Conceptualization

Assignent  from school: Write two pitches for a 3d animated short or project. So here goes.

Living City

A lot of these guys could be scampering 'round town.This is more of a art film idea. The basic idea is that for whatever reason the city is alive and sometimes parts of it spring to life. What I would like to explore is how would a "newborn" part of the city react to it's surroundings.

For instance one could see a mundane part of the city and suddenly some part if it comes alive and starts exploring. Snail?Almost any little story could be incorporated into this setting but what I initially thought of was some doglike creature coming alive and after wandering aimlessly around just experiencing the bustle of the city it discovers another creature like itself and falls in love.

Then you could have some sort of obstacle stopping our creature from meeting the other. I was thinking in the lines of a tram or

bus stopping between them and when it has gone the other creature might be gone.

After a few more obstacles they could find each other again.

What creature could this turn into?This would all be filmed live action on location throughout Oslo and afterwards we'd add the 3D creatures.

Machine with design by Kjell Aukrust

I propose to make this machine in 3d, then animate it andincorporate it all in flash to make an interactive web application where the user can explore the many functions of this machine.

Comments

[Paul]

I think we have already established that your second idea is a must to produce, also that more group discussion is needed to decide on a final end product for the assets.

The first idea is very interesting where you describe a landscape of industrial junk, where each part is like a beautiful machine ro instrument. I do greatly encourage more discussion on HOW this idea would look, more than WHAT its about, because as you mention it is more of an art film than a full narrative in a fundamental way.

I immediately see this landscape of objects as junk - maybe on an island - but beautifully modeled, camera slowly moving from master shot to mid-shot, everything within the scene still within the first 20 seconds. This stillness draws our attention to the objects beauty. Perhaps have an indifferent element animated within the scene, or background noises, to help us watch this stillness.

When you want to start the objects animation, this should shock the audience in some way - perhaps not shock but surprise enough to keep them wanting more. I see the camera direction like - this - moving in and around these objects, which are also animated like you mention. I see that this idea doesn't need a specific ending (just a white-out maybe?) as the establishing shot sets the idea of junk that is moving (more intelligent? self destructing?) without us knowing - just like toys that move when we dont look, or those gremilns under the bed in the cupboard - what we don't see, can kill us?

[ErrorMaker]

I like it!

I agree that it sounds more like an art film than a 3D short but the base idea has plenty potential for shorts as well.

What about style? Are these creatures a strong contrast to their surroundings or do they blend in?
The way I see it you can go both ways, go for realism and make the creatures look like they are a "natural" part of the recording or make them a contrast to the video by having a less realistic style.
Both would work but personaly I think you'd have to strive for realism in this case, I just think that a less realistic set of creatures would work against the film.

And what about stuff the creature might interact with?
Planned in detail pre recording and done by you or replace/add the object with a 3D model?
(An example, if a creature would push a ball, would you record the ball standing still and when it's rolling or would you use a 3D model and insert that as well?)
Pro's and con's here depends mostly on what final style you'd decide on, using a recording and cutting from the creature studying the ball and to the ball rolling might seem like a cheap way to work around it, but it would be less work. Replacing/adding the ball with a 3D model would allow you to play more with the actual interaction by the creature, which is what the base idea is all about.

I any case I like the idea.
As for the machine I don't think there is anything I can comment/advice.