Three and five act structures are key devices used in effective storytelling. They give narratives and stories a pleasing base structure upon which the weave the elements to create a unique viewpoint. The Greatest Showman has a clear five act structure used beneath all the songs and showy costumes to make it stand up as a narrative. Act 1 - Childhood We see the challenges that Barnum went through as a child. It shows him as a poor tailor’s son struggling to make ends meet. It shows him meeting Charity for the first time. It also shows his father getting ill and eventually passing away, and how he had to beg on the streets for food. Towards the end of the act we see Barnum heading off to make his fortune on the railways. Act 2 - Attempt One We see Barnum come back a wealthy man to marry Charity. They build a home together and have two daughters. Barnum is working at a trading company, but they all get fired when the company’s flotilla sink. Barnum uses the bonds fo...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNelly - I have always thought that this project was a ‘gift’. It is one of those moments where you have been given (by luck and choice) everything on a silver platter in terms of personal story, design/style, primary research, animation history, and the go ahead (a green light from the family/estate). I am hoping you know how lucky you are and how rare that is. Trust me it won’t always be that easy. The reason why I am mentioning this is that it’s your job now to grasp this opportunity with both hands and run with it – It could lead to good things in the future. A good animation about the creator of Captain Pugwash is newsworthy (and I mean in the actual news) and will resonate with employers. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so here is the problem – I don’t think this OGR is meeting that potential (yet). I know you’ve had a chat with Phil so I am not going to cover that ground here, but my main piece of advice is to a) attack this project and have a greater urgency around it…and b) work on your story first. That is the biggest piece of the ‘animation puzzle’ but beyond a recollection of the actual events, there is no attempt at telling your story using animation techniques in this OGR. The actual events are not the animated version in which you can go anywhere and do anything visually. We’ve discussed this before, so I know you understand that process and what you need to attempt to. Make it a priority though and start exploring your memories in animation terms now – if necessary, seek help if you’re finding it hard to start that process.
In terms of your designs these feel like first versions instead of a final product. They are a good start and I realise that this is still early stages but overall, I think you should go back to the (with help/see me) and enhance and refine them. Rarely is the first answer the right answer so be brave/diligent and go back again and again until things improve. As I said above, this project has the potential to go places but to do that everything needs to be on its ‘A-game’. That means putting in the time and effort, not settling for first answers, allowing yourself to improve by attempting work and getting this right as well as making mistakes, getting advice, growing your knowledge, and seeing the rewards.