NA Final Revises Data Presentation

Project #4 Friday Video (before improvements).

Statement for Data Presentation

My data presentation is to promote pet adoption through the health benefits you gain from them.
The type is the most dominant channel throughout the presentation and acts as transition indicators that carry us from the beginning part of the leash to the end of it which eventually has no dog clipped to it. The music is a supportive element that, lyrics (Let My Love Open The Door), reflect the actual end product of owning a dog and are from his point of view.

I chose photography as the primary source of imagery to put tension and focus your attention on the facts. The simplified white background and black leash leaves no room for distraction and forces you to participate as the viewer. I have photo-shopped one long leash file and dragged it across the stage to produce a sense of movement or panning.

The one thing I've taken away from this project is continuity and timing. I've learned that timing is very important for specific time constraints and the comprehension and anticipation the viewer experiences.

The wide open range of options was fun but hard. The endless limitations was a difficult factor to consider when being decisive. The continuity throughout and HOW you say what you want to say is very important. I've taken a piece from each project this semester and tried to combine them into a solid cohesive video.

 

 

NA Project 4 Process

It consists of photoshop build files of a leash, Audacity builds, as well as a photo shoot of the leash.

Project #4 Storyboard process & inspiration.

Here are a few process photos of rough sketches for my Pet Adoption storyboard as well as a few inspiration photos that relate directly to what I want out of my data presentation. They will show the dog who acts as a guardian angel of health, love, security, happiness, and activity.

Project #4 Ideas and Story Board

I am creating a data presentation on facts of what the benefits of having a dog are, in-turn, this tv commercial will promote dog adoption in a positive light. Before I was going for a negative approach of using guilt to attract viewers to adopt a dog and save a life, now after my small group critique, I am using the power of positivity to promote the advantages for the adopter of having a dog. My facts revolve around health, social, and internal happiness. All my facts are cross referenced and proven by doctors within the medical field or professional surveys.

This would be a data presentation that would be an internet streamed advertisemen, due to its time lapse over 30 seconds.

Fact #1 - Dogs reduce stress and improve mood.

Fact #2 - Dogs make your life active and help you exercise.

Fact #3 - Dogs help to lower and control your blood pressure.

Fact #4 - Dogs provide excellent security.

Fact #5 - Dogs are date magnets and provide social support.
               Proven by Nadine Kaslow, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory
               University in Atlanta

Fact #6 - could possibly be switched out with one of the above. Dogs add structure to your life.


After my storyboard ideas and group critique, we have come up with a solution that utilizes elements of my ideas to create a typographic and static image animation that promotes the imagery of these facts.

Each fact will be displayed by an image of the specific fact. Example:
     Dogs making your life active and help exercise with show a still image of an owner running or playing with his dog, with the type laying on top of the image and the title being kinetic type that performs the action of the designated fact.



Here are my First set of ideas:

#1 creating a dialog of type that says "I can help you lower your blood pressure" and then there will be an opacity fade to a dog who is saying it. This would be a series of the different facts that doesn't reveal that there is a dog narrating the message until the very end.

#2 doing a video pan across a leash from handle to clip with the different facts showing up  along the way. You'll eventually reach the clip with no dog attached to it, promoting the feeling of emptiness.

#3 strictly kinetic type that acts as a reveal to the stated facts. Each action that reveals the fact will be directly related to the fact, such as: exercise - mud from running paw prints will act as a mask that reveals the type.

#4 utilizing an advertising angle of promoting the dog as a product, such as medication or household item. You will see just a blank box representing an anonymous product, and type will appear asking questions like "can this product stop depression?" Type that says "yes" will appear across the box. After going through each fact question, the end scene will show the box opening and revealing this miracle product - a  dog.

Project #4 Overview

I am choosing to design a Data Presentation that presents the facts of pet adoption and the dark side of the cruelty these animals receive when not under the care of a loving owner. The subject matter relates directly to my previous animations of utilizing a dog. I believe this project will work great in my portfolio and give it more depth due to the responsibility that it holds. This piece has a hierarchical presence of supporting a cause and saving lives; I think this is a much broader and deeper piece that will show more than introducing entertainment (show opener).

The purpose of this work is to take a Pathos approach to help dogs and cats get adopted. This sort of graphic design exists to inform the public the side of stray dogs and animal shelters you don't see or know about and to educate an audience to inform them that they do have the power and possibility of changing this dark side by adopting, fostering, or SAVING the life of a dog or cat. This is meant to be a televised commercial on a the animal planet channel, and possibly all channels, that needs no presenter. There might be a voice over narration, but the majority of the piece will be supported by type, image (possibly vector), and instrumental music. The audience will be non-animal owners who live in a comfortable  living space that can accompany a 4-legged friend, and can donate the time for them. They are watching due to the need and want of companionship that include unconditional love.

