Here’s how the Internet helps artists make a living...

An interesting short article by science fiction author Cory Doctorow explaining the many alternative ways that artists today can use the internet to make a living from their art.

The creative class is not screwed:  Here’s how the Internet helps artists make a living - Salon.com

Two events focusing on Acting & Performance in animation

To assist you with the coming Action Analysis and Performance Milestone, this week we have two events focusing on Acting & Performance in animation.  

Wednesday 11 am S235 - Stephen Barnes, Inspired Acting: A Study of Great Moments From Great Actors

First up is the Wednesday lecture, where Sheridan's Stephen Barnes will offer his insights into acting as applied to animation. Stephen does this in a way that might be new to you - carefully studying the subtle cues used by actors in live-action film and television. Steve's talk is essential viewing. It's also very entertaining, as Steve peppers the talk with many fascinating and unusual film clips.

Wednesday 2 pm, A361 (4th Year Studio, Video Area) - Using Video Reference for Animation

This is followed at 2 pm by an introduction to the Video Reference system that we have set up in the 4th Year studio. Stephen Barnes is again in charge, showing us the basic usage of video reference for animation. It would be great to have someone perform a character action scene from their film for the purpose of demonstration. Any volunteers?

Future Crisis: A Brief History of Graphics

Here's a very good short documentary about the evolution of computer graphics as used in video games, from Pac Man to Crysis and beyond. The sections on sprites and polygons (80s and 90s style graphics) discusses the role of traditional artists and animators. 

In five sections: 

Pixel Pioneers: A Brief History of Graphics, Part One

Sprite Supreme: A Brief History of Graphics, Part Two

Polygon Realm: A Brief History of Graphics, Part Three

Voodoo Bloom: A Brief History of Graphics, Part Four

Future Crisis: A Brief History of Graphics, Part Five

Interstellar and the continuing influence of Kubrick's "2001"

If you're interested in the evolution of the science fiction film genre here's a very interesting article on the inescapable influence on Christopher Nolan's Interstellar of Kubrick's 1968 classic,  2001, A Space Odyssey. 

Kubrick’s indestructible influence: “Interstellar” joins the long tradition of borrowing from “2001″ - Salon.com

Voice-over Actor & Singer available

I just received this email from a young lady named Michele Kaye who is interested in gaining some experience doing animation voice work. She is also a singer. You can reach her at: 

michelemkaye@gmail.com

"My name is Michele, I am a vocalist and actor and I am interested in getting into animation voice-over... I am new to voice-over and so am looking for experience, not pay.

I've done some animation voice-over workshops, and have a small amount of experience doing commercial voice-over. I am a professional vocalist with 10 years of experience, and an professional actor with about 5 years experience. I do not have a demo yet."

Latest news about Guru Animation Studio - Netflix orders a "Justin Time" spinoff series.

Some great news for our friends at Guru - Netflix has ordered 13 more 1/2 hours episodes of Justin Time, Guru's popular pre-school series, for worldwide distribution.  Netflix already streams the first two seasons of Justin Time.

All the more reason to be at tomorrow's Guru event at 5:30 pm in J102.

For more information:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-orders-justin-time-spinoff-747776

Next Week's Trip to University of Toronto Faculty of Music

Here are the directions and other instructions relating to next week's trip to the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, Film Composition Class. Please read carefully  the directions and instructions relating to Stage 1.

Note that there will be no lecture or workshop on Wednesday because of this trip.

DATE: Wednesday, November 12m, 11 am - 3 pm

PLACE:  Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park Crescent  (behind the Royal Ontario Museum)

The easiest way to get there is by TTC. Take the University subway line to the MUSEUM Subway stop. The Faculty of Music is behind (i.e. southwest of) the Museum.  
Don't confuse the Faculty of Music with the Royal Conservatory of Music! (The Royal Conservatory is on Bloor St., while the Faculty of Music is on Queen's Park.)  

There is a Go Train from Oakville to Union Station every 1/2 hr between appr. 8 am and 10:26 AM. The 9:56 am or earlier train will get you there with enough time to find your destination. 

