This document provides tips and techniques for filming shots and animating with LEGO minifigures. It discusses different camera shots like extreme closeups, closeups, and long shots. It also covers camera angles like low and high angles. Animation tips are given such as using clear bricks to make minifigures appear to walk and move body parts like the head to show laughter. Other techniques discussed include anticipation, rebounding, and partially removing pieces to simulate swimming. Example videos are linked to demonstrate various techniques. The document concludes by instructing attendees to make a storyboard for their LEGO movie short.

1. MAKE A LEGO MOVIE
Pasadena Public Library
June 8, 2019

2. INTROTO
CINEMATOGRAPHY

3. Let’s learn about filming shots with
some help from:

4. 1. Extreme closeup
(No depth. Intense focus on
character or object.)
2. Closeup
3. Medium shot
(Basic focus on the character)
4. Long shot
(More depth. Surroundings are
slightly more prominent than
character, often shown at an
angle to get more of the scene
in the shot.)
5. Extreme long
shot
Brick Flicks, p. 146

5. Let’s learn about camera angles:
Low angle
(looking up from below)
High angle(looking down from above)

6. The Magic Portal by Lindsay Fleay
(The first movie to animate LEGO minifigures,
made in 1989!)
■ https://youtu.be/jde4qHbCtSg?t=17

7. ANIMATIONTIPS
ANDTRICKS

8. Tip: use clear bricks or supports that are the
same color as the background, to prop
minifigs’ feet so that they appear to bob up
and down while walking
■ https://youtu.be/6waU3cVjg4k?t=20

9. Tip: move minifig’s head up and down to
show laughter
■ https://youtu.be/4jAjVzkvvDc?t=39

10. Technique: Anticipation (show character’s
body lean back before throwing the bottle)
■ https://youtu.be/bXhpHNNRyxI?t=19

11. Technique: Anticipation and Rebound (show
cars move back a smidge just before
accelerating, or just after breaking)
■ https://youtu.be/R-Res3k8Wug?t=310

12. Tip:To defy gravity, have things fly at the top
of but just outside of the shot (keep fingers or
supports out of the shot too)
■ https://youtu.be/bXhpHNNRyxI?t=19

13. Tip: Another example of flying, jumping or
throwing things by holding them just outside
of the frame – use a high angle shot or a
closeup
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJvpCHK0ek

14. Tip: Show partially submerged minifigure
swimming by removing pieces and adding
them in slowly
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJvpCHK0ek

15. Tip: Use another device to play a sound and
record that sound using Stop Motion
Studio—that’s how I got the “Whoosh”
sound effect in this video!
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn_y8J94IX4

16. Tip: Use paper cut up and propped up for
thought bubbles
■ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn_y8J94IX4

17. MakeYour
Storyboard
This is the storyboard for the
“Rude” short.You don’t have to go
into this much detail.You can just
cover the basic plot of your short film.