2D Animated Short Film
Role: Director and Co-Producer (May 2021 - June 2022)
Before even creating the pitch, I attended SCAD senior capstone film director and producer panels to hear about their experiences and learn from them. I also worked on two short film productions as an underclassman to gain firsthand experience of how a production can be run. By the time the film was greenlit, I felt prepared to direct and co-produce it.
Google Account
First, I created a Google account for the film to keep all film-related materials, activity, and communication completed and stored in one location.
For example, all crew applications are sent to the film's Google email for both me and the co-producer to review.
Posters by Morgan Eng
File Structure & Storage
Google Drive
I mainly used Google Suite for management purposes such as creating guides and spreadsheets to document and share information. Click through the gallery to see how the Google Drive was organized.
Dropbox
The film's main file storage platform was Dropbox.
I organized the file structure based on the 2D animation pipeline. And included class folders (ANIM 408, ANIM 448, ANIM 488) for each phase of the production. Click through the gallery to see how the Dropbox was organized.
Discord Server
Discord was the film's main communication platform. It allowed artists to post work in progress and keep communication compartmentalized. I organized the film's Discord server based on the 2D animation pipeline. Communication trickled down the server as each stage of production was completed.
Click on the images to expand.
Click on the image to expand.
Production Sheet
Since we were unable to use Shotgrid, I created a Production Sheet using Google Sheets that included the essential information to document production progress and changes.
Our faculty supervisor required us to share production progress through a production chart. A preexisting template (on the left) was shared, which I adapted to fit the production while keeping the required components. The adapted Production Chart can be viewed in the Production Sheet below.
Click on the linked tabs to explore the spreadsheet.
Google Calendar
For the convenience of the crew members and mass communication, I scheduled and updated details of meetings and deadlines listed in the production schedule on the film's Google Calendar.
Click on the image to expand.
Production Guide
To communicate a baseline of expectations for the production, I created a guide for new artists to review upon joining the crew. This guide includes an overview of the film's story and style, rules and responsibilities, advice, where and how to submit work, and how to navigate the Production Sheet.
Additional Spreadsheets & Guides
Reel Notes
For each edit of the film, I shared director notes with my crew through this spreadsheet. Each page is named with the reel's date and has a link to the reel at the top.
Animation Guide
A character model sheet is an essential resource for animators to reference in order to achieve consistency. This character model sheet also includes a style guide, tips, and tutorials for tools in Toon Boom Harmony that not all artists are aware of.
Challenges
There were a lot of challenges that came with managing this production:
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Global Team - A few of the crew members were located out of the country while the rest of the crew was on campus. There was a learning curve with communication that came with this challenge.
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Rigid Production Schedule - Had to find ways to adapt a pre-set production schedule to include realistic milestones that put the well-being of the crew and the quality of the film first.
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Multi-role Artist - With a main crew of ten, I had to fill several roles and take on tasks that I wasn't initially experienced in. The crew and I had to find the courage to leave our comfort zones and learn new skills or programs needed for production.
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Shotgrid - At the start of production, Shotgun rebranded to Shotgrid and we didn't have the resources to use Shotgrid. Practiced being resourceful and pivoting when plans go askew.
In the end, "Through the Looking Glasses" was successfully completed and is currently competing in the festival circuit. Learn more about "Through the Looking Glasses" here.