DIRECTIONS 

BY PUBLIC TRANSIT- take Go Train from Oakville station to Union Station- take University Subway line north to Museum Station ( 5 stops)- exit from station to west side of University Ave (Queen’s Park Crescent).- the EJB will be straight ahead, adjacent to the R.O.M. and behind the formerPlanetarium building.- once inside the main lobby of the EJB, take the elevator or stairs to Walter Hall in the lower basement level.

BY CAR- QEW to Gardiner Expressway- Gardiner Expressway to Spadina exit- Spadina Ave. north to Harbord St.- turn right (east) on Harbord St.- paid street parking is available on Devonshire Place and in paid lots in the vicinity.

SHERIDAN / UT MUSIC COLLABORATION

2014-15  IMPORTANT DATES:

STAGE 1) Composer Demos and Meet & Greet - November 12, 11-3 pm 
University of Toronto, Faculty of Music (Edward Johnson Building), Walter Hall

This is the opportunity for Sheridan student animators to meet with the UT student composers. Each UT composer will present an example of their recent music that gives a sense of musical style. Sheridan animators will then have a chance to meet them individually and present their project in the form of their Leica Reel. Sheridan students, please bring the following to this session: • pen & notepad (for noting names and contact info) • your Leica reel on memory stick, tablet, etc. • your laptop if you prefer • headphonesNote that you must commit to a working partnership within one week! You will stay in contact with each other via email.

STAGE 2) Music Spotting Session - January 2015 (precise date & time TBA) Sheridan College, 4th Year Studio

This is the time for Sheridan animators to sit down with their UT composer and carefully discuss all the musical requirements for the film. Sheridan students, bring your updated Leica reel with temp music carefully laid in. Be prepared to discuss the following:• where in the project  music is required• general mood and expression• special sync points that the music should 'hit'• character driven musical themes if appropriate• extra music for titles and/or end credits• desired musical style• desired instrumentation• possible changes to length/timing of your project

STAGE 3) Demo track delivery deadline (via internet) - week 7,  2015

UT composers will deliver a demo recording of the musical score to their Sheridan animator by this date.
An ftp site is available to facilitate exchanging large files. Speak to Technologist Mario Positano - Mario Positano <mario.positano@sheridanc.on.ca> - about how to access the ftp site. Commercial/free services like DropBox.com also work well.

STAGE 4) Track Delivery Deadline (via internet) - week 13, 2015

UT composers will deliver finished music recordings by this date.

Week 9 - Layout Artist Terry Lenko

This week's lecture and workshop are both provided by renowned layout artist Terry Lenko.

Terry's work includes the layout for TV series and theatrical films such as Sidekick (2010-11), Curious George (2006), and Ann of Green Gables (2000). He has also been a production designer for  Backyardigans (2006) and worked for studios such as Nelvana and Yowsa.

Terry has taken some time away form his busy schedule at Nelvana to talk to us about the topic of Professional Design for Layout (Wednesday, 11 am, S235). He'll also be on hand to assist you with your own layout design in the workshop (A150 at 2 pm.) The layout lecture and workshop are very timely because of the upcoming Animatic deadline (Milestone 6, Week 10) which is mainly about layouts and character poses (for 2D projects.)

Note that I will also be giving some important information about next week's trip to the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, so be sure to arrive on time!

The Music of "How to Train Your Dragon 2"

Here's a good honest interview with John Powell, composer of How to Train Your Dragon and How to Train Your Dragon 2. 

He makes several points that should be of interest to you in working with a composer, especially the importance of establishing a musical theme for each character. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YkLOxMilnA

(thanks to James Caswell for providing this link)

Semester 8 Milestones now available

I've had a few requests from students this week for a look at next Semester's Milestones, so here they are, revised (slightly) for the 2014-15 academic year:

http://sheridan4thyear.blogspot.ca/p/4th-year-student-handbook.html

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

-------------------------------------------------

Bruno Degazio, 

Professor, 4th Year Academic Advisor

Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design,
Sheridan College, Oakville, ON

degazio@sheridancollege.ca

website: http://www-acad.sheridanc.on.ca/~degazio 

Week 8 Deadlines & Reminders

LEICA REEL SCREENING 

I'm sure few of you need to be reminded that tomorrow morning at 8 AM is the deadline for submission of your Leica Reel. There is a big penalty for not participating, so be sure to put it in the correct folder!

