Voilà !!!!!!!

And that's a wrap!

The shooting is finally done today! It's been agonizing but I found the fun in it eventually. In the beginning I was literally on the edge of breaking down. Since I tend to bump into the camera, or that the puppets won't hold in place. And once a shot was ruined, I would have to film the whole scene all over again. 

The most challenging part is to have the puppets stay in place. Before each shot, I have to spend time on preparing the puppets for certain position. It's really frustrating when the arms won't stay in the air, or that it won't balance in some certain pose. I think this would lead me back to the making of armature. Perhaps my armature was not stable enough, or that the wrong material lead to the rough movement of the puppets. 

The Tailor with the sewing machine

What I've also encountered is that some of the scenes is not easy to capture. For example the motion of the pencil case falling down the table. It was almost impossible to let it stay half way in the air to take a shot. So I need tools to help like blu tack, which has been really useful to my film. Also some of the angles of scenes may not turned out as effective as you imagined. So I had to improvise and film it from different angles. Just to test on which works the best. 

The Tailor knocking off the pencil case

The Tailor looking at the Photographs

There were challenges but I was able to learn from my mistakes and eventually get through the obstacles. Although sometimes I had to take 10 times to get the effect I want, but it was worth it. I learnt to be more patient with filming, as there was no point to rush it. I also find the fun in it, especially when I watch the scene I just shot. The joy of seeing the puppets come to life is just indescribable. 

The Tailor laying out the fabric. 

What I wish to improve is the smoothness of the movements. At some point the film tends to be jerking here and there, which makes the film looks unprofessional. 

Problems with Plasticine

I really enjoy using plasticine since it is easy to sculpt, and it will never harden. However it tends to get smudged by other colors really easily. Especially that I'm using white for the Tailor's hair, mustache, eyebrows and arms, they tend to get stained with other colors all the time.

Another problem with plasticine is that since it never harden, so marks tend to leave on it easily. Once the Tailor puppet fell flat on his face, and the nose squashed just like the image below: 

I also find it really annoying when dusts land on my plasticine. Once they do, it's impossible to get rid of them. I usually just scrape the first layer off and replace it with a new one. But it's not only time consuming and that it's impossible to use this method all the time. So I have asked the professionals from Aardman studio regarding this problem. And this is their reply:

Thank you for your message.

To help keep the dust off our plasticine puppets, we cover them with clingfilm. That seems to work. Although, you’ve got to be very careful wrapping them, just in case it leaves any marks!

If dust has landed on our puppets, we use baby wipes to help clean them up. Another option, which is usually a last resort, is to very finely scrape off the top layer with a special tool.

I hope this is helpful!

I was overjoyed when they replied me. I learnt that preserving the puppets is really important. So now I always wrap it with a clean plastic bag when not using the puppets. The baby wipes method also work really well. 

First scene of the day!

I've finally began to film the first few scenes today. Since I haven't animate or film for quite a while so it took me awhile before I find the skills to do so again. I re-take each scenes for at least five times before I find it satisfying.
I find the lightning most difficult to deal with. It's hard to find the right shade that I desire. I was struggling to set the right tone for the film.

The Wedding dress

I've also made the wedding dress using white chiffron fabric and lace. Originally I intended to sew a proper dress, but in the end I just paste it on using blu tack as it was too small and the material was too fine to sew. Though it works just fine in the end, but it's troublesome to have to paste the pieces on when filming. 

Wedding dress with veil 

Dress without the veil

"To my Little Girl"

The awful back of the dress

Finishing of props and sets

I have finally completed all the props and sets, and I've put them together as the final piece.

Evaluation:

Overall, I'm really satisfied with my work. I'm actually surprised by what I'm capable of and I wish to explore further in this area. I'm also proud of myself for working so hard as I've made all these in just one and a half week time. 

Though I must learn how to work faster since I'm falling behind schedule. I've chosen to use cardboard for most of the items here. Since it is cheap and easy to access. Though it is difficult to cut out the details due to the rough texture of cardboard. Also it does not go well with water so it was challenging when I was trying to paint it over with acrylic paints. 

