Lazy Summery No.7

Working from 9am to 7pm must of worn me out more than I thought, I think.
Got up at 12:30pm today... (!!)

There was an essay writing lesson today at 2:00 - originally Jade Midson requested for me to show her where the room was but she skipped the session due to having to leave at 3:00. (We ended up finishing at 2:50, however)

Before that I took another shot at seeing if Andy was in his office - whilst ringing, some guy popped his head out the door. There was a pause at first, and he asked me if I was looking for Andy - yup, was he in? He responded with a no. Ok, but still - what was the point of him responding I wonder?

Also popped on by into the library to see if they had a lightbox I could use through out tonight but as I expected, they were bone-dry on them. Headed to the 2:00 session for the essay writing, and waited outside 15 minutes beforehand. Saw one of the guys I befriended, and waffled non-stop to the poor person. Got to her everyone else's current ideas for the 30 second animation. They're already getting a good grip on the planning for it all, as for me...

The session went quite a well with the essay writing - I had learnt a fair amount and it eased a few confusions with it all - being able to take a choice of referencing to a personal level, and that we should ideally use just 3-4 examples is great. I had thought we'd need a fucking library span worth of referencing to get through. My friend (John, I think) really doesn't like the woman that teaches us for her her use of big words, and (from later back) flaunting her degrees and expertise.

Headed into town with Andrew Stalley afterwards - a tall man, sporting long flowing hair and a taste for long coats. Before realising this WAS Andrew himself, I heard words floating around, mainly from Gee Saurez that there was a guy who craves for smoothness in animation and had done 700 (possibly an exaggeration) pages worth of animation in a matter of 2-3 weeks. When talking about his ideas and hints that he constantly animates (And I do mean to, shut up UCA staff) I began to realise it would be him - although, admittedly, the 'tall and thin' tidbit from Gee was the distinctive factor.

I asked his name, and when saying it to be Andrew I grin just sort of grew on my face, for reasons I'm not sure - I guess I was just antsy to actually see whoever the hell fits smoothness and fluidity into their work. On the way to Sainsburys and places, I asked him all sorts of questions on his past animations, how he goes about doing it, where he gets ideas and so fourth. An interesting guy, I just wish he'd put his work on the internets.

Headed to a shop that apparently doesn't just sell light boxes - sells them for cheap. Apparently it's near the Post Office and I eventually picked it out. Headed upstairs to enquire about the products and yup. They're sold out. However, they do have A3 but they got £70 upwards. Typically, animation students go after it. I sort of wish I never told anybody about the library loaning of a lightbox now, speaking of which. Any case, I walked out of the shop feeling botched. What now? I needed to get this motivation done by today but it appears I can't which is great - I only have myself to blame here for not drawing fast enough.

Headed back home, and grabbed my papers and bag, heading off to G01 to pump in more frames to the animation. Today, I've done about...12 or so. I still can't understand how I only manage 12 drawings in a space of 3 hours or so as I swear it only takes me about 15 seconds or so to draw in the actual character. Granted, I plan a lot - and test a fair amount too. That and I do waste time trying reorganise my sheets of paper which tend to go scattering off all over the table like a bomb explosion. Nathan popped in (From street dance) and mentioned his week's absence of heart burn + another health condition mixed in. Poor man has had a rough time being in hospital, getting no sleep from pain and so fourth. He hasn't told Andy about his condition (and absence) yet which I hope he does. He should get some spare time from the deadline.

Nikki was working on his 30 second animation behind me, far ahead of the crowd. I'm not sure how she managed it, but well, she has. Her coloured and detailed background impressed a fair few, Nathan in included. All her frames are, speaking of which, pencil coloured which is quite a feat in my opinion. I tried to help her with some advice here and there concerning stuff like wind effects, frames per seconds and blah blah.

There's a guest visit from Daniel Greaves who's an animator experienced in the industry. I may skip it though to work on the stuff due for tomorrow in Digital Skills which I just now had I found out is going ahead. They want a storyboard(s) print out for the Digital Skills 30 second animation which I haven't done yet since, well, my focus needed to be on the Characterised Motivation. (The frames are not going to draw themselves :<) I know what I want to do for the Digital skills animation, just not how to storyboard it since which I should really by now.