by gravity

• Speeds up as it falls, fastest before it hits the ground.

Bouncing ball

Animation Fundamentals

• path of action

• arcs

• momentum

• Timing

• Keyframe drawings

• In between ratings

• Weight

• Speed

Path if action

• direction object or character is moving.

Squash and Stretch

• the ball elongates as it falls

• Ball flattens when it hits the ground

• Normal shape at eh slower (top) part of the arc

Task

• short sanitation test of a bouncing ball with f12 paper

• Explore movement, weight, squash and stretch

• Draw a guide for the ball to follow

Watch Alan Becker squash and stretch- https://youtu.be/haa7n3UGyDc

• More squash and stretch, the softer the object