Evil Stevil Jumps Again!

Evil Stevil Jumps Again: A Retrospective Look

2008-04-23T02:28:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. haha not sure if anyones checking this blog anymore. for those of you who are though, i just did a post on our film with a butt load of frame grabs. check it out.

http://frankmacchia.blogspot.com/2008/04/evil-stevil-jumps-again-retrospective.html

amazing work guys. great job on the film. We can all be proud f what we've done.

The Film is Done.

2008-04-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Enough said.

GROUP MEETING TUESDAY AT 1PM - ALL PLAN B MUST ATTEND!

2008-04-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF THE EMAIL I JUST SENT TO EVERYONE:

Hey everyone,

First of all, great work so far guys! Things are looking good as we enter the last week of production on our film, and it seems like Evil Stevil may actually get to jump again. I was talking with Frank, and as we head into crunch time we think it is important to set a new meeting date:

IMPORTANT GROUP MEETING TUESDAY AT 1PM. EVERYONE SHOULD ATTEND AND HAVE FINAL SOURCE FILES FOR EVERY ONE OF THEIR SCENES AVAILABLE ON THE SERVER OR ON A HARD DRIVE OR DVD (THIS INCLUDES COLOURED FLIPBOOK FILES, BACKGROUND PSDs, AFTER EFFECTS FILES, ETC.).

I know it is not at our standard "official" time, but we don't have the luxury of waiting until Wednesday afternoon to get together again, so consider this an official meeting.

As everyone knows, all of the composited scenes are due in the folder on the server by Monday at Noon, and at that point Frank and I (and anyone else who is inclined to help) will begin to edit the final cut of the film together. After we've had a chance to go through all of the scenes that were handed in and put them into premiere (while editing on Monday) we will be able to scrub through the film and see if there are any fixes that need to be made (whether in compositing, painting or in timing the animation etc.) or if any scenes are still missing. This is what we will discuss on Tuesday, and it is why you should have your files available (in case any of your scenes need to be fixed either by you or by someone else). Also if there are any missing scenes at that point we will have to make some decisions about whether they can be finished or whether they need to be cut from the film. Anyone who might want to contribute to decisions about what scenes need fixed should be there Monday night after we get all the scenes all into premiere and can scrub through them (as we will be creating a list at that point).

I am sending this group email and posting this on the blog in hopes that everyone finds out about the meeting before Tuesday. As we discussed with Tony several times, people should be checking their email regularly so with any luck there will be no problems. That said, if you see people from the group around the school let them know about this meeting in case they don't get the email or check the blog.

Thanks everyone! Good luck!

Rory

Wheelchair

2008-04-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, here's the basic colours for the wheelchair. I saw that the wheelchair was grey in the colour script so I kept it grey so stevil won't blend in with the wheelchair.

I drew a quick wheelchair from side view (will have this up on the server tomorrow!)

Wanna see some screen Captures?

2008-04-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

Check it guys. I composited one of my scenes last night. It's not final, I still have to add in some lighting stuff and I'm not totally satisfied with the composition. But it's getting there.

http://frankmacchia.blogspot.com/2008/04/evil-stevil-frame-grabs.html

IMPORTANT MEETING WED APRIL 2

2008-03-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

So this wednesday we need to have a very important meeting. Lately a few people haven't been showing up, but the ENTIRE group needs to be there this Wednesday, so spread the word.

We need to use Wednesday's meeting to go over everyone's progess, but more importantly to make sure every scene is accounted for and there are no scenes MIA. This is it, 7 more days until everyones scenes must be done and ready for the final week of editing. Also, I know some peope are ahead of others, so we can use this meeting to balance the load for anyone who's behind.

Some quotes for possible credits :)

2008-03-31T11:50:00.000-07:00

Having lunch before I hit the scanners at school, I figured I'd search up some evil knievel quotes!

I would always rather be in the arena fighting than be a spectator.

I did everything by the seat of my pants. That's why I got hurt so much.

I guess I thought I was Elvis Presley but I'll tell ya something. All Elvis did was stand on a stage and play a guitar. He never fell off on that pavement at no 80 mph.

I thought I was bulletproof or Superman there for a while. I thought I'd never run out of nerve. Never.

I've been in a treatment center for drinkin'. I stayed for two days, then escaped.

You come to a point in your life when you really don't care what people think about you, you just care what you think about yourself. (I like this one a lot)

There were a lot actually. It's hilarious, Evil K has these random quotes on world politics and the environment, scattered inbetween quotes about how many bones he's broken and how fast he's gone XD

Oooh some more good ones!

[last lines]
Evel Knievel: We have very little choice about our life. The only thing really left us is a choice about our death. And mine will be...
[camera pans across the Grand Canyon]
Evel Knievel: ... glorious!

Oh Evil K. <3 <3 <3

Vast Desert Final Line

2008-03-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hey whats up guys,

heres the final line version for the desert layout. I'll have this up on the server for those who need it tomorrow.

Later guys, keep working hard!

- Nabs

CAN OF PEAS COLOUR MODEL

2008-03-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I just wanted to address a colour inconsistency I noticed with the pea cans. I noticed that in some of the BGs the pea cans were red and in other they were green. According to Jason's model sheet the can should been green. Which makes sense cause evil stevil's gloves are red. Here's Jason's colour model for the pea cans. Also, for the pea's themselves, use this as the colour model too.

DQ-painting problems

2008-03-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

if you have not worked out your painting problems
I can help if you need it
I am in friday today

DQ

Coloring Help

2008-03-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to color my scenes the past two days but i cannot get it to work. I click fill tool or pencil or any paint/pencil/erase tool and it does absolutely nothign to the image on home or school computer. Anyone knows what's worng or encountering the same problem?
Thanks

COLOUR MODEL UPDATE

2008-03-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

*IMPORTANT UPDATE*

I updated the Death Colour Model...The colour of his bone was too close to Evil Stevil's Jump Suit, So I fixed that. All the correct colour models are now on the server with instructions on how to import the colour palette into flipbook (thanks to kayla). However, if you grabbed the colour model for Death off the blog post before tonight, you have the WRONG colours. I just updated that post with the PROPOR colours. The End.

fun stuff

2008-03-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

fun take of evil stevil by lisa

Death - Colour Model

2008-03-21T19:06:00.001-07:00

Here's the colour model for Death...again..sorry for the pixelated quality, no worries, the actual clean up won't look like that if we scan it at a high enough resolution lol. But yeah, just to repeat what jack was saying...the colour models are to be followed through out the entire film. Any change in colour through mood will be achieved with filters during the compositing stage. (refer to earlier post for the ES colour model.) I'll throw all of these files, as well as the flipbook file I coloured them in (with the palette) on the server next week.

colouring

2008-03-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

hi guys, i will have something for colouring bg by the next meeting on wednesday,
as for now, if you are ready to colour,

1)please colour your animation following Frank's colour guide for Evil Stevil
2)FRANK, can you put up a colour guide for death as well, if its in previous post, would u mind
reposting again, thanks!
3)Kayla, since your the only one having to do crowd characters, please use my colourkeys
to colour the crowds. if u have questions lemme know, ill be @ skoo on monday and tomorrow(sat).
4) there might be some colouring affect(lighting) that i want to try, so please do not combine
bg layer with character layer yet. Just colour your animation for now is enough and don't even
output them into avi YET.
5) for ppl colouring the dead stevil(sq3), could u wait again until thursday, having said that, please go ahead and colour death if you wish. again, im also looking into a glowing effect for stevil.

keep you guys posted.

Evil Stevil - Colour Model

2008-03-20T12:52:00.001-07:00

So here are the colour model sheets for Evil Stevil. I coloured these in FlipBook...so the palette has been created and saved. I'll drop it in the server next week along with these pages. It'll all be in a new folder called "COLOUR_MODEL". I'll also post the colour model for death either tomorrow or saturday. Let me know what you think so far.

PS. I aplogise for the pixelated line. I didn't scan the drawings at a high enough resolution. For the sake of a colour model it didn't matter, but obviously the real clean up wont look like that.

Just a reminder (and a little more)

2008-03-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

I'm sure Kayla will post what we discussed today at the meeting, but a few quick things.

Clean ups are due next week, on the 28th. Please put them in the reel

Your FINAL SCENE, COMPOSITED, MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST BE IN BY APRIL 7 (MONDAY)

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE FINAL DEADLINE. We need several days to put the entire thing together, so we (the group) really need to be strict about this.

LASTLY (this is really important)

I cannot stress this enough. If you find you are falling behind, or having trouble with a scene/layout/cleanup, please do not HESITATE to let the group know, or ask for help. No one should be embarrassed about this, as we all work at different paces and I know everyone is giving it their all, so it's not like we've been slacking off or anything. That way we can catch it before it gets too late, and get our stuff in on time. :)

And a little boost for morale:

I don't know about you guys, but considering our circumstances I'm really impressed we've gotten this much done. It's really coming together, and while it's got its imperfections, it's getting along for a (rather ambitious) student film :)

So far, we haven't lost any group members, no one's MIA, and no fights have broken out yet ;) We've been pretty communicative as a group, and hearing what some of the other groups are going through, I for one am pretty glad to be a part of this one.

I know we're all really tired. I know we're all stressed. This whole business of finding a co op placement, along with such a short time for post production, hits you really hard. Half of us are sick with either the flu, or some strand of mutated animation cold, and the other half either just recovered, or will be getting it soon (knock on wood). We're here late, we're here early, our families think we've been kidnapped and killed (if only), and then you look back on your animation and think: "GodDAMNIT. This looks TERRIBLE"

Don't get discouraged guys. I know it's so freaking hard right now to not just give up, and have a half assed film in the end. I know it can be really frustrating, and we're all making our fair share of mistakes, but this whole year is really trial and error. I think more then having this film in the end, we have the experience of making a film, and whether you loved it, or hated it, the experience is better then not having done it at all.

We are SO close to finishing this year, and we've got a good chance of finishing the film as well. Juggling great animation and meeting deadlines is hard, but imagine how rewarding it would be to be one of the groups that actually finishes. We will have earned all the bitching we'll do the second we hand it in (not that it will stop us) and then go lord it in everyone elses faces (kidding)! I look at our reel, and while I can see rough spots, I can see the effort everyone's put in, and I know that in doing this, we've all improved, and yeah go ahead and deny it, but years back you'll look back on this and agree, that it's been a great learning experience.

