Using the Loft Tool

Loft is used when the line tool has been used, and it then needs to be made into a three dimensional shape.

It is important when using the tool to move the pivot to the centre of the object, as the positioning of the pivot influences the final output of the object. It is also important to add a small circle before using the loft tool, followed by clicking the button that says "get shape". This then converts the simple line into a three dimensional shape.

This technique will be very useful when adding details to the car model in the trailer.

Multi Sub-Object Materials

A multi sub-object is when an object is created, and its different faces have their own set IDs. This enables different colours and materials to be added to each face. This is a crucial technique that will be incorporated into the trailer as one of the models in the trailer is a character. Thus, the character will not be all one colour/material, but in fact a variety of them.

To use this technique, the object needs to be converted to a poly so that it can then be modified and IDs can  be allocated to the objects faces. Once IDs have been set, different materials can be allocated to their corresponding IDs.

 

Producing a High Shine Metallic Material

An effective tool to create shiny metallic objects is created by combining a dark colour with a light coloured bitmap such as a Manhattan skyline. This can be achieved by dragging the shape to be the metal object into the perspective view port. Once complete, using the material editor, the anastropic shader needs to be selected, as this is best for creating metal materials. To make the material as effective as possible, a dark blue colour should be selected from the diffuse section. To ensure it is a very shiny metal, it needs to have a high specular such as approximately 60 and a high anastrophy of approximately 80.

Now, the dark part of the metal is complete the reflection needs to have the image inside. Once the material has been added to the object, it is now a shiny metallic object.

This is a very useful tool, as one of the models that will be used in the trailer is a car, which is made of various shiny metal objects. This can be incorporated to create a very interesting effect, as this shows in the image below.

 

Making a Leaf

A very useful tool for creating objects from bitmaps to add to the scene of an animation, is to find an image of what is needed in the background. Once found, import the bitmap into Adobe Photoshop onto a layer. Then create a second layer in the hierarchy and using the magic wand tool, select the white space, fill this with black. The remaining white pixels should then be filled in black too.

The finished effect of the saved black and white image and the original image used as maps within the material editor in 3ds Max combines the images and eliminates the white space in the original bitmap. This gives the illusion that it is an object without a white background.

Added textures for example, a leaf can be used with the bump tool to make it seem less flat and two dimensional. Finally, by then bending the leaf, it then creates the representation of the characteristics of the leaf, and embodies the needs and aspirations of the leaf.

This will be very useful in creating realistic backgrounds in the final production if this technique is incorporated. This is what the leaf looks like once completed.

Initial 3D Models for Three Models for James Bond Trailer

The three models chosen to appear in the trailer comply with the storyboard; a helicopter, which will represent "Little Nellie", a car which will represent the white and black cars in the car chase,and finally, a Lego like character (The Lego Group, ND) to represent James Bond. This model will act as a template for any other characters within the trailer.

By having three very different models, this will ensure the trailer will be varied in its contents.All three models inhabit different environments, which will add to a varied display to the audience. Thus, it doesn't give the impression that the film is only comprised of close combat, or car chases or in air combat, but instead, it is a mixture of all three. This is important as a trailer should target allof a target audience (James Bond fans), not just some of them.

Based upon the initial modelling of the character, drastic works needs to be added to this to make it more realistic. However, the initial model didn't have reference planes to ensure it was as similar as possible. On the next iteration of this model, this would need to be used, as the clear difference between this model and the helicopter, it is clear to see that using reference planes is beneficial to the validity of the model. Furthermore, the character model would be more realistic if organic modelling was to be used more, to add a feeling of a living object rather than having rigid edges. This would only be used to an extent as the point of Lego is to have rigid edges whilst resembling a living object.

The following image is of one of the cars that will be used in the car chase scene. It is progressing well, reference plates have been used to make the model as accurate as possible. There is a lot of room for improvement as there are many details yet to be added such as lights, windows etc.

Written Storyboard for Idea

    Scene 1: Intro

The scene begins by James Bond (Sean Connery) standing on the bar top of a cocktail bar, wiggling his bum as he dances to the rhythm of the James Bond theme tune. Whilst dancing, Bond shakes his martini in its cocktail shaker. As the music begins to change for the chorus, Bond continues to dance as he walks on the bar top, he then turns towards the camera and points the shaker towards the camera as a gunshot sounds. The screen gradually fills with blood red.

    Scene 2: Bedroom Scene

Bond is laying in bed facing the camera, leaning on his left arm next to Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi). Bond grins towards Aki, suddenly the door to their room flies open as gunfire sounds all around as the enemies try to shoot Bond. Meanwhile, the bed swivels on its hinges in the wall, so that the bottom of the bed is now the highest point of the bed, as the bed disappears into the wall.

