Right Then, Lets Get This Going!

All my research is done, my planning all sorted, music being developed and a distant deadline getting ever closer.

It's time to put pen to paper, or in this case, chalk to train, and start drawing out my animation.

I'm setting aside ALOT of time for this, as it's not something I can leave and then rush to finish. I'm under no illusion, it's going to take FOREVER, and I'm going to be absolutely SICK TO DEATH OF IT by the end.

So might as well get cracking now, and try and make as much head way as I can.

I doubt I'll be making many more blog posts for a while, as I'll be out on location doing the same thing over, and over, and over, so not much to write home about, but if anythign comes up, I shall get it posted.

LETS DO THIS!!!

Project Development - A Problem

I'm gonna have to change my idea.

I was so proud of my first idea, to draw on a train, and to make THAT move to animate each image. I thought it was genius!

It is also incredibly impractical, and as much as it breaks my heart to do so, I'm going to have to adapt my idea.

I've been delaying the inevitable for so long, but it looks like there's just no way I'm going to be able to MOVE the train in order to animate each frame one by one.

I knew the train yard was abandoned, I just hoped I'd figure something out when it came to it. What I did have in mind was to maybe make a camera dolly or something, and run it alongside the train on a parallel track, making the camera move instead of the train. But the site is just too over grown, there tracks without trains have trees and weeds growing out of them, and the only track that really runs parallel for the same distance isn't really long enough to run the whole animation length.

So yeah, need a new plan.

From the looks of it, my best option is to do a photo montage like in the research videos I looked at, and the test I did of the method.

I shall still be drawing each image afresh on a train, that much remains, but I will be animating them myself after. So it's still got the same backdrop and meaning behind it, the setting is still perfect for my intent, but the idea of an actual object moving and doing the animating for me is something I will save for another time, when it is actually achievable.

I won't lie, I'm a little gutted. I don't like dropping any idea I have unless it's for something better, which I don't feel this is, but what can you do, it's out of my hands. And I'll just have to put even more effort into making what I CAN still do, that extra bit special.

Method Test - Speed Writing

As I'm using text in my video to help set the scene, I wanted to think about how best to use it.

The RSA videos I researched before sprang to mind, with a "speed writing" approach, that showed the text being written, but sped up to work better for an actual viewer.

It would be easy to do this on the side of a train as I draw my images, but I first wanted to find out whether or not it would suit the tone I was going for, so I did a quick test...

Excuse the bad quality and dodgy handwriting, I had to write at a stupid angle due to the camera tripod! But it shows the process used on the intended words, and that's all I needed.

Because I don't think it works.

I don't feel it really suits the tone of my project, the seriousness of the issue. It works for RSA as that's more lighthearted, not to be taken as serious, but in the context of my project, saying the words I will be using, I don't think it would be appropriate.

Still, was worth finding out.

Developing The Intro - Permission for Footage Use GRANTED!!!

Holy crap I got a reply! And a great one at that which bares good news!

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

Reply  ▼
 PEDRO ULTRERAS
 Add to contacts
To andybuckdawg@hotmail.com
Dear Buckland,

I thank you for considering The Beast as part of you school project. I have no objection to your petition. As a sole author and right's owner of the documentary La Bestia / The Beast, I authorize you to use NO more than 3 consecutive minutes of video of my film for your project and you can edit and use this video from any where in the film as longs as you don't use if for commercial purpose.

If you need more than three minutes, I will allow you to use two more minutes as long as they are not link the the previews three minutes, they would have to be two different clips 1 of 3 minutes and the other one of 2 minutes.

Please let me know if this ok with you. I wish you luck with your school project and than you again for your interest in my film,

Best,

Pedro Ultreras
Film Director / Photographer
Reporter / Producer
ultrerasp@me.com
www.abcnuncamas.com
602-909-7702

-----------

I'm absolutely stoked!!!

This is fantastic news, and instantly adds that added layer of legitimacy to my project, being able to officially use footage that has been created and broadcast at a professional standard.

It adds credibility to my work, and certainly inspires me to step up my game too!

Plus, if he likes it, it will no doubt serve as great exposure for my video when complete, as he is a well renowned and respected film maker, with many fans and contacts in and of the business.

Wonderful news, I'm actually beaming from ear to ear typing this!

Developing the Intro - Animatic

Finished the mock introduction, I'm including it here for your viewing displeasure! 

It is basically a very rough looking order of how things are going to run before the main animation actually plays.

