I also needed to scan my business cards in!
Friday, 30 April 2021
602 Update (Last Minute Deliverables)
A part of the submission was to produce a PDF document illustrating my branding choices, such as my chosen colour scheme and font. While I have discussed this on my blog and in my presentation, I have made a separate PDF for this, summarising what I've talked about.
602 Update (Personal Statement and CV Progression)
As I was struggling to make a start on my CV, I decided to rewrite my personal statement first. Over Summer, I had been writing a personal statement to apply for a PGCE in Art and Design, as I had no interest in pursuing animation any further. As discussed, I then had a change of heart which rendered this personal statement useless.
So, I went back through and took out the parts that no longer applied, rewrote some paragraphs, and reworded others so they made sense in the context of my new application. I then sent this to a lecturer for feedback, as well as the careers portal and a family member.
After the Easter holidays, I received feedback and made some altercations. The main issue was finding ways to reduce the word count, as I had about double the amount of words I wanted for both document.
My lecturer told me to start from scratch which was disheartening, given I only had a couple weeks left to make these amendments alongside the rest of this module. I also never received feedback from the Careers Portal.
I was critical and ended up reducing my personal statement down to four paragraphs, and my CV down to just over a page. I then sent these updated versions to my lecturers for some feedback. One advised me to lose the work experience section entirely, and instead replace it with information on the competitions I've entered. They also stated that I should lose my current references, and instead ask a tutor or classmate, as it would be more relevant.
As discussed in the previous blog post, I wanted to keep my CV looking professional so I didn't add any creative flares as I felt they were unnecessary. The advice was also contradictory considering a VP told us to keep them simple.
By this point, the Careers Portal had responded, and were very supportive and encouraging of the direction I had taken my CV in. They suggested rearranging the order, and changing the references however in my most recent draft, I lost the references entirely.
For this last draft, I changed the format from a personal statement, to a cover letter, as I felt this may be more useful when applying for jobs in the future. However, I was worried that this change in format may render the content useless, as maybe there are different targets to aim for in a cover letter, so I asked for feedback first.
Once approved, I posted it!
602 Portfolio and Presentation
For this aspect of the module, we needed to create a presentation. We had the opportunity to rehearse our presentations first, in the form of an informal group session that took place in class. We then had to screen-record the real deal.
First up was the informal presentation. This version included a couple memes, and the script was more relaxed during certain slides. Saying that, I did try to keep the script somewhat professional and formal sounding, as I was planning to use it for the real deal!
I practiced a couple attempts at home, with my script on hand. Unfortunately, this version wasn't long enough, as it only just came to ten minutes. Although, when I presented it to the class, it went surprisingly well! When I began my presentation, the speakers notes never appeared, which meant I had to wing it. However, as I had practiced it enough, I did remember what each slide was meant to cover. It also provided me the chance to crack some jokes and bounce off of my audience, which helped ease my nerves! As a result, this presentation lasted the full fifteen minutes.
What Went Well?
- Because I had a class to present to, the atmosphere felt a lot more authentic and natural, which I believe came through in the session. The lecturers supported this by complimenting my humour and ability to keep the audience engaged, which is something I felt my practice attempts lacked.
- Considering I had absolutely no script or speakers notes to guide me, I feel as though I adapted well enough that it didn't effect the outcome of the presentation. Once again, a lecturer backed this up by saying it was on par with a session a Visiting Professional would run.
- They were also a fan of the presentation's layout, felt my showreel was well-structured, and thought my documents were cohesive. All of which, fills me with confidence for this module, which is something I have been extremely lacking recently!
To Be Improved?
- Without the use of an audience or room to adlib, my current presentation isn't long enough for the submission. I need to add slides or more speakers notes.
- My practice versions sounded a lot more wooden and boring compared to the real deal, so I'm nervous my recorded formal presentation will lack character and oomph.
- I'm still lacking confidence in my ability as an animator, so I need to take time to consider what I've achieved over the last year and appreciate it, rather than put myself down.
- Some slides could be worded more formally, so I need to make sure to amend this before I record the real deal.
