Individual Contribution in Projection Mapping Theme

Collection and Distribution of Information and tasks

I was apparently appointed as a theoretical leader for the group and so I started to see what we did or didn’t need. Through many papers I managed to section out what needed to be done and who would be the best candidate. Even though we are a big group we lack in quality.

Client's Limitations

I outlined the client’s limitations as not to lead us out of point in the narrative. Later made a list of specific emotions that we could convey in the projection.

Unity - Happiness – Kindness - Love – Generosity – Connection – Appreciation - Caring – Compassion - Peace

Researching Maltese Symbols and Landscapes

Before creating the storyboard I wanted to get a feel of what it is to be Maltese so I researched some images so that I could incorporate them in our story. Below are a few Examples.

Development of the story 

The story put forth was mainly created by me and Chiara and  cutting loose ends with the help of the rest of the group, I wrote the first draft and reviewed and amended the second to have what we have now.

Final Draft

1-4 Boy is going through the usual mundane Christmas party; later the boy has to wee and goes to the toilet. On the way up the stairs he notices a big blue tail rush into his room. The boy goes to investigate - it's a blue rock thrush. The boy is left in awe, He then has a brief discussion with the bird which later leads him onto his luzzu(carriage) driven by 4 donkeys(ħmura tas-salib). The Merrill hops on the driver seat of the Luzzu parked outside the bedroom window. The boy excitedly jumps into the back seat of the luzzu. The Merrill takes the reins in his wings/arms and whips to direct the donkeys into motion. Sparkly pretty stars fly from the sides of the Luzzu (mimicking waves it creates when it is at sea)

5.1Value of Giving/Kindness - Together they proceed to a village, Ħal Qormi, simultaneously time travelling to the 1800s. There they see the first Christmas emotion that is kindness – a beggar is sitting on a street corner next to a bakery, the baker walks out and notices the shivering beggar and takes pity on her. The baker makes a basket with food and provisions and a thick quilt, and takes it out to the beggar. The beggar accepts it thankfully. Promptly the baker covers the beggar’s shoulders with the thick quilt and sits next to her so that she is not alone on Christmas Eve. The Merill whips the reins once again and they fly off to another location.

5.2 Value of Unity – They stop in another village and the luzzu is lowered close to a scene in the late 1970’s where we see a group of children playing with a ball in the street. One of the boys kicks the ball which accidentally flies into another boy’s face, hitting him. The boy who got hit by the ball gets angry and runs towards the other boy to start a fight. The boy draws his hand to throw a punch to the other kid, but as soon as the other kid notices this, he extends his arm out in a peaceful gesture like he is saying that he is sorry about the accident. The other boy cools down instantly and they embrace in unity and friendship and continue to play.

5.3 Value of Love (family oriented) – The luzzu flies away magically again, it glides by the Mosta Dome and proceeds to a street where it stops by the window of a small house. There the Merill and the boy look inside the house and we see a large family with children and grandparents all drinking and eating merrily, celebrating the festivities together. The children are playing with the toys they just got for Christmas. Everyone is listening to music and hugging, drinking, eating, enjoying Christmas together as a family - showing the values of family, unity and togetherness.

6 The boy and the thrush, still sitting in the luzzu glance over the scenes as they rotate one by one in front of them (or the three views at once). The Thrush whips the reins once again and the donkeys drive the luzzu back to the boy's home.

7 Time Filler – How long it takes to go home depends on the time frame, we can be creative in abstract terms.

8 The boy returns home, saying goodbye to the Thrush and pats the donkey's on their back as a thank you gesture. When he gets into the house he is seen remembering the values that he learnt on his travels and is seen appreciating what he has and practicing the lessons he learnt.

Inspirational Artwork

Though everyone had their own opinion on what kind of art we were going to use in the projection we all settled on something a little weird but massively creative. I started to look at works by Tim burton such as the nightmare before Christmas and other iconic styles and feelings such as the Grinch, Harry Potter and Okami amongst others.

Sketching 

I didn’t have that much time to contribute to the artworks but I did take the blue rock thrush under my wing (Pun not intended). Haven’t sketched in quite a while but I tried to do my part to get a better feel of what I had in my head and also to show the others. Chiara had already created some concept sketches but I felt it needed to be changed in order to blend well with the horse styles.

Sorry for bad Qualty

Illustration

I later converted my sketches into illustrations to get better detail and maybe set up for some animations.

 I also created a bird flight path split into frames so Yanika would be able to  animate it, though I didn’t include as much frames as I would have like, and the consistency between sketches are a little sketchy.

Review

It was time again to review what we had done, and we were all over the place so I structured what we had and defined what was left so that Jean would be able to structure the presentation properly.

Animation Types

Here is where I wanted to set the animations types we were going to use in stone. So I split both animations into 2 one for the static 2D elements in a 3D environment which would be based of hearthstone and one for the 2D Side Scroller.

2D Side Scroller

As a last ditch effort I created the side scroller background so Yanika could animate the boy running up the stairs, but it turned out a little shoddy. Not due to her skill but time limitations.

Structuring story and other possible improvements

Detailed the exact scenes with a each specific style

Step by step Visualisation of the animation

Scenes and Art/Style

• Transition - Introduction

• 2D in 3D – Boy is having an ordinary Christmas Dinner with his family.

• Transition to Platform-

• Platform – The boy gets bored and runes up into his room.

• Transition to 2D in 3D -

• 2D in 3D – The boy interacts with the Blue Rock Thrush.

• Transition to Platform -

• Platform – The boy and the Thrush climb aboard the luzzu ready for their adventure.

• Platform – They later navigate through the sky and stumble upon the first scene.

• Transition to 2D in 3D –

• 2D in 3D – Baker Scene

• Transition to platform – They rise out of the scene and venture forth to another one.

• 2D in 3D – Fight Scene

• Transition to platform – They rise out of the scene and venture forth to another one.

• 2D in 3D – Loving Family Scene

• Transition to platform – They rise out of the scene and venture forth to another one.

• 2D in 3D – The boy and thrush gaze on the 3 scenes at once.

• ***************LIVE FEED***************

• Transition to Platform –

• Platform – Boy and Thrush head back home

• Platform – Boy runs down stairs to meet family

• Transition to 2D in 3D -

• 2D in 3D – Boy relishes in how lucky he is to be 

Defined Characters

Created the list of characters that would be needed in the scenes

• Boy

• Mother

• Grandfather

• Grandmother

• Father

• Blue Rock Thrush

• Hmar 1, 2, 3, 4

• Baker

• Beggar

• Kid 1

• Kid 2

• Mother 2

• Father 2

• Kid 3

• Kid 4

Additional Points Discussed

•           Story will begin in black and white and end in an overdose of colours.

•           We Need a British Narrator to narrate the story, may be in poems.

•           Narration will only occur during 2D in 3D scenes.

•           Platform will be based on current art (Chiara) 2D in 3D will be more detailed but utilizing the same style.

•           Platform mechanics Reference - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u87xPRnGLA4

•           2D in 3D animation Reference - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgcQCsQKbCc

Created Character profile Template

This will be used to give meaning to the characters personalities so that everyone would get on board

• Name :

• Surname :

• Race :

• Eye Colour :

• Hair Colour :

• Skin Colour :

• Pro:

• Con:

• Sounds:

• What does the character want out of life?

• Character's role in the novel?

Defined art styles to be used

Mood Board and Presentation

Story Board Provided by Thomas