It is made up from video footage (which will change in the final video, but the tone/theme will be the same), typography that sets the scene and informs the viewer about the issue at hand (will remain largely the same as in this test intro), and animated storyboard shots of what I will be filming when on location drawing the images themselves (very rough looking, but framed similar to the intended shots).

Sorry for the rough look of the intro, it is really just to flesh out the ideas, visualize the pre-animation footage, and most importantly, provide my musical composer something to work around too.

EDIT - I've since met up with my peer group and showed them the intro, it was largely agreed upon that it said what needed to be said and set the scene well enough for the animation to follow, so mission successful.

One thing that wasn't liked by one person was the text describing my actual idea. They said it doesn't really need to be said, and that the video itself should show it, ie: in process, the making of. I can definitely see what they mean, and will think about revising or even removing the text, maybe including some other shots that help say what the text did, as with it being a visual piece, I agree that it would be better to SHOW the process with images rather than DESCRIBE it in words. Useful feedback that I will take on board.

Developing the Intro - The Text

The text in the intro should play a key part in setting the scene, describing the issue in a little more detail. It should be informative, but not overly long. Too much text and I run the risk of boring my viewer with facts and figures, but just enough that cuts to the point and accompanies selected video footage, could work a treat.

It's important that I take the time to really plan this carefully.

So I went back over all my research into the issue, and all the factual resources available to me, and started to put pen to paper, or finger tip to keyboard anyway. I aimed for about 5-6 lines about the issue that let the viewer in on the subject matter, feeding them just enough to keep them hooked, and ideally leading into potential clips that help support the facts and capitalize on the attention given by the viewer.

Here is what I have so far...

"Every day, a freight train runs from Southern Mexico to North America. It is nicknamed "The Train of Death" by all who dare ride it.

Each day, hundreds of poverty stricken Central Americans risk life and limb to climb aboard the train as they seek a better life for themselves and their families in the United States.

For many, the journey runs over thousand's of miles, over the space of many days, and for all, it is long, gruelling, perilous, and full of danger.

For the train runs through gang controlled territory, where armed gang members frequently board and hold the exposed and completely helpless passengers hostage.

Kidnapping. Robbery. Assault. Rape. Mutilation. And even murder are all too common occurences.

Over 60% of the migrants who left their homes for the hope of a better future, never reach their destination."

It's a start. A little rough around the edges, and clearly open to editing as I use it, but right now it just gets down everything that needs to be said I think in relation to setting the scene.

Will probably need to be cut down some, as I do have a tendency to ramble a bit, as I'm sure you'll agree having read this far into my blog... :P

Developing the Intro - Using Footage

I think the use of pre-recorded video footage could be very, very effective if used as part of the introduction.

It will instantly speak volumes to potential viewers about the issue at hand, showing them  in a few instants what would take many more seconds to read about. It also makes the issue REAL, a key component I feel in asking them to care about it. All too many bad things happen that aren't acted upon due to how easy it is for people to turn a blind eye to them, whereas showing actual footage of the issue in question can prevent that. Not in the sense that you want to ram something down a viewers throat, but useful in the sense that it allows them to relate and understand right off the bat.

The only problem with using video footage is getting permission to. Sure, I could just go ahead and use something regardless, hope for the best, or even hide behind the "university/education" curtain, but this is my final project, I don't want to cut corners, I want to do things as I would do them in real life after, professionally.

For that reason, I intend to contact the makers of the very videos that have inspired and informed me throughout this project. Whether it will be a new channel, independant film-maker, or freelance reporter, I'll contact them and ask permission to use their clips in my project.

I might as well aim for the top and see if I can contact the very film-maker behind the initial documentary that brought the issue to my attention, Mr. Pedro Ultreras. I got his email address from his website, and have written this respectful and polite email to kindly ask!

---

Permission for my University Project‏

Dear Mr. Ultreras Sir,

I am a student in England, in the last project of my final year.

For my project, I am creating an animation based on the issues and awareness regarding the "Train of Death", something your incredible documentary "The Beast" brought to my attention. 

I was sincerely moved and touched by your incredible work, so much so that I wish to create my own piece now, an animation with illustrations bringing light to the issue, based on the events that transpire to this day surrounding it.

I was therefore wondering, if I might have your permission to use very short clips from your documentary, in order to set the scene, and inform my audience about the issue, before my main animation started? The clips would be no more than a few seconds long, and I would be making no profit at all from them. They would just be for my university project, and would help me inform my audience before my main animation played.

