StoryTime: Shooting my first Stop-Motion Animation in over a year...

Okay, reader.

I posted four separate posts over the past weekend. That's more content in one weekend going onto the blog than there has been posted in the blog's history...

However, while it might have been a bit overboard to post that much content over the course of one weekend, I still felt it necessary to get a post out over this weekend.

Today, I felt the need to discuss something I did that pertains to the small screen work I hope to further promote on this blog - YouTube level content has flown mostly under the radar, specifically stop motion animations.

I have written dedicated articles about television shows, and regarding film, I have shared my early screening review of DC's SHAZAM! However, fan made works in the stop motion animation variety have been merely mentioned in some of my older posts (all of which can be read by clicking the links below).

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SHAZAM! Non-Spoiler Review

https://screensceneofageek.blogspot.com/2019/03/
shazam-non-spoiler-review.html

So Here's A Zany And Marvelous announcement...

https://screensceneofageek.blogspot.com/2019/03/

so-heres-zany-and-marvelous-announcement.html

THROWBACK; Did Disney Jump the Gunn?

https://screensceneofageek.blogspot.com/2019/03/
throwback-did-disney-jump-gunn.html

AN AUCTION REACTION:

https://screensceneofageek.blogspot.com/2019/03/
an-auction-reaction.html

FEATURING THE FANDOM W/O FEAR:

https://screensceneofageek.blogspot.com/2019/03/
featuring-fandom-without-fear.html

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This post will be a personal reflection on my experience returning to stop motion animation after over a year of not having filmed a thing - while also discussing my life as an animator prior to now. 

If you do not care to read it, feel free to take a look at anything else I have on the blog, or spend your time elsewhere.

Here, I'll give you some time to make the choice to escape now:

Okay, time's up. Seems like you're sticking around - so buckle in for a bumpy ride.

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Recently, I was tasked with creating a process video as part of my college Intro to Video Production and Editing course - utilizing continuity video editing techniques, we had to rely on visuals alone to showcase an action of any type from start to finish.

Rather than do a video on an ordinary routine or process, I decided to return to my roots and bring things to a much smaller scale - I wanted to give a behind the scenes look at shooting a stop motion short film from start to finish.

For those of you who do not know of my past as a YouTube content creator, I directly address it in detail as the first question of beloved Guten Morden's Q&A (which you can read by clicking the link below)

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Q&A FROM GUTEN MORDEN:

https://screensceneofageek.blogspot.com/2019/03/
someone-actually-read-my-blog-and-they.html

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To summarize it into one sentence; I went on a long term hiatus from YouTube in 2017 after making content somewhat consistently since 2014, due to my mobile tech limitations bringing down the quality of my content, to the decreased interest in my content and channel from subscribers and viewers, and how both of these factors affected my mental health and self-esteem.

What I have not explained in depth, is all that I have done in the time since then.

Although I let my channel temporarily go dormant, I continued to provide voice work, script supervising, and other services for creators who wanted my help in the public eye.

Behind closed doors, I wrote up outlines for different projects I wanted to create, and did occasional animation tests visualizing certain concepts I came up with - despite being limited to the same crappy tech I was using for my older projects, as I was simultaneously saving up for a laptop computer that could utilize more complex video editing software.

As the months went by, my work ethic regarding creating YouTube content shifted - from projects of my own to projects in collaboration with other YouTubers. I felt as though making a comeback to my channel was decreasing in likelihood the longer I remained out of the game - but I still had not secured enough means to make a proper return to it.

The last stop motion project I did, was a short choreographed animated fight scene between two older movie Transformers figures I had purchased from Ebay - just to see what I could come up with. The result for this project was watchable, but to the barest minimum degree. The chroma-keying and frame rates were glitching out during the shoot as my iPod was having a techno breakdown under the slightest pressure of it all - so the final result was choppy and hazy.

This was it. I lost my enjoyment in filming my own stop motions in this moment.

