04/15/09

Schoolism Assignment 6 : Chase Scene

RUN RUNRUNRUN! Run little girl run run run! Run little pup run!


(best viewed in fullscreen)

I’ve been taking Kris Pearn’s Schoolism class for a couple of months now, and it’s been amazing. Kris talks about the camera “capturing the action”, which is a concept entirely different than the normal philosophy in animation of “placing the camera.”

Basically, the camera should act as a real physical person, focusing on what they’re interested. Except that in the case of film, the Director/DP decides what they/the audience are interested in, and focuses on that. It’s the nature of the cinematic experience.

This week’s assignment was to storyboard a “Chase Scene”. Action is something I’ve never really done before, so this was a real challenge to establish space, character and drama in the context of a chase scene. I watched the “Missile Lock” sequence from The Incredibles a number of times, as well as chase scenes from Mouse Hunt, Bullitt, and some Stallone movie I wish I could wipe from my brain (but took place in the NYC Subway – like my assignment.).

I think I was somewhat successful. There’s a couple little things like the flower blooming and the significance of the hair that go unexplained. That’s intentional; they’re there as seed-planting. There’s probobably some fluff in there that could be cut. Overall I’m generally happy with it.

Strong feedback encouraged. Be brutal. Be an ass. I love it.