First Major Project: Story, Narrative and Plot ideas

coming soon: research notes

story, narrative and plot
here i will attempt to explain my ideas regarding my story, my plot and my narrative.

story:
Sheryl's girlfriend is hiding a terrible secret and through a series of unfortunate and fortunate events, the secret will be revealed to Sheryl and, unfortunately "the suits", a paramilitary organisation interested in unforeseen and unexplainable things.

plot:
Sheryl and her girlfriend, Mia are returning home from a house party,
they're assaulted by a gang of thugs looking for "a good time",
a flash of light and the two are running through the streets, they rest at the riverside (quay?).
Sheryl puts Mia on the spot, to explain how she incapacitated the gang.
mia comes clean with Sheryl, explaining who she "really" is and where she's from.(this takes up the bulk of the script, includes brief flashbacks to when Sheryl and Mia met.)
Sheryl doesn't believe until Mia shows her some interesting things,
suddenly rotor blades can be heard, an argument ensues and Sheryl has to decide, to run with Mia or to run alone.
the two run away, together.
after they're gone two suits show up and examine the bench, remarking upon where the girls might be.
end.
I am thinking of making the final edit nonlinear because it allows us as the audience to start pretty much at the bench.

Narative:
I'm using narrative in relation to the sub story, the story of two lovers who's relationship has been damaged due to the half lies and diversions of one of the couple.

Sheryl and Mia's relationship has been on the rocks recently,(this is mostly due to Mia's reticence

to open up about her past and her paranoia about Sheryl still loving her after revealing the truth)over the course of the bench portion of the film, stressed and frightened,  Mia and Sheryl air out a lot of dirty laundry, and in the process Mia comes clean about her origins, shaking Sheryl's worldview, they're about to "kiss and make up" when they're interrupted by the suits, after running away the story is left open, do Mia and Sheryl have a wholesome relationship?, or do they break further apart because of the ensuing drama.

quote of the day:

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

"Very deep," said Arthur, "you should send that in to the Reader's Digest. They've got a page for people like you."

-Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect, Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.


film of the day:

The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy(2005)

First Major Project: Character Biography: Mia Madeline

Mia Madeline
(Mia, Mai,)
student of languages, strange accent, interested in enjoying her life, tends to do things without premeditation, intelligent but a little derpy sometimes, enjoys walking about and watching earth stuff, loves parties and traveling, currently on gap year, Mia is generally polite but seems to use weird colloquialisms or anachronisms in conversation.
Mia has been seen wearing skinny jeans or Jeggings with T-shirts, full goth gear, harajuku style clothes, she doesn't have a specific style, she seems to be trying to find one.

Mia is a Hero-Monster as defined by Steve, She's driven by her own wants, but doesn't/cant express herself properly due to her past and home. she's definitely a monster and maybe and existential hero,... maybe.

Mia walks into a bar(or pub) alone:
she orders whatever the most popular drink is then sits wherever hoping for an interesting conversation.

Mia walks into a bar(or pub) with a friend:
she tries a new cocktail every time, trying to find one she likes before the night ends, never seems to get verry drunk though

Mia bag is stolen in the street
she maces them and runs

Mia goes shopping:
she looks at everything, everytime, even though she may have been to the same shop the day before.

First Major Project: Character biography: Sheryl

 my ideas boil down to XXXREDACTEDXXX

this is what i have so far as far as characters, coming soon is Mia Madeline(2nd character) story and plot so far posts.

anyway, so characters, who are they and what are they like, who do they like and why do they do things....

Sheryl:

(Sher, Sherry)

Artist, philosophy student, INTELLIGENT, self conscious.

likes to go out for walks along the seafront, contemplate life, chill but enjoy a night out.

Sheryl was born in Bristol, moved to Manchester and studied philosophy, psychology and literature in college before eventually settling on art for university.

she talks with a mostly clear accent with a hint of Devon and Yorkshire.

when stressed falls back on sarcasm, can be a bit rude at times of high stress.

Sheryl is the woman in this situation, she has to choose, to stay with Mia or to leave and remain safe, she stays.

situation experiments

wears hoodies, harem pants tank-tops etc. when going out goes UV to the brim with big boots, loud colores tempered by dark's and blacks.

sheryl walks into a bar(or pub) alone:

she orders a mohito then sits outside to people watch

sheryl walks into a bar(or pub) with a friend:

she orders something similar to her friend, they chat and have a fairly normal bar experience.

Sheryl's bag is stolen in the street

she checks her pockets for her phone, then heads home while trying to remember the situation and decide what to say to the police.

sherryl goes shopping:

she feels awkward every time her card is declined, enjoys clothes shopping but hates grocery shopping. 

