Some stuff for the future

As Prigley ticks onwards steadily I briefly, very briefly, turned my attention to prospects for a future project using my somewhat standard style of model making as a medium.

I thought it was about time I used my more detailed level of sculpting in an animated film and although I'm not even near to starting this it's nice to have something to look forward to and to aim for.

My basic (extremely basic) plot at the moment is a conman who takes on a bet that he can or can't travel back in time. My inspirations for this are broadly speaking the works of Ray Harryhausen and the somewhat farsical British Ealing comedies following seeing the hilarious stage version of "The Ladykillers" starring Peter Capaldi. Another inspiration is the work of Jules Verne. Men in starched shirts taking on challenges to travel around the world in 80 days (Which has in a roundabout sort of way influenced the object below)

I see this being set in the roaring '20s, taking place during a dinner party as the style of the period is so elegant and something I've wanted to work into what I do for ages now.

I aim to make this film using 12" scale dolls, a scale I regularly use.

This figure below is in many ways a test.

This character isn't the main character, but I do imagine him playing a sizeable role in the film. As you may hopefully be able to see, I have based his facial appearance on Michael Palin, who has become a hero of mine recently (The connection to Jules Verne and Around the World in 80 Days)

The construction of the head is something new to me. It is made in essentially two parts, the face and the back of the head (the hair being sculpted from plasticine to allow for animationability onto the back section of the head). I intend to cast a copy of the face section and modify each copy with a different expression, mouth shape etc. I also want to atleast try hollowing out the eyes and replacing them with adjustable eyes within the mask, again with animation in mind.

These are all extremely tentative plans, no doubt they'll become even more impossibly difficult when, or if, I actually get round to putting some serious effort into this project.

Very much watch this space.
Like I say, it's often good to have something to look forward to, even if it's in the distant future.

Things have changed somewhat

A lot's been discussed and semi-decided over the past few weeks, a storyboard re-shuffle, alterations to the narrative, new perspectives. The project has taken on a new dimension.

A Bit of Storyboarding

A Changing Idea

All terribly exciting, rather different, but essentially the same story at heart.

Band Members Designs.

Designs for the different band members, each with their own personalities. It is becoming apparant that these shall no longer be sculpted figures, but paper cut-out figures to create a contrast between the Prigley character and the contents of the box.

References and Links

Been meaning to put this stuff up for ages but the thought has always passed me by.

First off, here is a link to the project blog set up by team member Sebastian Leon Silva.
http://mrprigley.tumblr.com/

Now for some video references.



Paddington (1975 BBC)

Camberwick Green (1966 BBC)

Trumpton (1967 BBC)

Chigley (1969 BBC)

Wallace and Gromit (1989- Aardman Animations)

The Wombles (1973 BBC)

Ivor the Engine (1958 ITV/Associated-Rediffusion, 1975 BBC)

Bagpuss (1974 BBC)

http://www.animatormag.com/archive/issue-03/issue-3-page-23/

More Development things

Lists of things to do and puns for book covers. 

Two parts of set design drawn out by team member Hon Hou

Bits of Detail.

  

 Scale test

 Might be reconsidering the contents of the box. Instead of being sculpted figures, they could be paper-cut out elements.

More box colour schemes.

And so onwards.

A touch of book-binding.

A small scale book constructed from an inner section of polyboard and three additional cover elements cut from craft foam. First of many books with interesting names, puns and such in the spirit of Wallace and Gromit. Intended to be background detail and a reward to people who rewatch the film, should they choose to.

A little wedding ring made from a half-loop of wire. Shall be used for a sense of pathos in the film.

Sat at my work desk and had a sudden "Eureka!" moment. If he was once married and still loves the woman he lost, then surely he would still wear his wedding ring. Felt a bit embarrassed that this detail hadn't occured to me before.

 A smoking pipe, another little personal detail and a prop for him to fiddle with to imply mannerisms. Sculpted from Sculpey polymer clay.

Half-moon spectacles, made from acetate and card, removable also. Tremendously fiddly but another nice detail.

Required in the storyboard.

Box Progress

In-roads on the miniature music box prop have been laid. Shall be made from a selection of elements. Sculpted (roof, base, contest), metal (hinges), card/wood (side panels, interior struts).

The construction of this will be the president for the full size prop, which is an ongoing construction project.

A Sense of Scale

Though it would be wise to measure the figure's heights for future reference.