Introduction to the assignments and course outline

In this course, which will cover both 3rd and 4th semesters, we will be dealing primarily with environmental location design, layout, and storyboarding. I will be giving some lectures on character design but this will not be a graded component of the course.

We will be concentrating on two specific productions utilizing each of the elements listed above. These will be "Frankenstein" and another, to-be-determined.

Each production will require the design of an environment in the form of 2 location designs and a ceiling design, 3 primary props from the location design in the form of a 3/4 view, a plan view and an elevation view, a brief storyboard sequence of roughly 7 - 10 scenes from a given story outline, and 3 layouts.

For the Frankenstein story, we will begin with an establishing shot of the laboratory. This can be a stationary shot or a panning BG, either vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. If you want to be really adventurous, try combining two or three directions into one scene. You can also use a truck-in if you want. You will then move through the lab, past all sorts of cool machines, weird scientific equipment, beakers, test tubes and stuff towards the main focal point which will be the mad scientist standing at a table with a large glass tub filled with fluid and a brain! He adjusts some dials and throws some switches (or if you are also designing the "Igor" character, you can show him throwing switches). Cut to various shots of different machines sparking with energy, meters moving, etc. Finally, we show the monster on the table and the mad scientist standing above him with the brain in hand laughing maniacally as he places the brain into the empty skull cavity. He (or Igor) throws one final switch and the energy begins pulsing into the monster's body.

The 1st semester will consist of 15 classes with both lectures and work periods as well as one-on-one with me to look at your work in progress. Here's the class schedule:

Week 1
Fri Sept. 7th
Frankenstein
Intro to course & review of assignment requiements
Begin Location Designs
What is Character Design?
A Brief History of Character Design
Design Styles

Week 2
Fri Sept. 14th
Floor plans
Basic Principles - Shapes
Basics of Perspective (review)
2 point Perspective
Spheres into Boxes

Week 3
Fri Sept. 21st
Props
Spheres & Cylinders - Head Shapes
Elements of the Head
Expressions and Emotions - Part 1
Drawing Stereotypes

Week 4
Fri Sept. 28th
Elevations
Body Shapes
Parts of the Body
Focus on Hands
Concept Drawing

Week 5
Fri Oct. 5th
Final review of Location Designs before hand-in
Thought process - Character Worksheet
Body Rotations
Dynamic Posing

Week 6
Fri Oct. 12th
Concept Designs
Posing
Location Designs Due (worth 20%)

Week 7
Fri Oct. 19th
Review of Storyboarding Principles
Begin blocking out the Storyboard
Basics of Sculpting

Week 8
Fri Oct. 26th
Refining Designs
Purpose & Types of Model Sheets
Choosing Your Poses
Shot Selection
Storyboards 1

Week 9
Fri Nov. 2nd
Storyboards 2

Week 10
Fri Nov. 9th
Creating Your Model Sheets
Begin Layouts
Storyboards Due (for selection of 3 layouts)

Week 11
Fri Nov. 16th
Putting together the story reel
Layout 1

Week 12
Fri Nov. 23rd
(I will be away this class, so it will be an independant work period)
Layout 2
Timing the story reel

Week 13
Fri Nov. 30th
Layout 3

Week 14
Fri Dec 7th
Final review of Layouts

Week 15
Fri Dec 14th
Hand in Storyreel on DVD. (worth 30%)
Hand in Final Production Bible with revised Location Designs, and Layouts (worth 70%)

These are the componants that are to be included in your final Production Bible:

• Storyboards from given outline above presented in story reel form on DVD (worth 30%)

• 2 Location Designs (worth 20%)
• 3 Prop Designs (worth 10%)
• 3 Layout drawings of views inside the location design (worth 30%)
• Overall professional presentation (worth 10%)

• Your Production Bible is to be printed in booklet form: 8 1/2" x 11" with appropriate binding (i.e. spiral or cerlox binding - staples are not acceptable).
• Be sure all artwork is consistantly oriented to the binding, i.e. - if your binding is in "landscape format", all interior art must also be in landscape.
• Front and back covers must be on card stock with the title of production (Frankenstein), your name, and an appropriate illustration from your production on the front cover.
• DO NOT hand print your title and name on the cover! It must be typed on a computer (Unless you generated a hand drawn font for the title, which should be scanned and then printed).
• Artistic elements may be in color or just line artwork.
• Be sure your artwork is clean and professional looking. Bad scans and poor photography will not be accepted and will receive a failing grade.
• Make sure your artwork is the appropriate size for the page and the composition is correct as per in class instructions.
• Place DVD in a paper sleeve or pocket attached to the inside front cover, (be sure the DVD is labeled with your name clearly printed on it),
• DVD must be playable in a DVD player (drop & play). Do not create a menu unless your software authoring package gives you no choice).
• Do not submit a .mov or .avi file on a CD

The Bibles will initially be ranked for overall appeal and then graded on individual elements.

Bibles are due the final week of classes - (no extensions... you have 15 weeks).

Critical hand-in dates:
Week 6 -
Location Designs & Props Due (worth 30% of the final 70%)

Week 10 -
Storyboards Due (for selection of 3 layouts - not for grading!)

Week 15 -
Hand in Storyreel on DVD. (worth 30%)
Hand in Final Production Bible with revised Location Designs, Props, and Layouts (worth 70%)

Reviews of your work-in-progress will take place throughout the semester during each class, please follow the schedule outlined above.
I'll be doing this assignment for the 2nd semester Production Art course as well and post my work in progress here.

Note: If any assignment is not handed in by the deadline (beginning of class) you will be deducted 10%. If it is not ready by the end of class, it will be deducted 20%. If it has not been received by e-mail by 6:00 PM the same day it will be deducted 30% By the next day 6:00 - 50%, and by the third day 6:00 - 100%.