Hello! This FRANK post are some color studies. I have been coloring scenes to get a feel for the final look. I have been pretty consistent and have been making progress on the project. Still no idea when I will be finishing up, there is still a lot of work left to be done. But I’m enjoying the process .
indyfilm
FRANK production blog 49
below are some really early production sketches. maybe from 2017-18, pre production for sure. i used animation paper for sketching because i enjoy the over size paper and i just have tons of it from my art school days. so rather then they collect dust i use them.
the images below are mostly thumbnail to a 1/4 the page. i was trying to find the right balance for franks apartment, what kind of plants he would have and how many, he also has art on his walls so i had fun coming up with those
frank at his desk
frank standing by his desk
frank standing by his desk
frank on the opposite side of the room, there was a book shelf early into the design
frank by his desk
frank by the window
frank standing by his plant, he also had a watering container early on.
frank by the door, the walls where a bit funky also
FRANK production blog 43
todays update consists of two variations on a scene, i wasn’t happy with the original one so i redrew it. i also played with the colors a bit. which one will make it to the final cut is yet to be determine! ..also i haven’t updated much for to many reasons, but as always im chipping away on it. a lot of a little
color study 2020
color study 2020
old story boards of the scene, 2015 ??
FRANK production blog 39
todays update will be about a scene i had finished months ago…or so i thought.
This week I did an over pass of all the scenes and all animation for FRANK, I was doing edits on a scene I was not happy with. In the process I ended up redoing some if not all the animation. I started redrawing some of the keys when I had the idea, Do I even need this scene? Could I tell this part of the story better? as I often ask myself. And so I went back to the original animatic and boards as I often do when not sure what move to make. The original draft is longer but as I’ve mentioned before on this blog I always feel like its the truest interpretation of what I want to say. It being longer has lead to many cuts being removed or redesigned.
In this scene FRANK plugs the device into the wall using a usb. We focus on FRANK with a neat camera swipe.The other version (original) focuses equally on both FRANK and the device. FRANK plugs the device into the wall but the cord is already at his table and its done off screen with the shot ending on the device and what it wants. Both these scenes work great but I can only pick one. One almost fully animated while the other (longer) cut has to be animated from rough keys to final passes.
As post this I have not decided which scene to go with, I need to give it more time and think about it. I do not mind adding more time to the production and animating a few new cuts, but at the same time I need to stay on schedule.
FRANK production blog 20
todays post consist of some thumb nail color studies from a while back. i think these are from maybe 2 years ago. i had finished the 1st pass of back grounds on paper and gave them a quick simple coloring just to get a feel for the colors i was gravitating towards. the colors im currently experimenting with are different but i do love these 1st drafts.
color study
color study
newer color study
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the revealing shot of franks apartment, at first i was going to cut between the two, but i have decided to use a pan east move. this background has been in the works for a long time, i have a hard time making the call for a final version on backgrounds. i love exploring its space. the evolution of a scene is quite fascinating. the birth of a project is a wonderful thing, i love the process. i specialize in animation production haha (inside joke)
FRANK production blog 10
todays update consist of some rough key frames for a scene and a few old story boards. this scene has been a lot of fun to work with, pretty easy and simple action to animate. the biggest challenge has been the flowers, trying to keep count of all the petals and their size in every frame. non the less the scene has been easy and fun. it needs one more pass of clean up, and then on to coloring. the colors are subject to change a bit
rough back ground and colors for this scene
more updated key frame
more updated key frame
more updated key frame
more updated key frame
old draft key frame
old draft key frame
old draft key frame
old story board
more updated board with character design
old story board, possibly the 1st draft a very very long time ago
FRANK production blog 9
HEY THERE! Its been a while, thank you for coming back. I will not apologize for the time away, I have been very busy with the film, happy to say much progress has been made.
This update will be about the Alpha and the Omega.
Fun card for the film
Below are a few different variations of the opening scene. So many different way to introduce the character but can only animate one.
The thumbnails below are from me trying to figure out what composition I should go with. Now most of the scene is worked out in my head but Im still not sure on how to draw it…. the pressure!
Thumbnails of some layout options
The process of backgrounds
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, animation is a long process! There is something to be said about the character of those who willingly choose to embark on these roads. It’s pay off is something that only the sweetest of fruits can compare to. You start with and Idea and through sheer will you give that idea life, you bring it into the world, you will it into existence, that is something very few can do and even fewer enjoy doing it over and over. So animators are of a special breed of artist, not everyone is cut out to be an animator but everyone can enjoy animation.
Above is a page from my updated storyboards for my current project FRANK. This was the 2nd pass of storyboards. It was the final pass for this scene. I was very happy with the action and the framing and so I did not feel the need to reboard it more a 3rd time. The action is pretty clear, Frank our main character is smelling his flowers by his window.
Above is one of the 1st drafts I did for the background, Like I previously stated I was pretty happy with the framing and original design idea, and so it was pretty easy to draw something and approve it. Below is the 1st draft I did on paper, I used animation size paper with and HD field guide, while I was happy with the outcome I ended up not using it, It felt to stiff and not exactly what I wanted. I remember I did all the backgrounds on paper thinking I would scan them and use them as finals but I ended up going with digital finals instead.
Next came the color versions of the background. Now I will be the 1st to admit that while I love color I am pretty terrible at it. I tend to select colors I love but don’t have much of a understanding on how to balance them. Maybe I just need to experiment more.
I done a few different variations on the brick wall, not completely sure on which one I want for the final design. That being said Im not completely sure on what the final vision for the film should be, when it come to style. While I have completed much there is equally if not more work that needs completion, so I will continue to cultivate that will and give life to this beautiful art form, for there is no grater feeling then seeing something complete from start to finish.