A short opinion and technical piece on the film momento(2000:a Memento Odyssey)

the film Memento, a retrospective(?)
(here there be dragons)

Anyway, the film memento is a rather good film,characterization was good, liked the setting, loved the nonlinear plot design, didn't like the characters, the characters where all pretty normal, sure one guy has a memory issue, but that doesn't make up for the lack of characterization otherwise, the characters weren't 2D, they just didn't feel all that interesting, the memory guy has an excuse, he physically cant develop as a character, but the others...

the big problem with the film is also my favorite part, the nonlinear story, instead of watching people develop we're watching people get revealed, who they are etc, not who they want to be or who they used to be.

there's also my issue with the story's message, it doesn't do much social commentary however the commentary we get is this: "everyone is out for themselves and only themselves,... except for the one guy who tried to help our main character and got himself killed", the only real social commentary is something along the lines of dont bother trying to help those in need of help which doesn't mesh well with my worldview, I guess it could be a commentary on how trying to help often explodes in your face but that's a discussion for another time.

EDIT: after having looked at the film again from a different angle, i will say that from a technical perspective, this nonlinear form is something i would like to experiment with during my project, that way i can start at the meeting and then jump back to the inciting incident that sets off the events of my film.

so as a final thought: I enjoyed the film but dont particularly agree with its messages all that much, however it is worth watching again and it is a rather good film.

quote of the day:
“Murphy’s Law doesn’t meant that something bad will happen. It means that whatever can happen, will happen.”—Cooper, Interstellar

Film of the day:
Memento(OBVSL)

WORKSHOP TASK (A CLOCKWORK IDEA)

IMAGINEERING WORKSHOP, 23 SEP 2015
BREIF: to design a short film based upon three randomized details(in this case, the location of a country road, a retired naval officer and a plumber.)

PITCH:
Short Comedy, Susanne, Ret. Naval officer arrives at a closed road, at which is Bob, Plumber they argue until Susanne decides to relax and enjoy life.(as cars pile up behind the closed road sign)

conflict: closed road, destination
characters: susanne and bob
result: Susanne relaxes finally
motivation:
Susanne: getting somewhere by road
Bob: working/on break.

IMAGES:

Niki Vossler Or: How I learned to start worrying and escape a fugue.

Foreword: Apologies for grammar, spelling or Caps issues, this is a blog, a professionally slanted blog, but a blog all the same.

professionally and mentally I am scared, tired and excited all at the same time.

this last year between my time at Wiltshire college and my soon to be course at Rochester has been an eye opening experience, i have lost much but I have gained insight. throughout the course of the year I have attempted to create works with other people, friends, relatives etc. this has not worked, contributing factors are wide ranging, from geographical distance to being disinclined to communicate(with me) after the end of my college career.

in this industry one works mostly upon good relations with ones peers, i knew this before, however after being physically and mentally isolated it takes upon a new meaning. being excited about the coming term i have realised what i had been lacking after the finality of my college career, and that was my passion, when entering college and throughout the vast majority I  had a passion for this vocation and I had been optimistic of my future, I lost this however it has returned with the new year.

"this year has definitely not been in vain." is the message the above is meant to convey, while I have had little practical experience over the last year, I have had much time to review content by others, not just for their entertainment value but to analyse and explore their nuances and to review their creation. at this point I feel unready to begin this course, mostly because of the lack of professional growth over the last months.

A brief on me:
My name is Niki, I have a passion for the moving image, my favourite shot is the MCU(followed by the EW), I find the art of montage fascinating and beautiful, i prefer models plus chroma key over CGI models and I believe that Strauss is the best way to hear the movement of objects in space. I Like the Film AVATAR despite its simplistic plot, I am entertained by the film Titanic in the same vein, I prefer The Big Lebowlsky over The Maltese Falcon because the dude abides in a Neo-Noir, and I like interstellar because of its commentary of how our grandchildren are going to see us(I love interstellar for its use of montage and its mis-en-sine). finally i respect the transformers franchise because they do what they where meant to do(sell toys and Merch) despite their artistic quality.

Television wise, I don't like Game of thrones(no matter how addicted i am as of the end of season five) I enjoy Breaking bad because of its black as night comedy and semi-demi-realistic portrail of methanthetamine, I find hell on wheels intriguing because of its setting and characterisation, I re watch battlestar galactica at least once a year because I'm still impressed by the characterisation and its social commentary.

Below is myShowreel, below that is a link to my youtube page, my catalogue of work is split between that which I have uploaded and that which is linked to thrugh a playlist.

I've been Niki Vossler.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZMXhWR5oV9Xu4G9x-3wT7Q


Film of the week: Grand Theft Auto(1977)

quote of the week:
  “When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don’t want your damn lemons, what the hell am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life’s manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I’m the man who’s gonna burn your house down! With the lemons! I’m gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!”- Cave Johnson