I
have chosen to look at the production of “On The Air”, directed by Joel Simons of
Flickerpix. It is a short stop motion character animation based on recordings
from a radio show in Northern Ireland. This animation is based on lip sync,
interaction between characters and the visualisation of something that is
already recorded. These factors ensure that this animation all relates to my
own 90 second production, Micetro.
The company
Flickerpix, is a small animation studio outside Belfast in Northern Ireland. As
it is a small company, people are given selected jobs but also help out with
other tasks. For example, the assistant animator assisted with storyboards,
model making and directing. With small companies, such as Flickerpix, this
needs to be done. It is essential that everyone involved multi tasks.
There is a big team
for the production consisting of production manager, audio researchers,
character designer, background artist, storyboard artist, model-makers,
animators, post production team and, of course, the director. But, only 8 or 9
people were in the studio at one time. As the studio is small there is little
space for such a huge team. So, members who are needed come in when scheduled
to.
As with any
production, the team is given strict deadlines so there is no over run. The
production requires everyone to work together efficiently, so that no one holds
anyone else back. For example, if the character designs aren't finished in
time, the model maker can't make the models which then holds up the animator.
Any slight delay has a knock on effect.
As the animation is
based on pre-recorded clips from a radio show, the company rely heavily on
animatics for each episode, to help with timing. Surprisingly, the company do
not use dope sheets but import the audio files into the software and look at
the waveform to help them to get it in sync.
The whole
production costs around 150k to 200k.
As a result of my
research, I am aware that small companies will hire people who can do multiple
things at a high level, and are able to assist with different departments and
probably most important of all, work as part of a team. Also, time management
is essential, especially for this small company. As they have such a small
space to work in, people have to come in when they were scheduled and finish
when scheduled so nothing gets behind.
The studio could easily become over crowded with people waiting to start
their next job! Time management and keeping to a schedule is essential for any
production, but especially a small company such as Flickerpix. With Flickerpix
being a small company I can relate to their importance of time management and
scheduling. If one of my team members does not complete a task on schedule or
doesn’t do it to a high enough level
then it delays the whole project. As “On The Air” is an animation of a pre
recorded radio programme, there was no one talking over someone else, as radio
has to be clear for people to hear. This means less time at pre production
organizing dope sheets for lip sync. Yet, this is essential for my production
because of the layering of voices so I can't really learn from Flickerpix's
experience.
Finally,
I feel that by examining Flickerpix's procedures I have learnt much which will
help me with Micetro now and, more importantly, inform my future career.
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