Anyways, have a great easter weekend, and get some rest in. We're all working our butts off, and with having to juggle a film, classwork, and finding a placement, I hope everyone makes the best of their Friday off!

<3<3<3 Tracy :D

clean up

2008-03-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

hi guys, just want to bring up couple of questions for cleaning up.

1. use pencil, mechanical pencil (HB or 2B) or pen?
which one should we use, i know some of us have started cleaning up already, but we should
try to use same type of tool to clean up to give the same overall final finishing, regardless of
thick outline or not.
2. cleanup of all your animation is due next wednesday, so please if people could push towards
that deadline. if you keep pushing the deadlines back, that means ur cutting into ink/paint or compositing...
3. how are we gonna scan them? we really need to think about them, so once again, the overall
visual image will look similar throughout. please jason think and bring something to the table on
our next meeting which is wednesday.
4. did i miss anything?

READ ME...

2008-03-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

Rough animation needs to be in the leica reel by 7am Friday morning, for my brother, Ryan, to begin music!

Keeping this in mind, there are some technical issues that people need to be aware of…

HAINE
Beginning sq.1 sc. 25
Sq.1 sc. 37 too short
Talk to Matt about the hook-up with the TV (Death’s TV vs. ES’s)

NABZ
· Pea scenes, watch length on all of them

MATT
· Scene 11 takes up some of scene 10 (talk to Jack, make sure this works with his scene)
· Sc.5 too short
· On your first Death scene, when Death says “Defying!!” this is when his arm should come out for the first time.
· Talk to Haine about the hook-up with the TV (Death’s TV vs. ES’s)
· Death dialogue scene too short

SIYEUN
Sq.2 sc.1 just a fraction too short (maybe just 1 frame!)
Sq.2 sc. 14 too long (watch timing)
We might need to shorten the chandelier scene, check the leica for the new timing
I readjusted your ending on the Viagra scene, it’s all good, but ES needs to appear sooner so he reads better
Watch hookup with sq.3 sc.10 & 11 (Veronika’s scene) talk to each other!
Watch hook-up with sq.3 sc. 9 (Kayla’s scene) to 10, talk to Kayla

JACK
· Talk to Matt about his scene 10 (it takes up some of your scene 11 time)
· Talk to Tracy about hook-up sq.3 sc5 to 6 (Tracy’s scene). Your scene is taking up some of Tracy’s time.

TRACY
Talk to Jack about hook-up sq.3 sc5 (Jack’s scene) to 6. His scene is taking up some of your time.
Scythe scene too short
Look to Igor’s “death monolog” scene (sq. 1), gestures should be visually similar

VIVIAN
Sq.1 sc.36 too short, watch your timing
Sq.2 sc.34 way too short, watch your timing
Because Jack’s sq.1 sc. 35 shoots out of frame, maybe apply this to the very beginning of your sc. 36 (like he shoots into yours or has the after effects, squash and stretch)

JASON
Sq.2 sc. 26 too short

KAYLA
Pan, make it longer

VERONIKA
S3. Sc. 11 too short
Watch hookup with sq.3 sc.10 (Siyeun’s scene) & 11 talk to each other

IGOR
Sq.1. sc. 9 too short
Watch the hook-up between sq.1 sc. 15 to 16 (arm)

KAYLA – all scenes in
HAINE – all scenes in
JASON – all scenes in
VERONIKA – all scenes in
JACK – all scenes in
NABEEL – missing 1 scene (DQ scene)
TRACY – missing 1 scene (ES falling)
VIVIAN – missing 3 scenes
SIYEUN – missing 1 scene (chandelier)
MATT – missing 3 scenes
IGOR – missing 3 scenes
RORY – missing all scenes
FRANK - missing all scenes

MEETING FRIDAY AT 11 BE THERE! ON TIME!!!!

Final Leica Reel...Again

2008-03-12T15:05:00.001-07:00

DQ- HI ALL

2008-03-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

did anyone want to meet earlier this week to talk, since we did not meet last week

cheers

DQ

Vast Desert Rough

2008-03-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, heres a rough concept for the vast desert background, any feedback would be good so i can start finalizing this :) -- cheers

- Nabs

READ ME!

2008-03-05T20:08:00.000-08:00

So everyone knows...

NEXT WEDNESDAY ROUGHS ARE DUE!
and your scenes MUST be put within the leica before the meeting at 1.

Cut Leica

2008-03-05T19:47:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, sorry I took so long to do this. The final leica is cut and ready in premiere, and is in the same file as the leica file, called work_reel CUT (I left the original file in case we needed it for something else)

Let me know if I didn't label it clearly enough.

-Tracy

props design for bg

2008-03-02T19:26:00.001-08:00

in case if u've not seen this on the server: for the tracks, clouds, rocks and cactus.
again, rough layouts are due this wed. and workbook will be checked tomorrow.

PLEASE WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT WEEK TO BEGIN CLEAN UP!

2008-02-29T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I'm in a hurry so I will make this quick. I hadn't really though about all of this in depth before reading Jason's post below, but now that I have had time to ponder it I thought I would just make sure to state the situation clearly:

PLEASE WAIT TO BEGIN CLEAN UP UNTIL AT LEAST NEXT WEEKS MEETING.

I don't want to discourage people who want to get their work done from doing so, but the fact is that we have not decided on a clean up style, and that without having your rough animation checked you could be spending extra time cleaning animation that doesn't work. I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE ANYONE DO WORK THAT WILL HAVE TO BE RE-DONE. So if people are enthusiastic and want to get their work done, that is awesome, but I would suggest getting all of your layouts and animation done in rough at this point and wait to move on to clean up. The rough stage should be enough work to keep everyone busy until at least next Wednesday anyway.

Thanks and sorry to slow anyone up if they were hoping to clean up now. I'm just trying to be realistic.

Rory.

Cleaning Up and Painting

2008-02-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Hope you're having a good reading week so far!

What I want to talk about is that we need to at least start thinking about cleaning up and painting. Like How thin/thick outlines should be, what should be used for cleaning up (for consistency), what tool should be used for painting our animation, etc.

I was hoping we could have a discussion about this in our next group meeting.

Thanks!

workbook and rough layouts dates!

2008-02-27T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all, hope every1 is having a great reading week.
a reminder, Haine and I have still not recieved all the workbook in the server. I know most of you have done it, but for others please have it on the server by coming monday(march03).
We will do tracking as of monday.
workbook not on the server are: Frank, Rory, Igor, Matt. (maybe im missing a few,
but if its you, then do it!)

you need to scan them and put them on server, if your not going to be at school before monday and thus cannot get to a school server,then please upload it on the blog and we'll check you off accordingly. Haine and I will start reviewing the workbook as of monday.

Also, Rough layouts for all your scenes are due, please include rough animation pose(s) as well. The due date for rough layout will be track on march 05 during our meeting. if you don't show up, well, you don't get tracked then.

ORGANIZATIONAL STUFF

2008-02-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I apologize in advance for the cold, no-nonsense tone of the following post. But this organizational stuff has to get done, and I want to state the situation as clearly as possible.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THE WHOLE POST

Ok, so there has been some confusion surrounding the Leica and sound files. Steps have been taken to correct this, and it should no longer be an issue. First of all, Kayla has fixed the Leica, so thanks to her for that, it will come in very handy later on when we set about doing a final edit!

Second, I have set it up so that no one should need the Leica to animate their scenes, and have put together a workreel that uses only 3 source files for everyone to use should they need it.

HERE IS HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS:

THE ANIMATION SCENES FOLDER

As you all know, in the ANIMATION SCENES folder there are individual folders for every scene in the film.

There are now 3 files in each scene folder:
1. The Storyboard for the scene.
2. The Dialogue Track for the scene
(containing relevant SFX)
3. A low-res MPEG video of the
scene for you to watch.

When you go to start a scene first go to the folder for that scene and watch the video so you know what you are dealing with in terms of action, time, and dialogue etc.

For your audio, please use the audio tracks from these folders, as they are up to date and have been rendered out with only the dialogue and relevant SFX so that they are easier to dope.

The storyboard is primarily there just so that you can check to make sure everything you have is from the same scene. I think everything should be present and accounted for, but with so many numbers it is all too easy to misplace a file or two, so if something doesn't match between the board, the video, and the audio track it is your job to ask questions and get the issue fixed.

THE WORKREEL

I have also created a WORKREEL folder. In side this folder is a Premiere file for the Workreel and the 3 source files it uses (an MPEG render of the Leica, and a WAV of just the Dialogue and a WAV of just the Music/FX). Because of its simplicity this is primarily the file everyone will be using, not the Leica. Tracy will be splicing it into scenes some time soon. There are two main uses for this Workreel:

1. If there are problems with the files in one of your scene folders, you could go and render out new audio or video from this file (using the method Kayla showed in her post). Because there are 3 audio tracks you can select whether you want dialogue, SFX/Music, or both by turning the little speaker button on or off for each track before rendering. (Unless there are real problems please use the audio from the scene folder.)

2. After a shot is checked, approved and tracked at each stage of production (Ruff-Clean-Final) it will be your responsibility to then edit it into the WORKREEL. Place the video on the proper track above the previous version of the scene to replace it. Do not cut or delete anything, just stack them. At full opacity only the video on the top level will be seen.

THE ANIMATION HANDINS FOLDER

I have created an ANIMATION HANDINS folder. THIS IS HOW I WILL BE TRACKING ANIMATION. In this folder there are 13 folders, one for each PLAN B member. When you have a scene done first in Ruff and then in Clean you place it in the folder with your name on it. I cannot sort through the nearly 100 scene folders to see if you have submitted any new scenes for animation checking and tracking, so these will be the only folders I look at to see your work.

There is a README file in the ANIMATION HANDINS folder that explains how the system works and how to name your files. Please give it a read.

Generally speaking it would be a good idea to submit your ruff animation and wait for animation check and approval/tracking before you begin to clean it up, just in case something needs to be changed, at which point having already started clean up would be a big waste of time. The same goes for moving on from Clean Up to Ink&Paint, and from one stage of Layout to another as well.

