The Making of an Animated Short Score
In April of this year (2009) the Christian Filmmakers site held a 36-hour short film contest. Participating filmmakers from all around the world were challenged to create a three minute short film within a 36-hour period.
I was honored when Cory Taylor (http://www.coryalantaylor.com) asked me to create the score for an animated film he planned to produce for the contest. I liked the story of AMP, a little robot on a quest to gain freedom from his power chord, which gave him life, but also kept him confined. I thought it would be fun creating a score for an animation, something I hadn’t done before.
AMP Model
Off to a Good Start
While the contest rules allowed the preparation of certain elements of the short film prior to the contest, the actual rendering and assembly of the film had to be conducted during the 36-hour contest. Cory had prepared a rough storyboard with slides so we could work on the timing of the score. This was important since animated films tend to depend heavily on the timing of musical elements of the film and I didn’t just want to create a simple piano score, or anything else for that matter that would be relatively easy to pull off during the 36 hours.
I had asked Cory to put the storyboard slides into a QuickTime movie that I could use to roughly sketch out the score, something I hoped would help in fully producing the orchestration during the contest.
A scene sketch from AMP
Prior to the contest we initially discussed some of the feel the score should have and I had a fairly good understanding of what I thought the score should sound like. It had to be somewhat light, but not silly. With two weeks to go before the contest, I went to work.
Disaster Strikes
Everything looked really good, especially some of the test renders (still images) from Cory and his team. Little did anyone know that when the day of the contest had arrived disaster struck in the form of computer crashes. It was clear very early on into the 36 hours that time would work against us and the decision was made to drop out of the contest.
AMP with texture applied
The Aftermath
With Cory’s permission, I thought that it may be educational to post a progression of how the score developed through the revisions. Keep in mind that nothing you hear in the film clips below represents a finished score. It was to be finished during the 36-hour contest. All comments are those that were made during the sketching of the score.
There are some interesting cues to point out. One would be the intro change-up when AMP wakes up from a dramatic ‘Oh no!’ feel to a ‘Yeah, my battery!’ expression musically. You can hear this introduced in Revision 5. Working with storyboards is fantastic, as you get a general idea where something is going. However, communication is still king, as I wrongly interpreted AMP waking up and kicking the battery by accident was perceived by him as something dreadful. It wasn’t until Cory, the director, explained that AMP was really happy to see the battery there and that it was to be the focus of the score in that cue. So, we changed it up.
AMP in a render test
Because of the unfinished nature of the film, the score was never finished either. However, I will make it available (sans the rotating fan sound effect that can be heard from time to time) under a Creative Commons license so anyone interested to use it can do so freely, as long as credit is given.
I will post again when I have it ready in a releasable state. Until then, enjoy watching the progression in the film clips. Tip: Use the ‘Large Version’ links to read the text comments Cory put into the storyboard.
AMP in a fully rendered scene, including texture
AMP animation test - Click to Play
Working Title: AMP
Date: 03/30/09
Revision: 1
Comments: This is the initial version with an early concept of the beginning cue.
Amp Storyboard Score Draft 01Working Title: AMP
Date: 04/03/09
Revision: 2
Comments: We now have about a minute done. I put a more comedic segment in, which is going to be repeated when Amp tries to grab the battery with the clamps. When we repeat the theme, we’re going to change it up a bit though, so it evolves.
Amp Storyboard Score Draft 02Working Title: AMP
Date: 04/04/09
Revision: 3
Comments: So, we’re repeating the comedic theme and changed it up. Going into the changed up theme, I added a bit of a brooding mood. Amp is mad and is walking back to the chest, kind of like a death march. He’s going to get this battery back, if it kills him. He declared war.
I also have the beginning pieces for the first fly-bot appearance. I’m keeping it a bit mysterious. We don’t know exactly what’s about to happen.
Amp Storyboard Score Draft 03Working Title: AMP
Date: 04/04/09
Revision: 4
Comments: A bit of the score, including the dramatic ‘declaring war on the battery’ theme.
Amp Storyboard Score Draft 04Working Title: AMP
Date: 04/05/09
Revision: 5
Comments: Reworked the intro section. A warm wash type sound is introduced when Amp wakes up and sees the battery. Also made other small enhancements to create a better flow between the segments.
Amp Storyboard Score Draft 05Working Title: AMP
Date: 04/10/09
Revision: 6
Comments: Reworked the intro section. A warm wash type sound is introduced when Amp wakes up and sees the battery. Also made other small enhancements to create a better flow between the segments.
Amp Storyboard Score Draft 06
