Floorboards Reference

Here are some references of the floorboards. Remember that they travel from the drawing table to the bed. Also, make sure the boards are thin and long.

Poster progress update

Hey everyone, here's an update on one version of our poster design. I don't think everyone had a chance to see the simple version of the poster design yet so here it is:

progress:

-added paper textures

-testing with curls on paper(I know shadows are off but these are likely not final)

-added stickies

-saturation and lighting adjustments(credits to My)

still to be done:

-coffee stains

-eraser shavings

-maybe a pencil if someone wants to make it

-ziq

I'm likely not going to finish this until after week 13 so feel free to throw in ideas and changes. I'm welcoming ideas regarding:

-Ziq positioning

-how the papers are laid out and how they curl/fold and stuff

-fonts

-title location

If someone is good at clean sketches and would like to make a more refined sketch of jewels please let me know. I can arrange to set up the psd and pencil brush for you. (you're basically sketching over a giant face so it's easy)

full resolution references(these are huge!):

http://www.mediafire.com/?pge2xmwtk4d4lj1,99k0o122noi4qb2

Bedroom Corner Ref

Hey this is colour reference for anybody doing the bedroom corner. You can just grab the colours from this image. Basically just use a darker colour for the shadows and an even darker colour for the lines.

Layout Clean Up Tutorial

Hello everyone!
This tutorial is about how to clean up the layouts so that they look like the above image.

First of all, make new layers for every step.
Step 1: Block in all the flats. Use a polygonal lasso tool. Don't worry about being super clean and accurate with the pencil line. You can still use the lasso tool with loose curves (ie. the bottom of the curtain). If there's something that needs a good circle (ie. Trashcan, pop cans), use the elliptical marquee tool.
Also, I've decided to hold off of colouring the "debris" because I want to see all the finished layouts beforehand. Leave those as a separate layer on top of the flats.

When you turn off the pencil lines, it should look like this. Don't worry if things look wonky. Notice that the shelf and the drawing table are slightly warped. Speed tip: I blasted through this with some handy hot keys.

• B -> (hold Alt)+(select colour from palette) -> L -> (select area) -> Alt+Back -> Ctrl+D -> (repeat)
• If you wondering, it means [brush tool -> select colour -> lasso tool -> select area -> fill with foreground colour -> deselect]
• Additional helpful keys are (M = Elliptical marquee tool) and  (Hold spacebar = scrolling around image)

Both polygonal lasso tool and the elliptical marquee tool are set to Add to Selection. If you screw up with a selection, you can hold Alt which will set your tool to Subtract from Selection. It will automatically switch back to Add when you let go of Alt.
With these hot keys, you can actually work without the toolbars (Tab = Turning toolbars Off/On. F = full-screen).


Step 2: Next is the line art. If your scan is 300dpi (which it should), set your brush to 3px. Follow the pencil lines instead of the flats when you do the line art.
During this part, Alt and Shift are your best friends:

• Alt+click to select colours from the palette.
• (hold shift)+click to make straight lines.

This will do all the work for you. For example, to outline the shelf, I just held shift and clicked on the corners. The brush then draws the line for me. For small ellipses, I drew those freehand.
You notice that the flats occasionally bleed into the lines. Leave them for now. Sometimes these look good. But! If some of the bleeding makes the area look confusing, you can cover them up with the shadows layer.

Step 3: Adding the shadows. This is exactly like the first step except you can turn off the pencil layer from now on. You can have all the shadows on the same layer but keep the Paper's shadows on a separate layer. The light source is in the middle of the room.

Step 4.5: When you're done with the shadows, you have to re-colour the lines that are inside the shadows so that they're the light colour. Examples are the wall corner, the line in the curtain, the boxes and the floor trim behind the drawing table.


Step 4: The blue gradient. Create a new layer and set it to Overlay with its Opacity at 80%. Make a linear gradient on the upper 1/5 of the image.
And there you have it! It's done~

Also, here's the palette sheet. You can just colour pick from this in photoshop.
If I'm missing any thing other than the "debris," please tell me and I'll update this!
For paranoia's sake, here's the layers list that your file should have and checklist to make sure that you didn't forget anything.


