More Ghost Fish

Some Ghost Fish development. I wanted to do more variations before posting but haven't had the time. Comments? The biggest choice is probably that between the delicate fish (like the bottom one) and a proper big fish (second-to-last). I personally feel the delicate one is much prettier and more easily skeletal – but the ghost fish we have will be probably two feet long, so is that's just gonna look silly...?

Masked One Maquette

How about that?

Cg integration

Very interesting video about CG character integration

Gloam

composite-cg-character-into-video-footage

Masked One new concept sketches

Stuff to consider:

- Thick or thin tentacles
- Body shape; keeping in mind how the mask moves. Should only the mask slide around his anatomy or should the bump-neck-thing slide around with it? Like there's something underneath his skin that's making the bump and moving
- I prefer him with legs, makes him look less like a stranded squid. Other views?
- Wooden mask - painted or not? How decorated?

Ms Goo

So, with Ms Goo we're aiming for a slimy character who will leave little pieces/puddles of herself as she slides across the floor. She'll be able to maintain her form with will power, but as she relaxes she begins to spill out a little, sinking towards the floor, like if you dropped a dollop of honey on the counter. But she can pull herself together to her former vague shape by pulling herself up inwardly.

Here's some initial concept sketches for Ms Goo:

This video, sort of conveys the consistency that we are trying to achieve with the character. It's a 'How To' video for slime, so you can skip the 'making of' section to about 4:29 which will show the children playing with the slime.

We've tried taking some reference videos, and though we don't want exactly this, we decided that there was some nice detail in how the material stuck to the kitchen surface as it was pulled along. Some of these little segments would then come to life and follow Ms Goo.

Bus Seating Plans

Storyboard WIP

(Open in new tab for full size)

Corwin Model Sheet

And a repost of the final concept piece so it's easier to find.

References CCTV

I took this video this weekend, I should try to do a closer one soon.

Asset Manager

Asset Manager manual

So here it is finally , asset manager V1.0, Project name - Aurora. 

So the buttons : 

Listing - list the folders in the server 

ChangeCWD - changes the working directory of maya in your computer

Close Connection - closes the Asset manager and closes the connection with the server

Get CWD - return the current working directory of maya. It prints the directory in your script editor.

Upload - upload a specific file to the server

Jump to folder - you can jump to folders on the server , just select a folder form the drop down menu

How to install the script :

Windows : 

Place the Class_asset.py file in the scrips maya folder. Example : C:\Users\A660-1DW\Documents\maya\2012-x64\scripts . After that in maya open the Aurora.py script in the script editor and run the script. 

Linux/Macs :

I will double check tomorrow , but I think it is the same as Windows . 

How to download files : 

So to download files you simply select the folder in the server using the jump to folder drop down menu. And then in the square box select the item you want to download. THE FILE WILL BE DOWNLOADED TO THE CURRENT WORKING DIRECTORY. To check what is your current working directory press 'Get CWD' button. The result will be printed in the script editor. To change current working directory press 'Change CWD' button, you simple go to the folder you want use and press 'Save'. 

How to upload files :

Now this is not very user friendly but I will be improving this , this is 1# on my list. So to upload file, first you change your current working directory using the 'Chagne CWD' button to where is your file. After that you select folder in which you want to upload the file. Then you press the 'Upload' button and type in the files name , including and endings. Example 'Test.mb' will be have to by typed fully including the .mb .

Additional Notes :

When browsing the folders in the server , you no longer have to press 'Listing' button. It is done automatically. When you run the script nothing is listed in the box, after you select the folder with the 'jump to folder ' drop down menu , then the items appear.

When uploading/downloading you can see a very primitive progress bar in the script editor, a better progress bar coming up in V1.1

If you have any problems please contact me. the TD guy. 

Sad Giant Posed Maquette

The form may look a bit unrealistically simple, but since his colour is so dark, what we'll be seeing in the final film will be basically a silhouette with eyes, it's going to look fine.

Sad Giant Final Concept & Model Sheet

Bus Layout

Andrew said that he does not know of the exact bus yet but it should be a similar layout to the pictures he provided. He mentioned that it would not be a "green" bus, so I think the seats would be the blue/orange combination. 

