Summary

In this project, my team of three set out to create a 3D animation exploring themes of existentialism and personal freedom from the constraints of time and modern society. Using motion capture technology and Unreal Engine, we crafted the story of a convenience store worker journeying through metaphysical realms. Over the course of three weeks, we integrated motion capture data, 3D modeling, and animation to produce a short film that seamlessly merges reality with imagination.

http://youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=J9Woy2qrcvc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fsabriaislam.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fsabriaislam.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY

Concept

Our narrative presents a surreal journey of a convenience store worker, unfolding over several contrasting scenes laden with metaphorical and literal elements.

Characters

Worker: A man who works long hours at a convenience store and is unhappy with his current life.
Angry Lady: A disgruntled customer whose interaction triggers the worker's dissociation.
Entity: An omnipresent "boss" that the worker encounters in a transcendent realm
Little Boy: A child who appears at the end, guiding the worker back to reality.

Scene Breakdown

Scene 1: The worker performs mundane tasks like mopping and sweeping, then takes a smoke break.
Scene 2: An altercation with an angry customer causes the worker to dissociate.
Scene 3: He awakens in his memories as a gateway to a void.
Scene 4: Meets a glowing entity who imparts wisdom.
Scene 5: Returns to reality but encounters a child resembling his younger self, leading to reflect.

Pre-Production

Storyboard and Moodboard: Before shooting, we organized a document that included a checklist of actions, sounds, and moodboards matching our storyboard. This guided our visual and thematic direction.

Environment Selection: We chose a convenience store setting to explore themes of monotony in everyday work life. A 7/11 model from the Unreal Marketplace served as our main environment.

Production

Equipment and Setup: We utilized NYU's motion capture studio equipped with approximately 20 optical-passive OptiTrack cameras interfaced with Motive software. After suiting up, we placed 41 markers on our actor's body to ensure precise tracking of movements.