THE LEICA REEL

The most current version of the Leica reel has been rendered out as an HD MPEG file and is located in the main EvilStevil folder. Please watch it as soon as possible so that you know where your scenes fit in, and if there was anything about them that has changed or that you hadn't noticed before. Also, when you go to start a scene please refer to this file and watch that scene in the context of the film with the scenes around it so that you know everything that is happening with it. Up to this point any confusion regarding your scenes and what is happening in them has not really been anyones fault, and for my part I apologize for not having posted all of this to the server a week ago. However, from now on it is your responsibility to watch the Leica and check out your scenes, and to make sure that you understand them.

NOTE: There have been some changes made to the dialogue etc. so make sure you watch your scenes again (in the leica and/or in the scene folder video clip), and make sure they are either the same as before or that you take note of the changes.

I think that should just about wrap it up. Obviously no system is fool proof and if there are issues don't hesitate to ask myself or anyone else in the group. Group emails or blog posts are a good way to do this if the person you need to ask is not at school. If there are any initial questions post them in the comments section of this post and I will try to respond ASAP. Thanks for your patience everyone, and I hope that this new organization will help us all get through the next 7 weeks.

- Rory

(P.S. To the person assigned to SEQUENCE 1 SCENE 36 the one where ES sees the pea land and runs up stairs:
In the newest version of the Leica I divided this scene into 2 parts, as we had discussed at a group meeting. This is just one way to solve the problem we had with this scene, and it can be discussed more later on. I would hold off devoting too much time to this scene until all of your other scenes are done, because it may still be subject to change. Thanks.)

THE LEICA REEL

2008-02-26T07:52:00.001-08:00

I have gone through and FIXED the premiere problem, it will no longer ask you for EVERY single file (only one) READ the following to make your life easier!

TO USE THE AUDIO IN MAGPIE

open Premiere again
import your newly exported audio clips
one by one re-export them through file>export>audio
open magpie
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SETTINGS TO 24 Frames/Sec or your frame rate will be wrong!
rememeber magpie includes the zero frame, so if it finishes on 24 it really means you have 23 frames.

HOPE THIS HELPS!!

LAYOUT REFERENCE!!

2008-02-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here you go guys :D

have fun drawing layouts!! :D!!

have a nnnnnnnnice reading week !

Answer

2008-02-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

You're right Jack, no one has put together a character line up. Sorry about that, I had forgotten all about it until I read you're question. Ultimately it will be as simple as going into photoshop, lifting the 3/4 front drawings from the existing model sheets, putting them on one sheet, and scaling them accordingly. Perhaps we can get around to that tomorrow sometime.

For now the important thing to know is that ES comes up to just below Death's chest level. Frank and I did the model sheets for Death and ES apart, so we never set a standard head size. In fact, I think ES head would have to be smaller (or at least shorter because his chin sticks out horizontally). Death first of all is huge (he is bigger than any mortal) and second he has a very long head (vertically) meaning that his heads are worth more height on a model sheet chart than ES's are.

I hope that clears things up a bit. We will create a size comparison sheet as soon as possible which should further clarify the situation.

Also, remember: we can cheat the sizes a bit from time to time if it helps us tell the story, especially since everyone in the audience knows that Death is magical.

Rory

question

2008-02-21T06:11:00.000-08:00

hi, i checked the model sheet for both death and ES and they're both very good.
but in terms of height relationships, we know death is taller. But by how much?
Rory's model sheet has ES of 4.5 heads tall. Frank's death is 5 heads tall.
but it seems that death should be much taller.
can one of you clarify this?
also, ES's head height is roughly the same as death's death height?
please make this clear for us, thanks again guys!

ALSO, i've put exterior props design on the server, that includes: rock formation, clouds, cactus,
track designs for the jump.
if i get a chnace, ill also post them here on the blog.

Wednesday's OFFICIAL GROUP MEETING

2008-02-18T16:18:00.000-08:00

LAYOUT AND CHARACTER ANIMATION POW-WOW!

Hey everyone, with a lot of the organizational stuff out of the way we can get back to the creative side of things. This week's official group meeting (after Tony's production meeting) will be very important for everyone to attend so that we are all on the same page going into reading week! I have talked to Haine and Frank and the three of us will be giving little talks to help everyone with drawing the Layouts and the Characters.

The tentative agenda (subject to change and input from the group) would be:

1. Taking care of business - discuss any potential issues that people may have:
if people need some suggestions or help with their scenes, if there
are any remaining organizational issues to resolve, if there are any
designs that still require group approval (ex. the wheelchair for
Jason's scene), or anything else that people have on their minds...

2. Big Layout Talk and Q&A (by Haine and Jack)

3. Big Character Talk and Q&A (by Frank and Rory)

Does that sound good to everyone?

Rory

Organization

2008-02-16T23:22:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody,

Sorry again for missing Friday, but as I mentioned on Wed. I had to go home on Thursday.

I just wanted to say: to everyone who helped get us organized over the past few weeks (I have a feeling that Kayla played a big role in that, but there were likely others as well), you did a great job and many thanks. I'm sure it was no small task to hand out our massive pile of scenes, create the shot list to keep track of it all, and making those awesome folders... so my hat is off to all those who did such a great job of all of this. It is not the most fun job in the world but it is very important for all of us. So thanks again!

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a happy family day!

Rory

Wheelchair Model

2008-02-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention this in the meeting today. lol

Since my DQ scene has wheelchair in it, I need the finalized wheelchair design. I'm gonna start animating by this weekend probably so I was wondering what to do.

Or is the one Igor made a while ago the one to use?

DQ- about being on Model

2008-02-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

you all are ruff animating a scene of the evil or death, next week is the final week of RUFF animating the scene
if you all used a ruff working model of evil or death it should be close
in fact it has been my experience that even if you all had a final model , your Models would still look different
but you will all have an idea of what works and what does not based on what you have been doing in your animation class
It is best to put together a final model based on what you all have contributed from the animation you are doing
we can meet as a group and discuss what you feel looks good and works then you can get someone to finalize the model for all of you to finalize your animation
then when you do the clean up of the scene you can put the character design on model

NO characters are ever on model at the beginning of a production, especially when the character is new and you have to discover them...

Do not worry if you have started other scenes, you are only in the ruffing stage and once you have gone thru the pose test and ruff animation , you should have a model to work from

I also want to go over the model with who ever designs it or even the other characters and
who ever creates the final models should also give a chalk talk to the group on how to keep it on model

thanks

DQ

Snapegator

2008-02-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

I havent posted in a while....thought you might be interested to see my approach on the snapegator (thats the name I came up with lol) but yeah...let me know what you think.

- Nabs

Design Pack Stuff...

2008-02-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

Here is my part! :D

WORKBOOK

2008-02-01T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my wrokbook ideas. Tell me what you think!

DQ- by the way

2008-02-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hiya

by the way could someone post the latest story reel so I can entertain myself during the snow storm?

DQ- Happy snow day

2008-02-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

HI Plan Bees

seems we are going to miss our meeting today.....
if you have anything to show me or ask let me know on the blog
I will try to check it thu the day and weekend

DQ

Design Pack - Death

2008-02-01T00:38:00.001-08:00

Me Again :P

2008-01-31T17:58:00.000-08:00

Here are the designs for the animals and monsters

I originally wanted to make them more complicated, and kinda like Evil Stevil

But who are we kidding that'd be hell to animate.

Any concerns or suggestions, feel free to comment.

See you all tomorrow :) These will be uploaded to the server too. If any of the managers has a tracking sheet they use online, can they send it to me? Apparently I have to track stuff too :P

-Tracy

Sound Room

2008-01-31T07:13:00.000-08:00

We have it at our usual time guys.

Tracy

Design Pack Templates

2008-01-30T20:20:00.001-08:00

Hi guys, to make it easier, here are five jpgs for the design pack templates

They are labeled Effects, Misc, Character, Layout, and Props

I can make more for different categories, just drop me a line and let me know. It's easier this way, so all the templates are the same, and we don't get variations in font and it looks all nice

Just right click and save :)

DQ

2008-01-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

HI all

just curios if you were able to get the new story reel worked out
if you did could you post a version for me to look at

things are looking great

DQ

Concept Color

2008-01-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

Props

2008-01-29T05:06:00.000-08:00

Important Wednesday Meeting

2008-01-28T18:11:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder to everyone that this wednesday's meeting after Tony's class is an important one for everyone to attend.

Regardless of whats going on, we're going to divy up the story board to begin work book. That also includes chosing your scene that you'll be animating for DQ.

Wednesday Jan 30 @ 4pm

Evil Stevil Jumps Again - FINAL Leica Reel

2008-01-25T05:32:00.001-08:00

Here it is guys. Lets make this thing.

Layouts!

2008-01-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

some layouts i've been doing past few days.

i was thining we could include these for designpack.

Design pack template

2008-01-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

Is now on the server, in the main folder, named ESJA template.

There are spaces to fill out your name, check off if it is rough or clean, and on the bottom right it says effects:

Depending on what you are doing, please change this to either characer, layout, prop, effect, or misc.

Any questions, feel free to contact me :)

If you don't want to scan and do it on photoshop, I can post a blank jpeg here for people to print off, and then tape and photocopy!

Tracy

MEETINGS

2008-01-24T04:10:00.000-08:00

from now on we have meetings...

WEDNESDAY @ 4 (after Tony's Class)

FRIDAY @ 12 (an hour after Natalie's Class)

but this Friday we are going to meet at 11 so we can view the leica, then see DQ at 12 to talk more about it.

This is EVERY WEEK, not just this one so be prepaired to meet every Wed. and Fri.

______________________________________________

Coming up Deadlines...

Week 4: Leica Reel
Week 4: Design Pack

Regarding today's meeting.

2008-01-23T15:39:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
todays meeting right after tony's class was fantastic and it seems we are in good shape for the weekend.

So to keep everyone feel organized, i'll post up whatever happened as of now and what would happen in the future.

Today Frank and Rory are working on leica reel.
This will be done by friday 11:00AM and we are going to look at it as a group.
We have DQ at 12:00 noon to discuss and show our finished leica reel.

For the design pack:
Rory is working on ES modelsheet

Frank is working on Death modelsheet

me, Jack and Nika (as I know of ) 'WILL' be working and did work on some on Location designs for Designpack.

I know that Tracy is working on prop designs.

I don't know about others but I will help out with Prop designs as well if things need to be done!

TRACY SIYEON and I are meeting up 12:00 pm on Sunday to work on cropping storyboard!

I posted this as a reference because it will be easy for us to track and refer to since we know whos working on what. Also helps other people who are working on designpack.