FILMING SCHEDULE

Friday 25th October
Collect equipment after 10am
Shooting practice

Sunday 29th October
I'll drive up to Manchester with the costume, lights etc.

Monday 28th October
Caroline, Milena, Tomas
   Bournemouth Coach Station to London Victoria Coach Station
   07:15 - 10:20

Siobhan will meet you in London after 11:00.

Waiting for the permit but it should be as follows:
You will be able to shoot on the Underground between the hours of 10:00-15:30.
I'll post more information when it has been confirmed but you will need to report to the Station Supervisor, I specified Tottenham Court Road station.

Caroline, Milena, Siobhan, Tomas
London Victoria Coach Station to Manchester Coach Station
17:30 - 22:12

Where I will pick you up and stay over at mine.

Tuesday 29th October
Caroline, Janine, Milena, Siobhan, Tomas
Bus shoot at Stagecoach Hyde Road
09:30-14:30
I'll drive us there, set up cameras.
3 actors arriving at 10:00 then these will leave with another set of 3 actors arriving.

I'll then drop you off at the train station, 5 minute drive.

Caroline, Milena, Siobhan, Tomas
Manchester Piccadilly Train Station to London Euston 
14:55 - 17:04

You will then shoot on the streets of London at sunset.
When it's dark, we film on the locations on the route me and Milena drew on the map.

Caroline is staying in London
Siobhan has a train ticket so is making her way back with that. (The closest in time to the coach is 23:05-01:52 from Waterloo but this requires a change in Southampton Central... so maybe the 22:35-00:21 from Waterloo which require no changes.)

Milena, Tomas
London Victoria Coach Station to Bournemouth Coach Station
23:30 - 01:40

Wednesday 30th October
Return equipment before 4/5pm


I'll be returning on November the 3rd at the latest and return the rest of the equipment by Monday.

Lighting inspiration

Hello everybody ,

Remembered a cool scene from the movie Drive, I like the lighting in this one , we could try replicate some stuff from there , any thoughts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eThA9iDvxLQ

Nigh bus reference/inspiration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_5Mc1py4dE

Thought this might be useful to watch. Although it isn't CCTV base there are some useful sections showing the lighting passing by the windows. Also Milena it may be useful to you by observing the kind of people on the buses at night, steal a few ideas.

I've not watched the whole thing yet so I'll note any interesting bits when I do.

Horny Design

Poor Horny trying to look regal and dangerous before he ends up stumbling around gracelessly.

The construction of the headpiece has started, we've got a basic wire setup done that just requires some filling of the holes with a mask and some cardboard before it can be sprayed with sculpting foam.

Link to Siobhan's easy robe tutorial here. The cloak will be a full circle cape with the blue fabric added to the edges, with the collar piece attached to the top and the leather shoulder piece (made from 3 separate pieces) laid over it.

Horny Costume Designs

Underneath there's gonna be a simple black monk's robe held by a belt/robe, long black gloves and a modified hood/balaclava that comes down from the headpiece. The big question is what's on top of that.

Quick sketches:

 1. Simple cape with indigo highlight on the rims, high collar from black leather
 2. This sort of diagonal cape with a large hood (special one to go with the antlers but it's not like he'll actually have it up) and long, draping sleeves
3. Royal cape with a leather chest/collar piece and an indigo interior
Or combinations of the above.

The design's obviously gonna bring something to the character. The 3rd aristocratic one is this a bit of a posh creepy fella, while the 1st and 2nd go more to the direction of something monk-like. So what's his story? Is the reason he's unfamiliar and uncomfortable in buses because he's a hermit, not from the city, rich? Any favourites?

Dynamic Jello Tutorial

Could this tutorial be used for Ms Goo?

We'd still have to fiddle with the numbers a little. For one thing, we might want to turn the resolution down. But as well, taking size into account, how stiff we'd want it to be and stuff... I'm assuming Ms. Goo wouldn't be quite as rigid as jello? As in, she wouldn't quite hold her shape in the same way....

Also, as of yet, I haven't a clue how to go about rigging this. To make her an actual character.....not just a piece of jello that falls on the floor and wibbles a little bit. Still looking into it.

