# data[].attributes.body
I want my portfolio to represent my work at the moment, I don't have a specific work / job I want to go into to or guide my portfolio towards.

I want to continue to add onto my portfolio easily, any work I create that I like. I would like to build it up to have lots of different mediums.

# data[].attributes.body
the first thing I filmed was the oasis, I filmed it outside on a sunny day as I wanted it to have natural lighting instead of artificial lighting.

I recorded the character walking around the while oasis but eventually realised later on it wasn't going to fit with the film. I cut it up and used parts of the clips as still shots as I rally liked the footage and didn't want to waste it.

# data[].attributes.body
this is an example of how it worked, you can see the mountains in background, therefore i'm able to get a wider shot instead of zooming far in.

# data[].attributes.body
I opened the door to let the sun in, I liked having the sun on the oasis bit, it made the set look a lot better and a lot fit with the story.

# data[].attributes.body
when filming the oasis, it bothered me having to zoom in quite a lot as you could see a lot of my room / table. To get a further away shot, I added the forest set onto the side of the oasis one. this helped a lot as the forest has big mountains, it looked really good for dimension.

# data[].attributes.body
Music done by Joe Berger

instagram @JoeBergerr

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As a nonprofit organization, the Dumbo Film Festival is totally independent, and the budget for each year’s live event is built out of the submission fees and donations. Click here if you wish to donate to the Dumbo Film Festival.

# data[].attributes.body
I really like the outcome of my stop motion, it was very repetitive and took a lot of patience but I enjoyed the process overall. I think the best parts and the most interesting bit to me was building the sets, I spent most of my time on these out of everything, put the most thought into and it felt more natural than the filming / editing side, especially the house, the furniture was either handmade or second hand. Although I did love filming and bringing the character to life, I definitely could get better at it, its difficult to keep the camera completely still for every shot - if I were to have more space / better quality tripod I think it could be better.

I would also plan out the characters actual movements a lot more beforehand, I believe it would've been a lot easier if he had been made from clay - more malleable and less fragile. By the end of filming, the character had broken in quite a few places. - wouldn't use super sculpey again, although it was great for trees and rocks.

Doing the sounds / foley was something I had never done before and enjoyed a lot, I liked finding different materials to represent a sound. The sound really makes a difference, especially when the camera can be a bit wobbly, the sounds bring you back into the film.

I would like to continue doing stop motion in the future, I think my second film could be better, using everything I've learnt from this project.

# data[].attributes.body
monteralstopmotion.com

# data[].attributes.body
I was looking through different film festivals, broad ones for short films in London and there's a few more specific stop motion festivals.

a lot of them are very easy to submit, a lot of the ones for specifically stop motion are in Europe but there's also some good ones for short films in London.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Built with Readymag—a tool to design anything on the web.

# data[].attributes.body
final poster

# data[].attributes.body
moved some things around

can add to and take away easily with this layout.

can extend the page on ready mag so I will never run out of space / have too much.

# data[].attributes.body
all the pages are able to be viewed on a laptop and a phone.

# data[].attributes.body
for the posters I wanted to show him alone with his bag on - the bag makes him more of a recognisable character and is important to the storyline

I did bright lighting and a darker lighting as they both show the different feeling of the film, I like the brighter coloured one but I actually prefer the darker one.

# data[].attributes.body
This is the full sound clip - explained into the 3 different genres.

the beginning of the story, starting slow with a steady pace. the piano is more mellow, reflecting the characters lonely life. Not much is happening in these first scenes, he's mainly just pacing around the house and exploring the wasteland and forest.

it starts to pick up when he gets to the forest, adding the xylophone sounds, suggesting there's hope.

the second theme starts when he falls asleep, the piano fades out and guitar starts when he wakes up making the bed. This works really well as this is when he's motivated to go out and collect his materials, I really like the brighter notes as it reflects his excitement of his adventure / idea of his creation.

the 3rd one starts when he wakes up after falling asleep at his desk. the brighter piano note just before his gasp, signifying him surprised, remembering he's made a creation last night - this is one of my favourite parts.

for this last theme, its the piano and the guitar combined - building up the pace as he's trying different things to make the creation come to life.

it then slows down when he goes to sleep and when the character wakes up.

# data[].attributes.body
I've split the music up into the 3 themes. they created the piece of music into these 3 themes as the characters emotions progress throughout the film, supporting the narrative of the story. It changes twice, each time he wakes up.

Each section is a different pace / vibe, I've included them below with an explanation.

# data[].attributes.body
this set I think was the most well built set, it looks the best and makes the most sense. I think from learning through the other sets, it helped me perfect this one.

