I’m inspired particularly by illustrations done by T-wei, where he focuses on small little strokes, lines and details which were used to enhance his works. He uses his own unique and distinct style – ‘the cube and squarish form‘ to illustrate human which I finds it really refreshing and personalized. Hence, I decided to use a more personalized and quirky manner to illustrate characters that represents me for this ego assignment. It was quite challenging, as initially I wanted to illustrate my illustrations based on inspirations I collected from Eduardo Recife and Sebastien Del Grosso’s work. However, I moved away from the idea after attempting two illustrations which didn’t turn out as what I wanted (Photo illustration) as I’m still not quite familiar using the digital wacom tablet hence I decided to work using analog manner – Pen and watercolor/markers. It was time consuming and tedious when it comes to adding colors as I happened to paint wrongly for one of them and I couldn’t change nor erase off the mistakes hence I am only left with the choice of redoing it. Improvements to make would be my color schemes and as well as to think deeper and push myself further to produce more refreshing illustrations through the process. Lastly, this assignments drives me to think deeper and also allows me to play with watercolors as a novice. Last but not least, illustrate my own ideas!
*DON’T FORGET TO WATCH OUR BLOOPERS WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST, HOPE YOU’D ENJOY! :B
Synopsis for Renege | Genre – Crime | Mystery
After witnessing the traumatic murder of her husband, Michelle Eng is now suffering from dissociative amnesia and is unable to recall the sequence of events that occurred, as well as the murderer’s face. Being the only witness, she seeks Paul’s help to bring back her memories using hypnosis.
Paul is a young driven psychological student, struggling to make ends meet on his own after leaving the orphanage he grew up in. In order to not give up on his education, he begins to practice unlicensed hypnosis therapy on the side to pay for his education. Through his long time friend, Jess, he is introduced to Michelle. After analysing the situation, the best course of action was hypnosis therapy, of which had some risks involved, making Paul unwilling to take her case. Soon after, Paul was approached by a mysterious man, who tells him to continue with his work, offering to clear Paul’s student debts in exchange for details of his sessions with Michelle. At his wits’ end, Paul accepts his proposal.
After a few more sessions, with Michelle struggling with her repressed memories of leaving her child in the orphanage, Paul and Michelle manages to retrieve the memory successfully, with Michelle immediately fleeing from his office. Paul informs the mystery man about the news, and receives a transaction of money to clear his debts. A few days later, Michelle is killed by the mysterious man.
Paul struggles with the idea that he might have caused Michelle’s death, as well as breaking his code of ethics, selling confidential information about his patients. He soon finds out that he was indeed Michelle’s son and realises that he might have indirectly caused the death of his own mother. He vows to avenge his mother and make up for his mistakes by finding the murder.
Research
A new physician are required to swear, by a number of healing gods, to uphold specific ethical standards. Of historic and traditional value, the oath is considered a rite of passage for practitioners of medicine in many countries, although nowadays various modernized versions are often used, this oath is known as TheHippocratic Oath.
Plan Outline
Location : ADM – car park | Foundation drawing room | Adm hill | etc.
Songs : Red mist | オムニバス – EV14-2 Confrontation with Jeanne B | Suns And Stars
Casts :Darren – as Dr.Ho | Xiao tong – as Michelle | Fiona – as Jess and mystery killer
Roles :Siew Hua – as Director and camera woman | Xiao tong – as Audio editor and actress | Fiona – as trailer/video editor and actress | Yoosh – as screen writer/dialogue writer
(Set-ups and plan outline are mostly done/discussed together.)
(3 Act Structure)
Act 1
Scene 1 – Introduce Protagonist
1 – Dream: POV of Paul – Dream of his childhood times with his mum.
2 – Eyes suddenly shoot open.
3 – Foggy Mirror, Paul attempt to wipe off the fogginess on the mirror which reveals a segment of his face with him staring into the mirror. (Contemplating his true identity) – Who am I?
Scene 2 – His Problem | Introduce Antagonist to scene
1 – Him, finding ways to earn money with his good friend, Jess – Basking | cleaning
2 – Email Notification on phone | Summary of tuition fees
3 – Look at the money he had earned through his small jobs | Stress over the amount earned
4 – Jess hands him a sum of money to ease his worries | Jess appears to be a mentor
Act 2
Scene 3 –Inciting Incident
1 – Conversation scene between Paul and friend (Jess)
2 – V.O. I got this friend, Michelle that needs your help.
3 – Jump to scene: Where Jess introduces Paul to Michelle.
Scene 4 – Inciting Incident
1 – Phone call with mystery figure. | Back shoulder shot of mystery figure hand holding onto phone
2 – Issue Mission
Scene 5 – Hypnosis
1 – Michelle not being to remember things that happened on that fateful night
2 – Michelle undergoing hypnosis
3 – Hypnosis: POV of Michelle | murder scene – (From mirror reflection) Mystery figure walks in
– Michelle was knocked off but not ‘fully’
Foggy settings – Mystery figure ambushes her husband
Foggy settings – Reveals tattoo on his arm while escaping the scene
Scene 6 – Committing
1 – Paul reports mission.
