Layer Tennis How It All Went DownIn the second instance of two players duking it out in the same space (the first was the legendary match last season between illustrators Phineas X. Jones vs Dan Grzerca), Frank Chimero and Kate Bingaman-Burt created an absurdly fun back-and-forth battle using video, brightly-colored backdrops, and a healthy supply of coffee, silly string, and good old fashion design chops. Once the brooms had finished sweeping up the aftermath, we sat down to talk with Frank about the match.
First things first, since we generally like to start big picture and work from there, how did you think the match went?
I thought it went well! Though a bit tight on time around these parts, the back and forth was pretty fluid, and everything seemed to work out okay. I think the final results fit together really nicely, and most everyone watching seemed to have a good time and be entertained. Success!
How was the decision made that you'd work together in the same space? After making the sock puppet movies together?
It was pretty natural. I don't think either one of us wanted to compete because Kate and I had been looking for a good opportunity to work together on something. Layer Tennis seemed to be it, so we jumped at the thought. Since we're in the same city, and we could be in the same space. I always thought that that had a lot of potential for interesting things to happen that might not otherwise, if the two players are in different cities.
What were the logistics of that process, of finishing your volley and then having to turn around and become the other player's assistant?
Things are so much easier with four hands. I think we got a lot more output from our limited time that way. I don't think either one of us were completely subservient to the other during their volley. I think each of us owned our volleys, but there'd be some small bits of feedback during the process that really made everything better. Small comments like "Oh, it'd be funny if we did this," or "I wonder if we..."
Although it was a cut throat competition, did you wind up making suggestions to each other along the way?
I love critiquing work and getting involved in the process. I bet Kate does too. We love seeing ideas develop. We're teachers, after all. We can't help ourselves.
In getting set up for the match, what was the prop preparation like? Did you both gather up big bags of random object you thought you might use or just grab whatever you happened to spot lying around the studio?
Kate brought a bunch of random objects and we had everything that was already in my space. We used a few things that were already made (like the coffee) and it was just a fun improvisational process. We planned ahead and bought a few things (the silly string and the flag in the last volley), but I think we came to the process without too many expectations.
Following those lines, how much pink, yellow and blue photo background paper did you go through over the course of the match?
Not much! I think one sheet of each? Actually, two of the blue, since I kind of ruined the first sheet with that coffee and sugar concoction in Volley 3.
Both you and Kate are likely best known for your work designing static things, yet 90% of the volleys were motion, video or animated gifs. How did that come about?
We draw slow. But, really, we thought it was so interesting to be in the same physical space for the match, that we wanted to use that to our advantage. If you've got physical space to play in, it seems logical to use physical objects. I think it kind of solidified in our brains that we could pull it off if we worked in a certain way after the coffee volley actually happened successfully.
Can you walk us through the technical process of how you got from concept to computer to finished volley? What tools were you using along the way?
We were pretty much living in either Photoshop or After Effects. I made a template for us to drop our video into. The video was shot on Kate's cheapo Powershot camera either attached to a tripod or a copy stand (for the overhead writing volleys). Shoot it, pop the memory card out, shove it in the side of the laptop, place the movie, and work with the type on top. A lot of the volleys have the same format and placement, so it was changing colors and typefaces and getting the correct timing on things. We got more streamlined as the afternoon progressed.
I wanted to ask you about your Volley 3 in particular. How did you get it all set up, finding the cups, lighting it and prepping to shoot? I'm guessing you only had one take to get it right?
We had the lighting and backdrop already setup from the opening serve, and we kept that setup all afternoon and just changed out the background paper a few times. The whole backdrop thing was pretty fluid. Position it, double check the lighting, shoot it. The coffee was already brewed from that morning, the coffee cups are from my kitchen, and the trophy was one of Kate's props. So our job was to just line up the cups and go for it. We only did one take because that's all we had time for. I'm out of sugar now, though.
Was that type you used in that volley (and in the first) hand drawn and scanned, or put together in something like Illustrator?
That typeface is Hannah by the very talented Mr. Travis Stearns. It's live type in After Effects.
Typically I'd prefer handwriting it, but time is of the essence in Layer Tennis, and I really do love Hannah.
Any thoughts about Kate's response in her Volley 4?
I think it's hilarious. I want to steal that concept for an illustration. So simple and elegant. It says everything it needs to say. Great job, Kate!
Finally, a two-parter: was spraying Kate will silly string spontaneous and you got her before she could get you, or a devious plot all along? And did you or Kate wind up cleaning up more of the chaotic mess that was clearly left after the match was over?
It was spontaneous! I was covered in silly string too, but you can't see it because I was behind the camera. And we cleaned it up together. Naturally.
Tickets | Archive | Blog | The Crowd | HQ
Congratulations to Mig Reyes, Layer Tennis Season 3 Champion.
Thanks to all the players, commentators and fans who made Season Three of Layer Tennis a big success. And thanks to the crew at Goodby Silverstein & Partners and all the folks at Adobe Creative Suite for making it possible. Watch this space (or sign up for Season Tickets or follow us on Twitter) for news about some special exhibition matches being planned and about Season 4.
Cast your votes on The Championship Match. Both Finalists will receive invitations to play in the post-season tournament for Season Four.
Here's how the voting works. Decide who you'd like to declare as winner and then simply tweet their first name following a hash mark. Either #mig or #noper and, this is important, also include #lyt in that tweet. We'll leave the voting open all weekend and announce our Season Three Champion on Monday.
Subscribe to the LT RSS feed.
© 1999-2010 Coudal Partners, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Privacy | | Clients | 
CP RSS Feed