Stop-motion, stop-animation, classic
special effects, puppets, masks, costumes, props, models, sets, matts, production
illustrations, production design...
the
I
narrowed the choices to this two configurations
(doodles on the top left sketch).
The one with vertical axis could've
been pretty interesting, but wasn't
friendly for filming, as this two
croppings from the top-right visualisation
would suggest. Also, I haven't designed
the boxes with this orientation in
mind, so they'd need additional designing.
Moreover, the camera movements could
prove more demanding, as well as masking
the background, lighting, etc. But,
the most difficult issue would be,
by far, suspending them in the way
they are presented here, with the
task of applying details pushed next
to impossible.
So
we agreed upon this configuration
above and below. The final model underwent
some redesigning, but it came quite
close.
The
Assembly
Above
left: "boxes" mock-ups;
are they too big? How, if box mock-up
must be extrapolated from existing
parts (Above right)
I
tried to avoid it, but eventually
I had to create a crude 3D computer
model, to fit all the elements and
find out what's missing. It also helped
to design and arrange LIGO-like struts
Above:
first assembly left much to be desired
- "boxes" were definitively
too big, and there was shortage of
uniform parts.
Above:The
blueprint for aluminum parts; Right
and below: aluminumparts
ready for assembly
I've
designed the aluminumelements
with LIGO in mind; hence the array
of holes on "support struts",
and angular "supports"
Final
boxes in assembly; a bit smaller than
cardboard mock-ups
The
tricky part was to disassemble the
model for transport. Sadly, I managed
to snap just one single photo in the
process - photo above left:
With top and bottom shelves removed,
both of the vertical struts assemblies
held together only by the two screws
in the lower third. It was dangerously
wobbly. It had to go through cramped
studio, narrow passages and doors,
and into my car. A transport van wouldn't
help much as it had to be disassembled
anyway. Finally, there was a narrow,
low ceiling and turning stairway to
the filming studio. So, with that
obstacle successfully overcomed in
the evening before the scheduled filming,
putting the boxes in place and hanging
the cylinder between the two seemed
easy enough. That can't be difficult,
right?
Well,
wrong. Of course, because this things
are never easy. One can always hope,
but really? Tightening up everything,
leveling it with fishing rod, adding
all the details wasn't a small feat.
Moreover, suspending the disk was
tricky as hell. But then, with the
lights on, it started to look as intended.
