ASSET BUILD & ANIMATION
BMCC ANI 401 ASSIGNMENT: Follow video instructions to replicate sci-fi hallway elements, which much be used in the final animation, as well as, a window and a moving camera. All other design choices were up to the students.
The first step was to learn how to model the required elements based on an example of a sci-fi hallway.
FINISHED MODELS
INSPIRATION
My inspiration came from both the 1979 science fiction horror film Alien and 1986's Aliens, Directed by James Cameron.
MODELING
I decided to reverse-engineer the various elements from the film grabs with the intention of giving it the feel of the films as much as possible.
This proved to be difficult, time-consuming, exciting, and rewarding. I used all the knowledge of modeling I had learned up to that point and watched tutorials on how to achieve the desired results. Such as the elevator door, for which I used an atom array with the vertex spheres as small as possible. For most of the repeating elements along the walls, I used instances. I struggled with getting the right reflection off the windows but still could see space clearly.
LIGHTING & TEXTURING
For the lighting, I wanted also to match the look of the films. I tried every light in different configurations, intensity, luminance, and color tones. Lighting is quite challenging to grasp when I didn't know how light and reflection worked for the atmosphere I wanted to create. I ended up having entirely too many lights. Trying to find the right ones to turn on/off or move was a huge problem I created for myself, which I was determined to solve.
Aliens has a very specific tone and texture. I also worked with a lot of texture, another problem. I was still grasping the idea of texture mapping and since a lot of my models are janky on the inside, I was getting really weird results. The solution was to fix the models by finding errant vertexes, edges, or gaps through dissolving, bridging, and sometimes remodeling.
CAMERA & ANIMATION
Moving the camera. Camera Man Motion Rig. First Person. Footsteps and fall. Wide lens.
Animated the camera, lift, lights, fans doors,
SOUND DESIGN
I used sound effects to enhance the story. Since this was a student project I really wanted to use the pulse guns sound effect. Sound design is one of my favorite steps in the pipeline.