Marshall Bissett
Despite its quirky title, the 21-stage area that Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in Burbank,
California call a “campus’ is the largest studio specialising in stop-motion animation
in California. Best known for the adult animated character Robot Chicken, the
stages also produce Super Mansion, LEGO Scooby-Doo, Bratz and MAD “Spy vs.
Spy.’ Today they are wrapping a promo spot for Superbowl 2016 and a Verizon
commercial.
While stop-motion animation has been around since the silent film era, Stoopid
Buddy gives it an irreverent and often R-rated twist. While mainstream Hollywood
looks for sources offshore, Stoopid Buddy prides itself on creating everything in
house. With its own model making, wardrobe, set construction, lighting, grip and
camera departments, the studio operates like a traditional, self-contained studio,
but the comparison ends there. The mostly millennial team of directors, camera
operators, editors and writers collaborate in ways that blur the historic divisions of
labour. With log cabin offices and a Winnebago executive suite, the creative team is
often rewarded with Boy Scout merit badges. The collegiate atmosphere works for
camera operator and best boy Andrew Malek: “This is not your normal work
environment. We all do everything. It’s an awesome place to work.’
Gaffer Dwight Campbell and cinematographer Aaron Wise give me an inside tour of
the 21 stages, each about the size of a spare bedroom, taking me through the
looking glass into their miniaturized world. “We have a constant need for small,
focusable and dimmable fixtures,’ says Campbell. “The Source Four Mini is perfect
for us.’
“We found the ETC units gave us much sharper optics for a lower wattage, just like
the grown-up Source Fours,’ adds Wise. A nearby cart carries a full range of pre-
cut gels and accessories. “The fixture is truly versatile. The 50-degree with diffusion
works great as a keylight and the 19-degree makes a good hot backlight or gobo
effect,’ Campbell comments.
With a set measuring only 2.4m by 1.2m, light levels and angles are critical. Stop-
motion animation is about attention to detail: each movement of the scale model
character is carefully shot (they use Canon 70D bodies and Nikon lenses), moved a
few centimetres and reshot. The whole process is repeated from a different
shooting angle, and the footage transfers to post production for final edit. “You have
to have a touch of OCD to work here,’ laughs Wise.
For more on the Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, visit www.leagueofbuddies.com. And for
more information on ETC and products, check out www.etcconnect.com.
