Building a scene in Maya

Third Term Paper

My first two term papers scores were 85 and 85; I will not be writing a third term paper.

Outline of the Third Term Paper

·        Intro

·         Special effects are used in most films these days, from big explosions down to editing out mistakes made by the film crew.

·         CGI is most cost efficient.

·          Still have instances where film makers have to use good old fashioned trickery to make viewers believe they are seeing something that they really aren't.

·         Two examples of scaling characters in film to convey a large gap in size when there truly isn't one.

·         Lord of the Rings - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdna43L1fZ8

·         In Lord of the Rings, the story follows three Hobbits on their way on a great adventure.

·         The three hobbits are only supposed to be three feet tall, but are played by normal sized adult actors.

·         These actors played next to other actors portraying normal size or larger characters.

·         Unable to "shrink" in CG and make it look believable.

·         Had to "trick" the viewer into believing these characters were three feet tall.

·         First, had children or actors with dwarfism portray the hobbits from behind or in action scenes where faces were not shown.

·         The most ingenious part is the trick used with perspective.

§  Example of Frodo and Gandalf riding in a carriage together.

§  Filmmakers actually made two seperate seats, about four feet apart from each other, with Gandalf in the one closest to camera and Frodo in the one about four feet behind.

§  Both actors acted as if they were sitting next to each other and scene was filmed head on with the split between seats hidden so it appears as if they are sitting next to each other.

·         Example where effects are seamlessly done, without CGI.

·         The whole point is to make it look "real".

·         Called "forced perspective"

·         Casablanca (1942) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEWaqUVac3M

·         Used the same technique

·         Filmed in studio with a smaller scale plane and actors with dwarfism next to it to make it appear further away than it really was.

·         Done in the background to create perspective.

·         The storm was created in studio so they would not have to recreate the storm outside at an actual airport.

·         Didn't have the option for CGI animation during that time, so they had to be creative.

·         Effect was seamless and viewers didn't even notice.

·         Conclusion

·         Directors have many tools at their disposal to help tell a story.

·         Must be creative in order to tell a story seamlessly.

·         CGI is not always the answer as it can look "made."

·         Sometimes the best techniques are techniques borrowed from a time when they didn't have the computer generated option.

·         When it comes to films looking authentic, sometimes the best answer is the simplest!

Stop-Motion Character Animation

To create my stop-motion animation I began by drawing out my character in a walk cycle. I drew him in every key frame, then proceeded to cut each individual key out. I then built my scene with some random blankets and baby toys to help give my character a more believable environment. I then took a clear sheet of glass and set it between my environment and the camera. On the glass I charted out my character's basic walk. So all I had to do from there was place my character one foot in front of the other in the correct sequence as I taped them to the glass and took my snap shops.