Meeting tomorrow?

2008-01-21T16:09:00.001-08:00

Do we have a group meeting tomorrow? Sorry for my dumbness. >.<

Prop List

2008-01-21T05:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay, I've not had access to a computer till now

TV
miniature jump
can of peas
couch
scythe

THE JUMP props

obstacle rings
chandalier
shark/alligator tank
tunnel of toxic waste
snake-gator-ape
wheelchair
podium

I'm not sure if some of these should go into the list as props or not and if miscalenious objects around ES's shack should be handled as props or up to layout crew to design [trophies, postings on the wall, miscalenious funiture ets.]

feel free to add props to the list that you think need to be there

List of Props

2008-01-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

Just wondering if the list has been made yet so we can start working on it over the weekend + Monday?

tomorrow meeting at 12!

2008-01-17T21:33:00.001-08:00

hi guys,
tomorrow's meeting with DQ at 12, please show up.
Haine and I will be looking at layout with char stylization assignments and going over.
feel free to pitch in art work. i konw its a very late post, next time ill make sure to
post it in advance. also, i have written this assginemtn on our little date boards by matt's and
vivian's desk so if your not sure, check over there.

Sound recording

2008-01-17T07:25:00.001-08:00

I received an email from Geoff Milne re: sound recording

Our slot is our usual fav, 10-12 on tuesday. See you there :)

-Tracy

Layout Exercise #2

2008-01-16T20:50:00.000-08:00

Hello yall!
today I had some nice discussion with jack and vivian about our layout designs and styles.
we went over each others drawing and made comments on whether or not they fit the current character designs.

So in order to see if they go together, Jack and I thought we could do a rough layout with evil stevil character in it.

feel free to use your artistic abilities to change the current evil stevil design to fit your own layout style that collaborates the both.

and.. in tracking wise, we are thinking by Friday we can bring these in and discuss as a small group or in a group meeting if we r going to have one

So 1 drawing of layout + the character in it by friday 18th..

have a nice day folks!
(oh and again, if you like to do one also, please feel free to do them and your name will be tracked on that certain exercise.)

DQ-New Meeting time

2008-01-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

HI ALL

Nice to see you all back and being proactive

just wanted to confirm our meeting time is Fridays at 12noon

If you wanted to meet on tuesday after 4pm to go over stuff let me know

DQ

ATTENTION: Story Team, and ANIM, LAYOUT, BG & INK/PAINT Supervisors

2008-01-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

STORY TEAM: MEETING 4pm SUNDAY
Just a friendly reminder that we have a story meeting on Sunday starting around 4pm. We'll probably be working well into the night because Monday is our day off, so if possible plan to be there a while. I will bring copies of the script as well as my laptop. Please bring as many post-it notes as you can - I am running out and I forgot to buy more while the bookstore was open. (There is also the potential for a meeting on Monday afternoon or evening, but we can decide that while we are together.)

LAYOUT, BG PAINT, INK & PAINT and ANIMATION SUPERVISORS: POTENTIAL FOR MEETING WEEK 2
Hey guys, I was wondering about the possibility of having a small meeting with the supervisors of layout, BG, animation, and ink & paint (as well as anyone else who wants to be there) this coming week so that we might have a focused discussion about organization. Specifically how we are going to organize the production pipeline and network folder-system so that we can work together to effectively manage all of the artwork that is going to be produced. We need to have a coherent system that works for our group and our film so that things go as smoothly as possible once we start into production, and gives us what we need to go into post-production. I know the teachers, especially Tony, will have advice for us on this matter, but I have a gut feeling that we should be proactive on this and get started ourselves as soon as possible. Let me know what you guys think!

Well, that's it for now. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Rory

ATTN: Layout People

2008-01-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

------------THIS POST is to LAYOUT PEOPLE---------------------

hello everyone!

today was a great meeting, everyone showed up and we all had nice discussions about our film.

In order to get our design pack ready, Jack and I discussed what layout people can do in order to prepare.

I think we can do Style exploration + location designs such as:
1. The desert
2. ES shack(exterior)
3. Podium & stage area.

i didn't put ES shack interior because it is going to tie in with the storyboard crew.

Jack and I was thinking about 2 drawings per person, clean rough and color if u want.

I don't know who else volunteered to do layout other than jack, vivian, nabz and I...
if you would like to contribute, please feel free to do them !! :D
but if u were already assigned to Designpack crew.. don't forget to put that into priority first..!

lets have these drawings by tuesday meeting and present to fellow mates.

have a nice day !:D

meeting on THURSDAY!!!!

2008-01-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

hello everyone,
I asked around people today in lifedrawing class and it seems like people are free on Thursdays.
So I thought it is important to notify everybody about the next meeting time.
MEETING is on THURSDAY 1:00PM and its most likely be about Finalizing our Story.

whatever gets discussed and decided on thursday would likely be set in STONE... :)

so. . please attend!

------------------------------------------------------------

I just wanted to throw in some kind of content of meeting.

1. VOTE: OLD IDEA vs NEW IDEA
- everyone has to say their opinion regarding two different ideas. NO WHATEVER.. :)

2. then we can move on to 3 acts.
- take each act and lay out the events BEAT BY BEAT. (that way we can always use the BEAT SCRIPT later on too, if we get stuck doing layout or animation etc.)
- we also decide necessary dialogues

3. Finally, we finish the meeting with Finalized BEAT SCRIPT that someone can type up a good copy. :D

------------------------------------------------------------

if i missed any important steps up there.. please feel free to add comments!:D

Back to the Grind: IMPORTANT DATE!

2008-01-03T14:00:00.001-08:00

hey guys. I've been speaking with Rory and we realised that our class has monday off. So we figured why not take advantage of that opportunity. So on Monday Jan 7. at 11am lets all meet in the studio for a full day of work on the film. I believe we could get a lot done and there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to dedicate this entire day to progress on the film.

to re-cap what happened over the break, we had some really good debates and the general consensus seems to be that death is now Evil Stevils adversary. Based on everyones input, this seems liek it will work a lot better without disturbing our existing story too much. I'm not sure how many people have moved forward from this..Rory and I have done some beat scripting individually, and ive done some thumb nail boards. Whatever the case, I think it's extremely important that we meet on monday.

Monday Jan 7 @ 11am

see you all there. enjoy the remainder of the break.

found this pic. and it made me think of Evil Stevil's shack. ha!

robbie maddison

2008-01-03T13:20:00.001-08:00

New year, new stevil?

2007-12-31T08:44:00.001-08:00

Apologies in advance for typos, got a new laptop and these newfangled keyboards are throwing me off.

First of all, hope everyone had a good Christmas, and relaxed a bit, and have a good New Year too!

I can see we haven't gotten many more responses on the Evil Stevil story and I'm equally as responsible, but it's the holidays and they're for taking a break really.

Having thought on this a bit more, I cast my vote for the new death (ie evil death) simply because I think the story will run smoother. I wish I could write more about this but I'm skiing on new years so I gotta keep it short.

Whether or not we decide to change him, I don't think it's a good idea to do a complete upheaval of the story, as stated in my previous post. A simple change of death's character should be more then enough to decide which way to go, along with other small adjustments.

I also think a script is really necessary, a good point from Rory was that it cuts out a lot of confusion when it's precise and to the point. I was trying to find examples but nothing yet.

I'm really not organized enough thoughtwise to be suggesting what our next step would be but I'd love to hear your opinions Plan B.

Either that have a great New Year, and drink/drive safely (not both!!!!)

-Tracy

MerryChristmas!

2007-12-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas
&

Happy Holidays!

_________________________________

Happy holidays everyone!

(btw, I didn't get a chance to read the blog lately, problem with my internet connection.. and I got to read people's response to the new leica and Death's characteristic. I will try to come up with my opinion as well...)

Onward into the future

2007-12-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

I read through the topics and there are good points raised. My vote is for the newer idea of having death the antagonist.

It's a great idea, because then you get to play with magical bully. Wedgies from miles away, killing guys to have a good seat. Angry looser Death is more dynamic and fun to watch, than some pansy, wuss, weak gay undertone Death. And Stevil is made better because of the new relationship, instead of wooing death over decades, he slapped the shit out of Death the first time he tried something and now does it every time death makes an attempt.

I think it's more fun.

leica response

2007-12-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

hi all, hope u guys r having a great holiday season thus far.
in response to the leica, i liked most of it, but some of it could still be cut, a lot of it actually.
but the new stuff thats happening in the jump made me laugh. i guess its suppose to be cheesy rite?! and the end is a bit more together than before so thats good as well.

as for the new version or not....it doesn't matter as long as what the group decides, maybe we can vote on this blog? but we should stick to it and resolve the problem we face and not jump on a new idea everytime we get stuck. that being said, im not saying which idea is better or not, its just b/c we gotta finish this sometime b4 semester 2 ends and so theres not a whole lot of time to jump around. ideally we would all like to explore every possible story ideas that we have, but right now we just can't afford it.

for the new script, id suggest that ppl who wants to take part could get together and work on it and post the scripts on the blog for rest of the group to comment. ideally if we get through few revisions of the script during this holiday, we probably be in good shape when we come back. if the scripts tight and clear then boarding stage wouldn't be that big of a problem.
this is my experience from the summer having worked on a short film w/ fellow 3rd yr students. we got a lot done during summer with about 6 members. (in the production stage when school started ) for those who wants to see what our beat script, here it is CLICK ME!
this is the final version and we've gone through about 5+ revisions.
we basically boarded from the script and changes were made based on the critiques of the leica.
anyways, let me know what the rest thinks, my vote is for the old idea. :P

Evil Stevil Jumps Again - Leica Reel

2007-12-19T16:17:00.001-08:00

2 Cents Doesn't Buy What it Used to, but Here are Mine Anyway.

2007-12-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

This is a lot to take in, and for a proper response I will need some time to digest it all. But I thought I'd post my initial reactions if only just to indicate that I am still alive somewhere and have been reading all of this.