2 – Black Screen | O.S. – ‘Did, did,did,did,did.. .’ – Phone cuts off.
Scene 7 – Evil attacks
1 – Michelle being strangled by mystery figure.
Scene 8 – Climax
1 – Paul learns about Michelle’s death from the newspaper | Venue of body found etc.
Act 3
Scene 9 – Climax
1 – Paul went to venue where Michelle’s body was found to investigate
1 – Depression | Guiltiness | Realization (360° rotation view of Paul struggling with his internal guilt in an empty space with surroundings blurred out. – Camera shaking?)
2 – His ethics and vows as a psychiatrist. – Flashes of good memories and rewards through his education journey as a psychiatrist
3 – Thoughts of his childhood.
Scene 11 – Realization
1 – Flashes from previous hypnosis session with Michelle | Scene of Michelle drawing out the tattoo that she saw on the mystery figure’s wrist.
2 – Back to his office while fumbling over his desk for the piece of drawing
3 – Holding on the piece of drawing | The mystery man stand behind him by the door way
4 – Camera pans from bottom (shoes) to waist level which reveals the tattoo.
Some preparation | Interactive articles & Documents
An edited newspaper article to make it more convincing (photos used were taken while filming).
Process | Draft 1
Started off with our first filming in a dark set up where lights were manually cast by light sources (wanted to play with shadows and lights for this scene). This scene was taken at the foundation drawing room as we wanted it to feel and look like a clinic hence we make use of the blue ‘clinic’ curtain as well as some office looking furniture that can be accessed and found in ADM. After our first consultation with professor Ruyi, we realized that even though we managed to portray the clinic feel we initially wanted, we actually forgotten that our protagonist is not yet a licensed psychiatrist. – He’s just a student studying psychology and currently offers underground services hence the backdrop need not have to feels or look like a clinic.
Process | Draft 2
Thus, we decided to settle down with a more homely backdrop which portrays a segment of our protagonist’s home, where these underground services is carried out.
*DON’T FORGET TO WATCH OUR BLOOPERS WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS , HOPE YOU’D ENJOY! :B
Started this project by researching on the rhyme. The three blind mice rhyme are based in English history. Whereby, the ‘farmer’s wife’ refers to the daughter of King Henry VIII,Queen Mary I. Mary was a staunch catholic and her violent persecution of protestants led to the nickname of ‘Bloody Mary’. The reference to the ‘farmer’s wife’ in the three blind mice refers to the massive estates which she, and her husband king Philip of Spain possessed. While, the ‘the blind mice’ were 3 noblemen who adhered to the protestant faith who were convicted of plotting against the Queen. However, she did have them burnt at the stake (execute by burning)!
Inspirations –
Inspirations from Dada movement as well as some from pop art movement. Personally I’m a fan of pop art and pop art comics by Roy Lichtenstein, I love how art is conveyed using happy and parody elements and images are presented with a combination of humor, criticism and irony. Hence I decided to convey my rhythm through elements from dadaism and pop art movement to create a more comical/cartoon/pop artsy feel. – dots | lines | little details using lines
Test-outs and trials.
Test-outs and trials and finally, below are the four finalize frames.
Three blind mice. Three blind mice.See how they run. See how they run.They all ran after the farmer’s wife.Who cut off their tails with a carving .
(However, retold in the perspective of pied piper)
Being an orphan, passion fueled psychological student Paul struggles to make a living for himself. In order not to give up on his education on psychology and mind studies, Paul begins to make use of the hypnosis ability he picked up in college to pay for his education (Misuses it). Soon, he was blinded by his lust for money which eventually takes control of his life.
“Time for your session, Mich.”
Paul, (a mysterious, irascible, avenging guy in his mid twenties) begins to discuss a hypnotism session he has performed on his friend’s sister, Mich, in attempt to help her remember things that happened the night, when Mich’s husband was murdered in order to recollect the events that took place that day as well as the face of the murderer. However, Mich cannot recall the face of the killer which leaves her in tears after the session with Paul.
“Paul, please help me! Mich sobbed in tears.
“Mich, you are too tired to carry on, let’s call it a day for now. Alright, I will help you.”
Mich (a widower in her twenties) left Paul’s room depressingly after the session. Nothing seems to work after all this hours invest in these hypnosis sessions. The following night, Paul heard a knock on his door. A mysterious man in trench coat, whom does not want to be named enters and stand before him.
“Mr. Paul Piper?”
“I want you to mess up Mich Courtney’s life! You will get more from me once she’s dead.”
The mysterious man places a lump of bank notes on Paul’s table and left hastily. Paul grabs the bank notes in his hands and shoves it into his pocket. He is relieved as he does not have to worry about his school fees this semester anymore.
The following Morning, Mich came by Paul’s house for treatment as routine. Just then, Paul’s phone rings and it was a call from the school admin office, claiming that he still owes the school money from last semester. The phone call left Paul in a state of dilemma.
