Lab 7: Story Development
IDS252: 3D Animation, Spring 2013

Goals

• Develop a story idea for a 1 minute animation.
• Draw the storyboards.
• Pitch the story and revise.
• Entire Class: Choose stories and groups for final project.
• Deliverables: The text of a story and the corresponding storyboards pitched to class.

Links

• Resources for Story Creation.
• See Evaluation Sheet (pdf) for the "Story Check List" and the "Storyboarding Check List".
• Directions for Converting Your Storyboards into a Storyreel (this will be used in the next lab)

Files and Folders

• In this lab you may work alone or with one partner. On cs-render, in folder \IDS252Sp13\Lab7, create a folder with your login name (if you are working alone), or with the name of both you and your partner. Any files you create or use should go in this folder.

During Lab (Fri, Mar 1)

• In lab, you will work in pairs to go over a story development exercise: StoryExercise.docx. Other resources may be found here.
• Before the end of lab, decide whether you want to work alone or with one other person (you are strongly encouraged to work with a partner!).

• Homework (due Mon, Mar 4):
  Through email, Google docs, or in person, discuss various story ideas with your partner:

  • Aim for a story that is 1 minute long. Remember, modeling and animation is hard so, as they say, KISS (keep it simple stupid!)
  • Once you decide on a story, write it down in text/paragraph form. It does not need to be more than a few paragraphs long. Be certain to think about the following:
    • This is a visual story - your words must show, not tell, e.g. see p.3 of your textbook.
    • Identify the emotion, intention, and thoughts of the characters. How will these be visually conveyed to the audience? Don't rely on subtlety.
    • Your animation will have music but no dialog. What, if anything, will you want to convey to the musicians?
  • Come to class on Monday with a rough draft of your story. It should be typed (e.g. in Word). Place this file in your Lab 7 folder on cs-render. Be prepared to discuss the questions in the Story Check List given in the Evaluation Sheet (pdf)

During Lecture/Lab (Mon, Mar 4)

• During class, we will go over all of the stories.
• In lab:
  • Revise your stories based on feedback during lecture.
  • In the same file containing your story, write down your answers to the Story Check List given in Evaluation Sheet (pdf).
  • Begin the rough storyboards, i.e. using the small storyboards, e.g. see here, so that they are quick to draw and don't have many details. Try different ideas and don't be afraid to throw out boards and insert new ones. You may even want to start by using the whiteboard or Photoshop (with tablet).

• Homework (due Wed, Mar 6):

  • Before class, place your revised story (and Story Check List anwsers) in your Lab 7 folder on cs-render.
  • Bring to class your rough storyboards.

During Lecture and Lab (Wed, Mar 6)

• In lecture: once you feel the rough storyboards are satisfactory, redraw them more carefully on 8.5x11 sheets of paper. Be careful to follow the instructions in the Storyboard Check List given in the Evaluation Sheet (pdf).
• In lab: Each group will pitch their stories using their large storyboards. Your pitch will be timed and should last around 1 minute.

• Homework (due Fri, Mar 9): Carefully revise your storyboards based on class feedback. Be prepared to pitch your revised story.

During Lecture and Lab (Fri, Mar 9)

• All the stories will be pitched and critiqued.
• Revisions should be made based on class feedback.
• If you want, start to make the storyreel (only the picked stories actually need to have a storyreel) We will go over how to create the storyreel.

• Homework (due Mon, Mar 11): Make revisions and be prepared to pitch the final story.

During Lecture and Lab (Mon, Mar 11)

Warning: On Monday, Mar 11, we will vote on the stories - if absent, you will be assigned a story.

• Each story (or storyreel) will be pitched (no critiques). Then, students will vote on which story they want to do. Based on the vote, the stories will be chosen and groups will be formed.
• After the groups are formed: come up with a short one-word name for your group (to be used for your mail group) and a working title for your animation (you can change it later).
• Go through the story and the storyboards to make sure everyone is in agreement. Modify the story or storyboards, as needed.
• Create a group subfolder on cs-render in the folder \IDS252Sp13\Lab8. Within this, create a Storyreel folder and a Reference subfolder
• Assign each person in the group the task of collecting reference material for some part of the story.
• Begin the storyreel.

• Homework: Finish the storyreel. Each person in the group should collect reference material and place it in the "Reference" folder.

Evaluation

This lab will be graded based on the items in the Evaluation Sheet (pdf).

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