I'll probably call tomorrow to ask and be sure, but for my own immediate peace of mind and a possible head start, does anyone who's familiar with the industry know what this means?
I received an animation test with a sound clip on cassette tape. There aren't many instructions, just a storyboard which indicates which scenes to animate, and no exposure sheet (whatsoever! neither blank nor filled out).
Is it safe to say they just want me to use the sound clip to get an idea for the gestures/acting, and no lip sync? Or is it more likely they want me to create an exposure sheet from the tape (something I've only done digitally in the past) and lip sync the animation?
I'm mostly freaking out because I've never animated on paper before, and here I am jumping right in when it counts. Hopefully you guys can save me from asking a possibly stupid question to more important people than you. :D
exposure sheet...?
By bossmonkey | Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 8:15pm
#1
exposure sheet...?
Uh.......
If you are animating on paper you need the exposure sheet to record where all the drawings go in sequence so they can be shot on camera.
The Dope sheet, as its also called lists the animation, BG, overlay/underlays and effects drawings in a ordered manner so camera can quickly arrange them for shooting.
You need the sheet to assign holds, or held drawings, the length of time you hold them etc, list transitions within the scene, mouth charts for lip synch etc
Um, have you been trained to do animation-are you doing this professionally and you don't KNOW what a exposure sheet is??? Or you don't know if they want one from you?
This.........is NOT a good time to learn the proper symbols and other info that the X-sheet needs.........certainly not when its for a job, that might require you to already know this.
In any case, the animation CANNOT be properly shot in camera, or digital WITHOUT an exposure sheet.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
I'm wondering if they want one from me. I know what it is, I've just never used it before. Most of my animation has been done in Flash, so I can find the proper lip sync, etc just by scrubbing through. I know it's a bad time to learn this stuff, but there's nothing I can do about that now.
I'm just confused because I wouldn't know how to work out all the timing from an audio cassette, so I don't know what they had in mind since they could just as easily given me a digital audio clip.
apples : oranges ::
i think they want you to just view the sound and actions together and come up with the actions based on that.
although without any specific instructions it keeps the whole thing a little open ended. which might be what they want to begin with? to test your inherent skills maybe?
Sounds like they want you to animate it yourself, not as an inbetweener or specific role...an independent.
I'd act it out, film it if you can, time it roughly and create your keys (storytelling poses) then some extremes.
if needs be record the tape onto computer, doesnt matter how bad the quality is, just so u can get an idea. then shoot into the computer and rough it out as you would normally.
sounds a pretty sweet job though, you're getting creative freedom...if they're alright with that! I'd probably key it up then go straight ahead with the seperate elements (arms, head, accessories, etc) but without knowing what it is I can't say any more.
Good luck!
www.adamoliver.com
So they've sent you a test that they expect you to animate on paper and they didn't provide an x-sheet? Did they provide keys, or just the audio cassette and a board? What type of position is this test for?
Personally, I'd be on the phone already asking for clarification. I'd rather be a bit of a pest and get things straight, both in my mind and between me and the studio, than wonder and speculate about what they want, and maybe end up delivering the wrong thing at the end. Would you rather be potentially a bit embarrased now, or lose a possible job because you look like you don't know what you're doing?
Do they know what they're doing? Have they ever produced animation?
Or are they just entrepenuers trying this animation thing.
If it's for flash, maybe they want you to import the sound but drawn animation requires a dope sheet. Maybe they forgot.
I once did a freelance cheap job for some flash animation.
They thought they knew what they were doing but scenes weren't defined in a flash animatic for length, the guy would say, oh, it's such and such length.
I had a scene of character just standing there, hair blowing. I had this ambiguous board panel to go off of. I did it, looked great but they said it was the wrong angle (more upshot). In an instant messenger conversation I said , "well, if you had a layout for me..."
The guy said, "You use those things?":)
The great thing is technology has really democratised animation. The downside are people going into business with maybe technical but less traditional film and animation expereince.
P.S- don't buy the "We just wanted to see if you were paying attention" excuse :)
well I worried for nothing. apparently they just want me to do KEY POSES for a scene... here I was worrying about animating and lip syncing. hell, I don't even have to worry about the animation paper and animation table I don't have for key poses. Thanks guys... even though I've completely wasted your time -_-
apples : oranges ::
Once again, they expect you to do this on paper? If that's the case, I'd worry about getting some animation paper and a pegbar if I were you. If it's a traditional project (and this studio knows what they're doing), they'll expect to see your keys on punched bond. Keys do have to relate to each other, after all, and that includes registration.
yeah, when I called, the woman told me she forgot to send animation paper with the package, so I could just use regular paper. so I'll probably use my regular non-acme 3 hole punch and my crappy home-made 3 hole pegbar
apples : oranges ::
Ah, well... That's different, then... ;)
Yeah, I'd hold off and talk to them as soon as possible and ask them exactly what they want you to do. No sence doing extra work and find out it wrong.
Tape?! What are we back in the 20th century? LOL
Aloha,
the Ape
...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."