Readme: Portfolios Publishing, and Polish!

Congrats! You have (nearly) completed your first animation class!  At this point you only have one thing left to do, showcase your art!  Below is a list of steps to get you started showcasing your animation art via the web! For this you will need the following:

A: A blog! (any blog is fine. As an example, I am using blogger below!)

B: A youtube or vimeo account. (http://youtube.com or http://vimeo.com)

C: Your video files!

STEP 1: Prepare your video files!

If you have been keeping track of your animation files, this is already working! You need each of your video files arranged in a project folder ready to go!

If any of your video files stutter, you will need to compress your video files. Compression takes videos that are large in file size and makes them small enough to run on any device! Instructions below:

STEP 2: Compressing any video files:

The easiest way to do this is by opening MPEG Streamclip in the Applications Folder.

Click FILE -> OPEN FILES and search for your movie, or CLICK and DRAG your movie into the main window.

After hitting play to look through your movie, click FILE -> Export to MPEG 4.

Below are the settings you want. The frame size should match the size we are working with in class. The quality determines the quality of the image we export.  Lower quality equals smaller file sizes! (Every video on the internet goes through compression. This quality number defaults to 50, but select what works best for you!)

After that, click MAKE MP4.  You will be asked for a name for your new file. Save this one, and keep it!

After you do this: Next is uploading videos!

STEP 3: Uploading Videos!

Make a youtube account, and sign in to youtube! (automatically comes with a gmail account. If you make a new account, you will receive the following message below:

On youtube, once you’re signed in, click UPLOAD. If this is your first time uploading a video, you will receive the following message: It asks for whatever name you would like to go by as a content creator. Type the name you want, review their terms of service, and click Create Channel.

Next you will have a window that tells you to select videos to upload. You can either click on that window, or drag videos into the window.

You will get an uploading screen, much like this one! Give the video a name, a description, and any tags you want to attach to your video. Keep the link for your video!

Once done, click PUBLISH.

Your video is ready! Be advised, large file sizes may take a while to upload. If you ever upload anything that is 5 minutes or longer, expect about a 20 minute wait. Go get some food or something!

After that, you want to take the video and add them to your blogger page!

STEP 4: MAKING A PORTFOLIO

On the internet, you can make a portfolio with any blogging website if you’re smart about it! Below I have a sample blog page I made, with a simple layout. This way, when someone comes to check out my animation work, they can get straight to the videos! (Granted, showcase your work however you see fit.)  Take your blog, and follow the steps below to add your videos to your page!

In blogger: Click NEW POST.

Under post settings, name the post whatever you want this image in your video to be. You have two options: Divide each video into a separate post, or make ONE BIG POST that contains a lot of videos!

After this: you want to go back to your YOUTUBE VIDEO, and click the EMBED link:

A little window will come up with a line of text. This text will let you put your video into your blog post! Copy the text.

On your blog post, click the HTML BUTTON, HERE. When you do, you will get a huge window that you can paste information into. Past your code here. (this tells the blog you want to play something from youtube.)

When you’re done hit PUBLISH!

You now have the beginnings of a solid portfolio! To showcase your work in its entirety, upload every movie file for your projects into youtube! You can type a description below each one. Check the link to see my example!

http://mikemakescartoons.blogspot.com

Flu - Eric Huber will fill in for me today.

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to update you on classes.  In an incredibly unorthodox week, I still have the flu! And I'm still out.

However, classes are still on.  Eric Huber will be filling in for me today, and you are free to ask him any questions about your animated shots, films, storyboards and the like. He will not be there the entire day, but will be on hand at the beginning of class to offer help.

In lieu of these circumstances, I will be at the school this weekend to assist students when I'm able. Also, ALL FINAL ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOW DUE DECEMBER 11th.

On December 4th, we will still hold screenings, but they will be guided more towards making improvements than final assignments. It just doesn't seem fair to expect final projects from all of you if I'm not there the week before to help students with their production challenges and the like.

