- Final Product -
- Evaluation -
For my final product, I decided to do paper cut-outs. This is because I had previously experimented with claymation and paper cut-outs. At home I also experimented with object animation which wasn't as easy as the former two. Therefore, out of the two I decided that paper cut-outs would be easier for me to produce. This is because I have control over the characters that I wanted which restricted me less in terms of thinking of a narrative.
First and foremost, I had to setup the camera and equipment. To do that I used the following equipments: mini table, ruler, paper cut-outs, tripod, DSLR (Canon 1100D), 50mm lens and intervalometer. I placed the tripod above the table and adjusted it according to the appropriate composition. After that I ensured not to move the tripod in any way to guarantee a static flow throughout the stop motion animation. It turned out really well in that sense. Rather than using the general 25mm lens, I opted for the 50mm lens. This is because it has a prime/fixed focal length which produces sharper images than zoom lenses. Therefore, it was a better option for me since I was going to take an approximate of 480 photos. This helped avoid potential issues such as lens creep.
At first I took photos using the button on the camera, but then I realised I would be taking another 400+ photos; therefore, I connected an intervalometer which made it easier for me to take photos. This is because when I was taking the photos using the camera button, it required me to stand up the whole time. However, the intervalometer didn't require that, so I was able to sit down and take the photos. Moreover, I set the camera to automatic focus as it would make things faster since I had a lot of images to snap.
The ruler helped me position the paper cut-outs and mainly focus perfecting the mise-en-scene. For example, I placed the car horizontally in line with the other cut-outs such as the buildings. This was done to stop the cut-outs from looking unstable as though they're not positioned on a floor. Moreover, the ruler acted as a grass. Initially, I printed out a grass cut-out but didn't want to cut it out due to many individual strands that would take time to cut. Therefore, I decided to use a green ruler for multiple uses. Also, it helped organise the little steps I had to manoeuvre for each cut-out. For example, I would move the car half a centimeter every shot.
To even plan my stop motion animation, I needed an idea of a narrative to come up with characters. I then thought of popular sayings such as: "don't judge a book by its cover" and so on. That way it made it easier for me to envision a story. I decided to go for a popular saying seen on social media: "live your day as though it's your last". I then worked my way round it by thinking of a scenario that would represent it. In the end I decided to go for Idea No. 3 as it was the most fitting. Beyond that, the narrative turned out really well as it flowed nicely. This is because, the moral inserted towards the end, tied everything together.
The fact that I had a narrative in itself is a positive point. This is because stories entice people, they draw them in - as it takes them on a journey of someone else's story which they may relate to. According to some critics, my previous test paper cut-out animation (on an earlier blog post) had absolutely no flow in terms of narrative. This is because it was a test in which we were required to cut out pieces from newspapers and magazines. Because our cut-outs were limited, we weren't able to create a proper story out of it. Therefore, it lacked that one thing for the viewers to latch on to. Which brings me onto my next point; I specifically focused my ideas on narratives during the design stage. It helped stimulate my brain with ideas.
Good Points:
- Flowing Narrative
- Clear Images
- Fitting Sound Effects
- Good Lighting
Bad Points:
- Unfocused Images
- Unsmooth Transition at the End
- No Sound Effect When Raining
- Unclear Ending (Her Death)
Post Production:
- Didn't Use iStopMotion
- Frames Per Second
- Photoshop Images
