A Look into the Past

Even though I decided not to follow through with my previous story I still have plenty of work to show in case if anyone is interested in seeing the progress I had made.

The story is completely different compared to my newest one. It focuses on the story of Cupid and how he came to find his arrows of love and how learned to use them properly. While most people find Cupid to be sweet and adorable my research showed that he had selfish and prankster tendencies and that made him disliked amongst many. I cannot even tell you how many changes this story went through but it became much stronger in the end.

If you’d like to watch my Animatic without reading my synopsis you can go right ahead! I’m leaving a brief explanation in case if you have any problems following along.

Eros is the Greek name for Cupid, so I titled my film Eros de l'Amour. It’s supposed to take place in France during the 1950’s. The story focuses on a young couple having dinner at a French restaurant. Cupid is introduced as a cloaked stranger with shaggy hair and an unkempt look. He hasn’t gotten his angel wings yet because as we learn through a flashback he is unable to make couples fall in love unlike his fellow angels. When he notices that the man in the restaurant is unintentionally ignoring his partner Cupid sees it as an opportunity to strike. He attempts to make the couple fall in love by shooting a series of arrows throughout the film while being completely clueless as for which arrow is the correct one. Two of the arrows have severe consequences that trigger emotional responses out of Louis such as anger and sadness. Both of which are not love. When Cupid witnesses that Sophie is supportive throughout Louis outbursts he ends up find the right arrow and making them fall in love in a last effort to restore the chaos. This therefore gives the couple a happy ending.

After succeeding in making the couple fall in love Cupid is granted his wings and goes through a heavenly type of transformation that leaves him looking like the cliché chubby Cupid with curly hair as he happily flies off into the sunset.

*I’d like to mention that all of the music and sound that was used in my animatic was solely to give my professor and classmates a better idea of what type of sounds I planned on using. All music was found online and it respectfully belongs to its rightful owners!

Song1 by Maximilian Zwiener from “Rosalie Animated Short Film”

Song2 by Maurice Larcange, “Traditional Musette”

Here is a look at my final character designs along with my reference inspiration!

Since I was planning on making this film in stop motion I had begun sculpting maquettes’ for my characters. Although they are unfinished I may get back to them one day but for the time being this is as complete as they’ll get.

Hope you enjoy taking a look at my work!

Aileen

"From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow..." At least, I hope!

Remember how I said I would be posting in a few days? Well, that was 3 weeks ago! Boy does time fly. Luckily I've been using it to brainstorm ideas and I think I may have just found what I was looking for! I've been playing around with this idea for quite some time now. I tried to give myself enough time to brainstorm for alternatives but my focus kept reverting back to this particular idea so I'm just going to trust my gut and go for it! The story may not be completely developed yet but I'm hoping my "seed" idea will blossom soon enough.

This story is actually from one of the twenty ideas I was assigned to brainstorm at the start of last semester. While I was initially intrigued by the idea I felt that it portrayed a darker/melancholic mood that wasn't fit for animation and ultimately decided to go for a lighthearted story instead. I later came to realize that I unintentionally tried adding a darker element to my first story but it ended up not working out. It's ironic that I have come back to my darker story but perhaps it was always meant to be.

I've found that all of the short films I have created over the course of my schooling have revolved around a tragedy between a couple. There is a repeated theme throughout my stories and it can be described in one word. Love.

...Actually, make that the "not meant to be" type of love and this new story is no different.

In my notes I had written, " Incredibly beautiful woman lives alone in a forest. She destroys all that she touches. A man finds her and they fall in love but can never touch until one day they kiss. This kills him and leaves her alone again."

I spent some time researching folklore from different cultures and I was able to expand this idea a bit. I happened to stumble upon a photograph of an eerie looking forest located in Ireland and it gave me a flood of ideas. In Irish folklore there are plenty of stories of witches, fairies, nymphs and enchanted forests. Tales of scary monsters who destroy men. There are a vast range of stories but they are all for the most part told in the name of teaching people a moral lesson.

I'd like for my film to follow the core of my original idea. I envision a story that is depressing but enlightening at the same time. Here it is: A village nearby a forest has heard tales of a woman/fairy or nymph for many years who has lived in the enchanted forest. It is told that only the bravest of men can enter the forest because if they were to ever encounter her they would meet their doom. For centuries people have believed this folklore and given the woman a bad reputation when in actuality she is a loveless woman accused of being a killer of men. One day a rider strolls through the village and meets the lady in the forest. Cynical of the tales he has heard he continues to see her and they eventually fall in love. Knowing of her curse she refuses to touch him until one day he kisses her. For a moment nothing happens until suddenly he dies and she is left alone again...

I was thinking about how when we die we essentially become part of the Earth, so I had this idea that in the end of my film I could imply that in the exact spot where he died a new tree was born in the forest. I liked the idea, as depressing as it may be, that he is still with her but at the same time he isn't. I wanted to imply that maybe all of the trees surrounding her were her lovers at one point in time as well. I also thought that in the end another rider could show up in the forest indicating that it is a vicious circle.

The photograph of the Irish forest I mentioned earlier had branches that intertwined together to form tunnels. It was beautiful and eerie at the same time and I thought it would help to express the idea that she is trapped in this forest and create a tense and claustrophobic feel. Hopefully I can use this idea to my advantage!

I created some Inspiration Boards for my 2 characters as well as the setting. Hope it gives you a better feel for what I am going for.

The forest plays an important role in my story. I want it to reflect what the woman is thinking as the story progresses. I'd like for things to begin opposite to what most would assume. When the Rider enters the forest it will be gloomy, mysterious and claustrophobic but after he is gone the forest will be bright, alive and shining.

This is more or less what I envisioned when I thought of the Lady in the Forest and the Doomed Rider!

Alright, well that's about all I have for this post. I will be posting some rough character designs very soon!

Thanks for reading!

Aileen