Layers:

• Blue Gradient [Overlay, 80% opacity]
• Line Art
• Pencil Lines [Turned off]
• Paper Shadow
• Paper Flats
• Shadows
• Flats

Checklist:

1. Block in flats
2. Draw in line art
3. Turn off pencil layer
4. Add shadows
5. Re-colourize lines within shadows
6. Add gradient.

If anyone needs close ups or needs me to clarify with something, please tell me!

Possible Background Style

Hey guys! Just upload a possible style that our backgrounds could be. Referenced the backgrounds from the Road Runner show.

Think Here - Master Leica Reel

It's here!  Our final pre-production master leica reel.  It's been a long journey.  Let's get it goin'!

Layout Roughs

BC2Pt - Naseer Pasha

Here are our layout roughs for our film.  Enough information is here to go directly to clean up.  Some serious work right here!

BC1Pt - Valeri Vidakovic

BC2Pt - Matthew Bakerdjian

DPan - Tenzin Chime

Think Here - Leica Reel

Here is our third pass on the leica reel.  All the dialogue for it can be found below!  

*Note: We know how poor our acting is, in case you were wondering.  Lonely nights with crummy recording devices and no real actors - this is our masterpiece!  We are happy with the shots and timing, but know that we definitely need our actors to act out these scenes magnificently!  Good luck guys!  You're bound to do better than us!

Final Roster

Here is our final character roster for our short film, "Think Here."

Final Pre-Production Schedule

Hey guys, here is the pre-production schedule that I worked up.  I'll be bringing a printout for each of you on Tuesday. Open in a new tab and save.

Pre-Production Schedule - Naseer Pasha

The reason this is a pre-production schedule is because this is what leads us to our actual production.  After all this stuff, it's just a matter of animating.  So the actual production schedule is simply to finish the designated seconds of animation per week, and review our works each week with each other. 

And if you're thinking that it seems a little rough, please remember that I only structured it this way to leave reasonable time for Blair, John Flagg, and Rob's class work.  I think compared to what we are used to, this schedule is right up our alley. And also, remember that some scenes will be much easier to animate than others, so take that into consideration if you think it's a tough schedule.

Thanks!

Character Line Up

Main Characters - Line Up

Here is the Line up for our main characters.  Jewels is our standard.

The Kodama - Final Design

The Kodama Spirits - Character Design By Romone Johnson

These are the little gremlin-like, and ridiculously annoying Kodama spirits from our film.  They are inspired by Miyazaki's Kodama from Princess Mononoke, and Navi from The Legend of Zelda.

 

Jewels Turnaround

Agni-Rudra Final

Ziq - Final Design

Ziq Rotation

Final design concepts for Ziq, by Tenzin Chime. 

Ziq - Colour Concept 1

Ziq - Colour Concept 2

luna rotation

ok so here in luna with a few quick messy colours.

Floor Plan Action Maps

Just like how they do in football games, we should do an overhead layout "game play" floor plan for our sequences.

Action Sequence Map 1

Layout Floor Plan

Overhead view - Jewels' Room - Mark Conmigo

Here is the layout floor plan.  The wall with the sink on it is wall B, clockwise the right wall is wall C, wall D is the closest one to us with a bookshelf, and wall A is far left.  This is for board referencing.

Corner CD - Valeri Vidakovic

Corner BC - Giuseppe Arabia

Corner BC (Overlay) - Giuseppe Arabia

Corner AB - Joseph Ng

Corner DA - Vanesa Vidakovic

Hallway Design, With Wallpaper Texture - Tenzin Chime

Hallway Design - Tenzin Chime

Hallway Design - Tenzin Chime

Character and Layout Concepts

Alright! Now that we've changed to a new direction for the final time, it's time for the updated character/layout list!

Character Designers (Chris Morin, Naseer Pasha, Kevin Cato, Dale Watson, Ramone Johnson, Tenzin Chime)

1. Jewels - The artist. I've heard that there's already a design in the works but if you guys have an idea, by all means!
   
2. Ziq - Same as Jewels
   
3. Luna - The lovely lady. Basically go all out with your dream girls, guys! Also! Don't worry about sketching her with her missing parts. Just design her completed and we can subtract the (un)needed parts.
   
4. "Kodama" (Example gifs of Miyazaki's Kodama in the link) - The little gremlins. I see them as equally simple to the Miyazaki ones but we can play with that annoying edge ours have.
5. Guardian Deities -Two large, robotic in movement, centurions. Big guys with big swords!
   
