Script Pitch

Throwing up the script idea I've been sitting on over the break. Setting is more in the North american cities.

Jewels - On the brink of an ground breaking art show for her place in the art world. I'm opting for a female protagonist because the war veteran background seems far less important at this point (or gone completely... its hard to tell from the notes ). I also think it (the war veteran) convolutes the artist passion too much.

Keenan - Her  devil's advocate character. He/she/it represents the business side of her mind, the one pushing her to the decisions that push family, socialism, and friends out of her life in favour of her work.

Her decision?

To go to the court to fight for her daughter  in an ongoing divorce with her husband, who is leaving based on the fact Jewels is spending too much time on her art, and drifted apart from her husband.  She's already decided to stay and fight for custody of her daughter however, as this serves as her wakeup  call.

The conflict being that Jewels' art show is in another city, and she needs to decide whether to stay in her current town and fight for her child, settling for being a small time artist, or to head to the city for a chance to make it as a big time artist. She's shown great promise as an artist and has had a lot of her pieces sold. The timing of the court date and the Art show make it impossible to do both, so she HAS to chose.

She's already decided to stay and fight for her child, but Keenan makes his last stand to change her mind.  Leaving nothing definite, as staying won't ensure she will win her child and have a happy ending, and that leaving to the art show won't guarantee success either.

Life isn't ever simplistic and is always about risks. What risks we're willing to take also helps define the type of person we are. What are we willing to sacrifice? To lose for gain?

Argument ideas (mental diahrea)

Keenan's Arguments - What would you do if you did win custody? She (The daughter) would hold you back; your work would suffer.

Who are you without your art?.....your passion?  You would never be able to reach your full potential.

Art is who you are.... With her in your life, she'd become your life and you'd loathe her for it.

Jewels Arguments - My daughter is who I am, she is a part of me and just as important if not more than the art. If I give up on her, then what is the art for? WHO is it for?  I can pursue art as a single mother.

I would be foolish to hate the person who is my inspiration for my art.

Keenan - Ah, but when you had her, you neglected it to pursue the real you. The Art.

Jewels - I've made my decision, and it's the right one.

Keenan - If you've made the decision, and it is the right one....why do you still have the plane tickets? Today is the last day to cancel the flight... if staying is truly the right thing, then why are you hestitating?
Would need the situations in where sacrificing family/desires for her passion has paid off here.

Film reference

This is a good 3D film I just checked out called The Backwater Gospel.  Check out the film and the behind the scenes here.  It's fascinating! 

For What it's Worth

We all need to make decisions in life.  Sometimes, they are a little darker than we realise.  But it's always under the same guise, what's it all worth?

"To be successful," he'll certainly tell you, "is to live for yourself without any borders."

But what if I didn't want it anymore. What if I'd lost so much in the midst of being the best that I wanted to just say, "F*ck off" to everything and everyone.

My last ode was to tag parliament.  To die a patriot, really.  I just stayed, I'd have to take it all in.  My failures, the now memories of success.  I would just be a nobody in a crappy apartment, all over again.

But if I do this, and I mean do it right, I could go down a legend. A legend, for goodness sakes.  And isn't that the ultimate prize?  Women?  Family?  Friends?  That shit doesn't work out in real life!  The only people I need to be respected by is they, my audience.  And I, the ultimate entertainer will give my final show tonight. 

So this script takes place in a country with a totalitarian dictatorship.  This starving artist, going through a life of mishaps and semi-successes, contemplates whether to leave his life and start over once again with his friends and family, or say 'screw it all' and see his craft to the very end; he's suffered and lost so much already, why not go out on a high note?  By going all the way, it would be to die by gunfire at the doors of parliament for graffiti tagging the front doors. 

Again, I have written quite a bit of this already, but leaving it open ended vs. a concrete ending is up to us all. 

*Ending 1: As the conversation gets more and more enticing, and the devil's advocate becomes more and more convincing, Jewels (in the mind set that he is trying to start over and leave this dark life) takes one last look at his doorway.  There are two duffel bags there; one has all the things he needs to leave and start over, the other has his spray paint equipment in it. He looks at both pejoratively and reaches for one.  We don't see which one he reaches for.  As the credits roll to an end, we see a final scene where jewels has a can in his hand in front of the dark doors of parliament.  He closes his eyes and takes one deep breath.  He opens them, and the film comes to an end.

Ending 01

*Ending 2: Is the same as ending one, except that during the credit roll, we hear a several news casters on different channels giving live reports about some guy creating a huge work of vandalism, others saying art, others saying a public statement, etc, and how thousands are at the scene in awe.  And the final scene at the end of the credits is his backside, only turning around with a smile to the sounds of guns cocking and spot lights.  He does the Robert Downey Jr. "I am God" pose at this point, revealing the grand work of art (and maybe it could be a really meaningful tag.  Like an image or a single word that embodies our message).      

