2000 Fall ASIFA Central Newsletter
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FALL 2000 Exposing Yourself: It's All In the Timing and money. by Jim Middleton I have tried several varieties over the past years. Initially, I One of the most intimidating little gap. This is because it made a modification of the challenges to face either as a represents every single frame of example given in Kit writer or an animator is nothing film or video that is being Laybourne's excellent reference, more than a piece of pure The Animation Book r---·-_-~,-,_-~-.-------,_-(the.-:F :-1~998-t--' edition still white, plain, blank paper. Nothing can begin until you available and published make that first mark. One of by Three Rivers Press, the means I find helpful in 201 East 50th Street, A coming to grips with a project New York, NY 10022, is to approach it indirectly, to $24.95; mine was from Q toy with fussy details. To this the earlier 1979 U end, I turn to the venerable edition). I stayed with exposure sheet. the basic format, first A frame on top, running to Generally unnecessary if doing the bottom. Keeping R the "straight ahead" approach things as simple as T to animation, the exposure possi ble, there were sheet is indispensable if you E only a couple of rows to are doing anything involving R indicate sound and lip-synch, musical timing, or image, and of course a L pacing. It's one thing to y column to indicate the animate a walk= it becomes much easier if referring to an I"~::;;-,;'',''"-u::..~=-...,"'' .,.~• .•.•....s-= -~=<'-':..:-"'~''-----framel number (figure Figure 1 1). With this approach, p exposure sheet tells you the L_ ___l I was able to squeeze cycle has to be completed in U four seconds onto each page. 82 frames. Similarly, endless animated, For multiple cel For brief sequences this worked, B repetition of a piece of music animation, each layer of but the difficulty in keeping L will automatically tune you to animation is given its own track of the specific frames j the necessary timing or make column. However, for this brief became a problem (I found that you absolutely sick of the tune-• discussion, I will approach the C I could quickly lose count and or both. exposure sheet from the drop several frames at A An exposure sheet is generally viewpoint of the enthusiast, or inopportune places). I also T tied in with a storyboard. The student, working within the found that the top to bottom ! storyboard serves as an outline, constraints of both limited time o The exposure sheet fills in every All In the Timing (Middleton) continued on 3 N IMAX Cyberworld 3D now that I have stated the only thing that I didnft like about the o Reviewed by Charles Wilson movie, let us talk about what I F did like. I truly loved the other Honestly folks, while couple of minutes. Because this animation clips and found Cyberworld was a wonderful film was all about showcasing myself wishing to see these A film, I could have lived without some truly intriguing short films in their entirety, I S the Cyberworld Galleria technology, I would have been realize that these were older I segment where the hostess Phig happy with simple titles, or even films, retooled following F (voiced by Jenna Elfman) a Fantasia 2000 style live-action lMAX's specifications, but I A introduced the animated host to introduce the animations. loved watching them just the segments while fighting While the concept was same. The stereoscopic imaging I computer bugs. I didnft feel that interesting at first, it was process left me at the edge of C the film needed an animated difficult to understand what my seat during Flipbook, e vehicle to tie the segments Phig and the computer bugs Krakken, and Tonight's n together, especially one that were saying during their Performance. These films had a became distracting after the first interludes, I found myself good balance between rich t .-----I-n-s-i~d::.....e-th-is-I-wishings-s-u for-e the-- next ..., backgrounds and lively r animated segment characters. I found the 3D effect Allin the Timing whenever Phig or easier to see during the long a IMAX Cyberworld 3 the bugs came I Ottawa: Bad Craziness shots of waterfalls and flying Stressed Animation Part II onscreen. fortresses, But by far, the easiest and much more ... Well, FALL 2000 IMAX (Wilson) continued on 3 Letter from the Editor by Jennifer Eldred ASIFAI~ Volunteers and Members be sure to 2001. If you would like to contribute, Project Leaders renew your volunteer or apply to be a presenter at the ASIFAICentral Conference please contact the Conference Newsletter Designer/Editor & membership. All Chair, Melissa Bouwman at Vice President 2000 memberships [email protected] See future Jennifer Eldred, [email protected] are up for renewal Frame by Frames for Conference on December 31. registration forms and agendas. President / Webmaster The