DISNEY MAN!
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By Helen Merete Simm in MA Final Project Published: Tuesday, 12 May 09 - 11:37 PM (GMT) Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 May 09 - 11:46 PM (GMT) |
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Right it has been ages since I wrote, I know...
But well to be honest, there just has not been time!
Over the past couple of months SO much has happened and so much work has been completed! Am actually astonished at the amount that has been completed to be honest:D
Research:
I have watched a ridiculous number of zombie films for my research, and this has indeed given me an insight into how George Romero's zombie sort of took over the whole zombie genre.
Zombies were not always these slow shuffling, braincraving cretins. Oh no, the original zombies were born of voodoo!
There is a great number of ancient stories about the undead, dating right back to Jesus. Lets be honest here, he was one of the first zombies wasn't he?
Back from the dead after 3 days?
So I delved into the world of Romero to begin with, watching films such as Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead (old and new version), Diary of the Dead, and Night of the Living Dead.
Then I moved on to 28 Days Later, and 28 Weeks Later, Resident Evil and other viral zombie films before moving on to the alternative zombie films.
And this is where I struck gold...
First I watched a film called American Zombie, which is a mockumentary/horror/drama about two filmmakers (one successful and the other not) who decide to document the existence of zombies in modern society.
Most of the zombies are just ordinary folks trying to get by, but they have a darker side to them. They are intelligent and very human, but they do have a darker side that only seems to appear once a year at a festival called "LIVE DEAD". In the end the film crew get themselves into serious trouble both from hassling the undead, and also from delving a little too deep into the whole zombie lifestyle.
The other amazing film that I watched is German, called "Otto, or Up with Dead People".
It is a strange and rather surreal film about a young man, in his early 20s, who stumbles around thinking he is dead. We never really discover if he is dead or not, but a couple of filmmakers decide to make a documentary about him nonetheless. They seem to think he is just troubled, but think it is rather amusing that Otto thinks he is a zombie. So of course they decide to milk it for all its worth, and make an arty film.
Otto really just seems to be a troubled homosexual young man, who ended up in a mental institute after a bad breakup, and now wanders the streets, homeless and lost...
The story is really heartwarming, and the cinematography is just beautiful.
These two films really got me started, and it was only then that I realised just how much material has been written on the subject of zombies. One can understand the charm of such supernatural beings like vampires, since they have that whole charm factor to them, very sensual beings.
Zombies are on the other hand, very simple and uncomplicated beings. Maybe that is their charm?
After watching all these zombie films and reading all these articles on the uncanny, as well as an amazing collection of short stories "The Living Dead", it has started to get to me.
FInally now I am starting to dream about zombies... yeah and they are not good dreams..
I am also starting to notice little things around me constantly that would fit nicely into my zombie's world.
In a health and supplement shop I saw these pills with big letters "BRAINS". They were supplements to support healthy brain activity, but then again, who is to say they aren't perfect for a zombie? The modern alternative to grabbing brains? Buy them in pill form.
Also being in Wales, I have of course noticed the beer that goes by the name "Brains". I find it rather ironic that the substance that has the reputation for turning men into mindless stumbling idiots should choose this name.
The Film:
I had been struggling a little with the film, trying to decide whether to shoot from script or just film spontaneous footage, as is done in Creature Comforts.
After a meeting with production designer Julia Bracegirdle, it all seemed to just come together.
Instead of filming the whole thing in a studio, which is a rather archaic approach to dating videos, would the zombie not be more likely in this day and age to just upload a video to "YouTube"?
So instead of the film being a strict dating video, it is now more of a video blog. A video blog by a zombie who is looking for love.
Now of course this has led to a few more struggles with script vs. improvisation.
In the end what I decided to do was interview my actor, using a list of questions, guiding the discussion towards zombie orientated subjects and then ALSO film the actor reading the script.
I was able to obtain some amazing moments during the interview, but when filming the script reading, I ran into trouble.
Mainly because my actor, was reading. And not acting.
Now, I somehow managed to get myself into an internship at Disney Interactive Studios in London for a year, visualizing game concepts. Yep, basically I am in my dreamjob;)
Because of this, I am switching to part time on my course. This means that instead of having only one term to finish my final film, I now have a year.
This is a huge relief especially since now I am able to give the actor more time to learn the script by heart, before I attempt to film him again.
I am confident in his abilities, and I just think his voice has such an amazing character and likability that I do not want to replace him.
He brings a certain comedic vibe to the character without losing the sadness beneath. Keeping a brave face.
i will film a couple of other actors, but I hope to not have to use them.
So because of all that, the animatic is still on standby.
Another benefit to having more time to make the film is that now I will have more time to build the puppets.
I am currently almost finished with the puppet for the female. She is in the film for about 5 seconds, screams and thats it. 
But...while making her I am also practising for making the main character, who will have to be far more mobile and detailed.
Am really glad I do not have to rush this process.
As far as set design goes, I have been gathering various little bits and pieces that would be perfect for the zombie's room, since that will be the main set.
There will be a couple of clips filmed outside (where he is sitting on the bench looking lonely) and also the scene with the dog, as well as a scene in his bathroom where we get a chance to see him looking in the cupboard and stitching himself up after a long rough day.
Basically we get to see what a zombie keeps in his medicine cabinet: sewing kit, superglue, plumbers tape, industry strength deodorant...etc.
Now somehow when coloring the zombie in Photoshop he has become ginger... I really do not know how that happened, but it does seem to suit him, and it also makes him a little more...irrationally repellent. The kinda guy you love to hate lol...
I know I am being a little gingerist here...but...yes well.
(Retrieves foot from throat and continues).
All in all the process is going well. I have started to test some animation footage with the eyes superimposed on top, and yes mobility of the puppets is a real issue, especially around the neck joints. The one I have made already just does not move the way a human moves, making it hard to follow the reference footage exactly and creating far more work in the motion tracking stage. Oh and yes the hair I so painstakingly sewed for the female will have to be replaced with solid hair, since every time I move her, the hair moves too. Not good...
Ideally I would like to build a professional armature for both the characters, but as of now my budget is depleted, am hoping to be able to apply for a bursary to fund the rest of this production. Especially before I begin to build the sets...
Setbuilding is going to have to wait until July, when I move to London. I just hope to god I don't end up living in a shoebox...
Well i think that is pretty much everything...for now at least!
I promise to update more often from now on, and tell you about Disney!
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