Safiya Production Diary

Having produced all of our pre-production work in Colins unit we decided to jump right in with our

animating.

5th Jan - Week 1

This week Hannah and Laura Ireland produced a production schedule in order to plan out how we

were going to break up our project and distribute the work load.

Laura Wade produced a desert and throne room background in order to establish an art style for the

rest of the background. We plan to use these as a basis for the backgrounds which Hannah and Laura

Ireland will produce.

Hannah Production Schedule

Laura Ireland - Production Schedule

Laura Wade Background Concept

12th Jan - Week 2

Laura Ireland and Hannah made a plan, listing which background will be needed for each scene and

how many will be required. These were then divided equally amongst Hannah and Laura Ireland

before they set to work producing them.

We arranged meeting with numerous tutors this week in order to get feedback on our animation.

They noticed and praised our colour choice in colour palette as we used the complimentary colours

of yellow and purple through our designs and plan to carry this through to our final animation.

Additionally they noted that the furniture in Hasanis room could be more Egyptian in appearance,

making it fit better within our animation. As a result of this, Hannah researched ancient Egyptian

furniture and sent these images to Laura Wade who then produced a concept for the door which will

be opened by our character of Isis into Hasanis room making it appear more Egyptian.

This week we also received test music from George for our animation. We had a meeting and

discussed improvements and developments we wished to make in our audio.

Hannah Background Breakdown List / Backgrounds

Laura Ireland - Background Breakdown List / Backgrounds

Laura Wade Door Concept

19th Jan - Week 3

This week we Laura Ireland and Hannah continued to produce final backgrounds for the scenes in

our animation.

It was also this week that we began to take classes in concept art with Jordan Buckner for our

Advanced 2D unit. In this class we produced thumbnail pages and learnt the importance of lighting

and composition within a scene. Wanting a fresh perspective on our animatic, we asked Jordan to

review our concepts and give us his opinion on the animatic we produced. He then proceed to take

Laura Wades previously created throne room concept, adding stylised highlights and shading in

order to create a sense of depth to them, creating more atmosphere. Additionally, he advised added

some more exciting shots of our protagonist fighting for her life so that the conclusion to our final

animation is less predictable. This is in order to stop us from giving away to much about the story

leaving our audience in suspense.

Based off of this feedback we plan to add more depth to our backgrounds though the use of colour

as well as depicting our foreground, mid-ground and background more effectively. We also have

decided to alter the ending of our animation creating an ominous and less predictable conclusion to

our animation.

Hannah Backgrounds

Laura Ireland Backgrounds

Laura Wade n/a

26th Jan - Week 4

Laura Ireland and Hannah continued to create backgrounds for the scenes of our final animation.

Hannah also met with George this week to discuss the soundtrack and review our overall progress.

Laura Wade was struggling to animate one of our running sequences this week so we went to Colin

to ask for advice on how to go about animating this scene. He referred us to a film clip from a film

called Run Lola. It was from here that Laura Wade and Hannah filmed their own running reference,

from an aerial view in order to help with the animating of this shot.

We also arranged a meeting with Paul as we were advised to reduce the length of our animation and

remove some shots. As our animatic was too lengthy, Paul referred us to his Stina and the Wolf

trailer suggesting that we use quick, choppy shots turning our animation into a trailer almost so that

we can still include all our favourite scene while only adding the best bits of animation that will

display our skills. Inspired by this meeting we have decided that our animation has the potential to

become more than just a student projects, therefore, we have arranged a meeting with Simon

Brookes in order to the discuss the possibility of pitching to external companies within industry.

Hannah Edited Animatic / Running reference

Laura Ireland - Backgrounds

Laura Wade Running reference / Animation Test

2nd Feb - Week 5

This week Hannah edited together our animatic into a teaser trailer as discussed the previous week

with Paul, correcting the timing of the animation as well as removing unnecessary shots. It was als at

this point in the week that we considered removing the wall carving introduction we had initially

planned to make in order to make our animation more punchy as advised by Paul. Despite liking

this introductory narrative we are debating converting our animation into a long trailer ensuring

quality over quantity.

Additionally, we arranged and attended a meeting with Simon Brookes in order to discuss the

possibility of pitching to external companies as well as receiving advice on how to make a film pitch.

