Helps push the boundaries of creativity with each project - Sandra McCallum, Principal

Stop motion gets Year 6-8 boys engaged and excited about learning in the classroom -  Ben Gittos, Teacher

This is such a useful book, full of good ideas and handy hints. I wish it had been around when I was doing stop motion with my class - Hilary Hague, Teacher

Craig Lauridsen has been playing with LEGO and teaching children to tell their stories in stop motion for many years. He has developed workshop techniques which allow everyone to create successful movies from their first attempt. Craig has written a number of books on stop motion and runs workshops for children and teachers as often as he can.

QUICK START Recording the audio first 2 Recording the pictures first 4 Power tips for making better stop motion 5 OVERVIEW Methods of stop motion 10 What equipment do I need? 12 File names 12 SCRIPT What makes a great movie? 16 Different types of stories - genres 17 Developing the story 18 Writing a script 19 Step 1: Writing a premise 19 Step 2: Questions which develop the premise 19 Step 3: Writing the story outline 20 Story Outline 22 Step 4: Writing the story into a script 23 Adapting a story for a script 24 Improvising a script 26 Tips to develop a story 27 Writing a TV advertisement 31 AUDIO Microphones 34 Equipment to record sound 35 GarageBand 36 The GarageBand window 37 Creating a soundtrack 40 Step 1: Recording the dialogue 41 Sound recording process 42 Step 2: Reviewing the dialogue timing 43 Step 3: Adding sound effects 44 Step 4: Adding ambience sounds 44 Step 5: Adding music 44 Step 6: Adjust the volume 46 Step 7: Apply effects 46 Step 8: Finalising the soundtrack 49 Step 9: Saving the soundtrack 50 Recording with a microphone 51 Sound versus noise 56 Tips for great sound 57 How to make a microphone 'shock' mount 59 Adding other media 60 Getting additional sound effects and music 60 Sound effects 61 Music 63 Adding loops 65 Software Instruments 67 Editing the soundtrack 68 PROPS AND SET UP Modelling with Plasticine 74 Plasticine modelling tools 74 Making an armature Plasticine character 75 Building with LEGO 79 Setting up a stop motion stage 80 Standard stage with painted background 80 Invisible horizon stage 81 Green screen stage 82 Creating a three dimensional world 84 Tips for great pictures 86 Picture composition 86 The 'rule of thirds' 87 Action safe 88 Camera angle 88 Camera focus 89 Behind the scenes 92 Camera, tripod and mount 94 Choosing a camera for stop motion 94 Cameras 94 Camera tripod 97 How to make a camera mount 98 How to make a remote camera mount 99 Lighting 100 Key light 100 Fill light 100 Back light 100 Diffuser 101 Bounce board 102 How to make a portable stage 104 PICTURES iStopMotion 108 Picture size (Preset) 108 Picture rate (Frame rate) 109 The iStopMotion window 113 Making a stop motion 115 Step 1: Opening iStopMotion 115 Step 2: Choosing the camera 116 Step 3: Importing soundtrack 118 Step 4: Recording your first picture 119 Animation process 120 Step 5: Bringing your characters to life 121 Rule 1 and 2 122 Step 6: Playing your stop motion 123 Step 7: Editing your stop motion 126 Step 8: Saving your stop motion 126 View options 127 Importing a reference video 128 Making a LEGO minifigure walk 130 Using replacement figures 132 Making a character talk 132 Creating visual effects 136 How to dramatise an action sequence 143 How to create an epic stop motion movie 145 Illustration animation 146 Whiteboard animation 147 Flat 2D animation 148 Two level stop motion 149 Time lapse - security system 150 Tilt shift - miniatures 151 Common stop motion mistakes 152 Advanced iStopMotion 155 Compositing pane 155 Editing pictures 157 Stop motion with a digital still camera 159 Planning a complex stop motion 163 Principles of animation 164 EDIT AND PUBLISH iMovie 170 The iMovie window 170 Editing stop motion clip to make a movie 171 Adding titles 172 Play the movie 174 Adding other movie elements 174 Assembling a larger stop motion project 178 Saving the movie 179 Premiere 180 Websites for more information 187 TEACHER LESSON PLANS