Final 'Steam' Animation

Please note

'Cornwall's Forgotten Genius' will be amended when part three is finalised.

p1 'Rivals' test movie

Injected a bit of drama into the rivals caption.

Steam: Caption Work in progress

Work in progress

95% Completed Stink - Final type check

Finally got a version that I think reads well - spent much time using various devices to lead the point of interest (and avoid inducing epilepsy :-)

Typography as has some attention. The new font works welll.

A few glitches to some of the transitions need to be fixed - but that's it.

End <> Beginning Titles

I have complete the sequnce from the rocket to fine 'blueprinnt' image.

The new copy is a 'roundup' of Gurney's talents, ending with some kind of byline:

This end caption fades to back and white and becomes the start image for part 1.

He looked so knackred in the photo, I though it better to cross fade between the nice illustation.

End line suggestions:

'Forgotten Hero'
'Gentleman Inventor'
'Gentleman Genius'


I'm out of ideas, but need somthing from you, please.

Completed Exlosion and Stink Fog

Happy with this...the clouds are to be completed....

Stink Type Captions Animatic v1

Very rough but I'm battling to get the ratio of type to action right.
Concerned it's a bit 'type heavy'.

Where Type appears in two paragraphs, each one fades in.

Lots of the events will be highlighted in the inset floor plans.

Type hasn't been styled, but I think the the all caps font is right (Rosewood)

Copy has altered a bit, so please check for horrendous spelling...

Rocket Test

We are working on this at the moment, but you get an idea from this early test.

Young Gurney Hand Coloured

Gurney_Young Hand Coloured, originally uploaded by Steve Williams.

I took some time to restore this, and work some colour into the original illustration. Perhaps Bude might be interested in using it?

Let me know.

Part one Smoke completed

This is a low quality clip, but you get the idea. The transitions from line to metal are blocked in, but will be refined.

p1 Limelight Animation Additions

Added some Accounting papers to emphasis the finnacial mess G was left in....

Added the Title slide for the Board slide sequence...


Click here to view

Part 2.3 sequenceing

Cick HERE for Animated board content. (Check SPELLING!)

This looks a a little dry, but once it's lit by the 3D scene, it will work. Here is a still of the animation in place, to prove it.

Note a few tweaks to the script....

The end will aslo have some work... I want an interesting transition between the last slide and the start of the Heat section.....

Shipwreck Slide Sountrack V1

Click HERE for a lovely seascape.



Fabulous work by Tim.

Any comments a.s.a.p!

Pete is progressing well with the animation, we should be done by next week.

Part 2.1 Limelight revision

nearly there CLICK HERE

P2.1 Rough Cut

About 85% Done:

• The opening Captions are yet to be styled and animated
• There will be Motion Blur which will enhance the fast movement.
• The two Blueprints are just markers - I will think of something appropriate
• Burn Marks where the Wheel Lands
  

Rough cut for some parts of part 1.

Low resolution test HERE

Composite Export Test Part 2-1

CLICK HERE
Not pretty (yet) but the bits are in place.

Part 3 Texturing: Did I say final?

Was having problems with the floor, so I rebuilt it.
Much better.

The fat lady sings...

Type test for Heat section

This gives you an idea how the type will interact with the objects. Type is rough.

Still from p3

Finally happy with the lighting for this. Just need to add a flagstone floor and check the heat radiation ring. Rwdp are you there?

part 3 Heat Gargoyle and final lighting

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

Steam for Part3 Heat revised

Part 3 Timing Anmatic

Animatic showing the basic timing for the Heater section

Slide Retouching First Section (Completed)

Large Slideshow HERE


As discussed, If the image is going to be large, I think it might make sense to add hand colouring - which will take the emphasis off the quality of the photo, and better define the roof line and figures. The photo's varnish has 'crazed' - so I would probably restore the figures and critical areas - but let the colour hide the rest.

I would need 3 days to complete this - if we need it at the size discussed.

Slide Captions for part 2

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

Animatic for Lime Light (part 1)

Animatic showing the basic timing and lighting, events. I have used animated stills to give you an idea of the camera motion. The Pointing finger with squash the gas bag, and push down the wooden press. It will also comically bend and flex, etc...

Lots of effects (such as Lanterns Beam) are added after the 3D part is rendred.

Part 2.1 Limelight Caption text and type styling (amended)

He Shoots, He Scores!

Steve C finishes the Drag texture. Good job Sir!
Might ease off those reflections down 10%?

p3.1 Caption amendments v2

p3.1 'Heat' Caption copy for approval

Reference Guide for Drag & Steamjet Model Surface

Part 3.2 'Stink' Captions v1.0

Date: 1855

'Over 8 Million gallons of raw sewage poured into the River Thames each day...
The newly built House of Commons looked out onto a stinking quagmire of putrefying filth.'

Outbreaks of Cholera were on the rise. Frightened Londoners demanded immediate action.

