Class Animatic evaluation

Upon doing the animatic, each student had to present to the class. I found this a very rewarding exercise because it allowed me to gain valid feedback from other people. Through gaining this feedback it meant that I could make alterations to the current state of the animatic so that it conformed to the standards aquired to make the desired outcome.

Two aspects of evaluation that I had to consider when looking at others work was:

- Quality of production
- Are we informed of the real narrative of the text through each sketch/ shot.


Other aspects to consider were:

- Does the text feel generically correct?
- Have you storyboarded enough or too much?
- How effective was the use of sound?
- Was there a variation in editing styles, i.e. fades/ dissolves/ speed/ cuts.
- Was each shot length/ cut appropriate for the text?


Overall, the people doing the short film task presented a good animatic. There was a good use of non-diegetic and diegetic sound to reinforce parts of the narrative. Clear sketches were used and it was visible to see that the editing ran parallel with the action and sound within the text. Furthermore, there was a good selection of ambient sound used to reinforce vital parts of the narrative.

Students doing the music video gave a very engaging piece. This was due to the good use of editing and sketches that meant it was easier for audience members to interact with the predominant characters/ singers in the text. Furthermore, the variation in shots meant that the meaning of the lyrics within the song were reinforced to their full effect. Moreover, the use of movement of certain characters was most effective because it brought the audience members closer to what was actually happening within the text.

Both the teaser trailer and the opening of a children's television programme were well-presented and engaging. Witholding, conventions like variation of shots, good use of sound and appropriate content for targeting audiences. The advertising task that was carried out was appropriate for the targeted audience -that being, predominately men interested in sports- as it kept with the codes of a typical ad. There was a good use of shot reverse shot and alot of focus on the product being advertised. Therefore, meaning that the concept of the product remained and the student kept within that particular context.

For my evaluation of my animatic, most people said that it was overall a good presentation of the narrative of the text. I used a good variation of shots, however I needed to include sound to complete the full piece and develop audience members with a better understanding of the narrative. Furthermore, I need to cut some of the original transitions and use less. Therefore, meaning that when they are used they are used with a big effect. Thus, helping audience members to engage with the narrative of the text is changing. Also, I should try to avoid "cube" or "shape" transitions as it will completely change the dark tone of the narrative (which is something I do not want to change).

Other aspects to consider upon improving my animatic were:
- Use darker lighting to reinforce tone.
- Develop a clarified understanding as to why the main protagonist is behaving in a certain way.
- Good use of shot types, however use CU's more so that the audience members are drawn in closer to the main protagonist.

Second Draft of Animatic

First draft of Animatic

Changes from my animatic

After looking at the shots in my animatic, it became apparent that the narrative was to generic (a traditional linear narrative as described by Todorov - http://sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/Narrative+theory) and too expected for my targted audience. Therefore, I feel that I will need to alter certain shots to create an "air of mystery", so that enough ambiguity is created for my audience members to suggest things about the main character instead of the narrative directly saying it (here I will be using Barthes’ Enigma Code – Barthes suggests that a narrative should offer a series of mysteries to the audience to be unraveled as the text develops - http://sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/Narrative+theory).

-Audience to be unraveled as the text develops- sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/narrative+theory

As the main protagonist is suffering from an eating disorder, I will alter certain aspects within the narrative to reinforce the need to have the perfect body image without out right getting the character to say it.

One prop that I will use is photo frames:
- this is good because that way the audience members can see how the girl used to look before she had the disease.
- it also shows the girl's reflection in the frame, thus reinforcing her importance of body image.

Narrative structure and theory is something that I could have given greater consideration to during my AS production therefore here I am attempting to make it an integral part of my pre-production in the hope that it will lead to less problems and changes at the post production stage. Moreover, I have given far more time to pre-production realizing that I had done so at the AS production process would have been far smoother resulting in an even more accomplished product.

Instead of just spoken dialouge between the few characters, I will also use a shooting method whereby the audience members get to listen to the protagonists thoughts and feelings. Thus, meaning that they are drawn closer to the main protagonist. Not only this, but I will use all of the characters voices in the girls head as if they are pressuring her inside. To reinforce this pressure, I will use an echoed or blurred voice so that it is apprent that the characters are not directly speaking to her. This will also suggest that the eating disorder is at a low point as the signs and symptoms begin to occur in the text.


I will also alter the shot list so that the ending is more coherent to what the actual disease is really like. In other words, someone suffering from anorexia would deny that they still have it to fool the other characters. Therefore, I will change the ending to show that her issues are still not resolved. After her friends ask about her welfare at the restaurant and she replies with "Im fine", the non-diegetic sound of her being sick will enter so that the audience members know that her issues are still apparent even at the end of the text.