Capstone Reflection

I always learn new things when I got to capstones. Sometimes I get a chance to network with other artists, see what they are doing, learn about new software or media, writing a story arch and showing it in different ways, etc...

I get to see what interested them enough to make them revolve their school life around it, and I get to see what is really hot in the industry and at school. I also get to see what I might one day be up against in the job market, and gauge my own expectations and skills to theirs.

That sounds a bit sly and sneaky, but I can't help having a competitive nature about me. And for many more, I want to follow their progress and give encouragement, since I could soon be in their shoes, struggling to get a foot hold. The winter capstones are always kind of subdued compared to the spring capstones, but I am still always able to learn much.

Capstone interview questions

At capstones this year I interviewed 3 people:  Nate Moody, Xian Guan, and Samantha Tarkington. It was a mix bag of people, some of which I knew fairly well and others strangers. Moody did a digital, animated comic, Xian modeled and textured 3D characters, and Samantha had a short comic. Here's what they had to say:

•    Question 1:Why did you choose this for your capstone project?

• Nate wanted to develop his story comp skills. He feels he was a success at this in his project. He had also been working on the over arching story for 3 years and his capstone was only one small part of it. 

• Xian wants to do character art and texturing for the industry and wanted to practice and show off her skills in it. 

• Samantha originally wanted to do animation, but wasn't confident enough in it, so decided to do a sequential narrative that would be close to it. 

• Question 2: What are some of the changes that you had to make between your original idea and what you are presenting today?

•  Nate didn't change but, but had to cut back on the story a bit. Also  decided to do black and white in favor of color to get things done faster.

• Xian wanted to do 3 characters but only got to 2. She also had a cool concept behind the characters from a different series, but decided to turn them into original characters so the audience wouldn't misunderstand who they might be. 

• Sam, as I said, wanted to do animation, then cut it back to a 21 page comic, and then again had to shorten it for 14 pages.

• Question 3:  What is your opinion of the timeline for your capstone? Was it helpful or a waste of time? Why?

• Nate used his timeline to figure out key points, but didn't really stick to it. He said, and I quote "myeh..."

• Xian knew she wouldn't get to all of her timeline, so she purposely made it to about 120% her standard, so she could ensure even with a 20% loss she'd still be in at her original goal.

• Sam quite loadly proclaimed she threw the whole timeline out the window! She used one for the semester before, but the semester of her capstone was too chaotic and it was changing her timeline.

• Question 4: If you could change anything about your capstone, what would that be?

• Nate wanted more physical material and a larger budget.
• Xian wanted to change the hair on one of her models, and to change the set up of her scene.
• Sam wanted to fix a few of her panels, with drawing issues.

• Question 5.     What advice would you give me in planning for my capstone?

• Nate says do something you're good and familiar with to really showcase your talents. Don't stretch the project too far and stay realistic to your deadline.

• Xian said watch out for scope creep!

• And Samantha said don't chose a story that is too dear to you, or you've been working on for a long time since there will be a good chance you wil have to change it at some point or cut it down. Newer stories don't have strings or expectations attached to them. 

Assignment 5: Midterm and Timeline details

So I have finally finished up my timeline... I made a schedule for both the remainder of this semester and next semester, when I will be presenting my capstone.

I found that the remaining of this semester's timeline was much easier to write then the next semester one... perhaps it's because I have a solid grasp on what's already happening this semester and it's underway, while next semester is still uncertain and I had to work more to plan it out. I did also feel like I might be rushing at the end, mainly when I realized how much I still have to do. It's making me uncomfortable... but I'm glad I caught it now so I can prepare and adjust for it in the future, and change it in my schedule.

I found it easiest to break up my "parts" by ...well... parts. It seems to be the most natural way, so why not. Right now, in a separate independent study I'm doing environmental art for my exploration scenes and background art. I have other sections for sound, animation, programming, testing, printing, etc... and I would also sometimes pair things together, like sound and the animatic, since I've found I can work better on something when I have a "getaway" from it, so I can work on 2 different things and not feel stifled by one.

I also have a large buffer zone at the end of about a month to compensate for any extra testing or work I might need to do. I also leave a long amount of time for alpha and beta testing to make sure everything works.

I have my work cut out for me, but as long as I stay on top of it, and because I have the extra buffer zones, I feel like I can finish everything on time.

Assignment 4: Peer Capstone Support Group

It's time for some bullet points...


The areas my capstone fit into (kind of in order):

• Game or Interactive
• Comic (Digital)
• 2D
•  and maaaaaybe Animation... 

Technologies I will use to make it:

• Photoshop
• (use it all the time. Used for art and layout)
• Flash
• (used it a few times... not much now. Used for programming and/or animation)
• Maybe After Effects
• (I don't know much about it, but it looks like it can do things I might be interested in. Used for animation.)

• Scanner
• Computer
• Website
• Traditional media (what... it counts as technology)

I will contact these people myself of course, but I am particularly interested in Josh's, Steph's, Alex's, and John's projects. It seems most of the games I've heard about are UDK levels, which is great, but not what I'm looking for. Comics and other 2D games and work appeal to me the most.