Moreover, we have started to look at the possibility of renaming our animation as it currently

sounds a little generic and we dont feel as though it conveys the correct message for our animation.

Hannah Animatic Edit / Inside Duat concept and Safiya in peril concept

Laura Ireland Backgrounds

Laura Wade Baby to Grown up Concept

9th Feb - Week 6

This week Laura Ireland and Hannah finished all the finalised backgrounds for our scenes. Hannah

also edited together our final animatic which we plan to stick with use as our final with further edit.

After editing our animatic into a cinematic trailer last week, we sent it to numerous lecturers from

feedback. However, this feedback came back very varied ultimately confusing us to which advice you

would prove the most beneficial for our animation. As a result of this, Hannah and Laura Ireland

decided to take our theatrical trailer to another lecturer on our course who had never heard of or

seen our work. By presenting our animation to Mat Garey who had no existing knowledge of our

project, we were able to see if our piece was understandable and relatable.

After watching our trailer he told us that our story was a little predictable and confusing in the form

of a trailer. As a result of this we showed him the original edit of our animatic which he preferred

and related to on a higher scale. He did however suggest that we change our ending slightly just as

Jordan Buckner did. As a result of this we plan to revert back to our original animatic edit, changing

the ending slightly and making the shots more fast paced in order to make it more engaging for our

audience. We have also decided to keep the narrated prologue of our animation and have found the

perfect voice actress in, Lexie Masters to achieve this desired narrative.

Next week we aim to start putting these backgrounds into the scenes that Laura Wade plans to

begin key framing. Hannah will then begin inbetweening these and Laura Ireland will clean them up.

Hannah Animatic Edit / Presentation

Laura Ireland - Wall Carving Backgrounds

Laura Wade n/a

16th Feb - Week 7

Hannah and Laura Ireland previously completed all final background designs for our animation and

we plan to put these through quality control tests.

We are currently waiting on key frames from Laura Wade in order to begin animating.

Next week we plan to begin animating our animation starting with the falcon scene as planned a

fortnight ago in order to continue the production process.

Hannah n/a

Laura Ireland n/a

Laura Wade n/a

23rd Feb - Week 8

Laura Wade began key framing the shots for our sand falcon scene before Hannah inbetweened

them and Laura Ireland cleaned them up. Laura Wade added a layer to one of the backgrounds for

our falcon scene as in order to create depth as suggested by our tutor Colin.

Hannah took a shot from the film and did the first colour test to see how the final film would look.

Laura Ireland created a colour palette based on the previous pre production outfit design, there

were two components, a fill colour and an outline which is slightly darker, then she created a second

palette which was darker for all of the night time/ dark indoor shots.

Based off of our feedback on pitching from Simon Brookes we all decided to begin generating

interest in our final major project by setting up a tumblr blog dedicated to our animation and

production process. For this we have been uploading our pre-production work and concept pieces as

well as creating mock posters with the aim of presenting our animation as a feature film.

Next week we aim to begin animating our river scene with Laura Wade on key framing, Hannah

inbetweening and Laura Ireland cleaning up the final animation. We also aim to continue posting

onto our tumblr page in order to generate interest in our project.

Hannah Inbetweened / Poster concept/colour test

Laura Ireland - Colour Palettes / Cleaned Up / Poster concept

Laura Wade Key framing / Background Edit / Poster concept

2nd Mar - Week 9

This week Laura Wade began keyframing the river scene so that we could begin exploring how to

animate water. Hannah and Laura Ireland continued inbetweening, with Laura Ireland creating

timing ladder so that the two could understand the timing of the frames that need to be

inbetweened. Laura Ireland also continued with the cleanup of the falcon scene and Hannah

produced colour test on the final animation.

Hannah took the expression sheet by Laura Wade and coloured it in a few different styles again to

visualise the final look of the animation.

Next week we plan to continue and complete the animation of the river scene as well as start on the

animation of the cat scene. Once again, Laura Wade plans to key frame with Hannah inbetweening

and Laura Ireland competing the cleanup of these shots.

Hannah Inbetweened

Laura Ireland Inbetweened / Timing Ladders / Cleaned up

Laura Wade - Key framed / Seth concept

9th Mar - Week 10

At the start of this week we had another meeting with George in order to discuss the soundtrack to

our piece as well as the potential opportunity of getting a violinist in to record some instrumentals

for our final animation.

