STOP MOTION ANIMATION PROJECT Alan Baer Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy 660 W. 237 TH ST. Bronx, New York, 10463

Synopsis of Project Three students and two teachers spent three days over the April 2003 break learning the basics of Stop Motion Animation. The two Adams, Andrew, and Mr. Weinick, under the direction of Mr. Baer, learned storyboard creation, focusing ideas, character creation, set design, set creation, DV capture, DV editing, JPG capture, and Stop Motion software. All this in 18 hours!

The Story A Smoker leaves the Corner Store and lights up. We fade to an internal shot of his lung. Inside the Lung Bar, a brawl erupts between Red Blood Cell and Nicotine. Nicotine wipes up the floor with his opposition much to the anger of the Lung Bartender. Fade back to the smoker who coughs so hard, he falls into the road and gets hit by a truck.

The Moral Smoking kills!

Some Screen Shots Nicotine at the Lung Bar

More… The Bar Brawl: Nicotine vs. Red Blood Cell

FYI It took over 600 still.jpg images to create 22 seconds of Stop Motion Animation. The set design, set creation, character creation, storyline and storyboard took 15 hours. Shooting the 600 images took 1 hour. The rough cut, shown on the NetsWork website, was edited in 3 hours, and needs about 4 more to go. After viewing the piece, the team decided we need to work on visual detail, lighting, and a better grasp of proportion and design. Also, the story needs to be reworked to match the visual better.

Why Stop Motion Animation? SMA is a tedious, exacting process. It demands attention to detail in every step. For students who need a clear focus, SMA is a good fit. Students learn to focus on detail in order to complete each step in the process. Using SMA as a backdrop, we were able to open the door to concepts of ratio:proportion, design theory, the art of persuasion. By putting conceptual theory to practical use, the students are given the opportunity to “see” concepts come to life. The learning is in the doing. Students have a better, more lasting understanding of what they learn when they can apply it to a “real world” activity.

What Do I Need to do SMA? Equipment: Digital still image cameras, tripod, photography lights (basic), Stop Motion Animation software - several available online for different prices, editing software (basic to intermediate), paper, scissors, glue, clay or moveable figures, backing screen, tables. Lessons/ Models: Literacy: Advertising techniques, persuasion, script writing, creating storyboards. Math: ratio and proportion Physical Science: Light behavior and light properties Social Studies, Health…lessons in public issues and how to research the topics.

What Do I Need? (continued) The lessons in theory in the previous slide are necessary. Students need to know the WHY as much as they need to “just make the movie.” Without the background knowledge, the project becomes more of a digital arts and craft assignment. Patience above all. In order for the project to succeed, a teacher must become a facilitator and a resource. As a result, some “control” is relinquished. Students need to discuss, hash out problems, disagree, come to consensus. This requires talk, movement, action. A teacher must set strict guidelines of conduct and adhere to them, at the same time realizing that there is a need for conversation, dialogue, discussion, debate.