Grand Space Opera 3D Entry: Chantelle Walker

#1

Chantelle Walker has entered the Grand Space Opera 3D.

#2

Who would be dumb enough not to enter this contest? You get to make cool spaceships and stuff! :smiley:

I love the topic for this challenge, I quickly thought of Asimov, Macleod, and Lowachee when I read the words ‘space opera’. They will be my inspiration.

  Good luck to all :)
#3

I have an idea… here’s a bit about the situation:

Ships and combat vessels continue to plague the divided regions of space. Wars through universes have continued to transform into epic battles that would never be resolved until entire armies are destroyed. In most cases, one leader’s decision could end up determining the death of millions of soldiers in battle.

Preparation and military tactics have no rival above a leader’s choice, however.

I originally wanted to do a scene entirely in space from a commander’s perspective of the fleet engaged in a full-fledged attack.

I though of doing things more behind the scenes, where last-minute debriefings of a large scale assault would be verified: troops boarding ships, spacecrafts ready to deploy, lieutenant still trying to convince the “head-honcho” of the planet to approve of the attack, going over strategic defences incase something goes terribly wrong, revealing the ‘secret weapon’ the the “head-honcho” (I don’t know what else to call him, lol)

#4

the frontal focal point. Planet’s leaders looking at a hologram (not quite sure how to plan this yet) He looks distraught at having to make some battle choices.

#5

Great character chantelle!:smiley: The idea gives broad scope to plenty of visual action. Good luck!

#6

layout concept. I’ll have to change some things around.

The leader is overseeing a simulation of the attack if all goes well, while the army is getting ready to leave.

#7

thankyou :bounce:

#8

Nice concept, Chantelle. I don’t think anyone else is attempting a hologram effect, so I’m very curious as to how you’ll manage to pull that off. More importantly, though, I think you’ve hit on a nice way of conveying an “iconic” moment in a grand space opera: a key decision that will determine the fate of millions. History in the making!

#9

I like your idea, showing an army about to go fighting while the leader is still watching a simulation of what is going to happen…
The 2nd sketch fits better in the competition as it is not only focused on the leader, but also showing his army preparing. Don’t hesitate to put a lot of different and original soldiers in the background, to give an epic feeling to the scene.

#10

nuclearman: Thanks I wanted to do some sort of hologram from the start, but finding a way to make it work is the trick 

chug: [img]http://cgtalk.com/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif[/img]  I did some sketches on the soldier design. more concepts on the way!
#11

This is how I want to lay things out from the perspective of the window.

#12

And where the people would be positioned:

#13

Your idea sound good to me:thumbsup: With the watching leader and the soldiers in the battle the scene has some moral apects in it ! Great! Looking forward to see the progress:)
BTW I like the 1st sketch - very cool expression!
Keep up that very good start!

#14

One suggestion, Chantelle: since you are trying to focus on this leadership decision and it’s impact on history, it might actually be wise to angle the camera up, shooting from waist level (or below), to emphasize the importance of the person and the “looming” nature of the decision. In CITIZEN KANE, Orson Welles made frequent use of this technique, and I’d say it’s pretty effective. Higher camera angles are really better for reducing the importance of figures or simply giving an overview of the layout – something which seems less important in your scene, since you’re within a structure that already limits the sense of surroundings. Just something to consider, as your initial sketch actually feels like the strongest composition of the set you’ve posted.

#15

Saschi0815: thanks for the encouragement! :slight_smile:

nuclearman: I’ve been figuring out ways to make that work while still displaying the contents outside. I’ve angled the camera a bit lower but it obviously won’t make the characters appear towering. With that, I also had to move the fleet skyward (looking like they are taking off). I’ll post that in a minute.

With moving the army up, I’m thinking of making a skylight window so I can angle the camera up to make the leader look more superior. While he’ll be making a final decision, the ship and smaller aircrafts will be passing by above him. This might end up as what the final concept would look like :bounce: thanks for your help :slight_smile:

#16

Taking a slightly different perspective of the scene. Move the fleet from being grounded to flying past the window.

#17

This is just to determine the actual size of the characters in the scene (there will be 2 other soldiers)

#18

Very nice work and your quick too…Love the main character. THe only thing I would suggest is to lesson the focus on the soilder standing there…he seems to have the same amount of importance as the main character which I don’t think was your intension…anyway, good luck

#19

Hi, Chantelle, I think the new camera angle is an improvement, but you seem to be just ever so slightly off on your implementation of the “law of thirds,” with the dark celiling taking up a little too much of the composition. (The strong horizontal lines make this particularly evident.) Anyway, I very much like your lighting adjustments, as it makes the eye really hone in on the key components of your scene. Nice progress!

#20

hi… beautiful sketch of planets leader…
good luck in challenge!
cheers…