Assignments

Create all assignments in the size 720×540px (NTSC D1 Square Pixel). Save all your compositions in high quality. Develop storyboards for all of your projects. Create a single template for developing storyboards, and use this system for each of your exercises. Use H.264 (highest quality) codec for exporting full resolution projects and a sampling rate of 48Khz 16Bit Stereo for exports that include audio.

Create a 130×90px thumbnail for yourself. Save the icon in your sub-folder in the class “projects” directory as a jpg file: me.jpg. Check that it appears on the front page of the class website.

Assignment 1: Kinetic Painting (Final due W Jan 15)

(parts 1 – 3 due M Apr 6)

Part 1: Choose a painting that suggests motion. The following list of artists may help you with your selection.

Part 2: Using illustrator and/or photoshop create a storyboard (8 frames minimum) that illustrates how you would like to set this painting in motion. Create each frame on a separate Illustrator/Photoshop file 720×540px size before embedding into your storyboard. Create your storyboard on a tabloid sized document. Make sure to include a single image of your chosen painting too! (150dpi).

Think about the content, context and history that revolves around the artwork. What was the painter trying to express? What kind of e-motions do you feel and see in the painting? How can you use motion to express them?
Analyze the creation of the work, and try to understand how it was constructed from a blank canvas? Pay close attention to the composition, colors, shapes and forms that the painting contains. What techniques did the artist utilize and how did he/she create their marks? Think about using scale, size, position, and orientation to create different kinds of movement?

Part 3: List 5 key words on your storyboard that best describe the moving elements of your proposed kinetic painting. For example, is your animation going to be erratic, smooth, hostile, happy, industrial, elegant, fuzzy, etc.?

Storyboard in PDF format (full resolution – tabloid size).
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 1.pdf ), and make sure that the pdf links correctly on the class website..

(part 4 due W Apr 15)

Part 4: Using your storyboard as guidance, create a 15 - 30 second animation inspired by your selected painting. Think about how you can incorporate many visual elements that work independently but also together in creating one seamless kinetic painting. Motion should NOT be considered as an add on to the visuals, it is intimately connected to the color, forms, content and expression of your kinetic painting.

720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution), 720×540px thumbnail image
Place the files in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 1.mov and 1.jpg), and make sure that they are displayed correctly on the class website.

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Assignment 2: Infinite Self-Portrait (Final Due W Apr 29)

(You may work individually or in pairs for this Assignment)
(parts 1 - 2 Due W Apr 22)

Part 1: Inspired by stop-frame animation techniques, create your own self-portrait experiment using stop-frame animation. How can you utilize stop-frame animation to make your own technique, style and effects? Think about the various ways that you can create stop-frame animations? You can use any equipment, technology and software available to you.

720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution)
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 2a.mov), and make sure that the file is linked correctly on the class website.

Part 2: Using pen and paper, loosely sketch 3 ideas on separate letter sized sheets, that illustrates your concepts for a infinitely LOOPING self-portrait.
Think about how you can express your emotions, thoughts and feelings. Perhaps something that is hidden beneath the skin – for examples, it could be an event in your past, an inspiration, an ideal, a dream or nightmare, a favorite place, object, person, color or shape. The list of possibilities is endless, but ultimately the end result should be a reflection of you.

Deliverables: 3 ideas on separate letter sized sheets.

(part 3 Due W Apr 29)

Part 3: With your ideas and everyones experiments shown in class for inspiration, create a 5 – 20 second Self-Portrait animation loop using stop-frame techniques. (If you are working in pairs two self-portraits must be created). Use Quicktime Pro to infinitely loop your finished project before uploading onto the class website.

Pay particular attention to the concept of the loop. The loop should not only begin and end with the same frame, but actually contain the logic of the loop and not simply repeat!! Sound and music can be included.

720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution), 720×540px thumbnail image
Place the files in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 2b.mov and 2b.jpg), and make sure that they are displayed correctly on the class website.

