Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Pre-Production Booklet for Animation

Name:
Order of contents (italics show areas you must add in yourself)
Assessment criteria
LO2

Mind maps of ideas

Risk assessment

Format of your animation

Subject and storyline

Character notes and profiles

Movement of characters

Moodboard

Sets/backgrounds

Audio and soundtrack

Sound table

Props list

Audience

Storyboard and script (add script to booklet)

Frame rates

Lighting design

Production schedule

Crew details

LO3

Frame Numbers

Dope Sheets

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How to use this booklet

You will need to complete every page of this booklet, and all sections / questions
required.
Assessment criteria for Distinction grade;
LO2
Plans will show a full consideration of movement and continuity, perspective, point of view,
transitions and special effects.
Precise and workable planning of timing and synchronisation to a soundtrack will be
produced. It will be clear at this stage, from the documentation, what the finished piece will
look and sound like.
Learners will follow industry conventions and terminology used in storyboard production
correctly.
Plans for the construction of models, sets and props will be realistic and clear.
Drawings, script and storyboard will all show a creative interpretation of the idea.
LO3:
The documentation linked to the production will be full and detailed and there will be
evidence that the production management and scheduling of the project has been effective
and carried out in a professional manner. The techniques used in the production of the work
are likely to be related to an understanding of current trends in the industry.

Both LO2 and LO3

In all practical activity learners will be capable of working autonomously and effectively. They
will work on their own initiative, will not need constant support or supervision, will give the
work their full commitment, work positively and cooperatively with others, and meet
deadlines. In other words, they will have the kind of self-management skills that would be
expected of them in a professional context. Note also that this criterion should not be taken
to mean that learners do not seek advice or that they work without discussing things with
their tutor, but rather that they are not dependent upon the support of others and that when
they take advice they weigh it carefully for themselves.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Planning
Brainstorm / mind map (add extra pages if necessary)

Attach a 400 word treatment of your idea

A black and white David lynch / Hitchcock style music video, the first shot is of a man putting a drug
on his tongue , sitting back and then slitting his writs
I think I am the right person to make this video because it is like no other stop motion video, never
mind a music video where it is crucial for the video to not distract from the song. I think my idea is
gripping enough in the first 40 seconds to make the audience want to listen to the rest of the song and
watch the rest of the video. The song is about death and corruption between humanity (or thats how a
perceive the song) and that why my idea is so good for the song because it shows how people will
fight for anything no matter the cost without people knowing what theyll do. If anyone else were to
create the video I feel like it would be created in a completely different way because of my unique

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

vision of what the song means adds to my vision of how the video should be. I want it to be dramatic
and have a focus on fear where as if anyone else were to film/direct it im positive it would focus to
much on the narrative or wouldnt be as dramatic.

How will you meet the requirements of your brief? The brief specifies that it has to be
a music video,this will be to the song cold cold cold by cage the elephant. I
negotiated the brief so that I only do 40 seconds in stop motion but the rest will be
filmed.

Risk assessment: Are there any health and safety issues you may encounter? There
shouldnt be any health and safty issues as I am filming in a room with natural
lighting.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Discuss any legal issues you may face. Eg; sound, plagiarism, age restrictions
The video will be quite graphic and dark, with a complicated plot line so I think a age
rating of 16+ would suit the legal terms set by regulating bodies. I will need to ask
cage the elephants record label if it is ok to ask to use the song as it would break
copy write laws, this can easily be done with by email.

Use of possible formats

Circle which of the following formats your animation will take;
stop-frame techniques
time lapse photography
plasticine animation
Claymation
using found objects
modelling
puppetry
combined formats

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Why are you using that particular format? I wont be using any of these formats bar
stop frame techniques and human modeling

What are the different possibilities you could explore using this format? Id like to
explore the idea of movement with people while still being able to engage the
audience as though I were filming the video.

