Week 05 Complete

This week has been about storyboard panels. For me, this has been a consuming task. While I'm happy with the results, the pace of their production has not moved as quickly as I would like. I guess storyboarding is a quick art only if you have the skill to make it quick. I have somewhere between a third and a half of all the panels I'd like to have. I have made the decision, however, that I'm working only for myself on this project, and if it takes a large chunk of time to get this done in the way I desire then so be it. The other goals for this week are in shambles!

I did find the time to put the existing panels into an animatic w/ music. The cuts seem to be working, and I'm feeling a little renewed to keep moving forward. Here are some links to the current work in progress:

preproduction_book_02-25-09.pdf
animatic 02.25.09 (4.1 MB)

Conclusions - Studio Test #2

Camera

• 120 degree shutter seems to provide the best balance between minimizing motion blur and maximizing depth of field
• f4 seems to be the best possible iris indoors without adding more lights
• wider lens was better > could go even wider?
• no gain greatly improved channel noise
• depth of field is acceptable...wish it was better
• watch out for iris shifts w/ auto iris

Studio

• two scoops full on plus overhead kinos was acceptable...would love more light
• white studio w/ green cloth greatly reduced spill
• will need painted foamcore panels

Keying

• will still be work w/ moving train
• mo-blur better
• noise better
• spill better

All things considered, a successful baseline is now established for an item of this size, moving at this particular rate, in our studio with the existing resources. A small relief!

Goals Week 5

• finish script
  
• finish screenplay
  
• finish storyboards
  
• update synopsis if necessary
  
• more visual reference
  
• research paper outline
  
• post conclusions of studio test#2

Week 04 Complete

These weeks really fly past...This week I made progress on the script, the storyboards, I posted some reference to the blog, I got into the studio for more tests (need to post conclusions). I didn't get to screenplay or research paper outline.

preproduction_book_02-19-09.pdf

Some Reference

Note: These reference images are not my creation, and are posted without permission. I have provided information to the context in which they originally appeared.

Framestore NY created a beautiful spot for HP. Good reference for compositing, scale, and pace...view


I have always been moved by the images created to sell Lionel electric trains. These artists visualized beautifully the world of these toys and what it meant to own one. This one by R.J. Tyrrell communicates the same idea I'm after in my piece. I think the saturated, colorful look of this image is a primary element in capturing a moment in a dream...

Carp, Roger. The Art of Lionel Trains : Toy Trains and American Dreams. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach, 2003.

Here's another that captures the same idea, a beautiful painting by Bob Byerley that appeared on the cover of Lionel Classic Trains Volume 2 2002 Catalog.

www.byerleyart.com

Goals Week 4

• storyboards 1st draft
  
• screenplay 1st draft
  
• post visual ref to blog
  
• research paper outline 1st draft
  
• think about screen test kid
  
• studio test if possible
  
• get maya 2009 running
  
• music

Week 03 Complete

Looking at my goals for this week...I fell a little short. Funny thing is I seem to have put in a lot of hours. Hmmm. Need to get better at my time management I think. Some key things did happen though. Set previz to scale in Maya. Narrative advanced. Camera test concluded, ready for another. I know what I've got to get done next week...

preproduction_book_02-12-09.pdf

Conclusions Studio Test #1

I wanted to make a note of my conclusions from my studio tests. I used a Varicam AJHDC27FP camera.

LIGHT

• need more light generally...all kino setup wasn't enough
  
• remember to turn on cyc lights!
  
• cam gain introduced unacceptable noise
  

CAMERA

• 60 fps gives more frames BUT
  
• need to use shutter as well
  
• cam gain is likely unusable
  
• long lens flattened perspective...get closer

DEPTH OF FIELD

• pretty shallow, even @ higher fstops
  
• more light, not gain, the only solution
  
• is there a macro lens for that cam
  

MOTION BLUR

• wasn't horrible, but needs improvement
  
• need to test w/ shutter ON
  
• w/ shutter will lose stops

KEYING

• note: not much care was given to "keyability" on this occasion
  
• gain created noise which made keying tough even w/ denoise
  
• even small amount of mo.blur makes keying difficult
  

SPILL

• massive amounts of spill on black trains
  
• ez spill killer did a surprisingly good job
  
• white studio w/ green backdrop would help
  

NEXT TIME

• more light
  
• use shutter
  
• no gain
  
• shorter lens
  
• pay closer attention to keyability

Studio Note

They had an alternate setup in the studio today to which I'm unaccustomed. I just wanted to make a note of it.

• studio white...this would help w/ spill
  
• portable greenscreen - steamed for wrinkles, need to check how clean the key
  
• two scoops for key & fill
  
• two kinos for backlights
  
• camera flagged off for flares
  

EndNote

Got Thompson EndNote working...Nice software for keeping track of sources to be cited in research papers. I've found all of my source books in the Library of Congress database, so I haven't even had to enter any data. Not sure if I'll have the same luck w/ journals. The program will also format your entries in any of a what seems like a million different ways. I find it to be a time saver.

Goals Week 3

• 1st draft: screenplay, script breakout
  
• start gathering visual reference...clips, images
  
• storyboard: more frames this week! was there a book I was interested in?
  
• story: revise working in new idea...backstory development
  
• post conclusions from 2nd camera test+images
  
• post about endnote
  
• music: sample from web, talk to BobbyAudio about library
  
• measure studio/set...3D volumes
  
• references: follow some of the links in the syllabus
  
• 1st draft: research paper outline

Week 02 Complete

The camera tests on Sunday yielded better results than I had expected considering my own inexperience with the Varicam. I need to make complete notes of my conclusions for the research paper. Regarding my preliminary list of people who can help, I need to finish compiling personal information, and start making some inquiries. I'm also glad to have the storyboards started, even if I've only roughed out one frame! I also need to make sure Myles has access to the blog, and find out if I can subscribe to anyone else's blog. Assignments for this week are complete.

preproduction_book_02-05-09.pdf