with Nigel
This week’s lecture focused on research design and methodological approaches. The session explored how to structure a research project in order to effectively answer a research question or develop a hypothesis.
A key focus was on aligning the research question with an appropriate method. The lecture emphasized that methodology should not be an afterthought, but an integral part of how the research is conceptualised from the beginning.
We also looked at different research strategies and how they influence the direction of a project. The importance of building a logical structure from question to method to outcome was highlighted throughout the session.
with Ting
This week began with a breathing idle animation workshop, which focused on creating subtle and believable breathing motion to bring characters to life, even when they are standing still. The workshop highlighted the importance of small movements in the chest, shoulders, and overall body posture, demonstrating how these details can make a character feel more natural and present. It was an engaging session that provided useful techniques for adding life and personality to otherwise static poses.
Following the workshop, I continued developing my dialogue shot assignment, building directly on the initial blocking completed in Week 11 with a focus on refinement and improving performance clarity.
Based on feedback, I recognised that my initial reference was not sufficiently strong, particularly in terms of acting clarity and camera composition. As a result, I recorded a new reference with more exaggerated acting choices and a revised camera angle. This adjustment significantly improved the readability of the performance, as clearer poses and stronger intentions became more visible.
Following this, I progressed the shot by reworking the blocking and beginning to integrate lip sync in alignment with the feedback. This stage required balancing multiple components simultaneously, including body mechanics, facial performance, and timing. Introducing lip sync at this stage added a layer of complexity, as it required precise coordination between audio and mouth shapes while maintaining the overall flow of the performance.
Although lip sync remained challenging, I found that working with a stronger reference made the process more manageable. The exaggerated acting provided clearer cues for both timing and expression, allowing for more controlled decision-making.
Overall, this week reinforced the importance of strong reference material and demonstrated how revisiting earlier stages such as acting and camera setup can significantly improve the outcome of the animation. The breathing idle workshop also emphasised how subtle secondary motion can enhance character believability, complementing the performance-focused work completed throughout the assignment.
with Serra
The second session introduced us to virtual production tools and workflows, including VCam and related plugins. We explored tools such as Live Link, Virtual Camera systems, and Unreal-based production utilities, which opened up a completely new way of thinking about real-time production and the relationship between physical and digital environments. I found this session particularly engaging because it demonstrated how technical tools can become creative mediums for experimentation.
The idea of controlling a virtual camera through a phone and seeing the results in real time was especially interesting. Compared to traditional production pipelines, it made the creative process feel much more immediate, interactive, and intuitive.
Alongside the class, the TouchDesigner workshop had a significant impact on me and my friends. We were particularly fascinated by its ability to create generative and responsive visual systems, and it quickly became a tool that we wanted to explore further. After the workshop, my friends and I decided to collaborate for the Expanded Animation brief using TouchDesigner, as we felt it offered exciting possibilities for creating immersive and interactive experiences.
Since deciding to collaborate, we already knew that we wanted to create a project related to AI and its growing influence on everyday life. With that direction in mind, we began researching possible project themes, references, and conceptual approaches that could be explored through an interactive installation. This initial research phase helped us identify topics that could be effectively communicated using generative visuals and real-time interaction, while also encouraging us to think critically about the relationship between humans and intelligent systems.