What are the limitations of using this format? (i.e what problems/ obstacles might you
have?) you have to be very realist with your narrative and exact movements. The sets have
to be legitimate locations like streets and parks. Where with filming you can change shots I
am going to have to carry one shot across the whole stop motion period and move ever so
slightly to reach different camera angles.

What imaginative or inventive animations have you seen which use this format?
Add in links and screen shots of three examples of animations using this format.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_q5BpL2EHM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJzU3NjDikY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Ue1AXSzyw

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Subject
What will the subject of your animation be? Music video of matt taking a drug,contemplating
suicide and beating someone up only to come to the realization that he isnt the great man
he once thought he was. The video tackles the subject of him being angry when hes soba
and everyone in society forgives him for his sins because of his addiction but that then drives
him to commit even more crimes because all he wants is attention and pitty.

Storyline
Describe the storyline of your animation. What events will happen to your characters? the
first scene is a man getting high he lies back in the chai rand the camera goes down his
body to find him pressing a pair of scissors against his wrist.

Characters
What characters will be in your animation? A man who appears normal to the untrained eye
but later on in the video you find he out he is mental but everyone around him seens to think
hes normal. The murderer is the only person with a conscience while everyone else who
doesnt kill people is only conscious of themselves and thinks whatever happens is normal.
The killer is a normal teenager, He ends up seeing how far he can push himself and the
people he surrounds himself with to show them he needs help. With each murder he
commits is shot in stop motion but it is always shot to implies death like the shower scene in
psyco.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Complete the character profiles for each character in your animation

Name:
M/F:
Age
Costume:

Matt hills
male
17/18
A black suit jacket,black tshirt,jeans and boots

Occupation:

student

Hobbies:

Music and drinking

Character
Background:

He thought he lived and was brought up in a normal suburban

village until he realized he was the only person who could be driven
to murder and be the only person that knew it was wrong but still
did it. He always pushed people away but there are always family
and friends floating around him,he always feels like hes clearing up
their mess but until the murder he finds they were picking up his
pieces.

Name:
M/F:
Age
Costume:

Hamish
male
16/17
blue jacket,coulorfull and tshirt,blue jeans and vans (the shoes)

Occupation:

student

Hobbies:
Character
Background:

Raised the same as matt except he was part of the plan to keep
him naive and innocent till it back fires.
She was brought to know that there was always someone better
than her and for herself to look after the people better than her.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Add in images and drawings/ sketches of what they will look like.

What will they be made of? They are people so cells and emotions

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Movement of characters

How are you going to make your characters move? I will direct them where to move each
limb

What is the purpose of an armature?

Will you use them for your characters?

no

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

If so, how will you make it?

Mood board
Create a mood board showing what look your animation will have. Add images showing
ideas of mise-en-scene, characters, costumes and colours that will be present in the
different shots.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Sets / backgrounds
Will your set be;

A three wall set

A blue/green screen

An existing location

A Combination of two or more of the above

Draw sketches of how your sets/backgrounds will look. Add in labels to your diagrams and
details of locations / lighting etc.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Add in photographs of your sets/backgrounds.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Audio and Soundtrack

What audio will you have for your animation? The song cold cold cold by cage the elephant
which I will need to get permission to use

Complete the sound list, detailing what sounds you will use, where you will source them,
what equipment you will need to record them and when you will use them in your animation.
You will need to design your own soundtrack. You cannot use copyrighted music, and it must
be more than simply adding a track.

What actions will need sound effects?