Before the screening party, I was given another opportunity to practice my public speaking by saying a quick foreword before the films began. In which, I thanked everyone for coming, congratulated the class on making it this far, and told everyone to feel proud of themselves for what they've achieved.
In first year and even second, the thought of presenting to the class completely terrified me. I would become incredibly nervous and could barely make it through a sentence without my voice trembling. To go from that, to now presenting with composure and presence of mind, I feel is such a massive step in the right direction.
From here, I made some small adjustments, added some slides, and recorded my proper submission.
What Went Well?
- My updated version was now reaching about twelve or thirteen minutes, which was much closer to the target length. To add an extra minute or so to my screen-recording, I asked myself a couple questions, on the spot, as if I were presenting the powerpoint to the class. This simulates how it would have gone, had it not been for Covid.
- I tried to sound optimistic and speak eloquently however, the lack of an audience did lower my enthusiasm slightly, as talking to yourself can be rather awkward.
To Be Improved?
- I'm afraid that in the process of losing the relaxed atmosphere of our last day in class, I also lost the conditions that allowed me to let go and embrace the candidness and sincerity of the informal presentations. My voice sounds more wooden, and tense.
Thursday, 29 April 2021
602 Update (Showreel Development Continued)
Despite receiving three sessions of feedback, two of which were in favour of the length and chosen clips, I recently found out that I needed to lose six seconds off my showreel, as the submission required that the length must be sixty seconds max.
Admittedly, I felt at this point we're just splitting hairs. While I'm very aware of how important it is to pay strict attention to the time constraints given in a commissioned piece of work, a showreel is much more personal, so I imagined it would be more flexible. Especially considering most lecturers and visiting professionals recommend showreels range between one minute and two, and six seconds felt like nothing.
Having said that, I've got a week to go so it's natural that tensions are running high. To think my time at University is almost over, and with the amount of pressure riding on submitting this final module on time and to the best standard, I must confess, has caused unnecessary anxiety and rising panic.
Complaining, when it's such a simple fix, seems pointless! Something that the maturity I've developed this year has made obvious. So, I reduced the length for submission, as asked, and updated my presentation. Now, I can upload this to my online accounts!
602 Update (Following on from Last Year)
Last year, we were tasked with making a contract and invoice slip. At the time, I didn't have a brand so these were very basic, boring, and the colour palette wasn't consistent.
Recently, I decided to update my invoice form. I found the hex codes for the oranges I used in my icon, and which I've since applied across all my physical documents, such as my CV and other forms. I updated this colour scheme so it was more fitting.
I also added my new icon and updated my email address.
It was good to see the progression of my branding.
Study Task 5 - Create Your Brand
Part 1 - Online Presence
For this part, I need to create a visual brand through my online presence. This includes my Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as a website.
Online Portfolio:
- Website
I used Wix to put together my website, as I'm not a graphic designer so I struggle with layout and composition. I decided to use the colour scheme from my current icon and business cards, as this icon is already present on my Instagram, LinkedIn and Etsy account, so I wanted to make sure my online presence was consistent.
The lecturers have encouraged us time and again to purchase an upgraded plan, if making a website through Wix, as they believe the banner looks unprofessional. Making a website is a requirement for this module, however, I have never felt the need to put one together. I use Instagram daily, and make an effort to post weekly. As I'm able to post unfinished pieces (as WIPs often keep my audience engaged) I've always felt more comfortable using this site.
With the website I feel this added weight and pressure to create a professional and polished space, that it took me weeks to eventually add my work, as I didn't feel any of it was good enough. While I'm happy to make one for the sake of the module, I can't imagine relying on this in the future and as a result, I'm not going to pay for something I won't use.
I have several tabs on my website including a bio, a page dedicated to my finished animations, my Instagram account (for more of my work behind the scenes), a page for my illustrations, and a queries tab - for people to get in touch.
- LinkedIn
I made a LinkedIn last year however, I'm not a fan of the interface, so I'm struggling to use it as often as I do Instagram. However, I have made an effort to post some WIPs from University, and my icon is the same across all my accounts for consistency.