Note that we might have to start earlier if the running time of all the Leicas is longer than three hours so keep your eye on this blog and email list for notification of changes.  We're currently planning to start the screening at 10 am on Wednesday, S235.

MILESTONE 5 

There is also a Milestone deadline this week - Milestone 5 - which is comprised of a Production Plan, Shot Breakdown, and Production Schedule.  (Or alternatively, depending on your Mentor, using Maury's famous Excel worksheet, available here. The Milestone also includes a Design Package (ungraded.)

ZBRUSH WORKSHOP

Last but not least, tomorrow (Monday Oct. 27) there is also a special workshop for those of you interested in the latest 3D modelling and design tools. The software is ZBrush, and we're very lucky to have a resident expert in the person of Florian Jacot. He'll demonstrate some of the features of this amazing 3D sculpting software. In Lab A151 at 6 pm.

Big Week Ahead! - Senior Animation Project Week 7

A big week is ahead of us as we get our Leica Reels ready for the screening in Week 8.

GUEST CRITIQUE

This week every Mentor Group will have a special guest who has been invited to view and critique your Leica reel. This will take place during your usual Mentor Group meeting time (or by special arrangement, at another time; stay in touch with your Mentor for details.)  This event is an important step in the development of your film; be sure to take advantage of it. Note that participation in this event is required and a penalty may be applied to your grade for non-participation.

LECTURE - Maury's Production Planner and a visit from Tinman Creative Studios

The lecture this week offers two highlights.  Firstly, mentor Maury Whyte will demonstrate and distribute an updated version of his Excel "Production Planning Worksheet", a valuable tool for organizing  and scheduling your production. (Many mentors will also accept the worksheet in lieu of some of the production forms for Milestone 5- Production Plan: Asset Estimate, Shot Breakdown, Production Schedule. Talk to your mentor for details.)

Secondly we look forward to a visit from Tinman Creative Studios, specifically creative director Brett Jubinville and a recent Sheridan graduate (TBA) who has recently been working at Tinman. They will discuss, among other things, the challenges of production planning in a creative environment, and the transition from Sheridan Animation to the "real world" of Web and TV animation production.  For more information about Tinman Creative Studios, go to tinman.tv

WORKSHOP - postponed to October 27

Due to scheduling complications related to the Monday holiday there will be no workshop this week. The planned workshop - ZBrush Tutorial with Florian Jacot - will instead take place on Monday October 27 in A151.

The Trouble With Dreamworks Animation

Here's an interesting and fairly in-depth article describing the current situation at Dreamworks:

It concentrates mainly on the business situation the company finds itself in rather than on the art and craft of animated storytelling. But the two are closely connected in Dreamworks' case, because the company's business model of making only two films a year requires each one to be a box office success. 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peterlauria/the-trouble-with-dreamworks-animation#4gpcma6

This Week's Lecture & Workshop - Wed. Oct. 8 - GUERRILLA DESIGN

GUERRILLA DESIGN
This week we have two events to address the design phase of the animation pre-production process. Our guest is Peter Bielicki, whose credits include Mulan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Atlantis. Peter will speak at the 11 am Lecture on "Guerrilla Design Workbook Development for Short Animated Films."

Peter will also be on hand to review and discuss your design work at the 2 pm Workshop,  "Animation Design & Workbook Critique", taking place as usual in A150.

Animator vs. Animation , Episode 4

Some of you may be familiar with the series of web animations by Alan Becker about an animator battling with his own creation, a stick figure called "The Chosen One."

Episode 4, the latest (and longest) in the series was released yesterday. Although the live-action portions are a little plodding,  the animation itself hilariously fun, especially to those of us who use computers a lot. The final result is oddly supportive of the art of animation.

The film is also an interesting example of a Kickstarter-funded creative venture.



