AG1064A: Professional Practice – Project Proposal (draft 1)
Project Title: An Investigation of the impact on mood in short films by visual design.
Proposer: Iain J McCallum
Student Number: 0904111
Programme: BA Computer Arts (Hons)
Specialism(s): Animation, post-production
Project Description
1 Abstract (Approx 250 words)
This project will focus on the impact visual design has on the mood portrayed by short films.
context: stylised design has been a part of motion pictures since the beginning of the industry. artists involved. I takes many forms - movment / colour scheme / character design / set design / ...
the aim of this project is to identify what impact visual design has on mood and produce (an) example(s) to showcase the findings.
Explore these ... through historical review and analysis of recent shorts.
The outcome will be a series of tests as examples of the different effects.
One of these tests will be developed further into a mini-short, if time permits several may be brought forward to this stage.
2 Project Aim and Objectives
The aim of this research is to investigate how the visual design and style of short films can impact on spectator interpretation of mood
The objective are as follows:
Review and evaluate existing literature on visual style and design in short films.
Critically analyse existing short films with a strong visual style.
Conduct practice based research and critically discuss the results.
Develop and critically evaluate a series of mini-shorts from the tests.
3 Rationale
(Find literature on visual style)
research context
key references
why the project aim and objectives are interesting
(NOTE: The rationale should cover your research context, some discussion of key references, and lead into an explanation of why your project aim and objectives are interesting. Aim for about 500 words, and cite references appropriately. This can include the same text as used in the literature review for AG1087A)
4 Project Methodology
Practice based methodology
exploring examples of visual design in conjunction with mood
production of short tests which, where appropriate, will be developed into several mini-shorts displaying a range of stylistic approaches.
A research diary shall be written throughout the project documenting the proposer's findings and reflections.
focus on the history and existing literature on the visual design and stye choices of short films.
The research diary shall underpin the analysis of the subject undertaken as part of objective 2.
An online sketchbook shall be kept within the project blog in order to explore and analyse the visual styles identified in the Research diary.
The sketchbook shall include detailed breakdowns of the style choices and analysis of the impact they have on the interpreted mood of scenes.
Practice-based media tests shall be conducted to further explore a selected few stylistic directions found to have considerable impact on mood. These tests shall use assets generated by the proposer in response to the breakdown of analysed visual styles. A series of small tests shall be produced and analysed with reflections also being provided.
One or more of these tests shall be taken forward to be extended into mini-shorts as part of the final work. The pieces chosen will display contrasting choices in visual design.
Documentation of all practice-based research shall be provided with analysis and reflections in order to achieve transparency of process.
5 Outcomes and Deliverables
The following deliverables shall be provided as evidence of having achieved the four objectives:
1.1 Research Diary
Online diary documenting research activities undertaken for Objective 1.0 (Part of the Honours blog)
1.2 visualisation
Collection of stills with annotations picking out relevant information posted with the
research diary on the Honours blog.
2.1 Sketch book
Digital sketch book containing links to footage discussed and relevant documentation for Objective 2.0.
3.1 Media tests
Physical sketch book of Illustrations and storyboards.
Online links to the results of media tests (Part of the Honours blog)
Online documentation of activities for Objective 3.0 (part of the Honours blog)
4.1 Practical
Final story boards
Final animatics link (Part of Honours blog)
Final edited render of the mini-shorts
Documentation evaluating the mini-shorts
The project artefact shall be the end film, produced as part of method 4.1 Practical. However, the outcomes of all practice-based research activity shall be submitted as evidence for AG1084A Honours Project.
Much of the work produced as a result of the five methods shall be incorporated into the end of year exposition. The exposition will showcase the entirety of the research process, clearly communicating how the end artefact was achieved.
6 Expertise and Experience of Project Proposer
The project proposed has approximately 2 years experience working with Autodesk Maya and 6 years working with Adobe Creative Suite. In particular, the proposed has a thorough understanding of production processes and the principles of animation. Previously, the proposer completed short films as part of university coursework, and has some experience producing scenes for external projects.
However, it has been identified that the proposed will require more in-depth knowledge of VFX in Houdini and compositing in Autodesk Flame. As such, as part of the project, the proposer shall aim to develop his skills in these areas. This work shall be carried out predominantly in semester 1, in preparation for the honours project module in semester 2.
Additionally, it has been identified that the proposer currently has a limited knowledge and understanding of short films. As such, it is crucial that the proposer engages with the literature in history, development, and making of short films early in semester 1. This will feed into the literature review and dissertation as well as underpin good production practice.
7 Timetable
The following timetable shall be followed from approximately late-October 2011 until May 2012, and shall result in the creation of the project artefact and dissertation.
See 'Project Proposal Time Table' PDF
8 Ethics and Risk Assessment
There will be no participants in this study besides the project proposer. The proposed shall work primarily in the studio, and will not encounter any substantial risks to health or safety in the execution of the project.
There is the potential that failure to complete all specified art assets as part of method 3 in time could impact on the completion of the short. As such, a backup plan will be to make use of existing assets and resources in order to complete production.
failure to complete tests in time - move onto the final piece using only the research as reference.
failure to discern enough information on the interpretation of mood ion the tests - submit to professional forums of which membership has already been acquired
failure to acquire a minimum level of proficiency in the required software - compromise with the current level of expertise in other programs and varying visual design to match current skills.
9 Resources
The following resources will be required in order to accomplish the proposed project:
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Smoke
Houdini
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Adobie Premier
Final Cut
Toon Boom
Acces to maya pc's for rendering
10 References