Adaptation: The Gunslinger

After my tutorial with Alan where we discussed my idea for a character design for a game, Stephen King's The Gunslinger will be what I shall be adapting. There were two ideas for an end result, to aim for. The first was to create the Hero and Villain. The second, which seems favourable to me, is to create five models of the Hero with each owning a distinctive look to signify the characteristic difference between each one.

During the discussion with Alan, he suggested that rather than imposing a 10% of fantasy on the old west, but rather to intertwine that 10% throughout the development whilst not being in control. It's a method of development that I will be exploring.

Adaptation: Initial Ideas

I have came up with 3 ideas, each a different novel, to develop and adapt a character from;

First Idea
The Gunslinger by Stephen King, as apart of The Dark Tower Series.
It's a series that I enjoy reading, and has plenty of material to work from, with a likeable protagonist and fascinating character development.

The Gunslinger is the first in the series, which introduces Roland Deschain as the Anti-Hero. His goal is to seek The Dark Tower, which serves as a crossing point for parallel universes, though his motives for doing so change throughout the story and is driven by his Ka-Tet that is similar to that of Karma.

This fantasy world is set in the old west, though uses old tales, demons and magic. Such as Roland's dual revolvers having been made by the metal of Excalibur, a fictional sword from other tales that serves as a reference in this fantasy world.

Second Idea
The Black Company by Glen Cook has a powerful wizard and an interesting background to adapt into a game.

Third Idea
The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson has an interesting world with a lot of material to adapt into a game.

Adaptation: Initial Thoughts

When I first saw the brief for this project, I gravitated towards the game design aspect as that is what I aspire for as a future career. I was uncertain whether to focus on the character design, or whether I wanted to focus on the animating for the game world. However, I enjoy the designing prospect for characters more than the animation.

With that said, I'll be looking at: Character Design for Game

With the following pipeline: Text (Novel, Short Story or Article) to Character Design for Game

Commission: Idea Re-Thought

I had a quick initial idea of a "hi-tech tour guide", which would demonstrate the life cycle. However, I wanted to give the animation some motion and become more "life-like" as well as becoming more visually apparent as to the actual cycle process. So, much like giving the racing driver experience to an audience through simulations, that is the approach I intend to go towards.

Unlike a simulation, though, this won't perfectly re-create the cycle nor depict it but rather a virtual playthrough. As such, there would be an interface around the animation that also analyses and assess' the cells as they progress through the cycle. The progress is displayed, and the cycle is effectively a circuit or track that will come across checkpoints. The cell materialises, to initiate the cycle, and the view will be magnified at specific moments throughout the cycle to examine the cell in a more focused condition.

The target audience would be teenagers and young adults, as such it would be informative yet influenced by the large appeal to modern day technology. The process needs to be both explained and shown, in a manner that isn't too direct in text as well as not becoming over-complicated in it's visual presentation which may lead to mis-direction or mis-communication of the process.

Commission: Initial Ideas

A couple of quick ideas came to mind, most of which were targeted towards The Cell Cycle as the subject. Using the teaching environment as a basis;

Technology was the first thing that came to mind, taking a "high-tech" approach towards the process. Like the film Innerspace (1987), and would see a spectator role of a tour guide through the cycle. 

The next idea, was to animate and manipulate ink on a whiteboard or chalk on a blackboard. Taking something that the target audience is familiar with in their past or present, and giving it an interesting perspective. The ink on a whiteboard concept would feature a blank white space, and would manipulate written words transforming them into illustrations, representations, or a metaphoric drawing to illustrate a point in simpler methods. The chalk on a blackboard would operate under a similar manner, but would represent a more 'sketchy' and 'imperfect' feel.

Metaphoric illustration of vehicles along a road, were another idea. It is one that can be incorporated into the previously mentioned idea, above. Cars come in contact with traffic lights and intersections, determining the cycle of that cell.

Unit 5: Final story idea

Premise

A geriatric telescope is angered when it is pursued by a young, energetic magnifying glass as it seeks companionship.

