Post 11: Getting things ready for the potential help

    I created a folder for each sequence, that will contain the working After Effects file with  schematic animation including some keyframes along the timeline, all the images in PNG, and the sound effects for the sequence. I am going to make all these folders available in my DROPBOX to anybody that wants to fool with them, as well as a very rough movie to get an idea of the final thing. 

Post 10: More potential help.

   Yesterday, Todd and I did another presentation in front of Christopher Lowther's 3D Modeling in Maya students, and I got 9 names. I sent them the same e-mail as the last group. So far, I only got 2 e-mails back total, and both are from students that would love to work on the project, but do not know yet how to use the software.
  I really do believe that will is much more important than knowledge in getting things done. I always tackle projects that are too big for me to chew, and figure out later how to do it. The Adobe tutorials on After Effects are enough to teach someone over the week-end how to do a lot of things. I have never tried Maya, and it is probably a little more difficult, but I am sure I could figure it out if I wanted to, and probably will later.

Post 9: A teacher and 14 students

  The one hour presentation in front of the After Effects class at UAB went well, and 14 students are showing an interest in the project so far. The teacher said they would get extra credit for participating, and that is good for all of us. We will do another presentation in front of the 3D Modeling class, an hopefully enlist more help next week. 
  Now, I need to put together a HI DEF 1920x1080 Storyboard, and break up the project in sequences with a few key frames that can be given to the students with instructions for the animation: curtain opening, medal dropping, bats flying, etc...
   The original storyboard was 1280x800, the maximum definition of my projector, and the 1920x1080 format is more oblong, so we have extra vertical space, and I am considering extending the roof line about 4 feet with panels, and have stuff happen above the building: flames, smoke, hands animating string puppets, balloon rolling off, dog walking on the roof, etc... Todd is suggesting using smoke, and that could definitely be interesting if we can control it, but the wind could be a problem.

Post 8: Finding help

      I have exactly three and a half months to deliver the show, and even though it seems a long time if I work on it full time, I know I need help to deliver the best animation. Todd and I made a presentation to the After Effects class at UAB the last day of the term, and are schedule to give another to the more advanced class on Thursday, hoping to recruit volunteers to do some of the computer animation for me. In exchange, we are offering them to share the projector and do their very own show on the same building. It seems like a win win situation to me: I can do a longer show, the public gets two shows instead of one, the students get real world practice on something new and exciting, and build their resume. The teacher is with us, and although the first group didn't seem too interested, I am hopeful the next one starting their term will be.

Post 7: Photograph of the façade

   I was lucky to have decent light and no cars in front of the building yesterday, so I shot a bunch of pictures from the second floor middle window of the furniture store across the street. 
  I corrected the perspective and distortion as well as I could, and will adjust them when I get the exact measurements of the facade.