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Until Next Time (YouTube Video)

https://youtu.be/-EuELDSYCH8

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Fortunately for me, my desire to return to the craft came as a result of my
aforementioned frequent collaborations with other YouTubers.

They helped me rediscover my love for writing my own stories, choreographing fight sequences, and even find enjoyment in the process of filming that simultaneously kills my back and knees, and the editing that gives me headaches and stress.

All I really needed now was new, refreshing material to animate, rather than return to the void of my old scripts and abandoned dreams - which came in the form of Daredevil's unfortunate cancellation on Netflix. I had ideas for how I would carry on the narrative if I were in the showrunner's seat, so why not bring them to the small screen scale utilizing the stop motion technique?

I began assembling the action figure cast and compiling the story beats in a bullet point list on a Google Doc, trying to bring as much of the vision together as possible before potentially bringing in other talents to collaborate with in making it happen - but in order to prove to others and myself that I could pull this off, I felt compelled to do a test shoot/pre-visualization sequence; something in the vein of the leaked footage for Deadpool's first film (which can be watched below).


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DEADPOOL MOVIE TEST FOOTAGE:

https://youtu.be/2KCAYgNvrxo

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I decided that I wanted to pay homage to the first fight sequence of the Daredevil Netflix series as a baseline for my test shoot, bringing back the beloved Turk Barrett who was oddly absent from the 3rd season of the show, and introduce him to the next big bad of the franchise introduced in that 3rd season; Dex as the imposter Daredevil.

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DD S1 Opening Fight Scene:

https://youtu.be/vHpSg3OnoQo

MEET AGENT POINDEXTER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY4egasPFm4

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All I had to do was find the time to 
-write a basic script
-choreograph the fight
-set up for and actually film 
& 
-edit it all into a cohesive video product

Which brings us full circle to my video edit class and the process film project.

While I was mostly focused on having the rental camera worth more than me shoot all of the essential elements of me bringing the animation together, I did make a considerable effort in writing out the script, putting together the sets, and even going as far as downloading full computer editing software (which I had never used to edit a full stop motion, and never used on my brand new laptop).

I even decided to throw all of the risk into making this happen, by shooting it all on my Canon Vixia HFR700 Camcorder rather than stick within my comfort zone and use my phone or iPod for filming.

Putting the sets together was the only element that felt remotely similar to how I used to do things in my YouTubin' days.

By the time filming itself for the primary sequence began, it was already dark outside, as I began shooting at 7PM on March 16th. The filming literally happened overnight, as I wrapped up that sequence at 4:00 AM on March 17th.

With an interlude of sleep in between, I picked up the shooting for the secondary sequence at 10AM that same day, to conclude it and the whole animation process by 1PM.

Editing was split into several stages
-the process
-the product of the process

I used Adobe Premiere on my school's computers to edit any live action/bts of the process together, which would make up anywhere from a third to a half of the full video's runtime.

For the animation elements, I decided to give my HitFilm Express 12 a test run.

I had already edited a few things using the HitFilm interface; some music, a live action short music video, and a continuity editing sketch, so I felt familiar enough with it to be comfortable in bringing it to the next level. After all, if it can handle the frame by frame rendering of animation alone with sound effects, voices, and other media in the timeline, it could do almost anything in my eyes.

For the sake of time, I broke down the animation into four separate edits;
-the pool table scene
-the opening sequence
-the fight sequence
-the closing sequence

Each of which I completed on a different day (although the fight and closing occurred in the same waking period, the fight was finished in the PM and the closing was finished with the AM).

I should probably mention here that I enlisted the help of three awesome voice actor friends of mine to lend their talents to this project on literally last minute notice, throwing their work into the editing the moment it entered my inbox. I could not have done this without SkyFlake VA, Elsa 1232, and WarTV14. Thank you.

Exporting the entire test shot, and then re-exporting it with the already finished processed sequence, took until 5AM the day it was due in class.
I uploaded it to YouTube and sent the link to my professor before the morning turned afternoon, hours before the class itself.

