What Matters Most

A blog dedicated to the short student film, "What Matters Most" by Cassandra Marsolais.

[casmarsolais]

The final version of my student film, "What Matter Most". I learned a lot making this short. Not only technical aspects, but also about myself as an artist, and the potential of my growth. I grew as a human being making this film. It was, at the same time, the most stress-inducing, hair pulling experience in all of my life; but it was also one of the best things to ever happen to me. I'm happy I saw this journey until the end.

[casmarsolais]

Timing submission!

The sound ends really abruptly, and is overall lacking--it’s one of the things on my to do list for the upcoming week!

[casmarsolais]

Lightning test in after effects!

I also moved the clouds and the water ever so slightly, to give an impression of movement.

[casmarsolais]

More backgrounds for my film~

[casmarsolais]

I saw Vincent’s Turntable, and realized I completely forgot to upload one for Cestmyr! So here’s the second prince of my film. He changed from his original design, but I feel this version has more flair, so it ended up working nicely with my film.

Also, for those who are curious: his name originates from an intended pun. If you write out his title and name together, it reads as Prince Cestmyr. (PrinceCes)tmyr. Princess. Because you think it’s a Princess in the tower at the end. But it’s not. It’s really more of an inside joke than anything.

[casmarsolais]

Black and White Test

Vincent gets lost in a few of these shots, so I’ll have to up the contrast!

[casmarsolais]

Some of my backgrounds I updated for my film~ 

[casmarsolais]

Work Print I will be presenting to tonight’s industry panel!

If Tumblr is being difficult: link!

And also: link!

[casmarsolais]

And submission for the latest deadline!~

And, just in case Tumblr is being difficult with playing the video: link!

*EDIT*

I forgot to add the checklist I had to work on for this submission! So here it is:

1. Vincent (the Prince on the journey) Did not seem like he was looking around enough in the first scene. I tried to add some head animation in hopes to convey this feeling better.

2. I edited the exchange between Vincent and Cestmyr (the blonde prince) at the end, because, as Sam B. and Sam L. noted, there should be close ups to the two of them. Not only does it help ease into the cut to their hands in the last sequence, it enhances the “exchange” between the two of them.

3. Working on the Brentshot very closely with Brent, to make it work before the deadline!

4. I put my placeholder backgrounds into my film, like Alison asked. vuv

5. I fixed up Vincent’s static pose when he’s looking up at Cestmyr in the tower, after Cestmyr acknowledges he is there.

Those were the things I tackled, along with giving a general push on my animation!

[casmarsolais]

Rough submission!

Truthfully, I am not really happy with it...there’s a lot I could have pushed or worked more on. The rough stage is the part I dislike the most in animation, so I’ll admit it was difficult for me to work on this. But I am handing something in, so I am happy for that at least.

This will definitely be getting a thorough work-through!

[casmarsolais]

Temporary poster, until it’s prettied up!~

[casmarsolais]

Blocking Submission for grading!

Added in some different walk cycles, and properly blocked out the Brent Shot. The music stops abruptly at the end; I will be fixing this tomorrow at the latest.

Cheers!

[casmarsolais]

Walkcycles_Workprint_01

Started blocking some walk cycles!

Walk cycles workprint~ Dealth with a lot of technical things in the past week, so I’m happy to get back into a good production grove! My first take on some working walk cycles!

[casmarsolais]

Work Print_01

Layout/work print submitted for grading.

Layout/work print submitted for grading!~

I had to work around one of the scenes as a temporary fix for some rig issues with Cestmyr (Prince Firepants). And of course, certain things are placeholders, as my backgrounds will be in 2D rather than 3D. Still, it’s nice to see a first stab at my characters in 3D program!

[casmarsolais]

Updated film with layout playblasts and music~

[casmarsolais]

Finally, after a lot of struggling, and with the greatly appreciated help of a friend, my prince is finally ready for the spotlight~

[casmarsolais]

Industry Night Review

Overall, I would say my review with Industry night went rather well. Of course, I still have a long way to go before I can declare anything is perfect, or ready-to-go. However from what I have gathered from the panel itself, I’m on the right track. Which is always a relieving thing to hear.

The main points made by the panel of people from the industry were pretty straightforward. A small technical detail of my film’s direction from screen right to screen left. We register things better going from left to right, which makes sense, considering we read that way. So I would have to mirror it, an easy fix. Furthermore, they said I could make my film only 45 seconds, keep the same story, but have the second half of my film be a “making of”, to show off the skills I want to show (concept works, research, etc.). My work could also very well be my calling card into getting a lot of people interested in hiring me; or so they said (very flattering, but I know I can still improve).

On that particular note, they also told me to lower the amount of animation in my film to a bare minimum. Make my character small on screen during the walking segments to really show off my environment concepts, with plenty of “still” poses to show off my character designs in ulterior sequences. For my environments, they also suggested I cut back on the number I have, but really embellish those that I choose to put in. So, instead of having seven to eight passable backgrounds, have maybe two or three that are really well executed.

At the end of the day, however, I still need a minute to a minute and a half worth of film. And out of that time, I need thirty-five seconds of polished animation. I really think the idea of having a “making of” for my final film is a sweet idea, which I will (maybe, most likely) do as a side project. But with the panel suggesting this, I realize that I do have skill for concept work, and I should do whatever I can to show this off during my film. I reviewed this feedback, along with the rest, with my professor today. He helped me figure out ways I can cut down on animation and time, but still have a presentable movie that meets the program’s requirements. That, and I really need to push the concepts I already have to their full potential. This means adding volume, thinking of the elements in the background and how I could play with them better (e.g. the lightning for my thunderous beach background). Other than that, I feel I need to keep a realistic output on the tasks I set to myself. Set up a minimum of what absolutely needs to be done, but try to surpass this bar I will set to go even further. In the next few days, I will be having a look at my old list of assets, and be prepping up a new one to follow over the course of the holiday break. A lot has changed while working on my film, so best I review that list anyways.

Story wise, my story is pretty straight-forward. There are little tweaks to be done, but, again, nothing too major to worry about.

I might add on to this as I work more throughout the holidays. My brain is a little fried by the end-of-semester-rush, so more in-depth insights might strike me at a later date.

A huge thank you to those who attended our Industry Night! And to our faculty, that makes such a thing as Industry Night a thing in the first place!