    Scene 3: Drive-by

Bond walks out of hotel and follows the path out of the hotel which is the shape of a semi-circle. As he walks a black car with a head poking out of the back window with a gun in the man’s hand, slowly follows Bond as he walks away from the hotel. Bond is unaware of their presence. As the man in the car gets ready to shoot, Aki in her white convertible suddenly drives in between the black car and Bond acting as a shield as the man fires his gun. Bond jumps in the car, and the two cars begin a car chase. The white convertible drives under a lorry which is situated on a cliff, the black car following swerves to avoid the lorry and falls down the cliff and the car and its passengers explode into a ball of fire.

    Scene 4: Little Nellie

Bond and Agent Q are talking in the Tokyo ninja ground, as Bond is briefed on his latest gadget to test. Agent Q requests that Bond brings Little Nellie back intact this time. The scene flashes to Bond in the air flying over mountains, as he engages in an air battle between enemy helicopters. Missiles fill the air along with mines dropping from Bond’s helicopter.

    Scene 5: Blofeld

Bond and his ninja companions are now inside the crater on their endeavour to stop World War, as they battle Blofeld’s men by hand and weapons. The camera then zooms in on Bond’s face, as he looks to his upper left. The camera then focuses on Blofeld as Blofeld says to Bond “You only live twice Mr Bond”.

    Scene 6: Conclusion

Black screen as large silver writing shows the title of the film. Underneath the title, it will state that it is available now.

Scene to Animate

Due to time restraints, only one of these scenes will be animated to ensure plenty of detail can be added to the scene, rather than having many basic scenes. It is important to create the intended effect, depth is wanted rather than breadth. The scene that will be selected will be used is scene 3: Drive By. As this will incorporate three models, a car, a Lego character and a harrier aeroplane.

Ideas for the Trailer

    Idea 1:

The trailer begins by Blofeld saying to his workers that they will start a new war. As Blofeld finishes this sentence, the screen then shows a space ship beginning to consume another. The camera then cuts to the Pentagon, where there are international talks between UK, USA and Russia. Each country blaming the other for the accountability of the ship eating space ship.

Agent M begins to explain Bond's mission at HQ "Now 007, your mission is to prevent more ships being destroyed and thus prevent World War".

Bond is now with Agent Q, as he is shown the gadgets he will need during his mission. "007, please bring these back in one piece". Bond replies "Of course." as he smirks.

There are now explosions, fast car chases and helicopter battles. The trailer then finishes by the screen going black as the theme tune plays. Bond begins to walk across the screen, he turns towards the camera and shoots. The screen turns red.

The title of the film is displayed on screen with it's release date.

    Idea 2:

The trailer begins by M talking in HQ stating that only one agent could stop an evil mastermind such as Blofeld. The camera then shows Bond in bed after he has been shot, as he is pronounced dead. The camera then reverts back to HQ where Bond and M are talking. "One of these days we won't believe you are truly dead 007". 

As the theme tune begins to play, car explosions, helicopter battles and fast car chases are displayed. The camera then cuts to a scene with Bond in bed with Aki, and then jumps back to the explosions from before.

The trailer finishes by Bond performing his traditional walk, as he walks along the screen, turns towards the camera and then shoots, as the screen turns red.

    Idea 3:

The trailer begins by Bond standing on the bar in a cocktail bar, dancing with a martini in a cocktail shaker to the rhythm of the James Bond theme tune. As the music reaches the chorus, he then turns with his shaker towards the camera as a gunshot sounds. The screen then turns red.

Next, Bond is laying in bed with Aki facing the camera. The room then fills with gunfire as enemies try to kill Bond. The bed then disappears into the wall.

Car chases begin followed by the pursuer crashing down a mountain. Next the helicopter battle between Bond and enemy helicopters. 

The trailer finishes with Bond looking to his upper left whilst his ninja companions are in battle. Blofeld shouts down to Bond "You Only Live Twice Mr Bond!". The screen goes black with silver writing stating the name of the film. In the background the "007" logo behind it.

    Evaluation of the three ideas

Based upon the research boards that were created, generic conventions that are incorporated into James Bond trailers and films were introduced into these ideas. These included the theme tune, the James Bond shoot and walk, and also showing many explosions and car chases emphasising the all new action film to be released. 

Ideas one and two do not appear to flow as well as idea three. The way in which the main points are joined together work better than ideas one and two. Although, the main point of the storyline is explicitly stated in ideas one and two, whereas this is not the case in idea three.

However, many action films normally focus on there being disaster about to strike at any moment, and the whole point of the action is to prevent this event from happening in a fast paced atmosphere (Dirks, ND).

The idea that will be used will be idea three, due to it being much more fluent and smooth. Some extra thoughts to consider would be to decide whether to create the representation of a real person, or to exploit this being an animation and to perhaps create the representation of Lego like characters. This idea has been incorporated into video games and now there are series based upon this idea. It would suggest that perhaps there is an audience for this type of trailer.

These are some initial sketches of some Lego like characters, and this seems to be very effective. This is because combining the basic shapes such as boxes and cylinders, these could then be extruded or beveled to create a character similar to the drawings to create the representation of a person. This will be incorporated into the trailer.