Mind Map Mk.II

Easier to use and add to Mind Map Mk.II

Intrigue

Pretty much everything intrigues me.  Science, History, Religion, Beliefs, The Unknown, Philosophy, Psychology... 

The Whole Universe

Motivation

I want to try and create something spectacular on the eye, to be able to entertain and make people think as well as see my work.  Recently I've been blown away by a pieces of work by Environment Artist, Barbara Witkowska.  All CGI, but looks so real and stunning.  It also puts a narrative into my mind and I start thinking about scenarios and other elements that would tie into these environments

Barbara Witkowska work

Inspiration

Music inspires me the most.  It's like reading a book, the images form in your head.  As the music progresses the images form a story in my vision.  As with aroma, certain smells trigger personal memories, certain sound as well trigger images from the past, therefore the brain stories played out from the music being heard produce very personal lines of thought and in turn everyone will see different things.  My main inspiration in music has been Toyah.  Her background in theatre, acting and performance makes her music have a strong narrative and she never shies away from the crazy or insane letting the listener visualise rich images

Early Mind Map

Starting point of ideas noted down and linked.  As my idea is to link the elements with the animation this means lots of connections.  As this is an early stage more thoughts will be added as the project progresses.

Initial Narrative Concept

As I have interest in both History and Science I would like to combine the two.  Intrigued by Steampunk, my ideas for the narrative are Victorian’s with the means of future technology

The Influences:

I am also interested in some people’s obsession with the realm of the dead.  Ghost stories fascinate me along with the unexplained.  Watching shows like Most Haunted has given me a few ideas.  Victorians were also attracted to communing with the dead, but only saw this as entertainment, a mere parlour game.   Ghost hunters tend to believe that sudden drains of energy such as batteries in cameras or electrics as in lighting is a sign of pre-manifestation of spirits, they use the energy from this world to communicate with ours.

I have read Warhammer novels for a good number of years.  Within Warhammer 40,000 they have the idea of powering ships across space with the use of Psykers.  These are individuals who harness power from “The Warp” (an immaterial dimension).  This to me is like a reverse of the belief of psychics, mediums and believers.

Taking on the idea of the Victorians progressing mechanical industries at a huge rate in the 1800s and also believing themselves to be superior to the majority, for example they defaced a huge number of architectures and artistic objects from various cultures believing they shouldn’t be seen by “civilised” public.

The Narrative:

All these have lead me to a narrative of a Victorian Merchant ship in deep space.  They have decided to plunder the galaxies for raw materials to advance their expanding industries.  Their parlour game of the Ouija Board has lead them to discover how to rip the power from the realm of the dead and to use it to power their ships through space, naïve or regardless of the fact they are torturing these souls.  One thing the Victorians could/would never overcome was nature.  They come face to face with a Black Hole.

Rewind back to the summer:

Growing up watching fantasy and sci-fi I have been immersed in television such as Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and Blake’s 7.  My first idea was to create a completely futuristic idea of freedom fighters in space and using the same technology as my Victorians.  So in fighting for freedom in their reality they are enslaving souls from another existence in doing so.   I have steered away from this line for a couple of reasons.  a) Freedom fighters in space has been done and b) there’s not much basis behind it.  Apart from a bit of swash buckling in space and the hypocritical Goody Two Shoes it’s a bit reminiscent of a Wendy House in a breeze

Initial Technical Concept

Where to start?

 

A lot of this first post might not make a lot of sense as structure maybe all over the place prior to a mind map, but I’ll just type as the ideas I’ve had filter back through my head

With a start in theatre production, storytelling is the major part of my work.  Creating characters, scenarios and backgrounds that have definition and lead towards an entertaining narrative are the bulk of what I strive to do.  Added to this I try to weave partially hidden communication and messages whether through ancient, modern or futuristic symbology

Pushing the semiotics further into my next project, my vision is to use the various elements within an animation, such as lighting, sound, sets and character to each carry their own part of the hidden message.  Imagine an orchestral piece of music, where there are various sections of the orchestra but all playing their parts in the music and all talking to each other as if in a group conversation.  My goal is to make these animation elements communicate with each other and carry a message as part of the main narrative