We are waiting for Laura Wade to key frames in order to continue with the production of animation

as all previous scenes have been inbetweened and cleaned up by Laura Ireland and Hannah. As a

result of this, next week we plan to continue with the animation process once more key frames have

been produced.

Hannah n/a

Laura Ireland n/a

Laura Wade n/a

16th Mar -Week 11

This week Laura Wade began key framing the river and cat chase scene with Hannah inbetweening

and Laura Ireland completing clean up for these shots.

Hannah also created a new animatic incorporating the new soundtrack from George as discussed at

their meeting the previous week.

Next week we plan to begin and finish our shots for the growing up sequence as well as complete

the river scene animation. We plan to do so with Laura Wade key framing, Hannah inbetweening

and Laura Ireland cleaning up.

Hannah Inbetweened / New animatic

Laura Ireland Clean up

Laura Wade Keyframe / Family concept

23rd Mar - Week 12

This week we continued with the animation of our project working on the cat chase and growing up

scene with Laura Wade key framing, Hannah inbetweening and Laura Ireland completing clean up.

As we finished the growing up scene this week we aim to finish the cat chase scene next week in

time for the Easter break. Once again, Laura Wade will key frame, Hannah will inbetween and Laura

Ireland will clean up the shots produced.

Hannah - Inbetweened

Laura Ireland Cleaned up

Laura Wade - Key framed

30th Mar Week 13

This week Laura Wade key framed with Laura Ireland cleaning up the cat chase scene.

As it is the Easter break, we plan to finish our entire cat chase shots next week in order to complete

key framing, inbetweening and clean up animation for this scene within our final animation.

Hannah n/a

Laura Ireland - Clean up

Laura Wade - Key framed

6th Apr Week 14

This week Hannah and Laura Ireland finished the cat chase scene and Laura Wade continued key

framing the river scene. Laura Ireland and Hannah also began to colour the previously complete

shots that had been keyed, inbetweened and cleaned up.

Next week Laura Wade plans to finish the river scene and Hannah plans to inbetween this before

Laura Ireland cleans up the animation.

Hannah Fill Colouring

Laura Ireland - Fill Colouring

Laura Wade Key framed

13th Apr Week 15

Laura Wade continued key framing the river scene and began to key frame the sand camel and

stand-off scene. Hannah continued to inbetween these new scenes with Laura Ireland then cleaning

them up. Hannah and Laura Ireland also finished colouring in the completed shots from our

animation with the help of a colour palette of our character, Bastet, as created by Hannah. Hannah

also compiled these finished shots into a new animatic in order to present them at our latest

presentation.

Hannah also updated Laura Irelend colour palette as for a few shots we needed colours for the jug

and the inside of safiyas mouth.

Next we plan to begin key framing, inbetweening and cleaning up the camel scene. Hannah and

Laura Ireland also plan to begin fill colouring our animation so far so that the finalised shots for our

animation can begin completion

Hannah Inbetweened / Coloured / Animatic

Laura Ireland - Cleaned up / Coloured

Laura Wade - Key framed

20th Apr Week 16

This week Laura Ireland and Hannah emailed the lecturers asking for guidance and advice on how to

continue with the production of the animation as well our original production schedule is no longer

viable. As a result of this Laura Ireland and Hannah created a new production schedule and began to

fill colour the existing and completed shots in order to keep the production process moving.

This was done through the creation of colour palettes. Using Hannahs Bastet colour palette from

the previous week and Laura Irelands new Seth colour palette created this week, the two were able

to maintain consistency in the colouring of the animation. Hannah and Laura Ireland also continued

with inbetweening and clean up this week.

It was also this week that Hannah attended a short meeting with George in order to discuss the

application of music to our final animation.

As no more key frames were produced this week for the camel scene Laura Wade plans to do this

next week with Hannah and Laura Ireland planning to finish the fill colouring and any further

inbetweening and clean up that is required.

Hannah - Coloured

Laura Ireland - Clean up / Coloured / Colour Palette

Laura Wade n/a

27th Apr Week 17

This week Laura Wade continued key framing the camel scene while Hannah inbetweened and Laura

Ireland cleaned up the animation.

