Notes from 6/11/2011

Overview

-Reel Worth Update
-Brief Website Update
-Brainstorming


Reel Worth Update

Earlier this week I received an e-mail back from Meighan Shoesmith, who merely stated that she needed to consult other people in the DigiPen administration. Apparently they've never received a request like ours, and they need to check around to see if it's okay for us to fundraise.

The day after, I also received an e-mail from Raymond Yan. At first this made me nervous, but after reading the e-mail I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. He echoed Meighan in saying our request was a first, and that they would need to consider it, but he didn't shoot us down. He offered us DigiPen as a workspace for the time being, but I was hesitant to accept. We talked about this notion during the meeting - whether or not to use DigiPen as a work space for finishing Reel Worth - and we decided unanimously that we would not want to work there.

I will reply to Raymond and respectfully decline the offer, and I will continue to update you guys on any progress regarding their decision on fundraising.


Brief Website Update

I sent an e-mail off to my friend Chris about having him host our site, but as of yet I have not received anything back from him.


Brainstorming

After the usual updates, we got down to business and started brainstorming again. We came to a consensus that the scenario involving the guy with the animal head is the one we're going with for our next project. Initially we started talking about this scenario with the intention to discuss other ideas afterward, but after spending a considerable amount of time on it and considering how much we were enjoying brainstorming for it, we decided the animal head scenario seemed the best choice.

We talked a bit about the type of animal head the guy would be wearing. A few people really liked Nyssa's concept for the bunny head, and we agreed to do some more research and concepting to nail down the idea.

The environment was brought up, and discussed where this would take place and what approach we would take. It was suggested that we have one location. Some ideas put forth were a bus stop, a train stop, or a subway stop. All the action would take place around this one location, and that we have one key shot angle that would be our "anchor shot." We would move the camera around, change angles, etc., but we use this one anchor shot to help us underline story beats and re-orient the viewer.

Within this stage, we could have a number of scenarios, or vignettes, play out to help establish the relationships of characters and progress the story. Here are some of the smaller scenarios we discussed:

• A group of rastas, gangsters, or otherwise thug-like characters walk by. They look like the type of people that would beat the shit out of normal, everyday working joes. They walk menacingly by the main character (who will be referred to as "MC" from now on), but when passing the dude with the animal mask (who will be referred to as "AM" from now on), they give him a fist bump, hand shake, or some other friendly salute.
  
• MC is standing at the bus stop with the other normal looking people. The guy he is standing next to has two cups of coffee. MC looks at them curiously, but dismisses it. AM shows up at the stop. MC looks at AM like he is the strangest thing he has ever seen (perhaps this takes place at the beginning of the short and it is the first time the characters are introduced). MC nudges the guy with two coffees standing next to him, and nods in the direction of AM. He gives the guy a look like "hey, get a load of THIS guy." The guy with two coffees rolls his eyes and sniffs at MC, then walks over to AM smiling. He gives AM one of the coffees he is carrying. MC is left standing there alone in shock.
  
• A school bus full of kids rides up and stops in front of the bus stop. AM waves to the kids. They all cheer and wave back excitedly. Maybe even some of them have a banner/signs with his face on them. A kid near the back of the bus is positioned right in front of MC. MC looks up, makes eye contact, and tries to give a friendly smile and a wave. The kid's expression changes from joy to pure loathing. As the bus starts to drive off the kid gives MC the finger.
  
• A group of girls are playing double-dutch near the bus stop. AM approaches the bus stop. The girls are between him and the stop, and on his way through he joins the girls in jumping rope. They seem elated to have him join. AM continues on his way through and comes to stand at the bus stop. MC tries to join in and the girls stop playing immediately, eyeing him warily.
  
• A series of quick shots over a number of days: one day it's raining out, MC is the only one without an umbrella; the next day MC brings an umbrella, but it's not raining, and he is the only one standing there stupidly with an umbrella on a sunny day; last day, it's raining and MC appropriately brought an umbrella, but everyone else is splashing around and playing in the rain while he cowers under his umbrella off to the side.
  
• It's raining out and everyone has an umbrella accept for a little old lady. She looks miserable. MC doesn't want to give up his umbrella, so he pretends not to see the old lady. AM gives up his umbrella to the old lady. She graciously thanks him and scowls at MC. AM, now without an umbrella, unfolds an enormous hood from his jacket that fits over his animal mask.
  
• MC is fed up with AM getting all the attention. In a last ditch attempt to win the crowd over, he brings his own animal mask. He takes it out and puts it on his head. Everyone is incredibly appalled and offended. They all storm off in a huff, leaving MC and AM standing alone at the stop. AM shakes his head and says "not cool, man... not cool," and he too walks off. MC is alone at the stop, sad and miserable. Seeing how upset he is, AM comes back and pats him on the shoulder. MC looks up sadly at AM, then gives a feeble smile. The next day a new guy shows up to the bus stop. MC is standing there at the stop, a coffee in one hand and an extra one for AM in the other. Repeat the initial scenario with the coffees -- "the cycle continues."

We should come up with more scenarios, then narrow it down to the best ones. We also discussed a progression of the main character's emotional state. Broadly stated, it would go something like this:

(1) Weirded out --> (2) Like or Hate? --> (3) Jealous --> (4) Angry and bitter --> (5) Sad --> (6) Accepting

In stage (1), he sees the animal mask dude for the first time. He finds his appearance strange and off-putting - he believes this guy to be clearly insane. In stage (2), he sees the way AM interacts with the others at the bus stop. He struggles with wanting to like this guy, while still being irked by his unorthodox appearance. In stage (3), he is clearly jealous of AM and the attention and love he receives. He tries feebly to win over the crowd. In stage (4), he is outraged that other people could possibly like this weirdo and not him. This is when he makes his all out, last-ditch attempt to win the crowd over by wearing an animal mask himself, which only offends the crowd even more. Stage (5) is the fallout. His failure in the face of his anger has given way to depression, and he just wants to be loved. In stage (6), he has reached acceptance and is now friends with AM.


That was all for the meeting, but we all decided that we should do more concepting and research for the next meeting. This could include any or all of the following:

-gathering photo reference
-concept art
-storyboards
-more scenarios/vignettes written out


**OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE SATURDAY, JUNE 18th, 4PM AT VICTOR'S COFFEE. PLEASE BE ON TIME AND BRING WHATEVER MATERIALS ARE NEEDED TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS.**