Topic 2 Digital Production Process - part 1

Contents Production Strategies. Hardware, Software & Human Resource Requirements.

Study the production types, technical complexity and basic resources (budget, timetabling, human resources, computer system). Production trend always changes based on time and place. Planning a computer animation project

Different goals/ aims –an experimental animation, visual effects shot for a live action film, commercial production, an animation for television, real-time platform game and feature film production all have very different purposes and project dynamics. –Experimental computer animation Explore techniques, topics, or treatments that are not commonly used in mainstream productions. Relax production schedule and creative freedom. Production Types

Computer Animation for a feature film Develop to be crowd pleasers. Tight schedule, big production team. No standard length of time. Usually, anything over 30 minutes is considered long. Average length of a feature film is 90 minutes.

Short (< 1 mins : computer animation) – test segment, student project, TV commercial, TV channel session, opening of program and film title introduction. Medium (1 – 30 mins: computer animation) – serial episode, collection of special effect for film, private or government project. Long (>30 – 90 mins : computer animation) – commercial animation film. Production Types

From the simple to the very complex category of production. Needs more consideration. Commercial Film– more complex, needs more attention of planning. Simple Category– quite simple, not very complex in terms of planning, budget and resources. Technical Complexity

Breaking down a shot or a digital production –Creative issues –Technical issues –Logistical issues Planning the Shots & Production Flow

Type of project? Clear creative direction? Direction likely to change throughout production? Context of shot? What happens before and after? Length in seconds or minutes? Have to match look of live action? Visual effect or stylized animation? Creative issues

Technical issues Is client likely to understand technical issues? Nature of action? Type of motion? Complexity or geometry? Number of primary and secondary characters? Major and minor elements? Type of lens and lighting sources? Characteristics of final output medium and process?

Logistical issues Budget amount? When is the delivery deadline? When are the preliminary review deadlines? Likely to change? Size and type of team? What computer animation tools and computing power? Other materials required before project can start or finish? Likely that those will be on time?

Breaking down a visual effects shot or an animation sequence is one of the most important moments. Starts by considering the main creative goals, as well as major variables that might impact production. The goal: to end up with specific production tactics that will accomplish the best result within limitations. Creative goals of 3D computer animation is best done by individual / small group who have a common artistic vision. Planning the Shots & Production Flow

Budget allocated to the project is adequate (a director of visual effects / supervisor of computer animation). Production schedule (producer / director) – realistic deadlines. Personnel (hired) and the amount & power of the computer resources that can be used. Amount of time (to complete a computer animation) – depends of type of production and its technical complexity. Simple commercial computer animation : 1 – 2 months. Budget, Schedule & Resources

TV commercial : 2 – 3 months. Feature film : > 1 years. –Dozens of shots –Interaction: live action, special effects and composition –Involve production staff 100 individuals, dozens of computers (rendering). Budget, Schedule & Resources

Components of a Computer animation Studio Creative personnel Production personnel Technical personnel Administrative and sales personnel Turnkey application software Proprietary software Processing power Peripheral storage Computer network and communications Input and output equipment Business plan and funds Clients Space

Includes creative, technical, production, and administrative position Studio size- small (5), medium (20), large (100). Large studio include creative, technical personnel (traditional character animation, live action film, optical compositing, sculpture, model making). Personnel Sample Creative Team (TV Commercial) Creative Director Art Director Copywriter Producer Account Executive Animation Director Sample Production Team (TV Commercial) Animation Supervisor Senior Animator Junior Animators Producer Production Manager Technical Assistant

Also called off-the-shelf software. Price range : under $ > $100,000. –Depends on capabilities, sophistication, speed. When selecting the software, do consider: –upgrade policies –upward and downward compatibility Upward compatibility exists when files created with previous version of the software are compatible with new software upgrades Downward compatibility exists when files created with a new software upgrade are compatible with earlier versions of the software. Turnkey software – application software

Developed in-house to provide tools and techniques that are not available in commercial turnkey systems –Quite costly –Can be used to pre-process motion-capture data before it is send to the turnkey animation module. –Requires a team of specialized and dedicated programmers to develop, maintain and upgrade the software. Proprietary software

2D / 3D scanning 2D / 3D animation 2D / 3D paint and retouching Ink and paint Flipbook player Rotoscoping Matting Commonly used software in computer animation Surface modelling Motion capture / clean-up Shading and rendering Compositing Compression Video editing

Determined by the power, speed and number of computers. Depends on : budget, type of tasks assigned to that machine. For example : modelling, rendering, compositing. Processing power

Peripheral Storage Based on : volume, quality and complexity of the work done. Frames are stored in digital form until recorded on video / film. Size of a single frame of high quality – 4 to 50 megabytes. Depends on : spatial, temporal, chromatic resolution.

Take note… 1 bit = either 0 or 1 1 byte (B) = 8 bits (e.g ) 1 Kilobyte (KB) = 1024 bytes 1 Megabyte (MB) = 1024 Kilobytes 1 Gigabyte (GB) = 1024 Megabytes 1 Terabyte (TB) = 1024 Gigabytes More on storage… Data communication 1 kilobit = 1000 bits 32 bits of color per frame 800 x 600 resolution = 800 x 600 x 32 = 15,360,000 bits = 1,920,000 bytes = 1875 KB = MB per frame 24 fps = * 24 = MB 10s animation = MB (no compression)

Bring information to the processors from storage and peripheral devices (vice versa). Networks servers (more than one). Internets : connect computers in locations across the globe. Intranets : connect computers that belong to a single company / located in the same building. Popular network bandwidth :  T-1 or DS-1 at Mbs, Xerox’s Ethernets at 10 Mbs, FDDI at 100 Mbs, ATM at 154 Mbs. Share files and to keep as many computers on the network. networks

Input capabilities for variety of purposes which include 2D / 3D information. Flatbed scanners / digitizing cameras – used for scanning images (texture maps / backgrounds). Film digitizers – digitizing entire live action sequences that are composed digitally with the computer animation. 3D scanner – used for digitizing the shape (model, environment, action human actors) as motion templates for an animation. Input & Output Equipment

Output capabilities – to record motion tests and the finished animation. High resolution electronic and laser film recorders  to output computer animation onto film. Digital disk recorders  to output animation onto a variety of video format  also a popular form of peripheral storage (can record video in digital format and play back computer animation at standard video rates on output devices) Input & Output Equipment

Variety skills & talents. Simple project – single team handle creative and production responsibilities. Creative team : –represented by the design studio, communications company or advertising agency (develop the concept and the visual treatment). –Responsibilities : creating a script / screenplay and storyboard. Production team : –execute the ideas provided by the creative team and deliver a finished animation. Creative & Production Teams