Study Task 9 - Life's a Pitch Page

This week we decided to discuss what our Life's a pitch project would be about. We began by having a meeting with Mike and told him our ideas for the idea so far.

As Andy, Bach and I are all heavily character design based we decided our company should be heavily pre-production based.

Here is a document that Bach and I created on how we plan to make our company.

Name of group: Product Owl

Random word generator

What is our unique selling proposition?

What are we?

• Collective?
• 
  

Do we want to be working in a group with people that work the same, or do we each have  a unique selling point.

Software that we would use. - and why?

Costs - how will we be paid, what goes on rent?

Do we want to work in a studio or do we want to work virtually?

We need to talk amongst each other about specialist abilities.

We share character Design with each other.

Short term employees, specific styles etc…

So if a character designer is better at one style they may be chosen.

Easier to approach -

We take less time.

More down to earth generally

Welcoming - like a third party website almost.

We give the push need for you to get out there.

Helpful company.

If there was a single person it saves you having to negotiate. We sort out prices for you, making it easier. We can make communication between the artist and the client, we are a third party, here to make it easier.

We help narrow the search down for both parties as we find we both are looking for. Saves them trouble of signing contracts. We help with making it easier.

Companies pay us to pay them.

Delivaroo for people.

Pick and choose whos best for you.

Concept art for the website

- character design

- illustration

- other stuff.

Pre production company.

We can further develop stuff, we can create designs or further develop existing ones. if  companies want to change a character - revamping it maybe - we could do that. We could do turnarounds etc… colour’s pre production crap.  Variations generally.

I like it.

Simple but very effective.

Concepts.

• Website
• Logo
• Buy ready made studio space
• Character designs.

http://freshcutcreative.co.uk/

http://www.arbuckle-industries.com/pre-production-services

https://realm-pictures.co.uk/

Slogans :

A simpler way to meet professionals.

Places for people to display art. Streamline interface - easy access. Instead of having to look at profile after profile, you can narrow it down to groups. Most pay will go back to artist, but we would take a small service fee.

We provide a studio space for you to work with the software and such. As a collective we go out and look for opportunities for people.

If we grow as a company we’d like to make partnerships with companies, insuring that we will always be able to help.

Study Task 3 - Contacting a Professional

I contacted my professional around a week ago now, and still haven't had a response. And it occurred to me, as the professional i contacted worked at Disney for a while, i wasn't sure if I would be aloud to use her answers regardless.

There for I've contacted another artist over instagram and am awaiting her response.

https://www.instagram.com/snarkies/?hl=en

.

Study Task 8- Commissions/freelance Page

Commissions : 


I've been researching into commissions and doing freelance work, as I would really like to be able to sell my work, but was unsure how to go about pricing my artwork. 

During the lecture, our tutor explained a lot about how selling art works, and how contracts are formed, for example I was unaware that an email could be seen as a binding contract.

When agreeing on a deal it is important to consider costs, travel expenses, if any martials are needed and there costs. The terms are really important, it is also important to clearly state a cut off time, giving them a deadline to agree on the contract. It is also important to state the time frame it will take for you to create what ever you have been asked to make, as you want to be clear on when they will receive there artwork, and to include times for you to show your progress so that the client can review if these match up to their expectations.

Important things that you must discuses with the client before agreeing on anything.  

1. Budget
2.  Can and when is it ok for you to use the work in a show reel. 
3. How is in charge of your work, so that if you have questions you are aware of who to contact.

Making an Invoice. 

It is important to correctly make an invoice, as this is your proof of payment. 

Invoice : 


Business Name 

Contact information 

Recipient's contact information

invoice number

Terms of Payment

Itemize the services - A columned box of what is needed.

A total 

Pricing  : 

Day Rates

£52.50 per day

£262.50 week

£13,650 year

Working Freelance : 

£180-200 per day

Study Task 3 - Contacting a Professional

My Questions : 

How did you get into the industry?

What advice would you give someone who wants to get into character design?

How did it feel when you got your first chance in the field?

What is it like working in the character design industry?

When did you know you wanted to be a character designer?

Before asking the questions, I thought it would be polite to ask permission to ask her these questions, so I have sent an email to her asking if that would be possible :

The Email :


Hello,


My name is Medi-Haf Edwards, and I am a student, studying Animation at Leeds arts University (Leeds college of art).


I am a huge fan of yours and was wondering if you would consider answering 5 questions I have regarding being a character designer. I adore doing character design myself, and your answers would be really helpful to me.


Please note that your answers will be put into my blog.


I am looking forward to hearing from you.


Thank you very Much


Medi-Haf Edwards.


The person I have contacted is Pernille Ørum, she is a freelance character designer I have been following on Instagram for a while now, and I am very excited for her response.   

Her links : 

https://twitter.com/Pernilleoe

http://www.pernilleoe.dk/

https://www.instagram.com/pernilleoerum/

Study Task 7- CopyShop Page

We discussed the affects of Copyright issues, and it did make me wonder, how protected is my work really? I don't use any form of watermark on my art, the only thing I do use, is my signature on my art work to make sure that it is marked as my own work. 

The laws about copyright in the UK are that you are covered with 

According to www.copyrightservice.co.uk :

' The law gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used.

The rights cover; broadcast and public performance, copying, adapting, issuing, renting and lending copies to the public.

In many cases, the creator will also have the right to be identified as the author and to object to distortions of his work.

International conventions give protection in most countries, subject to national laws.'