Think of the scenes in your animation. Each scene should have different sounds/music to
give information about the mood / emotions of the characters.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Sound Table
Production Name:
Producer:

Shot

Action

Description
of Sound

Diegetic/non/diegetic

Atmosphere
created

Evidence of
the muder
from the
crime scene

Introduction
of the song

non

Dramatic
suspense

Matt running
away and
crying

The first
verse of the
song

non

The narrative
is falling into
place and it
creates a
sense of
curiosity

Matt talking
jean and her
trying to
comfort him
(this scene is
filmed )

First chorus

Non

The narrative
is coming to
an
understanding
for the
audience and
now you start
to see the
emotions and
thoughts of
matt

In a black
room
(representing
his
conscious)

Guitar
solo/bridge
before the
final chorus

non

The audience
starts to get
an
understanding
of how the
video will play
out and gives
them a sense
of

Images of
people hes
killed and

Musice
type and
atmosphere

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

helplessness

clips of how
the media is
effecting his
life and its
making him
paranoid
(this scene is
also filmed )
5

Matt on his
knees crying
standing up
the camera
focuses in on
a gun in his
hand. Pans
away he
raises it up to
his head and
pulls then
from the
same angle
he falls to the
ground (stop
motion)

Last chrous

Shock but
makes the
audience think
sholld they
have ever got
into his mid
set because
he was so
messed up so
makes them
question
themselves.

Props List
What props / models / furniture etc will you need to make your animation?
PROPS LIST
Production Name:
Producer:

Item

Description

Character/location

Splattered over the first

victim and jean but also
matt when he kills himself

First victim ,jean and matt

knife

When he kills the first victim

and then jean

Matt on the street and in t

gun

When matt kills himself

In the house

Fake blood

Script page

On the street and in the h

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Audience
Define the following characteristics of your audience;
Gender
Male and female

Age
Teens and young adults-14-23-class E

Interests
The band, films, fashion

What forms of animation might they already watch?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Aardman, Disney,adverts like the E4 ones

What images do you think they enjoy watching?

Vibrant,exciting ones that inspire them to change aspects of themselves because they
want to grow and become someone, thats what people of that age look for. They want
to become their own person which shows off their influences and that what the crowd
of the bands style of music is like

What might they consider distasteful or offensive?

The gore and the suicide,no one has ever really shown it in music videos. They might
find it distasteful because the target audience is young people and they have the
highest suicide ratings throughout any other ages.

How will you ensure that your animation will suit your chosen audience?
I think it will challenge their judgment and make them more willing to accept whats
going on in peoples heads which can make them a better person. It will also be very
unique with fashion playing a key role but also the film style (black and white) will
attract them because it is completely different than what they often see, it becomes a
cult, making them feel like part of something.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How will they physically watch your animation? (i.e in an exhibition format, on screen,
projection, online?)
Online with their phones/tablets/laptops but I think it would be artistic enough to show off in a
exebition.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Storyboard
Complete a storyboard for your animation.

And
then.?
What happens?
Describe the
action.

Camera?

Time?

What is the
camera angle?

Duration of the
shot / number
of frames
action is held
for.

Is there any
movement from
the camera?

Who?
Which
characters/
objects are in
the scene?

Say What?
Is there any
dialogue/text?

Where?

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Think carefully about the shots you will be using. Consider the
range of shots/angles to give interest and perspective
You will need to convey all movements and actions. Copy and
paste the storyboard to make it as long as you need to show all
the detail of your animation.

Shots
Extreme long shot
Long Shot
Medium Shot

What is the
location for the
shot?

Lighting

Natural
Camera Angles
Ambient

Birds-eye view

Torchlight

Spotlight
High angle
Direction of

Eye-levellight?

Two Shot

Low angle

Movement
Over
the Shoulder

Editing

Pan
Medium
Close up

Montage

Tilt up
Close

Cross cutting

Tracking
Shotup
Extreme
close

Match cut
Shot, reverse shot
Eye-line match
Jump cut
Tracking shot

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

You will need to add pages to this section for your full storyboard

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame Rates
What is the duration of your animation in minutes? the video is 3:34 minutes but the
stop motion scenes will be at 24 frp

In seconds?

