Just over the half way mark of my animation course at SIT Invercargill.

The next project is to amalgamate digital animation with live action footage to make a short film.

For this project I am going to mount a a Go Pro camera onto a weight balanced pole and run through a piece of typical New Zealand bush. I am then going to create a CG Dragonfly in Maya and try to place it into the bush footage as seamlessly as possible. The idea is to have the Dragonfly as if it is just in front of the camera. This will hopefully give the audience the feeling of having a roller coaster ride as they follow the Dragonfly as it darts and sweeps around logs, leaves and trees etc. I will add a little comic relief when it stops for a moment, turns and harasses the camera as if its annoyed at being followed. It will conclude with the Dragonfly turning up wards and flying out of shot into the sky.

Ive been told one of the major challenges is in the camera tracking. It will be essential that the CG component synchronizes with the movement of the live action so a fair amount of time will have to be set aside to ensure this.

Ive had a good look at the Vodafone Mayfly commercial done a few years ago. In that advertisement they made a very realistic insect and then gave it some human characteristics. It is absolutely seamless, endearing and has an overall high production value. Even the values of the flies look correct, as if they were part of the live action itself. If I can get some where close to this I will be happy.

While that advertisement had a story, my film is intended to be more of a ride. I hope I can get the audience to feel a sense of motion. By shooting the film as a continuous piece of action with an up, down, under and over flight through the under growth of the bush, I think I a can achieve this.