CCTV Effect Overview and Resources

Cut from clip to clip effect: http://youtu.be/CKZIuRmvNOo?t=9s

Artificial de-rezzing tutorial: (our effect wouldn't be as strong as this one but it's a good tutorial on how to actually make it)
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P-n6su2_vws" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

CCTV footage tutorial:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pYEzGI_g8rc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

There's a lot about the CCTV effect we'll want to adjust and decide already in preprod, such as frame rate (CCTV cameras have that signature blocky movement; but I don't think it's as strong on buses and it also wouldn't look very nice if it was), whether we have faint lines overlaid on top of the picture all the time or just when the footage goes wibbly, how often the footage goes wibbly (only when cutting or some general wibbliness here and there), graininess, and colour correcting.

The timestamp:
In London buses it seems to be on the bottom, with no black background:

Finalisation of Roles & Shoot Schedule

Production Roles
Milena: Director, Concept Artist, Modeler
Janine: Lead Modeler, Texture Artist
Caroline: Compositor, Animator (posing)
Siobhan: Lead Animator, Rigger ((goo simulation))
Tomas: Technical Director (lighting, pipeline, rendering) ((goo simulation))

Shoot Roles
Milena: Director, Extra
Janine: Extras Coordinator / Costume Supervisor, Extra
Caroline: Script Supervisor, Extra
Siobhan: Actor for Horny
Tomas: Camera Operator, Extra

--

Update on shoot details:
On Monday the 28th, Janine and Siobhan will take the car & Horny's costume to Manchester. The Underground team will take the train to Manchester, stopping at London to shoot the underground footage (probably on the Northern Line between Waterloo & Euston, stopping at Tottenham Court for the platform shoot).
We sleep at Janine's place.
Next morning we shoot at the bus depot from 9/10 till 2:30, take the train to London, wait till sundown to set out on the night shoot (at this point I'd say it's a two-stop tour, centered around Portland Street & Borough and maybe grabbing something near Waterloo since we'll be there anyways) and return to Bournemouth.

Platform choices

For the application form for the Underground we have to state which stations and lines we will be filming on.

I've do a quick search on the platforms and saved a few of my favourite so if you could have a look and say which you prefer, or if you know of any better suited stations.

Milena still needs to write the script but the scenes in which we actually require to film on the platform will be of people entering/leaving the tube and at least one of the creatures lurking.

 Baker Street

 Mornington Cresent

 Notting Hill Gate

 Temple

 Tottenham Court












I circled them on the map to see where they are in relation to the stations in which we will be entering and leaving London (Waterloo and Euston.)

Bus Filming

So we have a permanent record:
 
The bus company have confirmed Tuesday the 29th of October for us to film there.

It'll be a double decker bus, company Stagecoach.
We are only allowed to film inside the bus, which will be cordoned off outside in the rear yard at the Hyde Road Depot.

I need to double check the timings as he said something contradicting himself so I'll get back to you on that but it would approximately be 9/10-2:30. But they may be lenient with this with it being in the holidays.

But this means Milena can now confirm the London Underground shoot around this and then we'll be able to arrange transport.

Horny Maquette

A maquette of Horny's head. Only one of the horns is depicted; also they'll be slightly larger, it's just that the plasticine was too heavy.

I think me and Janine will be doing maquettes for most of the characters to help with the 3d visualisation.

London Location Scout

So me and Milena went on a Location Scout in London and took a few snaps of some streets that interested us. We tried to find a mixture of locations: some busy roads, others quiet. I'm going to draw up a map and maybe do a bit of 'Google mapping' to find other locations, we wanted to keep it fairly contained so travelling with the equipment is kept to a minimum.

Newcomen Street

St Thomas Street
(jnt. London Bridge Street)

Tooley Street
(outside London Bridge train entrance)

Bermondsey Street

Saint Katharine's Way

Great Portland Street underground

197 Great Portland Street

Great Portland Street
(jnt. Weymouth Street)

New Cavendish Street
(jnt. Gosfield Street)

41 Portland Place

Marylebone Road
(Regent Park station)

Cab Road
(Waterloo station)






Maphom Street

Short Street

Union Street