We started off by drawing 5 60cm lines, divided into ten sections evenly on to three pages. For this workshop session we brought with us screenshots of 25 frames from even intervals and 25 key frames from a video of kinetic typography of our choosing. (See blog post)
On paper, when drawing out time sequences, work in seconds, not in frames per seconds, otherwise you would just be creating flip books of an animation.
Think logically not creatively!
Time is in relation to sequence. You control how you break timelines down, and add more detail so that they make sense. Also, it is useful to work to even seconds if possible, e.g. we are creating 5 second videos for 'Silent Movie' brief, which will be easy to break down on a storyboard.
A standard formats don't exist anymore! If you work in a line it is easier to see the sequence in order.
Tasks
1. Break the time scale of your video so that it fits on to the points of a timeline.
My video was 4 minutes and 17 seconds so this 257 seconds, so my points were:
0, 25.7, 51.4, 77.1, 102.8, 128.5, 154.2, 179.9, 205.6, 231.3 and 257 (seconds)
(as 257/10 = 25.7 seconds)
2. Map the sequence of even frame screenshots to fit on to a timeline so that it makes sense to you. come up with a system to communicate accurately where the frames fit.
3. Using a new timeline, use all 5 lines, still broken down into ten sections, to show the sequence of key frame screenshots. You must cut up the paper.
The time of each key frame taken is listed below. By using 5 lines with ten sections, there were 50 sections, so 257 divided by 50 is 5.14 seconds, so each section was this long. This one was a lot easier as the frames were just placed in the time I already had for them, and as I could use all five lines, it was so much easier to place them with there being much more space to work with.
6, 21, 43, 49, 51, 55, 62, 93, 98, 103, 119, 123, 134, 144, 158, 176, 183, 188, 196, 204, 208, 218, 228, 234, 253
The first timeline is representation of time and the second timeline was driven by us.
Tasks after workshop
Identity and list on blog what you've learnt from this session
- That simple maths is hard when you haven't done it in a long time!
- That being prepared and gathering all the information I needed from screen (as listed below) would make things a lot easier
- I have learnt how a timeline can help you make sure your video is working as you want it to as you can see where the action happens
- A timeline doesn't have to be hand drawn scenes, it can be grab shots
- Its easier to understand the pace off screen
- To think logically and creatively, for example, don't just use one line when you have a whole sheet of paper
- Make it easy to understand
- That simple maths is hard when you haven't done it in a long time!
- That being prepared and gathering all the information I needed from screen (as listed below) would make things a lot easier
- I have learnt how a timeline can help you make sure your video is working as you want it to as you can see where the action happens
- A timeline doesn't have to be hand drawn scenes, it can be grab shots
- Its easier to understand the pace off screen
- To think logically and creatively, for example, don't just use one line when you have a whole sheet of paper
- Make it easy to understand
What are the problems that you have encountered?
- My timeline makes sense to me but probably doesn't to others, so I should include annotation for when showing
- I found the logical thinking quite hard, as its not what my brain is used to, but then when I got into it, everything made sense and now I feel stupid for originally finding it hard!
- My timeline makes sense to me but probably doesn't to others, so I should include annotation for when showing
- I found the logical thinking quite hard, as its not what my brain is used to, but then when I got into it, everything made sense and now I feel stupid for originally finding it hard!
What information do you need to take away to work from screen to paper?
- Need to know the time when screenshots were taken, have this on the screen shot for the key frame so you still have the information if you mix the order of the key frames up
- How long the video lasts
How do sequences work on timeline?
- Sequences could either be with the key frames placed at even intervals, to get a good idea of what the video looks like as a whole, or with the key frames showing where the main bits of action happen placed at their correct time, so that it is easy to see at which points in the video that the different parts happen
- Sequences could either be with the key frames placed at even intervals, to get a good idea of what the video looks like as a whole, or with the key frames showing where the main bits of action happen placed at their correct time, so that it is easy to see at which points in the video that the different parts happen
What changes need to be made to your timelines to make them work?
- I should print the key frames off smaller so that they fit better on the page
- Make sure to place the frames so it is not confusing about where they start and end
- Add annotation to make things clearer
- Use all the space and spread things out so that it is easier to look at
- I should print the key frames off smaller so that they fit better on the page
- Make sure to place the frames so it is not confusing about where they start and end
- Add annotation to make things clearer
- Use all the space and spread things out so that it is easier to look at
From each of your five ideas on the storyboards you have done prior to this workshop, choose your best one and map it to a timeline - you work out how you are going to do this. This should give you the plans for your after effects video. Document any mistakes you make.
