Most of the film is now up in story reels in various stages. Scratch dialogue track, provided by members of Knaresborough Players, along with a few temporary spot effects are combined with rough story sketches and concept art to provide an audio-visual experience of the film in its early stages.
The process is equivalent to the theatre rehearsal process, exploring the dramatic potential of scenes, the blocking of characters, and the use of lighting and sound to heighten emotion. Unlike live-action films, edited after filming, the editing in animation happens at this stage, so it is an important time to make editorial decisions before costly production work commences. It’s an opportunity to play with ideas quickly before the reels are locked and the time-consuming process of layout and animation begins. The pace of the film often feels different on screen than on paper,
ZOOM scratch recording with The Knaresborough Players. From left to right: Mike Atkinson, David and Jemma Bunting, Kathryn Leigh and Emilie Knight
In time, the voices of the Knaresborough Players and the story sketches by James and I will be replaced by the cast and the final animation art. But the contribution of both will live large on the screen.
Story concept art by James McKay