6. Random characters - The best thing about this script is that we can be absolutely random. Have at it guys!

Background Artists (Vanessa Vidakovic, Joseph Ng, Tenzin Chime, Guiseppe Arabia, Mark Conmigo)

1. Apartment - Personally, I see Jewels living in a tiny studio apartment that can barely fit his drafting table. For some of you, think about your dorm rooms. Also, a specific list of what it needs: drafting desk, television, second table of sorts, small one person couch, a washroom door and at least one window.
2. Hallway - Uh. A hallway. Need I say more?
   

If any of you guys are having a problem getting the creative juices flowing and need some references to jump start with, give me a holler via Facebook, blog comments or email!

Good luck and have fun! Play a little~

Rough Colour Keys

Even though these guys have become irrelevant with the new script, I felt that I might as well post them up. Just took some detailed sketches in Naseer's rough boards to do some rough colours.
Naseer specified a specific tone to me and I hope that I properly conveyed it.

Think Here - DRAFT 1

This is our final script.  The first draft, but this is it guys.  I know it’s been a long journey to get to this point with change after change, but this is finally it!

Think Here - DRAFT 1

 

Ziq - The final shot of the film

For all of you who believe you are an artist - whether it be of a visual, literary, musical, or martial nature - you should heed these words, "Take a step back, and take a deep breath."

This film is about keeping yourself in check.  We can't, no matter how much we love our work, let it eat us alive.  Sometimes taking a step back away from our work to clear our minds is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

PREMISE: Jewels is ready to give up on his work out of frustration, and Ziq (among things) won't let him leave the apartment.

NOTE: Ziq's power in this film is that he can bring any drawing to life with a simple touch.

---

INTRO

SETTING - Jewels' messy, small, cluttered apartment.  Here we see Jewels' surroundings, personality, and frustration with his work.

SHOT 1: Jewels is scratching away on a paper at his drafting desk.  Here we see a close up on his eyes, brows furrowed in irritation.

CUT: CREDITS 1 - "Seneca College Presents"

CUT: Medium shot of Jewels back side, while he is on the phone.

*Jewels

Sorry mate, no, n-not tonight.  I got some stuff to finish.

CUT: CREDITS 2 - "Directed by/produced by," etc.

CUT: Close up on Jewels' crappy drawing that's not working out.  Cut to a close up of his eyes getting increasingly angry.  Cut to a medium shot of Jewels finally exploding with frustration.

*Jewels

Guuh! That's it!..

CUT: CREDIT 3 (Last credit) - "Think Here."

---

MIDDLE

The entire rest of the film is Jewels trying to get away from his work, literally.  His work comes to life and physically won't let him leave.  This is the basis of our film, a metaphor for being so attached to your work that you can't (literally) leave.

CUT: Jewels is leaving his messy drafting desk where all his unfinished work is.  There rests a Kit Kat bar, among other junk stuff, at his work area.  Jewels is getting up to put on a shirt so he can leave his apartment for a break.  As Jewels gets the shirt and proceeds to the door of his no bedroom apartment, he stops because he hears a voice, Ziq (who is one of his unfinished drawings on the drafting table).

*Ziq

Oh come on, brother.  You call this finished?  What am I supposed to do about my legs?

Jewels takes a second to grasp what he is hearing, pauses, and answers.

*Jewels

...Ah?..Wuu....? (inarticulate noises)

In confusion, he freezes.  Not because it's ridiculous that his drawing is talking to him, but because he thinks that he really should finish the drawing of Ziq before he goes out for a break.  Jewels walks over to the table, finishes the drawing of Ziq, and finally (with a weighty sigh of relief) puts his marker down and heads to the door once more.  As Jewels turns from his desk, he is unaware that Ziq has come to life off of the page.  Back turned and heading towards the door, Jewels is oblivious that Ziq touched one of the unfinished drawings nearby, and brought it to life; a young girl with no nose, ears, or pupils.  Jewels, now at the door handle, stops in his tracks before the seductive, half headed girl, Jessabelle.

*Luna

(Seductively, like Jessica from Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

Oh come now, fella, don't you want to make me happy? I've been wanting your big, strong arms, to finish me for a long time now (touches Jewels hands and slides up towards his biceps, and finally his face).  Why don't you come over here and lay some ink on me.  I just want some pretty eyes to go along with a pretty nose.  Oh, and of course, some lovely earrings to go on my new ears, sugar.  (Holding Jewels' hand and pulling him back to the desk)  Whaddaya' say? (Flutters eyes - with no eyelashes).

