Final Assingment

Redoux of Storyboard

Final Piece Schedule Edit Information

1. Will use a different character for set up that does not require more work than time permits - Possibly Tetsu (Amanda's character) because he is already set up to work with both Motion capture, and UDK
2. Will Clean up and make a polished version of the storyboard..
3. ENV will still be the same- I have been planning to use flowers/trees that I made for Penned to make this, and a very simple ledge.  
4. Character animations will be very basic used for blocking purposes only.

So here is a better explanation and "simplified" schedule of deliverables.

1. Obtain Motion Capture Data- July 13
2. Completed Storyboard (Polished) July 18
3. Edited Motion Capture Camera and Basic Character animations- July 22
4. Camera Tested in Maya and UDK - July 22
5. Polished Maya Scene - Rendered AO Pass - July 30
6. Polished Matinee UDK Scene- July 30

Final Piece Schedule

Done Prior
   Base Mesh for character that will be used
   Story Boards

My final Piece connects to the thesis!

July 10 - 11:  PENNED WORK, Making Technical Drawings for Website

• Set up outline for thesis, write anything that I already have planned up.

July 12:  PENNED

• Basic Environment Set up
• Start Setup of a UDK scene 
• Quick Test of theory to transfer cameras back and fourth between Matinee and Maya

July 13:  (NO PENNED)

• Gather Motion Capture Data

July 14-15: (Not going to be near a computer probably)
July 16: PENNED

• Work to get motion capture information into maya to drive a camera
• Cleanup work on camera

July 17-18: PENNED WORK
July 19-21:

• Animate Cameras
• Move Camera into UDK to set up a test for the Thesis Specifically

July 22: Finalize/Turn in Thesis
July 23: PENNED WORK

July 24-27: Final cleanup work for cameras and any required animation blocking. Start render work.
July 28-29: Final Rendering, Final UDK Pass

July 31: Turn in

Finished work:

Fun With Story Boarding

So as I couldn't get onto maya today I went ahead and played around with some more story boarding. My initial idea from last week got changed a bit because I felt it was to much like I was trying to right a 5 minute short story rather than a piece that could be incorporated into a story as a cinematic piece. I decided to go the route of "end of game" cinematic even though the piece I am doing doesn't actually belong to a specific game and is based on the characters themselves. In this I was looking at multiple cinematic sequences from the very dramatic trailer style to simpler in game ones. I chose to draw inspiration from Final Fantasy 9's Ending Cinematic and wrote a demi-love scene. I wasn't able to think up anything epic or earth shattering for the time being and decided since I am more worried about camera than story itself for the thesis I was alright with it being more simple than having explosions and a cut every two seconds. Also, I want to take all moving cameras and try to simulate them in motion capture.

What I was doing over the last few days

Small tweaks to Poe's face based off art team review on Monday. (eyebrows needed to be moved in somewhat)

I thought some about my Thesis and wrote up some things that I possibly want to think about when I am writing.

• What previous Techniques were and how they were employed and why
  
• Games that used traditional animations
• Cinematic in game
• Pre-rendered
• Things to remember about cameras in general
• Rules of cinematic camera work (180 rule)
• Techniques for dramatic story- how to portray characters through camera to show importance and things like that
• I was looking through a few books that I have to think up some camera ideas for when want to start my story boarding process.
• Why do I want to use motion capture for a camera?
  
  
  • Camera in scene that is made. Help make camera move realistically (shaky cam, steady cams)
  • It's fun
  
  
  

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Over the last few days: (monday and tuesday) I worked primarily on Penned tasks. I created 2 "cardboard cutout" models, Lit and Relit part of the Radiant Path, and worked on a Paint Over for our cinematic scene. I will be back on finishing the Poe Model for Rigging today!

Thesis List of Expectations

Thesis: Cinematic Cameras - Working with Pre-Rendered Cut Scenes vrs Real Time and How to make them synonymous.

Modeling Requirements:

• Simple Environment
  
• Simple Character
  
  • Character will most likely be a re-purposed character that can be switched later on due to time. or tpose
  • Will need a very simple animation loop on it so
• Textures will probably be a simple Occlusion Pass rather than anything fancy

Camera Requirement:

• Design a cinematic camera to convey a simple story of the motion capture studio
• Story board will be provided along with research on why I use the shots that I use
• Set up cameras in Maya

Pipeline Requirement

• Find a way to transfer the pre created information out of Maya and use it to control camera movement in at least one engine (UDK or Vision)
• Depending on the difficulty and time involved bringing it into the first engine I will attempt to get it into the second engine- but this will be a low priority.

Planned Projects for Summer 2012

Project 1: Edgar Allen Poe Bust (Penned) - STYLIZED face

Poe Bust Start

Project 2:  Kaffi Model in Zbrush

Project 3 and Thesis

Cinematic Camera Thesis

Will include a basic modeled environment of Motion capture studio with a character in the center for camera to move through as example and Thesis paper.

Compare cinematic cameras using maya, UDK and vision with same environment.