I've made an important design breakthrough regarding props, furniture and sets. ( Indoor) I will post some quotes from a conversation I had on Stopmotionanimation.com...

http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=9&topic_id=5690&mesg_id=5690&page=

"I was always going for a very graphic look with detail and such, and a strong style. This way of constructing the indoor sets looks fabulous and if I went along with it I would incorporate muted tones, quite pale and washed. Look at the station scene where Paddington is sitting/standing amongst the white card props. I really like the 2D/2D look. With my 3D puppets against the 2D 'drawn' set. If anyone thinks I should go along with it and it would suit the film please reply, It would be reassuring to have different people's views on the style/method."

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Some reply's...

"I think the 2D background method could be really cool - I can just picture it done with washes of watercolour or thinned acrylic, would really fit in the sort of old Victorian/dark grays you've been describing. Can lead to some fun plays on perspective and depth as well."

"I think that would work. I say go for it. I would like to see it done. Maybe if you make it work, then I can try it later in the future. There are plenty of normal films out there, try something new"

"Yeah, definitely lookin' good! You mean there are no folded parts in those? Some of them look like there are... must just be a good illusion "

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So the responses were good and people liked the idea. I got a few suggestions and with those, I decided how I would go about with the cut-out style. I will make white card cut-out props and the props that need to be handled by the 3D puppets will also be 3D. I will be colouring them with a slighly pale colour to still keep the ink detail that is drawn on them. For this, I'm think mainly about using watercolours for a nice colour wash. The great thing about this style is that I can now easily incorporate that 'Burton-esque' look, with weird ables and shapes. This burton style will also be crossed with Victorian style too, to fit the film. This style is the same that was used in Paddington bear........

http://www.truveo.com/Paddington-Bear/id/3484937704

I'm only just making cutouts, so after I've had a bit of practice, I will incorporate that Burton style with full colour.
The SMA.Com thread, linked at the top of this post has all the pictures/photos of some cut-out props I made,if you want a look of what they look like.

This post is copied from my blog entry, obviously I won't be posting every single post here, so to be kept updated in more detail on the progress, don't forgot to visit.....

http://nofbyscorner.blogspot.com/

I've got a 'Child Snatcher' thread here too, I'll update with bigger progress there, but for everything else, feel free to take a look.

(Also, look at the thread I linked to for cutouts and stuff)

Remember, colour is still needed!

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All these are photos of un-coloured, not yet with Burton-esque style PRACTICE cutouts. None of the cutouts I've made are final.

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cool

Another pic (you didn't see the bluetac.....:wink

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Thanks Marlow.

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close-up

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are they going to be colored in?

personally i wouldent

.

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h

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Oh, Marlow, I'll finish posting pics and reply after

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ok

"(^ I'm pretty swamped on my own projects
(^ so haven't kept up with this one, BUT
(^ I get this odd old movie in my head
(^ about a mild mannered short plain looking person
(^ who dresses over the top and acts eratic and wears stilts with elaborate make up in order to set the stage to disapear after a hist.

(^ darned if I remember where I saw this wonderful film:

(^ so let that drop:
(^ hey! could the child snatcher just be wearing stilts?
(^ to make himself SEEM lanky? but later on ..
"cut himself off at the knees" as it were?
(^..just musing.

(^ as to the paper cutout bar:
(^ i have this odd feeling of the bar being at first
(^ shot in paper cutout.. ( faster build)
(^ but ..as the drinking progresses..
(^ and the snatcher becomes more.."accustomed"
(^ to the surroundings.....
(^ certain objects start to be replaced
(^ with full on sculptured replacements.

like oh... say his personal favorite bottle
or drinking mug..
..and certain.. objects of affection
or . threats.?
a particular child. a potential victim:
a dog or perhaps a wheel barrow he hides things in..
((^ stuff you already have sculpted.^))

just finding a thread in the storyline
to make the mix make sense.
2 D cuttouts representing "background focus"
of little importance...
that MAY develop into full blown trauma inspiring reality
during specific shots..
then crumple back to cutouts as the time of thier focus passes.

(^ interesting . thanks for the mind spurt. just tinkering."

A reply to the thread by a member. He's (Brian M.P) a friend of Bruce Bickford and 'I think' he does some studio work. His writing is a very extravagant, but I hope you get the idea.

I may well incorporate his idea into the film, its sounds VERY COOL!

MN, I will be colouring them, because for this type of film AND because I'll be using 3D props if the characters need to handle anything, I don't want the sets and props just to be white and bland. A nice pale water colour pencil wash is what I will use so no vivid colour, just a wash so you can see the ink detail. The furniture and stuff will be 2D too. I've just pre-orded 10 multi-packs of pure white card stock!!

cool

sounds like a good idea to me

Cheers guys.