[action]: smoky type drifts over houses parliament: "save us from this stink!"

[action] Gurney enters holding nose and tosses his plan towards the house of commons.

'Gurney came to the aid of government with an ambitious plan to ventilate the house, and rid Parliament of its noxious fug.'

'He first installed a Steamjet Furnace at the base of the Clock Tower.
The Jet created a powerful 'through draught', pulling fresh air into the Palace from ground level.'

'Gurney believed that burning off the 'pestilential' gases produced by sewers was the key to permanently ridding London of its nauseating stench'.

'To demonstrate the principle, Gurney once again he turned to the SteamJet...'

The Plan
[written as a title, in Gurney's handwriting]

- 'Seal off a ring of sewers surrounding the Palace.'

- 'Connect the sewer 'ring' to the SteamJet Furnace by means of a pipe...'

- 'Draw the gas out of the sewer...'

- '...into the coal fire of the furnace, extinguishing the smell.'


[captions resume]

'At first, his experiments seemed promising...'

'But Parliament's verdict was damning'

[action] silhouettes of waving order papers as quotes drift up

"Economically Dubious" "Scientifically Unsound" "Doubtful Efficacy"

'Gurney's role as government's trusted advisor ended amid much acrimony and accusations of foul play.'

'However, an inspection of Clock Tower by a rival engineer revealed that gas from a fractured gas pipe had been seeping into the base of the building.'

'Had it not been for a single trapdoor that separated the leaking gas from the flames of the furnace, Gurney may have inadvertently 'lit up' Parliament one last time...' -

[action] Big Ben blasts off into space

'...in spectacular fashion!'

[action] Camera pulls into a portrait of Old Gurney, which cross fades into a portrait of a young Gurney...

we loop back to the start of part 1 'Road to Ruin p1.1.'

END

Layout for final section

Animation rough HERE

Updated Slide

Updated Slide mechanism to two slots and added weight map for control in layout

Transition from Catherdral to Thames Embankment

The type at the end would rest on a low wall - which becomes the far embankment wall of the Thames. This gives us a bit of foreground to add some vapour rising off the river....

S.O.S Smoke Type Test

I like the idea that Gurney is 'called to the rescue' by Parliement.
The word "HELP" or 'Save us from the Stink' would drift up avove the commons...

Detailed of Image

Have a closer look! HERE

Shaded Lantern

Made some changes to silk shader and added slide mount.

Furnace Model

Still to add coals and weight maps.

p3.2 Commons Stink - Main Scene (WIP)

Thanks to hoards of tourists, and building works to the bridge, and crap on the Thames, I think it makes more sense to crop the commons - it also gives us a broader canvas (the sky) to bring the plans, illustrations and quotes to life.

here's what I had to work with :-)

Storyboard for Part 3.1 Heater (part1)

Layout for Heater section indication general lighting and mood.

Order of events:

Type Captions for the first section will appear along the top of the arches, as indicated.

1. The heater will start as an open grate, sitting on the base.
2. The Circular Water container assembles
   
3. Fills with water
   
4. The main body and Radiator Fins pull upwards into shape.
5. Finally, the top of the Heater drops down into place.
6. The Glow from the increased radiance covers the columns in a warm glow
7. Two gargoyles expressions turn to joy
8. Heater moves off towards the doors...
9. After The Heater is 'assembled', it moves off down the corridor and exits through a pair of doors.
10. It comes to rest in front of a stack of Stacked, Stone Place names which 'heat up'.
11. Behind the type will be a dark outline/silhouette of Parliament building - which will be the transition into the final section.

Click above to see a quick animated test of the end section

Notes:
I think I cam probably include quite a few more place names than I originally intended.

Sound Design Original proposal

I will publish an outline for the Soundtrack here.
The original proposal:

Exhibition Soundscape & Animation Soundtrack
We recommend producing a 5 minute, looping Soundscape, fed discreetly into parts of the exhibition space.

It will consist of a 5 minute track, featuring a series of sound recordings.
This tapestry of evocative sounds would cross-fade seamlessly from one ‘realm’ (Steam) to another (The Sea), producing a constantly evolving environment to underscore both the animation playing on the display monitors, and the exhibition in general.

Sources for the Soundscape could include:

• steam/whistles
• pistons/machinery
• sea/waves/foghorns(?)
• furnaces/fire
• house of commons hubbub,
• orchestra tuning up (theatre),
• drip drip of sewers,
• protesting crowds

Part 2.2 'Light': Drawing Board Content Animatic

Please check the content for errors, etc. Make comment for individual images on the Flickr pages. Let me know if have any problems.

War Museum Slide Viewer and Coastal Map

Very Simple mechanism for projecting slides onto a screen and a nice coastal map done in slight relief. This was done as WW1 trench Periscope, but the same principle would work in a simplified lantern. The technique allows you to 'project slides' on a monitor within a well lit room.

