Although this is an individual project and I'm working mostly by myself, I have sought the assistance of several colleagues and friends in various assets of the project. One of the main points of this assessment is to collaborate with other people of different skills so I've managed to find someone who can do additional animation, a friend who could do modelling and texturing and a few acquaintances who can do sound effects and music for the post-production stage.
Facebook
When it came to modelling and texturing, I asked an old friend, Perri Wheeler who also took this animation course before me, over Facebook if she would be interested in assisting me with constructing a piece of the environment. She agreed and I sent her many details such as references, photos and layouts of the film.
Perri has done a good basic blockout to start with although she has stated that she may exaggerate the scene more from the photo it is based on.
The image above shows that the wrecked house is making good progress, Perri pointing out that there is a huge amount of texturing duplication and positioning to be done. Also many of the small objects produced share one texture material so I don't have to worry about checking every single one when I have to link everything up for the render farm.
So overall, Perri did a really good job with the wrecked house but unfortunately she had to drop out before it was completed due to other commitments. So she sent me the file and folders of everything she had done for me to complete, nothing like a little extra work.
Email
Animation
I have communicated with most of my collaborators through emailing, where we've shared Maya files and information. This was useful as we could inform each other of any technical difficulties or setbacks that needed to be fixed as soon as possible. With Lien animating the air warden character, I set the deadline for the 17th May for her shots to be completed.
Sound Effects
After meeting up with two acquaintances, Luke Hodsdon and Stuart Trewhella, who specialise in a sound production course, we kept in touch and exchanged information on what needed to be done and what sound effects I wanted for the film. I helped them with this by sending a copy of my final animatic clip for them to work on. Once the film is rendered and edited completely, I will send it to them so they have the more accurate version to work with.
Music
When it came to the music, the sound effects people recommended another person, David Allen, who did composing and I asked him via email if he would be interested in producing a piece for my project. When he agreed, I sent him an animatic for him to work on the length of the music and to reflect what is occurring throughout the film.
We also used a site know as We Transfer, which allowed us to send files to one another, as my movie clips had big capacities, I had to use We Transfer as my email account would only allow me to send files of up to 25MB, not really enough for this sort of project.
(The following messages start with the oldest at the bottom of this post.)
We also used a site know as We Transfer, which allowed us to send files to one another, as my movie clips had big capacities, I had to use We Transfer as my email account would only allow me to send files of up to 25MB, not really enough for this sort of project.
(The following messages start with the oldest at the bottom of this post.)
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Thursday, 23 May
2013, 19:37
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Hello Michael
I am just about to send you the soundtrack complete
with the end credit music, all the timing should sync up fine if you just start
the track from the beginning of you're project. Luke Williams may have already
done a final mix of the sound and music, but thought i would you this so you
have an independent copy.
Dave Allen
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Thursday, 23 May
2013, 19:37
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Hello Dave.
Thanks, you did do a good job with the music too,
the film fits very well with it. Yes, if you can do just a short piece for the
end credits, that would be nice. Oh, so you use Logic Pro 9, I might get that
at some point.
Thank you again for your participation into writing
music for my project, much appreciated.
Michael
Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 18:05:03 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Hello Michael
so glad you like the music! Just downloading the
movie now. I use Logic pro 9 with East West instrument plug-ins, I have their
'complete composers collection', logic also notates music too.
Ps: will you want music for the end credits?
Dave
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Thursday, 23 May
2013, 15:45
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Dave.
May take a while for the film to be transferred as
it is a big file. By the way I'd like to know, what do you use to make your
music? I sometimes write music using Finale Allegro 2007, it's a great software
for making sheet music and playing them with instruments but when it comes to
exporting the music as an audio file, sometimes it doesn't have that authentic
quality sound I'm looking for. Just like to know how you do yours.
Thanks
Michael
Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 13:55:40 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Hello Micheal
I have just sent you the track via We-transfer, it
is 44100 sample rate, i will send anther later at 4800. remember there is still
work to do on this track, however if there is anything you really don't think
works do let me know.