Frank, I totally agree with you about the need for structure, and that we need to keep the ball rolling on this film. I also agree that Friday would be a good deadline for making a decision about where to go with death's character as that is the real lynch-pin in our film, and a decision that must be made before we can move forward. I personally feel that Saturday is too soon to have the final version of the script because if we will be boarding from it I think we will all need time to read it, review it and make changes if need be. As you have written all of our previous scripts, I am assuming that you'd be doing this one as well, and if that is your intention: GREAT! The other scripts have served us well, and I can only imagine that this one will top them all. That said, I personally would like a chance to read it, edit it and have input on it before we move on to boarding. Finally, while this may not be a popular thought I feel I have to put it out there: having our final board done before school starts seems like it might not be realistic and could be a waste of time. The fact is, when we boarded separately over reading week the results were disastrous, nothing fit, there was no direction, it didn't work. Now think if we had put the time into cleaning and scanning those thumbnails how much time we would have wasted. I think we'd be better to make sure we finally take the time to do everything right and be realistic about our abilities. My thoughts on how this might work are as follows: First as a group we need to develop a really tight script, and then we should each do thumbnail treatments of this script in whole or in part and based on whatever section(s) inspire us most. But not super quick "lets just get this over with and clean it up so it is perdy thumbnails", but thumbnails that take advantage of being thumbnails and allow us to work and rework the visual storytelling: the contrast/affinity, the continuum of motion, the screen direction, the continuity, and most importantly the acting, the character business, and entertainment (ie. put the funny in it). These kinds of things are admittedly lacking in our current boards because we never had the time to really work on them. Well now that we do have some time we should take it. If we could return to school with thumbnail boards that are really strong in terms of visual, cartoon, storytelling then I think we should all be very happy with that because then we need only clean and scan and edit in that first week back and we will have done a good job of everything. And remember what DQ said, these boards do not have to be beautiful - if our roughs serve to tell the story we might not need to clean them up very much.

As for the characterization of death debate: it is great to see all of the discussion going on. I agree with Tracy about the need for clarity and that is why, like Kayla and Jason (who both had some very good points on the subject) my vote is going to the antagonist version of death. It is clear and can be easily explained in a way that the old version never could: Death is a powerful villain with a complete inability to do his job in the case of one man: Evil Stevil. Evil Stevil is a daredevil, a "death-defier", it is his business to tease Death by putting himself in deadly situations and then proceed to NOT DIE! Death is a bully, he never had a problem taking anyone away until Evil Stevil stood up to him, but once that happened Death slowly begins to have a nervous break down about his own impotence. The humour lies in the conflict between these two characters and, as Jason put it, in Evil Stevil being too stubborn to die.

The other version took too much waffling to make work. At one point Death had to have wanted Evil Stevil to die, but after living with him he now does not, but then he is "ok" with it in the end. Those are three separate attitudes that need to be at least alluded to in the film or the whole thing makes no sense. And is Death conflicted about wanting ES to live? He should be, because he is death, but he isn't, because we don't have time to have him debate it. And then there is the infamous parachute, the real proof that this version wasn't meant to be. Why did we put it in? To justify the relationship between Death and Evil Stevil. To try to give it a reason to exist - a payoff. And yet the parachute really failed to bring that payoff because it didn't feel natural. Simply put: if it was necessary to create such a contrived situation as the parachute to give this relationship a reason to exist, maybe that is a sign that it just wasn't right for this story and this group. The relationship was so complex and yet had no real purpose within the context of the story - it existed as a concept that was funny to pitch to people but became the cement shoes on our film's feet.

I believe that this isn't the case with the new idea because not only does it take less explanation and justification, it fits into the story better. It provides an antagonist and a clear conflict: Death wants to kill ES, ES wants to live to do his final jump. And it helps us along the way to a clear premise and theme: If you live life without regret and fight for your dreams then death has no power over you. If the old version had a conflict it was muddy at best - ES could have been the antagonist, the Jump might have been the antagonist, or was it Death in his bid to stop ES from trying to achieve his goal? And the premise was even less clear. After 4 months of working on that story I'm still not sure about either one, so how could the audience be sure in 4 minutes?

In response to Kayla's post:

We need to, in simple terms, tell the audience that death, although death, is not as strong as folk tales make him out to be, this meaning, he can't just touch ES and kill him.

I'd say that death is still a strong villain, just not in the case of Evil Stevil, and that is why it drives him nuts and gives us opportunity for humour and to make ES a hero figure. Think Sideshow Bob and Bart Simpson. As for the touching, I totally agree, they need to be able to contact each other without ES keeling over. But I think that is as simple as making Death's scythe the killing tool, not his touch. This can be established in the 1st scene when Death tries to get him with the scyth but ES fights back and stops him, and then at the end we can have Death pull the soul out of ES's body with the scyth. It'll be totally manageable to never have the scythe touch ES until he dies. We can decide how much we want to make use of the scythe concept, but it would be a fairly simple solution.

As for the story list: I think that we need to resign ourselves to the fact that things will have to be changed. I agree with axing the stuff that didn't play well and as Kayla alluded too I think we need to rewrite Death throughout the film, particularly in the opening and the ending. I would also suggest that we get rid of death's sweat suit and the whole soap opera thing. This will allow us to cut time and keep the focus of the first section on what matters: the final success of the model jump and the character's reactions to it and to each other. In addition, I don't think that this Death would live with Evil Stevil, nor does it seem in character to poof into a track suit when he is trying to seem menacing and powerful (even if he is failing at it). I realize that people liked the sweat suit gag, but it won't really work in this case, and death will be easier to animate in his foot-less cloak anyway. And we can replace this gag with others so that people won't miss it.

To conclude: I am glad to hear that people liked much of our current version, and I think that by the sounds of it most of the things that people enjoyed will still exist in the new version and most of what they hated (the parachute) can be dispensed with and replaced with more of the good-stuff!

Hope everyone is having a good start to their break!

Rory

Death's character

2007-12-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

During the final leica viewing, alot of people loved or film and there were alot of good reactions and like any film bad reactions. Some of the less successful were... (not to be nevative nancy, but these are stuff we can consider taking out...)

Parachute
Chandalere (I was suprised, but no one liked it)
speed of the actual jump (way too slow)
too much dependence on dialogue
TV (where annoncer is talking, liked announcer, but didn't get where it was coming from)

I sat down with Emslie (who came to the screening) and we talked about the two options of death's character. He seemed to really like the new and revised death, mainly because that blasted parachute could be cut). He also felt that because death ultimately wants ES to die that when he does, both character essentally win; Death kills ES and ES finishes his jump.

I think if we go the route of Death wanting ES to die but it too wimpy to actually get the job done, then we'll have to really think hard about how to describe ES and Death's relationship. We need to, in simple terms, tell the audience that death, altho death, is not as strong as folk tales make him out to be, this meening, he can't just touch ES and kill him.

so finally my vote: I vote to work with the new idea of DEATH WANTING ES TO DIE.

STORY IDEAS....(if we go new route of Death)

Completely take out Parachute. (YAY!!)
no more chandalier :(
when ES is doing jump, I was told that the announcer sounds like he already knows what is going to happen, Instead we should make the announcer moreunaware of what comes next, make his lines more too the point and quicker, this will speed up the jump. We need to make the jump more climaxtic, not through obsticles (we've already done this) but through pace.
Death changes to casual clothes, but instead of him walking to the TV he can mention he's going to watch his soups and ES then immediately interups him with the success of the mock jump and the pea.
If Death's character changes, do we really need the part when he talks to himself about "where will I go, Ill be a widow". This doesn't work with his new character. we can still show his finger being cut off, and instead, yes is scares him, but then it sparks the whole fact that he's finally gonna get ES. He can maybe point out parts he might kill ES "Oh I'll totally get him there, yes, hehehe!" This might help the audience understand their relationship . When ES interrups him with the phone call we can splice a bit of dialogue off of this bit.
we can rethink the dialogue at the end, make it a bit more to the point to drill the fact that ultimately they both won, but maybe ES won a bit more, seeing he doesn't care, can I maybe see the script at this part?

That's all I can really think of right now...

IMPORTANT

2007-12-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

*REFER TO MY POST BELOW TRACY'S TO VEIW NEW DEADLINES*

Just want to make sure no one misses it. Great post by Tracy too. Thats exactly the kind of thinking we need right now.

Story Idea!

2007-12-18T19:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it's getting later on at night. Haven't drawn shit, but HAVE taken time to think about the stories.

Our main thing now, it seems, is deciding about our story, and how it'll roll. We were all "Yeah lets change this sucker up" and then our leica got some good reactions, so now it seems like we're split even?

Our choices go between Death LIKING Evil Stevil and WANTING him to live, and Death HATING Evil Stevil and WANTING him to die.

You know what? I think that we can make both these stories exactly the same, and then just decide on which Death character to go with.

BOTH these Death's have an opinion on Evil Stevil. BOTH of them have a goal, of either LIFE, OR DEATH (kinda black and white)

The difference between the two is how they act when Evil Stevil dies, but, I think BOTH stories can have Death learn the lesson at the end, that life/death isn't everything, Evil Stevil only wanted his goal.

Here is the interpretation I came up with, and this is of course the very bare bones of each story

Story 1.) Death wants to save Evil Stevil's life. Story begins, yadda yadda, Evil stevil chokes, Death comes in, saves him. Evil Stevil says jump works! Death says NO WAY (he is SAD, because Evil Stevil may die) and tries to talk him out of it. Evil Stevil does the jump anyways, lands it, dies. Death is SAD, because he's dead. ES doesn't give a rat's ass, ALL he cared about was the jump. Death realizes that living your life to the fullest is better then living longer and boring(er)

Story 2.) Death wants to END Evil Stevil's life. Story begins, blahblah, ES chokes, Death comes in, EGGS HIM ON, tries to take him, ES slaps him away, saves himself. Evil stevil says JUMP WORKS! Death says NO WAY (This time he's HAPPY, since ES might die) and tries to make it go as fast as possible. ES does jump, lands it, dies. Death is HAPPY, since he's dead. ES doesn't give a rat's ass, All he cared about was the jump. Death realizes (again) that dying once a dream is accomplished is no loss at all.

So it might be redundant, but I am just trying to point out the both ways could work EQUALLY. SOME might point out that there should still be a moment in story 1 where Death realizes he has to let Evil Stevil go, but, I feel like that could be the very END of the story, so he's all worried and terrified the entire jump, towards the end he starts cheering for him, he's ECSTATIC when he makes it, then suddenly devastated when he fails, but ES shows him that it's not a huge deal.

Of course, this is only what's turning in my addled brain, so if anyone thinks this is a terrible interpretation of it, feel free to change my mind! I love seeing other people coming up with ideas, so I can't wait to hear what other people come up with.

