Name: Lizzie Hupcey
Role: Storyboard Artist
Q: How would you describe a storyboard?A: A storyboard is a sequence of drawings that show the main actions in a scene, along with the camera's position and movements.
Q: Under Jakob's Ladder is set around the time of World War II. Is there anything special that you do when storyboarding for a historical movie?
A: The clothes, the props, and in particular the car, had to be the right period. I was given reference pictures to work with. Some were historical photos, movie stills, or photographs of the actual items being used. Some of the props lived at my house for a while, so that helped.
Q: Storyboards are often created long before locations are secured and all the actors are cast in a project. What did you use as models for your storyboards? A: I had access to some casting and location-scouting photos. I took some of my own as well. Mostly, I posed my friends like mannequins and used a few stock reference images.
Q: Compare your completed storyboard to what was actually filmed. Did it turn out like you visualized?
A: There were some rewrites after I did my work. Some shots were straight off the page. It would be the actor's hand in the film, but I'd know it was really my dad's. I tackled a sequence with Yasha during actual production. It was exciting to see that brought to life because it was fresh in my mind and stayed pretty much as I was given it.
Q: Do you have any funny stories or anecdotes about working on this film?A: The day we forgot how to assemble the jib. I think Kevin [Wiley] built it, and he wasn't there at the time. The photographs I had of it were from too far away, so we had to look at someone else's. The team would huddle around a laptop in the barn, then go back out and try to make sense of the pieces. I took detail shots from several angles once they finished, just in case.
Q: What did you enjoy the most about working on this film?
A: I met a lot of cool people, and I experienced a real, organized production. Collaborating and working with someone else's ideas was great. It's something I'd like to do more of.
Q: What artists inspire you as an artist?
A: I love the Impressionists, because they were people watchers. Jeff Smith is probably my favorite cartoonist. As far as animators, there's Milt Kahl, Ollie Johnston, Mark Henn. Tim Burton is a big influence, even though our styles are complete opposites.
Q: If you could get a dream job as a storyboard artist on any film (past, present, or future), which film would you choose?
A: Terry Gilliam's Don Quixote.
Q: What qualities (apart from formal training) do you think are important to working as an artist?A: Observing the world is a big part of it. It helps if art is a compulsion. I have itchy, sketching fingers; they crave an outlet at all times.
Q: What do you enjoy most about creating your artwork?
A: Showing people what goes on in my head is incredibly satisfying.
Q: And finally, do you have a website?
A: My website -- http://www.rabidlemur.com/
Note: We posted a short sequence (the arrest of Jakob) that was storyboarded by Lizzie Hupcey. If you haven't seen it yet, have a look.
No comments:
Post a Comment