CAMERA MOVEMENT/ANIMATION
Thoughts regarding camera
animation...
I'm not a huge fan of CG cameras. Just because the
camera can animate, doesn't mean it should. The older I get, the more and more I
want my cameras to hold, animating only when need be. I like to follow the lead
of live action. I think it's imperative for accessible
viewing.
I don't believe the CG camera is
"liberating". Instead, I see it as an unnecessary temptation, needlessly
molested by the inexperienced. If you're animating a camera move that you've
never seen in a live action film before, my advice is to get rid of
it.
I recently saw two absolutely
horrible CG films, KAERA: THE PROPHECY and AERO-TROOPERS: THE NEMECLOUS CRUSADE.
Actually, I only watched the first 10 minutes of each, as both are insufferable.
But in those collective 20 minutes, anyone can learn 100 things not to do with
CGI.
The camera angles, camera animation,
and scene cutting are atrocious. Color palette is painful. Bad animation.
Strobing renders. And none of this has to do with the bad story and voice
acting. Both films are utter garbage and a chore to watch, and a big part, I
think, is because the "directors" thought they had "new" ideas. They didn't. All
they had were really bad ones.
Another
reason I bring up the camera issue is because of the cell phone. It has been
pointed out to me by a cell phone marketer that lots of camera movement makes it
difficult to view tiny animation. So if my aesthetic reason wasn't a persuasive
argument, then perhaps the practical reason will
suffice.
I'm not telling you "Don't
animate your camera," but if you do, please don't animate it
poorly!
Posted: Tue - June 21, 2005 at 05:37 PM