The Flash techniques I’ve written about recently have got me thinking about where to use such cool effects. Naturally any exciting new method is something you’d wanna implement right away and you may even find yourself squeezing a new scene or sequence into a project, just to show it off.
Whenever you discover a new tool or technique, resist the temptation to cram it into your work somehow, unless it’s called for. As a storyteller, you should use only the tools that you need, rather than searching for an excuse to use them. So say “wow that’s nice, maybe I’ll need it someday” and put it in your mind’s toolbox.
For me, the prime example is Flash CS4’s 3D and IK features. They’re really cool and I’ve done loads of experiments with them, but to date I simply haven’t needed them in my work. Maybe they’re answered prayers for some animators, but forcing yourself to fill up a movie with 3D & IK just because they’re new features would result in something that looks more like a sponsored Flash CS4 ad. Consider also that once everyone else starts filling up their movies with the same features, such a movie would very quickly appear full of YAWN!
You want your audience to say “wow, what a sequence!” long before they ask “how did they do that?”. So write your story, perhaps finish the storyboard and layouts, then look at each scene and think “what’s the best way to do this? Is it worth the time to do it by hand? Or is there a tool that can do it quicker without distracting the audience?”
As a final thought, treat everything in the movie with the same philosophy. Don’t let the technique get in the way of the story. If you spend 3 days on a single background, no matter how proud of it you are, don’t fall into the trap of extending the scene just so the audience has more time to take in your hard work. That’s bad storytelling.
who said?