06 Motion Graphics- Narrative and sequencing

Project Brief

Using film and animation, this project explores narrative and sequencing. The task was to create a 30-60 second title sequence based on a blurb from an unproduced book, storyboard it, and create the animation. Based solely on the blurb, a narrative and visual treatment had to be conceptualised. To develop a narrative concept that was engaging and well-crafted. A storyboard demonstrates how scenes will be connected, guiding the filming process. The core of this project was to film the concept and bring it to life. The project has a post-production component, where type and effects were animated onto the footage to deliver a professional title sequence.

Deliverables

01. A 30-60 second title sequence

02. A comprehensive drawn storyboard

03. Screen shots from the final animation in storyboard format

04. Conceptual development presented as processwork

Design strategy

'Where'd you go Bernadette' was the blurb chosen and centred around a modern, elegant, troubled woman who goes missing. The final, crafted concept was to show Bernadette's morning routine on the day she goes missing but hide her face in creative and 'unnatural' ways to emphasise the mystery and discomfort surrounding her disappearance. To accentuate the unsettling atmosphere, all scenes were filmed and edited in overcast, dark lighting and yellow and teal tones.

For our redo, we smoothed out the motion of the scenes from 0:10- 0:14. We cleaned up the scene at 0:35 and adjusted the text to fit in better with the effect from that scene. We reduced the text size for the scene at 0:44. We lightened up the grading for the scene at 0:51 and adjusted the text to fit in better with the effect from that scene. We blurred the woman's face more at 0:58. We cut a few frames from the scene at 1:02 to not show too much of the woman's face as she turned. Lastly, we designed a logo for the text "Where'd you go Bernadette" in the last scene to give it more character and fit better with the nature and storyline.

The nature of this project required both group members to work on all aspects of the project. However, for the purposes of the portfolio, credit will be given to the member who worked most on which aspects of the project.

James Dufana: Conceptualisation, Storyboarding, Filming and handling camera, Directing, Editing of footage, Colour grading, Animating of effects post-production, Editing of music, Crafting of title.

Danielle Enslin: Research, Conceptualisation, Storytelling, Lighting and scene setup, Directing, Editing of footage, Colour grading, Animating of effects post-production, Crafting of title.

The process

Our moodboard aims to captivate the sense of mystery that the blurb communicated. We were looking at combining film and animation in order to create a feeling of unease and to show the unexpected nature in which the Bernadette went missing.

We started by wanting to show Bernadette's everyday activities. We first conceptualised photo frames and working with fabrics, but decided a morning routine before going to work would communicate an unexpected disappearance more effectively.

We also made an animatic to plan the duration of each scene and when transitions would take place

Final Storyboard

Through the initial storyboard frames, lighting of the scenes and where the story would be filmed was carefully considered. From the beginning frames of a fairly dark room with morning sunlight partially shining through the blinds, to the well lit scene at the end where Bernadette walks out of the setting.

Raw Footage and Colour Grade

The footage was conditioned with a teal and yellow colour grade. Which emphasised the contrast and created a sense of mystery. the colours conveyed the feeling of the unexpected.

Blooper video