Our Process
In everything we do at SFP, process and product are a seamless whole, with one informing and mirroring the other at every creative and technical turn.
We are committed to engaging Indigenous artists in all aspects of our projects.
A fast-growing company, SFP is the only stop-motion studio in Vancouver.
Stop motion is a demanding medium – even a short 20-minute production can take up to two years to be completed. The technology we engage is a unique and innovative hybrid of digital and handmade processes. It’s the instrument through which we convey stories that are both emotionally and socially transformative.
To do full justice to the stories we tell, SFP’s production process across the various media we work in is careful, painstaking and rigorous. Embedded in our process, from gestation to post-production, are Indigenous ideologies around learning, creation and collaboration. The process requires teamwork, patience, flexibility and creativity.
DEVELOPMENT
Every film begins with an idea. The idea is then fleshed out, first and foremost by writing a script. It’s usually a highly collaborative process involving a team of writers and storytellers, ending with a locked script that is used as a basis for storyboards and animatics, which are a visual representation of the final product. We then decide on the film’s art design, create the concepts, style, and artwork of each of the film’s characters and their environment, and decide on the colour palette that will best represent the film’s mood and themes.
FABRICATION
After doing this initial work, and having more clarity on the overall look of the film, comes the fabrication stage. We finalize the art and character designs, painstakingly sculpt and mould the puppets, decide on the correct scale for the world, build the sets and props for the film, and fine-tune them to endure durability, as these items will likely be exhibited in galleries after the film is distributed. This is a very exciting period in which we get to meet the puppets, and see the world that these characters will inhabit. Team collaboration and communication are absolutely key at this point, as every film has its own unique challenges and demands.
ANIMATION
The animating stage is one of the most exciting phases of the process. It consists of using the animatic, storyboards and breakdowns completed in pre-production and executing it all on set. The director and cinematographer work closely to create a shot list and decide on the lighting and overall look of every shot. Later, the cinematographer, in tandem with the animator and the rest of the creative team, works to recreate the meticulous plan of animating. This period can easily take several months – and possibly even years – depending on the length of the animation. It also requires the whole team to be on their toes at all times and be ready to troubleshoot at any point. Even after months of preparation, unexpected things can transpire.
POST-PRODUCTION
Finally, we arrive at the post-production period. Our digital team now takes every shot of the film and composites all the parts, such as keying the green screens, finalizing the visual effects and making any necessary corrections. Compositing ties all the assets together, creating one cohesive look. Simultaneously, editors are creating first passes of the film and for the first time we can see how it all comes together.
After compositing, colour grading and final touches the footage is ready for the screen! Slide the bar across to see the difference and all that’s done in post!