I will give you full credit for them, and feature links to you and your work in the titles. And I will also gladly show you my final video before I submit it so you can check it is ok. 

Unfortunately, I am only a student, so i could not pay you for your permission either, but if you would allow me the honor of using a few short clips, I would really appreciate it sir, and will do my best to help bring awareness to this issue with my own hard work and creativity.

Please could you inform me either way, whatever you decide, as I am working on my animation right now. Your work is inspiring and brilliant, and if my work can be half as good as yours, then I would be happy!

Thank you for reading Sir, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Warmest regards,

Andy Buckland

---

He can only say no right? What have I got to lose? After all, it's my final project, I may as well aim for the stars!

Planning the Introduction

The animation is just one part of the video itself. As this project has developed, it has become clear to me that an introduction to my animation is essential, and perhaps just as important as the animation itself. It will allow me to set the scene and make my viewer aware of the subject at hand, becoming a key component in making them care about it too. 

Whatever story I tell in my animation, without a context it will be meaningless, so I shall now start spending some quality time on planning and building an intro that will form the start to my project as a whole.

In terms of planning an intro, I have a rough idea in my head what it will contain. Ideally, it should have the following.

• Facts or Figures about the issue, in order to inform viewers of the real world implications
• Video footage or photographs relating to the the issue, which help the viewer see with their own eyes how it is
• Shots of the animation coming into form, showing the actual idea and process behind it

For the footage, I know it's a long shot, but I was thinking of asking the director of the actual documentary that inspired me if I could use a small selection of clips. Why a world renowned director would let me leech from his hard work is another story though! But it surely can't hurt to ask...

For the facts and figures, I've done enough research and have acquired enough knowledge regarding the issue to try and write something myself. It should capture the essence of the issue, but not be too detailed to the point of losing my viewer before the issue even grabs them.

And in terms of the shots showing the idea behind the animation coming into fruition, I took my cues from the location scouting photographs I took and the time I spent walking around my intended site. From the images I gathered, I planned a few shots, which I have taken the time to visualize in storyboard form below.

I'd like a wide reaching, long shot of the whole train itself, or at least as far as it can be seen. This will help set the scene and reflect the scale of what I wish to achieve. when this is actually filmed, I'm thinking of maybe fading it with different times, ie: I'm seen at the start drawing at the head of the train, which crossfades into me halfway down it, and again with me at the end. 

A shot like the one above would help show the drawings in a frame-by-frame, side-by-side comparison  showing how each individual image is part of a much bigger picture, and help the viewer get the idea of each one set in motion to create a moving image.

The following shots are just general images of the artist at work, serving as establishment for the process and idea more than anything.

 

I'd like to end the video with a shot of the artist (me, obviously...) walking away down one of the battered train tracks, allowing some final credits to appear at the bottom. It would serve as a relevant and fitting closure to both the theme and idea.

 

I also had an idea of a pan along the train track, which turns right to reveal a dead end bumper. I was thinking of possibly rotoscoping a train and person running alongside it, which would fit within the panning shot itself, and fade out as the dead end bumper was revealed  My idea is to help reflect the helpless, lost cause that in reality, many of the migrants embark on, their journey of hope getting them literally nowhere.

These are just a few ideas for now, and more will likely be added as and when I realise them.

Next step I think is to get in contact with Mr. Pedro Ultreras himself (yikes!) and request permission to use clips from his documentary. Maybe also a few more people or newsgroups that have been behind some of the other videos about the topic. Can't hurt to have a few options.

Also, I need to flesh out the script and try and put on paper what facts, figures and general text I should have introducing my video, the issue, and my idea.

When all of this is done, I shall put it all in rough animatic form, as seeing it up and running will certainly be beneficial to improving it, and also would help the musician i'm working with shape his music around in terms of theme and more accurate timing.

Test Animation - Finished Piece

So putting everything together, this is the test animation for now, obviously still open for edits and additions.

It's very rough around the edges and quite basic in it's visuals, but it's by no means something I'm submitting as a final polished product. Like I stated before it's simply a means to an end, something I need to see in action so I can launch the rest of the video project off of. I could go back in and tidy a few things up but really there wouldn't be a huge point, it serves its purpose, rough as it may be!

In terms of content I think it should perhaps end a little stronger, and it might differ in length depending on the space available to draw the frames, but for now at least it's SOMETHING, with which the rest of the video can be built on.

It also features a track from the musician I'm working with to create an original composition of music for the final piece, Alexander Stanton, used here in order to help reflect the tone I'm aiming for.