Animations
For a while, I dabled with stop-motion animation. I made only one "proper" film which was entered into a contest. Here is some background information on it.
Transaction
At the end of 2005, Brickfilms held the TLC (Ten Lines Contest). This contest had the basic idea that entrants needed to select ten lines from a given list of thirty and work those lines into their scripts.
For those that don't know, brickfilms are stop-motion animation films using LEGO pieces, specifically the little LEGO men (known as 'minifigs'). I figured I'd give it a go and see how difficult it was to make a brickfilm. As things turned out, it was great fun. A little frustrating and really slow (painfully so!) but fun nonetheless.
Considering that this was my very first brickfilm (except for one walk cycle test) I am very happy with the way it turned out.
Unlike most directors I used a security camera and video capture card, which gave me very lovely 756x520 1.2Mb bitmap images to work with. The downside is that I ended up generating 3.4Gb worth of pictures, and that was before I exported any video files! I think the total count was around 9Gb on my hard drive! The reason I used a security camera is that they have interchangeable lenses, so I used a short lens (4mm) for the wide shots and a massive long one (16mm) for close-ups.
It was great fun, especially the voice recording.
Here is the finished film:
Just for the sake of completeness, I've included the script here.
T r a n s a c t i o n
The 10 Lines Brickfilm Competition
Synopsis: On a construction site we find our two main characters, whom are builders. One has arrived at work with a new hat. Some discussion and accidents ensue.
Introduction: For this competition the moderators at Brickfilm.com have provided a list of thirty lines from which the entrant needs to choose at least 10 to be used within the script. The lines have to be used complete and unaltered. For example, if a line is "Hi. How are you?" then it could not be used as "Hi Dave. How are you?" However, to use it in the following manner "Hi. How are you Dave?" is acceptable as the line is complete. The placement of additional dialogue before or after is within the guidelines.
Lines Used: Of the thirty lines presented, the following ten have been chosen to appear in this script. More than ten can be used, but more couldn't be included without sounding forced. The rest of the script does not have to be exact, but for the project to qualify, then the ten lines must be clearly recognized by the judges.
- I hope you kept the receipt.
- Of course, it's a whole different thing after dark.
- I pushed it real hard and it got stuck.
- Hello. I see you are wearing a new hat.
- That's gonna need a coat of paint.
- Definitely not more than 2.
- It's at least a hundred years old.
- I'm not gonna tell you if you don't know.
- That's how I became the proud owner of this beauty.
- It probably prevented something worse happening.
Characters: In this film there are around ten characters on the screen, but only five have speaking roles. Additional dialogue may be recorded for the background characters, but they do not directly interact with the main characters.
- Adam
- Bob
- Boss
- Cop
- Pirate
Where possible a different voice actor should be used for each character. Adam and Bob can be any generic male voice. The Boss should be a responsible sounding voice, preferably a bit older. The Cop needs to sound serious and official, though can be flexible. The Pirate does not have to be in a 'pirate' voice, but should have a distinct accent and even sound a little under educated.
Script:
Opening Credits: Simple white text on black background, 5 seconds "Transaction - 10 lines Contest Entry. Directed by Leonardo" and 5 seconds "An Old Ore Production."
Scene One: (Only one scene in this script)
The scene takes place on a construction site. There is a flash car sitting just off to one side. There is a new building going up and there are several workmen busy in the background. In the foreground we see two workers who have stopped for a break. Bob is wearing a pirate hat with a feather in it. There is a radio playing techno music.
Adam: Hello. I see you are wearing a new hat.Bob: Oh yes, it's really superb isn't it?
Adam: Where did you get it?
Bob: I was on ebay the other day and I found a bloke selling a portal to an alternate dimension.
Adam: Really?
Bob: Yeah, only cost me 150 ramata.
Adam: You paid 150 ramata for a portal to an alternate dimension????
Bob: No, I paid 150 ramata for the hat. The portal was only 20 bucks.
Adam: Ah. (Pause) So... what's a ramata?
Bob: Local currency in the alternate dimension. I made some working as a freelance cartographer, went to the local market, and that's how I became the proud owner of this beauty.
Adam: Oh. (Pause) (mumbles) I hope you kept the receipt.
Bob: You don't like it?
Adam: Oh yeah, it's just that -
At this point Adam is interrupted by the Boss.
Boss: Oi! Break's over. Get back to work!Adam and Bob (unison): Yes Boss.
Boss: And turn that racket off!
Bob turns the radio off. Adam and Bob go back to work. Adam works on the ground and Bob climbs up onto the structure to guide new parts into position. We see a short scene of the building going up. An off-screen crane lifts a new part of the roof into place but the workers discover it is too small (or too large) to cover the gap.
Bob: Boss! Hey Boss! This beam won't fit!Boss: Well, shove it over two or three studs.
Bob: Two or three?
Boss: Definitely not more than 2.
Bob struggles with the beam, which then gets stuck.
Boss: C'mon, push it!Bob: I am, I'm pushing it hard. It won't budge!
Boss: Then pull it!
Bob: I'm trying! I pushed it real hard and it got stuck.
Boss: Stop mucking around you drongo! Move it!
Bob: (exasperated) Well, how on earth am I supposed to move it?
Boss: (taunting) Well, I'm not gonna tell you if you don't know!
Bob: (angry) You sound like my ex-wife!
There is an ominous creaking sound. Part of the structure collapses, crushing the flash car.
Boss: (screams in agony) My car!Adam: That's gonna need a coat of paint.
Boss: Are you trying to get yourself fired!
Bob: Anybody hurt?
Adam: No, everyone's fine. (giggles) Except the Boss...
Boss: (rants and raves in frustration)
Sirens sound. Police arrive. Two Police Officers enter the scene and approach the Boss.
Cop: What's going on here then?Boss: Nothing we can't handle, officer.
Cop: You seem to have had a mishap.
Boss: (Suspicious) You seem to have gotten here rather quickly?
Cop: Yes, it's very quite during the day. Of course, it's a whole different thing after dark, that's when the real weirdo's come out.
Bob has since climbed down and joins the others.
Bob: Wow, that was impressive.Adam: I'm just glad it wasn't my car.
Boss: Quit your yapping.
Adam: On the plus side, it probably prevented something worse happening.
Bob: Yeah, it could have crushed my radio. (Laughs)
Adam: Or my lunch. (Giggles)
At this point a dimensional rift appears and three Pirates enter the scene.
Captain: There ye be you insolent cur!Bob: Eep!
Adam: Who are you?
The Captain takes the feathered hat off Bob's head and puts it on his own head.
Captain: And I'll be taking back me rightful property.Cop1: The hat belongs to you?
Captain: Aye, it's a family heirloom. It's at least a hundred years old.
Captain: (continues) Belonged to me great grand pappy, Yellow beard.
Bob: No it's not; it's mine.
Captain: (Pulls out a cutlass) Ye insolent cur. I should run ye through.
Cop: Can you prove it's yours?
Bob: I rightfully bought that for 150 ramata from a merchant in an alternate dimension.
Everyone looks at Bob.
The Cops throw Bob in the back of the police car, and take off.
Bob: (off screen, wailing, fading as he gets further away) But I have a receipt!!!!!!!The end.
Last updated: July 2010