Bookshelf Changed to blue books

My tutor suggested to change the books to one shade as it was too colourful beforehand. So I changed the books to a range of blues and purples. I reckon it looks a lot better and not super busy. It will also suit the mood and main colour theme, being blue, of the apartment and emotion for the story.

Vanity Unit Props

I put simple lamberts on the vanity unit objects as they aren't as important as the vanity unit itself. They aren't important props, but they add detail and depth to the scene.
I'm not sure what to do with the magazine stack yet...pretty tempted to chuck a G Dragon magazine cover photo just for Keat HAHA but yeah, might not be suitable, we'll see.

Coffee Table textured

Coffee Table texturing complete! Yay!
I used the same texture as the shelves in the bookshelf, but I darkened the colour by recommendation by Taylor. It turned out really nice and was easy to texture :)

Set Up

Yesterday I drew up how I imagine the set up of the room to be. I will colour it as well, but for now, here is the line woooooork. I put the window next to the vanity unit as the light shining in from, say a street lamp, would slightly shine on the husband. This would make him pop out a bit as the background would

Vanity Unit Modelling Progression

Rather than having lots of posts of the progress of modelling the vanity unit, I'll have it all here in this one post. I'm aiming to finish it in one sitting anyway. These are mainly screenshots of added pieces to the final. Hopefully the group like it! I'll ask them to comment feedback.

Vanity Unit Modelling Progress

I'm going pretty slowly with the vanity unit because I want it to turn out really nice! It is what connects the husband and wife after all!!
I'm trying to think of the simplest ways to extrude parts also without making it look to complicated. Taylor doesn't want as much detail like the having straight legs for the unit and no fancy designs around the mirror.

Vanity Unit Items

Over the last 2 days I've been modelling small items that will be on the vanity unit. Even though the husband 'moved'the vanity unit out to the lounge, he could've put all the items in the drawers. But showing these items could help show the audience what she liked -doing her make up, brushing her hair. These small details could show that Elizabeth was a real person, not just an animated character that will be shown in the mirror. These items tie her to the real world.
I've began modelling the vanity unit and will post progress pictures in the next post. I hope it turns out nice!

References for perfume bottle
https://nz.pinterest.com/taggieccccc/lovely-puff/
http://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Perfume-Bottle-Atomizer-Ounces/dp/B0038ESI40

Modelling items

I've done what I can for now in terms of modelling the big furniture. I'm having a bit of trouble trying to round the vase as the bottom and top get all distorted and weird. So instead of using all my time to try make it work (and probably using the hardest methods) I'll start modelling the smaller things.

Starting with the hair brush. It'd make sense to have a 'brush set' match, shape wise, with the shape of the mirror. Not many people, or not many people that I know of, own a vanity unit these days, but having matched sets are hard to come by, so it would be ok if we had unmatching items in the scene upon the unit. But seeing as the furniture as a whole doesn't match, the vanity unit would be the exception. The woman would've cherished the vanity set, so she would've had matching things to compliment the vanity unit. Seen in the reference pictures below, these a set of a mirror, brush and comb. SO YEAH, I'll model this set to be pre similar. And yeah I should've looked at more brushes, but this is what I had in mind plus it matches the vanity mirror. win win.
Whooooa I'm thinking to much.

References:
http://creativemuggle.tumblr.com/
https://www.etsy.com/listing/232858671/vintage-hairbrush-set-of-2-vanity?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

Start of 3D Modelling

I'm going pretty slow with 3D modelling at the moment. Haven't used maya since last year so I had to try to remember things as I went. Plus I'm not that good with maya, but modelling can be fun when I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING which hasn't really been the case -.- I've given up on the bookshelf for now 'cos well yeah, I don't really know what to do, so I'll ask Taylor for help next week at course. For the vase, Taylor said that the vase could stay this rectangular shape, but I'll duplicate it and round it off so we'll have more options. As for the coffee table, Taylor recommended making it tall and with shelves - might need to make a more square and less rectangular. I had a better idea of what I was doing with this rather than the book shelf. I might try different draw handles though later on.
All these objects/ furniture will have to look run down as well, so ...I don't know how to go about that. *Runs to the 3D Queen known as Director Taylor.

Final Animation!!

YUS! I didn't think I'd actually finish today! i'm so stoked!!
After many weeks of frustration on Maya, here is my final animation. There's lots of things I could've fixed up on, like how his arms are shiny xD But the time limit didn't allow me too.
Overall, i really like it :D
Thanks everyone for your help!!

Start of lighting

Chucked a spotlight in and straight away I rendered the frame.
I might use this for when he gets caught and hold it only few seconds.
FREEZE!
DROP THE SPOON AND BACK AWAY FROM THE BENCH

Smooth Animating

WOOTWOOT My smooth animating is complete!
I added a few things such as a blink in shot 2 and delayed the left foot when he's slipping. Looks better with more stuff going on :)

3D Animation at it's finest

Accidentally turned the lighting on while I was smooth animating. Bit of a shocker. Oops.
The lighting isn't finished! Just had to add some lights so I could see my character when previously rendering.

Stage Blocking

YUS Stage Blocking complete! The lil breathing attack he has wasn't planned, but I rendered it so many times that it caused him to have a breathing spazz xD I kinda like the effect it has on his reaction to the knife coming towards him :D
I don't really like the last 2 shots that much >.< But this is just stage blocking, when I fully animate it, it'll come out SPOT ON

Lulz

So I started my final shot with the chef in the scene annnnd I rotated him just so I could have his arms up and in the shot (even though this is in persp view) and this happened.

Stage Blocking Awkwardness

The ik rig for the right arm is difficult to animate with >.< I'm pre positive that I didn't weight paint it well enough annnnnd now I wish I spent more time on it. I had to change my original pose to something like this, but even the right arm can't keep up with the more exaggerated state of the left arm.
I'll probably drop the symmetrical nature of the pose and have both arms doing different things.
Cool bananas.

First shot complete for stage blocking

FYEAH first shot complete with the much needed help from Taylor!! (thank you so much!!!) featuring a gnarly environment :D If I have time ..which is hella unlikely, I'll add more pots and pans n shizz.

Fancy Chef for Stage Blocking

Because Maya hates me and vice versa, the weight painting on the pinky for some unknown reason stuffed up. SO NOW the fat chef is a hella fancy and has his pinky sticking out whilst holding the spoon.

NOPE

I hate skinning

Skinning

On about Wednesday, I thought I was doing ok and was up to date UNTIL one hand's finger rolls were lost. When I tried again, the constraints weren't working properly, so I duplicated the hand over and re-orientated the ctrls to the finger joints AGAIN. Then I sorted out the finger rolls ONLY TO FIND that the ik rig for the right arm was out of whack SO I had to redo that. THEN the joints for said arm flew off in the other blooming direction.
Thanks to Michael and Keat's help, my ctrls are all good and working properly!
NOW I CAN FINALLY START SKINNING.
for goodness sake.
Due tomorrow.
FML.