How many frames per second for video?24

There are 60 seconds in a minute. How many frames (ie. Individual photos) will you
need to take? For 80s of stop motion footage ill need to take 1920

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Lighting Design

Where will you be photographing your animation? on a street ,house and in a studio

Does it have natural daylight?yes but I also use a studio with a green screen so I will
use studio lights as well

If so, you will need to block this out. Explain why. I will not need to block the natural
lighting out apart from in the studio because for that scene I am going to have to do a
360 shot and there is a window in the studio and it will distract from the dramatic shot

Do you have a constant light source(s) such as a lamp? yes

Where will you place your light source(s) to create interesting effects?
Above in 360 degree set up for that scene

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

(LO3)

Frame numbers
You will need to label your images as frames
The first 24 frames will be written as;
0_1
0_2 etc etc

the following 24 will be

1_1
1_2
1_3
Ensure your clips are labeled as such. Screen shot the folder your clips are in, and copy the
image underneath.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dope sheets
A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps a animator organise the animation shot-byshot.
This gives the camera operator instructions on each shot type and how many frames this will
be used for.
A dope sheet is usually split into 5 different sections.

To indicate what action occurs on which frame number

To see what action is happening in this shot.
To see what dialogue used in this scene.
To show what level of animation is happening.
To give camera instructions (angle).

For example;

Because you will be working with video, you will be using 30fps. You will need to complete a
dope sheet for EVERY SECOND of your animation.
i.e, if you make a 30 second animation, you will need to complete 30 dope sheets.
This will be a time-consuming task, but it will help you understand what will need to
happen in each of the shots you take. The higher marks will come from a detailed and
careful collection of dope sheets. For example, if your characters speaks, you will need to
show the mouth forming every shape in order to look effective.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame
0_1

Path of action
Drugs on charaters
tounge and he lays backover 4 shots

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue
Intro to cage the
elephants cold
cold cold (no
lyrics at this point

Animation
The drug
kicking in

Camera
instructions
Close up

0_2
0_3
0_4

High angle
He has sissors in his
hands and puts them up
against his wrist-2 shots

Intro to cage the

elephants cold
cold cold (no
lyrics at this point

Him slitting his

wrists

Mid shot/high
angle

He drops the scissors

Intro,no lyrics

Him dropping
the scissors

Close up

0_9

Scissors hitting the floor

Intro, no lyrics

Scissors on the
floor

High angle

0_10

Zooming in on his has

Intro, no lyrics

The camera
zooming in on
his eye

Close up

Getting closer into his

eye

Intro,no lyrics

Zooming in
closer into his
eye

Extreme close
up

0_14

These scene changes to

him tripping out,

Intro,no lyrics

Panning
around his face
while an
animation I
projected on to
his face to
symbolize
being high

Mid shot
panning around

0_15

His face is numb,it then

goes to him smiling
strangely

Intro,no lyrics

him tripping
out

Clos up on his
face

0_5

0_6
0_7
0_8

0_11
0_12

0_13

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

0_16
0_17

The camera panning out

of him laughing
hysterically for no reason

Intro,no lyrics

Hes laughing
,jumping about
from emotions
to shot that
hes high

Panning around
his face close up

He stop laughing to a
natural face (no
emotions)

Intro no lyrics

His facing
changing from
hysterics to
nothing

Camera panning
out from a close
up on his face

Him shutting his eye

Intro no lyrics

His eyes shut

tight

Camera panning
round to the
center of his
face c=and the
shot is close up

He brings his down to

symbolize the jump in
emotions

Intro,no lyrics

His head
down,eyes shut
tight

The camera
pans to the right,
still a close up

Bringing his down to his

body even closer

Intro,no lyrics

Shadowed face
as his face get
more
scrunched up

Camera pans
back to the
center of his
face and still a
close up

0_27

He brings his hands up

to cover his face

Intro,no lyrics

Brining his
hands up to
cover his face
(like hes
crying)

Low angle close

up

0_28

Hands over his face

doctor.. (holinh
the word from 3-4
seconds)