The Completed Set of the Tailor's workshop

The pictures and the Cabinet

The threads inside the opened drawer

Cabinet

Size of the pencils in my palm

Size of the scissor in my palm

Scissors

Working table 

Stool 

Mannequin

The orders/writing on the wall 

Shelf with boxes, threads, papers and paper bags

Pin cushion

The Ribbon rack 

Stationaries 

Painting of the props and set

After complete making all the furnitures and set, I began to paint them using acrylic paint. It is a relief to finally reach this stage, as I'm one step closer to reaching the next stage.

I have seek advice from my peers on the colors and style of the room. Some suggested a warm gray, and some suggested a green, vintage wallpaper with patterns. I decide to go with the colors green, brown and black since it would compliment the Tailor well.

These are some of the ideas I've found on the web:

Green old wallpaper with pattern Idea

Vintage Wallpaper Idea

In the end I came up with a more muted green color, and paint it over the walls. Then after it has dried, I painted some simple, dotted petals on it. The result is pretty satisfying for me.

The final outcome :)

Continue making the props and set

I've been working on the room and furnitures for almost a week and I'm making a good progress. I'm also satisfied how the turned out the way I pictured them to be.

Evaluation on Skills:
As a perfectionist, I push myself really hard to achieve something that I want. Hence I've been working really hard on the props, hoping that they would turn out the way I imagined. The most difficult part was understanding the structure of props. I had to figure out how the shelves can hold on the wall, and how the sewing machine can actually function. But I actually found it exciting to learn and figure things out.

Evaluation on progression:
Unfortunately I'm still behind schedule, though I've been working really hard throughout the whole time. I would have to adjust my schedule later on, perhaps shortening the time on the filming and evaluating stage.

The Chalk and Stationaries

The Pin cushion and scissors

The Working Table

The sewing machine

Overall look of the room

The window and Cabinet

The Mannequin 

The sewing Machine

The Sewing Machine

Making of the Mannequin

The Sewing Machine

The sewing machine plays an important part in my animation. According to my animatic, there will be a few scenes involving the sewing machine --moving. So it is crucial for me to make a functional sewing machine. I have made some research on vintage sewing machine:

I tried to figure out how a sewing machine works mechanically. I've spent quite some time on it figuring out how it works. In the end I decided that my sewing machine would be too small to capture the exact function of a sewing machine. So I just make some of the important parts to move:

Evaluation on research:
I have done a lot of research on sewing machine. I've been looking at images, drawings and videos to figure out how it function. Though in the end I still can't find out how it actually connect from the paddle to the wheel, to the sewing machine, but I'm satisfied with my final outcome.

Paddle and wheel of my Sewing Machine

The overall look of my sewing machine

My painted sewing Machine

Final Group tutorials

It was the final group tutorial we have before spring break. I could only show them the few props I've made but that's about it. There's nothing further I can seek for their help since I've reached the prop making stage. Though my tutor has given me the final advice on using stop motion software. I'm not sure if I'm keen on purchasing any software but I might research on some later on.

Evaluation on my progress: 
I'm quite further away from schedule as making props take longer than I thought. I should procrastinate less and simply just focus on working fast and smart. There is time when I take too much time on just one prop since I was working on the details. I must learn how to loosen up a bit and understand less is more.

The Pictures and Cabinet

Another Cabinet with a drawes

Making of the Set and props

I began with deciding on the size of the rooms and flooring plan of the room and furnitures. This involved a lot of measuring and calculation which I loathe. I have placed my Tailor puppet in the middle of the room to test on the size of the props:

Testing of the size of the Set

Then I sort of just revolve the measurements around the Tailor, so that everything would look right with him. I've also started working on the smaller props, like the fabric rolls, the thread and the pictures on the cabinets. 

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

The Ribbon rolls 

The Threads

The Fabric rolls