Step Outline

Scene one

The telescope is out-of-shot, with a progressive thumping approaching. The geriatric telescope comes into shot, progressing slowly over ground. As it approaches the centre of the shot, it halts and stretches it's back before continuing on.

Scene two

As the telescope progresses the young magnifying glass comes into shot. The magnifying glass erupts into life and stands in the telescopes way. The telescope uses his arm to shift the magnifying glass towards the camera, and continues on it's path which is magnified by the lens of the magnifier.

Scene three

The magnifier recovers and is seen in the next shot, which is currently following the telescope, hopping behind the telescope. The telescope halts, as it senses a presence behind, and wards the magnifying glass away. The telescope continues on it's journey, and a lamp post comes into shot. The magnifier is hopping after the telescope in the distance, keeping a steady distance. When the magnifier comes in contact with the lamp post it hides behind it, at which time the telescope glances back to find nothing but empty space. 

Scene four

Paranoid, the telescope frantically searches around using his arm to detect anything abnormal. Which then leads to the telescope prodding the camera, and then continuing on the journey. After a few moments pass, the magnifier leaps out in front and the telescope begins prodding the magnifying glass with it's arm which upsets it. The magnifier then sits on the ground, saddened by the event.

Scene five

The geriatric telescope then sits beside the magnifying glass, to which they both look up. The camera is behind them, and peering through their lens' the words "The End" is revealed.

Script

Scene one

EXT. Pavement

WIDE SHOT of Pavement, the TELESCOPE slowly walks into shot. As it reaches the centre of the shot, the Telescope halts and stretches before continuing on.

Scene two

Camera PANS LEFT, following the pavement with the Telescope operating as the pivot of the camera. The MAGNIFYING GLASS comes into the shot, as it stands still with the camera moving towards it. 

The Telescope pushes the Magnifying Glass towards the camera. 

CUT TO CLOSE UP with the shot remaining as it is for a moment. 

The camera PANS TO THE LEFT following the telescope, but leaving the enhanced zoom.

Scene three

Camera PANNING LEFT, the Magnifying Glass hops into the shot behind the Telescope, which has shifted to the left of the camera.

CUT TO the Telescope as it wards the Magnifying Glass away, off screen.

Camera PANS LEFT as the Telescope continues the journey. A lamp post comes into shot from the left, but at a distant view. The Magnifying Glass is approaching the lamp post, in the distance. Upon contact with the lamp post, the Magnifying Glass does not appear on the other side.

CUT TO the Telescope, which turns around and begins to search the space, stationary.

Scene four

CUT TO CLOSE UP of the Telescope, which is currently searching the space around it. The Telescope stumbles upon the camera hitting it three times, each one jolting the camera back-and-forth. 

CUT TO the Telescope.

Camera PANS LEFT as the Telescope continues on. The Magnifying Glass leaps out at the Telescope.

CUT TO the Telescope, who hits the lens of the Magnifier.

CUT TO BACK SHOT of the Magnifying Glass as it kneels of the ground.

Scene five

CUT BACK TO the Telescope as it approaches the Magnifying Glass.

CUT TO BACK SHOT of the Telescope and the Magnifying Glass.

Camera PANS UP, with the lens' of both in clean view, revealing the words "The End".

Unit 5: Story idea

Premise

A geriatric telescope is distraught when it recognises the emotional pain he had caused to a young, helpful magnifying glass.

Step Outline

Scene one 

A home, outdated in style, is revealed with a progressive thumbing sound off screen. An old telescope comes into frame, with very slow movement, and sluggishly moves itself up the stairway. It enters a room, which is void of any materials, moving it's way to the window. Upon reaching the window, the telescope perches and gazes upon the sky.

Scene two

The next day, the old telescope is walking along the pathway when a young magnifying glass greets him, as they have never came in contact before. The telescope rejects his offer and continues to walk along the pathway, ignoring the magnifying glass' kind gesture. The magnifying glass notices the telescope's lack of balance, and persists on helping the old telescope.