Kids loved the slide viewer.

Final Light Slide

Click below for Bude 'London to Lighthouse Slides'

London Lights - composite slide (in progress)

Might add a piece of Locational type...but this lamp will transform to become a lighthouse...


Here the original.

Drawing Board Panel 2

Struggled a bit with a very poor quality image. I have tried to obtain a better version, but had no luck.

Part 2 Drawing Board Slide and Blueprint

Part 2: Completed Model (untextured)

Completed Model. The Refill bag will sag down, and the Lantern has a cassette mechanism to feed the Slides in.

Part 2 Drawing Board Design and Lighting

This show how the captions will form part of the Blueprint. The side drawing will change to reflect the slide's content.

Bude Castle Lit Up : Slide (1b)

Finished Slide showing Bude Lit up from a Single Light. While I can animate the rays to give them some extra interest, it obviously undermines the idea that this is a projected slide. It is Cornwall, not Hollywood, after all!

Test Animation (lo resolution)

(very) Low Resolution Test Animation for Mechanicals. No lighting or Particles (Smoke)
Click Here

Smoke and Particle Animation Tests

Steve Cullum has been hard at work! Here are a random slection of tests showing the passage and flow of smoke, as well as a few experiments for the explosion at the end.

Half resolution test render of the Steamjjett Sequence to Follow

Part 2 'Light' : Script, Captions and Storyboard v1

Action

1. Drag Wheel (from explosion) rolls > Passes a Box of Limes
2. Scene darkens, Lime Box is Spotlit.
3. Cam Pulls back to reveal Limelight Lamp (lit)
4. Cut Out Victorian Finger points to Parts (gas, pipes, lime)
5. Finger Presses Down on Bag >Limelight Flares
6. Finger Drops Magic lantern Casing over Light
7. Light projects out of lantern onto Drawing board
8. Camera draws closer towards the 'screen'
9. Slide Sequence begins

Click Here for the Storyboard. It should 'play' the stills without having click thumbnails.
Please note: the models are simple placeholders - to indicate basic form, and function.


Slide Sequence
' >' indicates a cross fade from one slide to the next

1.Bude Castle Night Exterior - single room lit (Gurney hard at work)
a) Gurney went back to the drawing board. By modifying his Limelight, Gurney produced a safer and effective means of illumination.
>Bude Castle Exterior -Light dramatically radiating from all windows
b) Using just ONE of his new lights, Gurney was able to illuminate his entire castle, sending light into each room with an ingenious system of mirrors and lenses.

2. Dim Theatre > Bright Theatre
a) Gurney's Light penetrated into the recesses of Victorian Society, taking entertainment and eductation away from the parlours of the privileged and into the mainsteam.
>Lantern Slide example
b) Large scale Magic Lantern Shows, Theatre, Scientific Demonstrations, Religious Presentations were all made possible by the power of Gurney's Light.
>Drummond Portrait
c) Once again, other Inventors adopted his ideas. Thomas Drummond's theatrical lighting robbed Gurney of the 'Limelight' he deserved as their true inventor.

3.Parliament By Candle Light
a) People had a dim view of politics. The House of commons chamber was a notoriously gloomily place to conduct business.
> Bude Lights (off)
After experimenting with fellow scientist, Farady, Gurney installed lights into the newly built Chamber.
> Parliament (Turned on)
c) Faithfully illuminating political life, they remained in place for another 60 years.

4. Police Light
a) Many parts of London, most notably, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Westminster Bridge were also illuminated with Bude Lights.
>Police light becomes a Lighthouse
b) Gurney transformed the lighthouse lamp, using innovative combinations of lens, mirrors and mechanics...
>lighthouse flashing
c) ...He created a flashing signal that uniquely identified each Lighthouse. Saving the lives of countless seafarers.

End Slide (vignette- Older Gurney)
Gurney had risen from the ashes of default, reclaiming the respect and admiration that his lost in his adventures in Steam.

Coals for the Fire....

The Glow from the coals increases when Steam Jet is introduced. The Liight from the fire will flicker and glow.

Part 2 Light - Notes and Image Collection

After some discussions with a Magic Lantern expert, we have decided to alter the treatment for the Light section. Gurnery's Limelight was key in the development of the magic lantern 'for the masses' - enabling large groups to enjoy projections at sizes that had been previously impossible.

We will demonstrate the principle of the basic limeligh, and tranform it into a 'magic lantern' to project a series of 5 'illuminating facts' about Gurneys adventures in light.

The 'animation' on the slides will be in keeping methods used at the time (cross fading two similar tiles, as well as long 'panoramic' slide which pull in/out, etc. Click here an example of the real thing.

Since we have a great deal of black & white Linework - making them into Slides and hand colouring them will be a good means of enlivening the content.


A storyboard will follow in the next day.

Click HERE for some visual reference material