Gopher Golf: Lip sync test #1

This video is the first lip sync test for the Golfer in 'Gopher Golf'. Here I'm testing out the idea of creating lip sync animation in Photoshop, but I feel like the styles clash here so I will likely use replacement Plasticine mouths in the final film.

Gopher Golf: Background Characters

These videos are short animations completed in Photoshop, showing the background characters for 'Gopher Golf'. These will all appear in one short clip of a crowd behind the Golfer, cheering for the winner. The characters will be in darkness as the Golfer is the scene's main focus.

Farmer

Old Man

Middle-aged woman

Young Man

Gopher Golf: Further Background Designs

Here are some of the final (and near final) backgrounds I have developed for the film 'Gopher Golf'.

These backgrounds were drawn out first, then rendered in Photoshop. These drawings lack shadows and fine details which will be added in post production.

Gopher Golf: Building the Golfer Puppet - Part #8

The hands and head for the Golfer were finally completed this week. The Golfer also now has a hat which, like the clothes, has been hand-knitted.

The hands were dabbed in watercolour paint and talc powder to achieve a colour similar to human skin colour. This took several attempts as it had to match the Plasticine.

The head was attached on with wires, stuck to the main body by Araldite. The joint between the head and main body will be covered by more Plasticine.

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Gopher Golf: Building the Golfer Puppet - Part #7

The final stage for my Golfer puppet is to create a head. Like the hands, it needs to be abnormally big to match the style of the film - but, at the same time, I needed to make sure the head wasn't so heavy that it would affect the body weight. The puppet still needs to be capable of standing up well on its own.

I experimented with creating heads which are, essentially, balls of Plasticine. The detail at the top of the head (the hair) wasn't too important at this time, since the Golfer will be wearing a hat.

The mouth has been left clear as I will be animating lip sync in Flash or After Effects, then tracking the mouth movements with the character's actions on screen. Eye movements and eyelids can also be animated separately.

However, the Plasticine was much too heavy on its own. The solution was to use a small piece of solid foam - a very light material - covered in a very small layer of Plasticine, only a few millimetres thick.

The feet are covered in a very light layer of Plasticine as well, which will add weight to the feet to help the puppet stand up correctly. However, I may not need to show the feet in the final film.

Gopher Golf: Final Hands

Below are pictures of the left and right hands I made from silicon and foam latex.

Both hands are made from the same mould and are almost complete - the only remaining stage is to paint them. The paint will need to be a blend of colours which will match Flesh-coloured Newplast Plasticine. The hands are abnormally big for when the Golfer needs to hold various props, such as a golf club or newspaper. It also adds to the unique style I am developing for the film.

Gopher Golf: Script Breakdown (Final)

Here is the script breakdown for my final film.

Gopher Golf: Final Screenplay, March 2015

Even through the production and shooting of my film 'Gopher Golf', I'm still making amendments to the screenplay. Here is the latest draft.
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INT. HALLWAY - DAY

A leaflet falls through the letterbox on a front door.

A man walks over and picks it up. This man is the GOLFER, a tall man wearing a green golf shirt, hat, shoes and shorts.

The man sees a large headline on the newspaper and gasps - it reads "$10,000,000 prize offered at Golfing Championship". The Golfer clearly becomes excited and nods decisively.

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

The Golfer carefully places the golf ball on a tee in his back garden.

The garden is very large with flat, green, freshly-cut grass, a pond and a single tree at the end and fencing all around the garden obscuring the view outside. At the end of his garden, the Golfer has very badly dug a hole for the golf ball to land into which is clearly too large.

The Golfer swings carefully then hits the golf ball. The ball misses the hole and lands in a tree.

The Golfer GROANS LOUDLY.

We cut to the Golfer trying again. This time he hits the golf ball into the pond.

The Golfer then hits the ball again. It's clear in his aim that he is frustrated and not putting much effort into it. The ball knocks over a garden gnome. The Golfer gives a fed-up look and SIGHS LOUDLY.

Next the Golfer hits the ball over the fence. We hear the sound of the ball hitting an old woman and a car which crashes.

The golfer growls angrily. The Golfer then calms down and looks at the golf hole again. He sighs then proceeds to try one more time. This time he aims much more carefully with greater precision. He hits the ball and it finally goes into the golf hole. The Golfer cheers and shouts excitedly, then looks at his newspaper again feeling much happier.

EXT. PLAYING FIELD - DAY

The big day has arrived. Another GOLFER has just taken a shot but the ball lands too far from the hole. The other golfer cries loudly in anger and hurries off. Our Golfer simply laughs as he starts taking his place in preparation for his perfect shot. A large crowd is seen behind him sitting in stadium seating.

The Golfer is looking very nervous as he prepares his perfect shot. He keeps moving hesitantly as if he is unsure at what moment to hit the ball.

The Golfer finally hits the ball. There is complete silence.

The ball hits the ground after a prolonged silence. It moves its way around the golf hole. Everyone is watching. Finally the golf ball lands in the hole. The crowd cheers and the Golfer cheers loudest of all.

The Golfer takes out a leaflet showing a picture of a mansion up for sale, making it clear how the Golfer plans to use his prize money.

Suddenly, the sounds of cheering start to fade. Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss plays.

Unknown to the Golfer, the golf ball emerges out of the golf hole again, moving very, very slowly. The golf ball is riding on a GOPHER.

The Gopher brings the ball back up to the surface again in a shot referencing the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The Gopher watches the Golfer, looking happy and looking forward to having his revenge.

EXT. MANSION - DAY

We see the Mansion on top of a large hill, with a "Just Sold" sign outside.

The Gopher watches from nearby, looking very pleased with himself. Behind him there is a crate of TNT. He holds up two wires and connects them together.

The entire mansion suddenly explodes.

The Golfer walks up, holding the keys to his new mansion. He screams when he sees the mansion is no longer there - the Golfer has now got his comeuppance.