Dave
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Thursday, 23 May
2013, 12:52
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Hello Dave.
44100 would be just fine but I would like to listen
to both just in case. Please do send what you've already made.
Michael
Date: Thu, 23 May 2013 12:24:51 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Hello Michael,
I can do the track in both sample rates, depends on
which you want? Im still working on the mix, a few things to sort out with the
orchestral arrangement too, but nearly there. i will send what I've done anyway
just so you can hear it.
Dave
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Thursday, 23 May
2013, 11:36
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Hello Dave.
That's great! Looking forward to hearing it, got
all the film rendered now so it looks good but I think it would be better when
the music is added in. Will you be able to do the track in a sample rate of
44100 or 48000?
Michael
Date: Wed, 22 May 2013 17:42:02 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Hello Micheal
I have score for you! i still need to finish the
mix and few other things, but i thought i would let you hear it so you give me
you're feed back. what sample rate should i bounce the track as?
Dave Allen
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Saturday, 18 May
2013, 22:29
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Hi Dave.
I see, that's alright. Will be working on the
editing next week anyway. Looking forward to hearing it.
Michael
Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 17:04:34 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Hi Michael
I have been working on the soundtrack for you’re
film, but I think I got a little carried away and have made it sound too epic
and American! So I’ve gone back to the drawing board, I should have something
to show you by middle of the week.
Dave Allen
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen <>
Sent: Tuesday, 14 May
2013, 21:47
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
That's ok, don't want you to feel rushed if you got
other projects to work on. But I look forward to hearing your finished theme
just the same.
Michael
Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 21:41:59 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
I will try and get the soundtrack completed
this weekend.
Dave
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Tuesday, 14 May
2013, 21:27
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
The whole project has to been done just before the
30th May so I'd like to give you until next week, say next Friday at the latest
to get the final version of the music done. Yes if we can start work on it at
the weekend, that'll be just fine. Otherwise we can arrange what would be more
suited to your time.
Michael
Hines
Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 21:23:56 +0100
From: David Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Okay great! do you have a deadline date? I
we'll get to work on this at the weekend.
Dave Allen
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen <>
Sent: Tuesday, 14 May
2013, 21:20
Subject: RE:
Music_for_animation
Hello
Dave. I've just seen some of your work and I must say the music is absolutely
marvelous. Thanks for commenting on my film, yes, that's the kind of style and
theme that I would like throughout the piece, darkness and innocence the way
through and a slow transition to optimism at the end. Of course the music needs
to be instrumental but yes, if you can produce that kind of theme with strings
and horn section, that would be great. Like it to sound old and yet possess the
qualities that you've mentioned.
Michael Hines
Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 21:15:46 +0100
From: Dave Allen
Subject: Re: Music_for_animation
To:
Michael Hines
Hello Michael
just watched the film a couple of times, very nice
piece of work, 1st thoughts for the music is that towards the end I get the
impression the music should hint a little optimism? as a whole I think
the music should express a little darkness, innocence and optimism?
Instrumentation; piano plus some kind of backing choir, Strings
and a horn section. These are literally just my 1st thoughts. do
you have any preconceptions of how you want the music to sound?
Dave Allen
From: Michael Hines
<>
To: David Allen
<>
Sent: Tuesday, 14 May
2013, 20:50
Subject: Music_for_animation
Hello Dave.
Stuart Trewhella mentioned that you were into
composing music and provided me with your email so I could ask you about
writing a short piece for a short animated film I'm working on for uni. The
film is titled "Post-War Child" and involves a young girl walking
through a bomb ruined street in London and encounters an air warden. Attached
is a copy of the final animatic for the film for you to look at, the piece is a
minute and a half long. Please let know what you think and I hope to have a
chat with you soon to discuss more about the subject.
Only got around 2 weeks of the project left so
looking forward to hearing from you soon. But if it's too short notice for you,
then I apologize in advance.
Thank you.
Kind Regards
Michael Hines
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