STUFF I'VE LEARNED ABOUT STORYBOARDING: EPISODE #5

Motivating the Camera: Part 2.

Continuing with the previous post, these examples revolve too around motivating the camera, however explores more "what they are saying visually".


The next three examples are all slight variations of the same scene, each exploring a different approach in regards to the progression of information that is revealed to the audience, and consequently the effect it has on them. Please note that none of these examples are any more "right" than any other. They are merely different takes on the same scene. Their purpose is to show how slight variations in storyboards (and ultimately film) can produce vastly differing ideas/moods. Ultimately, it would all depend on what the script calls for or what is necessary of the scene to determine which of the following (if any) would be suitable.



I think the most important thing to take away from this concept of 'motivating the camera', is just to try and be conscious of the decisions you are making in your storyboards. Try to understand what you are actually saying visually, what information you are revealing to the audience (and when) and what effect it will have on them. Thinking about these things as you board can really help enhance a sequence and 'sell' an idea in the storyboard stage.

On a side note: None of these tips/theories/methods I've discussed are "rules". They are by no means absolute. There are no 'right' or 'wrongs' with storyboarding, as I've stated before, simply ways that work better than others at achieving desired responses. As much as I use these principles and incorporate them into my own sequences, I find myself quite frequently deviating, or cheating, or bending these ideas. I rely much more on the 'feeling' of a sequence as I board. Boarding panels and flipping through them to see how I 'feel' watching it, to see if the cuts are smooth, or if something doesn't 'feel' right. So take these tips for what they are worth, simply tips, tricks and principles I have found to be sucessful.

-Hat

STUFF I'VE LEARNED ABOUT STORYBOARDING: EPISODE #4

The next couple posts revolve around 'motivating the camera'. What is motivating the camera you might ask? Good question, you get a gold star.*

Motivating the camera is a simple technique of using visual cues to set up a cut or camera-move and in doing so, ease the audience into a new shot or new information.

Below is a simple example of how utilizing the above theory can have a huge influence on the overall feel/continuity of a sequence.


I think I made it a bit overly-complicated. Just look through each of the examples and feel the difference.

Basically: Use a character's eye line to motivate a cut. It helps ease the audience through the cut and into new information. (While also putting us directly in the character's shoes)

There are many other ways to motivate the camera. Below is a short sequence I've boarded out with various examples all strung together. The idea is to create as much continuity within the sequence as possible, making everything clear and easy to follow.

Below I have pointed out the specific methods used to motivate the camera.

So as per the above sequence, ways to motivate the camera;
- Using a Character's eyeline/P.O.V.
- Having a character move on screen and adjusting the camera accordingly.
- Having a character exit frame.

There are other ways not represented in the above example, for instance;
- Having a character enter frame. (This will be illustrated in a future tip sheet.)

I think ultimately what it comes down to, specifically for 'cutting', is the fact that a 'cut' is not natural, it doesn't happen in real life (unless you take really long blinks). Obviously we have seen enough film/television that we are accustomed to 'cutting', nevertheless, anything you can do to smooth out the transition will only help create and maintain the continuity of your sequence.

To be continued shortly...

* Gold stars are neither gold nor stars and consist almost entirely of your imagination.

THE STORY OF SUPER-CUBE

This is a quick little comic retelling I did of a recent monumental event to transpire at the studio.


As mayor of super-cube my responsibilities include:
- making of the mayoral crown
- wearing of the mayoral crown

Super-cube is the greatest idea I've ever had.

-Mayor McJewburger

I MISS HIM

My Cubie was having technical difficulties with his computer today and had to move to a different cube to work...


I hope he comes back soon...

STUFF I'VE LEARNED ABOUT STORYBOARDING: EPISODE #3

More storyboarding cheat sheets. This breakdown has to deal with screen direction, specifically characters moving in and out of frame.





The folks over at The Art Center blog were nice enough to feature these little breakdowns I've been doing. Check out the blog if you've got time, there is a lot of great information there from a lot of incredibly talented industry professionals.

-Hat

STUFF I'VE LEARNED ABOUT STORYBOARDING: EPISODE #2

Because of some nice comments on the previous post, I thought I would squeeze out number 2: Maintaining Screen Side

Note: there would obviously be more panels if this was flushed out, to play up the acting and also hook up the action. And on the last panel, I would probably frame it more centered while the female is farther away and then adjust right as she walks towards camera.

This is a simple theory of cutting that can easily help create a sense of continuity within a sequence and or exchange. The idea is not exclusive to 1 character interacting with another. The same principle can be used between 2 different groups of characters, or even a character and an object (Ie. A telephone. A man waits anxiously for a very important phone call).

The example above is a bit rudimentary for the sake of demonstrating the concept. More realistically, you will have characters moving around as they interact. In this case what we can do is create multiple patterns to track the exchange. The important thing to focus on when trying to handle multiple staging set ups is making sure the audience clearly sees our new staging occur. The simplest way to achieve that is by having characters physically cross paths on screen;

As long as you continue to establish any new screen spacing, the sequence should maintain a certain level of continuity that will allow the audience to follow along quite easily.

-Hat

STUFF I'VE LEARNED ABOUT STORYBOARDING: EPISODE #1

Here are a few quick little tip sheets I put together for some of my friends who are currently doing storyboard tests and looking to get into boarding. I thought they might be worth posting here.






I think the most important thing to remember with storyboarding is that; anything and everything we can do visually will invoke a specific response from the audience. The key is to determine what exactly you want the audience to feel and then find the best way visually to achieve that reaction.

I hear a lot of people say "You can't do that cut" or "You are breaking the 180 line, you can't do that".... well obviously you can do it, because if you can draw it, you can do it. It's not that you "Can't" do something, it's that that "something" is confusing the audience, or isn't visually pleasing. Which are both appropriate critiques of a jump-cut or breaking the line, however not so much if that is the desired effect you hope to have on your audience.

There are no "right" or "wrongs" with storyboarding, only ways that work better than others. Figure out what you want to convey in a scene, and find the best way to present those ideas to your audience.

MANNY AND KHAN DANCE BREAK/UPDATE!

So a quick little Manny and Khan update;


There was an awesome article written about Joey and his experience in the animation industry, spotlighting his involvement in co-creating Manny and Khan. Check it out yo;
http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/09/buffalo-cartoonists-project-is-on-the-rise.html

Some awesome fan also went and made a facebook page for Manny and Khan.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Make-The-Awesome-Chronicles-of-Manny-and-Khan-A-Series-On-Cartoon-Network/149585578397870?ref=ts

Thanks to whoever it was who created the page, you're awesome. Manny and Khan could have never made their own page on facebook because they don't know what facebook is. And when they heard about it, they figured the way to join was by slathering their heads with paint and slamming their faces into a book. But they don't own books, so they used rocks instead. Needless to say, they have some interesting new artwork hanging up in the tree-fort. They're great conversation pieces. So if you like the short, you can join the facebook page and tell your friends about it. If you don't like the short, don't join the group and tell your friends you didn't join the group.

Umm what else.... the short is still up on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlvIB4jGpLo

That's all I can think of at the moment. Thanks to everyone who's shown interest in the short! You guys are AWESOME!

Well, that's all for now, as Manny and Khan say, "Awesome and out"

-Hat

I LIKE YOU

I made these little cards for my Cube-mate. He likes to complain a lot. I call him Nega-mind. I hoped these would cheer him up. They did... for a few minutes.

FOX POSES

Just exploring an older character of mine.


I've never settled on a specific design for him, and continue to explore his construction and proportions, especially within his head. Trying to figure out some of these shapes in 3 dimensional space is challenging for me, construction has never been a strong point of mine, so it's something I've been trying to build on.

I did these after copying a whole bunch of Freddie Moore Mickey model sheets.

-Hat

COLORED THREE EYE MOOSE

This is a quick little color/pose study I did for this moose I've been drawing. Nothings really final, color or design, but I'm kinda digging him. He is more fun to draw than a barrel of monkeys, because I suck at drawing barrels and monkeys.


I wasn't sure if the color of his feet are drawing too much attention away from the rest of the pose? I had them gray, but that was even worse... What do YOU think? Any thoughts? Suggestions? Good recipes?

-Hat

THREE EYED MOOSE

This is a three eyed moose I started drawing.



I like drawing him.

-Hat

BI-DAILY: FIRST DATE

RANDOM SHTUFF

Just some random drawing I did at the studio.


I've been trying to do a little more life/gesture drawing of late and figured I'd post some of the stuff seeing as how I don't typically post these kinda drawlings.

NEGAMIND AND LIEBERMINION

Myself and my cubie Jeff B. as Megamind characters.



-Hat

RANDOM POKEMON TEAM

Took a page out of Ian Andersen's blog and used a random number generator to come up with 6 numbers. Then I drew them;


-Hat

NOT POKEMON

OH MY GOSH CAN YOU BELIEVE IT MORE POKEMON

What more need be said? Boobs? Maybe... But it's probably not an appropriate time for that.


-Hatzilla (Courtesy of Joey G.)

S'MORES POKEMON

Sum more pokemon doodles I did. I threw the color on rather quickly, as it's quite late, so not sure if it's working;


Perhaps more later.

-Hatthew

MORE POKEMON

I am having too much fun drawing these. I don't know what it is...

-Hat

POKEMON GENERATION 2

Here's another batch of Pokemon drawlings I did. And look at that, two posts in one day!

Oh wait... it's 1:01 AM. Damn... so close.


- Hat

POKEMON

Some poke-doodles inspired by Ian Andersen's pokemon drawings.


-Hat

QUICK!...

We have a little bit of down time at the studio, so I did this.

OODLES OF DOODLES

Just a few random desk doodles. I will probably end up handing these out on the street to random people...


And below are some notes I took during a meeting at the studio;

-Hat

BI-DAILY: CONDUCTOR

Kids used to make fun of me for wearing a conductor cap... but I love that hat. And oddly enough I almost wore it today.


Be sure to check out Dave and Jeffs and other Daves.

-Cap

BI-DAILY: OTHERWORDLY

Been crazy busy boarding lately, gettin ready for a big screening. I did however take a short break from storyboards to do this little diddy below.


Today's theme was suggested by Dave Derrick, be sure to check out his killer drawing.

-Hat

Attachee BriefPack

Attachee (pronounced Attach-he) is a line of Briefcase backpacks which are painted and customized, a little side project I've been working on for the past few weeks.
Below are some mock ads I created for the line;



About Attache BriefPacks;
I've always thought briefcases were cool but was never too keen on the idea of carrying one. In my eyes It conjures up too much an image of your traditional businessman which, my lack of a college degree should tell you, I am not. Seeing as how I make a somewhat unconventional living, drawing cartoons, I thought it fitting to flip it and wear it like a backpack. So I put a strap on it. And if there's one thing I did learn from college it's that everything is better with a strap-on!

For me it was a way of saying 'I don't take myself or what I do too seriously'. I guess I probably could have just printed that on a shirt... shoot.


Almost the entire product is made of recycled and reused materials. Both the briefcases and straps were purchased from thrift stores. The screws which are used to secure the strap to the case are all found. And the paint... well that was all left over from school.

Some of the advantages to wearing an Attachee BriefPack include (and are not limited to);
-Protection from bullets to the back (this has not been tested but the logic seems sound).
-Comfortably creates better posture while sitting.
-Feels like a hug.



If anyone is interested in purchasing one let me know. You can leave me a comment here or email me; Hat.lieberman@gmail.com

There is no fixed price yet, however I am looking to sell them somewhere in the range of $35-50 (or the highest offer depending on the amount of interest). So if you'd like, make an offer and if it sounds right, I'll send one your way.

Below are just a few quick tag-lines I came up with for the company, nothing final yet.I think they echo the theme of 'not taking yourself to seriously' quite well.

Special thanks go out to Lindsey Olivares and Andy Heitz for helping me model and snap the BriefPacks. There are more pics from the shoot (and other awesome photos) on Andy's blog, and better artwork than here on Lindsey's blog.

-Hat