renewal Randall Rockafellow application can be As we come to the end of another year, I [email protected] found on the back would like to thank all of the contributing of this edition. writers who help keep ASIFAICentral Treasurer Don't miss a beat, renew today! members informed and connected Deanna Morse. [email protected] (Membership for 2001 starts on January 1 throughout the year. Keep those great and continues till December 31,2001.) articles coming! Conference Chair 2001 Melissa Bouwman, Plans are underway for the 2001 Happy Holidays! ASIFAICentral Conference and Retreat -J~61ktJ. [email protected] so be sure to mark your calendars for the The deadline for the Winter 2001 Edition Conference being held April 27 - April 29, Membership Coordinator of Frame by Frame is January 15, 2001. Tom Brierton ASIFA Opens First Indian Chapter [email protected] by Michael Saltzman Reel Coordinator Jim Schaub, [email protected] (October 16, 2(00) It was announced today communication form, opens with 20 that ASIFA Central in Zagreb, Croatia, the members. Tentatively, the new chapter's StoryBoard Contest only internationally sanctioned organization board includes; Bill Dennis as president, Mary Lou Haynes, [email protected] for animation, will open a chapter in India. Suhael Merchant from Toonsense Studios This new chapter will be located in the city as vice president, and Cathy Peza, Toonz Web site Design: of Trivandrum within the Indian state of Animation India's studio manager, as Rita Dobias, [email protected] Kerala, home of Toonz Animation India. treasurer. The first meeting of ASIFA India will occur during The 2nd Annual Week With The ASIEI\, an organization for professional Web site: Masters Animation Celebration, Toonz animators, has grown to over 1700 http:/www.asifaorglanimate Animation India's high profile animation members in 55 countries during its 4O-year festival, held October 30 - November 3, history. The national chapters maintain the E-mail: [email protected] 2000. most immediate and direct contact with members, many, like the American regional ASIFAICentral Conference: Heading up ASIFA's newest chapter is Bill groups, with their own monthly newsletters April 27 - April 29, 200l Dennis, president and CEO ofToonz and screenings. ASIFA provides the linkage Animation India. Dennis comes to ASIFA's between all the chapters as well as a direct To contribute or volunteer contact: chapter with almost three decades of connection to International events such as Randy Rockafellow experience in the animation industry, animation festivals and seminars. For more E-mail: [email protected] having worked on such animated classics information on ASIFA, refer to their as, "The Lion King," "Beauty and the website at http://asifa.net. Beast," "Aladdin," and "The Little To join ASIFAICentral: Mermaid." For more information on The Second Send a check (payable in US dollars Annual Week with The Masters please visit to ASIFA/Central) to the address on The Indian chapter, which will be devoted their website at the back of this newsletter. to the encouragement and dissemination of www.toonzanimationindia.com film animation as an art and ASIF41Celltrai Miuion Statement ASI F. \: Association lnternationale du Fi/111 d' Animation The purpose of AS/FA/Central is to promote the art of animation locally and internationally and to promote communication among Printed in the U.S.A on recycled animators and between animators and devotees. - adopted 3/92 paper. 2 FALL 2000 Allin the Timing (Middleton) continued from 1 di Suzanna" from 1921. This sounds CfP software being an excellent example). approach was awkward. This led to the substantial, but using my previous format Stand-alone programs do exist for next version. This one concerned itself less without the advantage of the thumbnail storyboard and timing, however. One with the number of seconds and drew recent example, "Board Master" (www. instead on the number of frames. Each boardmastersoftware.com) from Canada, ..... - ... sheet is now able to hold 50 frames; in .... also markets itself as a means to assist addition, I added a thumbnail box for each .. - ... _._.-.- presentations beyond those involving frame to allow for sketching in random animation. While it may be of use in a notes on what should be going on with the commercial house setting, I found it fairly ! . synchronization. I also chose to arrange .: . ··· .. -i cumbersome for independent usage. Also, j : . ; things left-to-right, to keep with the feel of its exposure sheet printout was of the "reading the soundtrack" on the exposure " .. ---.-.. -.. _- .__- ·-,,_'~~--~i--_,+4~;~f----classici format, making for a ponderous .. ' print time without presenting any clear sheet. This format also allows me to ..•... advantage for viewing the soundtrack. The consolidate a storyboard approach with the - ..