I am still undecided which version I like better, but that will change as we hear other people's ideas!

Come on everyone :) Either make a new post or add on to another one. If we can't meet up we can always talk here.

-Tracy

P.S I think when we're going through the story, we need to have more solid answers for certain questions, pertaining to a character's personality. We need to be SURE of ourselves in this, imo if we're not confident, the audience won't feel it either, and it needs to be either YES, or NO, or YES/NO with an exception, and the exception needs to be JUSTIFIED CLEARLY. EG: Does Evil Stevil ever say thankyou/sorry. NO. ONE exception is at the end where he is dead (old leica btw) and he vaguely thanks Death for saving his fanny, because well, Death DID save his fanny. EG#2: Would new Death (ie evil stevil hatin death) KILL people outright instead of waiting for him to die? NO, never, yadda yadda something. Does that make sense? I feel like if we are more certain about what a character is likely to do, the certainty reflects on how solid the character is

Holiday Progress

2007-12-18T18:09:00.000-08:00

*PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE POST. I KNOW IT’S LONG, BUT IT’S VERY IMPORTANT AND HOLDS SOME NEW DEADLINES*

I’m a little frustrated with some of the things that I’m reading. It’s no one’s fault, but I can see that we’re in dire need of some organization if we’re going to get anything done over the holidays. I don’t have all the answers but I figured in the midst of chaos, I’ll get the ball rolling with some order. It seems that right now we’re all doing a lot of complaining, with no one offering any solutions. So let’s get together as a team and attempt to fix some of the problems we’re experiencing. I’ll try not to rant, but I do want to hit on some key points. Overall, I think we need to focus on practicality and communication.

First of all… Idealy, meeting in person at the school over the holidays is a great idea but I think it’s impractical for most. IF school meetings are going to be held, then I think we’re going to have to face the facts that 3 people showing up may be the best we’re going to get. Even if there are only 3 people, is that not still enough to at least get something accomplished? Other things have gotten done with even fewer than 3 people contributing. If anything, the best opportunity to get some work done is individually, and then displaying and discussing it on the blog.

Which brings me to my next point; The blog. We have such an incredible tool right at our finger tips. If we organize ourselves, this blog will make everything so much easier for us. We need to start using it for the right reasons….to display and discuss work and deadlines. It’s such a practical tool. Why even bother meeting in person for 2 or 3 hours when we can have people contributing to the blog at their own convenience around the clock.

Structure. Nothing will get done without some deadlines. Strict deadlines are ideal, but again, It’s the holidays and people are running around doing a million other things. So we need to have tentative deadlines with a window of a few days for completion. If someone’s late in contributing, we shouldn’t wait for those people and have them slow us down. They lose their say. We move on.

Finally. Kayla touched on it and it's a very important point. I want to elaborate. Dedication. Ideally we’d have all 13 people contributing equally. I now believe that’s extremely nieve. I dont think it's realistic to expect everyone to be on hand to work all the time. I've missed meetings, we've all missed meetings. we're all guilty of it, and that's ok so long as it doesn't hinder our success. That's why we have 13 people. Power in numbers. I don't expect everyone to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the film. But i do expect, and the GROUP expects everyone to do the albsolute MOST they can, to the best of their ability. The fact is, the only incentive for people to get work done for the film over the holidays is personally driven. If someone doesn’t have the personal motivation to contribute, what can we do? It’s the harsh truth. I urge everyone to contribute their work and ideas. We have a strong, talented group and great potential to create something that we can all be proud of. I know this doesn’t mean as much to some people…but you know what? We’re not here to nag anyone to do their work, we’re not here to look over someone’s shoulder and be their parent. Man, our group doesn’t even have that problem as bad as some of the other groups do. So we need to accept the fact that some people will do more than others. It’s just the nature of the beast. All I can offer as an incentive is reputation and personal growth. Everyone knows who contributes and who doesn’t. I respect all of you, and at this stage in our careers no one is BETTER than anyone else but there are people with better work ethic, and that gets noticed. Also, I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. I’ve learned so much from collaborating with all of you, and I’m continuing to learn from each of your styles and talents. By contributing we’re teaching each other whether we know it or not. I’ve learned more from you guys and this group film experience than any of our classes this semester. I know a lot of you will agree with that statement.

So, in conclusion I would like to get the ball rolling by putting some deadlines out there.

First off…the revised leica reel. I hope everyone had a chance to see it. I want you all to post your critique. The general consensus seems to be that it was a lot stronger than our initial attempt. We still need to cut some time, but that’s not the most important issue. The main issue is death’s characterization. Is it worth it too change? Should we contine with what we’ve got? Your thoughts?

We will make a decision on this by FRIDAY THE 21ST. That’s more than enough time to make a decision. We’ll base it on everyone’s comments, and if need be, a vote. Therefore, if you want your opinion to be heard and considered, make sure you post on the blog. I encourage everyone to comment on people’s posts and get discussions going.

Once we make this decision, we will assign sections of the board to be re-boarded. We’re almost there in terms of story. For our next run through of the boards, we NEED to focus on getting entertainment value and humour back into our film. I think that this it detrimental to a successful reception of our film. Enough already with the sappiness. It’s Death and a 110 year old Dare Devil. They’re cartoon characters. Let’s forget about trying to make the audience emotionally connect with a cartoon skeleton that has feminine tendencies. That doesn’t make sense to me. It’s a ridiculously absurd story. Let’s present it as such. The focus shouldn’t be on deep rooted emotional dilemmas. YES, we need those factors present in a small dose, but they shouldn’t be the focus. We’re not trying to make a gut wrenching Oscar winner here. We’re trying to entertain an audience in 4 minutes. We’re animators…cartoonists. Our job is to observe real life and caricature it…exaggerate it. That’s the beauty of this art form. If we want to make something that’s 100% logical and true to real life with characters that are entirely relatable, why waste the effort of animating it? Let’s hire Johnny Depp and Jack Nickelson to shoot this thing as a live action. Alright…that’s enough of my tounge and cheek rant…you get the point.

As it stands right now, I would like to have a fresh draft of the script with any new ideas and gags/jokes ready for Saturday the 22nd and have everyone re-board and post their sections on the blog from the 23nd to the 29th.

I think a realistic goal for us during the break is to come back on the first day of second semester with a finished, revised story board that’s scanned in and ready. From which we can take the first few days to update the leica reel and re-record some dialogue. We have all the SFX, and music…basic timing. The foundation for the leica reel is there.

*IMPORTANT* please don’t just read this and discard it. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT FOR THIS POST TO LET ME KNOW THAT: A) YOU’VE READ IT…B) YOU UNDERSTAND IT....AND C) WHAT YOU THINK OF IT.

On a side note, I know the tone of this post is a little harsh, and I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes, or trying to put myself and my opinions above anyone else. I don’t want it to seem like I’m going off on a power trip. I’m simply passionate about this project, and more than anything want to see us succeed as a group. I’m just trying to be as honest and straight forward as I can be while still being constructive. My intent was to restore some order through this post. I hope I have. Please offer some feedback to this post, I would love to hear everyone’s opinion and I’m excited and anxious to see what you all have to say. Everyone’s opinion counts…we’re all creative, and all full of great ideas. Let’s put them out there. We’re alone to work on this over the break. We’ve received great feedback and guidance and about a million opinions from a million different people. Now lets take all that and use it to make the film WE want to make.

Thanks guys.
Have a good one.

FRANK

PS...Overall, let's not kid ourselves...we're doing a damn good job so far. Let's continue on that path. As long as we do...everything will work out.

Just to brighten things up...

2007-12-18T07:48:00.000-08:00

Figured that I'd post a picture to balance out all the words. Didn't have anything new, but I never posted my version the assignment we did for DQ, so what the hell...

the not-so-monday meeting

2007-12-18T05:35:00.000-08:00

guys, as im sure everyone has noted, the meeting didn't happen. Between 13 people 3 of us, including myself, showed up. I understand that everyone has things to do or are too far away, and that's fine but if this is the case you should have let everyone else know like some did.

I personally went into school at 8 in the morning, because that was the only time I could get in, and had to stay until 7 at night. So I basically wasted my entire day for something that was planned and yet still people didn't show up to.

I'm not trying to rant guys, but I thought the dedication to this group project was one of the best and Im starting to have my doubts. IF we are going to reschedual, I must have a promise from you guys that you'll actually show up, cause Im not wasting another one of my days for nothing.

Do we want to reschedual?

The Meeting Fell Through

2007-12-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

Hey I had a moment, so I figured I'd just let everyone know that the meeting kinda fell through. I was actually late myself, and by the time I got to the school Jack told me that the meeting had been called off. There just weren't enough people. I want to thank those who did show for their dedication and apologize for not being on time myself. It seems like there may have been some miscommunication: last week it sounded as if everyone would be available, but today it appears many people were not.

I guess the important thing now is next steps - I am not honestly sure where to go from here but I would encourage everyone to think about ways to cut down the film's story length, and what kind of a relationship we want between death and Evil Stevil and how that relationship will function in the context of what will hopefully be a 3 minute film. Maybe we need to put together some kind of story-revision schedule for the 1st week back at school and then stick too it. I mean we did the current board/leica in a week, maybe we just do that again only this time we have an even better base to start off with. I'm interested to hear where everyone thinks we should go from here.

DQ-I came by

2007-12-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Hi Gang

I was up in the 3rd year area to see how the meeting was going...
but did not see much of a meeting going on....has it been changed ?

DQ

MEETING!

2007-12-15T15:33:00.001-08:00

MEETING DECEMBER 17th

starting @ 11 onward

Come prepaired to DRAW!

MEETING!

2007-12-15T15:33:00.000-08:00

MONDAY DEC 17th

starting at 11 onward

be prepared to draw!

Monday meeting?

2007-12-09T16:02:00.000-08:00

Okay everyone, my cellphone is officially dead.

It's like, in two pieces.

We still having a meeting monday or is it gonna be a write off? I dunno about you guys but I have some serious animating to do!

Basically I'll be checking back on this, as I can't be reached my phone. If I don't hear back by midnight tonight, I won't make it to whatever we have tomorrow morning :P

See you all!

-Tracy

poop.

2007-12-07T01:53:00.001-08:00

roar.

Storyboard: Rough to Clean

2007-12-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

I cleaned up one of Rory's panels. We should def splice some or all of these clean character panels into the leica. Could be a cool idea.

