So it begins...the third year! My plan of action..

Third year. The final year. Our last year. (On our Digital Animation BA for those of you who may not know what I'm on about.) Its a little bit scary but also very exciting!

To summarise my statement of Intent for this year: I will be focusing on the following areas:
Concept Art,  Backgrounds/Environments and Compositing.
These are areas that I enjoy working in and also where my strengths lie. I'm not directing for now as I'm currently finishing off directing an animation for the campaign for Nuclear Disarmament film competition (Deadline: October 31st.) I'd also like to try specialising as up until now I have been very generalist. On the side, I'm hoping to work through 'The digital matte painting handbook' by David B. Mattingly and learn the basics of Nuke.

This sketch sums up my work situation at the moment:

So long as I maintain a zen-like equilibrium calmness in my day to day life I will manage to work successfully on all the projects I have chosen/been chosen to work on! Its early days at the moment so naturally I'm optimistic and very determined. This sketch makes me realise that I should practise drawing hands - they're meant to be big as I was playing with the perspective/fore-shortening but they look a bit funny!

Here is a brief rundown of each project I'm working on at the moment :

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Film competition

This is something I have been chipping away at since July working with my friend Carl Norris (a recent UCF Illustration graduate.) He has designed and painted all the backgrounds and done some animation of a butterfly (stop motion.) I have written the script, done the layouts, produced animation of a horse running and currently I'm compositing. My little cousin Brenda (14) has done the voice over (of a girl aged 8ish.) Tom Gameson is helping me out with the animation of the little girl. At the moment I still have to put together 2 more scenes, re-render an apocalyptic version of the first 2 scenes and create the final piece incorporating the voice over and sound effects. For now check out Scene 1 below:

Here is a still from Scene 2:

I am working hard to get this in on time, it will be great to free myself up for the other projects.

London Riots Animation

This is Tom Gameson's project continued on from Summer where he worked on it at Newgrounds in America. In exchange for him helping me out with some animation for the CND project, I'm helping him out by producing a couple of backgrounds for his animation. The animation shot I'm doing the background for can be seen here.

Work in progress/sketches:

Tom would like the riot-ridden city to be a bit overwhelming, looming over the character. I will keep working more to the style of the 1st piece as he prefers this one. Other things to bear in mind is that it is cental London (ie. Tottenham court road) and its after the sun has gone down so a colour pallet of mainly blues/greys. He also mentioned I could put in some bright colours - ie. a Dixons store front etc. There should be some smashed windows but nothing to dramatic and no landmarks/iconic London buildings. Incidentally here is a good video of the London riots put together by Mike Skinner from 'The Streets'

This could come in very useful for reference..

Wife left home.  Director - Tom Gameson

This is Toms Final Major Project idea. He would like me to create backgrounds inspired by a mix of Ralph Steadman, The Beano and The Iron Giant. Its going to be a working class love story set in a town. Tom mentioned that he would like to do it to this song:

Sketchbook work (inc. inspiration from Ralph Steadman):

I have also taken lots of photo reference and produced some other sketches.

Specimen Paisley. Director - Olly Skillman-Wilson

This is going to be a 3D animated film that is Science Fiction but with some allegorical reference to our current energy situation. It involves an ambitious lab scientist, a cat and some Amazonian eels. My job is to be a concept artist and work on the environments and characters. Its great to have the opportunity to do some concept work. I will post work up soon.

Shell & Paddy. Director - Thomas Spettle

This will be done in the style of Loony Toons. So it will be a 2D animation with some great cartoon characters and visual gags. Thomas would like me to produce the backgrounds. I will post work up for this in the near future.

Dissertation

Hopefully I will just chip away at this on the side comfortably and with great interest! My title is "Analysing Animation as a powerful, effective and free art form in Music Videos." Music videos are a great area for the more Avant Garde side of Animation.

To finish this post on a random note. Here's a cool photo I took yesterday morning.

The light was caused by a recycling van that woke me up!