My work was met with silence when it was presented before my class, as it appeared as though all of their jaws had dropped because of it.

I am not only proud of this being the reaction to it, but I am especially proud of myself for having done this in the first place.

This video was a test of a bunch of things; a test of my new tech (my laptop, editing software, and camera at the stop motion craft), a test shot/concept short film showcasing the potential for a bigger DD project I'm slowly working down the pipeline, and a test of my rusty skills after not having animated in over a year and a half. Needless to say, I'm proud of the results all things considered.

I am very eager to take on a new stop motion project in the not so distant future. Stay tuned for more news on that coming soon...

Till then, to view the Process Film in its entirety, click the link down below!

***UPDATE: The Full Video (with music & credits) has been uploaded to my Stealthabotte YouTube channel and will premiere this Wednesday (the eve of Daredevil's 5th anniversary). That link is also below, so feel free to check that one out too!

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Michael Stellabotte Process Film COMPLETE FINAL Process Sequence & DD Dex Returns SM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo0QZP_6rU4&t=8s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MYCi8h2Qao

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Any questions or suggestions for me?
Feel free to get in touch with me by emailing
screensceneofageek@gmail.com

I might expand into more social media
if I continue running this blog
after the college course is done,
but for now, you can direct message me
on Instagram - @stealthabotte

__________________________________________________________________________

Check my channel out by clicking or copy-pasting
this link into your web browser:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Stealthabotte

New upload links:

https://youtu.be/PICLwgQiEHQ

https://youtu.be/Wd6_cRvwjr8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MYCi8h2Qao

SHAZAM! NON - SPOILER REVIEW

Okay, Reader.

So I was supposed to technically have this up before the end of the night on Sunday, but I was having some trouble with time between this and other work I had to do...

Does publishing it before I go to sleep technically count as posting it the same day? Probably not, but I'm going to do it anyway.

Below you will find my non-spoiler review for the upcoming DC Superhero Film, SHAZAM!

I may or may not publish a spoiler review after the film has been out for a few weeks, based on the feedback/response I get to this review.

Enjoy!

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SHAZAM! NON-SPOILER REVIEW

Written by M. Botte
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Ever have a moment where you felt like fate was calling;
when events fall into place and an opportunity unlike any other presents itself?

While I am, unfortunately, not describing myself stumbling upon
a wizard in a cave who gave me the powers of the gods in the form of a superhero,
I am describing how I am among the lucky few who had the chance to see the upcoming DC superhero film,
SHAZAM!

Although I am mostly a Marvel fan, I felt drawn to this film ever since it was announced that Zachary Levi
would be headlining the film in the titular role - which was more than enough to convince me to
see it in the theaters.
However, the more I learned about the character, the more excited I was to see him come to the big screen.
I identify with being an adult whose weakness is being a kid on the inside from the Philly area.

Based on the character’s 2011 reboot comics, the film chronicles the story of Billy Batson (played by Asher Angel), a runaway kid searching for his mother and rejecting any foster family that gives him a chance. After fighting bullies who are hurting his geeky and crippled foster brother, Freddy (played by Jack Dylan Grazer), Billy is chased into a subway train, only to be transported into the presence of a godlike wizard who chooses Billy as the champion of the Council of Eternity’s dying lineage. Bestowed upon Billy is the ability to transform into a superpowered adult (played by Zachary Levi) by saying, “Shazam!” - and with Freddy’s help, he harnesses his powers to achieve celebrity status on YouTube and become Philadelphia’s mascot hero. However, when supervillain Dr. Sivana (played by Mark Strong)  threatens Billy’s life as a hero and as a kid, it’s up to Billy to stop running from his fears.
Will he become a hero for himself and for his newfound family before it’s too late?

