WEEK 1
9/17
Today I will begin storyboarding and designing the character and props for the short. Decide on 1.85:1 Aspect ratio and utilize photoshop for drawing frames. Really evaluate what I want to accomplish with this assignment and allocate my resources so that I can focus on the look development aspect of this project.
9/18
First day of class. My writer will begin writing the story that goes along with the concept. This will focus on one aspect of the character’s journey. Begin ordering the items with significance, visual entrance and space in mind.
9/19
Prepare website and production schedule for class. I will continue working and refining the storyboard. Updates to the story. Research for the items for reference of material and form. Keeping in mind what sort of things will be accomplishable for the quarter.
9/20
Class #2 – Will have the website, production schedule and storyboard WIPs ready as well as reference for all objects. Potential challenges in references are – references for the dragon’s tail – dragon’s being mythical there might not be many great references and therefore will have to be heavily art directed – extra designing will go into the material and sculpted qualities of this asset. Also, many of the objects might only have 1 or 2 photos of reference because of the specific genre I have chosen. Intense research into the Tibetan culture, languages and weaponry will be required to have a convincing set of items.
9/21
Today I will begin working on fixes from class #2 critique. Cleaning up the storyboard is the priority. Potential issues with the storyboard will be trying to convey the subtle movements of the camera and the objects of the story.
9/22
Continue cleaning up the storyboard – Create a synopsis for the story a 1-2 sentence explanation of what I am trying to convey. A challenge here is I must have a pretty convincing back story to successfully pitch my concept because it will essentially be the only narrative element of my project.
9/23
Begin updated the designs and storyboard based on class critique. Several of the designs are completely repainted, some are just updated. Implement basic lighting and materials into the drawings since these will be important to the goals of the project. Begin the 3D animatic version of the storyboard. Rough models of all assets – Rough materials and lighting on assets that require reflection and specular queues for pacing.
9/24
Send off the model for SHOT03 to the FX artist for preliminary testing. Render and cut together the 3D animatic. Update website with new work since last class. Better organize references and storyboard page.
WEEK 2
9/25
Class #3 Prepare website and presentation for class critique. Check in with FX artist on progress for Smoke Simulation tests.
9/26
Recut animatic for next class as well as website and production schedule. Check in with FX artist on smoke progress.
9/27
Class #4 -Begin to address critique from class. Have smoke test ready. Begin testing the Houdini – Renderman workflow, consider basic compositing for FX.
9/28
Finalize model for SHOT03. Begin texturing using Maya, Photoshop, Substance Painter. Displacement in Zbrush. Check in with writer on story progress. Send feedback on FX based on class critique. Update website for class.
9/29
Class #5 FX artist is updating smoke sim. Begin Modeling the cloth for SHOT01. Fur tests experimenting with Ornatrix, Xgen, and Houdini. Finalize research for SHOT01 references.
9/30
Begin rendering Smoke simulation and SHOT03. Continue working on R&D for cloth and fur
10/1
Test renders of cloth and fur dynamics for SHOT01 – texturing cloth while tests are simulating. Update website for class. Update animatic with SHOT03 — change pacing and order if necessary. Implement animatic feedback from last class.
WEEK 3
10/2
Cloth / fur dynamics test for – Using a base model take the cloth model into Maya’s cloth system and lay the cloth – convert the new cloth back to polygons and send to zbrush for additional detailing before texturing. Class #6
10/3
Address feedback for A2 work, Shot list, animatic and reworked production schedule. Work on cloth and fur continued.
10/4
Updated story and animatic for class. Updated cloth/fur tests.
10/5
Begin rendering cloth based on feedback from class. Update lighting queues, composition and pacing based on class critique.
10/6
Have my modeler begin modeling the dragon’s tail sculpt. Cloth/Fur still rendering – Animation and material testing for the dragon’s tail(SHOT06) Work on creating turntables for all assets regardless of progress.
10/7
Continue rendering cloth. Check in on dragon’s sculpt. Should have extra time here for potential complications and simplification of dragon model and animation if needed.
