2nd Draft of Final Animation

I've been using Adobe After Effects for effects such as reversing stop motions I had done, but the majority of my animating was focused around my photography and photoshop skills. Despite having a few more shots to get over the weekend, It was important that I started creating drafts of my final outcome with ALL my current animations. This way it would be easier to see the gaps in the narrative and identify how I could improve the animation further.

Looking over the current sequence, and receiving some peer feedback, I can identify that the following are needed for the next draft:

General

- Colour editing. Seeing as my animations have been shot both inside and outside, I need to edit some of the shots to convince the audience that all of the story is set outside. This I want to spend time experimenting with different effects to make sure the right mood and atmosphere can be demonstrated with the colour.

Pre-transformation

- A shot that suggests that something has happened to Callisto between the attack and the revealing of the transformation. Originally in my storyboard, I planned to have the character's body covered in leaves. However, after deciding to make the leaves out of paper, and with the drawing and cutting out of the leaves being much more time consuming, I decided to drop this idea. Instead I propose to use a shot that would spark more intrigue within the audience. I have had the idea to film the empty chair and mirror with the leaves moving from the chair towards the audience to suggest Callisto has been moved/kidnapped and something is about to happen.

- Trimming of some of the Antagonist shots. For example, I don't like the fact the character looks at the audience as I want the audience to be a spectator not another character in the narrative.


Transformation

- Smoother transitions between transformation shots. I like the fade in/out technique but it needs to be much more fluid, especially before the first shot and after the last.

Post-transformation

This area has the most need for improvement, mostly because the shots I will be taking at the weekend are mainly for the post-transformation section of my animation.

- Callisto waking up. This is another forced POV (Point of View) shot on the audience, making them see through Callisto's eyes. This is the first few shots using this filming technique. The shot will include, a fade in from black, looking vertically at the sky and trees. Then from there, the viewpoint will suggest her sitting up and looking around. This will transition into my already shot viewpoint of Callisto sitting down, with the audience having a third party view of her transformed legs.

- Possibly more shadow shots. Following positive feedback from both my tutors and my peers about the full silhouette shadow shot, I intend to film some more during the weekend. Perhaps focused more on one element of the body such as the head or the back as the previous focused on the hands and feet.

-Back transformation.  This originally was going to be in the mid-section of the animation. Although, due to my lack of time with the actress, I was unable to shoot the back transformation. On the other hand, I have thought of a way in which I can possibly include this shot as well using it as a transition. This transition would be between the character standing/walking in the forest to then being on the floor, clawing at the tree up to a mirror. I've had the idea for the character to keel over to their knees, holding their back. I don't want too much focus on the actress (as it will be me, not the previous actress). The paper animation will then be able to happen and then the shot can transition into the hand clawing at the tree.

-Hands clawing up the tree. This is the build-up to the final reveal of the face/mask. I want a close up shot of the hands and I need to listen to the sound recording I made of the clawing of the tree to matach up with the movement I will be photographing.

-Face reveal. I will shoot this reveal in two different viewpoints, face-on and over the shouldering, filming the reaction in the mirror.