Laura Ireland created a new background for the final standoff scene, this was based off of Laura

Wades painting of the throne room and made slightly darker for the close up shots she also created

a new background for one of our camel shots as our existing background was from the wrong

perspective and didnt match the key framing on screen. Hannah and Laura Ireland also finished the

fill colouring of the completed shots.

Background manipulated/edited by Laura Wade for two of the camel shots.

Based off of her previous meeting with George last week, Hannah edited a new animatic with the

updated soundtrack including a finalised narration from our voice actress Lexie Masters.

Next week we plan to finish the camel scene before beginning the wall carved key frames that open

our animation.

Hannah Inbetweened / Coloured / Animatic with sound

Laura Ireland Background / Clean Up / Colour

Laura Wade - Key framed/background edit

4th May Week 18

This week Laura Ireland began cleaning up some of the camel scenes from the previous week.

Hannah and Laura Ireland began outlining the cleaned and coloured animation with coloured

outlines in order to remove the harsh black outlines that currently frame our characters. Previously

Hannah created a quick test of this outlining process to see how it would look. We felt that this not

only made our characters blend into the backgrounds better but also helped the animation to flow

more smoothly.

It was also this week that Hannah and Laura discussed ways in which to animate the sand in

Photoshop, creating an animation test to see what colours worked best and which brushes would

give the desires grainy effect of sand

Hannah also began adding glow effects to the Deitys for the final animations in order to add depth

and create a sense of mystery.

Laura Wade continued animating the build up camel from sand shot.

As the wall carving scenes were not started this week by Laura Wade we plan to begin them next

week. Additionally, Laura Ireland and Hannah plan to finish the outlining of the completed animation

as well as begin adding further effects to the water scenes and glowing eyes of the characters.

Hannah Sand Test / Outline Tests / Outlined / Glow Effects

Laura Ireland Sand Test Outlined / Cleaned Up

Laura Wade Key framed

11th May Week 19

This week Laura Wade started and completed the wall carving scenes (characters and background

outlines) with Laura Ireland finishing clean up. Laura Ireland and Hannah also finished the new

outlining on all scenes before Hannah continued adding glow effects to the animation and water

ripples to the reeds and jug in our river scene, Hannah also completed the final title shot for the

animation, which was hand painted to give the carved appearance and animated the sand.

Next week we plan to animate the sand effects in Photoshop as well as adding shadows, footprints

and moving effects to our water and sky scenes in order to create more depth a completed

animation.

Hannah Glow Effect/ Water Ripples / Outlines/Title sequence

Laura Ireland Outlines / Clean up

Laura Wade - Key framed

18th May Week 20

This week Laura Wade, Hannah and Laura Ireland all added sand effects, shadows and footprints to

all scenes of the animation. Hannah also organised a discussion with Eva in order to ask for advice on

how to give the wall carvings depth and life. Advised to use an embossing effect Hannah embossed

every frame of our animation adding highlights to the corners of the carvings to give them a more

realistic appearance. Laura Ireland and Hannah finished the glow effect on the eyes of our characters

in all scenes with Laura Ireland also motion tweening the water and clouds of our scenes in order to

make our animation feel less static.

Next week we plan to take our finial animation to George in order for him to apply the music,

narration and sound effects before uploading the finished project to vimeo.

Hannah Embossed / Glow / Sand /Shadow / Footprints / Wall Carving Texture

Laura Ireland Glow / Sand /Shadow / Footprints/ Water and Cloud Movement

Laura Wade - Sand /Shadow/ Footprints

25th May Week 21

Our composer George Lee having finished University, he has plans to move to London on Monday

the 25th of May. Due to this, we had agreed that we would finish our animation early so he could

compile the final sound on to our finished edit as when sounds are put into editing softwares such

as premiere and after effects it compresses the sound and ruins the quality.

Therefore this week we met with George who added the soundtrack, narration and audio to the

finished film. Hannah and Laura Ireland completed the final edit and compositing of the final

animation while Laura Wade produced a poster for our graduate show. We all then uploaded the

finished animation with sound to vimeo before completing our project proposals and adding our

final work to our blogs.

Hannah - Final Edit

Laura Ireland - Final Edit

Laura Wade - Poster