Scene three

Coming upon a crossing, the magnifying glass believes it is the correct time to offer aid to the telescope. The telescope is enraged as he repeats his previous answer, and begins to flail his arm in the air directed at the magnifying glass. The telescope marches past the magnifying glass, but loses his footing whilst doing so resulting in it falling down to the ground. As the magnifying glass kneels down beside him, to check whether it is un-injured or not, the telescope accuses the magnifying glass of assaulting it. The magnifying glass is emotional hurt by such an accusation and flees from the area.

Scene four

As the telescope rises to it's feet, it observes the magnifying glass hop off along the paved pathway across the road. The telescope crosses the road and continues on it's original journey, heading down the path that the magnifying had just hopped down. Just a bit further down the path, the telescope's arm began to give way due to the un-even balance and fell to the floor again. Realising that the initial fall was of it's own doing and not the magnifying glass, the telescope heads off in search of the magnifying glass.

Scene five

The telescope continues in his search for the magnifying glass, glancing frantically down the road. The telescope notices the magnifying glass sitting down on the bench, hunched over. The geriatric telescope then walks calmly towards the magnifying glass, and without any interaction, sat down beside the magnifying glass. 

Unit 5: Few story ideas

Story idea 1: A geriatric telescope is angered upon realising his own life is fleeting from him, and reflects that anger onto a young magnifying glass.

Does not highlight or imply the illness, thus making the anger just that and not derivative of the illness.

Story idea 2: A geriatric telescope is distressed when reflecting upon his life, filled with a sense of regret as to the choices that it had and had not made.

Too focused on past events and not the character itself, as present.

Story idea 3: A geriatric telescope is angered to see a new model telescope replace it as the old telescope's lens is used to give it life.

With the lens substituted for the heart, the focus on such, would take too much time and attention away from the character. It would possibly be too complex and not easily interpreted.

Unit 4: Yet Another Story Idea

The rocket scientist, Donny,  is hard at work when he gets wind that he has a new boss. However, his new boss isn't just that, as he was also Donny's high school bully. His new boss got the job through some very high up connections from his father.


Suffering from the same antics, as he did in his high school years, the scientist comes up with a plan. He devises a plan, an ingenious trap that will rid him of the bully forever. So, the engineer offers to show his boss, his latest and greatest invention yet. Donny opens the door to a set of stairs, leading down to his workshop. The engineer offers the bully to go down first, but his boss has a moment of kindness and offers the same gesture to his worker. He pats the engineer on the back, unintentionally pushing him onto the steps below.


The engineer had placed a pair of skates on the stairs as a part of his plan, which has began to unfold but with target being himself rather than his bully. Donny falls onto the skates and begins to roll down to the workshop. When he reaches the bottom, he triggers the pressure plate which gives him more forward momentum. Enough that the wicks on the rockets begin to heat up due to friction. Rockets ignited, he zooms across the room slamming open the door at the far end which opens up onto a small runway where Donny had placed a ramp at the end. Still picking up speed he fly's off the ramp into the sky, leaving his boss bewildered and shocked.


The scientist lands on a desert island, where he had planned the bully to be imprisoned on.

Unit 4: Another Story Idea

Two rival rocket scientists, Donny and Eric, have been playing 'Cat and mouse' (Tom and Jerry) since their childhood. They both decide to face off in a head-to-head race to the Moon, to prove just who is the better scientist.


Both design their own means of transport. Eric creates a jet pack and a pair of thrusters that attached to his boots, to take him to the moon. Donny, however, made a ramp on the basis of 'half pipe skating', as well as a pair of rocket propelled speed line skates. Eric, not taking any chances, decides to sabotage his opponent. Donny was thinking the same way and sabotaged his opponent as well.


Set to begin the race, they ready at their starting marks. The race begins with Donny heading down the drop on the ramp and Eric begins his take off, waiting for the rockets to kick in. Donny went up the vertical rise, igniting the rockets. He noticed that there was an issue, as his projections were off as Eric had tampered with the ramp. Eric begun to pick up speed, and as he crept above the ramp's highest point a smile appeared on his face. However, Eric's jet pack suddenly blew out and he lost all control of his stability. As he began to see more of the downhill ramp, Donny suddenly appeared and collided with Eric.


