STEAM GROUP
Open Source Filmmaker osfm
Join Group
STEAM GROUP
Open Source Filmmaker osfm
11,221
MEMBERS
332
IN-GAME
2,389
ONLINE
Founded
15 August, 2012
Overview Announcements Discussions Events Members Comments
MoveAlongJon 16 Feb, 2016 @ 8:15am
[HELP] Ideas and Storyboarding before Animation
Hi there OSFM! So I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Let me explain.

I'm not currently able to piddle around with SFM extensively right now because of college. However, I do know for a fact that I will have time in a few months, so I've had alot of ideas bouncing around in my head. Sometimes, I actually write them down, but I can't ever flesh them out like I want and the times when I have completed an SFM were simple animation tests. I always get so pumped and excited and then after animating for a few hours I lose steam (no pun intended) and never really pick up the project again. It's not because I'm disinterested: actually the opposite. I just get frustrated that I get an awesome idea and I lack the ability to put that into movie form.

So for the record, I have experience with storyboarding and writing scripts, just not for big projects like I have in mind. I was wondering if anyone in the OSFM community could give me some pointers regarding scripts and/or storyboards. I literally mean anything that you do that helps you have a clear goal for the final product before you hit Ctrl+L and load up your map. I'm probably the one black sheep in the whole herd who doesn't have issues with the animation part as much as he has issues with the planning and execution part. Thank you!
< >
Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Anomi 16 Feb, 2016 @ 12:06pm 
I personally don't do anything. I do all my storyboarding and planning in SFM itself. It's simple; just load up a new session, load up a map, and start placing models and cameras around, with a vague idea of what I'm going for. I find, that storyboarding and planning in SFM itself is a very useful, because instead of having an unrealistic idea of what I'm doing, I have all the models and map stuff on camera. I'll just place things around, maybe lightly animate, etc.
#1
MoveAlongJon 16 Feb, 2016 @ 2:26pm 
Ah, so like "blocking" before actually doing the animation? I think my potato of a laptop could at least do that. Thanks for the input!
#2
XRuinX 4 Mar, 2016 @ 10:37am 
Same, I think it's way more efficient to do your storyboarding within SFM if you're not sure what you want to do. Blocking is exactly what you want to do. You dont even need to put your models in poses, just throw the static pose there and focus on camera/shot changes and times. Guestimate how long each shot should take, and maybe add some animation to the location (root translate) of the model, so you can get a feel of how long it should take for them to move from A to B.
It'll look like crap, but then you keep fleshing it out. Also, keep it super short. Like, you said you've done test animations, but maybe try making a quick, 10 second scene for practice before you move on to any projects with heavy animations or ambitious goals.
#3
MoveAlongJon 4 Mar, 2016 @ 11:50am 
Guess I'll try to make the most Michael Bay-esque 10 seconds ever... xD

Really appreciate the support, thanks!
#4
Szoty 5 Mar, 2016 @ 4:08pm 
Yes, since I assume you pair your ideas with pictures in your mind, try to recreate the pictures first. Then, if it's possible and it looks good for you, you can go deeper and finish your project
#5
< >
Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > General Discussion > Topic Details
Date Posted: 16 Feb, 2016 @ 8:15am
Posts: 5
Start a New Discussion

Discussions Rules and Guidelines