Jack's Concept Concoction's

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Final Pitch Animatic

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First pass of the animatic.

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Wine bottle concepts.

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Research and Development #1

I spent most of this week, tweaking a few things, to make my story, characters, and world stronger.

I finally settled on a design for Hyacinth, the wife of Niles. I designed her to look a lot like Niles, so that people can automatically recognize that she is his wife. The sharp haircut was chosen to make her look like a spunky person, that likes to live a little bit on the edge. And by live a little on the edge, I mean having a side of onion rings with dinner, instead of french fries.

I also developed some wine bottle designs, that are iconic enough for the film, but don’t district from the main characters. When it comes to the lore of Hyacinth’s favorite bottle of wine, it is simply the wine that Hyacinth and Niles had on one of their many dates. The brand of the wine, can be seen on one of the portraits in the opening scene. 

Speaking of scenes, I started to board one of the scenes, which is available in my Dropbox. Everything is still rough for now, but I wanted to plan out how exaggerated the poses are going to be. My plan is to have really tight boards, so that the animators are not lost about posing, or the action that is being portrayed in the scene.  

That is all of the updates that I have for this week. Since the story, world, and characters were working from the last pitch, I am just planning on refining all the material, to make it digestible for a five minute pitch.

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Character Head Studies

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Pitch_Clean_Characters.

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Pitch Style Frames

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Assignment 4: World Concepts

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Assignment 04: World

               The first environment that I want to discuss, is the neighborhood that Niles and Hyacinth live in. The neighborhood is very much a Levittown kind of neighborhood. The houses are very uniform and similar. And everything just feels down to Earth. Off in the distance of the street is the skyline of the city, making it a great are to commute from. Aside from commuting, the area is a great retirement community, for the elderly that don’t like planned communities. The street has become known as the street where all of the elderly people live on, hence the reason why Niles and Hyacinth’s parties are so popular. The street that they live on is slow and peaceful, just like the two of them are.

               The second environment to address is Niles and Hyacinth’s house. Their house can be summarized as “Home sweet Home”. A large majority of the walls in their house, are covered with those cheesy, narcissistic, and misogynistic signs. Some examples include, “Love live laugh”, “Calories don’t count if no one sees you eat them” and “If you’re wife doesn’t hear your horrible idea, is it still considered a horrible idea?” Surrounding the walls of the house, are photographs of Niles and Hyacinth, as well as friends and family. The reason for both of these, is to reinforce the themes of family and togetherness. Niles and Hyacinth are people that care about all of the communities that they are a part of. The jaw dropping part of the house is the dining room. This is the most elegant part of the house. The table is covered with beautifully patterned plated, and utensils that a person can see there reflections through. The napkins are folded in the shape of a triangle. Hanging above the table is a chandelier that has so many lights, that they start to blend together. Behind the table, is a cabinet with a record player on top. As well as a cabinet that can hold a large amount of wine bottles. With the description of this house, it is safe to assume that the two of them are getting by just fine.

               The third environment is the liquor store. Which is a bit of an understatement, because it is more like a liquor Costco. This liquor store is one of those stores that looks small from the outside, but huge in the inside. As a matter of fact, it is in the heart of the downtown area, making it a popular location for people looking to get drunk on a 1:30 PM, on Tuesday.  In front of the liquor store, is one of those animatronic billboards that has a woman drinking a glass of wine back and forth.  This liquor store has every single kind of alcohol you could think of, beer, wine, whisky, the whole nine yards. They even have all kinds of foods, to pair nicely with the wine. There is a whole aisle dedicated to crackers. The cheese sample table is a yard long. And don’t even get me started on the caviar! All of the assistants and staff wear tuxedos, with tiny bow ties on them, like waiters. If you are looking for a liquor store with class AND connoisseur’s, then look no further!

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Personality Board: Hyacinth

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Personality Board: Rupert

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Personality board: Niles

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Assignment 03: Character

1) Niles

Who is this Character?

