JUNIOR GIANTS 2014!

General Feedback on the Junior Giants 2014 Project:

Everyone needs to come up with more pertinent ways of covering the Round the Bases program. This is the main reason that we're involved with the short and it should be paramount to your working on the short. Remember, with covering TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, INTEGRITY along with READING, HEALTHY EATING, VIOLENCE PREVENTION - there is no short.

You've all got great and very creative ideas but it's clear that we're getting caught up with the short animation without sticking to this. Every character you have their chance to shine through the Round the Bases, either instigating or reacting to whats going on... We're looking for an equal share between the characters and that is probably the trickiest part of the planning.

Drawing wise, I know we're at the rough stage but we all need to start tightening up and drawing the characters neater and more on model. Don't project thumbnails up on the big screen. They're never going to hold up when compared to the tighter work of your group mates. Remember that overall, your group's work is a reflection of the entire work of the group. I expect higher standards in the drawing for everyone when we pitch to Chris and the producers in the last week.

Remember that we have 3 minutes (or there abouts) not a huge amount of time but enough. Introduce the characters - old and new - and get on with the fun and round the bases. If in doubt use the power of the cut away to your advantage. Passage of time can happen thanks to the read-throughs and the cuts away from the field at any time.

There is also a VERY GOOD CHANCE that we'll have a little display for the Junior Giants shorts in the Spring Show... Another chance to SHINE!!!

Team Luscious: Coach the Coach
Guys, you're onto something with this project idea. Coach the Coach is one of the most exciting ideas to feature the core characters in quite some time. Here's the deal though, you have got to tighten up the idea to ensure that you're adhering to the fundamental aspects of production here at the school. I have been told in no uncertain terms that we can't do the ruffled fur for Furball. That means that we're going to have to change up the way in which the kids and Furball meet the younger version of coach. You've got to think of a more doable way to get the characters together. This could come back to the idea that we had for the 'diving into the box of memories and coming out in the 1970s... Some other magic coming into the fray. I'm going to leave that in your very capable hands.

Los Gigantes: Furball Family Fun
Some good pitching from you guys, with an idea I genuinely love. It's entirely possibly that you could rewrite the rules that Chris laid out regarding new characters. However, that is not going to happen if we don't work through more compelling, funny and entertaining introductions and run-thrus with the whole family. Remember that this needs to be just a series of shots rather than extended sequences... As such it's clear that the writing is crucial to this. Get the family together sooner and you've got the opportunity to get involved with the round the bases sooner. Remember the importance of the character arcs with the characters though, each of the new characters needs to have changed at the end of the short for the better - Something I only saw in the little ones. Lose the notion of Spring Training in favour of a scrimmage, the client doesn't like it.

Superduper: In His Shoes
Guys, you've got the most production-friendly piece of everyone. No new assets! You need to own this idea more and the idea of the body-swapping needs to be really well planned. Remember to bring the characters closer together don't get a lot of distance between them when the personalities change over. I quite agree that the kids shouldn't keep this from coach. It's not a terribly Junior Giant thing to do. Let's ensure that the personality swap is done with a degree of finesse throughout the piece and more importantly decide how the Round the Bases ties in with the idea. I still very much love the idea of magical Furball instigating the swop in a bid to help his friends. Don't overcomplicate the notion of the players praising each other and wishing that they were more like each other. Get to it sooner.

Team AngelBecky: 
Now, some of the big plusses to your piece at this time is that you're keeping it simple with the assets. However, since you've changed ideas a few times, you're floundering to get the chosen idea refined and ready for boarding. I'm very worried about the way that you're working through Furball getting magical. The lightning will be extraordinarily difficult to achieve here at school and as such is best avoided in favor of something much simpler. We also don't really wanna show Furball getting fried :) As such though, it's clear that the idea does need some simplification and making a little more obvious as to what's going on. I still think that you were on the right track with the idea of a character coming back from the summer with a broken arm or leg and having to deal with the Round the Bases as a means of cheering the kid up!

Do hope that this helps you all! Please make sure that you read and digest in a bid to make the shorts as good as they can be!

Go to it my STORYBOARD HEROES!
Shaun