Research: Both Direct and aesthetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODC5e3AEa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH3pA29MG5k&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7tsp4wdVo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmunMKtxGTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZnnhC2iyoA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl0x3LlWIig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAxOtp4vDJQ&feature=related

http://www.trollback.com/#/work/Caucus4Priorities/
http://www.trollback.com/#/work/DiscoveryTimesChannel-ImageSpot/
http://www.psyop.tv/main.php
http://www.psyop.tv/main.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JndtG8Y7yfw
http://www.pleix.net/films.html
http://www.trollback.com/#/work/Volvo-SafetyPin/
http://www.trollback.com/#/work/Target/

Statement for Nonlinear Project

These are my screen captures for my interactive nonlinear project.

#1 this is the roll over or mouse over state of my sound effects buttons. The vector paw turns into a mud splattered realistic paw when you hover over it.

#2 this it the roll over or mouse over state of my video buttons. The shoe print follows the paws lead by turning into an actual shoe print with destructive marks and features.

#3 This is where all three videos will be displayed after the mouse click event. They will all be centered to clarify confusion of the random shoe prints and paw prints.

STATEMENT

I've learned throughout this nonlinear process of how the added element of sound can enhance the interest and enforce the continuity of my linear animation. I've enjoyed how choosing different types of sound effects and music can set a variety of moods that visuals sometimes cannot.

I have explored many different types of sound effects, voice narrations, and instrumental and lyrical music. The voice over is sort of a direct insight to the attitude of the animation, while sound effects (abstract or literal) can be little reminders of what the animation is trying to portray and amplify specific actions in a video, and music can go in many different directions that contrast greatly in the volume of information you want to explain (audibly) in the animation.

I've delved into illustrator for the initial shapes of the buttons (paws and shoes) and have given them a destructive quality in photoshop to bring a new texture to the composition and enforce the natural element of dogs.

My interactive screen is brought to the very basics of walking a dog, tracks. I wanted to break into a new component of dog walking that I haven't in the first 2 projects so I chose to use the actual prints of the walk to evoke a sense of documentation. The prints or tracks show the after effect of the walk, and also act as a memory indicator reminding you of a moment when you've walked your dog.

The screen is laid out in a brown monotone color scheme with both human and dog prints going in a linear direction. The human tracks activate videos with preloaded music and voice over tracks. The dog paws contain sound effects: a sqeaky toy, a collar dangling, a dog bark, heavy dog breathing, and a whistle. The videos are the dogs perspective, the human perspective, and a combined perspective video. The voice over is an audacity modified narration that acts as an introduction to the human perspective video. The voice over is suppose to be the persona of the dog as a child.

Its a simple layout, but it lets the user play with sound effects throughout each video. I wanted to preload the music so that the user could participate and add a specific bouncy and fun mood through the sound effects (supported by the music choices). It looks basic, but I am proud of it, never before operating Flash and action script. I wanted to stick to something that wasn't going to be overwhelming for my beginner understanding. This is the outcome, and regardless of grade - I have learned quite a bit from consistency of tone, understanding user interaction, how sound can support and enhance any visual element, how to compromise design with action script possibilities.

NA Thumbs, Comps, Sketches

Batch #1 Friday October 23, 2009

Here are some of my concepts for our third project. The first batch was based on a Leash theme, the choices of active buttons were placed on or were the actual leashes. They varied in user control from: choosing separate clips with preset sounds, choosing the whole movie and adding different sounds, choosing type separate from image and sound, and adding different sounds throughout choosing different clips.

Batch #2 October 28, 2009

My second batch is just one set that narrows down the concept to a more practical approach. I'm now using human footprints and dog pawprints as the activation buttons to just select prearranged sound clips that go along with the appropriate image clip. I tried to concept a splash page to choose either the dog or human perspective from suggestions in my critique, however that sort of work is out of my grasp and unrealistic for this project. The human and dog prints represent the documenting of the walk through the feet imprints. depending on which perspective you choose, the human will only show shoe prints in color and the dog perspective would only show paw prints in black and white. The paw print button you would click on, would follow with an animation of the paw prints walking, then enlarging into an active video screen.

Batch #3 October 30, 2009
     My final batch is an exploration of the previous paw print and shoe print theme, but combined on the same screen for the users understanding and ease. The first is a refined version on Batch #2, these will have the option of clicking sound on and off during the viewing of the movie clip. Also each paw print or shoe print will have a mouseOver activation of a sound effect, such as a bark or whistle, just to add a bit more.
     The second idea is based off of just the splash screen where you can choose inbetween the paw of the dog perspective and the shoe print of the human. Upon clicking on either, a movie clip screen will enlarge and play with the choise of different sounds on the left (smaller prints).
     The third idea is based on the same paw theme, but the entire interaction screen looks like an old memory game, or match game where you have to find 2 similar cards on the other side. Each square you click on will play a predetermined movie clip and sound clip attached to it; possibly multiple playing at one time. A little less user control, but more options than the rest of the ideas.

Audio Tracks for Animation

Here are the sounds for my animation.

