What it is: I was tasked to create a stop-motion video and decided it should be Star Wars-related. I had to do some set design and intentional lighting choices and use a TV for the background. The idea is similar to ILM’s The Volume but on a budget in my basement. This is my first time creating something like this, and although not perfect, I feel some areas make up for the slightly rough animation like the lighting, set, and sound design.

The Editing: When combining the frames in After Effects, I was disappointed and unmotivated to continue working on the project because it looked rough. Then I started adding ambiance, music, and sound effects, and I got back on track. For visuals, I added elements like smoke for the crashed ship and did the lightsabers in FCPX. I also did some speed ramps since my stop-motion skills aren’t the best, which made things flow a little better. The edit saved the project.

April 2023