I'll get better as soon as possible and head back to teach all of you. In the mean time, drop in-progress shots on the server in the FINALS folder and send questions to me via email.  You can also send me your phone# and I'll do my best to call and answer in class as well.  As always, please email me if you have any questions or need any assistance. 

 I wish you the best of skill today!

Homework: Intro to Storyboarding and Cinematography!

A. Turn in a completed version of your performance animation by Wednesday @ 6:00 PM!
B. Revise your storyboard project that you started on in class, clean up the drawings, add context, and bring your story to class!  If you were absent, get notes about storyboarding from a classmate!

NOTE: I AM GRADING BASED ON STORYTELLING QUALITY, CLARITY, AND CRAFTSMANSHIP!

C. Watch "The Making of Little Witch acadaemia on the server!  Take notes, and bring questions to class!


D. Read up on Shot Types and Camera angles below!

Why are we learning shot types?  The only way for you to expand your knowledge as a visual storyteller is to know all of the formulas and conventions you have at your disposal.  Even one new frame could be the difference between an amateur production and presentation and a visual masterpiece of storytelling!

A list of helpful books for cinematic storytelling, good for both Animation and Live Cinema!

http://www.amazon.com/Cinematic-Storytelling-Powerful-Conventions-Filmmaker/dp/193290705X

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Vol-2nd-Techniques/dp/1615930876/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Shots-Volume-Shooting-Dialogue/dp/1615930558/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z

THE RULE OF THIRDS:

http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds

http://vimeo.com/14315821

VARIOUS CAMERA SHOTS:

Basic Shots: http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/

Advanced shots begin to manipulate the camera and treat it as more of a character in the film, moving and swaying between angles and shots to create a more lived in space:

Examples:  http://revision4gcses.wordpress.com/media-studies/camera-anglesmovementshots/

Dolly shots are some of the most advanced, yet easiest to preform in animation.  Dolly shots are where the camera trucks, weaving in and out of the scene, around characters, key environment elements, and other places.  (in short, move the camera from one side to the next)

Two Shot: A medium shot with two subjects.

Overhead shot (bird's eye view):  Camera is facing down from above.

Canted shot:  When the camera is tilted on it's axis so that normally vertical lines appear slanted to the left or right.  Ordinary expectations are frustrated.  Often used to create mystery and suspense in films to create a sense of unease in the viewer.

http://www.slideshare.net/StaceySmith1/camera-shots-and-angles-5618222

Handheld Shot:  "shaky cam"  sometimes played up in action scenes to suggest a state of unrest.

Remember that the shots you use already come loaded with information for your character to use.  Also remember that keeping the camera steady in some instances will give your character pivotal moments to come alive.

BONUS: Notes on camera angle diversity: Notes on camera diversity.

http://www.demotix.com/blog/advice/1072724/creating-shot-list-diversity-your-camera-angles-and-image-submissions

FOCUSED CASE STUDY that Teaches Cinematography: 
The Cinematography of the Incredibles, parts 1-3.

Staging and blocking for animation: 

Why do we stage and block shots?  To better plan our animation.  It's a good idea to have a list of documents for what our cartoon will be.  Printouts of our character and our character's expressions for easy reference.  Printouts or organized sketches for your characters.  Documents of the action and shot direction. Drawings of where you think your shots will be.  And, it makes you feel better about the work you do. Seeing the pieces of your cartoon come together creates a sense of pride in your cartoon, as if you are doing something important that many people are simply unable to do.  It's the truth.

Things to remember when planning cinematography:

Practice your draftsmanship!  Draw lighter in the beginning, sketch first, refine second!  We will animate our character through drawing frames!  Block out each shot.  Export your drawings out of Storyboard pro as a pdf.  You can board on paper, or photoshop, and scan in too.  but we will make an animatic of your work for the final.

STORYTELLING: Three Act Structure:

Review the formula for a movie's "Three Act Structure" at these links:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThreeActStructure
http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/pruter/film/threeact.htm
http://scripteach.com/?page_id=223