As Jewels is close to finishing the new and improved Jessabelle, he notices that little forest gremlins (some of his older, crappier drawings - The Kodama) are calling his name.

*The Kodama (crappy drawings)

Hey! Listen!  Hey! LIIIISTEEEEEN!

Jewels looks, for the first time, in shock at the site of these little guys, all surrounding his feet. He tries to ignore them to finish Jessabelle's eyes, but fails at it.

*The Kodama

(Now, climbing his limbs and biting him like mosquitoes) What about us! You promised to finish us a month ago!  We need colour!

At this point, Jewels has had it.  He is fed up and dusts off the Kodama kids, leaves Jessabelle unfinished (only one eye was complete), and heads to the door in absolute stress.  However, he is stopped one final time.  In front of the door is Ziq, with a twisted smile on his face.

*Ziq

Uh unnnnnnnnnnnnhhh (shakes head "no")

Ziq ducks out of view to reveal the exit door.  However, the exit door is now blocked off by two massive guardian spirit deities with swords.  The swords come slicing down (one from a painting from the upper left of the door, and one from the upper right) and make a cross together, thus, blocking the door once and for all.  Until now, Jewels was compelled to stay because he was convinced.  Now, however, he has no choice.  His work literally won't let him leave.

ACTION SEQUENCE BEGINS

 
Jewels is backing away from the door in terror as the two guardians march towards Jewels, wordlessly.  His drawings in the background continue to bicker, saying "Finish us!"

As Jewels is trying to manoeuvre around his apartment to get around the guards and make a break for it, Ziq rushes over to a large closed sketch book and flips it open, bringing life to many unfinished drawings.  Being after being is coming to life as the pages turn, while Ziq rushes over to some hanging paintings and drops them with a single touch.  As the slam to the ground, they come to life.

In the midst of all this chaos, the drawings actually start fighting among themselves, a "No I want to be finished," "no I DO!" sort of fight.  That is Jewels' secret weapon to get out, the distraction.  He makes way for the door and we cut to Ziq.  Taken aback because he didn't anticipate the chaos, Ziq slams his hand on a table.  His hand (a black shadow) starts spreading like roots along the table.  In its path it touches all drawings on the table, bringing each to life.  From here on out, the "viral infection" continues about the room, making it ever darker.

As Jewels finally touches the door handle, the room goes silent for a fraction of a second as all the drawings stop in their brawl to see what Jewels is doing.  Jewels looks over his shoulder to see that they've unified and are marching to him.  One too many fidgets with the door handle leaves Jewels in a bad place; the drawings grab him and bring him right to Ziq. (Note: In the background, the viral infection is still spreading around the room).

Now, face to face with Jewels, Ziq takes Jewels right hand and over powers it to the drafting table one last time and forces him to draw.  Draw, draw, draw, is what is being chanted in the background.  As he sits at the desk before a blank sheet of paper, he sneakily looks to his side without turning his head.  The infection is coming closer and closer to his table.  Jewels, in a final act of desperation, quickly draws a bomb on the page with an unlit fuse.  The infection touches the page, sets the fuse, and Jewel makes a run for it as it explodes.

---

ENDING

CUT: Exterior, Jewels' apartment (the hallway).  Jewels is now finally out the door.  He takes a breath.

CUT: Same location, different angle.  Jewels is sitting on the floor, back braced against the door, eating a Kit Kat bar.

CUT: Interior of Jewels' apartment.  Everything is back to its normal clutter.  With clear loud footstep SFX, Jewels slowly walks over to his desk, takes a seat, and picks up his pencil.

CUT: Medium wide, Jewels backside, scratching away calmly on a fresh piece of paper at his drafting desk.

CUT: 3/4 Close.  Jewels' eye direction, originally straight down at his page, slightly shifts over to the right (signifying that he is looking at the corner of his page now).  His mouth opens slightly as if to say, "Huh?"

CUT: A tiny, somewhat silly drawing of Ziq is in the left corner of the page.  It's hand starts to move ever so slightly.  To this, Jewels draws a box around Ziq, and outside of that box writes, "Think here."

END

Character concepts