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Assignment 3: Opposites Attract (Final W May 13)

(You may work individually, in pairs or in groups of 3 for this assignment)
(part 1 – 3 Due M May 4)

Part 1: Choose a concept based on the theme of opposites.

Part 2 : Using illustrator and/or photoshop create a storyboard (10 frames minimum) for a montage sequence that reveals the dynamic between these two opposing themes. Create each frame on a separate Illustrator/Photoshop file 720×540px size before embedding into your storyboard. Create your storyboard on tabloid sized document(s) (150dpi).

Think about the abstract narrative, and how to create meaning through these opposite but interlocking themes.

Part 3: Title the storyboard with your chosen theme and write a short sentence on your storyboard that illustrates the main concept(s) of your proposed montage. This should be short and snappy, something to catch the readers imagination in only a few words!!

Deliverables: Storyboard in PDF format (full resolution – tabloid size).
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 3.pdf ), and make sure that the pdf links correctly on the class website).

(part 4 Due W May 13)

Part 4: Using found and shot footage create a 30 second (minimum) montage video on your chosen theme. Sound and/or music should be included. You may use any combination of techniques for your montage.

720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution), 720×540px thumbnail image
Place the files in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 3.mov and 3.jpg), and make sure that they are displayed correctly on the class website.

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Group Project: Music Video Marathon (Final Due W Jun 3)

(part 1 – 3 Due M May 18)

Part 1: Listen to the segment of music given to you in class and select 6 images that are inspired from it.
Be receptive to the emotional and visual thoughts that the music inspires. Select and/or create images that reflect those feelings and imagery.

Deliverables: Six full size color images on separate letter sized sheets.

Part 2: Using illustrator and/or photoshop create a storyboard (8 frames minimum) inspired by your chosen images and music. Create each frame on a separate Illustrator/Photoshop file 720x540 pixel size before embedding into your storyboard. Create your storyboard on a tabloid sized document (150dpi).

Part 3: List 5 key words on your storyboard that best describe the kinetic elements of your proposed music video.

Deliverables: Storyboard in PDF format (full resolution – tabloid size).
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 4.pdf ), and make sure that the pdf links correctly on the class website).

(part 4 Due W May 20)

Part 4: Produce a animatic of the entire music video by sequencing and augmenting static images (16 images minimum) in time with the music. Include your music segment on the quicktime export.

720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution)
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 4a.mov), and make sure that the file is linked correctly on the class website.

(part 5 Due W May 27 )

Part 5: Implementation of your idea, produce a rough edit of the entire sequence to be presented in class.

Deliverables: 720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution)
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “drop” directory (naming convention: 4b_v1.mov), this file WILL NOT be linked on the class website.

(part 6 Due M Jun 1)

Part 6: Further develop your rough edit to produce a secondary edit of the entire sequence to be presented in class.

Deliverables: 720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution)
Place the file in your personal directory in the class “drop” directory (naming convention: 4b_v2.mov), this file WILL NOT be linked on the class website.

(part 7 Due W Jun 3)

Part 7: Complete your music video segment and upload to the class website by 9am on WEDNESDAY JUNE 3rd for the final screening.

720×540 Quicktime movie (full resolution), 720×540px thumbnail image
Place the files in your personal directory in the class “projects” directory (naming convention: 4c.mov and 4c.jpg), and make sure that they are displayed correctly on the class website.

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DVD of all 4 assignments (Due M Jun 8) Copy all storyboards and final deliverables, 1 – 4c.mov (full resolution, 720×540px) onto a DVD. Clearly label the DVD with MOTION SPRING 09 and your FULL NAME using a sharpie. Place this DVD in my mailbox on the 2nd floor office by 2pm on MONDAY JUNE 8TH for final grading. Check that the files will transfer and play correctly before you hand it in.

PLEASE NOTE: Students who fail to deliver their DVD and who's work cannot be seen from the class website will be graded as incomplete. Thank you.