CSE 456 - Story for Digital Animation

Lab #4: Editing, Reference, and Cinematography

Due: 7 PM Thursday, July 12th
Turn in: On the server in your turn in folder:
O:\unix\projects\instr\production1\cse456_su12_turn_in\lab4


A) Adapt the thumbnails provided into a short film using Cinematic Sandbox.

Use the five shot thumbnails shown in the demo (#15 - #19) to create a 10-15 second Cinematic Sandbox movie. Copies of these thumbnails can be found in the lab in the envelope pinned to the billboard to the right of the door as you enter.

Beginning with an establishing shot, use the camera to build a relationship between the mother and the other characters in the scene. Make sure to keep in mind the following principles of composition:
  1. The Rule of Thirds. (The focus shouldn’t be directly in the center of the frame.)
  2. 180 Degree Rule.
  3. Use of framing. For your film use at least one close-up shot, one medium shot, and one wide shot.
REVIEW THE TUTORIALS BELOW for a more in-depth explanation of the above.


B) Make a narrated reference reel for your own story using Premiere. You will be person who creates the narration by way of a voiceover that is recorded.

A reference reel is a video containing various images and stills that show and express how you want aspects of your film to look and feel.  For example, a lighting reference reel would show the progression of color and intensity throughout in order to support your story shifts.

You will be creating a reference reel based on your Assignment #4-6 story (your final project).  For each sequence in your film, include at least two different of the following types of reference:
  1. Audio
  2. Lighting/Shading
  3. Acting
  4. Mood
  5. Style
  6. Character Design
  7. Story/Cinematography (see reference below for KINGS)
  8. Set and/or Props
  9. Visual Efx
  10. Character Animation/Motion
Here are some examples of early lighting reference for our CSE capstone film KINGS:

www.cs.washington.edu/education/courses/cse456/12su/labs/example_videos/kings_lighting_reel.mov

Reference can be conveyed using video or still images. You should use whatever best conveys the style of a story in order to invite the audience to understand the experience they will have before full production starts. This is the best way to engage your audience by giving them a sneak peek without spending  the enormous money and time it takes to complete the film.

Your reel does not need to show these different types of reference side by side as in the demo -- they can be mixed in.  For example, in one sequence you could show a couple of stills of lighting reference, followed by a clip of acting reference, then end with more lighting reference.  Always be sure to LABEL both your Sequence and Reference types so that we know what we’re looking at. Make sure that the Sequence label is always on the top left and that the Reference type Label is always in a consistent place (either below or to the side of your reference clips).

In choosing your types of reference, think about what would best visualize/convey your story at that point in time.  A sad scene might be best conveyed by mood or lighting reference, whereas a more frantic sequence may be best shown through motion reference.  If there are story beats that require specific actions, feel free to find any video clips on YouTube that can assist you in punctuating these beats.

For an example of how you can express story beats using clips gathered from various sources, check out this storyreel from Kings:

www.cs.washington.edu/education/courses/cse456/12su/labs/example_videos/kings_story_reel.mp4

Once you finish compiling your visual reference, record your voiceover -- the audio of you pitching your narrative -- the reel above is a good example.  Use active language and be careful not to dwell on describing characters’ internal processes.  Only be concerned with what we see and hear!  There will be microphones in the lab available for you to do this.  Open the Windows sound recorder (Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Sound Recorder).

This reel must be a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum or 3 minutes and 30 seconds.  Use the same settings in Premiere as you did in the lab 1 tutorial.  Optionally, you can set the resolution to 1280x720 (720p HD) if you need more screen space.



What we’re looking for in each part:
  1. For the Cinematography Exercise, the focus of each shot is clear and the reference thumbnails  (the ones provided to you)  were used and applied.
  2. For your Reference Reel, make sure it helps your audience understand the vision for your story and that the reel follows your story and is clear.

Please send the staff questions if you have them and have fun!