I was very happy with the outcome after pouring the resin on, it definitely added a lot more dimension to the water.

this set is also the easiest to film on the camera as it has different viewpoints / more dynamic. I can play around with angles and positions more than I can in the other sets.

# data[].attributes.body
the room is definitely my favourite set, I love how much personality it has - I think this mainly comes from all the vintage / second hand furniture and random objects he has.

his work station was a very important part of the house as it gives context to the story - the character is a maker with a tool wall, work table, and sewing machine, this is also eventually where he will make his creation.

it was very fun to out together, less stress than building the other sets, it has a nostalgic feeling to it, like playing dolls house as a child.

# data[].attributes.body
-- need to move some thing s around

create button for 'my work'

important things need to go first - wrong way around.

# data[].attributes.body
adding eyes to signify he's come to life

# data[].attributes.body
the cape was more of a last minute decision as it wasn't in my mood boards, I wanted to add some more features to the film that showed the characters kindness / empathy - like him making his lifeless friend he built a cape so he doesn't get cold.

I also liked that the cape gave him some more personality - the character has his backpack which I liked so I wanted a recognisable feature for the creation too.

# data[].attributes.body
these were the sounds I used from BBC sounds as they were difficult to recreate myself.

old sewing machine

fire cracking

wood chopping noise

wind and trees

# data[].attributes.body
as the character goes through the different environments, they will each have different sounds, for example, the wasteland I just want it to be wind and the sound of his feet as this place is desolate, he's the only one there.

as it goes into the first forest, maybe add a few bird sounds, trees swaying a little more - not too much though as this place is being affected by the wasteland.

for the oasis, it will sound a lot more like a natural forest, music comes back in, a lot happier, more hopeful as he's in his comfort place.

# data[].attributes.body
I have also made the ending longer as it felt rushed, I added some sound effects to show some emotion, such as gasps and sighs.

# data[].attributes.body
I felt like the transition between him building the character and him waking up to the character being built was too big of a jump - I wanted to add in a halfway done type thing so I recorded some more clips of his body being completed and the character walking around with some wire, then it cuts to him waking up. i think this helps give a bit more context and isn't such a drastic jump.

# data[].attributes.body
these bits were fun to add as I could layer a lot of sounds - he's in a rush throwing things about so I could experiment with sounds a little more rather than trying to get it really accurate.

# data[].attributes.body
added all the singular sounds in one go, then will need to add music and the weather sounds behind that

# data[].attributes.body
for the sounds, I did most of them myself, apart from wind / trees. I created a lot of them by using the actual object inside the house, the sound they would naturally make, but some of them were a little difficult like the footsteps I did outside myself on different grounds - on wood chips for the wasteland, grass for the forest and a bench for the jeti sounds.

I did the sounds as I watched the film so they matched up, I recorded them on voice memos on my phone.

I found the best result was layering sounds as it looks more natural and doesn't single out one sound - unless I want that affect.

it was a lot of fun doing the sounds as I had never done this before, I had to do a lot of retakes of sounds to get them perfectly matched but but it was worth it once looking back at the results, it definitely brings the animation to life a lot more.

# data[].attributes.body
want sounds to be realistic - not cartoonish or over exaggerated. - consistent throughout.

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/zuXSlrkggks?si=G1BzIbVrs6gBzhyz

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rosso Papavero - short animated film by Martin Smatana

# data[].attributes.body
i want to make a poster for the film, i like seeing stop motion film posters as they always capture the handmade characters. - they’re different from a live action or digital animation.

# data[].attributes.body
finished the first draft of the film - all

the filming done - unable to add in padlet as doesn’t let me add anything past 2 minutes :/

notes of what to improve on:

add more still scenes - billboards, wire trees, landscape - gets a good idea of the environment and all the details.

take out bit where he freezes on jeti - was on purpose but looks like it’s an error.

could do shot of stick - clearer, it’s a little hidden.

slow down him waking up to character - too quick

if i have time add more building scenes - half character together - would help show his building process.

thrown ball slowed down - emphasise creature lifeless next to ball

last minutiae of everything needs to be slowed down - too quick towards the end.

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/KMmHBpJcDzk?si=kR5x9CQq39dOQnAa

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Creatures in My House (stop motion animated short film by Ilena Finocchi)

# data[].attributes.body
sits on edge of lake, not doing anything - character its waiting for his creation to come to life - trees swaying, wind, no music

could show the character trying to teach his creation

paces around oasis.

he does different things that he thinks would help him come to life - splashing water on him ? lights a fire - gets hammer out bag, chops wood up, outs it on fire - trying to keep creation warm. - rolls some grass up and puts it as a pillow. Does a few of these things, eventually defeated, lays down and sighs. then character comes to life - using eyes to show the creation is alive.

