Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Photos of Work Session

Although there haven't been any posts since August the StopMoCo Lab "Rats" (sorry guys I just came up with that and couldn't resist) have been busy at work. We've been designing and redesigning characters, building mock sets and creating foam-core cutouts of all the characters so a photo animatic can be put together. Below are some pictures of just one of the many sessions where these crucial preproduction pieces are being created.

Miranda Bradley getting brought up to speed on the project by Becky Wible Searles.

Tak Masuda cutting out more foam-core characters.

We had sketching and cutting going on at the same time.

Becky along with K.K. Nixon sketching/designing and Miranda cutting.

Michael Hicks doing some design work along side K.K.

Becky checking and double checking the cutouts.

Al Waller along with Miranda and Tak showing off the bar full of foam-core creatures.

  
Close up of the cut outs all ready for their close ups. 

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Mr. Weiss Update

New sketch of Mr. Weiss from Kyle...lookin' very frog-like and intimidating.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Mr. Weiss Character Sketches

Here are some character sketches of Mr. Weiss - the rather large bartender. They were drawn by Kyle. Following the sketches are some visual references he used in drawing these.

Charatcer Analyses

Here are a two character analysis exercises for Mame and Vernon. Both of these documents were created by Becky  with some input by others in the group.

HUMAN CHARACTER ANALYSIS (adapted from “Acting for Animators” by Ed Hooks)

Use brief descriptive phrases to specifically define the following personality traits. Information will be used to further develop character’s look, motivation, and movement qualities. For ease of use, limit to 1 page if possible.

CHARACTER’S NAME: MAME Written by: Becky Date: 7/20-27/10

1. Male or female? Sexual orientation? Female, but looking less so as she ages; Loves men, especially Vernon and thinks she is a total guy magnet
2. Age?
Somewhere past 70, but she never admits it and thinks she can fool everyone into believing she’s considerably younger
3. Physical health? Handicaps? Leathery, thin, and sunken; Bad Joan Rivers plastic surgery type; constantly smoking
4. Appearance? Hygiene?
Painted-on eyebrows, deteriorating fake eyelashes, gaudy misaligned make-up, and maybe a mole on her face; obviously fake blond, hair is thinning but she still tries to glam it up; cat glasses with some rhinestones missing & one side attached with a safety pin; might wear a pink fuzzy angora sweater over a deteriorating sparkly spaghetti strap top and somewhere have a sock monkey tattoo or necklace since she has an eternal, unrequited crush on Vernon (Look at Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Louise Nevelson)
5. Intelligence? Much dimmer than she thinks she is
6. Diet?
Still maintains the starvation diet of a former second rate ballerina / model; Mostly survives on cigarettes, martinis, and chocolate
7. Culture?
Thinks she is high culture, Parisian artist-type, when actually she is Walmart trailer trash with a tutu
8. History?
A “star” at an early age, she never finished high school but went right into local modeling school and ballet lessons
9. Religion? Star worship
10. Occupation and income?
Had an early “career” as a local model and second rate ballet and tap dancer; When she was too old for that, got work as a kid’s ballerina music box that keeps her in cigarettes, martinis, and chocolate, but not enough to get her glasses fixed
11. Education?
Up to 11th grade and then local modeling school, dance, tap, and baton lessons all her life
12. Family and relatives? Thinks she is much better than they are because they are “uncultured”
13. Friends? Enemies?
In her head she has a rich social life, but her connections are really only at the bar and just because people tolerate her; Vernon thinks she is an annoying insect
14. Inner rhythm / energy level? Wants to be vibrant, but in reality she is “marinated” and moves herself along with effort
15. Psychology (introvert, extrovert, etc.?) Presents herself visually as an extrovert but is really an introvert and totally terrified of everyone and everything
16. Goals (both immediate & long term)? Wants? To stay strikingly glamorous and finally get Vernon to realize he can’t live without her.
17. Fears? Wants to avoid?
Facing loneliness and Vernon’s rejection; Running out of cigarettes, martinis and/or chocolate
18. State of mind? Does it change? How? She’s stuck in her self-perception as a 13 year old star ballerina
19. Favorite props/objects? Cat glasses, cigarette in a holder, martini glass, box of chocolates
20. Any other distinguishing characteristics?
Blinks a lot so we get to enjoy her eyelashes


HUMAN CHARACTER ANALYSIS (adapted from “Acting for Animators” by Ed Hooks)

Use brief descriptive phrases to specifically define the following personality traits. Information will be used to further develop character’s look, motivation, and movement qualities. For ease of use, limit to 1 page if possible.

CHARACTER’S NAME: VERNON Written by: Becky Date: 7/20-27/10
1. Male or female? Sexual orientation? Very male, likes the gals
2. Age?
Somewhere past 70; He doesn’t remember and doesn’t care
3. Physical health? Handicaps? Thin and wiry but tough; Still has energy
4. Appearance? Hygiene?
Vaguely suggestive of a sock monkey with a neck that goes straight into his head, a very oval mouth area, pronounced ears, and black beady eyes that seem to stay permanently open; Could do a better job of keeping himself clean; has a permanent cigarette “patina” to him (Look at Stan Laurel’s face/grin)
5. Intelligence?
Actually pretty clever
6. Diet?
Ravenously hungry all the time, but never gains weight; Might really chow down on stale bar pretzels?
7. Culture?
Long time carnival act type
8. History?
Orphaned early in life, he knows how to survive
9. Religion?
Doesn’t ever think about it
10. Occupation and income?
Has had all kinds of low-life jobs since age 10 till he found his calling as a sock monkey; He’s stuck with it for many years
11. Education?
3rd grade and the street
12. Family and relatives?
Lost long ago
13. Friends? Enemies?
Likes to be a prankster which is annoying and endearing at the same time; Allegiances run hot and cold and are hard to pin down, but he always thinks Mame is an annoying insect and ignores her
14. Inner rhythm / energy level?
Always up to something
15. Psychology (introvert, extrovert, etc.?) Quiet trickster type extrovert
16. Goals (both immediate & long term)? Wants? Stir up sneaky trouble when he can
17. Fears? Wants to avoid?
Hates being bored; Doesn’t want to put too much effort into avoiding Mame so he just kind of tunes her out
18. State of mind? Does it change? How? Playful and somewhat self confident in a sneaky way
19. Favorite props/objects?
OP cigarettes -- other people’s that he finds around and collects
20. Any other distinguishing characteristics?
Never blinks