Hands over his

face

Low angle close

up

0_30

His hands which were

clenched

doctor

Clenching his
fists

Camera panning
to the left,low
angle close up

Frame

Path of action

Dialogue /
Soundtrack cue

Animation

Camera
instructions

1_1

Dropping his hands

down from his face

look the word is

held

Bringing his
hands down

Low angle mid

shot looking to

0_18
0_19

0_20
0_21

0_22
0_23

0_24
0_25

0_26

0_29

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

the right
1_2
1_3

Blank face ,turning his

head towards the
camera

into my

Turning his
head

Close up of his
face

Wide expressions, wide

eyes open mouth as he
comes closer to the
camera

my eyes

Coming
towards the
camera

Extreme close
up on the center
of his face

He pulls away from the

camera ever so slightly

Break in the
lyrics

Pulling away
from the
camera

Close up on his
face

Pulls back from the

camera even more as his
facial features go back to
normal and the camera
pans round to center his
face

Break in the
lyrics (before the
kick drums
comes in)

Pulling away
from the
camera and his
facial features
are normal

Head shot

The camera looking to

the right side of his face

I been

Not moving,
just staring
blankly

Head shot

The camera zooms in on

his face he still doesnt
move

been breathing

Not moving

Close up

The 2nd last second (last

4th and 3rd shots of this
scene) the camera
panning into his eye
where the scene
switches

but theres

Looking away
from the
camera not
doing anything

Extreme close
up on his eye

The last second where

the scene switches,his
eye look at the camera

no sign

His eyes
looking at the
camera

Extreme close
up on his eyes

Black out to change

scene

of

1_4
1_5

1_6
1_7

1_8
1_9

1_10
1_11

1_12
1_13

1_14
1_15

1_16
1_17

1_18
1_19

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

1_20
1_21
1_22

A man being strangled

while infront of the
projection

life

Man being
strangled

Over the
shoulder

1_24

The man being strangled

is about to punch the
other man

Break in the
lyrics

punching

2 shot/mid shot

1_25

punching the other man

in the face and his head
coming towards the
camera with the fist

Break in the
lyrics

Punching an
the man falling
into the camera

Extreme close
up

1_26

Then the man who

punched first and was
strangled gets punched
by the man you is high

doctor

The fist
heading
towards his
face

Head shot

1_27

The first hits his face

doctor

The fist making

contact with his
face

Head shot

1_28

His face being hit and

him reacting by moving
to the side

doctor

His face
moving as the
fist hits him

Close up

1_29

He brings his face back

up to the camera

the prob

He is bring his
had back up

Close up

1_23

1_30

Dialogue /
Soundtrack
cue

Frame

Path of action

2_1

He is staring Blankley
but the camera moving
so it can see his right
eye

lems in my
chest

2_2

Black out

Break in the
lyrics

Shot coming out of the

drugged mans eye

The camera pans

out as he lays there,this
is to show that what
happened while he was

Animation

Camera
instructions

Him not moving

Exteme close up
going into his
eye

break in the
lyrics

Looking away
from the camera

Extreme close
up

heart

Camera panning
around his
body,hes not

2_3
2_4
2_5
2_6

Body shot

on drugs wasnt himself

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

moving

2_7
2_8

He is still out of it,looking

up into nothing.the
camera pans over his
face

Is cold

He is lying there

Head shot

He is still out of it,looking

up into nothing.the
camera pans over his
face

As ice

He is lying there

Head shot

Camera pans into his left

eye

As ice

He is lying there

Close up

2_9
2_10

2_11
2_12
2_13
2_14
2_15
2_16
2_17
2_18
2_19
2_20
2_21
2_22
2_23
2_24
2_25
2_26
2_27
2_28
2_29
2_30
Copy and paste as many dope sheets as you need. Remember to change the frame
numbering so that the first number refers to the second of animation ie, 1_24 is the 24th
frame of the first second, 3_17 is the 17th frame of the 3rd second.

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Liaising with client (write notes on discussions between you and your client)

Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet