@Phil FSTS - Script Draft

 I had trouble exporting the script so I had to take screenshots instead. However, this is a draft of my script.

FSTS - Antagonist Influence Map

Maya Toolkit

Maya Toolkit

FSTS - Influence Maps

I still need to make an influence map for my antagonist, which I was thinking of possibly looking at the joker a bit. Since he can be theatrical and over the top. 

Film Review - Rope

                                                    (Fig 1, Movie Poster)

Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rope' is a very suspenseful, psychological thriller. The film is based around the true murder case of Leopold-Loeb, who in 1924 kidnapped and murdered a 14 year old boy. Like the real case the two main roles in the film are interested in the idea of "innate superiority", which is what leads to the murder. 

                                                       (Fig 2, Movie Still)

" A crowd of squirming spectators was bread-and-butter to Hitchcock" (Pamela H, 2012) This sums up the way in which Hitchcock used suspense in his films. In particularly this scene where the housemaid is starting to clean up the plates from the dinner and is slowly getting closer to finding the body. During this scene the camera completely focuses on the maid, in the background the other characters are still talking but all we can see is her. Each time she goes to collect things off of the truck is another wave of tension. Hitchcock gives us the information about the murder so the whole time we are waiting for the two killers to get caught. However, since the other characters don't know this, the scene becomes more suspenseful as to will they find the body.  

                                                      (Fig 3, Movie Still)

Throughout the film it's implied and calls back to the original murder, which the two original killers were homosexual. This was an issue at the time of the release of this film. "The heavily implied homosexuality of the murderers saw the film banned in a number of American cities" (Darren R, 2017) However, the key piece of symbolism is the scene where after the murder Brandon lights a cigarette and later on Phillip asks how it felt. The way in which the two characters interact certainly implies homosexuality but without being over the top and taking away from the suspense of the murder. 

                                                          (Fig 4, Set Photo)

"He choreographed his actors so that they and the camera could perform intricate ballets without interrupting the action." (Roger E, 1984) In the Hitchcock tries to hide the cuts to make it look seemingly continuous. There's one scene where the cut is hidden by one of the characters coats to then carry on the illusion. By Hitchcock doing this it allows the audience to react to whats going on at the same time as the actors. This adds to the element of suspense because it allows us to follow the characters right up until the point where the body is found.


Illustrations 

Fig 1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope_(film)

Fig 2 - https://lisathatcher.com/2012/09/15/rope-hitchcock-tricking-you-into-seeing-whats-there-when-its-the-unspeakable-there/

Fig 3 - https://them0vieblog.com/2012/05/23/non-review-review-rope/

Fig 4 - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/10696117836256703/?lp=true

Bibliography 

Ebert, R. (1984). Rope Movie Review & Film Summary (1948) | Roger Ebert. [online] Rogerebert.com. Available at: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rope-1948 [Accessed 25 Jan. 2018].

Hutchinson, P. (2012). My favourite Hitchcock: Rope. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2012/jul/27/my-favourite-hitchcock-rope [Accessed 25 Jan. 2018].

Richman, D. (2017). Movies You Might Have Missed: Alfred Hitchcock's Rope. [online] The Independent. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/movies-you-might-have-missed-alfred-hitchcock-rope-james-stewart-cary-grant-a7592306.html [Accessed 25 Jan. 2018].

Step Outline Rewrite @Phil

Act 1:

The scene starts with a slow zoom out of a Penny dreadful with ‘The Tattoo Artist’ on the cover, as well as a figure holding a knife and a victim on the floor. From the Penny dreadful the camera pans up to the current crime scene where someone lies dead outside a theatre and the police are surrounding the body.

A detective enters the scene examining the body with a magnifying glass, looking at the strange symbols on the victim's body. He heads back to Scotland yard to analyse what little evidence they have so far. On a board is a map of London with three points on it, marking where the victim’s of ‘The Tattoo Artist’ have been found so far. Alongside the map are sketches of the symbols and Shakespeare soliloquies found on each of the victim’s bodies.

Act 2:

The detective believes there's a connection to the theatre. Frustrated with lack of progress the detective stops for a break, then picks up a newspaper. Turning the pages the detective notices an advertisement for the theatre. Shocked the detective realises that some of symbols found on the victims match ones found on the advertisement.

Now confirming his suspicions, the detective heads to the theatre. The detective waits till night to go and investigate, when no one is around.

Act 3:

The detective breaks into the theatre but before he could even look around he was blinded by spotlights. Suddenly, the detective hears “Welcome Mr detective, you finally found me”, the spotlights go out and on stage appears ‘The Tattoo Artist’. “Come with me detective, it’s time for the final act”. The murder seemingly excited runs off and heads to the roof. Curious to find out what the “final act” is the detective chases after him to try and put and end to this.

Once on top of the theatre, there’s a makeshift stage with lights so everyone below can see. The murderer shouting to wake up everyone in the surrounding area. The detective fed up with the murderers games, throws a punch. This just overjoys the murderer who wants an action packed final scene. “All those murders, have led up to this moment...MY moment”. As the detective tries to detain the murderer he fights back. Until his makeshift stage collapses and the two slide down the roof. The detective narrowly grabs the edge of the roof, the murderer consumed by a lot of the stage falls to his death.

The ending seems a little abrupt but considering the run time I did not want to add too much

Animation - Straight Ahead Animation

The first animation is a second attempt. I was not happy with my first animation (Bottom one) because it just didn't look good enough to me. However I am a lot happier with the second attempt.

