We’re back for a new term, and I’m excited to dive into our first project: an advanced body mechanics shot. In our first week, George taught us the importance of planning our shot thoroughly. He emphasized that the initial idea should be simple and not overwhelming. Here’s a breakdown of the process he guided us through:
- Come Up with an Idea: The idea should be straightforward to keep the focus on mastering body mechanics.
- Find the Reference: Look for good reference materials that show the action clearly from multiple angles if possible.
- Shoot Our Own Reference: If you can perform the action yourself, record it for better insight.
- Create Thumbnails: Based on the research and references, sketch out the key poses and movements.
I decided to work on a skateboarding scene where the character jumps over a stairway. After searching online extensively, I found a reference video with the right angle and composition. Since I can’t skateboard, I didn’t record myself performing the action. Instead, I’ll be working closely with the reference video I found.
Here are the steps I took this week:
- Thumbnails: I sketched out the thumbnails to capture the key poses and movements of the skateboarding jump. This helps in visualizing the sequence before moving to 3D animation.
- First Blocking: I created the first blocking of the shot in Maya. Initially, my idea was for the character to jump and then panic upon seeing a car, making a leap to avoid it. However, George suggested simplifying the scene by focusing solely on the jump and ignoring the car.
George also advised changing the direction of the jump to avoid the character coming towards the camera. Instead, he suggested having the character enter from the right side of the shot, make the jump, and exit from the left. This change should help in maintaining a clear and engaging composition.
For next week, I need to apply these changes and add more poses to the blocking. This will involve refining the movements and ensuring that the jump looks natural and dynamic. I’m looking forward to seeing how these adjustments improve the shot!