Narrative Intro Idea 1

James Bond gun barrel sequence

The idea from Glen had got me thinking as he thought about our group Intro having a similar adaptation of the classic James bond gun barrel sequence, from my drawing you can clearly see my thoughts of how to approach the idea and my thinking of how to best portray the sequence we are using I feel that it can be done in a few different ways for example using Photoshop, after-effects or anything else suitable in this case I was in view of using Maya also be aware that this idea can be quite affective and simple to achieve it may be the case of the project is lacking.

The idea come form a previous project Tom had finished, I vaguely remember him using image planes and animating them with this idea the camera can be animated, perhaps the gun barrel can be displayed in front of the set and the camera can be animated in addition or another way is to do this all separate from the set and edit into final collaboration of the animation I am open for suggestions to this issue if we decide to go with the idea.

In the design below highlights different colours showing the various planes in which indicate order of the planes silhouetting the Q shape.

I looked at the reference from the gun barrel and noticed that there were 8 segments used; taking this into account it can be acknowledged and used in Maya the same way having 8 planes shaped to the Q symbol. Then the camera can span though the image planes.

Reseaching Intros

Thunderbirds: 1960s TV series intro - 5-4-3-2-1 countdown and theme music

QVC 1993




Watch Industrial Training Show Intro in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

The difficulty appeared to be there wasn’t any television vision programmes selling product in the 1960 from the research collected and so the alternative was to improvise and looked at 1960s television programme introduction for influence.

Small previz showcasing my idea.

Maya Dynamics [Tutorial] from CreativeApplications.Net on Vimeo.

60's Norelco Pc Set Camera

I’m satisfied with the camera for the sets design at this stage I can still see a few more things which would improve it, the idea when modelling was not to try and over complicate things try and keep it neat and tidy was the key after looking at the new set design. I was fortunate to come across a few images depicting the Norelco Pc camera which was used on television programme sets in the 1960s. The shapes and size where considered, textures and shaders have not yet been applied as help is needed with the colour scheme before it is done.

un-smooth

smooth

New 'Grinder' gadget proposal

'Grinder'

It was time to develop the gadgets further into the modelling stage so far the other objects are looking realistically ready, the one lacking at the moment is the ‘Grinder’ although Matt has come up with a good idea and produced a concept for it research was missing to make the gadget believable, he advised me to re develop it again using the existing Grinder design and enhancing it.

The design stage initial started with Generic Square like forms, this was based on the images found and analysed the bold lines of the designs from the 60’s period. I toyed with both straight lines and curvy detail to the structure it lead to a conclusion of the coffee bean itself; it obtains the lines and curvature I’m looking for so the design is now based on the coffee bean shape.

Consulting the design with Matt we tried to make the grinder more distinctive I then began thinking about the sounds in which would be involved around the gadget, steamy, mechanical, robot noises are some of the effects I can see the Grinder producing, from the first drawings designs where taken in account and additional features where added for instance steam engine wheels, steam gauge indicating the pressure, hydraulics and other devices that look dangerous basically all this will add to the outcome of the Grinder.

http://www.bestcafes.com.au/tag/coffee-machines-australia

http://www.anntorrence.com/archives/photos/2006/11/crossing_the_co.html

http://www.thecrossstream.com/images/EOR%202008%20-%20Uster%20-%20train%20station%20-%20steam%20engine.JPG

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/image_galleries/tornado_steam_train_gallery.shtml

Steam engine trains

Steampunk

http://www.neatorama.com/2007/07/16/steampunk-sculptures-by-stphane-halleux/

http://superpunch.blogspot.com/2009/02/steampunk-pocket-watch-and-more-by-don.html

http://www.madbrewlabs.com/index.php/2009/06/01/steampunk-klokwerks/

Steam pressure gauge

Grinder concept

New set design proposal

You can see here I’ve thought about the groups set design at the moment I feel the set lacks creatively don’t get me wrong the style is there although something is still needed and so I set out to create a more visual stylized layout to help Tom when constructing it better, reference from the 60s have been applied the image that I have used contribute the type of bases where my thought where wondering , the crazy lights having a distinctive colour this in turn generates an awareness that the environment the audience are viewing is based on the 60’period.

