Story Beats 03

Story Beats 03

Below are my revised story beats to go with my 3D animatic.

Action beats

The scene starts with the singular character, Brando, appearing in this bare environment that only consists of a door as far as Brando can see. The audience discover things at the same time as the character. Before he was plucked from his life, Brando was walking down the street muttering to himself about his life. He wants better for himself but he is too comfortable where he is so doesn’t take the necessary risks for change. His mutterings consist of how he doesn’t take opportunities that present themselves.

Colour Code:

Character 01: This is the main character

                Confusion/Frustration/ Reluctance

                                The first character is down and also apprehensive and confused.

Character 02: This is the main characters First Body Change – Another man

                Surprise/Shock

                                This character is surprised at the appearance change and also extremely shocked.

Character 03: Second Body change – Chubby Kid

                Restrained Happiness/Desperation

                                This character is in anguish now.

Character 04: Third Body Change – Female

                Sadness/Depression

This character doesn’t know what to do and needs to find an inner strength to keep things together.

Character 05: Fourth Body Change – Dog

                Happy/Acceptance

                                This character lets go and just behaves in a happy manner.

Character 06: Back to Original

                Relief/Contempt

                                This character is a changed man now, he leaves in a good mood.

Action Beats/Story Beats

Character 01: This is the main character

                Confusion/Frustration

1: Brando starts off in the environment with the magic door. (Ultra-wide shot)

                He is far from the door.

2: At first he doesn’t quite realise where he is. (wide shot cut)

He is now reasonably close to the door but the audience don’t see him walking towards it. This is to warp their perception of distance in this opening part.

3: He has his head down doing head movements like he is giving himself a ‘talking to’. (close up cut)

These are his emotions that he has carried over from the world he has been plucked from. He is not happy with his life and wants change for the better but he doesn’t want to leave his life that is safe. He hasn’t realised where he is yet.

4: He begins to realise that he is in some strange environment. (close up)

                Confusion creeps across his face.

4: a: Pauses with Brando looking at the door. (wide shot)

                Puzzled face.

5: Walks towards closed door. Pause. Thinking. (same shot)

                Confusion turns to curiosity.

6: Examines door, looks around the doorframe to only see the other side of the environment. (Wide shot with Brando and door on left of screen to foreshadow him looking around it)

7: Opens door and looks confused. Pause. (back to wide shot)

                Slight frustration and some more confusion.

7: b: He takes a step away from the door backwards, not wanting to bother with whatever is happening. (Wide shot)

                His face reads of someone who doesn’t want the hassle.

7: c: He physically stops himself, then he turns around back towards the door. (Mid-shot)

7: d: He pauses for a moment, eyes closed, deep breath. (Mid-shot)

8: Takes a step through the door. (Mid-shot)

                At this point he has the appearance of “fuck it, let’s see what is going on”.

Character 02: This is the main characters First Body Change – Another man

                Surprise/Shock

9: Comes out looking different (Franklin rig). (wide shot)

10: Doesn’t realise at first, he turns around to look at the door once more. (Wide shot)

                He is a little disappointed, he worked himself up to expect something special to happen.

11: Looks down the doorframe and suddenly notices he has rather large feet. (Wide shot)

11.a: We see his feet at close up shot.

12: Movements of panic as he feels his face. (Close-up)

                Horror.

13: Looks back at the door – realisation of what must have happened. (Same shot)

                Desperate emotions as he doesn’t know what to do.

14: He examines the door in a calm fashion. (Same shot)

                Curiosity.

14.a: He stretches his foot through the door coming out the other side but as a different foot. (Same shot)

14.a:a: Look of worry and shock, he has somewhat realised that this situation isn’t a good one.

14.b: He hesitates for just a brief moment before stepping through with urgency.

Character 03: Second Body change – Chubby Kid

                Desperation

15: Comes out as a chubby kid. (Wide shot)

16: At first he is happy but he then restrains himself. (Close up – looking up)

                This reaction is because he now knows what is going on…but he isn’t exactly happy about it.

16.a: He at first appears relieved not to be the character from before but quickly realises he is still not himself.

17: He doesn’t have much hope at this point. (Wide shot)

                Head down.

17.a: He storms through the door with determination. A little pissed.

Character 04: Third Body Change – Female

                Sadness/Depression

18: He goes back through the door and comes out as Sam (the female). (Wide shot)

19: Upset, being a female allows him to express his emotions more? Since men tend to keep it inside as the stereotype tends to go.

19: a: He walks a few steps to the right with his head down and wiping his face with his arm.

20: He has a moment where he collects himself, does that movement where you straighten yourself up before going about the rest of your day. Where you collect yourself.

20.a: He turns around and calmly walks through the door.

Character 05: Fourth Body Change – Dog

                Happy/Acceptance

21: He comes out as a dog. (Camera slowly moves to other side of the door)

                (There is a pause from when the camera gets in position and when the dog comes out)

22: He chases his tail a bit and rolls onto his back. (Mid-shot of dog with the door in view)

23: The door closes. (Same shot)

A moment of silence as he looks at the door. His face also silent of emotion. Tongue out panting, wides eyes and bouncing ears is all that is given away.

24: He dashes towards the door and starts scratching at the bottom of it. (Close-up shot of him scratching)

                Panic rushes over him. He wants the door open, he wants to go through it again and become himself.

25: He realises he might be stuck forever. (Same shot)

26: He takes a few steps back and sits with his back to the door and his head down. (Wide shot – door on right of screen)

                He almost doesn’t know what to do, he has almost accepted his fate.

27: A few moments of him with his back to the door. (Same shot)

28: The door opens slowly. (Same shot)

28: a: His ears pick up the sound and his head picks up. (Same shot)

29: He quickly turns around and sprints for the door. (Same shot – camera tracks to other side of door to see next change)

29.a: He stops just before the door and hesitates for a moment, is he sure he wants to go through?...after all, he is happy as the dog. He acts like he will miss being a dog (his happy side).

Character 06: Back to Original

                Relief/Contempt

30: He comes out as his original self. (maintain wide shot)

                His first moments still have him behaving like a dog.

31: He is relieved and overjoyed, he hugs himself and feels his face to double check it is him. (Same shot)

                He couldn’t be happier. A look of him feeling like he needs to stay happy.

32: He then confidently walks to the right of screen. (Same shot)

33: a: Before leaving, he looks back at the magical door with a wry smile. (Close up)

                Suggest he has gotten the meaning behind what has happened to himself.

33: Shot through the door looking towards Brando as the door closes slowly while he is walking away.

Summary:

I have totally reworked the female character change and I have also slightly altered various beats of the other characters; none of the others have had major changes though. My 3D animatic will be shown at today's mentor meeting where I will get more feedback. I feel I should get my animatic down by the end of this week so I can begin animating.