Aware of Mich’s financial background and current state, Paul is aware that he will not be benefiting from this treatment, hence he urges Mich to drop the intention of regaining her memory of that night however, Mich insisted to carry on with the study. Paul was reminded of the orders from the mysterious man and decides to mess things up for Mich during the hypnosis session. He successfully brainwashes Mich to make her believes that she was the murder of her husband which causes Mich to lost control and jumps into a depression. Mich eventually killed herself.
After Mich’s death, Paul continues living but he felt something eating him up from inside. Waves of guilt passes over him, sometimes he would see Mich in his dreams calling out for him. He is confused and lost yet he awaits the mysterious man to come by.
“I see you have completed your task, Mr. Paul Piper. However, I could give you no more.” Said the mysterious man as he let out a evil laughter. The mysterious man claims that Mich killed herself without Paul’s effort. Filled with anger due to the betrayal of trust and hope he places on the mysterious man, Paul killed the man in fit of rage while for the rest of his life, Paul himself suffers from a emotional disorder due to guilt and loss…
Moral of story – “Keep your promise.” The folktale, The pied piper showcases the importance of ‘keeping promise’. (The consequence of breaking a promise is also illustrated in the Pied Piper’s response to the townsfolk refusing to pay the agreed fee for freeing the town of its rat plague. He charms the children away in the same way that he charms the rats away from the town. This is both an ironic and serious consequence.)
Retold in Pied pipers perspective it showcases a different scenario. In this POV, it addresses on the possible twists that could happen in event of corruption and bribes as well as the temptation and lust for money. There’s a heavy price to pay for every crime committed. – ” Having a clear conscience is much more valuable.”
Hannah and Dan have been best friends since young. Hannah being a bubbly and fun-loving girl have attracted everybody love for her. Dan was nevertheless, one of them. However, an unfortunate encounter with a broken arm doll brought Dan away from her. Is there a deeper reason behind whatever you see or is it just the way it is? – watch and find out now!
Story Summary –
Dan wanted to surprise Hannah by mending the broken arm of the doll they found the other day, turned out to be a surprise that costs him more than what he could pay.
Morale of the story –
“Sometimes it’s good to keep broken things the way it is. There’s always a reason why it’s broken in the first place.”
Scene 1– shows Hannah looking at an old photo of Dan. (Trying to communicate to the audience that the person in the photo (Dan) has passed on.)
Scene 2– on wards is a flashback, to 8 years ago. (Telling a story why scene 1 happens.)
Scene 8 –was communicated using silhouettes to give the audience a sense of mystery as well as to communicate that Hannah wasn’t sure who’s the dark figurewas.
Scene 10part II– shows Hannah smiling but was portrayed in a darker way to communicate that something unfortunate is about to happen and it’s definitely something that Hannah didn’t expected to be.
Scene 13– Strings were used to show the doll’s control over Dan. For scene 13 part I, Doll was placed closer to the foreground and slightly above his head to show the dominance of the doll over Dan. – (Manipulation)
Scene 14– Dan has been “turned”.
Scene 15– Strings were placed in the foreground to symbolize Hannah feeling “trapped”.
Scene 16– shows that the dominance of the doll over Dan being cut off. Same goes to Hannah’s fate with Dan’s.
Scene 20– A fragment of the note was placed at the foreground and at the background shows Hannah’s feet walking away from scene depicts that Hannah actually neglected and missed out on one part of the note.
Planning Process – Scene | Layout | Camera
I started of with a genre and catch line (“Sometimes it’s good to keep broken things the way it is. There’s always a reason why it’s broken in the first place.”) I would like to work on. Always been a fan of horror/mystery genre or anything related hence I decided to kick start from my area of interest to bring my catch line across. I got some inspiration from puppet master and Ouija Board whereby the evil tries to take charge and control. However, I find that we are always the reason why some thing happen therefore, in some way I hope my creation would serve as a reminder/warning to my audience in their daily lives.
Planning the frames scenarios.Planning of shots – Camera angle/perspective.
Below are some photographs taken in 3 different aspects. (1) – being me, myself and I. (2) – being objects in representation of oneself. and (3) – being my world. (Places that tells about me and where I enjoys going to!)
(1) Task : Me Explore| Challenge | Seek and try new things
(2) Task : Object And Representation of Self
Gift from my Father.
Inner fear as a child.
A breakthrough.
| Pocket dagger; special gift from my Dad. (Both my sis and I, have one each.) | My fear for penknife (Due to an incident when I was 9.) | Overcome with my fear eventually during 17.
Started this project by researching on the reference artists like David Bradford. I personally likes the way he express his work by collecting things he finds in his daily life. Therefore, I tried working using some Chinese herbs I find around my house as part of my process while exploring on the moods. I explored different medias to express things I like, from using simple line strokes,lino-cut,mono print, candle wax (different techniques of getting the wax onto the paper.) as well as bubble toy blowing glue ( which gives a pop-up effect when dries).
