Here is the first edit without any animation, still working on the best way to arrange it as certain things seem to work in a better order than I anticipated. Currently still working on different creatures and researching how to animate them semi-realistically.
Booked in with the cafe and ami to film on the 18th of November, stills to follow and will update then.
Location
As I wanted my short to be located initially in a cafe, I have been ringing around local cafe’s to see if they were willing to let me film there. I had no luck however Ami, the actress in my film, coincidentally works in a cafe and The Press Room in Surbiton has kindly said that I could film there in the evenings when I need to, so have organised it for a couple of weeks time as I am busy with other projects at the moment.
After having a few issues finding someone to act in my film. I had secured someone over the summer, but she actually will be moving to berlin in the beginning of November. Luckily my friend Ami said she was willing to do it, she has the look that I was wanting for the character and has some experience in acting. She will also be around all year round as she’s a student at Kingston too.
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Here are the first few shots of my storyboard which I will continually add to. On the day there will likely be other shots I will use and take opportunity of but these are the standard ones. The story itself begins in a cafe, i want a slow reveal of the main character with nothing… Read more.
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I have also been looking into ideas for designs for creatures that only my main character will see. After watching a documentary on James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’, it said that alot of the aliens were based on organisms he found in the deep. My designs will be simple as I am not an animator, but I… Read more.
I will post inspiration links as and when, however my main inspiration is from the anime named ‘Mushishi’ (2005). I am quite a big anime fan as I think the intense storylines and visual prowess of some animations, even with the technology that’s around today, greatly outweighs a lot of ‘live-action’ films.
‘Mushishi’ is about a wanderer who travels around the orient visiting people with unusual ailments and other odd occurences in villages and other locations. He is able to see spirits/creatures that defy understanding and are both beautiful and terrifying.
The basic core of the idea will be based around a character (a girl in my mind) who was able to see things others could not. These things would be spirits/creatures but I want to set it in the modern day and have her go about her average day as though it is normal to her.
I immediately thought of the film, ‘Amelie’ Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2001) and may look to have a few scenes based on that film. She herself is a querky character but also see’s things others can not, all be it in a mostly humorous way. I want to try capture the feeling of wonder and amazement that grasps the audience throughout this film.
Another inspiration I want to draw from is the music video The Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl, I remember this vividly from childhood and depicts a child obsessed with skeletons, who then goes to a club when she is grown up and see’s everyone as skeletons. What’s interesting is that it’s only her that is shown to see them and the shots used and the editing makes this very obvious. It’s also an amazing tune!
My aim for the project is to come up with a short film or trailer that has both the foundations of strong video skills as well as strong compositive effects and visuals that I have learnt throughout my course (and very likely some some new ones too!)
The course has involved a lot of production work and technical skills, from camera work to basic electronics but what I most enjoy is the editing side of film and television. This is therefore what I’m focusing on.
Having submitted a proposal back in May time, I wasn’t fully sure that it was what I wanted to do at the time. The proposal was very vague and, in honesty still is. It is mostly still in my head and I would need to develop the story further. However over summer, thinking about it more and more in depth – I think it could develop into something great. It is still subject to change and develop and this is the story of it.
Jbutterfieldproject 