Grand Space Opera 2D Entry: Russell Collins

#21

Interesting start - I look forward to seeing more.

#22

Hey, Russell, yet another new idea, I see. Yet this feels very “pulp,” and definitely in keeping with the themes that you’ve already been exploring. I can vaguely amke out what’s going on. It’s a shame that the hero only gets a head-shot… Have you thought about pulling the camera out so that you can see more of his body? Hmm, but then everything else will be smaller. Anyhow, it’s really feeling like Space opera in the classic sense of the words. Good luck as you continue forwards!

-mike

#23

realy wierd man…

the spacy theme one seems very dated to me. I would expect to see it on the cover of an 80’s sci fi paperback novel. The machanical legs guy seems much more interesting. I wouldent suggest puting characters floating in space from now on, its just not very pleasing to the eye. people like to see characters in there natural environments.

#24

Well, here is the composition in progress. I’m not very good with highly cinematic angles so I’m hoping that everything lines up nicely as this progresses. Thankfully I can place the elements that the eyes key-in on in different layers to adjust later but then again, I’m not very good at angles so it could just make the whole thing moot.

Speaking of layers, I’ve got the hero character on his own layer so I can move him further into or out of the scene. Any recommendations as to what to do with him as pictured here?

Lighting is going to be the next big learning process for me on this one since I’m going to try and make the inner room have depth and yet be much brighter than the hallway.

Colorwise, I like how it is setting up but there isn’t much cohesiveness yet. I hope that changes with the lighting effects I want to imply…

#25

Fun pic !Splendid start you got there!
I’m even less good with lighting than you so can’t help you there…
might have a few suggestions , tho …

so how about :

  • a lit “top secret” sign above the door
  • a tiny biomechanical guard dog , lying on its side on the floor, its jaws locked
    on one of the spider dudes legs
  • red alarm light in the corridor
  • a heavy guard robot behind the hero
  • other mysterious objects in different sorts of containers behind the spider dude,
    if it’s a storage room or showroom.
  • I’d definitely keep the spider-dude weaponless… makes u think of what the spider
    form can do in combat, for example
    -a hole in the wall or ceiling…an open cargo box… an open ventilation shaft…
    to show where the spider thingy had gotten into the room

I don’t really have much now , that pic’s so cool to begin with, the head-on-a-plate
thing and all :slight_smile:

#26

I like your ideas but the way I was thinking of the scene was as a “rescue” with a heroine strapped helplessly to a table with a laser cutting beam aimed at her by another one of the drones in the background.

However, the idea of an invading force of drones is interesting too. I wonder if it would be too graphic to have the decappitated corpse of a scientist laying on the floor somewhere and signs implying that the robot ripped his head off and attached it to itself so it could use the scientist’s brain for it’s nefarious plans…

It might not be too gruesome, but then where would I put the damsel in distress and the laser beam? Decisions, decisions…

#27

I put this part off for a long LONG time because I am mortally afraid of lighting. Not “lightning”, but the bain of those unaccustomed to cinematic effects in drawings made without reference. So, since I have been such a chicken, I’ve let this part slip (along with all the other details I should have been adding all along) until the last week. Well, I just got a job doing tech support for a software company so all my free time from being unemployed is about to dry up and I’ll really have no excuse. I really wish I had the bandwidth to have spent more time viewing and commenting on other people’s threads but oh well. Good luck on the home stretch everybody!

#28

Good to see you back, Russell! The face is refining nicely. Now you had better finish this. I mean it!
:slight_smile:

-mike

#29

Yeah, I’m on it! I just need to get a case of Mountain Dew and some microwave popcorn and get to it. For now, I’m playing catch-up and family-computer tech support. Yours is looking amazing dude! I’m very glad you decided to enter the challenge.

#30

Some days you realize that no matter how much you love your girlfriend, no matter how excited you get about a subject, no matter HOW MANY MONTHS YOU HAVE BEFORE THE DEADLINE… …some days you realize your true muse is pressure. That looming deadline is more inspirational than anything else and I’m finally back on a roll. The fine details are killing me though and I’m basically going to be pulling an “all-nighter” since I’ve got a wedding to attend this weekend and RIGHT NOW is the only time I will have to work on this.

What do you think about the progress? Anybody still out there or are you all back at your desks sweating the last-minute details like I am? :smiley:

#31

So, I’m not exactly healthy right now after 3 liters of mountain Dew, my brain, awake though it may be, is rebelling vigorously against me by shuttering all the bright ideas I had for rich details I could add to this image. I’ve tried to see how it looks with more dramatic lighting (wherein I can skip plunking in rigorous details everywhere).

I realize that I’m not a designer of cool machinery by nature. I’m a fan of the old school chunky style for its simplicity (not in the Apple sense of the term but in the Atari sense of the term). You’ll notice toggle switches on the console right next to a holographic image (anachronistic, perhaps?). Basically, I’m a character dude, not a rigorously detailed environment dude and so I’m stuck ONCE AGAIN.

I’m hoping some of you can help me out by giving me just the prod I need to keep from losing all my mountain-dew-induced momentum.

#32

Russell, put down the bottle and go to sleep. Though it may be an urban legend, I’ve heard that the yellow dye kills your sperm. You’ve made some great progress – the Caution sign is brilliant. I don’t understand why the laser is cutting around the girl, though. Are they using her to make She Hulk cookies? :smiley: But seriously, you might want to put a clamp on her neck and brackets on either side of her head. What if there was a red target on her forehead? You could have a monitor with a big “4” as though the laser is in countdown to lobotomy. Tom Selleck has to work fast!

#33

Well, here we are come to the end of things and I didn’t manage to finish. I’m not going to whine and say “if only” or anything like that. I AM going to congratulate the people who gave this their best shot even though I didn’t do the same. Good luck to everyone who finished with a satisfying effort. I’ve enjoyed watching your work. Bring on the next one!

#34

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