Even More Audio!!!

I know, I know, I've been making a big fuss about audio in what is supposed to be a stop motion blog, but it's important. I've been making a lot of progress as far as sets go, I've completed all of my armatures, and I even got help from a friend to make tiny clothes. I'll get some pics posted soon.
Now I need to record the song's vocals, buy some lighting, and do some sculpting, and I'll be ready to shoot the first few scenes.

Here's the song: A Diverse Portfolio

Quick Audio Update

This is just to show how the parts can sound together.

Here it is.

Enjoy.

Audio!!!

Still composing. Just a quick update and a sampling of what I've been doing. These files are completely raw at the moment, but they should give you some idea of the direction I'm going. Notice that all three files were composed in such a way that they could be played together.

Here are my samples.

Later,
Andrew

Sketches and Composing

I've completed my rough sketches of the sets and have started the opening scene's storyboard. I had worked on the music a bit beforehand, but am just now starting to work out the timing. The script will be altered a bit by the timing of the song, but it shouldn't be anything major. Pre production is especially critical in this project because once the song is done, I have to animate to it. It doesn't leave a lot of room for flexibility later, so I have to do it right the first time.

Also, I hope to post some media to the blog to spice it up a bit. Hopefully once "A Diverse Portfolio" is more complete I can find somewhere to host so I can post it here.

Ta!

Update

Probably should have posted this little service announcement before I posted the script, but my Capstone has now become a narrative musical short done in stop motion animation. Big change, I know, but hey, I wasn't planning to keep this blog going either. Now I intend to, to keep myself on track and to open myself up to other people's input and ideas, should anyone else become interested in what it takes to make a stop motion.

I made a minor revision to the script, I added a third alternate chorus at the very end, where Death comes for Jake. The song is entitled "A Diverse Portfolio" by the way. I worked on a few sketches for some of the simpler sets. Next comes more sketching, detailed storyboards, and the song. Ta for now.

First draft of my script-COMPLETE!

COLD OPEN:

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM – 7:30 A.M.

The sun rises, casting a rectangle of light through the window on a sleeping figure.

The clock switches over to 7:30, setting off the alarm.

JAKE, (early 20’s) an eager young go-getter sits up. He yawns or rubs his eyes and plants his feet on the floor.

He gets up and walks sleepily across the room, off camera.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – BATHROOM

Jake showers. We see a silhouette. Jake brushes his teeth.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM

We see Jake from behind, dressed in a blue suit, standing in front of a mirror. His briefcase is beside him.

JAKE

♪ This is it, I’m going for it

Four years leading to this moment

I’m gonna get this job! ♪

He straightens his tie, nods to his reflection, and grabs his briefcase.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

Jake walks down the hall towards the front door. There are PICTURES on the wall. He stops to look at two in particular. One is of his smiling parents. The other is his college diploma, which is askew on the wall.

JAKE

♪ I made

Honor roll and Dean’s List

All it took was a little persistence

(beat)

I think they would have been proud. ♪

Jake straightens his diploma.

INT./EXT. JAKE’S CAR/ROADWAY

Jake is driving his BEAT UP CAR aggressively.

JAKE

♪ I spent the last summer of my life

Diversifying my portfolio

And I feel fine

I spent those days really beefing up my resume

And I think it was the best use of my time ♪

He honks the horn twice.

Jake turns into a parking lot and we see the impressive COMMUNICOM INTERNATIONAL building.

INT. COMMUNICOM – LOBBY

Jake looks around in awe as he approaches the front desk. A woman is seated behind it, and a man is standing with his back to Jake, talking to her.

Jake sees the woman talking to the man, and is instantly infatuated. MARY/WEDDING THEME plays. The woman turns to look at Jake, and the man turns, seeing Jake for the first time.

JAKE

I…

The man cuts him off.

ROY KING

♪ Well, well, well you must be Jake

(ROY shakes JAKE’S hand)

And right on time I see

(ROY checks his WATCH)

Step right this way, we’ll have a chat

And see what we can see ♪

ROY ushers JAKE into an elevator.

INT. COMMUNICOM – ROY’S OFFICE

ROY goes over JAKE’S resume while JAKE sits nervously.

