Flash Cinematic Techniques: Enhancing Animated Shorts and Interactive Storytelling

306 Pages·2010·29.7 MB·English

by  Chris Jackson

Flash Cinematic
Techniques
Enhancing Animated Shorts
and Interactive Storytelling
Chris Jackson
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ISBN: 978-0-240-81261-8

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10 11 12 13 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America
Contents
2 Introduction ................................................................... vii
Chapter 1: Show, Don’t Tell Me a Story
2 Anatomy of a Story ...........................................................2
2 The Story Structure ...........................................................4
2 Make Every Scene Count ..................................................6
2 Show, Don’t Tell ................................................................8
2 Find Your Artistic Direction in Flash ................................12
Chapter 2: Get Into Character
2 Casting the Characters ....................................................18
2 Shaping Up .....................................................................20
2 Adopting Stereotypes .....................................................25
2 Exaggerating Personality .................................................27
2 Assembling the Cast in Flash ..........................................32
Chapter 3: Give Me Space
2 Defining the Space .........................................................60
2 Showing the Space ..........................................................68
2 Illustrating the Space .......................................................79
2 Drawing a Storyboard .....................................................85
2 Building an Animatic in Flash ..........................................87
iii
Chapter 4: Direct My Eye
2 Composing the Space .....................................................96
2 Drawing the Line ............................................................99
2 Being Dominant ............................................................106
2 Having Some Depth ......................................................109
2 Focusing Attention .......................................................116
2 Simulating Depth in Flash .............................................119
Chapter 5: Don’t Lose Me
2 Manipulating Time and Space .......................................128
2 Understanding Screen Direction .................................. 130
2 Using the 180-Degree Rule ..........................................131
2 Cutting and Continuity .................................................142
2 Transitioning Scenes ......................................................146
2 Building Transitions in Flash ..........................................149
Chapter 6: Move the Camera
2 Creating New Worlds ...................................................160
2 Panning the Camera .....................................................167
2 Zooming .......................................................................172
2 Tracking Camera Movements ........................................174
2 Parallax Scrolling ...........................................................178
2 Simulating Cinematic Effects in Flash ............................186
Chapter 7: Light My World
2 Defining the Light .........................................................192
2 Lighting the Scene ........................................................196
iv Contents
2 Setting the Mood .........................................................197
2 Simulating Lighting Effects in Flash .............................. 200
Chapter 8: Speak to Me
2 Recording Audio ...........................................................220
2 Lip-Syncing Dialog ........................................................223
2 Mixing Sound Effects ....................................................230
2 Exploring Facial Expressions ...........................................235
2 Posing Your Character ..................................................241
Chapter 9: Interact with Me
2 Interactivity in Flash .....................................................246
2 Controlling Camera Movements ...................................255
2 Directing the Characters ...............................................267
2 Enhancing a Story Using ActionScript ...........................271
Chapter 10: Optimize and Publish
2 Optimizing Graphics .....................................................276
2 Preloading in Flash ........................................................277
2 Using the QuickTime Exporter ......................................278
2 Export ActionScript-Driven Movies ................................281
2 Index ............................................................................285
v
Flash Cinematic
Techniques
Enhancing Animated Shorts
and Interactive Storytelling
Chris Jackson
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Introduction
This book focuses on the visual design of a
Flash movie using cinematic techniques: camera
placement, composition, motion, lighting, editing,
and sound. These tools not only illustrate what’s
going on in a scene, but also advance the story
and elevate its emotional impact for the audience.
22What2Is2This2Book2About?22................................................viii
22Who2Is2This2Book2For?22.....................................................viii
22 Book2Structure2and2Layout2Conventions22............................ix
22About2the2Author22...............................................................x
22Acknowledgements22...........................................................xi
22Credits22..............................................................................xi
22 For2Instructors22..................................................................xii
What Is This Book About?
Flash Cinematic Techniques2maximizes2Flash’s2animation2and2production2
power2to2create2web-based2animated2short2stories,2interactive2graphic2novels2
and2online2commercials.2From2major2film2studios2to2independent2animators,2
Flash2is2employed2to2entertain,2educate,2and2promote2stories2to2their2audiences2
easily2and2effectively.2Written2for2Flash2artists2and2designers,2this2book2provides22
valuable2insights,2timesaving2practical2tips,2and2hands-on2techniques2that22
illustrate2how2to2produce2and2deploy2great2visual2stories2using2Flash.22
Flash Cinematic Techniques2focuses2primarily2on2enhancing2a2visual2story2from2
storyboards2to2the2final2project.2The2first2chapter2lays2the2foundation2to2defining2
a2good2story2and2how2to2visualize2its2structure.2Each2chapter2that2follows22
examines2visual2design2components2and2translates2cinematography2techniques2
used2in2traditional2filmmaking2into2the2Flash2environment.2Using2Flash2as2the2
authoring2tool2and2the2exercises2outlined2in2this2book,2a2reader2will2be2able2
to2produce2animated2and2interactive2cinematic2stories,2such2as2online2graphic2
novels2and2webisodes.2
The2book2is2designed2to2walk2the2reader2through2project-based2exercises2that2
effectively2use2Flash2to2enhance2their2visual2storytelling2skills.2The2first2section2
explores2visual2components2used2in2stories.2Topics2include2how2space,2line,2color,2
and2movement2can2be2framed2on2the2Flash2Stage2to2communicate2emotion2and2
meaning.2The2second2part2of2the2book2applies2cinematography2techniques2such2
as2camera2movement,2lighting,2and2editing2into2the2Flash2workspace.2
In2addition2to2animation2techniques,2Flash Cinematic Techniques2also2discusses2
adding2interactivity2using2ActionScript2to2enhance2audience2participation.22
The2last2section2of2this2book2discusses2optimization2and2publishing2tips2and2
tricks.2Chapter2exercises2consist2of2practical2applications2as2well2as2experimental2
projects.2Each2exercise2provides2step-by-step2instructions2and2tips2for2the22
reader2to2use2in2conceptualizing2and2visualizing2creative2solutions2to2their22
own2Flash2projects.
Who Is This Book For?
The2book2explores2animation2and2interactive2concepts2and2techniques2for2
designing2great2visual2stories2in2Flash.2The2technical2focus2of2this2book2is2on2the2
art2direction2and2use2of2traditional2cinematography2techniques2when2building2
animated2and2interactive2short2stories2in2Flash.2Although2the2book2covers2the2
basics2in2developing2a2story,2it2is2assumed2that2the2reader2already2has2a2good2
story2in2mind2to2“show.”2The2visual2storytelling2techniques2discussed2can2be2
applied2to2entertainment,2advertising2(branding),2and2educational2applications.2
viii2 Introduction