Homework Day 2
Please provide a script breakdown, a bid and initial concept art for the attached script pages. The work must be turned in by Thursday Feb 27th at Midnight PST (-8 GMT). It MUST be in on time to receive a grade, if it is late the best you can hope for is a certificate of completion, this reflects the reality of the bid/jobs market.
You are free to ask production questions here about the script that will assist in the breakdown bidding process.
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Comments
Assume it is a contemporary ship. Since no one is called by any rank, assume they are all passengers. I won't describe the creature....that's your job. I'm keeping it vague on purpose because I want to see what YOU bring to the table. Trust me, it happens more times than not a writer describes a creature saying: "It is a horrific definition of nightmare that looks like it just crawled up from the bowels of hell itself."
And.... One arms? Two arms? Eyes? Fangs? WHAT?!
That is the dilemma, right? You have to use your imagination, read the script and design something aesthetically cool that will perform all of the functions it has to. Don't be afraid to suggest ideas! Remember, I'm looking everything over a week from Friday and issuing notes prior to your final project. I really, REALLY want to see what you do if the leash is somewhat dropped and you can design ANYTHING that fits within the parameters.
I purposefully did not tell you the sex of one of the characters, but you should be able to figure out that one of them is a woman. Race doesn't matter if you are going to incorporate that into your sketch work. Everything is right where that is concerned.
The bottom line is have fun. Enjoy this exercise because you are safe and the welfare of your shop/career isn't hanging in the balance.
Shannon
But Charles - You're asking ALL the right questions!
Any questions???
Let me know.
S.
I want a weekly rate and HOW MANY PIECES OF ART I can expect in 5 days and what that art is going to look like.
I want a storyboard bid, how many frames you can draw in a day and a price for that too.
Since you're bidding art, all you need do is supply one example of the scripted creature.
That said, I would PREFER if you just bid the entire thing as best you can. Even if your prices aren't correct. This is part of the learning process, right?
S.
This is a fun script!
In regards to the concept design end of things, whether it be the creature, set or prop pieces and costumes etc, should I quote for variations in those departments? ie: a selection of prop designs for the 'Heavy Cresent Wrench' ? Or, regarding my bid details, should I concentrate more in my own field, in this case creature design work? Should the bid reflect things like supervising on set regarding creature wrangling, green screen prep and lighting, walkthroughs with the actors, animation etc.
For those of us that may not be up to speed fully on the fabrication processes involved regarding the creature build, ie: sculpting, molding, casting, cleanup, painting etc... is it okay to still bid in those departments for the sake of getting bid practice in? I'd love to give that a shot.
If in the real world, I was given a bid opportunity, and there was a lot of practical creature effects and makeup involved, props needing designed and a set built, would it be okay to outsource to '3rd party' companies?
By that I mean obtaining quote details from all parties involved and putting the relevant numbers into my bid? Inclusive of marking up? Is that legal doing the outsourcing thing, if there are NDA's involved and the SFX specific script pages are for my viewing only? Or might it be a question of giving the companys/artists involved a shopping list of whats needed? Like a need to know basis? Lets assume though, the 3rd parties are people I've worked with already, there is a trust base there and they have all signed the relevant NDAs!
One other question I have is, if it's okay to bid on different areas of the special effects needed based on quote details acquired from outsourcing, can I mix it up abit regarding the creature scenes, ie: mixing practical with digital?
Last question, do we need a seq/scene number for this?
Shannon,
Okay, okay, here's another clue: The more things you put in your bid, the more things can be cut out to bring the cost down when the producer balks. So, if you have an appliance that "bleeds" via tubing and it comes with a cost, and it is superfluous to the scene, it can go away and a lower cost, simpler alternative suggested. See? It's kind of a game which is why I do want you not to stress but have fun.
But...good eye, Nancy. Keep the questions coming.
Shannon
I think you should go for it. Imagine how you would build the creature, hiring people to do the sculpting, molding, etc. based on how much YOU would charge to do the job. It's an exercise to get you used to reading scripts, looking for clues, contradictions, and your imagination, skills, and resourcefulness to help a production get the shots they need to tell their story.
Ask questions!
S.
So one week from tomorrow your bid/design assignment is due. Those of you who have been working and feel you are ready for a "review" prior to your submission next week should feel free to either send me a message on the board here, or ASK QUESTIONS.
Personally I WOULD NOT POST ART here yet. We can do that a week from this Saturday. But if you have bid/breakdown questions....ask, ask, ask.
Okay? I'm very eager to see what you're all up to!
Shannon
Nancy - Make the set a separate bid and you don't have to submit art, but submit reference photos (that you find in books or on-line) to give an idea of what you think you can do.
Does that make sense?
S.
Does that answer the question?
Shannon
Figure that you and 'your team' are going to goo, maintain, move, puppeteer the creature, so
try to project how many folks your department is going to need (include a makeup artist - remember how
I showed you how to do that?). and put that at the bottom of your bid.
So - Quick Review - your bid should look like this:
1) Top Sheet with bottom line CONSTRUCTION costs of the creature (not SET cost)
2.) Detailed "breakdown" of the script with effects budgeted
3.) A "total" for the amount of the build
THEN
4.) A breakdown of what your department will need on set - How many people working for how much money - etc.
Okay?
S.
I sent you my bid in a private message. I assume that's how you'd like it so that we aren't all seeing each other's homework.
If there's another way you'd prefer to receive it, please let me know.
As for Movie Magic Scheduling, I know that most of the
VFX folks I've worked with use Filemaker Pro.
But the bottom line is the bottom line. You can use any
program provided the final is in .pdf or a Word Document.
You can't assume every producer/production company is using a
specific type of software. Personally, I often use Microsoft Excel.
But that's me.
See you Saturday?
Shannon
You'll get your critique Saturday, but I will say for the record it is all there and presented
very professionally.
Before the rest of you start sending your bids in, let me contact Chris Vaughn to see if there is a
better way I can receive them. Okay?
Thanks again Shelly!
Shannon
Shannon or Chris Vaughan ,
where do we submit our Bid exactly?