HELLO! WOW a lot of this project has changed over the past two weeks. I have an animatic in progress with VERY rough sound concepts. As I was working on the story I realized that the book didn’t make sense anymore. For context, the Secret Family Recipe Book was a concept that I came up with over the summer… when this film was going to have voice actors and dialog. As the end of the summer approached quicker than I had anticipated, I decided I wanted the visuals to be the main mode of storytelling. This meant that the original story with the Secret Family Recipe Book heist wasn’t being communicated correctly without the dialog.
This discovery led me to my animatic in progress that features a much more understandable storyline. The main plot points of the story are:
Pasta and Bowtie are alive in a quiet kitchen and notice their pasta brothers trapped in their pasta box.
They notice a boiling pot of water on the stove. (YIKES)
Bowtie and Elbow agree to go on a heist to free their pasta brothers, to save them from their boiled fate.
On an epic parkour adventure they travel through the kitchen.
In a trial of strength Bowtie and Elbow push the box over the edge of the counter freeing them.
The pastas are free!! Credits roll!!
This plot is very subject to change as this project evolves. I am even playing with the idea of having an end credits scene as well inspired by a conversation I had with an artist at Blender Conference. I had pitched him my idea for this thesis film and he gave me great advice. He pointed out that I need to make sure my film is remembered somehow. Whether it be for the visuals or for an unexpected element of the story. I think the best way to implement this feedback is by adding a shocking after credits scene that will hopefully be memorable, funny, and a bit dark.
With all the changes to the story, I have also altered some of my set design and asset list. I found myself feeling that the kitchen didn’t feel lived in enough. I want it to feel like a real family lives there so I am adding more clutter and in a way signs of life. I wanted the table to have cooking utensils, plates, and little details like salt and pepper shakers. The fridge features a shopping list and alphabet magnets. I have also added a utensil holder next to the microwave.
Something I am very proud of in this project so far is my AMAZINGLY organized spreadsheet that includes a shot list, progress tracker for the shot list, asset list, progress tracker for the asset list, a weekly timeline of tasks, an installation display items list for the in-progress show, and finally an installation display items list for the final show. I have found a system that works very well for how my brain works (and I even color coded all of it!)
Stay tuned for more updates on this project!! Also feel free to contact me for an unlisted youtube link for the first version of the animatic if you are interested! My email is augustpackard.art@gmail.com :D!!
