Finding the right voice. Narration is key!

-
When I first conceived Wildlife on Mars, I had envisioned the story being narrated from start to finish by a David Attenborough style of voice, but as time went on between 2004-2005 I swayed away from having a full narration, think that all documentaries that use this formula often work best with content that tell stories of human or animal stories. Such as numerous BBC Wildlife documentary's and the Walking with Dinosaurs series.
Frozen Planet (2011)

Walking With Dinosaurs (1999)

So I decided to opt for a "silent" film. After watching back a few years later I found that although I knew what was going on, I felt it was a little jarring to be throw into a "alien" world with no explanation as to where the film was set or what people were exactly looking at?


After graduating and studying other documentaries and films I started to see a pattern that films and animations dealing with fantasy or science fiction would use narration at the start of the film to set the audience up of the world and events that lead to what they where about to see on the screen, however these still follow a performance dialog, such as The Dark Crystal. Even Star Wars has a introduction, in the form of scroll text, before the audience is taken to the start of the movie.
The Dark Crystal (1982)

Star Wars (1977)

The trick now is to find that right voice that would suit the "gentle storyteller" tone that I feel this short film needs, not so soft it sends the audience to sleep and not too excitable that over hypes the events that follows, and its going to be a challenge. 
In the earlier years I had envisioned John Hurt or Tom Baker's voices being perfect for this task, but sadly Tom Baker (famous for his role as the 4th Doctor in Doctor Who) turned down my invitation due to other work commitments and actor John Hurt sadly passed away in 2017. 

Tom Baker Short Interview 2017

John Hurt Interview 2014

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Armatures.. the things to know and what to avoid!

-
Image
I've been studying stop motion armatures now for over 10 years, 3 of those years has been actually fabricating them with Animation Toolkit on Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires , and at Telegael studios on  Morten and the Spider Queen and Project 390 . What I have learned, both historically and technically would be of great interest to future students in stop-motion. I know what your thinking, you take one look at a ball & socket armature and think "this is way to hard to do, its so complicated", well, I once thought exactly the same when I started my animation path back in 2002. The trick is learning how to use it right, ball & socket armature kits are like a steel equivalent to Lego construction kits, you have many tiny pieces that when assembled create a final item, in this case a armature, so understanding the mechanics of biological joints and translating that movement into a engineering solution. Wire is simply understanding how the wire and which wir...
Read more

Mould making...Here's one way the industry do it.

-
Image
Until recently, my only knowledge on mould making was basic, rules such as not having undercuts to allow easy removal of a casting and using mold release. I also only had material experience with plaster and silicone, I was aware of fibreglass mould's, but I had never used it on any job or hobby project to date. I have recently discovered a material that the industry also use whilst I was employed at Telegael in Ireland, which is called Aluminium Resin (I refer to it as Alucast for short). It's stronger than plaster, but just as light as polyresin, it's virtually odorless, it can be sanded with a file or a belt sander, each casting cures in about 30-60 minutes and it can be used for silicone and foam latex casting. If you're working at home making your own stop-motion film, you can make your mold's in whatever fashion and material feels comfortable for you; However, if you are looking to work in the industry, they expect a level of skill that demonstrates...
Read more

The build-up method, or foam fabrication to you new puppet makers!

-
Image
For years I have wanted to have a second stab at the build-up method for making my stop-motion puppets, back in 2012, Ray Harryhausen told me my build up technique was wonderfully done, but I could see the flaws in my work even back them, the second time round, I wanted to be a little more careful with it, but not take to long in making it. One big help to me was a book by my friend Richard Svensson "My Stop-Motion Monster Puppet Menagerie" which the opening of the book tells readers how he make build-up puppets. His level of puppet making is a true skill to behold, you can find his work, along with how to videos on his YouTube channel Bluworm . This was a better insight for me into making my newer puppets, where as previously I was making my puppets on pure guess work. Though I did not have time to make my puppets as detailed as his, it was nice to see what could be achieved from his photos had I the time to learn how to make them. I started with the Xenotyranuus ...
Read more