Assignment 3: Look at the Big Picture Outside Yourself

I talked to John Jones, and after a bit of questions, I feel like I was able to get a good picture of his project. He and his team seemed to have worked on it for awhile so the story seemed developed... in it's own way. For the purpose he was talking about, it seemed like it didn't need too much story, though when he talked about the main character's gun being possessed by his dead partner, there will need to be some good story leading up to that. Does the game drop us in to it, with the partner already dead and shotgunified to be able to run and gun as the main character? Do we see the partner get killed? Is the main character there too and swears a bloodoath vengeance? The fact that they are dogs doesn't really bug me, and I love bad puns so the Title was cute. Story development aside, they seemed to have media, programing, etc figured out... For something like a 16 bit style, I might suggest something other then Flash, since it's so smooth. Or at least a different method. I don't know much about that stuff so can't say more.


We also talked about related resources, like comics and game programs...


One thing about mine I noticed was I need to more clearly define what Welcome to Odd Town is. He focused on the point and click part, when also the comic noir and format is just as big a part of it. It's a point and click adventure/mystery game told in the style of a comic! That also incorporates VO, soundtrack, and small animation. That's what i mean to say... I almost consider is half comic, half game. Not an animated comic. But a game... that is a comic. This is important to figure out and emphasize since I do plan on continuing this after graduation as a series. The project I am working on is only Issue 1.

Assignment 2: Capstone Ideas

At this point, I have a pretty clear idea of what my capstone will contain. I have characters developed, story arch fleshed out, some environment designed, and working on the script and storyboards. Those should be finished soon, so after that I will use them to make a rough panel arrangement and a test run on the interactive clicking that will go on in the game.

The things that I still am unsure about, or that need some heavy work, are:

1) Some of the script ( I have a good idea of what I want to happen in the story and how I want it to end, but the smaller details and dialog that are killing me and getting from point A to point B)

2) Programming (I am definitely not a programmer)

3) Storyboards (They are numerous... every 1 page of script creates about 2-4 pages of storyboards, but fast and easy to make.)

4) Sounds, music soundtrack, voiceovers, etc (I know how to use Audition, but that's about it, and I have no connection yet with a band and voice actors. I can probably write the music, but I haven't done so yet...)

5) Alpha and Beta testing ( I find this to be an important step since I helped a few people on capstones before, and saw how bugs and glitches can undermine months or years of hard work. I don’t want this to happen to me)

6) Art things (I have character concept art done and storyboards, but I will need to complete the finished panels for the comic after I make sure the interface works. I will need to further develop environment and the cityscape. I will also need some small animations)

Sorry if this is getting wordy, but I feel it is important in understanding my place right now in the project and how to develop these 3 ideas.

One idea that immediately jumped to my mind is using 3D UDK or Maya to design my city. I sort of did this before in Mat’s UDK class, but I will need something more detailed this time and some interior shots of buildings. My plan is to make a fast easy model in Maya, maybe with simple lighting. Then arrange my camera to line up with my storyboard shot. Then use that render as a reference for my drawing or draw directly on top of it. This way, I can easy get the shots I need, but still have the tactile pleasure of drawing it, and my city shots will remain consistent.

The 3 other ideas I had were to bring in people to help particularly with the animation, music, and programming… that’s all I have right now. I am researching programs like After Effects and Flash to be a module for interface, but research is slow. I can have more direction with the animation and music, since I have a background in both.

Assignment 1: What is a Capstone?

For those who don't go to my school, the capstone is the final project students complete in order to graduate from school. The project content and media can be of their choosing, to hopefully showcase the skills and talents they have. I also view it as this, but much more.

For me the capstone is a way of grabbing employers attention and really showing off yourself. And I see it as a very important personal experience to discover yourself and be able to work on something of your own creation, since, likely, from the time you graduate onward, you will be working on other people's projects or working in stressful conditions where if you don't succeed it will mean getting a pay cut or fired.

I want to challenge myself and put forth my best work. I have so much hope for this project, that I hope to be able to turn it into a long term series after graduation and continue the stories I have made. Doing this now as part of school is giving me the time to test out some things and learn how to set myself up in the future to continue this. It's helping me to learn planning techniques, new technologies, and improve my art and narrative skills.

Another thing I find the capstones useful for on a social scale is to see what others are doing, and what new technologies and methods are being showcased. I guiltily admit I am fairly competitive when it comes to my art, so I enjoy going to capstones to help support my fellow artists, but also to see who might be serious competition, what projects I can learn from in methodology and what I can improve on in my own art to stay "ahead of the game".

One thing I have a hard time with is social networking and promoting my product. The capstone and it's preparation is helping me to improve upon that, get the word out, and start getting an audience that can help make possible my dream of continuing this story and making a profit and living off of it.       

Introductions

This is my blog for my capstone/ multimedia project development class NEWM N420. I will use this blog to complete my assignments and inform the public of the progress of my capstone project, Welcome to Odd Town.


I will likewise be creating a personalized website and facebook account for the series in the near future. You are welcome to view more of my work at my deviantART account and on my professional portfolio.


Thanks for stopping by!
~Bekah C.


dA:  http://exiledchaos.deviantart.com/

Portfolio: http://bekcrowmer.daportfolio.com/

Email: Bek.Crow@gmail.com