Evaluation of Animatic
Having completed our storyboard, we then filmed the images we had drawn so that we could create an animated version of our idea. This helped us to get a feel for the camera again, which will benefit us when it comes to actually filming. We then cut the drawings to the track, and followed the time schedule we had constructed in our time line. Having changed our editing software from Final Cut Pro to Premier, it was a good way to learn how to use it and familiarise ourselves with the editing process again. We learnt that we should not cut on the beat every time, but to vary it, in order to make the video more interesting. Moreover, the animation helped us to gain a better idea of what our video would look like, and whether the cuts and time schedule were correct. This was an important part of our planning procedure, as it highlighted all the problems that we still needed to face. Looking back, we should have done our storyboard in colour, as it would have helped to emphasise the moment when the video changes from black and white to colour. This would have benefited the animation, as it would have been accurate to what the video will look like.
We realised that parts of our storyboard did not work, and by actually seeing what the video would look like, we saw that parts of the video were highly repetitive. This was mainly in the first minute of the video, as we only seemed to alternate between 6 shots. By mainly focusing on the girl singing, and behind the same background, the video seems rather dull and lifeless with no sense of excitement.
We repeat these two images far too much, and this was made really apparent in the animation, therefore we have decided to add some more visually exciting material. Having discussed it at length, we came up with the idea of having a spin black and white background behind the girl while she is singing, as this will add a variation to the piece. Also, we have decided to focus more on the boy as well, so we will have some shots of him dancing as well as smoking.
The other 2 minutes of the video, we saw did not really say anything or complement the idea we had come up with. Therefore, we had a brainstorming session to come up with some new ideas, that still focused upon colour as the major part of the video. We decided to emphasise the organ more, and the idea that when the boy played a note, a specific colour would come up from the pipes (smoke) and this would influence the girls world. We played around with the idea of having a corridor with white panels, that soon fill with colour the more the boy plays the organ. However, we also came up with the idea of having white balloons and then having coloured ones emerge in the mix, and then explode showering the girl in coloured powder paint. Both ideas would bring another dynamic to the video, but we need to find out which idea is more feasible as well as interesting to watch. Additionally, we decided to focus more on the pipes with the coloured smoke in, and we changed how we wanted to arrange them. Instead of having them coming out of a chair, we are now having them hang from the ceiling, coming in from out of screen and attached to the wall. Now, we will have the girl singing in front of the tubes so that the coloured smoke seems to be travelling all around her.
Moreover, we have decided to remove the sofa, as it seems out of place within the video and does not add anything to the engagement factor of the video. To replace this, we have decided to end the video in a world of colour. The girl will be engulfed in paint powder, from all directions and this seems far more interesting than having both the boy and girl just dancing in the coloured smoke for a long time. We took some inspiration from this video, as the contrast between the vivid the colour and the black background is something we want to create.
We also want to take a still image of the girl when she has the powder on her face, de-construct it on Photoshop so that her face seems distorted, and then have the image projected behind her whilst she sings. This will add another element to the video and will differentiate the shots of her performing.
Having completed the animation, we asked our classmates and teachers for feedback, so that we could get another persons perspective on the idea. The main comments are as follows:
- Although we should not cut on the beat every time, some of the cuts seemed random and out of place with the track. To remedy this, we should focus on the song and when the big 'moments' occur, and then cut on these bits so that the action corresponds with the lyrics and beat more.
- We were made aware, that using an old fashioned mike has its problems, as the surface is highly reflective and can obscure the singers mouth. We need to ensure that our audience can see the girl lip syncing thus we may have to film from the side or from above. Also, we need to make sure that the camera cannot be seen in the mike as it would ruin the 'other worldly' atmosphere we are hoping to created in the video.
- A friend suggested that we should keep the girl in a chequered dress throughout, but have the colour of the blocks change. This was a good idea, as it will have more of an impact when the video changes from black and white to colour, if the girls dress was the same style/pattern but different colours.
-Also, we were reminded that the images we wanted to project need to be of a good quality, otherwise they will seem fuzzy and thus not be as interesting.
Overall, the animation process was highly useful, as it really showcased the key areas that needed changing. This will make our final product better, as by sorting out the issues during the planning stage, will help to make the shoot day run far more smoothly. Moreover, I think that we have kept to our star image well, as the girl is the centre of the video, and we have combined enough girlishness with an edgier more mysterious side. Hopefully, this will come across in the actual footage, and that with the use of costume and make up we will emphasise this further.
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