Niles is known on his street, as the house that throws the most marvelous parties. Together with his wife, they are an unstoppable party throwing duo. The reason Niles fell for his wife, Hyacinth, is because he admired her spunky nature, and leadership qualities. Niles is a retired meeting organizer, so he always know how to close a deal, and entertain his clients. Due to the high demands of some of his meetings, he has learned to be quick on his feet. Niles is a very chipper person, and knows how to be the life of the party. However, when he is nagged into doing the little things, he can moan until the cows come home. Most importantly, Niles knows how to strike revenge. If someone has wronged him, he makes it his destiny to makes things right. With his top hat and cane, Niles will always strategize a way to come out on top.

What does this character want?

Niles wants to get his wife’s favorite brand of grape wine from the liquor store. For Niles, he does not care about the brand, the calories, or the location, he just wants it, because his wife wants it. When Rupert takes the last bottle of grape wine, Niles does not extract revenge for his own personal gain. He does it, so he can make his wife happy.

Why does this character want what they want?

Outside of his drive to please his wife, Hyacinth. Niles wants to obtain the bottle of wine, because it symbolizes the short amount of youth that he has left. The portraits hung on the dining room wall are a grim reminder that Niles is not getting any younger. Niles want to prove that he has as much energy now, as he did when he was a teenager. More importantly, Niles wants to leave a great legacy. Niles wants to be remembered as the person who put a smile on his neighbor’s faces, thanks to his catering, drinks, and swing band. Niles also wants Hyacinth to remember him as the strikingly handsome young man that she fell in love with. Obtaining the bottle of wine is Niles key to all of these goals.

How does this character get what they want?

Niles plan to make his wife happy by chasing Rupert all around the store, until he gets the bottle of wine. Despite the cane slowing him down, that won’t stop his goal of coming out on top. When he uses his cane, he will try to go faster than a million cheetahs. When he breaks his cane, he will use his wit and cunning attitude, to outsmart his enemies.

2) Rupert

Who is this Character?

Rupert is a simple man, who always tries his best. He is not the brightest person in the world, but at his age, he is one of the smarter and wiser ones. What slows Rupert down physically, he makes up for mentally. What slows him down the most is his legs. Rupert cannot walk as fast as he used to, which is why he relies on his grabber. When not trying to get his bottle of wine back, Rupert fancies in strolls around supermarket, strolls around parks, and listening to his old vinyl records. At Rupert’s age, he just wants to avoid trouble at all costs. But when he is pushed into, he is prone to attacking violently.

What does this character want?

Rupert wants to get his bottle of wine back from Niles, who tried to steal it from him. When Niles and Rupert are grabbing for the same bottle of wine, Rupert grabs it first. Rupert has a simple mindset, and for this reason, Rupert believes that he is the rightful owner of the bottle of wine. Even if the bottle broke, or he got the bottle in the end, all he wants to do is hear Niles apologize, or reflect on his actions.

Why does this character want what they want?

Rupert wants the bottle of wine, because he wants to prove that he is right. Rupert is the embodiment of the cynical old man who always believes that he is right, and everyone else is wrong. Rupert believes that he is 100% entitled to the bottle of wine. The reason Rupert attacks Niles by hitting him with his grabber, throwing crackers at him, locking him in a freezer, and knocks him over while riding on a trail of wine, is because he wants to defeat Niles for trying to steal from him. If the bottle of wine was smashed right in front of him, Rupert would not care. Rupert only cares about being on top in the end. And if that means leaving the liquor store with Hyacinth’s favorite bottle of wine, then that’s just what he has to do.

How does this character get what they want?

To get away from Niles, he uses what little strength he has, to get to the cash register, as soon as possible. When Niles tries to harm Rupert, he fights back, and slams him into the shelves. Rupert wants to get out of the liquor store alive, by using violent forces. Rupert will not stop until Niles is knocked down a peg. And beating the life out of Niles is what he plans to do.

3) Hyacinth

Who is this Character?

Hyacinth thinks of herself as “the one and only”. And she truly believes that there is no one quite like her. One of the reasons she likes throwing dinner parties for the neighborhood, is so everyone can get an exclusive look at her life. The reason she fell in love in Niles, is because she admired his “can do” attitude. As well as his go getter attitude. While Hyacinth thinks highly of herself, she is the glue that keeps everything together. Despite being a nag to Niles, she only has good intentions for the people she cares about, as well as herself.

What does this character want?