- Instagram
I use Instagram daily, and try to post every four days, as I've been told this gets the best reach. It's important to have a structure with Instagram, to avoid getting shadowbanned, as admittedly this app isn't the most friendly to artists.
- Etsy
I've neglected my Etsy page this academic year as 603 just about took me out and I had no spare time to relax, let alone work on more sticker designs. Last Summer however, I put loads of my attention into it and was regularly selling my prints. Hopefully this Summer I can pick it back up again.
The deliverable for this task requires I convert this into a PDF file with active hyperlinks so, below is that document.
Part 2 - Printed Materials
Then I needed to focus on the physical aspects of my brand, such as my CV and business cards.
- Business Card
Last year we were advised to make business cards for a study task - so I did. This year, we have been asked to do the same. Considering I've already paid out and got these designs printed, I'm not looking to change them, especially considering Covid has ruined my opportunities to network this last year. Still, I've utilised these by adding them to my Etsy orders.
I asked a lecturer whether I could use the cards I made from last year and I was told that was allowed.
- CV
I kept my CV professional. The design elements are very simple as I want the focus to be on my written work. I prefer this formal approach.
Monday, 26 April 2021
602 Update (Showreel Development)
For my informal and formal presentations, I wanted to end on my showreel. So, I put one together using the films I worked on this year. I included my basic, key-framed shots on the left and added the final outcomes on the right, to show how they worked in context, after inbetweens and effects were added.
Above was my first attempt. I haven't found any royalty free music to add just yet, as last year we were encouraged in a lecture, to avoid editing the clips in time with the beat. I figured if I leave the music until last (as we've been told employers watch showreels on mute anyway), it wouldn't subconsciously effect how I edited the clips together.
I'm worried my showreel is currently too long, and that some of the clips aren't up to par with the rest. So, I emailed the lecturers asking for feedback on what scenes to cut, if any. One lecturer got back to me and said to trim the clips down so the showreel is no longer than fifty seconds. They also advised moving my name and contact details to the start and if possible, incorporating my icon.
Another lecturer told me to lose the format entirely and only show the final outcomes with my contributions noted on the side, stating "... the content is fine, but the side-by side layout is confusing to view.". A different lecturer however, told me that they were impressed with the layout, as they believe showing the breakdown behind shots is important. They also disagreed about trimming the timing down, as they felt anything up to two minutes was perfectly okay.
Based on the feedback, I rearranged some scenes and removed others to try and reduce the timing slightly. I also added my logo to the start and end of my showreel, and changed my title from "Level 6 Animator" to "Character Animator" as a couple lecturers had advised me to do so.
I sent this to my classmates for feedback, and the majority felt the layout wasn't confusing and worked well. Once I was happy, and checked the spelling and order once more, I found some royalty free music to add.
What Went Well?
- I believe I found a professional and appealing way to showcase the final films I worked on this year all while highlighting my personal contributions.
- I was ready to drop out in my second year, and as a result, my showreel was lacking. It was rushed, poorly edited and filled with work I wasn't proud of. Whereas this year, I feel as though I'm leaving with a showreel I can proudly post online and send to employers.
How To Improve?
- Some of the feedback was contradictory, which is understandable considering each person would have their own preferences. Rather than worrying about pleasing everyone, in the future I will trust my gut instinct more.
Sunday, 18 April 2021
603 Weekly Update (Week Commencing: 12/04/21)
This is the last weekly update I will be publishing for this module, as I plan to submit my work at the start of next week. As all of my teams will be entering these films into festivals, I'm unable to post the final outcomes just yet.
In my spare time, I made a Production Book and wrote my evaluation for this module.
As Stacey was struggling to add the backgrounds to shots, I decided to go back in and composite these myself. First, I fixed shot 3, as there was a moment where part of the desk outline vanishes and reappears. I made sure to keep the line art consistent.
Shot 6 was also composited wrong, as the desk was on the wrong layer and as a result, cut off all of the animation from the shoulders down.
Admittedly, this process was frustrating as from day one, I made it clear which roles I was after, and not one specialised in post-production. So, having to composite these scenes, especially this late in the day, because someone didn't get their job completed in time, is reasonably irritating.
