Group Work - Initial Thoughts

We've had a chance to talk as a group. We discussed the first (basic) script, also throwing ideas around and contemplating potential roles for everyone.

Lukas' idea is about a middle aged man living his life through excessive routine, obsessed with this routine and performing the same menial tasks at the same time everyday. His home is normal, except for the large amounts of clocks (a variety of clocks!), timetables and calendars. The animation will show this montage of mediocrity, gradually growing faster and faster until it shows an analogue clock at 12 O'clock, moving back it reveals the man is in a train station, in his best suit. The man says "perfect timing" and lays down on the track. The camera then shows the empty train station, focusing on the electronic timetable as the announcement mentions the delays, the timetable changes to "delayed" - the man sighs and the animation ends.

This is a brief version of the script, with a little bit of my own interpretation thrown in there, so it will be interesting to see how the script develops - as we all have our own vision of things to come. I feel that importantly, the pace, momentum and build up is important in our piece. It needs to build up to the moment he's at the train station, where the slow of pace will be very effective. We have also been talking about a suitable style and colour use, it seems that subdued, unsaturated colour is favoured in the group (maybe even black and white) - the inside of his home needs to contrast with the outside! I really like the idea of extreme close up shots of the "mundane" things - cup of tea - toast - arm rest of sofa etc.

I volunteered for sound production, partially because I have some experience in recording sound and also there's a chance to have some fun with the sound effects, they will be important in the build up of the daily activities. The montage part will take a good 3/4 of the animation, and as it needs to build momentum the sound will play a heavy part in the flow of things. The ticking of the clocks will be the most important here. There are two parts of dialogue that need careful consideration - the "perfect timing" of the man, and the train announcements. I will need to find out what effect I will need to use to make it sound like it's coming from an echoey speaker. I have someone in mind for the voice of the announcement, she speaks closely to the "queen's English" and I can imagine it working well. Maybe I need to book an induction to the sound studio?

Also offered myself to do the animatic, with a bit of Flash and After Effects. It seems that a general animatic will be made which I will then add the key movements in afterwards.

But currently we're all doing research which is SUPER important! Also everyone is doing some character design to see what we all come out with. INSPIRATION TO LOOK AT: Belleville rendezvous (sp?), Mary & Max, Stranger than Fiction...

Okay I'm waffling on now. RESEARCH!