Idea Backstories

In today's lesson we were looking at how every film/TV show isn't original, and in fact is inspired by many other films, novels, TV shows, games, articles, and events. To help me think of an idea for a short animation, I will look at some of my favourite films and TV shows and hopefully get ideas from them.

An example of the many things a film/novel can be inspired by: 

Fight Club

Chuck Palahniuk wrote the novel Fight Club, which was later made into a film. The first thing the author was inspired by, was the own events that took place in his life. The idea for the novel all started in the mid 1990's, when Chuck came back from a camping trip with a black eye, he didn't quite fit into his work environment, and his co-workers started to question what happened. The truth was that he had got into a fight on the trip, and from then on, he found himself in many more fights. When people from his work asked what happened he said "Look at my face c'mon people" and he also stated in an interview "If you look terrible enough, no one will want to know the truth about you."

He started writing the book, as he enjoyed the fights, he enjoyed the way he felt exhausted and weak at the end of the day, and how he slept so well after a fight, that he wanted to share the feeling with the world. The film was then released in 1999.

His second inspiration for the novel, was that his doctor once told him that "Insomnia is not suffering."

His favourite author is Amy Hempel who according to amazon, writes stories that 'deal with the strategies of emotional survival and offers sharp, brittle, and intelligent looks at staying alive, at how to manage a life truly one's own, and how to resist becoming a victim.' 

He also liked and got inspired by Novels such as Trainspotting, Story of My Life, Whores of Gloria, and Slaughterhouse-Five.

In an interview he stated "My research really is screwing around and being with people and doing things I love to do."

To summarize it, Fight Club was a Novel inspired by modern consumer culture, the writers environment, the people he hung around, the fights he got into and how much he enjoyed them, the other Novels he read, and his doctors remarks about insomnia.



Here are a few randomfilms/TV series with artistic styles I admire:
-Fight Club
-Requiem for a Dream
-City of God
-Breaking Bad
-BBC's Sherlock
-The Triplets of Belleville
-Trainspotting
-Slumdog Millionaire




Things they all have in common:

 Environment: most of them are set in an environment that is not properly taken care of (ghetto, run down houses, on the streets etc…)


People: most of the characters are working class, or even homeless, and have grown up in a rough environment and are not pleased with their lives.

Common themes: Most of them deal with things such as drugs, alcohol, fights, death, murder, crime, survival, illness and mental illness, or are psychological.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Drama, Thriller, (All of them are Dramas)


I want my ideas to be set or connect to similar environment to these films, or be based around characters struggling with these themes, and be exploring crime (theft, for example)



Pitch number 1:

Setting: A grubby street corner (dead end)

Genre: Drama

The old homeless man: The old man has been living on the streets since 18, when he failed his studies, couldn't find work and was kicked out of his council house for not obeying the rules. At the age of 16 he was kicked out of his family's home for turning to drugs due to his lack of motivation at college, and his failed relationships. He never managed to get off the streets, but has been off drugs and alcohol for nearly 10 years. His daily routine is to busk on the side of the street to pay for him and his dogs daily consumption.
He used to be desperate for money, but has given up, and is just thankful for the company of his dog, although when faced with money, he gets a moment of hope.

The neighbour: He is 21 years old and has recently been kicked out of his home, and is currently addicted to drugs and alcohol, he is extremely desperate for money, and when faced with the opportunity to get some, will do all sorts of things to get it.

Storyline:

An old homeless man is awakened by his dog who has come across strange brief case across their alleyway. The old man quietly walks over to the bag, trying not to wake up his neighbour (a younger homeless man sleeping several metres away from him). To his surprise he opens the brief case to find a large stash of cash inside. He attempts to keep his excitement in as he walks away from the case to peak round the corner, making sure no ones around or in search of the money. Whilst he is doing so, his neighbour wakes up to see the briefcase wide open. The neighbour jumps to his feet, and the old man turns round, foreseeing his intentions. They stare at each other, and then back at the case. They both suddenly make a run for it (the old man is a lot closer, although a lot slower). The neighbour gets there first and grabs the case, he attempt to run of but the old man trips him up with his walking stick. They both grab the bag fighting over it, but in the end the neighbour wins, and gets away with it.

The fight results in the old man being shoved to the ground in defeat, but eventually he attempts to forget the situation, as him and the dog have work to do. The old man picks up his -just about working- guitar, and him and the dog leave their home in search for a busking location. On the way, they come across a police car, two policemen, a police dog and see their neighbour being pushed into the car, and the money has been taken of him. They walk past the car with smug expressions on their faces (the police dog growls at the old man's dog).

The old man finds a suitable location to busk, sits down, places his hat on the ground for a money collector,  and begins playing his guitar (relieved it wasn't him in that car). The dog then sits down next to him and places some money (earlier taken from the brief case) into the hat, from his mouth. The old man smiles, and pats the dog.



The idea of the companionship between the dog and the old man came from the film 'The Triplets of Belleville' as it follows the main character who is the old lady, and her companion who is also a dog.

I would love to have the animation in a style similar to 'The Triplets of Belleville' as when I watched this film I was blown away with the animation style, the environments, and the colour grading.




Pitch number 2:

Setting: In a rich and wealthy house

Genre: Crime, Drama and Comedy

The burglar: A young man who lives on the streets is desperate for money, which results in him using theft to make his living, -although he is a harmless man, who wouldn't turn to any other crime, and certainty not kidnapping. The character will be dressed in your typical black and white stripped burglar outfit, and is shown to be an eccentric and paranoid character, who easily overreacts in stressful situations.

Storyline:
A young man is desperate for money, so decides to start stealing from peoples homes. One night he sneaks into some ones house, and begins taking their expensive possessions, when he is joined by another presence in the room. He jumps  at the sight of a little baby crawling towards him. He freaks out, drops his sack and hides behind the curtains (in case the baby is followed by its parents). He hears no one coming, so comes to his senses and grabs the sack to leave. The baby is no where to be seen. Just has he leaves the doors, he hears the parents calling for the child and walking down the stairs. He runs out of the house and jumps in his get away car, and begins to drive away. He then looks in hid rear mirror, to see the baby climbing out of the sack, he freaks at the incident, and the charge for kidnapping the child, so begins to turn the car around, but hears police sirens.