Night Life Blog

We are preparing to promote the website extensively but to get us started in the mean time I have followed up a couple of leads I had.

I contacted a friend of mine in Liverpool who teaches students that are in a similar area to our own and many of whom are from artistic backgrounds.

I also contacted my old Secondary School about encouraging some of their art students possibly taking part. I also enquired about the possibilty of talking to the art teacher there and maybe some of the classes to promote participation directly.

This is a strategy we are hoping to adopt across a number of schools as we see it as a good way to get a firm commitment on participation. This can only enhance the project.

We decided a more direct approach was needed in  conjunction with our other efforts just in case they are not as fruitful as we hope. As we have all learned from previous experience drumming up participation online even amongst friends can be difficult.

Today myself and Robert finished work on the script for our animation. It has been specifically designed to allow for the interactivity we are proposing.

Each group member will take the opportunity to read the script over the rest of the weekend. There will be a meeting on Monday to flag any problems or concerns. If there are no problems the script will be signed off on and work on the storyboards will begin. If any issues arise time will be taken to rectify them.

As soon as it has been signed off on the script will be posted here for download along with a simple diagram detailing the design of the interactive element of the script.

- Ken

Myself and Ken have completed the Literature Review investigating Narrative Structure and Narrative Theory.

This review can be found at the following link

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Chiw36w-ZU44opLPeyxY9QLyCblFx6KF9FpDFMoK_c0

As you can see we looked into a number of narrative structures both from a typical and an atypical viewpoint. We feel that this process has proved worthwhile as in doing so we know realise what it is that we must do when constructing the story for our piece. Namely, to create a story that fits within a typical narrative structure yet utilize the methods that appear in the atypical structures as regards branching and interweaving stories.

This knowledge, combined with what we will learn at the Scriptwriting workshop tomorrow will prove invaluable as we move forward with developing our narrative.

Today we had a working meeting. Members in attendance were Alder Cass, Robert McGrath and Ken Kidney.

Robert and I worked on the Lit Review. It is now almost completed and the results should be posted in the coming days.

Alder worked on the Website for the project and sought input from the group based on the work he produced.

This morning we visited the Wandesford Gallery to scope out the spaces available and evaluate our options in terms of the set up. This was important because we need any installation we design to be suitable for the space available. Otherwise we may have been wasting time we do not have on an unfeasible design. It is much easier and quicker to design an installation with the considerations of a space in mind.

A post describing our visit in detail will follow this one.

-Ken

I have recently acquired two books that are renowned as being the best resources for aspiring animators.

The first is “The Illusion of Life” by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.

The second is the latest edition of “The Animators Survival Kit” by Richard Williams.

I am always looking for resources like this to aid us in the process and I will continue to keep an eye out for them and acquire them as they come to my attention.

-Ken