The finished item shows how the mixture between the character of Q and the sets design share there own Identities although still grasp the nature of the environment which is minimalistic plans and distinctive a lot of thought has gone into the contrast between the two you notice curves which contrast towards Q and his box like form.

Form the drawings it has enabled me to understand the objects that will most likely be shown in the production and filming of the shopping channel and so this allows me to begin a more in-depth modelling process of the props, knowing which objects may require that like more detail.

Modelling for narrative set

I haven’t blogged in a while since the character design project its time for my return to It I have been absent due to other work Maya modelling and an essay writing, the narrative project is really coming along now thing are beginning to take shape now we have decide its time to go into the production stage and build our environment.

Assigned duties:

• Tom is in charge of the set design along with creating his gadget invention.
• Matt will be modelling Q and the ‘Grinder’.
• As I will be modelling props for the set cameras, spot lights, lighting and some of Q’s clothing

Most of the roles within the group have been established and will differently be keeping busy during Christmas time along with another project. Some of the tasks now have been formed one of them is to get up to date with the Maya work for the project ready for the animation phase.

Here are some basis back ground models.

Q Character...

I’ve been looking closely at the design I have created and colours Q’s style has associated with the reference of Carl Frederickson from the animation film UP. The colours seems to be very dull consisting of browns greys blacks and white. Here and finished mock up of our Q character followed by a few poses to put him into character.

New story Narartive story structure

Narrative


Let’s have a look at the narrative project now.

Lately I haven’t had the chance to speak about what’s happening with the narrative project to date, due to other project work but now that is finished I can explain the event of last weeks, Tuesday a special guess actor Glen a ex- student to the university and former cg arts student exhibited his knowledge of the narrative genre to us. Dreading the fact that we might make a fool of ourselves as some of us were in lack of confidence to physically act but it wasn’t to bad to be honest, Matt didn’t turn up on the day never the less we got down to some fun activities there were key things about ‘narrative’ that where established, things that the whole of the group didn’t know. According to Glen his theory suggest the best way to approach a narrative story structure is to work backwards as the end is the hardest part to produce.

Introduction>Complication>Climax>Resolution>Conclusion

We felt that the introduction, complication and climax was concluded however didn’t think that the resolution and conclusion was entirely there. Glen explained how the external logic/reality will come into our work gags and jokes need to be addressed in some of the work as logic may not appear to everyone.

A Few activities covered on the day:

• Acting poses
• Group juggling balls
• Relating rigs to puppets

The day was coming to a close Glen asked if there was anything that he might have missed Tom and I used this opportunity to find out how acting with no dialogue can be improved and incorporated with our work as the Q idea involves no dialogue. We were broke up into groups of twos and created a very short dialogue using letters of the alphabet using descriptive words which defined our poses when acted out.

http://www.icosilune.com/2009/01/seymour-chatman-story-and-discourse/
 

We sat down with Glen and spoke openly about the assignment and the way we where planning on progressing the project he suggested that it may be a bit complex initially, he recommended to keep the shopping idea alive and run with it, cutting out the being and trading this with a sequence of the classic gun barrel from James Bond, the barrel would roll onto the set of the shopping channel introducing it straight away using another classic implement of James Bond the sound track also by executing this method successfully it engages the audience and makes them aware that this is Q (Desmond Llewellyn), another change was to one of the gadgets the shoe knife instead of given the shoe to his assistant this can be less complicated and in turn simplified, no more assistant, he counters this problem with his shoe and ends up leaving the shoe on set. The last element of change was the ending, here it was evidence things where not working in terms of the relationship the other gadget, this is the climax so we have to focus on something big .The ‘Grinder’ will still perform the same act but be build after the first two gadget have been shown, being built during a break for instance would allow this to become introduced in the programme the grinder portrays a working appliance (makes cup of coffee/tea) after almost destroying the whole set.