The character interacts with the desk which meant I needed to go in and erase certain areas frame by frame, as the arm and comb were on the same layer and therefore couldn't be separated. I'm not familiar enough with Toon Boom yet, so I needed to find a few tutorials and experiment with trial and error until I found a method that worked.
Shot 10 was completed too however, with an outdated background. So, I added the updated desk and let the team know. Given the time left, I won't alter any more shots for this project as other than project managing, my work here as an animator is done.
There were some issues at the start of the week regarding 'Kingdom of Masks' as the director had added several effects; most of which were too much. I began by requesting to view the updated animatic and then sent some notes over Discord. The main problems I found, were that a lot of the shots were incredibly saturated and/or bright which resulted in a loss of detail, mainly effecting the backgrounds and hand-drawn VFX. The director, and others in the team, agreed so Khoa went back through and removed a lot of these added effects.
On Thursday, we both met up at University so we could talk through the animatic in person, and agree which edits worked and which didn't. After meeting in person, it was easier to tell if we were on the same page or not, as communicating only through text isn't as viable an option as some assume.
While at University, I added a background to scene 25 to help ease in/out the impact frames. While this version isn't being used in the final animation, it was still a fun exercise and good practice to see if I could make it work or not.
Living with the director on 'The Last Riders' has meant communication has ran much smoother throughout the course of the film. This week, he finalised the last two scenes and on the Friday, we sat as a household and walked through the scenes shot by shot to make sure everything looked good.
The musician then got in touch, asking for more time to work on the score. While the director is happy to wait, the majority of the team were looking to hand-in early; myself included.
The internet connection at my house is incredibly unreliable, often cutting out at random, particularly in my room as it's furthest from the router. The lecturers have advised submitting early to avoid any technological issues, as these aren't considered extenuating circumstances, even under the current conditions. So, I was aiming to submit on the Monday; a goal that was both realistic and achievable - until the musician spoke up.
Nevertheless, for my own sanity and peace of mind, I'm planning to submit at the same time anyway for several reasons. One, the director was happy with the original score. Second of all, my Gantt chart marked the 12th as the deadline for the musician. Meaning, if he wasn't going to be finished in time, he should have let me know before now. Thirdly, the lecturers have repeatedly stated that we can continue to work on these films after hand-in for the sake of festivals, so it shouldn't be an issue if the score is outdated. Lastly, while sound is an incredibly important factor to a film, the score shouldn't determine the fate of our animation. Bonus point: as previously mentioned, my internet gives me anxiety.
Thursday, 15 April 2021
603 Production Book
As I had some time to spare before the hand-in, I tried to think what I could do to make the most out of my time. Our statements of intent were required for the submission folder, and upon reading and reflecting on what I wrote at the start of the academic year, I realised I had completed most of my targets but one - making a 'Production Book' (in the style of an 'Art Of' book) to showcase my skills as a producer.
It was interesting to see how my practice developed between the different stages of production. I feel the Gantt charts I made for the animation portion are the most refined and professional.
Tuesday, 13 April 2021
603 Weekly Update (Week Commencing: 05/04/21)
I needed to reanimate a shot for 'The Nightly Care I Give My Hair' as the lecturers weren't happy with my first attempt.
For the first attempt, I followed the animatic extremely closely, but the lecturers felt the movement looked wrong, as they described it as a "dragging" motion. For this attempt, I tried to give the desk more of a role so that the bonnet appeared grounded.
I tried to incorporate more follow through in this attempt however it was difficult. I can't even tell if it looks better or not, as the action was difficult to capture and the angle is just awkward. I will let the director choose which shot she prefers.
I think I struggled so much because the action is very mundane and the style is very simplistic. I'm more familiar with complicated shots and my style is much more detailed, so it was difficult to wrap my head around this movement. If I had more time, I would refine this further by making the action more fluid. I think the timing should also be slower however, I'm not the director, and the animatic only allowed for a couple of seconds.
I tried to get the colouring done this week too so that I don't have any animation tasks to do in the final week building to the deadline. My classmate was struggling with the software so, I decided to add the background myself. Next week if there's time, I will go back over all my scenes and add the backgrounds to each one that haven't been done yet.