You can watch it here or at the original Youtube location below:

(
original Youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUbKWv2x9t6u8yZoB3KcPtnw&v=VufDd-QL1c0
)

New Link for Milestone 3 (Storyboard & Script) Examples

Some of you may have been unable to download from the link in yesterday's posting about Milestone 3 - Script and Finished Storyboard.  Due to the high volume of traffic, Dropbox has  suspended Public Access to the account hosting these files.

To remedy the problem I have copied the files to a secure server here are at Sheridan. The new link is:

http://www-acad.sheridanc.on.ca/~degazio/4thYearBlog/FallMilestone3_Examples/

This should work in any browser that supports FTP.


- Bruno

THIS WEEKS LECTURE: The Wonderful World of Color Keys

This Week's Lecture:

Scratch Track Recording for your Leica Reel - Bruno Degazio
The Wonderful World of Color Keys - Nancy Beiman

SCAET THEATRE, Wednesday Oct. 1,  11 AM

The main event in this week's lecture is a review of the importance of COLOUR in your film. The colour key is your first pass at this in the pre-production phase of project development. Nancy Beiman reviews the use of colour in animated film and illustration.

Also, I will provide some tips on preparing a vocal scratch track for your Leica Reel, including information on how to book time in the Animation Recording Studio, and several alternatives to studio recording.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR TEMP MUSIC TRACK FOR FREE (OR CHEAP)

As your film concept begins to take shape cinematically in the form of your Leica Reel, now is the time to establish the essential musical character of your film via the use of a temp music track. 

THE INDUSTRY APPROACH

Unless you have a composer already signed on to provide you with music, I would suggest that your first attempt at a temp music track involve a review of film soundtracks in a style or genre similar to your intended project. For example, If your story is a comic prehistoric adventure, then Alan Silvestri's score to The Croods will probably give you some ideas, and may provide you with a track or two that can be "re-purposed" for your film. This approach is universally used in the film industry in the early stages of a project. 

The Croods - Soundtrack CD

As the world's largest music retailer, the ITunes Store is an ideal tool for this tactic. Its main attraction is that you can review a huge range of possibilities free of charge, because up to 90 seconds of any musical track is playable as a free preview. And if you decide that a particular music track works for your film you can buy an un-copyprotected file immediately for just 99 cents. 

Regarding the copyright aspects of this approach, it is perfectly legal under the Fair Use (aka Fair Dealing) provisions of US and Canadian copyright law to use these commercial recordings as Temp Tracks.  The operative word here is "temp".  Your musical choices cannot be used for public presentation outside the academic context. However, well-chosen temp music can be a useful stand-in during the early stages of production, and will also make an excellent guide for your future composer to work with. 

LICENSED MUSIC - CREATIVE COMMONS AND OTHERS

In addition to the industry approach just described, there are many websites that will provide licensed music for free or for a relatively small fee. The most common arrangement for "Free" licenses is via Creative Commons. Usually the required "payment" involves simply giving credit to the creator of the music. Sometimes there is a restriction on commercial use as well, so be sure to read the fine print (i.e. the type of Creative Commons license imposed.) Most of the websites listed below offer music under Creative Commons licenses. The Internet Archive and Jamendo are both quite good in this respect. 


There are also many websites that offer original music that can be easily licensed for use in film.  Usually the costs are relatively low ($25-$99) and the legal arrangements are very simple, so that everything can be done online with a few clicks (and a credit card number!) 
Two websites that offer some an interesting range of music this way are With Etiquette  and the Vimeo Music Store. 

VIMEO MUSIC STORE -- BROWSER

Of course, here at Sheridan we also have the Cyclops Music Library server, where 
technologists Mario Positano and Rick Andersen maintain a listing of approximately 10,000 titles of stock music, for which the college pays a flat fee each year on your behalf. 

Below is a list of just a few of the many places online which can provide Creative Commons and other licensed music: 

Jamendo - Jamendo has a LOT of free stuff. Try it first.

The Internet Archive: Mostly older material,including historical recordings and soundtracks that have fallen between the cracks of copyright law and are therefore free. 

