I've spent a disproportionate amount of time reworking the story and animatic for REQUIEM. This week (Week 8) I finished the fifth version of the animatic after finding the story line and shots that I felt had been cut out of REQUIEM last year when I tried to make it fit into 2 minutes. It now weighs in at a whopping 6 minutes...which I will trim up as I move forward...maybe.
The plan for visual development includes a lot of matte painting for BG's and other elements. I will take as many shortcuts as possible without sacrificing quality or storytelling...but the length of the story will be challenging to complete in the next 3 quarters. The interesting thing about my current project work is that the show I'm art directing - afterworld - is very limited animation. Creating 6 minutes of limited animation CG is a 3 to 4 week process. I'm learning how much can be done with how little. That experience will certainly have import as I move into production on REQUIEM.
All in all I feel pretty good about the flow of the story, the shot selection and the emotional beats of the imagery.
Adding music and sound always brings goosebumps. I use music at this point to inspire me in the visual development. Although I can't use the music I currently have in the film if I intend to show it publicly - I am looking more for the emotional impact and synergy between the music and visuals at this time. Of course John Williams and James Horner are always exceptionally inspiring. The music from Munich, Saving Private Ryan, Braveheart, Glory and so on...all have elements that carry the soul of the story. Universal elements of bravery, loyalty and the grief of war.
This time in development I call the Lost World. It is an in between time - where nothing is real yet...only the promise of the future finished film. And I am lost in it right now. Not sure where I am...only that I am in the world between what I have seen in my mind's vision and what will someday be a piece of artwork that others can enjoy. I am lost in the lost world...and that's ok. I feel like some artists are afraid of this place and consequently never visit it or intentionally go there...it is too uncertain and fraught with fear for many. I feel fear as well...but the vision haunts me and I have to make this story. So I am willing to wander here for a while...because I know I'll find the path out sooner or later.
D_
