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: 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: Updated Animatic, 10th February 2015

https://vimeo.com/119225647

The above link is for the updated version of my animatic, based on feedback I received recently that the set-up for the conflict wasn't strong enough.

I wanted the Gopher in the film to be a device, not a main character, so the film focuses more on the Golfer, his vanity and his eventual comeuppance. However, when I test screened the film for different audiences, it was felt that the ending was too random when a gopher appears out of nowhere. Then, when I included the Gopher in the first half of the film, it suddenly made the ending too predictable - which was something I really wanted to avoid.

The best way to compromise was to have the Gopher appear in the first half, then misdirect the audience - making them think one thing might happen, then something completely unexpected happens. I was reluctant to this as it made the Gopher more of a character than a plot device, but I can understand how it creates more interesting conflict between two characters - effectively like a Tom & Jerry or Looney Tunes short.

In this version, I've used a tutor's idea to have a house blown up by dynamite as the Golfer's comeuppance. This was originally to be the Golfer's own home, but this then leads to a massive plot hole - the Golfer has won enough money from the tournament to buy himself another house, so he doesn't get his comeuppance. I went around this error by having the Golfer spend his winnings on a new, improved house - in fact, a Californian mansion.

Whilst I still feel unsure about the ending, it definitely works better than previously - it works better for comedy, whilst still keeping the same moral values I've always wanted this film to have. The Gopher has become more of a character, but the story is still about the Golfer, his obsession with fame and fortune and the consequences it results in.

Gopher Golf: Final Animatic

Here is the final animatic for my film "Gopher Golf".

Link:  https://vimeo.com/114233419

The password to view the video is: uclan01.

Gopher Golf: First drafts of the Animatic

In the last few weeks, I have created two drafts of my animatic based on the final draft of my script.

The first draft of my animatic, as seen below, is purely based on the original script with no changes from the most recent draft of the script.





However, after feedback from tutors and the target audience, it was felt that the conflict needed to be stronger between the gopher and the golfer. This could be improved by having the gopher appear earlier in the film and the golfer would do something to provoke him, causing the gopher to retaliate at the end.

I was against the idea since it destroys the purpose of the film - the focus is meant to be on the golfer's character. The golfer is extremely vain and the story is about his comeuppance - the gopher is a device rather than a central character. It also creates a serious plot hole - why the gopher is in the golfer's garden one moment, and the next moment he's on the golf course. On the other hand, it was felt that the gopher's appearance at the end was almost too random - there was no lead-up to it.

However, I still created another draft of the animatic which includes the gopher appearing earlier on in the film. Below is the second draft of the animatic.




It was difficult to decide how to include the gopher early on in the film - I had a number of options, but I still didn't want the gopher to be a main character. This would make the ending of the film far too predictable and boring rather than surprising.

To avoid this problem, I thought about films I like where there are big reveals or there is a mystery to be solved. Films and books often include small, subtle clues scattered across the story which lead up to a "big reveal".

This is a film I saw at the 21st Bradford Animation Festival. This is an example of a film with a clever punch-line and the clues to it are done very subtly and very well.


Interview from The Animation Workshop on Vimeo.


Thinking back to this, I then remembered the montage where the golfer keeps failing to get a perfect shot: the ball lands in a pond, hits a garden knome, bashes a car and so on. In the final version of my animatic, I will try including the gopher during this montage. This would ensure that the gopher is acknowledged during the first half of the film, without making him the film's main character.

Other improvements I will make to the animatic include improvements to the film's timing - I feel there is a lot of "padding-out" which can be lost. I initially extended the length of some shots to allow dialogue to be included in the film, however, after seeing how the animatic turned out, the target audience and I all agreed the film would flow much better without dialogue. The character's performance and actions are enough to tell the story.