I then got back to work on 'Kingdom of Masks' as I needed to colour the final shot. However, I ran into several issues throughout this process, as the software kept crashing every time I tried to add a colour layer under the vector lines. In the end, I messaged the team asking if someone could close the gaps and add the colour layer, as I wasn't getting anywhere with it. My teammates struggled just as much as I did in getting this file to work without their laptop/software crashing.
Eventually, I reverted back to TVPaint as while this process would take much longer, Toon Boom crashed with nearly every command I gave it.
I've had a few issues throughout the week regarding production, as a few people in each team don't communicate as regularly as others.
Usually when finished with a shot, not only would I alert the group however, I would also send over my progress to the rest of the team for feedback and critiques. Some teammates haven't been sending their work over, and also refuse to say anything when they do complete their shots. This often results in confusion, as there are other members waiting to progress with production and are unaware of the progress until the question is raised in a group chat.
This week, I've needed to message the members from both 'The Nightly Care I Give My Hair' and 'Aviation Aggravation' as these groups were missing the most scenes. Eventually, we tracked the scenes down so post-production can resume as planned.
I'm officially at the stage where I'm waking up in the middle of the night, solely to suffer from a panic attack regarding submission, before going back to sleep. I'm not alone however. Most of my teammates, especially those who have been working incredibly hard, have shared similar stories.
I'm also now worried about my showreel, as there are a few scenes in 'Kingdom of Masks' which the director has tampered with. As a key-framer, it's important I understand timing however, despite following the animatic to a T, a few of my scenes have since been slowed down considerably; scene 25 being the most recent.
I raised my concerns with the director, explaining that the timing readjustment was incredibly noticeable, and any imperfections in the frames that were once viewed in motion are now much more likely to be found due to the speed being reduced by nearly half.
I also explained how a lecturer had commented on this scene through Instagram, which is the closest thing to feedback we can receive over these three weeks off for Easter, giving me the impression my timing was fine before. So, there was no need to reduce the frame rate by such a noticeable amount. The impact frames have also lost their impact. Hopefully we can resolve this next week.
Thursday, 8 April 2021
602 Update (Following on from Study Task 4)
I struggled to plan out my future month by month in the previous study task, as 'To-Do' lists, while practical for small chores or errands, seem too hypercritical for such a weighty and overwhelming topic.
I've done nothing but think about my future recently, so felt this may be a better way to approach the heavy task of leaving University and entering the harsh reality of the real world, during a global pandemic.
Plan A:
Due to Covid, and the uncertainty surrounding potential future waves, spikes, and lockdowns, I will be returning home at the end of University. My parents want me to find a job immediately which is stressful, as if I'm unable to land on my feet in an animation role the second I graduate, they're expecting me to find a job elsewhere, as long as I'm working as soon as possible.
One of my original plans was to form a studio with some other classmates and spend the first year making short films to enter into competitions however, this no longer seems feasible.
So instead, Plan A has morphed into something else entirely. Over the last several weeks, I've been uploading my work to Instagram and as a result, I've had a few queries from people online, requesting information about my rates and whether I would be interested in a commission. While a lot of these projects seem unmanageable for one person, I may be able to request help within the members of the studio. There is also one commission that not only do I feel I could manage, however I'm also really excited to start.
If I tackle enough commissions in the first year after graduation that there is an income emerging, my parents should hopefully find this acceptable enough that I won't have to find another job.
Plan B (Leading on from Plan A):
Assuming Plan A is successful, this irregular work schedule may also provide time for me to work on my collection. Before coming to University, I studied Fine Art, and in my spare time over the summer holidays, I have been working on a collection of landscape paintings, which I'm hoping to submit to the Festival of Arts competition in my town. If I'm fortunate enough to get recognised, this may provide an opportunity for me to showcase my work in the local museum/gallery.
Once again, if I'm working on these pieces in the months where no jobs are coming in, hopefully my family will consider this productive enough that they don't expect me to drop my creative hobby and find a job with a steady income. While this will provide more security and put my worries at rest, I know that if I do get a regular job, I'll have no time to specialise in my animation, as it's so time consuming.
