This project is an alternative to making a short live-action film by one high school filmmaking class.  When students are allowed to work in teams on campus, they would take on traditional roles in front of and behind the camera to create a film.  Since it is not possible for all students to work together during a distance learning class, the script they have created may be used to create an animated version of the film.

| Record Character Performance |
| Options A: Complete Script or Create Character Drawings |
| Options B: Voice Actor or Create Puppets |
| Adobe Character Animator Resources |

The pre-production and post-production stages will be very similar to the live-action version.

During Pre-Production writing teams will develop story ideas into a synopsis, then one of the stories will be chosen.  The whole class will work together to refine the chosen synopsis.  Once it has been refined up to the middle of Act 2, all students will submit their own refined version of the end of Act 2 synopsis.  Once the best Act 2 synopsis has been chosen, the class will work together to write Act 1 and Act 2 of the script.

Options A

Once the script has been written by the class through the end of Act 2, there will be two options.  You must be approved by the teacher to work on the artist option.

  1. Work individually or with a writing team to write Act 3 and complete the script.
    1. Visit YouMeScript.com and open the top left menu.  Choose the Open from Google Drive option and follow the instructions to give permission to YouMeScript.com.
    2. Follow the Act 3 Video to:
      1. Visit the class website and make a copy of the Act 1 and Act 2 script for your class.
      2. Open the copy with YouMeScript.com. Update the title page by listing the names of every member of your team.
    3. Work with your group to finish writing the script. Follow the process of using YouMeScript.com that has been demonstrated in class. Make sure when your script is done it has 12 to 13 pages (not including the title page.) You are writing Act 3 and should follow the three act dramatic structure. You may use the class synopsis as reference, or come up with your own ending.
    4. When you have completed the script follow the Act 3 Video to
      1. Export a copy of the file into your Class Film folder using the .fountain format.
      2. Export a copy of the file in your Class Film folder using the .PDF format.
      3. Submit in Canvas the link to the Class Film folder that has your .fountain and .pdf files.
      4. Let the teacher know you have submitted your files to Canvas.
  2. Work as an artist to create drawings for one of the characters in the script.
    1. Create a head-to-toe pose of a character that shows the character facing slightly to the left. 
      1. Create a folder named Character in our Google Drive Class Film folder.
      2. Save a copy of the ElizaSimpleUnrigged.psd character in your Character folder to use as a reference.  Notice the sample character faces slightly to the left.
      3. As you design your character keep each side symmetrical so that the image may be flipped to show the character facing slightly to the right.
      4. If you hand-draw your character, scan it or take a photo of it and save it in your Character folder.
      5. Use Photopea.com to turn a scan of a drawing into a .psd file with a transparent background.
        | Character to PSD Tutorial |
      6. When your design is complete, save the file into your Character folding using this name format: CHARACTER-full-NAME.psd
        1. Substitute the name of the character you were assigned for CHARACTER.
        2. Substitute your full name for NAME
    2. Create a head-and-shoulders view of the character facing directly into the camera.
      1. Save a copy of the Guy.psd character in your Character folder to use as a reference.
        Notice the character faces directly into the camera.
      2. If you hand-draw your character, scan it or take a photo of it and save it in your Character folder.
      3. Use Photopea.com to turn a scan of a drawing into a .psd file with a transparent background.
        | Character to PSD Tutorial |
      4. When your design is complete, save the file into your Character folding using this name format: CHARACTER-head-NAME.psd
        1. Substitute he name of the character you were assigned for CHARACTER.
        2. Substitute your full name for NAME
    3. When you have completed both files for your assigned character, submit the link to your Character folder in Canvas.

Options B

Once the script has been completed there will be two options to work on during what would normally be the Production stage of the film.

  1. Perform as a Voice Actor
    1. Follow the directions in the Recording tutorial to create sound files of your assigned character performances.
  2. Work as an artist to create Puppets from your Character Drawings
    Follow the tutorials to create puppet files for the character you were assigned:
    Use each of your character .psd files to create Character Animator Puppet .psd files.
    | Part 1: Puppet Head | Part 2: Puppet Body |When your file is complete, save a copy of the file into your Character folding using this name format:
    CHARACTER-full-NAME.psd or CHARACTER-head-NAME.psd depending upon the drawing.
    Substitute he name of the character you were assigned for CHARACTER.
    Substitute your full name for NAME.

    Character Animator Resources

    Adobe Tutorials
    https://pages.adobe.com/character/en/tutorials.html

    Creating a Photoshop Puppet
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0qYSvxyCQ8

    Building Your Own Animated Face
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKK3Asxs6d4&feature=youtu.be

    Puppets
    https://pages.adobe.com/character/en/puppets.html

    Digital Puppets
    https://avatarstore.co.uk/product-category/free/

    Getting Started
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GKCw4f1UrI

    Okay Samurai Puppets
    https://www.okaysamurai.com/puppets/

    User Guide
    https://helpx.adobe.com/in/adobe-character-animator/user-guide.html/in/adobe-character-animator/using/welcome.ug.html

    Animation Guides
    https://www.animationguides.com/category/blog/tutorials-tips/

    Top 10 Tutorials
    https://graphicmama.com/blog/tutorials-learn-adobe-character-animator/

    Make Your Animations Walk
    https://youtu.be/KMPr-cLx1zs

    Complete Cartoon Workflow
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhCKD5vl848

    Complete Animation Workflow
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUtRnMMOTmo

    Use Pre-Recorded Video
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43s&v=ofA7JFYfLlM&feature=youtu.be

    Tips and tricks for streaming
    https://helpx.adobe.com/adobe-character-animator/user-guide.html/adobe-character-animator/using/tips-and-tricks-for-streaming.ug.html

    Using the Puppet panel
    https://helpx.adobe.com/adobe-character-animator/user-guide.html/adobe-character-animator/using/puppet-panel.ug.html

    Head Turns & Parallax
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1wbw6-7zM4&feature=youtu.be

    Characterizer (Adobe Character Animator Tutorial)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z02AcZhxSfs