Bricks in Motion
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While working on a shot for the opening sequence of the NNN Pilot Episode last night I ended up taking a series of pics that show the process I go through in during a rough idea into a shot. 
And here's the animation. Is this pretty similar to everybody else's process? Rough composition followed by adding foreground and background elements, refining the lighting and then some tweaking?
Last edited by fallentomato (June 2, 2009 (06:59am))
That looks like an interesting movie
Yeah I tend to do that, I create the main focus first, then build around it.
I usually build the set first, then get the camera in place and work out the characters around that. Not really 'building only what the camera sees' I suppose, but it gives me the freedom to move around as I choose. I usually only have 1-2 sets built at one time so I reuse many of the same pieces in multiple sets.
I generally have a shot sequence in mind and build the set for it, then revise the shots according to what the set permits. I spend a lot of time with lighting, even though I think I've gotten to the point where I have a good idea of what will work in that regard.
I usually do it like Night Owl, but there is sometimes the problem to get a good shot, because the set is sometimes to smal and too many stuff inside.
I think fallentomatos way to origin a shot is very interesting, because set composing will be matched to the camera, not vice versa, like the most of us do. But what if you build it perfect for one shot and than you want to change the cameraposition .. does the next shots look good too while the set is verified for the first one? Or do you change your set during filming?
But what if you build it perfect for one shot and than you want to change the cameraposition .. does the next shots look good too while the set is verified for the first one? Or do you change your set during filming?
Well the nice thing about building your set out of legos is that it's very easy to make adjustments in between shots 
Usually it's not a big adjustment, I may have to change the distance between the fore ground and the background, adjust the angel of the lighting or shift the position of the characters slightly depending on the shot I'm going for. It's rare that I'm pulling apart walls or anything like that. Now I try to make my sets with mulitple angles in mind.
I usually build way more than the camera sees, not sure why, probably because I get caught up in the fun of building and just keep going. But anyway, to answer your question, I've always done the same as Sméagol. 
I usually build way more than the camera sees, not sure why, probably because I get caught up in the fun of building and just keep going. But anyway, to answer your question, I've always done the same as Sméagol.
i usually do the same. i have a thing about evenness and neatness that it is hard for me to have the set look rugged even if the camera won't show that part of it, which wastes lots of LEGO bricks. so i usually build my scenes and then adjust the camera to how i want it.
but i think fallentomato has a very interesting technique going there
-flip
Nice little sequence, and very cool shot.
I definitely do something similar, though depending on the shot I sometimes build more around the background than the foreground, or vice versa. And I'm very big on making set adjustments (usually minor, but sometimes more drastic if I think I can get away with it) between shots to make everything just how I want it. I feel like something of the freedom of brickfilming is lost if you just build a set and let it dictate your shot choices.
I find this very intriuging, as I have always built a set fully, before I even reach for the camera. I then place the camera, and make a few minor adjustments to the set and camera angle, light the set (for some reason this bit takes by far the longest), and film!
I may try out your method, as it seems as though it gives more freedom to the animator, and is far more practical, aswell as being logical.
Thank you for this interesting comment.
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