Video And Sound Production

30.5.2023 - 14.7.2023 (Week 9 - Week 15)
Tan Yi-Tyng (0353327)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Video And Sound Production
Final Project: Stop Motion

LECTURE

All class exercises completed and updated under Exercises blog post (click HERE to view)

Top 3 favorite stop motion videos
Stop motion shooting test during class

INSTRUCTIONS

FINAL PROJECT - STOP MOTION

Instruction

For this project, we are required to produce a stop-motion video. Voice-over, sound effects and music can be used to tell a compelling story. Confine to no more than 2 characters and locations and only 1 event in less than 15 shots.

The storyboard must be presented and get approval before the principal shot. Final video are required to submit in digital format:

- screen resolution 1080p (Full HD), 16:9 (wide screen)

- frame rate 24/25 fps

- field option progressive scan

- audio quality 48kHZ, 16-bit stereo

- compression H.264

Fig. 1.1 - Final Project Stop Motion Brief

Pre-production

Exploration

To start, I first go online to research and study how to shoot perfect stop-motion video and learn what tasks need to be prepared before shooting the my project. Then, I went to YouTube and Pinterest to find some inspiration for my stop-motion video. It's worth mentioning that I found this article (click here), which is really helpful and explains in detail about the stop-motion frame rates. Additionally, I also found this tutorial on YouTube that shares tips about filming cutout stop-motion videos, which inspired me to use this medium for my final stop-motion project.

Fig. 2.1 - Youtube tutorial about stop motion cutout animation

Proposal

With thorough research and preparation, I began to plan the story for my stop-motion project. I came up with the idea of a love story where two strangers meet by a special chance encounter and start to fall in love. The climax of the story occurs when they face challenges, but ultimately, they successfully overcome them and reunite in the end. With a solid concept in mind, I started working on the proposal and drawing the storyboard.

Here is the storyboard I drew out, illustrating my ideas with great detail to bring my vision to life. Additionally, I converted the storyboard into an animated video format and added background music to help me confirm that the outcome will turn out great before I move on to the next stages.

Fig. 2.2 - Storyboard (JPG)

Fig. 2.3 - Storyboard (Video)

Fig. 2.2 - Proposal for final project stop motion

Preparing props

After getting approval from Mr. Martin, I decided to remove some scenes and shots due to the time limitation, as I am working on this project individually. Then, I started preparing the props, which included multiple colors of thick paper. Additionally, I used my iPad to draw out the characters and various visual elements, which I then printed out and cut, saving me a lot of time.

Fig.3.1 - Tools for making the props

Fig. 3.2 - Materials

Fig. 3.3 - Cut out the character

Fig. 3.4 - Used tape to build the character

Fig. 3.5 - Used tape to build the character

Fig. 3.6 - Front and Back of the character

Fig. 3.7 - Completion of cut-out and creating all character and visual elements.

Production

With all the props prepared and ready, I was then ready to shoot the stop-motion video. The process of shooting was harder than I thought, as there were a lot of unexpected things that happened, such as the lighting not being ideal and the challenge of placing and controlling the characters carefully for each shot. However, through trial and error, as things progressed, I gained valuable lessons and experiences, enabling me to handle the process more effectively.

At first, when shooting the first scene, I shot in my house living room and used natural daylight. However, upon checking the footage, I realized that the lighting kept changing and caused blinking when viewing the video, which I'm not satisfied with the outcome.

Fig. 4.1 - Process of shooting the first scene (apologies for the messy background)

Fig. 4.1 - Process of shooting the first scene(apologies for the messy background)

I used a paper measuring tape to ensure that each movement of the character is consistent and equal for each frame.

Fig.4.2 - Process of shooting scene 1

With the previous experiences, I decided to shoot the rest of the parts indoors, and I borrowed lighting equipment from my friend to brighten up the whole scenes. I was very satisfied with the outcome as it turned out great and had a more stable and consistent lighting.

Fig.4.3 - Process of shooting scene 2

Fig.4.4 - Test shot of scene 6

Fig.4.5 - Lighting set up to create a spotlight effect for the character

Fig.4.6 - Lighting set up

Post-Production

After completing shooting my stop motion video, I imported all photos into my laptop and arranged the file nicely according to each scene in one folder.

Fig. 5.1 - Import photos & arranging file

Fig. 5.2 - Create sequence

Fig. 5.3 - Change the setting

Fig. 5.4 - Import the footage

Fig. 5.4 - Create sequences for each scene

As mentioned previously, the scene 1 shoot with daylight caused inconsistent lighting and blinking in some parts. So, I edited that color in Premiere Pro for some frames.

Fig.5.5 - Scene 1 (before edit the color)

Fig.5.5 - Scene 1 (after edit the color)

Fig.5.6 - Edit the speed and frame rate

Fig. 5.7 -edit video color correction

Fig. 5.8 - Add film dissolve effect

Fig.5.9 - Add sound effects

Fig.5.10 - Overall progress & timeline

Final Outcome

Fig. 5.11 - Final Project Stop Motion

YouTube Link:

https://youtu.be/BUbSIaN5peY

Title:

Love's Unbreakable Journey

Synopsis:

A chance encounter between a girl and a kind-hearted gentleman leads to a blossoming romance. As they embark on a journey together, their relationship encounters its fair share of arguments and challenges. After a heart-wrenching moment of loss, a miraculous twist reunites them. Through these challenges, instead of tearing them apart, these obstacles only serve to strengthen their bond. With each hurdle they overcome, their love grows deeper and more resilient. This story beautifully illustrates that love, when nurtured and tested, has the power to conquer all and flourish, leading to a relationship that is unbreakable and filled with a profound love that lasts a lifetime.

Message:

The core message conveyed to the audience in this story is that love is a powerful force that can endure and conquer any obstacles or challenges that come its way. Through the ups and downs, the couple in the story exemplify the strength of their love by facing adversity together, overcoming hurdles, and ultimately finding a way to be united. The story emphasises the resilience and unwavering commitment that true love can possess, highlighting the idea that when two individuals face difficulties together, their love can withstand the test of time and remain steadfast.

FEEDBACK

20.6.2023- Week 12 (Proposal)

Mr Martin commented that the idea was interesting but he worries that it might be too many shots.

REFLECTION

Overall, I have had a good experience and created wonderful memories throughout this project. To be honest, in the beginning, I faced a lot of challenges and difficulties as I worked on this project individually. Having to manage a workload meant for two people required careful time management and relentless effort. Surprisingly, after developing the story and completing the proposal, I found myself becoming more excited and truly enjoying the creative process. Although some unexpected events occurred during the shooting, I discovered that thinking creatively and finding alternative solutions made the rest of the process much smoother. This project has taught me the importance of thorough planning before diving into the work, but it also reinforced the value of a positive and optimistic mindset when confronted with unforeseen obstacles. All in all, I am very satisfied with the outcome, and I personally feel proud that both the positive and challenging experiences have contributed to the strength of my final project.

TAN YI-TYNG (0353327)