Motion Design / Lesson 2 / Color and Choreography

Lesson Overview

To create a more complex visual, a VJ will conceptualize and compose the choreography of various elements temporally (timing) and spatially (arrangement). By manipulating the basic shapes’ attributes over time and space using controlled animation, we can extend the motion design fundamentals into dynamic, synaesthetic compositions.

Early examples of choreography in film and animation can be seen in the work of Busby Berkeley, where he used dancers, sets, and costumes to create mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic displays of bodies in motion. Designers such as Saul Bass choreographed layers of stylized forms to set the theme, setting and mood for film and TV title sequences. His sequences are most masterful in symbolizing pure emotion.

A major device for influencing the emotional, synaesthetic quality of an object is color. We will explore the musicality of color in the Visual Music module, but first we will its essential effect using the additive color palette of RGB, since red, green and blue are the primary colors of light.

Using the previous ‘Gestalt’ composition, we will refine the relationship between the shapes through controlled direction, velocity, and force to create a motion-based, concentric circle composition using scale, position, rotation, and the RGB palette.

We will then augment the color relationships by experimenting with layer modes (Add, Multiply, etcetera) to explore additive and subtractive color and the resulting tertiary forms.

Finally, refine the timing of your final composition to music by syncing the motion to the clock (BPM), step sequencers, and/or the cue list for optimal control.

Lecture Videos

  1. Color and Choreography: History and basic concepts

(Color and Choreography Lecture Video)

  1. Color and Choreography: VDMX demonstration

(Color and Choreography Demonstration Video)

Lecture Notes

(Color and Choreography Lecture Slides)

Videos:

Articles:

Color Palettes:

Resources

Homework

Assignments

Create three RGB circle comps with background layer

  • Concentric “Zooming”
  • Position / rotation using LFOs
  • Step Sequencer to music

Notes:

  • Recordings for these assignments can be in h.264.
  • Use ProRes if you plan to use them for further editing in Final Cut Pro, Resolve, After Effects, etc.

Review Questions and Further Discussion

  1. What are ways we can animating shapes using control data?
  • “Zooming”
  • Syncing motion to the Clock
  • Dynamic form using Num FX and FX Chains
  • Step sequencers
  1. Introduction to Color
  1. Introduction to Choreography