Minor Project: Reflective Statement

My experience of Minor is that it has been the most challenging project so far for 2 reasons. 1) Throughout Minor I have been grieving a close relative who greatly impacted my life and work. Instead of letting my grief effect my work negatively I used this project as a way of coping and carrying on which has been the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to face. 2) It’s the most freedom I’ve had with a project. I struggle to deal with the stressful countdown of deadlines, I struggle to not let it impact my work, I get caught up in getting things done on time that I don’t give all my energy to the more important things - I’m aware of it but I can’t control it. As I create my characters I’m still learning and practicing this skill and Maya, part of my problem is things take as long as they take, I come across problems inevitably which set me back but I learn from them - it is out of my control, it is necessary and I have to let it be and not stress. My pre viz took a long time and many versions to get where it is, and it’s part of the filmmaking process, even now it’s not where I want it to be but it’s progressed a lot since my animatic submission back in May for Premise which I am pleased with myself for doing. I am very proud of the characters I’ve modelled and I can say without a doubt they are the best work I’ve produced to date! 

My art of at the moment shows where I am at and what I plan to do during Major for exploring the art side of my film. I haven't put in any model renders for Chapter 2 as I want to have all my characters rigged and in poses that reflect their personalities rather than the standard T-shape and neutral facial expression. My pre viz has helped me greatly in finding the right camera movements and discovering what I actually need in my film props/set wise so that I don't waste time designing and modelling things that won't be seen during Major. My film lacks the clarity and the emotional kick it needs at the moment, I think the beginning and ending shots are the most successful, everything in between needs more figuring out before I'm there with it.

I’m disappointed that I didn’t get everything done for Minor that I had initially said I wanted too back in September/October but like I said things have taken me as long as they’ve taken, it’s been necessary and I’ve learned, all I can do is try my best and act upon feedback which I always do.