Move it, move it
Having discussed the idea of using audio in our next film we were very inspired by the fab clip that Bob linked to in the comments of the previous post of the flashing Christmas decorations on a house in time to music. Monster decided to make something out of geomags to animate and after some experimentation with a 3d upright robot which didn’t work we decided to use a flat character on the floor that could dance to music.
The figure built we got out the tripod and set the shot up and Monster did the moving of the figure and the taking pictures himself. We had much discussion about what music to use and eventually decided ‘I like to move it move it’ as used in the film Madagascar would be a good choice. We had originally aimed to actually dance in time to the music but realised how ambitious this was and just went with dancing. We decided to repeat our shots rather than keep taking pictures so the finished film is actually each shot used twice over.
As previously it was a huge learning curve with lots of lessons and ideas coming along as went. I think our next goal is going to be to look more at movement and work on perhaps producing a shorter clip with more detail and more thought and planning - maybe using storyboards or some of the techniques we’ve seen on ‘making of’ dvd extras and at the Pixar exhibition we went to at the Science Museum in London earlier this year where real people are filmed to capture the movements of the body etc. Another idea which has occured to me as I write is to maybe use my artists dummy for something as it would recreate perfect realistic movement and proportions.
We had various trials to get the music onto my computer and at one point decided to change the music but Teeny (Monster’s nearly 4 year old sister) tracked down a McDonalds toy with the music on it which we used. Finally we did our usual ‘making of’ movie. As well as being a bit of fun I am doing these to ensure Monster is thinking about and articulating what we are doing and what he is learning from it. This time we had far more outtakes than usable footage - the best of which made it to the end of the making of film and had us all giggling for ages.
So our next project is likely to be focussing more on quality than quantity and concentrating on some of the finer details. But for now, without further ado here is Move It Move It and The Making of Move It Move It for your viewing pleasure. Oh and thank you so much for all the comments, I am showing them all to Monster and he is getting a real kick out of knowing that his mates are watching his films and enjoying them. 
Maddy and Fran are avid fans already
Well done Monster - you and your production assistant are an inspiration!
Comment by Merry — November 26, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
Excellent! Music (sound of any kind) makes it so much more alive. The tripod really helps too.
I’ve heard that TV people try to imagine that they are talking to a good friend rather than to a camera lens - it helps them to relax. Also in M+T’s case it’s likely that friends are the people who’ll be watching it, so the camera’s just an intermediary. Loved the out-takes and Teeny’s contribution!
Talking of fine detail, have you thought of looking at those photos taken with a really fast shutter camera, that show just as something drops into some liquid like water (Mr. Portico has a nice raspberry + milk shot), or a squash ball hitting a squash racquet and spreading out like a pancake so thin that you can see the lines of the strings in it?
What I mean is, it sounds like you’re looking at how to break a normal action into tiny slices and string together the really short-lived things that make up the normal thing. In that light, some normal things are actually weird when you can look at the short-lived things.
There’s also going the other way - looking at films of plants growing over several weeks (time lapse photography if I remember correctly).
Anyway, sorry to ramble. Excellent work Monster (and glamorous assistants)!
Comment by Bob — November 26, 2006 @ 8:31 pm
Sorry - my previous ramble wasn’t long enough! You could also try video-ing a real person doing something e.g. walking, and then stepping through the frames in your video software to see how their arms and legs move. Once you’ve got that, you could try to reproduce it with geomag man or his friends.
Reminds me of the video of Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads - about 3:20 in the little running man turns to being drawn in peanut butter on bread, although it’s hard to see.
And talking of animated videos to 80s songs, I have to link to Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel.
Comment by Bob — November 26, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
Indeed you must link to that one Bob - one of Monster’s faves, as is Reet Petite - will show him Road to Nowhere tomorrow, I’d forgotten that video.
Thanks for both ideas above - we’ve dug out the artists dummy and I like the idea of videoing a real person doing something and then plotting it out with that afterwards. Agreed about the fast shutter camera, I’m struggling to make each frame short enough to get that action going fluidly.
Comment by monstermovies — November 26, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
and woo hoo that was my first ever link in a comment
Comment by monstermovies — November 26, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
Get the HTML code monkey!
My trip down memory lane wouldn’t be complete without Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits (may bring up too many tricky issues for M+T) or Take on Me by Aha. Class.
Comment by Bob — November 26, 2006 @ 9:39 pm
I know
And Opposites Attract is a good example of mixing the two - might show Monster that one tomorrow along with Take on Me (which we always sing here by jumping up and down on the long notes to get the authentic wobble to the tune.)
Comment by monstermovies — November 26, 2006 @ 10:02 pm
Time lapse photo site you might like.
Comment by Bob — December 7, 2006 @ 8:49 pm