Project #2 (final project)
The Psychedelic Musical
PROJECT CONTENT
The inherent "jerkiness" of stop-motion signals that perfectly "smooth" animation (computer) is not the point of this approach. Yet you must have drama, and weight to your project. Excellent strategy, an open mind to trying new things/materials, enthusiasm, curiosity, and good animation technique is key in making this project successful.
PURCHASE ALL ITEMS ON THE SUPPLIES LIST
(1) CREATIVE CONTENT: You must use stop motion as the driving technique of your animation. The world is filled with endless different materials and approaches: 2D cutout paper forms or puppets, 3D forms or puppets, found objects, clay, cotton, tissue, cloth, actual people, found materials, found objects, parts of plastic models, etc . Using preexisting toys (ie: dolls, Lego's, products of movie merchandising is highly DIScouraged!. For found objects, Do NOT use things already designed by the entertainment industry. Parts of things, everyday objects, found or produced may be usable. You must APPROVE any found objects through me first! If you choose to CREATE unique puppets or characters, I need to advise and approve your designs.
(2) DRAMA: You must have some kind of conflict, dramatic structure, an clear emotional aim OR social or moralistic message, (even if satirical) for your project. You will have meeting time to brainstorm, research, and story board ideas on the whiteboard. Set aside time to search for unique materials. You may choose to satirize a social or political message or view, but your animation must result in a serious attempt to communicate visually.
(3) MUSIC can be used directly (as "musical", but you can interpret this in your work). Love, lust, rejection, revenge, injustice, sadness, melancholia, grief, elation, joy, even boredom....are all kinds of emotions that are common to musical drama. I do not expect you to create an actual "musical". This is only a launching off point to stimulate ideas for a short animation. Think and research examples. You may use prerecorded music, but be aware that copyrighted music will be rejected from festivals and online postings. As far as this class is concerned, copyrighted music is OK for student work. BUT if you want to show it online or outside the class later, it is recommended that you use music you are permitted.
(4) PHYCHADELIA: attempt to utilize materials and techniques that are especially pronounced in stop motion. (and this is where "psychedelic" comes in): Use visual techniques in your animation that are particularly special to stop-motion animation. Stop motion is unique in itself and should used as a special technique. THE MEDIUM IS THE MESSAGE. That is, if using stop motion for your animation is clearly a drudgery that is better performed by a computer, then you have not explored materials enough. What do I mean by this? See below for approaches that should be featured in your work.
-use METAMORPHISIS in your animation. That is, one thing changing into another. You can morph clay into numerous forms, or animate one material to be replaced by a totally different material. ie: clouds made out of cotton, where the cotton morphs into paper or white sand, steel wool...or a very different material.
-MATERIAL SUPRISES.. unexpected materials that have phenomenal effects (rough, smooth, sparkly, flat, organic, fluffy, flowing..etc) You can use ANY MATERIAL as long as it can be easily cleaned after your work day. Clay, sculpy, paper, foil, string, metal wire, household objects, leaves, dead bugs..the list is endless.
-use of LIGHTS and lighting effects creatively. Using soft shadows, creative light patterns, reflections, dappled, streaked or diffused light, gels (coloring lights), animating exposure, etc. are all ways you may add incredible richness and photographic luxury to your image and animation.
(8) SETS. you will be responsible for creating, cleaning up after, and storing your sets that will house all your animation. YOU MUST CREATE A CONTAINED SET. Artwork should not be used directly on the set shooters as it will be long and messy to clean! You have to be able to move and breakdown your work everyday/hence the use of contained sets.You may use foam core for the walls, which can be taped on the edges with artist tape, to create custom sizes. Here is an example of a shape using a cut cardboard box...
...This will be roughly 24" wide and deep, by about 17" in the other dimensions ...However, you may continually modify your "set" depending on the need of your shot. You may completely open your set, and reassemble it to accommodate a shot. ie: You may hang a green screen psyche behind your artwork to chroma key out later. Hang rolls of seamless paper from the back bars of the set shoot is best for this. Use tape to mark areas, to relocation is needed. I will demo all this in class.
