Rough 3d Layout: Temp Score

This is the version of the film that was presented to the faculty at the end of the fall semester. Several shots have been further trimmed, and a temp score + environment sounds have been added. The temp score is entirely derived from a chase scene in The Incredible Journey: Homeward Bound.

Rough 3d Layout: Revisions Round 1

This is the complete film, blocked in 3d layout. For this version I trimmed several shots in Premiere, and added a few new shots to help make the story feel more from the gecko's perspective. Still no sound, but I'll try to get a rough track in soon.

Rough 3d Layout: Update

This version includes all shots up to 26 - camera still rough, and the boy doesn't have a proper rig yet. But it's coming soon!

Rough 3d Layout: First Installment

Here are the first 14 shots of Gecko's Gamble, in rough 3d layout. The biggest modifications to the storyboard panels are 1: more moving camera, and 2: eliminating the butterfly net. The boy does not yet have a rig, so I put in a very primitive skeleton (no weights painted) just for posing.

Boy Update

The boy model is nearly complete - still ironing out hair and a couple other small things, but should start rigging and texturing soon.

Mouse Model + Texture

Here is the final version of the mouse, ready for rigging. Modeling and texturing was done by Aiman Akhtar, who was really great to collaborate with. Not only prompt and professional, but capable of translating ideas on paper into really smart, sophisticated 3d designs. Thanks Aiman!

Shed Model Update

Here's a render through the front door of the shed - it's made of square planks, and is getting a little heavy geometry-wise.

Shed Furniture

I modeled some custom furniture for the west wall of the shed; this went pretty quick, so I think I'll build more for other parts of the shed too.

Shed Model

I've started modeling the shed. Right now it's mainly cubes, just to figure out where all the shelves and countertops will be.

Boy Design

Here is the latest version of the boy. He's got a simplified hair design, and fairly tight-fitting sweater and pants to keep rigging as simple as possible. He comes from a well-off suburban background, and so doesn't come into contact with animals or sheds very often.

Gecko Model Update

The Gecko has been modeled and is ready to rig!

Shed Design

Here is the first pass at figuring out what the shed will look like. I am now leaning towards an abandoned woodshop in a rural setting, to allow for more interesting stylization. There will be a lot of weathered wood and rusty metal, and tools scattered around everywhere.

Updated Mouse Design

After talking to several riggers, it seems that the mouse would be better off as a quadruped (it will emote on two legs, but all of its running and scampering will be on all fours). In this design I also tried to make it look a little more feminine.

Gecko's Gamble: Logline and Treatment

Logline: A trapped gecko must choose between saving himself or his fellow captives.

Treatment: A gecko is lying on a sunny rock in a suburban backyard. Without warning he is swept up in a net by a malicious young boy, who takes him into a ramshackle shed to feed to his much-abused pet hawk. The gecko escapes from the boy and the bird and nearly gets out the door, but faces a moral dilemma when he spots a mouse trapped in a cage, also doomed to be eaten. In a moment of selflessness, the lizard turns back to save the mouse, but is recaptured as he opens the cage door. The mouse escapes, and must choose whether to flee the shed, or stay to help the gecko. The boy drops the gecko over the hawk’s cage, but the mouse intercepts him just before the hawk does. They flee, and the boy chases them around the room, eventually recapturing the mouse. Unable to help but unwilling to flee, the lizard risks everything and releases the bird from its cage in the hopes of creating a diversion. Instead, the hawk places the gecko on its back, and together they fly straight at the boy, steal back the mouse, and escape from the shed through an open window.

Style: The film will be constructed entirely using 3d animation (Maya). The character design/expressiveness/render quality will take much influence from Dreamwork’s well-known Madagascar characters. The action sequences will be heavily influenced by the Oscar-winning short animation “Oktapodi”, while the lighting and atmosphere of the shed itself will draw from the dark film-noir world of “Double Indemnity” or “Touch of Evil”.

Gecko's Gamble Animatic

This is the current animatic for my thesis animation. It's about 3 1/2 minutes, and blends a lot of heavy chase-sequence action with emotional character performance. I'm still looking to tighten it some more and add sound, but the basic story is there.

Gecko's Gamble from Matthew Steidl on Vimeo.

Shed Concept Art

Here's an idea of what the inside of the shed will look like. It's old, dark, and dilapidated, full of dust and sharp tools and cold metal cages. Most of the light will come from a side window and a small incandescent light above the center table, supplemented by lighting leaking in through cracks in the wood slat walls.

Hawk Design

Here is the latest version of the Hawk for Gecko's Gamble. He's pretty mean-spirited, but straightforward as models go. No feathers explicitly, but he'll have intense red eyes that you can see clearly in total darkness.

Mouse Character Design

Here is the newest edition of the design for the Mouse in Gecko's Gamble. She's fairly timid, and cute but not too distracting for our hero. When still or performing via facial expressions, she will stand upright. But when running across the shed, she'll be down on all fours.

Gecko Character Design

I've been revising character designs over the past several weeks; here is the Gecko. His design will draw heavily on Oktapodi and Madagascar for shape and movement, and a little from How to Train your Dragon for eye expressiveness. And of course, I coudn't ignore the most famous CG reptile out there: the Geico Gecko.

Matthew Steidl CURRENT Layout Demo Reel 2011

Matthew Steidl CURRENT Layout Demo Reel March 2011 from Matthew Steidl on Vimeo.

Matthew Steidl DEMO REEL 2011

Matthew Steidl DEMO REEL 2011 from Matthew Steidl on Vimeo.

Wolf

Wolf from Matthew Steidl on Vimeo.