10/8
Continue rendering cloth. Check in on dragon’s sculpt. Update website. Update production schedule. Continue turntables for all assets.
WEEK 4
10/9
Class #8 – Cloth render update for class. Dragon tail model for class. Turntable assets for class. Dragon tail texturing and animation
10/10
Dragon tail texturing and animation. Evaluate feedback from critique for each asset. Dragon tail test render.
10/11
Dragon tail test render for class. Turntables for class.
10/12
Fixes based on critique – This will be an appropriate time to go back to SHOT01 or SHOT03 if needed.
10/13
Fixes based on critique – This will be an appropriate time to go back to SHOT01 or SHOT03 if needed. Work on dragon updates.
10/14
Begin goggles sculpt and materials. Begin dragon render. Update turntables final renders for class 10
10/15
Continue goggles sculpt and materials. Continue dragon render. Update website – post turntable updates and progress on assets.
WEEK 5
10/16
Show all asset’s progress for class – including updated goggle sculpt.
10/17
Finish texturing and lighting of the goggles. Find an HDRI that can be used for this shot – need elevated level of detail in the reflection without being distracted by the environment that’s reflected. Update website with progress.
10/18
Add goggles test to the animatic for class with materials. Update website with progress.
10/19
Begin rendering the goggles using Renderman for Maya. Begin modeling the necklace and sword – Simple modeling – elevated level of detail required though so the forms don’t turn out too simple. The most challenge part of these models will be the decorative elements on the top of the sword and the fossil that is the focus of the necklace. Update website with progress.
10/20
Class #12 – Render the goggles (this is potentially a longer render because of the glass lenses). Modeling the necklace and the sword continued. Make test materials for various parts of the necklace and sword. Borrow some materials from other assets – the Gold flecks from the bowl can be the base for the gold of the necklace and the gold leaf symbols on the sword.
10/21
Continue rendering Finish sword and necklace models – Render low resolution flipbook and throw into animatic. Prepare model for texturing, UV if needed. Begin finalizing camera movements and find quick FX tests for shots that haven’t been begun yet.
10/22
Final Rendering for goggles – Begin Lantern Model. Keeping in mind the soft body dynamics of the Lantern’s tassels when modeling. Send the test model to FX artist for preliminary testing.
WEEK 6
10/23
Class #13 Show results from goggles render as well as sword and necklace renders. Update animatic with roughed in FX – Finish final camera animations.
10/24
Begin texturing and lighting the lantern – heavy level of detailing on this one – Need to have some sort of animated light source inside of the lantern. Keep in mind the SSS in the cloth material of the lantern as well as the patterning. Use the same bead materials from previous shots with beading. Update website.
10/25
Class #14 WIP2 for A4 is due –
10/26
Check in on Soft Body Dynamics for the lantern’s tassels. Using Houdini for this shot so basic compositing between the FX and renderman materials. Have a FX test for class – Rendering assets. Update website for class.
10/27
Rendering assets – Begin basket model. Material test for wicker – should be simple, focus on interesting lighting.
10/28
Basket model – Continue tassels work and updates from feedback
10/29
Finish basket model, Material test for wicker continued. Update website
WEEK 7
10/30
Class #15 Show results from basket progress and Lantern FX progress
10/31
Finalize Basket Material. Render turnarounds for final assets. Update Website.
11/1
Be rendering whatever is needed(Most likely Basket) Update materials from class critiques – Sword. Render turnarounds for final assets.
11/2
Render updated assets. Update materials from class critiques – Necklace. Render turnarounds for final assets.
11/3
Render updated assets. Update materials from class critiques – Lantern. Render turnarounds for final assets.
11/4
Rendering continued. Sound. Additional FX compositing, and post. Render turnarounds for final assets.
11/5
Show rendering progress with updated animatic. Update website
WEEK 8
11/6
Continued rendering progress. Post production tweaks.
11/7
Check with writer on story progress. Any final post production editing. Sound. Update website.
11/8
Editing and sound
ONE WEEK LEFT
11/9 – 11/16
Extra time to fix anything, edit, panic and finalize 😊
Tashi 