Description

Working title: Summer Thirst

A stop-motion animation film by Jesper Kirkeby Brevik and Bendik Stubstad Henriksen.

In this project we will produce a stop-motion animation film. The film is about a flower that has been left unwatered by its owners, and who's thirst results in a struggle for water. This creates a series of attempts in reaching a water can that is placed in the living room's window sill.

The story carries several humorous elements that caters for a younger audience. Yet the “realistic” style will also make it appeal to an older audience, as it is made in a fashion that reminds of original puppet stop-motion. It is also worth mentioning that we are inspired by Pixar's easy-going humour, and the way in which their short 3D animations portrays comic situations without containing dialogue. We also wish to use a traditional narrative, as from the aristotelian dramaturgic curve. This fits the linear fashion of our story and builds the escalating tension, creating the wanted excitement towards the humorous points.

The film will let us explore the possibilities and challenges of stop-motion, such as utilising anthropomorphism to create our main character. We will be using wire to make leaves, stem and crown flexible, enabling the flower to perform both emotions and actions. The same method will also be used on other elements in the film, such as the straws and the fishing line.

To give the film a thorough visual we will produce our own set (ext. & int.), including the character and necessary props. This will also give us the space needed to execute wanted camera movements and angles during shooting. Other stylistic choices will be the use of strong colours on the films main character and key elements, separating them from less important parts of the set. We will use natural fabrics for the character and the props, whilst painting/drawing the backdrops.

Our interior set will represent the living room the story takes place in, consisting of 2 and 2/3s of a wall and an open roof, whilst the exterior set will be given the needed depth using false perspective backdrops. Creating a complete set will also make it easier to avoid unwanted disturbances and set the appropriate lighting.