From all of the marketing for this film, I had many expectations. Due to the unfortunate fallout of the DC cinematic universe as a result of 2017’s Justice League, Shazam! had to be good for the sake of the whole film franchise’s future. The team making the movie aimed for it to be more humorous and upbeat than any other film that came before it in this continuity, but I hoped it would balance the comedy and fun with heartfelt character moments and genuine emotional stakes, showcased in solid performances from what appeared to be a promising cast. It also needed to have some decent cinematography, editing, and action sequences, despite being shot on a ridiculously small budget (by superhero movie standards) of $67 million.

Going into the theater, I remained optimistic but critical of the film, as I did not want to be biased by my love for the film’s lead star, the setting, or the fact that it was my first ever early screening.

However, I can say without bias that SHAZAM! was an absolute blast - enough so that I wholeheartedly consider it the best movie in the DCEU. Despite some incredibly minor flaws, SHAZAM! more than just met my expectations; it exceeded them in unexpected ways. Overall, the film felt like a perfect mix between the modern superhero film and films of the past in the genre. Like the 2018 Sony Marvel film, Venom, it is a love letter to the classics, but does not ride solely on nostalgia to get by. It is full of fun, heart, and surprises, crossing into the horror, thriller, drama, action, and comedy genres throughout it's 2 hour 12 minute runtime. It pays homage to the DCEU and DC brand overall in many ways - such as directly adapting elements from the comics to the big screen - but, most importantly, it feels like the film that DC both desperately needed and deserved.

Zachary Levi was born to play this superhero role, as he not only delivers a (Za)charismatic performance full of Lev(i)ty to the film, but he also reels in the feels in a few heartstring-tugging moments sprinkled throughout his screen time. He not only compliments, but fully embodies Asher Angel’s acting chops into his own mannerisms, and subverts the stereotypical superhero type in the best ways, both in physical appearance by lacking a 6 pack, and in his character’s behavior at first. Levi totally encapsulates how superheroes who are typically a beacon of hope and goodness can also at times be reckless, afraid, and make mistakes.

Asher Angel is a perfect counterpart to Levi, and also holds his own in giving a emotionally wide-range performance. Jack Dylan Grazer - while he has amazing chemistry with both Angel and Levi - steals the scenes he shows up in. Mark Strong as Dr. Sivana is cold and ruthless in contrast, although he is written as a cliche, one-dimensional supervillain. The rest of the supporting cast (with the exception of a few flat performances from flashback characters) leave their mark despite not having equal screen time to each other.

Director David F. Sandberg brilliantly adapts the comics and the sometimes cliche but sometimes surprising script to screen. He includes breathtaking visuals and editing that flawlessly blend CGI with practical elements - which look better than films with double the budget - and fills the film with references/easter eggs for fans of the comics and of the greater DCEU to gush over. According to the big “Shazfan” of a friend I brought to the screening, the film’s characters, settings, and even certain scenes look as though they’ve been ripped right from the comic panels, and the allusions to the DC film universe beyond leave the door open for original DCEU actors or recasted ones to appear in future installments, although the small stakes adventure keeps the audience’s attention on its own - even with some pacing problems in between the acts and finale.

To score this film, I’d give it a 9.5 out of 10; taking off half points for the following;

-.1 for one dimensional antagonists (Sivana and the bullies)

-.1 for flat acting performances (younger versions of a few characters)

-.1 for some cliche story beats (toss up between predictable and surprising)

-.1 for pacing between the three acts (third act/finale too long)

-.1 for uneven screen time for costars
(the foster family members each had their moments, but they could have been balanced out for screen time)

With solid leading performances, decent writing, a visceral cinematography and editing style, and inclusions that pay tribute to all that came before it,
SHAZAM! is a superhero movie event you won't want to miss.

SHAZAM! officially arrives in theaters April 4th & 5th in the U.S.

A huge thank you goes out to Fandango, Regal Cinemas, Warner Brothers, New Line, and DC,
for hosting an early access screening in my area, and for making tickets available for purchase online and in advance!

