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.