Video & Sound Production

30/6/2024- 4/8/2024 / Week 10 - Week 15

Kerly Ooi / 0358726

Video & Sound Production / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Final Project | Stop Motion

LECTURES

Lectures are documented in Exercises.

INSTRUCTIONS

TASK

3 Favourite Stop Motion Shorts

Below are some stop-motion shorts that I thought were incredibly creative and beautifully done.

The first stop motion video that I have picked is one of my all-time favourite stop motion film to watch. It uses a creative method of stop-motion animation by transforming everyday objects as tools and ingredients for a culinary adventure. PES exhibits a playful and imaginative approach to storytelling, displaying a remarkable ability for reinterpreting familiar items in unexpected ways. To me, It's a very creative idea that draws in viewers to use non-food objects to illustrate a cooking procedure.

Fig 1.1 Western Spaghetti by PES | The FIRST Stop-Motion Cooking Film

For the second stop motion short, it has outstanding skill in stop-motion animation, by utilising meticulous craftsmanship to produce magnificent imagery. It shows the possibilities of stop-motion as an art form by skilfully and creatively exploring the idea of negative space.

Fig 1.2 Negative space | Oscar nominated Stop-Motion Animation | Short of the week

The visuals of paper stop motion animation are captivating. The audience is drawn in by the complex and unique images, which enhance the message's memory value to it.

The movie emphasises the urgent need for change by focusing on plastic waste, a serious environmental concern. It also can inform viewers on the harm that plastic waste does to ecosystems, human health, and marine life.

Fig 1.2 Stop plastic pollution | Paper stop motion animation

Stop motion shooting practices

Before we shoot for our final project, Mr. Martin set up a stop-motion trial shoot for us during class and split the groups himself. We were split into groups of six. Our team leader, Rafa has assigned Joanna & myself to handle the paper-cuts work . Below are our checklist progress :

We also utilised stop-motion applications to capture the clip and the final outcome of our group's shooting is shown below :

Stop Motion Practices - shoot by phone

Fig 2.1 Shoot practice 1 , Week 10

Fig 2.2 Shoot practice 2 , Week 10

Stop Motion Practices - shoot by camera

Fig 2.3 Shoot practice 1 , Week 10

Fig 2.4 Shoot practice 2 , Week 10

Final Stop Motion

Our task for this assignment is to make a stop motion video centred around a specified theme relating to a given time period. We are advised to incorporate voiceovers, sound effects, and music to make the narrative more engaging and captivating. We can work independently or in pairings.

After completing the trial shoot for the stop-motion video, I will begin working on my final project. Given that this project allows for collaboration, I have chosen to partner with Charmine.

Idea Proposal

The first step is the Idea Proposal. Charmine and I brainstormed our initial concepts for the shoot and storyline. We aimed to create a narrative that is both humorous and uplifting.

Fig 2.5 Idea Proposal , Week 11

Pre-production /

Fig 2.6 Progress of making the props , Week 12

Before the shoot, we prepared the props using clay and paper. We crafted kitchens, beds, characters (protagonists), pets, and lights out of clay. Working with clay wasn't easy since it tends to collapse, so we used tin foil to support it.

Fig 2.7 Progress of making the props , Week 12

We used paper to make the sofa part, which makes the model lighter and easier to shape.

Fig 2.8 Progress of making the props , Week 12

We conducted demonstrations before filming to determine the couch and bed's weight-bearing capabilities. During production, it was critical to ensure the props' stability and functionality. We given close attention to details, especially the load-bearing capability of the couch and bed, and ran tests to ensure their durability.

We tested the sofa and bed's performance under actual conditions using clay models of the finished protagonist. If we observed any instability, we strengthened the props to guarantee they could withstand the weight while filming.

Official shooting

Fig 2.9 Shooting in progress , Week 13

We also encountered several other challenges during the actual shooting. Firstly, when placing the props in the correct positions, the clay tended to stick to our hands, causing the colors to mix. To avoid this, we had to handle the clay very carefully, but some mixing of colors was inevitable. Additionally, since the camera angle was fixed, we had to be especially cautious when operating the props in the scene. Because we were shooting in stop motion, even a small movement could affect the consistency and coherence of the overall picture. Therefore, props that couldn’t be moved were often accidentally touched during the shooting process, requiring us to readjust the scene. This made the shooting process more delicate and cautious.

During the shoot, I was responsible for moving the props and advancing the plot, while Kerly was in charge of operating the camera and ensuring the coherence of the frames. Each time I adjusted the props, I took great care to avoid accidentally moving other elements. Meanwhile, Kerly focused on the camera settings, fixed the angle, and ensured that each frame remained consistent. When fine-tuning or modifications were needed, we collaborated to make adjustments, ensuring the final result met our high standards.

Post-production

After the filming, our workflow includes several important steps. First, we record the voiceover to provide clear voice narration and dialogue.

Fig 2.10 Voiceovers recording , Week 14

Then, we compiled all the video clips and made detailed adjustments and edits. We increased the volume and enhanced the sound quality to ensure the audio was clear and perfectly synchronised with the visuals.

Fig 2.11 Editing progress , Week 14

We used a pitch shifter to adapt the female voice to fit the character of the God of Wealth. In addition, we used the same method for adjusting Liam's voice to the character characteristics. As both voiceovers are did by Charmine and myself.

We added sound effects and background music to the video to make it more expressive. The additions not only improved the audio-visual experience, but they additionally boosted the video's mood and intensity of emotions. We developed a seamless connection between graphics and audio by making thorough modifications and including sound effects and music, resulting in a comprehensive and engaging video.

Fig 2.12 Editing progress , Week 14

Final Stop-Motion Video

Fig 2.13 Final Stop Motion Video , Week 14

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSRAUf2SU4o

REFLECTIONS

Overall, this project taught me the importance of careful planning, attention to detail, and teamwork. It was a challenging but rewarding experience that helped me improve my skills in stop-motion animation and project management. I learned to overcome obstacles, adapt to unexpected situations, and maintain high standards under pressure. This hands-on experience enhanced my technical abilities and strengthened my communication, editing skills using Adobe Premier Pro etc which are valuable in any creative project.

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