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Any questions or suggestions for me?
Feel free to get in touch with me by emailing
screensceneofageek@gmail.com

I might expand into more social media
if I continue running this blog
after the college course is done,
but for now, you can direct message me
on Instagram - @stealthabotte

__________________________________________________________________________

Check my channel out by clicking or copy-pasting
this link into your web browser:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Stealthabotte

New upload link:

https://youtu.be/PICLwgQiEHQ

So Here's A Zany And Marvelous announcement...

Okay, Reader.

I have some extremely exciting news.

It might be fairly obvious by the looks of this blog, or my YouTube channel which I shamelessly plug in all of my posts on this blog, but I am a really big geek for superhero screen content.

The first superhero movie I invested my time in watching was Marvel's The Avengers, and it instantly hooked me on the premise of superhero characters on screen.

The first superhero movie I was able to see on the big screen was its sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron - and in the years since, I have considered myself a fairly devoted fan of superhero films, watching a vast majority of them in the theaters in the first few weeks of being out.

However, I managed to garner myself an incredible, unexpected opportunity, that might give my blog and status as an author some serious credibility;
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For the first time ever, I will be attending an early screening event for a movie:

Need a hint? Look closely at this post's title...

I'll wait for you to piece it together...

Give up?

Fine.

I'll SAY HIS NAME (this is a painfully obvious reference)

Drumroll, please...

DC's Shazam!

A huge thank you goes out to Fandango, Warner Brothers, New Line, and DC, for hosting a screening in my area and for making tickets available for purchase online in advance!
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Some background context; I am a very big fan of Zachary Levi as an actor, and felt he was wasted as Fandral in the Thor franchise at Marvel Studios - so you can imagine my excitement when he was cast in the lead role for this upcoming DC film.

I'm more of a Marvel fan personally, as I felt that DC characters are oftentimes overpowered and invulnerable - which makes their on-screen versions less relatable. Marvel characters were stronger as a result of their character flaws and weaknesses, resonating with audiences enough to make the most powerful among them easy to identify with - so why would I choose a DC film as the first movie I attend an early access screening for?

Shazam! (otherwise known as Captain Marvel in DC Comics, which can be confusing) is an ironic outlier in the equation of good superhero character storytelling (in my personal opinion.) Despite having the same superpower set as fellow DC character Superman, it's the gimmick behind his specific character that makes him vulnerable - being an 11 year old that can turn into a superhuman adult - which makes all of the difference for me.

On top of this, all of the film trailers have showcased a surprisingly humorous take on a heartwarming tale, through visually impressive and stylistic cinematography and editing.

And, as an additional biased bonus, the film takes place in the city of Brotherly Love - which I live in the suburbs of (not saying where specifically obviously).



Part of me hopes this film would be the flagship for a new universe, disconnected from the DCEU that produced the underwhelming Justice League, but at the very least, it's looks to be a course correcting step in the right direction.

^What I hope Shazam! will do with the Justice League DCEU continuity^

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You're probably sick of reading my little tangent, and are simply wondering what I'm sharing on the blog regarding the film;

Well, after the screening, I intend on writing a NON-SPOILER review.

Since the film has another 2 weeks prior to it's official U.S. release, I have no intention of ruining the experience for anyone else wanting to go in with mostly fresh eyes. 

As someone who had the ending to Avengers Infinity War ruined for me before I could see it for myself, I take spoilers online incredibly seriously. Nothing I write will mention things not shown or mentioned in existing marketing for the film.

I will describe my expectations going in, my theatrical experience, and baseline pros and cons regarding the film itself - whether or not it is actually a good film, and worth the overpriced theater ticket.

When will this be shared to blog?

Expect it to drop some time tomorrow or next weekend... Stay tuned...

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Any questions or suggestions for me?
Feel free to get in touch with me by emailing
screensceneofageek@gmail.com

I might expand into more social media
if I continue running this blog
after the college course is done,
but for now, you can direct message me
on Instagram - @stealthabotte

__________________________________________________________________________

Check my channel out by clicking or copy-pasting
this link into your web browser:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Stealthabotte

New upload link:

https://youtu.be/PICLwgQiEHQ

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