Vimeo Music Store - mostly commercial ($99 for a festival license) but also has free (Creative Commons Share-Alike License)

SoundCloud - online file locker for audio. Nice player software, and many items licensable for the asking. 


Overview | Music | Musopen - recent site with only copyright-free material. Mostly old recordings and/or government produced. 

With Etiquette - collective of alternative musicians who make their music available for low license fee. ‎
songfreedom.com - commercial stock music site

UniqueTracks Inc. - commercial stock music site, good selection, low rates ($40)

Royalty Free Music Library from premiumbeat.com - commercial stock music site

Stock Music - Royalty Free Music with an Edge - commercial stock music site

This Week's Workshop - Character Design

Workshop: Open Critique of Character Designs For 4th Year films.

NOTE CHANGE OF ROOM & TIME!

A151, Friday October 3,  9 am-11 am

Sheridan's very own Enzo Avolio will lead a character design workshop for us this week. Bring your current work-in-progress character designs to discuss with Enzo and others. 

Note that the workshop will NOT take place at the usual time but on  Friday Oct. 3 at 9 am. The room is Lab A151 (right next door to our usual space.)

Although design work (character or otherwise) is not specifically graded in the fourth year Milestones, it is an important part of the pre-production process and the Senior Film Project mentors support your design efforts with workshops like this. 

Below is an example of some of Enzo's character design work, from the Character Design Blogspot at:   http://enzo-avolio-interview.blogspot.ca

Milestone due this week: Milestone 3- Finished Boards and Script

Milestone Due:
Milestone 3- Finished Boards and Script

Here are links to several excellent examples of finished storyboards and scripts appropriate for this week's Milestone,  courtesy of Mentor Nancy Beiman.  

======================================================================

THE STORYBOARD 

======================================================================

I'm sure that none of you need to be reminded of the importance of the storyboard in the creation of an animated film. But I do want to remind you that this Milestone is your only chance to create your FINAL storyboards. This fact implies two important features of your storyboard at this stage: 

1) The NARRATIVE is completely worked out - e.g. exposition, conflict, crisis and resolution are all presented visually.

2) The PANELS are highly readable. They will become the basis of the LEICA REEL.

Here is a storyboard page from Yacheng Guo's Kongo:

Note the following about this storyboard sample: 

a) The project is identified by student name and working title. 

b) The version is clearly identified as "FINAL" boards. Page numbers are provided. 

c) Panels are drawn using the provided template, in 16:9 aspect ratio. 

d) All drawings are highly readable and suitable for conversion to Leica reel.

e) Panels are identified with Scene and Panel numbers.  

f) There is a verbal description for every panel, even when there is no dialog.  Editing choices (e.g. cut or dissolve, camera moves) are also indicated when relevant.

g) Although not evident in a single page, these panels constitute a portion of a FULLY WORKED OUT NARRATIVE.

======================================================================

THE SCRIPT 

======================================================================

 The script is an important stage because it allows your narrative imagination to become concrete in a form that is very easy to edit and modify.  When done well, as in this example, it will become an important reference throughout your production. 

Here is a sample page from the script portion of the assignment. This example comes from Lisa Lanese's Get Hot:

Some points to note: 

a) The page uses standard script formatting, e.g. Scene Heading left justified in capitals,  dialog centred and preceded by character name in caps, etc.  

b) The script is dated. Working title and author are clearly stated.

c) Although dialog is a small component of this script, there is a full page of description of many other important cinematic details.

d) Scene Locations are succinctly but unambiguously described, e.g. EXT. OUTSIDE A VAUDEVILLE THEATRE, 1925, NIGHT

e) Many cinematic devices are noted appropriately, e.g.  "FADE IN, Truck toward theatre," ; "SLIGHT PAN to the right." 

f) Sound effects and music are noted when relevant to the cinematic presentation. 

g) Much of the character activity which  will eventually be animated is noted verbally, e.g. "Charlie enters from screen right nervously holding a martini glass."

======================================================================

LINK TO MORE EXAMPLES 

======================================================================

The complete scripts and storyboards for these projects and others are available for download at:  
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x7cpuuha01fqcbg/AABtFJMCLUD-BWxRRBL55fdda?dl=0