The two spiralling out of control, swirled across the landscape, out above the open sea. The two viscously holding onto one another, in both anger and fear. Soon their rockets begin to run out of fuel and crash land onto a desert island. The two scientists sit side by side, unimpressed and angry by themselves. They turn to one another and repeat their old antics.

Unit 4: Story Idea

The crew of a shuttle are planning to fly to the moon, but have encountered an issue. The shuttle doesn't have the resources to get back to earth. The Rocket Scientist, Donny, is called in to devise a plan to save the crew.


Upon thinking of an idea, he comes across nothing but failure in his designs. Resorting to using toys, after using models, to help his analogy, he comes across a roller skate. Treating it as the shuttle, he fitted it with a small rocket. Activating the rocket, the skate went of control, tilting the skate causing the rocket to switch off and stabilise itself. Went it straightened out the rocket used what little fuel it had left to get back to Donny's feet.


Donny contacted the crew of his idea and they all agreed to the plan. The plan is to propel the shuttle around the moon, using gravitational pull as a magnet with both the attraction and subtraction in mind, then reactivating the rocket to send guide it back to earth. The scientist calculated the entry point of the shuttle when entering the Earth's atmosphere. The shuttle would land close to a small land mass, which rescuers would be rushed to, to save the survivors.


Putting the lives of the crew in his hands, the scientist decided that he too would go to welcome them back to earth and congratulate them.

Unit 4: More inspiration and ideas

The images above are concepts for the floating crystal island in Superman Returns. Giving me the idea and concept that the 'Desert Island' doesn't essentially have to be grounded. 

The image above is of Angel Island from Sonic Adventure. Just another bit of inspiration, spawned from the concepts above.

Another Idea

Unit 4 - Storytelling

For this unit I have:  Environment - Desert Island

                                    Character - Rocket Scientist

                                    Prop - Roller Skates

I have a few initial ideas for possible scenarios;

Similar to the introduction of Lost (TV series)

In Lost, a plane containing over 300 people crashes on a desert island. The survivors must then try to escape the island, encountering abnormalities along the way. 

My character, the Rocket Scientist, could be a passenger of a either plane (passenger) or a space shuttle (observer/overseer) and has crash landed onto the desert island. Being the only survivor of the crash, he salvages the crash in an attempt to escape from the island. Among the crash site, he finds a pair of roller skates. These roller skates belonged to his son who, was either was on the plane or is back home and initiates the tension through the "ticking clock".

On the basis of his son being on the plane, he struggles to cope with his son's passing. This, however leads to the irrelevance of the father's occupation. Though, to counter that, the Rocket Scientist, created a space shuttle and took his son, including crew, for a journey that no more than a hand full of people will ever witness. The scientist holds that regret, and builds a memorial for son, placing his son's roller skates at the site. The story would be told through flashbacks, jumping from present to past. A possible, very dark and gloomy way to end this particular idea, would be similar to that of a scene in CSI: New York.

In the scene, a teenager who had committed murder, un-knowing and un-willing, killed himself upon finding out the truth. He believed it was his father that killed them, and upon hearing the truth from his father's friend, the teenager drove to the beach. Having sat and stared at the empty sea, he stood up, took off his shoes and began to walk slowly into the sea.  The guilt was too much for him to bear, thus relating back to my idea. Though, in addition to the roller skates, a toy rocket would be at the memorial too. 

On a brighter note, with the basis of his son at home, the scientist devises of a way at getting back home. With a bit of comedy to this telling, the scientist attempts to build rafts, boats, S.O.S signs, catapults, slingshots, digging tunnels and to no avail has either worked. Through searching the island for an idea, he stumbles upon a pair of roller skates. He then took them back to his makeshift office, consisting of branches, vines and logs, to devise his next idea. His idea was to take the necessary components, to make a pair of rocket powered skates, similar to that of Dead Rising 2's workbench combo system, that would take him home.

Of the ideas, I'm more compelled to the first as I prefer a more mature story, than a comic one.