Ending 02 (Right to Left)

mood colours

Check out the mood colours in here:
http://livlily.blogspot.com/2011/12/secret-of-kells-2009-production-design_1239.html

Thoughts & Ideas - 2

Good guy, but hangs around a bad crowd
Could be someone important to him, and they were close, and fighting with gang members. They’re so beat up that his best friend would be killed in front of him
“Innocence Corrupted”

Kidnapping- Father is forced to participate in it, where he’s hugely rewarded for helping

Family Business-Not clean, but the man wants to spend time with girlfriend/friend, and wants to get out of the business

Short on cash, presented with marrying someone to get money, and after 2 years divorce. The problem is, he’s already engaged.


Has two ambitions that conflict – passion versus love
Wants to be a great artist (visual, musical, literary, martial), learning more, creating more, but also wants to find love.


Visual Artist
We've solidified out characters' backstory, and decided that he's already made this important decision, and his now hesitating in some manner upon it

Thoughts & Ideas - 1

Original idea;
Dude talking to an older version of himself remembering key memories, greeting someone at the door


Newer idea;
Scrapping “Death”
A young man talking with a “Devil’s Advocate” character trying to show him that life’s out to get him.
Focusing on choices he’s made throughout his life, represented by things in the room
Talking with a possible “Greedy” version of himself (?).

Idea of “war” relating to people – connecting to people.

Could have “Jules” walking throughout his house, looking at objects he possesses, and has ghostly memories happening in each room

“Devil’s Advocate” character could look more sinister as we see him, could be more animated


Jules Kweli at a complicated part of his life and doesn’t know what to do next, having a conversation with himself, contemplated the choices he made. He’s walking throughout his room, remembering moments in his life, while over his shoulder a “Devil’s Advocate” whispers “advice” that he should’ve taken in those moments.

He steps towards a door, unsure of whether or not he’ll open it.



He’s got something on his mind he’s wanted to do for a few years; what is it?

-go off to business though it may keep him apart from his family?
-take someone off life support?
-a rival that causes all the negative happenings in his life?
-he’s a successful businessman who hasn’t seen his family in x-number of years, and the “Devil” is telling him not to leave his “financial” position to see them?
-going BACK to the army? Choosing duty over family? Fulfilling the promise?
-working for corrupt people?
-stockholm syndrome?

-Leaving home





Backstory for Jules:

A War veteran becoming a politician?
Underground Mafioso?
Mercenary



We need Jules’ backstory and the final decision he’s making

Friend sent this to me. and it struck a cord with me, despite it broadly touching on subjects and themes (it even references the romeo and juliet story literally, and in the over story).

Ideas for the script.

Just mental diarrhea I need to post somewhere.  By no means do I expect any/all of these to go in. Just posting ideas for people to vegetate on.

We likely need to cut 1 memory out, good, bad, or mundane. Mundane seems to be most likely choice since it won't have a lot of emotional impact.

Death - Perhaps through the memories he/she is  in fact gets younger as we go through each, playing with the idea that Death really isn't the end, but leading to a beginning (convoluted but thought it'd be a fun idea). Maybe even when the door knocks, Death as a child is who greets Jewels (Don't know how to indicate this if at all. Perhaps he looks forward, then looks down, surprised at the height of the guest at the door).

Opening(?)
Sections of memory from the war - Montage of being recruited -> training -> Fire fight -> war end.
Alternative - Jewels is flipping through pictures of said montage and the sounds and dialogue from those picture memories are heard. (maybe even more picture memories he flips through and we just hear the audio he remembers from those times. This feels like a cool idea to me, but I can't recall where/if I saw this done somewhere else before or not.)

Good/happy memory ideas -
This might be a bit out of our scope and probably doesn't affect us as much but,
The end of world war II. People were ecstatic. I pictures Jewels being in the trenches, possibly beside his critically injured friend he's saved (wrapped in bandages but obviously has seen better days). He's excited and unbelievably relieved the war has been declared over, ending the shot possible on him holding  best bud's hand in a friendly man grip.

First love  -
This has been covered, I won't waste much on what's been covered.
First love moments? meeting the girl, dating the girl, "The moment" with the girl when they finally realize they both love each other.
Meeting up with the girl after returning from war.
Asking her parents for their blessings in marriage.

First born child -

Possibly a delivery room scene, Jewels pacing outside or even in the delivery room being the emotional pillar his wife needs.

Involving the sound of a baby's cry being born in black screen. "It's a girl/boy!"
I feel something like this could really have a strong emotional impact with a lot of older crowds. It may have too strong impact or may not. 

Bad memory/painful -

The best friend that Jewels saved in the war stole his girl.
"This isn't right. I gave you back your life, Why are you taking mine?"

I imagined this as being sort of Jewels in a drunken stupor, probably in really bad shape, obviously from neglecting himself. Yelling outside of his ex-best friend's house.

Being wronged by the country he fought for...possibly losing his home or even his family was lost to him?

Attending the Best friend's Funeral. Giving the best friend mementos from whatever. Possibly even makes references to a past good memory they had as he's saying good bye.

Style progression.

Style A , B, C.

Style A in the first segment where Jewels has his dialogue with the imaginary stranger.
Style B when he recalls the good memory, bringing about the point that his good memory is more happy, and different than reality because of the mood it brings about. I feel this should be a lot more affected by colours and possibly realistic.