Evil Stevil, Design Update

2007-12-05T15:42:00.001-08:00

At Tuesday's meeting we discussed a few little design modifications in preparation for Friday's character design assignment. I tried to take all of them into account here. It is my hope that this version will work better in terms of simplicity of design and ease of drawing, but as usual we won't know 'till we try. Thankfully, that is what the upcoming assignment is all about, so don't feel you have to adhere to this model 100%, it is a chance for everyone in the group to sink their chops into this guy and see what works and what needs more attention. Any ideas you have to make the design better: test 'em out!

Have a good one.

Rory.

(P.S. Another reference for this particular version of the ES design would be my poster concept. I used the new collar, the side burns, as well as more simplified fabric shapes when I drew it, and they may be clearer when they are cleaned and coloured.)

POSTER!

2007-12-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

I spent way too much time on this...It was probably one of the more fun assignments we've had in a while. Thanks to Rory for letting me steal his awseome drawing of the jump.

2007-12-03T00:44:00.001-08:00

Posting a Poster...

2007-12-03T00:29:00.000-08:00

I decided to get the whole poster assignment out of the way, and since it does relate to the film I figured what the heck, lets slap it on up on the blog.

Whew... With all that tough poster work done, now all we need to do is make the film.
Oh... right...
Crap. (Insert tongue into cheek.)

Meeting Times

2007-12-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

hey guys, I was talking to a few of us and I think everyone will agree that we need Monday to ourselves, so...

NO MEETING MONDAY

but

MEETING TUESDAY 2pm (during our used-to-be Co-op class)

Lately we've all been guilty of being a little 'laxed when its come to the meetings, but we need to get back on track before it's too late. So PLEASE ALL ATTENED.

We want to make a great film?! Then we better start getting into gear, production is just around the corner!

RIP Evil Knievel

2007-11-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

Oh man...i cant believe what i saw on the news today...Evil Knievel is dead at age 69.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/30/obit.knievel/index.html

it's sad that a big influence on our character and film has passed away...BUT on the other had, it makes our film relevent! haha.....too soon? lol

anyways. Crazy coincidence. or is it? i don't know.

RIP EVIL KNIEVEL

concept for fun :)

2007-11-29T21:50:00.001-08:00

Inspiration - "Dealing with Death"

2007-11-24T12:52:00.001-08:00

hey guys. I found this incredible animated short film that is somewhat related to our story.
Check it out. It's definitely a good one to draw some inspiration from.

TWO MEETINGS FORTHCOMING...

2007-11-22T15:49:00.000-08:00

Just a friendly reminder that our next two meetings will be very important and that everyone should attend.

FRIDAY 10am - We will be reviewing the rough story reel with DQ.

MONDAY 1pm - We will be labeling the clean boards as a group. Please do not miss this one if you have pages for the final storyboard (which most of us do), as it is DUE TUESDAY AT THE START OF THE LECTURE.

Thanks folks.

2007-11-20T19:49:00.000-08:00

sorry guys, im tryping on a spanish keyboard, and are on a timed internet browser so I cant read much, but i hope all is well and youre all having fun with the lieca!
see you soon,

Kayla

Response to Rory's post...IMPORTANT

2007-11-16T23:25:00.000-08:00

Rory broguht up some great points in his post below and i did make a few revisions according to what he said...he mentioned some things that i had totally forgot about...so i made some minor revisions that everyone should be aware of (specifically to the second section). If you printed off the script already...print it off again so it's all up to date.

good luck with the boards everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing the results on monday.

This thing is really shaping up to be a third year epic haha.

Another comment that grew into a post.

2007-11-16T20:25:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks,

First of all; great work Frank! I think the story is really starting to click into place. This script will work beautifully to storyboard from, and I think we all owe you a big "thanks" for taking on the challenge of getting all of these ideas down on paper.

This script really does hit all of the main points well, and I think if we left it here it would still kick ass. That said, in an effort to make this puppy the best it can be I have a few small notes (some are just things to think about and others are points that I remember us discussing that don't seem to have made it into this draught):

1) In a just a few spots I think the dialogue feels a bit clunky and could be more streamlined, but actually recording the lines will give us natural solutions to this.

2) I worry about the set up of the climax (ie. parachute gag):

Remember that for the whole thing to work it has to be clear that Death pressured ES into adding the parachute. This is important because it seems out of character for ES to add one on his own, so when it deploys people might question the whole scenerio if the idea hasn't been properly foreshadowed. As well, if Evil Stevil added it himself it would be his own damn fault that it almost causes him to fail, and I don't think that would be as strong as if it were death's fault. On a related note, we may want to work in death taking particular exception to the danger of the final jump. This way, when he frees ES to do the jump in the end it means something specific. The solution to both of these issues is as simple and quick as changing the dialogue at the top of the jump to ES doing a pre-jump checklist (as we had discussed in group):

Death is examining the shoddy workmanship of the jump while ES is going over his his checklist.
ES:"Peg-leg wheel: check. Boosters: check. Automatic traction control: check. Colostomy bag: check."
Death: "Parachute?"
ES: "Gal'darn it, you nancy boy with yer"safety" and "precautions". Take it and shove it."
Death: "Even if you survive all of those death traps, the chances of you clearing that gorge are infantecimal!"
ES: Bah! You worry too much, you dandy! (And continue on from here as is...)

3) I also think that we should consider all of the options for the actual execution of the pay off moment with the parachute. I think the audience needs to first see the chair malfunction (with a ZAP or something), then the chute deploying, and finally it snagging. There can be no doubt in their minds about what happened (ie. that it was a malfunction) or the whole situation won't read. As well, if it is done in steps (chair malfunctions, parachute pops out, drags along for a second, and then snags) we can have ES's increasingly concerned reactions to the calamity as it unfolds, taking advantage of the entertainment potential. I also worry about the snag happening at the end of the ramp, the whole situation (ie. he will fail but be safe) seems more clear if it happens before he reaches the ramp, and that way when he is released he will be able to zoom up the ramp to launch himself. I realize that DQ expressed concerns about this stopping the film, and while it runs the risk of doing so it seems like the other options just aren't clear enough in that it always looks like ES's life is in danger or that his chair can fly (which it cannot). This might be something that we just have to see in board form to know whether it will work, and I look forward to seeing what the Section 2 team comes up with.

Here is a bad sketch showing what I envision:

Anyway, there's my rant for today. Sorry about the length. And again, very good job on the script Frank, in my notes there is certainly nothing that can't be worked out when we're boarding and/or editing the leica reel. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Rory

group folder

2007-11-16T19:22:00.000-08:00

I talked to Aldines about getting the group folder, she said Mario would do it the next day, but from what I saw the folder was still not there. If you guys need the communal folder go back downstairs and talk to Mario again, maybe he forgot or the papaer was lost.

I hope you all have a good week, and I can't wait to see the reel!

-Kayla

FINAL SCRIPT TO BE USED AS REFERENCE FOR ROUGH BOARDS

2007-11-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

Alright, here it is. This version of the script should be used for our final boards. It's meant to be used as a reference, and as a reminder of key story elements that NEED to be expressed, so print it out and have it handy when you're all boarding. Ad in some character acting and poses for the dialogue, if there and extra shots that you feel should be added in, go ahead, as long as it doesn’t break the flow of the story. Similarly, if something isn’t working, it can be tweaked, but don’t change anything too drastically from what is in this script. Even though you may just be boarding section 3, read through the entire thing and familiarize yourself with the entire story so it can be discussed on monday's meeting.

PS. please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors. I know it looks really long, but a lot of it is overlapping actions and dialogue over action. Don't worry if it's looking too long, we'll handle that during the story reel stage.
if there is anything seriously that you feel is seriously wrong, feel free to email me or call me at 416 617 1781.

Section 1

- An establishing shot of the dessert and Evil Stevil’s shack are shown while a sports commentator talks about ES's career.
- During the narration, the shots follow the flow on the narrator’s details.
- Shots include, the desert, the TV in his shack, the memorabilia on his walls, and finally Evil Stevil working on his jump.
- Evil Stevil works on his model and testing it with pea’s while the biography is on the TV in the background. He reacts to what is said as it happens.

Commentator: Where are they now? Tonight on our program we’ll take a look back at the infamous Dare Devil extraordinaire, Evil Stevil. He captured the hearts of the public with his incredible stunts. This is a man who lived with death every single day of his career. (ES reacts: Bah! Death can’t do nothin!) When his success peaked and it seemed that even he couldn’t out do himself, a promise was made to his fans that the next jump he did would be the most spectacular the world has ever seen. Evil Stevil soon after disappeared into the desert to work on his legendary jump, and was never heard from again. What happened to our beloved hero? (ES replies: I’m right here dang it!) Now, decades later, his promise is still remembered as we wait. Is he out there still perfecting his jump? (ES replies: Don’t rush me!) Many Dare Devil’s have come in gone in his absence, (ES reacts: HA!) and although the public still hopes for Evil Stevil’s return, the spotlight is starting to be taken away by young up and coming Dare Devil, Crazy Cooter…(This is where Evil Stevil chokes)

- Evil Stevil chokes and flails around, crashing into his model jump which re-calibrates and rearranges all the pieces.
- As ES chokes, the door to his shack slowly swings open and the ominous silhouette of death stands in the doorway
- Death floats slowly and smoothly into the room until he is right behind ES.
- In a dramatic shot, death raises his scythe over ES as he chokes.
- Instead of killing ES like we lead on, Death instead uses the butt of his scythe to gently bump ES in the back, which acts as the Heimlich maneuver.
- The pea flies from ES’s throat and lands on the model where it begins to run through it.
- It takes a second for ES to compose himself and realize that the pea is sailing effortlessly through the model jump, and he begins to follow the pea’s progress with extreme focus.
- While ES composes himself, Death picks up the can of pea’s and says.

Death: You gotta stop eating these things! They’re gonna kill you!!

- Death throws the can of peas out the window of the shack.

Death: I deal with people dying all day at work Steve. I don’t wanna deal with it when I come home too.

- Death, now revealed as being friendly with ES, begins to talk as he magically Poofs himself into casual clothes, and makes his way to the couch to sit in front of the TV.

Death: Ohhhh…So this is why you got all choked up eh? You were watching your biography on TV again?!? Steve you know how you get over excited when they mention Crazy Cooter! Well I’m changing the channel. My soaps are on!

