Weekly Journal

Regular evaluation updates are required with every unit. Please remember to
take photos and get behind the scenes footage as you film. You might find it
easier if you note down a record of what you did each day in a diary form.

Please use the following guidance to help you with each week.

Week 1 This week you researched stop motion animation

What research have you This week I have completed both primary and
completed this week and what secondary research. From my primary research I have
have you learned? learned what techniques I am able to do for my
animation, but also what works well for my idea, what
I can easily show. In the end I discovered that doing
paper motion was the best idea for my production.
From my secondary research I learned more about
how animation works what complications there are
when it comes to making it but also the solutions there
are. For example not all puppets can stand up so to
fix this issue you can screw them to a metal board. I
also learned about the early pioneers and how stop
animation has progressed over many years. And what
animations have won Oscars and what critics think
about their work whether or not they think they
deserved the Oscar in the end.
What materials did you consider I decided to use paper as my material. I decided to
using and why? use this material because I am easily able to show my
story through paper. It also enables me to use colour
so the colour can symbolise different emotions. I also
have a lot of access to paper everywhere and I feel it
works well for my story.
How did the test animations help One of my test animation ideas was to use a
you to choose the most suitable whiteboard to show the story. When it came to
material for your animation? making it I struggled trying to show a brief story as a
practise. So I knew this wasn’t the best idea for me to
(provide screenshots that show
choose this material. A second idea I had was to use
your practice methods) objects, I used a doll. With this idea I didn’t struggle as
much however the chosen object couldn’t really
bend the dolls arms or move the head. However I
don’t think that using objects would be easy to show
my characters emotions. And I couldn’t use my
chosen colour to symbolize emotions. My third idea
was to use paper motion. This worked well because I
could easily draw simple but effective facial
expressions on each of my characters. I felt that I
could clearly show my story through paper motion.
What did you learn from your From my planning it has helped me organise what I’m
planning? How has it helped you going to show in what order. I know exactly how
to progress your idea? many frames I need. This has helped me progress my
idea because due to my planning I know more in
detail about what I’m doing for my production.
Are you on track for this week? If There is only one thing that needs completing
not, how far behind are you?
What work do you need to Outside of lessons I need to complete my feedback
complete outside of lessons to which is to export my documentary again so that I am
stay on track? able to access my sound.

Week 2 This week you produced your stop motion animation

How helpful did you find your I found it very helpful, this is because I knew exactly
planning whilst photographing what I was doing. I knew what order I was going to
your animation? show my story, I knew what lighting, what material,
what location to do. This was helpful as I didn’t have
to worry about what I was going to do next on the
spot, this saved a lot of time. All I needed to do was
focus on taking the pictures and make sure
everything is set up according to the plan.
What challenges did you face It was hard to stand up my stop motion at certain
with your chosen material? How times. To overcome this I used a piece of cardboard
did you overcome these? and taped it to the paper for support. Then towards
the end when he is sad and remorseful I drew him
instead of him being 3D, this shows that he is so weak
that he can’t even stand up to get out of the paper.
How did you ensure you met the I took around 200 images as I wanted the audience to
required frame rate? be able to see his different stages of emotions and
thoughts clearly. I also planned this.
How happy are you with your final I’m fairly happy with my final product because I thinly
product? Provide analysis of the it was quite near to how I wanted it to turn out. I feel it
successes and failures you feel is quite clear what the story is about, the music sort of
helps the audience highlight the good and the bad
you had
moments. However there are some shots that don’t
look as good as they could have been like I could
have made sure some shots were completely focused
How much work did you Outside of lesson I completed all my filming for this
complete outside of the lessons? product. I also started editing it at home as soon as I
had finished.
Are you on track for this week? If I have everything update so far.
not, how far behind are you?
What work do you need to On track.
complete outside of lessons to
stay on track?