Having the MA going on and at the same time helping with the NFTS film, and also doing Stop Motion 2 from Aardman Academy this term was really hard. I felt time for the exercises of the MA, the Aardman course and the NFTS film was not ideal, felt rushing all the time. But if I left the NFTS film and the Aardman course for the second year of the MA, it would be even tighter in time. On the other hand, if I left the film and the other course to do after finishing the MA, chances are they would not have been done as I may be working or making another film.
I’m really happy I chose Stop Motion as pathway choice in my course. That was what I really wanted. My work helping the NFTS graduation film made me more confident and experienced in making small props for stop motion films. I did the main character’s chair, 2 photo holders and 2 cups to join the robot crane in the Biscuit Factory film. I’m really looking forward to see them and the whole film the NFTS screening tomorrow!!! We saw the robot crane animated in a shot when we delivered the last cups etc. and it was amazing. Made me wanting to do more for other films!!!
Update: The NFTS screening was amazing. The film name was changed to “The Last Biscuit”, and it can be seen at:
In terms of puppet making and film shooting in the Stop motion pathway I had a mixed experience. I felt confident in clay modelling as I’m experienced in sculpting, however I felt puppet making in felt was too rushed for me, and I think a more consistent and systematic approach from the visiting lecturers would have helped me finish the puppets in a better standard. Some more time would help to finish them, and also animate better the clay puppets. The experimental puppets look better finished but obviously have functional issues due to the choice of materials not being done before knowledge of that was presented, but I enjoyed making them too. On top of that, making puppets before developing a story will always bring limitations in functionality, mainly for unexperienced makers.
On the other hand, shooting the clay puppet worked reasonably in the first day, and not that well in the next class. Not having a too restricted time pressure to do that would have sorted it for me. I’ll do my best not to have to rush in animating in the future, especially in stop motion. But animating the pixilation and the charcoal drawings had the right level of time and pressure so the results were much more satisfying. I really want to explore some more pixilation with people and animating mixed media with paints, etc. in the future, as well as scratching film stock etc. Link for the pixilation film:
I enjoyed working with the group I did for pixilation. Me, Jonathan, John and Amal were friendly, fun and focused on doing a great film. Everybody was listened with lovely contributions for the story and shooting, we could all participate and the result of the focus on a good story was well worth it. It’s the funniest and most interesting piece of animation we did at UAL so far in my opinion. I’m sure we’re all proud of that and I would love to work with them again in similar conditions.
Unfortunately this year, the Stop Motion 2 course from the Aardman Academy is being great, but didn’t really help with the Stop Motion pathway as that course is really focused on performance, animation, with no emphasis on puppet or prop making. It’s a different objective, enjoyable in a different way. But it helps with the lip sync and other animation exercises we’ve been doing in class, as they’re about more advanced performance in animation too.