Hyacinth wants Niles to get her, her favorite bottle of wine from the liquor store, just in time for the party. Her favorite bottle of grape wine is the kind that Hyacinth and Niles had at their wedding toast. And the brand of grape wine has a royal reputation of being the best brand since 1804. But Hyacinth does not just spot there. Hyacinth wants Niles to be back in time before the guests arrive, as well as have a clean look for the party. Hyacinth always knows what she wants, and how to get it done.

Why does this character want what they want?

Hyacinth wants her favorite bottle of wine for the party, because she is out of wine. When she goes to check the wine cabinet, she notices that there is no wine bottles to be seen. “What is a party without wine?” Hyacinth asks herself. For a more emotional reason, Hyacinth wants her favorite bottle of wine, so that her guests can be entertained, and better yet, entertain herself. And Hyacinth can’t risk throwing a boring party. By having her favorite bottle of wine, she is able to brag about the effect that it has had on her life.

How does this character get what they want?

Hyacinth gets the bottle of wine, by forcing Niles to go to the liquor store and buy it, less than an hour before the party starts. That is her strategy, make someone else do her work, while she gets rewarded. However, when Niles gets home, and sees the state that Niles is in. As well as the trials that he went through. She realizes that the wine is not important, it is the gesture that mattered.

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Assignment 02: Story

Story Beats: 

