-What where the roles you were given?
I was given the roles of colourist and animator of different types of fish for the opening sequence.
-Did you complete the roles and what feedback did you receive?
Yes, I completed the roles that were given to me. I created rough animations for different types of fish and sea creatures and coloured a couple of shots for Sophie.
-How did you perform during this project?
I think I performed decently during the project, I completed all my work on time and was able to take on more tasks after finishing everything that was given to me. Sophie gave me positive feedback and I felt positive about the work is good enough for her.
-What could you have improved on?
I think I can always improve on my animation, it’s not at the level which I hoped it to be but I can see some improvements over the past couple of months. My understanding of animation principles has improved but my skill level is still pretty basic. I wanted to create some really nice shots of fish moving for Sophie however, my skill level held me back so I was only able to create some basic animation sequences instead.
-How does the roles you where given relate to industry roles?
I have done work as a colourist previously so felt comfortable in that role and I do enjoy doing it. I find it easy to get into the zone and get work done quite quickly. I also enjoyed trying my hand as a storyboarder?/animator by creating the rough animations. I don’t know if this is a role, I’d like to take on in the industry but as I have an interest in marine life, I found it to be enjoyable.
-Did you enjoy the experience?
I did. Sophie is a very organised person and I felt I knew what was needed of me during our time collaborating. And I had no issues asking questions I did have any. She created a nice atmosphere between us all.
-What was successful during the collaboration?
The communication between us all made it successful, I think. I knew what was asked of me so I was able to get to work pretty quickly.
-What was challenging about your experience?
The most challenging for me was animating the fish. I hadn’t tried to create any animation of fish before so thinking about the mechanics of their movement and of the water was a challenge. But luckily, I have lots of reference of footage.
-What new skills / techniques did you learn?
I didn’t use any techniques I hadn’t used before during this process however I think I was able to get a step towards perfecting my skills in time management and working as part of team/working under a supervisor for creative work. As I don’t have as much experience with that.
-How did you utilize the skills you have learnt so far on the course?
Of course, I was able to utilize what I have learnt about animation in terms of timing and realistic movement for animals/fish. This was something I didn’t really grasp prior to the start of the course. However, I have learnt that this is a skill that improves over time with practice and understanding.
-What would you bring into your practice from this experience?
From this experience I‘d like to bring the level of organisation and the great time management skills that Sophie showed us a team to my graduate film next year. The process was a lot more painless because of her good time keeping and the fact she knew what she needed from us. I’m pleased I was able to work with her.