Style A AGAIN when he recalls his painful memory, as this memory pulls his imagination back to reality, and fits more currently with how he sees things now.

Style C near the end, where he's finished getting ready for the end and is no longer at odds with his imaginary self.

Characters

i started off from naseers designs and came up with these.

i gave young jewels this guys clothes.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmsl4cVXr61qc2qcs.jpg
had a hard time trying to find casual attire from the 50s. (since he's in his late 20s, and he went to the war at around 18). also googled african american musicians from the 50s to get hair. most had really short hair but chuck berry had the type of hair naseers design has.
i based young jewels mostly off of this guy.
http://emily-dunlop.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
old jewels here looks pretty much the same as naseers. he's wearing a plaid shirt and loose pants, googled "old man clothes". haven't drawn the old jewels dressed up yet.

death here also looks pretty much the same as naseers death. gave him sharp features, long hair and long limbs.
we could definitely simplify these down into something that resembles pascal campions designs more if you guys think we should.

"Who's Afraid of Mr. Greedy" Layouts

Decided to dig around for some layouts today and I stumbled upon some nice examples from the Gobelins short, "Who's Afraid of Mr. Greedy?"

Although they are much more detailed than the ones from the Cat Piano, notice that they're still very heavy with the black fills. Almost to the point where you sort of get that "spotlight" layout that Cat Piano had.

By: Sylvain Fabre

Also, notice that there's no strong sense of perspective. The objects are wonky and placed for composition instead of realism.

Summary of "These Red Shoes" Ver.1

Here is a condensed summary of our film, These Red Shoes.  This is what we have to work with, and from.

It's a man getting ready.  The audience isn't aware of what he is getting ready for, but as writers, we know he is getting ready for the end.  Sitting in warm room with a fire and a "stranger," he recollects some key memories in his life.  The dialogue he has with the imaginary stranger (who looks like his 87 year old self) is to show how he still believes in this world, that there is good in it.  The stranger is a devil's advocate, and is trying to show the protagonist, Jewels Kweli, that things are pretty rough and mean in this world.  Though the viewer doesn't know who knocks at the door, we know it's death.  So the film is about moving forward in life.  Good and bad things can happen in life, but no matter how bad, you need to always move forward.  Most people think death is a bad thing, but since Jewels knows that all the good, bad, and mundane parts of his life made it worth while, he can confront his own end without fear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn9i0l7814w&feature=related

Liked the Narrative style of this. Its around 0:15.
Could help to enforce that they're memories if he talks during certain moments.

Opening Sequence Version 1

Opening Sequence Boards: The Stupidest Thing? I Guess, Yeah.

Here is a small opening sequence I had in mind for the film.  It is a "stupid" memory that Jewels is recollecting.  Scenario; Jewels sees "his" lady being charmed by some Tom Cruise look-a-like.  Jewels confronts him and gets decked.  You can notice that as the sequence (to be red vertically downward) progresses, you see Jewels sitting in an arm chair in a suit.  He is telling the story in real time as it cuts back and forth to the memory.

As the sequence leads to the credits, we finally start our shave sequence.  Jewels is getting ready for his "big day."  In this bit of the sequence he is checking his teeth in a mirror (it is the reflection).  I already have a different take on this portion of the shave sequence, and that is that we may not show Jewels' actual face until a little later, or possibly the end.  Therefore, this will be shot from an angle that hides his face if we decide to go in that direction.  

More to come soon!

Jewels Kweli

Jewels Kweli Character Design

Here is my vision for our protagonist.  Though his name is not mentioned even once throughout the film, I and a handful of the class have decided that his name, temporary or permanent, is Jewels Kweli.  Again, this is my conception of the protagonist, let's see what he ends up looking like after Christmas!

A little background on this picture: 

Left: Jewels at age 50.  

Centre: Jewels at age 87.

Right: Jewels at age 28.

Throughout the film, Jewels will be shown at different times in his life.  I think this is a good base to work off of for his look. 

Original Concepts

Original Concepts for the Shaman of Death

Shave and End Sequence: Meeting Death in a rainy corner

Protagonist and Death Concepts

Protagonist and Death Concepts

Rather than making death a shamanistic/demonic figure in this film, we all decided that maybe having his look be a slick, bad looking fellow would do him justice.  On the right is the sequence where we have our story teller encounter death for the last time.

Pascal Campion

A big up to Chris for suggesting his blog.
He would like to draw focus to his character designs and use of colours.





Very simplistic and effective!

Another! With feeling!

First of all, a big thank you to fellow classmate, Vanesa for contributing.

Here's 2 videos that she liked and a description of why.

"Harry Potter" The Tale of the Three Brothers

I just thought this video had a really cool mood to it. I like the use of silhouettes like if we were doing a memory or something. I think at around 2:00 there's a part that looks like it was done in flash. And the layout at the ending seems pretty neat too. Anyways just a starter :)

"Alice: The Madness Returns" Opening Cut Scene

I know we probably won't be doing this style but i like the clocks/music/mood at the beginning. Also, they way she was talking about her memories and at around 1:04 there's like a black boarder that blinks as if you're seeing the memories from her eyes.