DONE!

The Prize is done! It feels so good to be done. I am rendering out the final Quicktime as I type this. So much work and I am happy with the final product. When I started I wasn’t to sure about going with the cut out animation style, but now that it is done, I am happy I made that choice. I think it lends itself to the story and makes it look kind of childish but still has creepiness to it. I think what really holds it all together is the sound. The sound makes such a big difference. I have watched it with and without the sound and they have completely different feelings to them. Without the sound it is just a kid in the woods winning a bear and then at the end bear attacks him. With the sound the walking now was a little bit of tension and the bear at the end carries more weight and ends the film on a high note. I cant wait to have a few days off, but I am already looking forward to my next film…

Almost Done.....

The race to the finish line is a stressful one. But that being said I think that I am in good shape. All of the main animation is now done. I added the things that were talked about at the critique. Crits are important at this point because I have been looking at this film for so long now that I can no longer look at it objectively. At this point I am working on leveling out my sound track. This is a part of the process I like. Being a musician mixing music is something that comes naturally to me. I think it is working, but I have to find a balance between the main themes and sound effects. I added in a lot of sound effects and it started to sound weird, and lost some of its creep factor. I think it works better if the theme is what drives the film. I also am working on the credits and opening now, and that is also coming along and I am happy with the results…

Sound Editing:

The movie is coming along. I am working on the sound track now. I am looking for a track that has a dreamy but still creepy vibe. I have most of my sound effects but I am just trying to fit them in and get the levels right. Some of them are too loud at this point, but the mixing is coming along. While I was doing the sound track I found that the zipper sound effect that I have been using form the beginning rough track doesn’t really make sense the way it is now. Hearing the zipper while the screen is back doesn’t really read the way that I was hoping that it would.  So, I had to add a shot of the boy zipping up his bag when he is in the tent, and use the same sound to tie it in…

Scary Clown:

Making a movie is pretty stressful, but I think I am getting used to it. You just have to keep working and eventually you get where you need to. I am happy with the scary clown scene and the idea of the silhouette was a great idea. It lets me keep the scene dark but you still know that the clown is dangerous. Everything is in place and it doesn’t seem like the cuts that I had to make effect the film at all. I thought that I couldn’t cut anything else out and have it make sense, but I was wrong. I think now that I cut out some of the walking, that movie flows a lot better. I am going to start working on sound this week and I think the music will hold everything together…