ROY

(While reading Jake’s resume)

♪ Mmm Hmm (positively)

Mmm Hmm (positively)

Mmm Hmm (positively)

Mmmm (Negatively) ♪

(He looks at Jake)

♪ Young man, your work is quite impressive

There’s a problem though

You’re after a manager’s position

And you don’t have the know-how, bro.

I know that’s not what you want to hear

Don’t let it spoil your ambition

But turn that frown around because

I can offer you an entry-level position! ♪

(CELL DOOR SLAMS SFX)

JAKE manages to force a smile.

INT. COMMUNICOM – JAKE’S OFFICE

JAKE sits in a poorly lit, cell like room, typing on a computer.

JAKE

♪ This isn’t quite what I had in mind

But Momma didn’t raise a quitter

And with student loans coming due

It’s the money I must consider.

I spent the last summer of my life

Diversifying my portfolio

Now I realize

Maybe I should have been making some memories

Maybe there’s more to life… ♪

MONTAGE

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM (MORNING)

Alarm goes off. JAKE’S hand slaps it to turn it off.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

YEAR 1 GRAPHIC. Jake walks briskly down the hall with a bored expression on his face. His diploma has gone crooked on the wall again. He straightens it.

EXT/INT. JAKE’S CAR

He drives to work.

INT. COMMUNICOM – JAKE’S OFFICE

He types in the dark room.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM

Alarm goes off. JAKE’S hand slaps it to turn it off.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

YEAR 5 GRAPHIC. Jake has gained weight. He wears a wrist brace on one arm. He walks slower than before down the hall, slouching. His diploma has gone crooked again. He reaches out his arm to straighten it, but then waves it off.

EXT/INT. JAKE’S NEW CAR

He drives to work in a NICER CAR.

INT. COMMUNICOM – JAKE’S OFFICE

He types in the dark.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM

Alarm goes off. JAKE’S hand slaps it to turn it off.

INT. JAKE’S APARTMENT – HALLWAY

YEAR 10 GRAPHIC. Jake has noticeable lines under his eyes. He’s got a grey streak in his hair. He’s gained more weight, and walks slower than before. His diploma has gone extremely crooked. He doesn’t even glance t it.

EXT/INT. JAKE’S NEW CAR

He drives to work.

INT. COMMUNICOM – JAKE’S OFFICE

He types in the dark. He closes his eyes.

INT/EXT. A BLACK BACKGROUND

Young JAKE and MARY are dancing in a waltz-like manner.

MONTAGE END

INT. COMMUNICOM – JAKE’S OFFICE

JAKE awakens with a snort. The dance had been a memory or a dream. He’s old now, with white hair. He begins to type. The light flickers, making the room dark for a moment, then burns steadily. Jake looks around, but doesn’t see DEATH behind him. DEATH approaches JAKE as he’s typing and touches his shoulder.

CUT TO BLACK.

END.

Capstone Attendance Blog

1. What has this week been like for you? A: Hectic.
2. If you could change anything in how you did your capstone, what would it be? A: More polish on the recording, a better site design.
3. How close is the final outcome to what you originally thought it would be? A: Pretty similar. There's always more to do, but you have to meet deadlines.
4. If you had one more month to work on the project what would you do? A: Again, more polish and a better site design.
5. What advice do you have for me about working on my capstone? A: Set realistic goals.
6. 
   
7. 1. Address the efficacy of the approach we took in this class. A: It depends on what the goal is. I do feel better informed about what to expect, and now have at least some idea of how to plan it out.
8. 
   
9. 2. Discuss whether or not the breakdown of the project development was advantageous. A: Yes, of course. It will help to realistically plan for all stages of the project.
10. 
    
11. 3. Discuss the advanges and/or disadvantages of the student guest speakers for forming your own approach to capstone. A: It's always useful to talk to people who have done what you're doing. Perhaps some  presentations from less "superstar" capstone students would be more realistic than those who have spent several years and thousands of dollars though.
12. 
    
13. 4. Were there any assignments that you thought were particularly helpful? Please elaborate. A: The timeline. It forces you to think about the actual process of making your capstone.
14. 
    
15. 5. Were there any assignments that you thought were particularly useless? Please elaborate. A: None that I can think of.

1.