Film Proposal & Research

Before I started this course at Wimbledon, I knew I wanted to convert my illustrations and paintings into a 3D, stop-motion art form. It was Fred Stuhr's music video for Tool, 'Sober' (seen below), that led to me finding this course and motivated me to move my work towards film. For my degree piece, I want to create a stop-motion short stemming from the concept art below of a woman birthing a full-sized being who goes on to act as a mindless dictator.

The protagonist being will be neglectful of others and display a tunnel-vision of greed in order to get what he wants. So far, all I know is that the puppets will be made in some kind of silicone to give them human, textured skin and I want to integrate my landscape illustrations into the film.

Above: Stuhr, F. (2006). Tool - Sober. [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hglVqACd1C8&t=194s [Accessed 6 Aug. 2019].

Concept Art to Motivate the Storyboard:

Above: Oktay, E. (2016). Untitled. [Fine-liner].

Above: Oktay, E. (2018). The Birth of Hitler. [Graphite].

Above: Oktay, E. (2017). Untitled. [Fine-liner & Graphite].

Above: Oktay, E. (2018). Whole & Two Halves. [1mx.2m - ink, acrylic and graphite].

A few years ago, I drew out a very manic "storyboard" for a stop-motion that consisted of a greedy being trying to disrupt the discourse of a half-sized civilisation, to then meet his persecutor and pay for the damage.

I want to use this rough idea, along with the concept art above, to form the storyboard and the direct the film title. Over a few weeks I debated different titles, eventually settling on OTOKRAT; a Turkish translation of Autocrat, paying homage to my culture, creating some obscurity to the film and flowing well with my language that I hope to incorporate into the film.

Film Viewings & Reviews:

Below are a selection of films I've watched over the summer, each with particular elements that I'll be taking into consideration when making my own storyboard.

Above: Barker, C. (2016). If I Was God. [video] Available at: https://youtu.be/KORZf5JL1hU [Accessed 9 Aug. 2019]. Below: Frames from 'If I Was God'.

"A comedic stop motion animation in which a boy fantasises about possessing godlike powers he'd use to impress his crush and undermine his bullies."

Above: Vuorinen, E., Ottelin, J. and Partanen, P. (2009). Benigni. [video] Available at: https://vimeo.com/15596784 [Accessed 9 Aug. 2019]. Below: Frames from 'Benigni'.

"A lonesome xylophone player finds a viciously growing tumor under his arm. In his attempts to get rid of the tumor he discovers that it has some unconventional qualities."

The lead character in Benigni experiences what it is to gain purpose and joy, to then lose it and return to isolation. I never knew I could cry from the loss of a tumour, but somehow the directors managed it.

Above: Porter, M. and Kuwahata, R. (2017). Negative Space. [video] Available at: https://vimeo.com/345922827 [Accessed 9 Aug. 2019]. Below: Frames from 'Negative Space'.

"Based on a 150-word poem by Ron Koertge, “Negative Space" is a short animated film that depicts a father-and-son relationship through the art of packing a suitcase."

Negative Space was recently placed in Vimeo's Staff Pick and although the style of this stop-frame is not to my taste, the message behind it (and especially the ending) appealed to me in it's light-hearted presentation of dark subject matter. The characters thought process of what should be poignant and worrisome, is handed to us in a simplified and cold-hearted way.

Above: Brazil. (1985). [film] Directed by T. Gilliam. UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regency_Enterprises. Below: Frames from 'Brazil'.

"Low-level bureaucrat Sam Lowry escapes the monotony of his day-to-day life through a recurring daydream of himself as a virtuous hero saving a beautiful damsel."

This particular film was definitely the most impactful, although not stop-frame, it provided the most expansive and contrasting shots; a few of which I had already started sketching out for my own storyboard. Brazil will definitely be a huge source of visual and narrative inspiration for OTOKRAT.

Above: The Shivering Truth, (2018). [TV programme] 296: Adult Swim. Below: The Shivering Truth'.

"Stop-motion anthology comedy that is used to tackle topics on life, death and human nature. Darkly surreal and delicately crafted, it delves into riotous daymares that reek of dream logic."

I came across this series after seeing the tv advert; the first time I had seen an ad for a stop-frame in a very long time. This series stands as the darkest, most tiring, show I've ever seen and it's impossible to watch more than one at a time. Each episode tunnels at a fast pace through the inner psyche of every one of us and is relentless. It is amazing.

Above: Kivi, M. (2007). Laika. [video] Available at: https://vimeo.com/23923164 [Accessed 9 Aug. 2019]. Below: Frames from 'Laika'.

"Action viewed through the eyes of Laika, the dog who was the first living body to orbit the Earth when the USSR sent her into space in 1957."

Although simple, this stop-frame sets itself apart from the others; presenting the 1 scene narrative entirely through the eyes of dog, Laika. The shots are dark and gloomy with precise use of lighting. Laika is most similar to my own work in that it presents a small number of sets, characters, props and actions. It's this kind of simplicity that I hope to deliver in my own animation.