Notes

Animated Storytelling

forget the gridwork for now and experiment, change up the medium
go with your last instinct
work at the edge of your skill set
investigate the hidden part of your expertise
continue to do what you love on the side
make a grid, shot#s on left, areas to experiment on right (technique, design, movement, transitions, sound, etc.)
let transition become the story
consider the quality of motion

let the sound lead the story
learn how to multitask silly polish girl
morphing sound - baby cry into lion roar
think about 2nd or 3rd relations instead of on the nose sounds
borrow sounds from soundtrack
think about music in terms of the overall film, characters, specific scenes, etc.
make the music invisible
match dialogue with personality - make it natural, use subtext conform to mood

stick to the logic you have in place.
clear sense of time and place
consider the physical laws, only change them if it's meaningful
consider social laws and do research (nature is helpful)
visual laws; consider shape, line, space, color, contrast, texture. Stick to the theme.

bring relative color theory into the story (contrast)
Break down each shot into shapes
what do the shapes say outside of knowing the story?
diagonals are more exciting/create more tension
things to consider:
character above or below the horizon line?
character above or below other characters
what is the character holding? does it bring power/dominance?
the surroundings - do they frame the character? Do they speak to the place and time?
does it hide the character or add to their persona?
what is in the distance - do they move away or come closer?
when changing shots - consider what's shown before and after? how large? what's dominant over the other?
seeing the front or the back; are we with or against the character? their victim or supporter?
if we don't see the face, we focus on the body language or background more
keep the audience within the frame
connect shots with common objects (being seen from different angles for example)
change shot weight from one side to the other to avoid confusing characters or objects
textures can help connect not as clear cuts/transitions