Plan C:
If the above plans work well for the first year or so, this plan won't need to come into effect. However, if I find I'm struggling to get commissioned, I will immediately employ this plan.
This plan involves researching around my area, and finding a job for a studio. While we have remote working, I have more options however if we revert back to working in person, this limits my flexibility, as I'm only willing to commute so far.
To get a better understanding of the roles I could apply for, I researched into each one:
Job Involves:
- Assisting the production management team
- Keeping a project running smoothly
Skills Needed:
- Organisation
- Knowledge of spreadsheets/Gantt charts
- Multitasking
- Good communication
- Enthusiasm
Job Involves:
- Drawing each frame by hand
- Depicting the right action in so many frames
- Understanding character performance
- Depending on the role, may need to clean-up/inbetween
Skills Needed:
- Drawing
- Knowledge of animation
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Time management
- Passion
Job Involves:
- Keeping an animation on schedule
- Negotiate with businesses/companies
- Find creative solutions
Skills Needed:
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Budgeting
- Being responsible
- Scheduling
603 Statement of Intent (For Submission)
I searched through my earlier blog posts and retyped my Statement of Intent in a Word document ready for the hand-in, as it's a requirement for this module. Below is the document I'll be submitting.
603 Weekly Update (Week Commencing: 29/03/21)
Despite my new glasses, my eyes are still incredibly sore. Not only are they not helping, but it's also been incredibly hot this week so my headaches are becoming even more frequent. Then there's the added sting that I'm missing out on the nice weather because my workload is so overwhelming.
I decided to focus on my tasks one day at a time as whenever I try to get as much work done as possible, I always find I become incredibly stressed. By taking on less, I feel more reassured in my abilities to get the work done on time, rather than have several tasks pile up, like I did last week.
I started the week with tasks for 'The Last Riders'.
Rhys told me he would be reusing my smoke VFX from scene 26 in other scenes which made me feel a little more confident in myself, as I had to reanimate this aspect several times and I still wasn't convinced I had done a good job. However, if the director is happy enough then so am I!
As the inbetweener is behind schedule, I added quite a few breakdowns to help with his workload, and eventually just asked to take the whole scene on completely, as I was aware he also had post-production jobs on the go.
Colouring this scene was simple enough, although the cards were quite difficult again, as their designs are very detailed and I needed to ensure they were consistent throughout.
Following on from the feedback I received last week, I changed Marow's stance and lost the gun shot, to add more tension to the scene. This was the last scene I had to animate for Rhys' project. As I haven't got access to editing software, and don't know that much about VFX, I can't take on any post roles. So, if we start to fall behind, I may take on some more animation tasks so that I'm not completely worthless.
For now however, I turned my attention to 'Kingdom of Masks' as there is still one scene left to complete. I'm not the biggest fan of inbetweening, and there weren't many key frames to work from, so I began by adding some rough breakdowns to help visualise the scene.
This shot was incredibly difficult, as there were so many different elements to consider. I broke it down into smaller sections to help comprehend the different aspects. For the angel, I needed to consider her hair, her hands, her facial expressions, and the rest of her body. For the explosion, I thought about incorporating secondary action and follow through. Finally, for the demon, I needed to not only animate his wings, however his ascot, his floating eyes, and the rest of his body.
By separating the tasks, I was able to attack this shot more confidently.
There was also a flash I needed to consider. Last week, I spoke with the director when colouring the keys only, and we couldn't decide on what colour the flash should be. Khoa did however, want a high contrast so, I decided to animate impact frames instead. Once I was done, I sent it to the team's discord for feedback, as I do all my scenes.
Scene 25 resulted in me falling behind this week, as it took so long to animate. Not only were the elements complicated, and the designs detailed however, as I'm working with bitmap layers, I needed to redraw every frame from scratch in order for the lines not to lose quality, as well as redraw Khoa's key frames, as the file can't be converted from Toon Boom into TVPaint.
I've been rocking an eight-day-long headache and something tells me it isn't going away until after the submission.
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