# data[].attributes.body
need to edit out invisible string

# data[].attributes.body
for the scene where my character creates his friend, I showed him using different materials such as wire, thread, cutting / hammering so its clear he is making something.

I want it to look like he's been doing this all night so I faded the camera out as if its nighttime, he wakes up at desk and the character is next to him, it made the most sense to do it this way as it wasn't really possible to show him actually building the character.

it was fun coming upon with ideas of how he can use the materials, like the red thread getting tangled all over his head, also for the things he's throwing over his head, as if he's sorting out all his materials and he's in a rushed panic to create his idea - I used invisible string to make the objects look like they are falling over his shoulder.

# data[].attributes.body
last scene - him sticking poster on the wall

shots of the sewing machine and work table, he can be in background

then he starts making the friend

show the stuff he collected

him around the table, lots of movement, sounds of hammers

uses the resources he found - also can use some of hs own things from his home - buttons

could make a coat for friend - cape type thing, sewing machine

confused on how to show the friend being made / done

make him fall asleep at the desk - been working all day - screen goes black, light dims down, same as last time

wakes up slumped on work table - creation next to him lifeless

character looks at the thing, quickly makes a cape on sewing machine - friendly gesture for his creation, him thinking about he might be cold

grabs him and puts him in his bag - same bag where he collected the items

rushes through the wasteland and forest to get to the oasis.

puts the friend next to him, sits down on side of lake - waits, prods his friend.

# data[].attributes.body
my friend was creating the music for the film, this was roughly the brief / explanation I gave them.

I want it to progress as the song goes along, the guitar starting more mellow / sad to reflect the emotions of the character - being alone, however still a warm, hopeful feeling

the music will change over the course of the film, reflecting the different environments and helping to tell the narrative.

the main point I said to them was that I wanted it to be a progression, I sent them the film and they created a piece to go along with it.

# data[].attributes.body
while recording, I was referring to my story boards to keep on track and make sure to include the important parts of the film. However, I got a lot more ideas while recording, more ideas for interesting scenes and things that would fit in well, I used the story boards more of a rough guide.

Also, the more I record and move the character, the better the actual stop motion is getting - it look more interesting / cohesive the more the film goes on - I found the same with building the sets, the first one I created was the wasteland, then the forest, then the oasis. Each set looked a lot better than the last.

# data[].attributes.body
I filmed the tree swaying as an actual recording, however then chopped it up into pictures to make it look like a drop motion swaying - helping it not look out of place.

# data[].attributes.body
for filming him walking from the wasteland to the first forest, I joined the sets together, however its was hard to disguise the line between the two boards, I needed it to bled together so the walk between the two was seamless - to help this, I added some moss / grass and an extra billboard to hide the line which worked well.

by this point I was used to controlling the camera a bit better so there was less shaky bits.

# data[].attributes.body
I turned the brightness down on the camera and put the coldest light on to make it look abandoned and gloomy.

# data[].attributes.body
I put a warm light inside the house so when he opens the door the warm light will shine out onto the wasteland - showing the comparison between the two.

# data[].attributes.body
once he gets back to his house to draw the picture, I sped up his walking so he looked more in a hurry, he goes straight to work table and draws the picture - putting it on his bed. - need to change round some of the shots - too much zooming in and then out.

for creating the nighttime, I took pictures gradually, turning the brightness down each time until it was black to show he's gone to bed, then slowly lightening it again to show the morning - I need to extend the pitch black bit to emphasise the nighttime more, its too quick.

# data[].attributes.body
For the first oasis scene, I filmed some of it in natural daylight, getting through reflection of the clouds to make it more realistic, however I filmed the rest of it inside, so trying to match the lighting was hard. This set was the most important one to me as that's where his favourite / comforting place to be is, so I wanted it to look the best.

by this point the characters feet and arms were falling apart and it was getting harder to make him walk properly. I had to superglue things back on in between each scene, hoping it would be okay - if I was to redo the character again, I think I would make him out of clay / something that is constantly moving and easy to repair. With this character, it's definitely going to be very fragile by the end of the film.

# data[].attributes.body
while filming the wasteland, I wanted the lighting to be very dark, the opposite of the warm house - I was worried the wasteland would look bad compared to the other sets as there's not much I can add to it without it looking to full of life and too much colour. it needed to be kept simple and dark to help tell the story.

# data[].attributes.body
for the house, I wanted it to feel very warm and homely, he's made it like this over time with things he's built and collected, I also wanted it to be the complete opposite of his current environment (the wasteland) to show how he doesn't fit in.