1.       Sticky note on the fridge, showing the title of the film.

2.       Pan up to the freezer, to show a note saying “Dinner party at 6PM”

3.       Hyacinth walks past the fridge with wine glasses.

4.       Hyacinth puts the wine glasses on the dining room table.

5.       Hyacinth takes a step back, and admires her decoration of the dining room table.

6.       Portrait is shown of Hyacinth and Niles as teens.

7.       Portrait is shown of Hyacinth and Niles at their wedding.

8.       Portrait is shown of Hyacinth and Niles retired.

9.       Hyacinth goes to the wine bottle holder, and notices that it is empty.

10.   Hyacinth is furious, as Niles starts to walk into the room.

11.   Niles walks backwards, and Hyacinth turns to him.

12.   Hyacinth nags at him, and orders Niles to go buy some wine.

13.   Establishing shot of the liquor store.

14.   Niles is walking around the store, and is looking confused.

15.   Niles notices his wife’s favorite wine on display, with only one bottle left.

16.   Niles is rushing towards the display.

17.   Another customer, Rupert, grabs the bottle just as Niles reaches for it.

18.   Just like his wife, Niles is furious.

19.   Rupert walks away like nothing happened.

20.   Niles starts to follow Rupert down the aisle.

21.   Rupert pushes Niles into a wall of wine bottles, and starts to run.

22.   Filled with anger, he puts a wine bottle in his top hat, and starts running towards him.

23.   As Niles is getting close to Rupert, Rupert starts to throw crackers like ninja stars at Niles.

24.   Niles is running, and he starts to eat crackers, while running.

25.   Niles starts to grab some of the crackers, and starts throwing them at Rupert’s ankles.

26.   Rupert falls down, and Niles grabs the wine bottle, and starts running.

27.   As Niles is running by the freezer, he runs into an open one.

28.   Rupert grabs the wine bottle from him, and closes Niles into the freezer.

29.   Niles is freezing, and uses his cane to break glass.

30.   Doing this sets him free, but breaks his cane in the process.

31.   Rupert sees Niles, and Rupert starts running.

32.   Niles is limping, and sees an ad with a husband and wife on it.

33.   Seeing this gives him the courage to start running.

34.   Rupert is running, and passes by a cheese sample display, with a beautiful woman.

35.   This beautiful woman is Niles in disguise.

36.   Niles gives Rupert two pieces of cheese.

37.   As Rupert leans in for a kiss, Niles slams the cheese tray in his face.

38.   Niles grabs the wine bottle, and runs towards the exit.

39.   Rupert spills a wine bottle on the floor, so he can catch up to Niles.

40.   While riding on his grabber, Rupert catches up to Niles, and grabs the wine bottle.

41.   Niles slips on the trail of wine that Rupert left on the ground.

42.   Rupert ends up crashing into a display of wine glasses.

43.   Niles catches the wine bottle while Rupert is collapsed on the floor.

44.   Niles is celebrating, while Rupert starts to shake.

45.   Niles takes out the fake wine bottle from his hat, and has a tough choice to make.

46.   Niles helps Rupert up.

47.   Rupert is thankful.

48.   Niles gives Rupert the bottle of wine in his hand, and walks away.

49.   Rupert looks at the bottle, and notices that is the bottle that Rupert put in his hat.

50.   Rupert looks confused.

51.   Niles takes the real bottle out of his hat, and heads to the cash register.

52.   Cut back to Niles and Hyacinth’s house.

53.   Hyacinth is looking out the window for Niles.

54.   Niles comes into the house, and surprises her with the bottle.

55.   Hyacinth is so happy, and starts to pour two glasses.

56.   The two clink their glasses, in front of the portraits.

57.   The door knocks, and the first guests arrive.

58.   Niles and Hyacinth open the door to greet them, and they say hi to the guests.

59.   The guests present Hyacinth with her favorite bottle of wine.

60.   All four of them laugh, and Niles happily rolls his eyes.

Treatment: 

In a small suburban couple, a retired elderly couple, Niles and Hyacinth, are getting ready for their dinner party at 6PM. Hyacinth has dedicated countless hours decorating her dining room, to be the spotless. As Hyacinth is getting some wine bottles in the dining room, she notices that she is out of wine. As Niles is walking into the dining room, Hyacinth appears to be extremely furious. While Niles tries to walk away, Hyacinth orders him to go to the liquor store, and get a bottle of wine.

               Niles arrives at the liquor store, and walks inside. Surrounded by various brands and bottles of wine, he has no idea where to go. While wandering around, he ends up finding Hyacinth’s favorite wine. However, there is only one bottle left. As he is walking towards the display, another elderly man, Rupert, grabs the last bottle of wine, just as Niles got close. Niles is furious, and follows Rupert down the aisle. Rupert pushes Niles into a wall of wine bottles. Rupert starts to run, and Niles puts a wine bottle in his hat, and the race starts.

              Niles catches up to Rupert, and Rupert starts throwing crackers like ninja stars at Niles. Niles is still running, and is eating the crackers that is being thrown at him. Niles starts catching the crackers, and fires them at Rupert’s ankles, really fast. This causes Rupert to fall down, and Niles catches the bottle of wine, while it is up in the air. Niles runs past a freezer, and runs straight into an open freezer door, left open by Rupert. Rupert grabs the bottle of wine from Niles, and closes Niles into the freezer. While freezing cold, Niles uses his cane to break the glass on the freezer door. The glass is so frozen, that it breaks the cane in the process. While Rupert is taking his sweet time walking, Niles breaks free, and Rupert starts sprinting. Without his cane, Niles tries to run, and is only able to limp. While on the ground, Niles sees a wine advertisement with a happy couple, which gives him the strength to keep going.

               Rupert is rushing towards the cash register, and passes by a free sample display with cheese samples, with a beautiful woman. This beautiful woman is Niles in disguise. Niles gives him two cheese samples. And when Rupert leans in for a kiss, Niles slams the cheese tray in Rupert’s face, and runs off with the wine bottle. To catch up to Niles, Rupert spills a path of wine, and rides on it using his grabber. Niles sees this, and starts to book it. Rupert passes by him, grabs the wine bottle, and Niles spins out of control. Rupert crashes into a display of wine glasses, and his sight is covered by cardboard and glass. When Rupert falls, the wine bottle is flying, and Niles catches it. While Niles is celebrating, Rupert starts moving. Niles takes out the fake wine bottle from his hat, and has a tough decision to make. Niles helps Rupert up, and gives Rupert the wine bottle. Rupert thanks him, and Niles walks away. As Niles approaches the cash register, Rupert notices that the wine bottle Niles gave him wasn’t the one they were fighting for, but the fake one in Niles hat.

               Moments before Niles gets home, Hyacinth is waiting for Niles. Niles arrives with Hyacinth’s favorite bottle of wine, and is extremely thankful. Hyacinth gets two glasses, and pours two glasses of wine for herself and Niles. The first guests of the party arrive at the door. Niles and Hyacinth greet them, and the guests give Niles and Hyacinth a gift: Hyacinth’s favorite bottle of wine. Everyone laughs, and Niles happily rolls his eyes.

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A2 Story Thumbnails - Part 9.

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A2 Story Thumbnails - Part 8. 

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A2 Story Thumbnails - Part 7.