@Phil - Further plot ideas developement
So following Phil and Jackie's feedback, I wrote two more possible plots. These both clearly use the prop of the microscope, which I am finding quite restricting and challenging.
"The Pharaoh's assistant"
- Ancient cartouche being researched from a recent excavation, detail missed on corner - requires (microscope) enlargement on computer.
- Depicts Pharaoh's entertainer/toy maker entertaining a group of children.
- Name inscribed next to hieroglyphics ?????
- Dive/flash into cartouche into the story of the Toy Maker
- Cartouche in top secret/fragile suitcase moving through airport.
Act 1
Shot: Focussing on suitcase with fragile and Secret written on it. Zooming out to hand holding it and walking through corridor. Man in suit walks out of shot.
Shot: Research lab. Working on cartouche, removing debris. Notice a small, additional inscription on bottom corner. No use with magnifying glass, so decide to use computer enlarger (microscope).
Act 2
Shot: View through microscope. Very large hieroglyphics with a much smaller section showing details of a much loved servant. The "Toy Maker". Picture shows him surrounded by children, keeping them entertained. His name [????] is carefully inscribed.
Act 3
Shot: Inside the actual history of the cartouche. Scene shown on cartouche, Toy maker gets up and moves over to Pharaoh. Pulls a puzzle toy out of his pocket and hands it to the Pharaoh. Pharaoh plays with it but cannot open it. Asks Toy Maker to solve it, which he does and then hands it back reset. Pharaoh still cannot solve it.
Shot: Pharaoh proclaiming Toy Maker blessed by the gods and promising to make him infamous.
Shot: Cartouche in museum.
"The Luggage Mishap"
- Bags between scientist and Toy Maker get mixed up - same bags
- Both stopped at customs - scientists bag has undeclared scalpels, Toy Maker because of "body" in the bag.
- Put on side by side search benches, but don't realise the mix up until the bags are opened and both explain not theirs.
- Both bags released and returned to their proper owners
- Turns out both going to Bio-engineering/robotics conference, on same expert panel.
Act 1
Shot: Airport exterior
Shot: Opposite shots of two men walking through airport corridor, both pulling matching suitcases.
Shot: Men sitting down back to back on benches in departure lounge. Walk off with each other's bags.
Shot: Customs scanners etc. Both put bags on xray and go through scanner fine. Flashing lights go off on both xrays. Both pulled to side by customs agents.
Shot: Baggage search tables. Side by side. Suitcases about to be opened. Both look confused about what's happening.
Act 2
Shot: Split screen of both bags being opened.
Shot: Confused faces of both Characters. Toy Maker's bag contains microscope, slides, books etc from Scientist. Scientist's bag contains wrapped "body" from Toy Maker. Scientist immediately arrested. Toy Maker's bag searched and scalpels found.
Shot: Split screen. Both men explain "Not my bag".
Act 3
Shot: Explaining reasoning - both on way to Bio-engineering conference.
Shot: Toy Maker goes over and unveils "body" of doll. Both released and bags returned to their proper owners.
Shot: Expert panel at robotics/Bio-engineering conference.
So, not much conflict or causality going on here just yet, but things are getting more interesting. I can't help feeling that there's potential in 'breaking' your understanding of your 'toymaker' character - in other words, he/she is not a 'toy-maker' in literal terms, but is enacting this role in so much as his/her effect on other people and environments. Again - the idea that he's tinkering at a genetic level makes sense of one of your objects at least.
ReplyDeleteI did have a rather dark little thought about this character using his role in airport security (watching the x-ray machine as people pass through security) to look for suitable parts/components with which to make his 'toys'.
If your 'toymaker' was like a super-villain with a terrible plan to take over the world (by turning everyone into mind-controlled puppets) perhaps he might choose a busy airport as the obvious place to release his toxin/enact his terrible plan - very busy, everyone having to walk through a scanner etc
Airports are also places of farewell - so maybe your story is about a character who is about to leave to become a scientist, but who secretly dreams of being a toymaker and we meet this person just as they're about to board their plane to start their new job - perhaps something happens at the airport to change his mind?