Ha you've seen me trolling the WIP forum

This looks very balanced in terms of the pose choices you're giving yourself.  Have at it !

great sketches man.
...i think you're prepared, just watch you don't twin the hands on every pose...that will get picked on.
good luck and keep having fun!
-mike

Although you might already know most of it, I found this extremely awesome pdf of a talk Mark Kennedy did on staging at calarts some years ago, which might be very useful for your planning process:
http://sevencamels.blogspot.de/2010/10/ … k-pdf.html

A very good idea, such a book. I just came across this again yesterday when I was trying to teach some students the art of storyboarding or rather what to keep an eye out on. It was actually your 'e' drawing which reminded me of that
As for your drawings, I'd scrap 'f', that's too boring with a lot of straight lines and all action on the same level. Same with 'a' (except for the action on the same level)
I would have gone for 'e' actually, since it has the most interesting composition, and I love how you still have their eye lines on the same level in spite of the upshot camera. But if you say this is going to be tough perspective wise, you might not want to attempt that, since this would slow you down quite much, wouldn't it?
leaves us with 'b', 'c' and 'd', which is pretty much the same, only once mirrored and once a bit wider shot. Couldn't say which one I would prefer of that, I'd just maybe cut to a close up on the standing characters face when he's getting all worked up to show his emotions better.
One thing I just realized that in drawing 'b' the charaters are facing each other, are somewhat connected, whereas in 'c' and 'd' the sitting guy has his back turned towards the other guy, thus is a bit disconnected from him. (I only realized this because I've just recently watched Keith Lango's awesome vts on staging)
Considering the audio, this leaves us with c or d while I'd prefer d since this is a bit closer on the faces, but that's just personal preference.

Last edited by wolfor (05-04-2012 2:55 pm)

I think you should do what you want to, and if 'e' is the way you'd like to go, then go for it! I gather you're experienced enough to evaluate if you're able to finish it that way

Nice looking comps, each thumbnail works on its own I think.  However for the sake of this competition, I'll tell you what I tell everyone else; keep it simple.  I'm not a big fan of multiple cuts in this contest because it takes up a lot of time and isn't nessesary.  Cuts are used as a way to move a story forward, or to show a specific emotion.  Same goes for the types of shots used.  Everyone is telling you to use the "e" shot, however I would say that's the last one you should consider using because there's no need for an up shot there, I mean we're not trying to show how tall he is right?  Plus with that shot the main guy is being blocked by the desk, how can we see his full body expressions if he's hidden?  Don't get me wrong it's an interesting shot and drawn well, but for the sake of the story and this contest I wouldn't recommend it.  For me the best ones to use are either "b", "d", or "f" because those show more clearly both characters oh and don't crowd your shots with a lot of bg and foreground elements, give your characters "breathing" room to act. 

This months entry has a lot of great chances for some interning and powerful emotions/expressions so keeping the staging as clear as possible is a must.  I like how you're also going for more simple character designs but don't make them too plain, appeal is a big part of it also.  Things to keep in mind are the eyes, mouth, and hands because these will show the most emotion.  Keep it up!

Alright, I've got my first animatic based on the thumbnails I did. Obviously still early, but trying to flesh out my main poses and performance. I did two sets, so I'll have another different version with different poses shortly. Then people can chime in on which ones they think work best.

Direct Link

Nice one JKR, the only comment I have is that for some reason the last pose bothered me. I think you can make it more appealing by tilting that guys head towards and downward. / That way making it more angry also it will have more change from the previous pose. In fact looking at it again I'd slant the whole body more taking it over by about 5mm to the right
and sharpening the Triangle pose you got   right now it's got equal weight left and right /\ where it could be stronger like this /|.
I hope that made some sense.
You have a great start here, keep on keepin' on.

Thanks for the thoughts, guys! I appreciate the responses.

Pomb wrote:

Nice one JKR, the only comment I have is that for some reason the last pose bothered me. I think you can make it more appealing by tilting that guys head towards and downward. / That way making it more angry also it will have more change from the previous pose. In fact looking at it again I'd slant the whole body more taking it over by about 5mm to the right
and sharpening the Triangle pose you got   right now it's got equal weight left and right /\ where it could be stronger like this /|.
I hope that made some sense.
You have a great start here, keep on keepin' on.

I think I sort of get what you're saying, but it's still not 100% clear. Any chance you could do a quick drawing of what you mean and post it for me? If you're too busy I understand. It would help me out, though, because I've always been a more visual learner and it will make what you're saying crystal clear. In the meantime I'll keep trying to tweak that pose.

EDIT: Do you mean more like the last pose in the first test I did (top post, right side of the paper)?

Last edited by JKR (05-10-2012 3:03 pm)

this is looking great! congrats on your top 50 ribbon, the list of them under your avatar looks like the grill of a jeep now. lol

hey man, one idea...when he says "you look, you feel"....you currently have the poses leaning opposite directions and then the final "listening to me" is leaning the same direction as on "feel"....instead maybe have the poses progress from left to right so that he ends up leaning far right on the last beat only to further emphasize his intensity there. make sense?
hope it helps man, keep goin!
-mike

For me was better the first one.Is more clear on the dialogue.