I included all of the things I found in the antique markets and things I've built for his house, using still shots of pats of the room to highlight those bits, I think it helps tell the story and show his personality.

I found it difficult to begin the filming as it's very delicate - him falling over / budging the camera / furniture moving and also making his movements not so rigid - I had to do a lot of retakes and looking back at the camera after every picture t o make sure everything was okay.

it takes a long time and a lot of work to get a small amount of filming completed - this is around 30 seconds and took maybe 1 day.

I have since lightened some scenes from this clip as they were too dark, thankfully I can do this on DaVinci instead of rerecording.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
"Bottle" by Kirsten Lepore (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Copyright © 2024 Skillbard Design and code by ANTI

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Unit 9, Hamlet Industrial Estate,96 White Post, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Welcome to the BBC Sound Effects Archive site

You can search over 30,000 BBC sound effects, experiment with them in our mixer, use them in your own personal/educational projects, or licence them for use.

You don't appear to have JavaScript enabled - you will need to enable Javascript to run this app.

# data[].attributes.body
trying not to move camera - distracting, maybe go back and re film shaky bits

new posters for the wall maybe - more detailed of what could've happened - explain why he's alone.

mix of my own sounds and free sounds - BBC sounds

# data[].attributes.body
music in some scenes, guitar maybe, fine for handing in?

how to make it more obvious something bad has happened / he's in a digital wasteland.

anything to change in sets - improve wasteland?

# data[].attributes.body
need to lighten certain images

# data[].attributes.body
make it clear what the message is - maybe include a brief title / explanation at the beginning to set the film - can make adjustments after the film is done, see if it is clear enough without any text.

what aspects to add to show he's lonely - daytime passing by quickly - can use this with lighting, sun rising and setting - him alone the whole time.

dragon frame - editing programme.

audio - whistling maybe - show he's alone / only one making noise

more nature sounds once reached oasis, pretty quiet up until then.

# data[].attributes.body
added some flowers

# data[].attributes.body
first bit of filming, him opening the curtain, this scene will just be him walking around the house, doing normal things / starting his day.

I kept the lighting a little darker when the curtains were closed and lightened the room as the curtains were opening to look more realistic like the daylight was coming through.

# data[].attributes.body
fades out into night again, slumped against tool station, fell asleep

wakes up to the character he made, prods it, nothing happens - quiet, eerie feeling.

paces a little, puts the character I not a big sack

leaves the house again with hr bag over his shoulder.

really quickly goes through the different sets again - different angle, Birds Eye view - takes up only few seconds, don't want to keep repeating the same scene

reaches the oasis, empty the bag, character falls on floor.

sat down on jet staring out.

the character he made, sits up next to him, turns head, makes disbelief noise or something

end

# data[].attributes.body
goes to bed, wakes up early next morning

takes bag with him to collect items to create the character he drew on the piece of paper

rushes through the wasteland and forest, scavenging for items he can use, I want him to collect items from wasteland as he's using what he's got in his environment, using the best of the digitally affected environment combined with items found in the natural environment - using them together.

reaches the oasis - finds the last important bits there, puts it all in his bag.

transition it straight back to the house, show house - hammering / screwdriver noises, he's building.

shots of him working at the stations.

# data[].attributes.body
character continues to walk through, making sure to capture all the elements of the different places / understanding what's happening.

he reaches the natural oasis, natural lighting, sunny, happiest there

peaceful + happy there but still lonely.

walking around the lake

sight focusing on different things / flowers or whatever

hurrys out of frame

cuts back to him being in his house - quickly shuffling around, sorting things out, grabbing things.

stands by tool station, scribbling on piece of paper with pencil.

noises signifying his emotions

completes drawing, sticks it on the wall with his other posters. - maybe on top of the other posters - signifying something more important / what's to come.

showing the lighting dimming down while he's drawing - night time

# data[].attributes.body
first shot of his house in the wasteland - shows where he is / the environment

shining warm light from house window and under the door

goes into the room - making his bed, opens curtains, tidies up the room - doing random stuff

show the posters on the wall - the climate change / AI ones

character leaves room - pit of frame of camera - opens door and leaves into the wasteland.

journey starts - lots of still shots of setting - understanding the different places / how they are changing / nature being destroyed.

making character look and feel lonely - lighting, mannerisms, ears moving

lighting changes as he transitions from wasteland into the forest and then eventually into the last part - bright, natural looking, wasteland be dark, progressively gets lighter, warm.

more noises in natural environment

character looks more comfortable in the natural environments.