Cpcs/Art 860 is a collaborative effort that stresses team work and mimicks the studio environment in terms of film production. Students are designated specific job titles like Lead Animator, Modeler, Texture artist, Rigger, etc. These leads then delegate responsibilities throughout the entire team. It’s not uncommon for some students to wear many hats as the teams fluctuate in size. One year’s productions included “Cereal Killer” a 2 minute film about a boy who encounters a “bizarre” cereal box. This project had a 12 month cycle, where the main character was developed with a motivation and back story. We then proceeded into the story board stage where the traditional story arc is identified and developed into a fleshed out story reel. Cinematic language of staging, design, lighting and mood are all explored. It’s critical that the timing and shot to shot flow is developed and fully worked out at this stage. After the reel is complete, blocking and rough animation is tackled until we reach the final stage of lighting, texturing and audio. The score and foley can be just as challenging as the timing and character development of animation. In the end, all the students develop an appreciation for the full cycle of digital production and as a reward, they also have a film that is exhibition worthy and will have a life long after they graduate.
