With deadlines drawing in and the end of year looming, I thought it would be interesting to look at a way of generating new and exiting work, either to give you a break from your main projects, or to top up your portfolio ready for assessment.
The One Day / One Minute brief was something I set myself during a particularly long and busy production a few years ago. I was becoming restless and frustrated with my work and needed to take a break, so I decided to give myself a brief to complete in just one day.
Step 1 : Find an object...
Look around you now. What could you bring to life? Maybe a piece of paper / a child's toy / an item of clothing / a blinking cursor on a blank screen; anything that you could animate in a style you are confident in.
Step 2 : Get stuck in...
Get your head down, churn out some frames and head towards your 1 minute goal... Sound doesn't have to be a big part of it, but if you're itching to practice your foley skills or work with a piece of music, then factor that into your day.
Explore your medium.
You could take your object on a journey, give it character or just examine it's inner workings and subtle movements.
Most of all, enjoy yourself! Revel in the magic of breathing life into inanimate objects. Remind yourself why you decided to animate in the first place.
Here are 3 examples of of films I've made using these principles :
THE BIG DRAW : Beyond the Line
Object : A Post Office Form
SCREEN PRINTING MACHINERY LTD
Object : A Screen Printing Drying Rack
USELESS BEAUTY
Object : A Confusing Email
