TONE AND STYLE
The tone of the film will be playful and inspiring, but also serious and thoughtful at times. The story mixes together the passion and magic that goes into making art, but also reflects on the seriousness of feeling valued and able to make a living. The look of the film will be very stylistic, shifting from the two different worlds of the cramped and messy animator’s studio, to the clean and monochrome world of the shadow puppets that he is making. There will be a feel of traditional fairy tales, with classic narration over the animated sequences, and also with a little twist of magic placed in appropriate times, as the the veil between the real and animated world are closer than once thought.
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
This production schedule will begin as soon as possible, and will be split into various weeks, according to need, availability and urgency.
WEEK ONE
Script Revisions
Casting Call for ‘The Animator’
Assemble Crew
Design the Puppets for the Animated Sequences
WEEK TWO
Final Draft of the Script
Storyboard and Shot List
Construct the Puppets
Design the Set for the Animator's Studio
Live Action Test Shoots
WEEK THREE
Begin Filming Animated Sequences
Produce the Set
Film the Animator’s Sequences (Two days shooting)
WEEK FOUR
Continue Filming Animated Sequences
Assembly Edit of Live Action Footage
WEEK FIVE
Complete Filming Animated Sequences
Begin Foley, Sound Design
Re-edits and Test Screens
WEEK SIX
Lock Picture
Colour Correction
Music and Sound
WEEK SEVEN
Completion
TEST SHoOTS
To prove that the style of silhouette stop motion is possible for an amateur animator, test shoots were filmed with a simple test puppet of a lamplighter and his interactions with some objects. Joint mobility, gravity, walking motion, posture and realistic use of body language is key when making such a film, so careful consideration was used when filming. These are the first and second test shoots, filmed one day apart, but the improvement is massive already. There is great hope in these shoots becoming even better, even up to Lotte Reiniger standard.
KiT AND COSTS
Here is an estimate of how much this film may cost due to the loan of certain equipment and the help of individuals
LIVE ACTION COSTS
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Canon 5D - £75 per day
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Manfrotto 501HDV Tripod - £15 per day
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Track and Track Tripod - £65 per day
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Dedo Lights - £45 per day
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Zoom H5 Recorder - £25 per day
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Boom Pole - £4 per day
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Rifle Mic - £15 per day
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XLR Cable - £2 per day
This kit will be used for two days of live action shooting, and equal a sum of: £492
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Producer - £674
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Director - £674
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DOP - £674
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Camera Operator - £468
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Boom Operator - £377
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Art Director - £617
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Editor - £674
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Art Director - £617
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Sound Editor - £674
Total for Crew: £5449
STOP MOTION COSTS
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Animator - £674
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Materials (Paper, Tape, Knives, Pins) - £15
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Camera and Tripod (7 Days) - £455
Cost: £1144
OVERALL TOTAL: £7085
This cost seems high of course, but will be reduced by the fact that I have a university loan shop at my disposal, and I can hire needed equipment for free. However, it is subject to availability, and so I must act quick to make sure I can use it in time. Some of the crew tasks may also be combined to help reduce costs in that way.