- Meanwhile, ES, who wasn’t listening at all, is still following the pea fly through his model.
- The pea safely and gently finishes the model, and rolls to a stop in front of him on the table.
- ES’s jaw drops open.

ES: Shut Up BONEY! Didn’t you see what just happened?!? IT WORKS! By golly, the dang jump finally works!!

- Evil Stevil realizes that it’s finally time to do his legendary jump.
- As He run’s around the room in a scramble, getting ready to do his jump, Death peeks over the back of the couch.

Death: What? Are you serious? It’s done?

- Death steps towards the model and begins to examine it.
- Death, who had just become accustomed to lazing around the house with Evil Stevil, never really took the time to carefully look at what Evil Stevil had been working on.
- Death pokes at the jump with a skeptical/ concerned look and begins to try to talk Evil Stevil out of it.
- Meanwhile, Evil Stevil ignores everything Death says, and continues getting himself ready for the big jump.
- He is seen running around off and on camera in the BG.
- Crashes are heard of camera as ES rummages around.

Death: So this is it? You’re actually gonna attempt to do this thing?

ES: Death! Where are my good JUMPIN’ pants!??!

Death: It doesn’t look very safe. Why don’t you work on it a little longer before you do anything crazy.

ES: The pants! Where are the pants??!?

Death: I don’t know, Next to your lucky colostomy bag…Seriously Steve, I don’t think this is safe. You could get seriously hurt…or worse...and then what would I do? Where would I go?! I’d be a widow…sort of.

ES: Son of a gun! I can’t find my jumpin’ pants dang it!!!

Death: STEVE! They’re the only pants you own!! But I don’t know…this whole jump thing is just so sudden. Why don’t we sleep on it?

ES: Shut up you sack of bones! I’m making an important phone call!

- Evil Stevil picks up and old style phone and without even dialing says:

ES: Hello? Mr. President. It’s Evil Stevil, Sir. Notify the country! I’m gonna JUMP AGAIN!

Section 2

- Title card
- An establishing shot of the event is shown and we see the spectacular jump by a massive gorge with bleachers full of people all anxiously waiting.
- Death is With Evil Stevil who is at the Top of the jump getting ready to go.
- Death is still in his casual clothes, with a giant black foam finger.
- Death is still trying to talk Evil Stevil out of doing the jump.
- While Evil Stevil prepares himself in his wheel chair (strapping his peg leg in etc.), Death is kicking at the shoddy workmanship of the jump, and picking up loose boards.
- It is implied that the jump was erected in a very short period of time with minimal money.

Death: Steve. Please. Don’t go through with this. Let’s just go home.

ES: Shut your yapper and let me make sure I'm ready! Peg-leg wheel: check. Jet Boosters: check. Automatic traction control: check. Colostomy bag: check...

Death: Parachute?

ES: Parachute?!?! you nancy boy with yer "safety" and "precautions". Take it and shove it.

Death: Even if you survive all of those death traps, the chances of you clearing that gorge are next to none.

ES: Bah! You worry too much, you dandy!

Death: But look at this thing. (Kicks at the jump and picks up a piece that has broken off.) It looks like it was built in a day!

ES: It was! I got a good deal on it too! Now, Step aside Stretch, and watch Evil Stevil do what he was born to do!

Death: *sigh* fine

- Death Poofs away and disappears in a cloud of smoke.
- ES wheels to the edge of the ramp and looks down at the huge decline.
- Cut to the audience who sits in bleachers.
- Death poofs into the audience, right between two fat audience members (refer to audience designs) and sits down between them, squished and uncomfortable.
- Cut back to a long shot of ES on the ramp. In the final moments before the jump begins an announcer’s voice booms over the speakers:

Announcer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!...AFTER 50 YEARS IN THE MAKING…HERE TO ATTEMPT HIS LEGENDARY JUMP!....EVIL!...STEVIL!

- Evil Stevil wheels off the edge of the jump and zips through the initial collection of random stunts.
- These stunts could include any elements that were designed into the jump.
- Ring of fire.
- Ring of rattle snakes.
- Various loops of the track
- Ring of TNT
- A guillotine
- A giant swinging axe.
- Crashing through a brick wall.
- A Fecal cannon (a cannon that shoots poo)
- Poisonous darts (Indiana Jones style)
- Over a tank of sharks.
- (The obstacles are a good opportunity for humour and gags, so be as extreme as you can. Take advantage of this opportunity. You can create new ones, or use some from this list. Brain storm. Don’t worry about doing too many because we can trim some off if the film is running too long.)
- The announcer narrates over the events of the jump as they happen.
- As Evil Stevil goes through each stunt, he laughs and loves every moment of it.
- He gets some sort of twisted pleasure out of putting his life on the line, and enjoys every moment of doing his long awaited jump.
- After every few stunts there is a cut back to Death in the audience to show his reaction. To build tension. Increase the amount of cuts back and forth between ES’s stunts and Death’s reaction.
- The camera gets closer to death every time he reacts
- As each stunt becomes increasingly dangerous/ ridiculous, Death’s reactions become more and more troubled.
- Specifically after the ring of snakes Death will gasp and say:

Death: Rattle snakes?!!?!...he never told me about the rattle snakes!!! He’s gonna get seriously hurt!

- Finally ES near the final section of his stunt, the final jump over the massive gorge.
- A long shot establishes the immense size of the jump in comparison to everything else.
- The landing ramp sits on the other side of the gorge over his shack.
- The Jet boosters on ES’s wheel chair blast on, as he shoots up the final ramp.
- Just as ES reaches the end of the ramp there is a cut to an extreme close up of his face rattling and shaking.
- The camera zooms out so see that he is actually not moving anywhere.
- His parachute deployed early and snagged the very edge of the final ramp.
- The jet boosters are still on and the force of them pull the cables of the parachute tight.
- ES desperately tries to free the parachute my tugging on the cables, but nothing happens. He’s stuck.
- The announcer continues to speak over this shocking turn of events.
- While the announcer describes the turn of events. Evil Stevil has his first look of doubt and defeat over the jump.
- Cut to Death in the audience who is watching Evil Stevil fail, and can’t help but want to help him complete the jump, despite his earlier attempts to stop it.

Announcer: Oh my lord, it seems that Evil Stevil’s parachute has deployed early and he is now caught on the edge of his final jump over Gorge Canyon. It seems that he’ll be okay folks, but at this point, it does not look like he’ll complete this jump. Years of meticulous planning down the drain. This will be Evil Stevil’s first taste of failure...and on his legendary jump too. What a shame. This truly is a black day for Dare Devilry.

- Death goes against the fact that he didn’t want ES to do the jump and poofs himself out of the audience.
- Death poofs and appears at the edge of the ramp where ES is stuck.
- The two lock eyes.
- And in one last moment of hesitation, Death pauses, but then uses his scythe to cut the parachute cables.
- ES is broken free and ES bursts off over the gorge.
- Death looks up at his friend. He is sad that he may loose his friend, but satisfied in that he was able to help ES finish the jump.
- in a glorious shot, ES flies across the skyline in a moment of silence
- the announcer again speaks over the action as it happens and becomes emotional and in a very melodramatic speech says:

Announcer: I don’t know what just happened but Evil Stevil has broken free and is sailing up, off into the skies. Ladies and Gentlemen, in all my years of commentating, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite so beautiful. Evil Stevil is nearing the landing ramp…It looks like he’s going to make it...He’s touched down and is coming down the ramp to the finish…YES! He’s made it! Evil Stevil has----OHHH!

- The announcer is interrupted and stops as Evil Stevil’s wheel chair slams into the can a peas at the bottom of the ramp (the same that Death threw out the window at the beginning)
- The chair flips forward, sending Evil Stevil’s body violently to the ground.
- In controlled chaos, he topples and rolls across the sand until his battered body slides up onto the stage between two models. (the stage can just be a wooden platform)
- He stands between them, very still momentarily, and then collapses face first onto the stage.
- The models look down at him and take a moment to realize that he’s dead and then scream in horror.

Section 3

- Just as the models scream, Death poofs onto the stage (the stage can just be a wooden platform) next to the body and snaps his fingers.
- The models freeze in the middle of their screams and time stops.
- Death looks down at ES’s crumpled body and gives it a firm nudge with the butt of his scythe.
- Evil Stevil’s soul slowly gets up out of his broken body.
- He brushes himself off.
- He looks down at his dead body and slowly begins to process what’s happening
- Both Death and ES stare at his body in a moment of silence between the two.
- Death finally breaks the silence and says:

Death: I TOLD you to not do the damn jump.

ES: yeah well…I made the jump right? It still counts doesn’t it?!?

Death: yeah, you did, bu--- (interrupted by Steve)

ES: haha! That’s all I need to hear, Boney!

Death: Well…this is exactly what I didn’t want to happen, but I have to admit Steve, That was pretty amazing.

ES: Damn right it was!(pauses and realizes that Death helped him to finish it)…Don’t get all soft on me now, but you know…You did save my ass back there….So Thank you…you’re alright in my books Skinny.

- Death and ES shake hands.
- Death smiles, pleased that he broke though to a more emotional side of ES
- Even when ES is being nice, he’s still rough, and as he shakes Death hand so hard that he rips death’s skeletal arm out of the socket.
- He holds deaths arm up and looks at it then hands it back to Death who just holds onto it with his other hand.

ES: Now, how the hell do I get outta here?

Death: Just walk towards the light.

- Spotlight flickers on next to them.
- Evil Stevil looks at the light then back at Death.

ES: What are you gonna do now?

Death: I’ll find somewhere to go. Why? You gonna miss me?

ES: BAH! I told ya not to get soft on me.

- ES returns to his true nature and waves death off, upset that he’s giving into the sentimentality of the situation
- ES hovers to the light which sucks him up until he disappears.
- Death waves goodbye by swinging the arm ES broke off in his still functional arm.
- Cut to a knew scene where Death is laying comfortably on a couch. Crazy Cooter is staring at him frozen with fear and confusion.

Death: Oh hey, sorry…uh, Crazy Cooter right? I hear you’re working on a jump that’ll beat Evil Stevil’s? . Don't mind me. I tend to have trouble keeping close friends, what with them dying and all. But who knows. I have a good feeling about you. Go ahead and work on your jump thingy. I’ll just be watching my soaps. Take your time...Trust me

THE END