FSTF - OGR Part 1

FSTS OGR 1 by Alfie Gunter on Scribd

Animation
Film review
Life Drawing
Maya 

From Script to Screen - Story update @Phil

• Murderer believes that there is an ancient being that wants to be released but in order to do this there needs to be sacrifices (which is why the murders occur) or an ancient ritual.

(The murderer becomes a pawn in bigger plan, which becomes clearer towards the end)

- The detective is the final piece of the puzzle. According to texts that the murderer has read the last part requires a righteous man, which after observing the murderer believes the detective to be and deems him "worthy"

1) The righteous man (detective) needs to shed blood on the earth to activate the ritual/unleash the ancient being - murderer tries to trick the detective into killing him to achieve his goal 

2) Detective needs to die in order for the ritual to be complete, so it is a struggle to stay alive 

- Murderer accepts that the detective actually isn't righteous and tries to kill him for ruining his plans  

Shake and Contra Zoom

From Script to Screen - story ideas @Phil

Set in the 1800s, a makeup artist of a theatre House begins a killing spree.
Motive? - mistreated at the theatre?, insane?, no one would suspect?
The artists method of killing involves “tattooing” the victims bodies
This would either be killing them and leaving a brand on them or intricately cutting the victims that they look like tattoos.                  
This would then lead to them being named “the tattoo artist” in a Penny dreadful. A detective inspects the victims bodies with a magnifying glass. The brand or cravings would then lead the detective to narrow his investigation down to someone at the theatre either because it’s distinct to the theatre House or because it resembles some of the artists make up work. The final stand off between the detective and the murderer would be in the theatre.

A travelling theatre group performs in different towns, but at night once the performances are over they go out and rob the local area and then move onto the next town or city. Each one has a section of a tattoo which all together make up a whole tattoo. A detective hears about the strain of robberies and investigate, inspecting each scene with a magnifying glass. The detective finds a poster from the group in each town and catches on to them. He now has to try and stop them at their next performance.

Life Drawing

From Script to Screen - more story ideas

These are more quick ideas for stories. I think these ones are more interesting than the ones I posted earlier.

1) Tattoo artist whose tattoos are a theatre production when looked upon with a magnifying glass

2) Tattoo artist that only has small tattoos and he's a circus freak (the circus being the theatre) and you need a magnifying glass to look at the tattoos

3) "Under the magnifying glass"/ “under the microscope” tattoo artist is under investigation because his tattoos have killed the clients?/Killer tattoo artist whose being investigated and acts in a theatrical way, using strange magic in their tattoos

4) Travelling tattoo artist group under the magnifying glass because they've been causing trouble (similar to previous idea)

5) Tattoo fight where the tattoos come to life and fight each other and we're looking in on it like a magnifying glass observing these fights

6)Phantom tattoo man in a circus and uses a special magnifying glass to get them to come to life

7) Tattoo artist wants to break the world record for most micro tattoos on a body, then you'll have to use a magnifying glass

8)Psychic tattoo artist who uses his tattoos as a wish or fortune (need to work out where the magnifying glass comes in)

9) Street performing tattoo artist who tattoos people and their tattoos come to life on their skin and the theatre is when everyone comes to see it
Magnifying glass - he uses one to activate tattoos?

From Script to Screen - Potential story ideas

Idea 1:

A tattoo artist is having a slow day in their shop, so is sweeping the floors. In the background is the radio, the artist switches between radio stations when one in particular catches their attention. The artist finishes listening to the song and finds out it’s from a musical. The artist checks local theaters to find out if there is a performance showing there. After months of waiting they finally get tickets to see the musical. However, going to the theater was new to the tattoo artist, so he tries to educate himself on the right attire and find theater glasses. They succeed in finding the appropriate wear but only manage to find a magnifying glass to work as theater glasses. Once at the theater some of the audience give strange looks at the artist finding it weird that someone with lots of tattoos is interested in a musical. The stereotyping and judgmental eyes make the artist uncomfortable but nonetheless they carry on. The artist arrives at their seat, amazed by his surroundings and even starts a conversation with others around him. Some take an interest in the artists work and body art, then proceed to enjoy the musical

Idea 2:

Tattoo artist arrives home from work and is greeted by their partner, who is excited about a theater production that they’re both going to see that night. The artist having no interest in theater acts with no interest and mocks his partner. The mocking and teasing continues on the way to the theater slowly agitating their partner. The two find their seats and sit down ready for the performance. The artist was so reluctant to be there that they heckle and disturb other theater goers. The parented being fed up and embarrassed leaves the theater. The artist finally considering his partners feelings chases after them but is not given a response. The next day when artist return home from work they show a new tattoo they had done, it was of a magnifying glass a key prop to their partners favorite theater production.

Idea 3:

Client comes in to get a magnifying glass tattoo because it relates to their favorite theater production. The tattoo artist has had no interest in theater and scoffs at the client, jokingly mocking them. The client then goes on to encourage the artist to see the production, and goes as far as to offer to see it with them. The artist accepts but seems to be reluctant until the two reach their seats. Once seated the artist begins to understand what his client had been talking about just from the atmosphere. However, once the actual performance starts the artist is even more blown away and starts to enjoy themselves. Which has now sparked a new interest for them and resulted in a new friendship.

Most of these are very clean cut, but these were just some first ideas. I would also like to look at the possibility of having the location be a movie theater rather than a musical one.

Character Design Lesson

Soundscape - Adobe Audition Dragon Roar

From Script to Screen - Prompts

Character: Tattoo Artist
Location: Theater
Object: Magnifying Glass

Soundscape Words

Maya toolkit - Dolly and Crane