Progress

Things have taken a bit of a turn with the logo. I'vemodified it even further upon discussion with my partners as well as some of my classmates. Mai came over today and gave a few pointers and opinions on what looked good and didn't and that solidified what I believed. With that new logo now, it is already up on our facebook page and youtube and I've begun work on the main landing page.

So far it is clean, simple, employing and carrying out design elements found in the logo throughout the page.

some earlier variations i played with:

Project Update

The current animation can be viewed here:

http://www.andrewhainen.com/ip

Currently, it opens with a slow animation, then gets to a loop.  Once you click, it goes to the next scene.  I need to add transitions between videos and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do that technically.  Flash is proving to be difficult once again.

I messed up the rendering the first time to the looping satellite doesn't quite go 360 degrees.  (This all makes much more sense if you watch the video.)

progress

I've been working on different versions of the logo for icons, backgrounds on social media sites, etc. One is more vertically oriented and the other horizontal. There were some further revisions done to the logo such as bolding text and making the logo vector match more closely in style to the typeface which connected the two pieces more closely. I'm having the logo reference slightly more our work in video production with the hint of the reel as the leg of the h. So far so good.

Here is the background for the youtube page:

And also I have already begun work on the styleguide, laying out purposes, detailing of mood, and delving into typeface and color. The next step is to carry on with the styleguide and work on the initial landing page of the main website.

Progress Update- Elyse Shapiro

This week I have started to execute a lot of the hand-work necessary for me to create my model. For the graphic layer of homes in the suburbs of Detroit, I have taken some of my photographs and photoshoped them together to create one realistic looking street. I then altered the image to make it into the most simple black-and-white stencil I could to begin the delicate cutting process. The image thus far appears as such:

I have also began to draw the outter layer print which will appear as a microscopic view of the gravel beneath it. The pattern is been created into a repeat and is being drawn onto mylar. The in-process photos currently appear as:

Progress Update - Monica Ross

I am testing out color for scenes!
There are two major differences between this image and the images in my animation. The linework will be more prevalent and the backgrounds will be traditionally colored.
But I think it will look good.

I'm also breaking down individual movements. Trying to work out all of the technical difficulties early on, so make things easier later.

Here is my first page of story boarding. As of today, I am completely finished with the rough story board. Tomorrow, I'm going to make a rough animatic. Then it's back to the drawing board for revisions.

Project Update

My project is in two major areas:

• The technical challenge
• The animation/story

The Technical Challenge
So, this week (with the help of a friend) I was able to make some progress one of the technical aspects, that being how to record SMS text messages into a database.

1. Go to "http://www.andrewhainen.com/phptest/twilio/sms/app-sms.php"
2. From your phone, send a text message to the number (415) 599-2671.  In the text body, write the number "8850-7927" (dash included) and then write whatever you want.  (e.g. IP is a cool class)
3. Go back to that website from step 1 and you will see your text displayed along with your phone number.

It is a sketchy way of doing it right now, but that's because I haven't purchased a phone number from this company yet.  After I do that, one doesn't have to type in the PIN.

The next step is sending the amount of texts received over to Flash, and then having the animation determine what to do.

The Animation/Story

I was/am totally stuck on this part.  The issue:

My story will play out and at a certain point the viewer will have to help out (text in) to get the protagonist's story to finish.  So, if there's X amount of texts stored, then he can proceed.  If there's less than X amount of texts, then his quest takes a different route.

I'm bouncing back and forth between countless story ideas trying to find a non-gimmicky way to entice the viewer to text in more, and make it compelling and believable.  One of the biggest changes I've made is simplifying what the protagonist wants (good guy must catch the bad guy scenario) because it was making my life hell trying to find a reason why the viewer wanted to really help out the story.

Screenshot of model I'm working on for setting:

Long ways to go, but making progress.

5 ideas & development

I took my top 5 logo ideas and presented them to Prof. Doug Hesseltine, who agreed with my sentiments that the logo should remain abstract and not directly reference film reel, video, or a house. There were a few that he encouraged me to pursue as opposed to others. Taking those to the computer for finalization enabled me to explore and "sketch" once more in the program and come up with a few more ideas.

Those ideas I presented to my peers and business partners and they particularly liked one which they told me to pursue and work on a bit more. A few versions later brings more of the finished version, and now the task of color awaits.

some of the initial sketches:

the sketches stylized in the computer, along with brainstorming new ideas that came into mind:

the top left idea of the prior image was the most favorable, so i went into further editing and revisiting:

the top row was revisited andfinalized further to this:

and now we are playing with color

natalie freilich

Current Ideas (ahainen)

Project Premise (Tech)

• Viewer watches an animation
• At point in story, character needs X amount of something to be able to continue.
• Viewer can text a message to a phone number and that adds +1 to the X amount of things the character needed.
• Once X amount of something reaches threshold (e.g. 500 texts), character can progress, ending animation plays.

Link to image: http://i.imgur.com/LrOql.jpg

Story Premise (Work in Progress)

• We find character (Gus, young boy) living at a desolate, out of operation gas station in the middle of the desert.  Gus has become bored and lonesome.
• Flashback to Gus at home a long time ago wishing he could run away (reasons TBD).  One morning he gets his wish and wakes up at this gas station in the middle of nowhere.
• Gus loves it, meets humanoid gas pump named Corley there.  After awhile Gus becomes lonesome and bored with nothing happening, arrive back at opening shot.
• On the road is a sign pointing back to his hometown and that it's 100 miles away.  Gus determines that he wants to get back home, but has no way of getting there without getting stranded in the desert.
• Story gets to a loop/pivot where Gus finds a way home but it's not functional. e.g. An old car that could run if it had gas, viewer texts in to start gas flowing to the gas station.
• Once Gus has enough gas or the ability to get home provided by the user - instead of leaving he wakes up back at home and values it much more.

Animation Style (Technical demo)

• Storybook animation.  Short, simple sequences play out and get to a screensaver-type loop and then viewer clicks next "page" to see the next sequence.
• Text and possible voiceover narration integrated for storytelling.
• Modeled in 3D, but made to look 2D.  Simplistic style, flat color shading.

Working style, feel.  (Detail coming next)