two in the middle: digital character production and machinima courses mark c. van langeveld, robert...
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Two in the Middle: Digital Character Production and Machinima Courses
Mark C. van Langeveld,
Robert Kessler
University of Utah
EAE
Entertainment Arts and Engineering Program (EAE)
For CS Majors and Film Studies (FS) Majors (FS Houses Animation at the University of Utah)
Emphasizes Games and Animation by:– Requiring Electives from EAE Courses– Requiring some GE from EAE Courses– Core classes with EAE Content and Tools
Does not Diminish Major whether CS or FSWant to add other interdisciplinary tracksBut this is another Presentation (@10:30)
CS Motivation for Interdisciplinary Courses using EAE’s Games and Animation as an Example Extraordinary Applied Learning Experience
Including Solidifying many Core CS Concepts Attracts a Diverse Set of Students
– Different Backgrounds/Interests (Majors)– More Women
Entertainment Industry wants Students with EAE Type Education for Technical Art Directors– Why Technical-Art/Technical Directors?
High Retention of Students After Graduation: Higher Salaries with Many Options Extremely Motivated Students/Interesting to Study
and Teach
Two Courses with Curriculum Overlapping both Departments
Digital Character Production CourseMachinima Course
Digital Character Production Course: Learning Objectives
To teach the production pipeline application for computer graphic character design, development and production for animation, games, and machinima projects based on techniques that teach the foundations of original character development
To help students learn the critical elements of digital figure modeling that distinguishes levels of sophistication in character models
To help students learn to translate design concepts into physical representations (paper, words, images and clay) and then continue with the translation of the concept into a digital representation of their character
Digital Character Production Course: Learning Objectives (cont’d) To introduce students to computer graphics (CG) for the
game and animation industries and the professional practices associated with character development for machinima/games/animation/special fx
To introduce students to algorithms used in specific modeling techniques including: smoothing, polygon decimation, vertex merging, edge loops selections, and edge loop inserts
To introduce students to Data-Structures used in Graphics Programs
Assist students in mastering several complex computer graphics production software packages including familiarizing students with MAYA’s Embedded Language (MEL) --MAYA’s scripting language
Digital Character Production Course: Learning Objectives (cont’d) To help students experience the tools and learn
techniques allowing them to customize their machinima projects, enhance animations and demonstrate competency in games asset production pipeline
To learn visual, structural and mechanical human anatomy to help students understand complex forms and shapes
To Improve drawing and sculpting communication skills To experience the benefit of breaking complex problems
into manageable parts and learning to weave them back together into a grand solution
To create an exceptionally high-quality CG character that can be used for games, machinima and animation courses
Digital Character Production Course: Teaching Techniques
Lectures, Presentations, one-on-one lab time80% of grade on semester long final project– Clay Sculptures, Drawings, Verbal Descriptions
and then Translation to Digital with MAYA
Critiques and Class ParticipationVoting on best projects by category Step-by-Step process explanationRepetitionMore focus on Learning
Machinama Course: Learning Objectives
To learn how to use a game engine to make 3D movies and gain knowledge of intricacies of game engines by application
Gaining ability to produce interesting and well received animation shorts by learning combined processes
Learn and apply filmmaking techniques including: storyboarding, scriptwriting, cinematography, sound, lighting, editing and film/storytelling
Machinama Course: Learning Objectives (cont’d)
Learn tools for building sets, props, lip synching, and character acting
Learn to work with students from other disciplines: teamwork
Problem solving—partially due to limitations (and complexity) in the tools and technical environment and yet still allowing expressions of creativity
CS topics of event handing and script writing in relation to complex game systems
Machinima Course: Projects
Project One (Individual--Two Weeks)To take the HL2 Modeling Tool (HAMMER) and a given model (plain--few textures) of the classroom, and then to populated it with two characters that open the doors and walk to the front of the class. Also to decorate the classroom space
Project Two (Individual--Two Weeks): To have one of the two characters tell the other one a joke by adding lip syncing and animated reactions
Machinima Course: Projects (Cont’d)
Project Three (Teams of 2 to 3--Three Weeks--2 to 4 Minutes Long Animations): The Third project is an animation telling a story, an advertisement, a musical etc. and adding cinematography and editing
Project Four (Teams of 4 to 12--Half of Semester--Avg. 10 Minute Long Animations): A original/creative short animation of the teams choice--this year we are using scripts from a script writing class taught by one of our TAs
Machinima Course: Teaching Techniques
LecturesPresentations--From Both DepartmentsOne-on-One Lab TimeOpen Critiques/PresentationsShowing Past Projects and Other Shorts
Our Paradox--This seems Like way too Much!--but it Works
The applied-large-project driven classes with content/teaching styles from both departments make it possible and enjoyable
The students are so motivated by what they are learning that they put in more time than with usual classes
The gratitude from students through reviews, letters and conversations is actually unbelievable
Experiment on One Part of the Learning Objectives as an Example (Cont’d)
Three trained independent judges to determine improvement between individuals Pre and Post drawings.
Spearman Ranking to verify judges consistency (Typically .65 is a good correlation and we got .894)
Averaging the three judges results and assigning verbal representation
Results: Most students saw improvement in there drawing skills as it relates to form and structure of the human figure
Summary
We find the courses add extraordinary value for CS and FS students
They really tie together our program and help to ready students for jobs as technical directors
We can accomplish overly ambitious learning objectives by the approach and content
One last example-- “the passion of the mccain”