Meaning more or less that in the UK we should be fully covered, due to the laws covering any creator art. 

Although

I did do some research into creative commons 'https://creativecommons.org/'  that has some interesting points also. Which made me think which version of copyright should I use to cover my work? 

I looked into it and read some terms and conditions and found a way to make a license that's best suited for your personal copy right requirements. 

Here is what I've created from the website and I feel that this one works well for me.

 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This  means I do not agree to people sharing my work or editing it.

Study Task 6- Cost of Living Page

Cost Of Living Page

Study Task 5- Social Media Pro Page

Social Medias I use : 

Instagram

I use this for my art and I also have a social account. 

Tumblr

This I mainly use for fanart and other things like that. 

Pintrest

I use this to create boards of references for art and fashion.

Twitter

LAUAN502 Study Task 2, SWOT

Linked In.

I use this for business connections. 

I should make professional accounts on: 

Twitter

Tumblr 

Maybe Patreon

I feel I should maybe consider making a website so that I can update what I am doing with my work. I am fortunate that I know someone who can build websites so I plan on asking for their help.

I also feel like I need to make more professional accounts, a Twitter account would be good. 
I would also like to make a plan where I upload a piece of art to my Instagram at least once a week, maybe even twice as this will help boost my popularity. I need to be more active online and build more of an audience. 

Study Task 4 - Networking

A List of Networking Opportunities

WEBSITES

1. Instagram.
2. Tumblr
3. Patreon
4. Linked In
5. Twitter

Real Life opportunities

1. Manchester Animation Festival.
   
2. Cardiff Animation Festival
3. Internships
4. Meet Ups
5. Seminars- Talk with the speakers.

Study Task 2 - Personal SWOT Analysis

My Page.

Page done by Leah and Emily. 

Study Task - 

Strengths: 

Character Design. - I love character design, and doubt I will ever stop  working on my abilities to draw new characters. But I will keep researching into ways to better my skills, whether that be books or the internet. 

Digital Artwork. - I work mainly digitally, but I would like to learn more about the programs so I will look into tips and tricks online.

Keeping on track -  I do feel I am rather good at handing work in on time. 

Weaknesses - 

Confidence - I am incredibly shy and feel I need to speak to more people to boost my confidence. 

3D - I need to look into the software. 

Traditional Drawing. - I'm to messy and need to practice. 

Study Task 1 - Who am I? The sequel.

Things I've learnt so far : 

1. Generally how to animate, prior to our first year I didn't really have a clue. 

2. The 12 principles of animation. 

3. How to properly create a t-pose page. 

4. How to properly create a character. ~ Shapes and guides etc.

5. Frame rates and how many frames we should be using.

Thing's I want to learn more about:

1. Lip syncing. 

2. Background design. 

3. How to use the recording room system. 

4. Saving work. 

5. Life drawing. 

Strengths? 

1. Character design.

2. 2D animation 

3. Digital art 

4. Drawing cartoons. 

5. Shading digitally. 

Things I need to Improve?

1. My ability to traditionally draw on paper. 

2. Anatomy when it comes to drawing people. Mine is all over the show. 

3. Realistic drawing

4. Time management. 

5. Working with others.

Practitioners that demonstrate my interest in Animation?

1. http://drawings.pernilleoe.dk/ ~ Pernilleoe

2. http://snarkies.tumblr.com/ ~ Miranda Yeo

3. Carlos Grangel

4. Lynne Naylor

5. Kevin Dart

Resources that demonstrate your areas of interest within the creative industries?

1.  http://www.skwigly.co.uk/

2.  https://animationresources.org/illustration/

3. http://www.11secondclub.com/

4. https://characterdesignreferences.com/

5. http://disneybooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Miraculous Ladybug

Miraculous Ladybug.

A French animated TV show, with one of the best CGI animations made I've seen for a television show. The characters are lovably and have strong personality's. The designs are unique and well done, and generally the show is just pleasing to watch.
Following Adrien Agrest a teen model/super hero (chat Noir), and Marinette Dupain Cheng and awkward clumsy girl/super hero (Ladybug). We follow there daily lives and what they get up to in the city of Paris. Usually this involves thwarting Hawkmoths plans to take there miraculous'es, which are the devices that let the transform into super heros.
Another aspect of the story is very romanced based, now stay with me as this may become rather confusing, Adrian/Chat Noir is in love with Ladybug which is Marinette, which he is undenounced to him. Where are ladybug/Marinette is in love with Adrian which she doesn't know is actually Chat Noir. Somehow neither have realised who each other really are, which is very frustrating.

 Here is the trailor of the show, as you can see the animation is smooth and well done. (The show is not a musical, apart from one Christmas special). The characters designs are appealing and are very unique, and are given outfits that represent them, for example Marinette has Chinese inspired flowers on her shirt as she is half Chinese.

Why do cartoon characters wear gloves?

This is something I've asked my self serval times. And its nice to finally have an answer. In Vox 's video they explain exactly as to way a lot of our beloved characters wear these gloves.
This was mainly due to convenience for animators, during the early stages of animations the majority of characters where black and white, making it difficult to see details with characters, so adding gloves made them easier to see. Not only that due to them being so rounded and easier to see they meant less detail had to be drawn when creating them.  

Another reason, which is now not associated with the gloves is that of  minstrel shows. Something that was very relevant for the era. Now this is not associated with the shows at all, and are now just associated with that of cartoons in general.

I found this video to be really interesting as it answered a question I've often wondered about, I recommend giving this a watch as its very informative.