Lyrical Music: Happy Jack by The Who
    - Has playful lyrics that represent the dogs complex


Instrumental: Remy Drives a Linguini by Michael Giacchino
     - contains a bouncy rhythm that reflects the pace of boredom before the walk and speeds up with the walk.


Voice Over: Kids Voice as an intro to leashing up for a walk
     - "hey human, get up human, lets go for a walk, I'm ready for an adventure


Sound Mark/ Sonic Brand: low octave music box chimes/xylophone
     - playful childlike qualities of a young naive mind of a dog


Sound Effects: A combo of obvious sounds
     - Dog collar and leash clanging or ringing, dog whining or sniffing, and a whistle

Listen Here

Sound Gatherings

For obtaining sound, I've gathered sound effects, instrumental mood music, a few lyrical songs, and have written a rough script as an introduction or an in-animation-narration track.

My Sounds effects I've recorded and gathered range from leashes clipping, collars dangling, dogs barking, people whistling the pitter-patter of paws. My sound effects will vary to some relative actions in the animation such as my verb connects might have other connecting sound effects like containers closing or zippers pulling. I might try some darker sounds like jail cell doors shutting, or a ball and chain to emphasize a humorous undertone from the dogs perspective of being shut inside or leashed up.

My instrumental music consists of a constant paced rhythm and a few Gershwin tracks that have a bounce attitude to reflect the dogs walking pattern.

For my lyrical songs, I'm still all over the place, I have the Rob & Big theme song, the Globe Trotters theme song (Sweet Georgia Brown), Running on Empty, I'll follow the Sun, The Sesame Street theme, Happy Jack, etc. I Chose these based on a variety of approaches: humor, cheesy, man-dog relationship, whistling aspects, and so on. I want to find a song with a slight acoustic lead-in and picks up the pace to match my animation, but something very bouncy and light in mood. I am also exploring some darker aspects from some suggestions.

My script is from the dogs perspective, but doesn't want to reveal the dogs perspective till the end of the script. I entertain the idea of vagueness of narration. My script can go both ways as far as working as an introduction or a narration overlay and leans more towards the internal poetic nature.

      : Get him up
        Prance around
        Make a sound
        Get that lazy hairball up!

        The Collar is on
        My feet on the floor
        We're out the door
        My buddy, my friend!

        Get outside
        Grass tickles my feet
        The air smells so sweet
        I have nothing to hide!

        Feel a tug at my back
        Take a look around
        It's my Human looking down!

        Lets go for a walk!

Its still a working process and might want to take a darker undertone to it.
I'll try to post my audio gatherings, but have had evidence shown from desk critiques today.
       

Final Kitetic Type Animation

The following is my final kinetic type animation. Being a long story and not just a simple action, I wanted to make the type coexist on the same plane as the original animation to read as a title sequence.
My final verbs are connect, stretch, and restrain for my leash noun. I tried to execute the hesitation and anticipation element throughout the animation to present a logical understanding of the integration of type and image.

All this was done in Flash because I haven't used Flash before and wanted to delve into and learn a new medium. I chose this digital medium to represent a more cohesive separation of type and image, yet combine them consistently to read as a smooth movie title sequence. I have designed it so that the type starts at the top-left corner and ends on the bottom-right corner.

The timed storyboard process has helped me learn to edit the original animation down and cut out unnecessary images and frames. This has transformed a long confusing animation into a shorter more comprehensible animation that clarifies the narrative of the original design.

I have also learned how to harmoniously incorporate type and image to interact with each other in this 720 x 480 environment to not look like 2 incomplete elements struggling with each other. Also I have learned that Type can say just as much, if not more, as an image can and it can direct the viewer through the story more intelligently than an image can.

Final Kinetic Type Animation

Final Kinetic Type Animation from Micah Barta on Vimeo.

Kinetic Type Progress

Kinetic Type Progress from Micah Barta on Vimeo.

Progress

Here is my progress so far. My Kinetic Type Flash file was too small for vimeo to publish, so here are some screen captures of my process for the verb "Connect," in which the armature of the letters actuallt connect to each other in sequential order and create an interlocking word.

Edited 30 frame (1.5 second frame) StoryBoard Animation

Final Edited Motion Capture Video from Micah Barta on Vimeo.

Text & Image Final StoryBoard

Here is the timed story board that consists of 30 frames in 1-second intervals. Some of the frames are repeated to emphasize longer durations in appropriate places. The kinetic type is a compliment to the animation and acts as a title sequence to a film. It is placed primarily in the lower third of the composition to not distract from the images. It also interacts and weaves in and out of elements through the images for cohesiveness and becomes part of the environment. The 3 previous rough storyboards were posted last Friday.

Verbs & Nouns

My Final Noun is Leash and my three verbs are: Connects, Restricts, and Stretches (in order from top to bottom).

NA Verb Thumbnails and Expanding on more verbs.

Here are my Thumbnails from last friday and for tomorrow. I had ball, hair, and have decided upon Leash for my final noun. The Verbs I have chosen are Connect, Restrain, and Stretch. I wanted to try and stay away from obvious, but not to intricate of verbs.