This is the first week of the last year of the Animation course I’m taking and we all get the wonderful pleasure of working on Animation projects that we the students develop ourselves. Basically the first few weeks of these semester we will be pitching our ideas and then narrowing them down to a few worthy of development. Then the development begins where we write and refine the scripts, develop the Animation bibles (model sheets of characters, environment and props), draw up storyboards and developing a plan of tackling sound design.

I’m not getting within 20 feet of the sound design. I can’t design sound save my life. Probably why I quit my music career way back before it could manifest into a horrible monster of doom, one probably seen in Angel: After the Fall.

Which is why we work in teams! Everyone works according to their skill sets and goals for the future. And that is my problem at the moment. I know Modeling and 3D Animation are a couple of my skill sets, but I also have to figure out what I can do that not many other people can do. What makes my skills special above and beyond the norm. Can’t do a cartwheel so that’s out. My mixed NY/Texan/Australian accent at the moment would make for a very strange voice actor.

I’ll think of something. I also have to hide the fact that I already wrote the script for my pitch, which is dialogue-less, if it should get chosen. Apparently I’m not meant to have a script until like week 5, according to their insanely stupid schedule. Apparently we’re not meant to even animate until next semester, which I find absolutely idiotic. Animation is so key to this project, I don’t see how we can afford to ignore it for that long.

Yes, my stress levels will go up exponentially over this year. I’m hoping for good things to come out of this.

Meanwhile, I’m keeping my eye on the development of Dollhouse. I know nothing is going to be leaked, but it’s kind of fun knowing that across the ocean great minds are meeting to develop what I know will be awesome. (Well, it’s guaranteed to be better than Heroes season 2 so that’s a start.) Yes, I’m a fangirl. But so is most of my Animation group… at least the ones that are girls (even some of the questionable ones). The rest of them are fanboys. We all have our weaknesses. Mine just happens to be one with plot.

When it comes to scriptwriting, everyone knows you need an outline, especially for longer pieces. You need to know the 5 w’s of every scene before you can write that scene, otherwise you find yourself lost in the dark, wandering around with no real direction. Some people may think outlines stifle creativity, but I beg to differ. Even with predetermined goals and outcomes, the events in scenes can really go anywhere. Characters can really take the scene places with their dialogue. As long as you reach your goal it doesn’t really matter how your characters get you there. Just try not to let them ramble on. There are still time constraints.

Outlining my short that I’m pitching for my final project helped me see the structure. It made it easier for me to pick out the weaker points so I could strengthen them.

I have yet to see Cloverfield, but I don’t think I will see it in the theaters. I’ll wait to maybe it’s out on rental. A number of people have argued though on the movie’s character development. Some people say there wasn’t enough while others say “It’s a monster movie! There’s no time for characters to have a heart to heart.” I really think that characters reveal themselves in such stressful situations in how they handle it. Maybe it’s the Japanese filmmaking influence on me, but a lot more can be spoken without words. Maybe it’s time we give actors more power over their characters? Or maybe the directors should be given them better direction? It’s an art, not a job.

Yes, I went and searched for images of the monster. I hate not knowing. Surprises often let you down.

The holiday season has a special way of sneaking up on us. A lot has changed since I last posted. Everything at the moment is “for the year” as next year we have absolutely no idea even what country I’ll be working in. I’d like to work at Pixar, but really who knows.

Anyway, enjoy the holidays and have a Happy New Year. The next time I’ll be posting will likely be on my new Macbook Pro, if it ever comes in.

The past few days have been quite horrible here. Even as I write I feel as if someone is drilling into my upper right sinus. Being sick gives one the opportunity to think, and watch TV, as there is nothing else better to do. Even more so when you have a partner in crime who is also very sick.

There’s been this huge desire to create lately, which of course happens at times when it less than ideal. I want to create life and emotion for others to enjoy. Yet, there is huge sense of wariness. Can I do it or will it turn into a huge pile of unspeakable, horrible goo? Frankly, I’m getting sick of the wariness. I want the power to do it. I want the confidence that I can succeed. I want to believe that I am, we are ready to tackle the world and entertain it until it begs for mercy and a tissue. After all, I’m still sick and contagious. So is my partner in crime.

Read Angel After the Fall 1. I regret to say illegally, but it is so hard to get comics here for decent prices that doesn’t include $20 S&H costs. Dragon. I dig dragons. They have flamey breath of breathy goodness. Some people are alive when they should be dead. Others are dead who should be alive. It makes my head hurt… more. In the good, perplexed way. Not more of the “Oh you have sinusitis! Let’s give you Rulide! Hope you’re not allergic to it, yet.” way.

There’s something to be said about sick people and blogs. Sick people should not be able to blog when… sick. They tend to babble on about nothing and make terrible typos and spelling inaccuracies. Almost gives an American the desire to stick a “u” in color. Almost.

Spent the past few days up at the beach. It was nice to get away from life and relax for a bit. Once we get our own laptop we’ll probably be spending a lot more time at the beach. We’ll have to figure out a plan for staying connected up there. The cost of the internet is unruly up the coast.

As far as the site goes I was going to add some Animation feeds to the sidebar, but there is just one too many Animation blogs out there and yet I have not found one I deemed worthy. So until I find an Animation blog that is without question awesome, it’s just going to have to stay this way.

The holidays are coming up and yet they just don’t feel the same since I’ve moved to Australia. Christmas in summer is something I still haven’t gotten used to and this is the third time in a row for me. I do like not having to clean my car off or wearing thousands upon thousands of layers, but sweaty Santa is still rather gross.

I hope all my fellow Americans enjoy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the last few moments before the shopping season. It’s such a brutal time of year.