Visual Storytelling

Instead of showing another drab, gray render of the block out, I thought it would be more fun to look at some concept art...

Sunset treatment

I've been learning that pretty much all of my ideas for films, Hunted included, start from the place of a visual artist. I have some story ideas, but I mostly have mood and art ideas. That's probably just how my brain operates. Basically there are visuals that I want to make, and that's what motivates me first. Out of necessity, I figure out stories for them, but only because they're so important for movies to be interesting. Still, I love movies because they are all about visual storytelling. Other people can do the writing and directing, and then I'll set up the visual language, or design of it. Sound good? Okay, it's settled. ;)

Bailey

3D Block Outs

Just thought I'd show some more of the progress on the animatic this week. For those of you less familiar with what these are, they're basically 3D storyboards. They're a super useful tool during development because they visualize a scene in a concrete way.

The important thing to remember, as always, is that this stuff is very rough. Actually, it's crap right now. None of the real visuals are present, just the framework for the visuals.

I did leave out the music so that you can enjoy it more later. But how much do you guys care about spoilers? I'm showing an awful lot of stuff, and I assume that if you're coming here, you want to know. But I just thought I'd ask. I'm willing to reveal more of the story, and I'd be able to show more of the art for those segments. Leave a comment below if you have a preference either way.

Next week expect to see some more 3D block outs. Not sure how interesting those are, but that's what I need to do next.

Bailey

Mountain Love

Happy Tuesday! Concept:

Mood!

If you follow the main blog, you'll know that I've been making daily sketches. I've actually been using them as a way to subtly test ideas and technical approaches for Hunted. I don't know why, but I've been on a massive atmospheric perspective kick. Stylized distance indications, simple shapes, textured planes, and triad color palettes make me unusually happy. So, expect to see more of my attempts at those things.

I'm not much of a character artist, so I tend to stay away from that. But I do enjoy environments, even though I suck at them. That's why the film features the setting as heavily as it does. That's also why most of the concept art is of mountains, flora and buildings. Below is one of the many reference pictures I took in the Rockies a few months back. The day was coming to an end and a storm was brewing overhead (hence the dominance of ambient light). It was also very high up (~11k ft). My California-accustomed lungs were working overtime that afternoon.

Looking east across the land of my people.

Bailey

Cold Morning

Happy Tuesday! This is gonna be a short one, but I have a concept for y'all to look at.

The feeling I'm trying to capture here is very moody and cold, but with a touch of warmth. The film basically takes place during the course of one day. It starts in the morning and ends in the evening. Below is a morning shot, or an attempt at one. And having grown up in Colorado, I'm trying to show what it feels like to be in the high mountains. It's very unique.

Bailey

Hunted Blog

This is the first post of the new, second blog that will focus on the development of Forma Pictures' first original short film. Previously, I was posting updates on its progress in the main blog. But I decided that Hunted needed its own place. I have a hunch that some people are only interested in tracking the movie's process. So, there are 2 blogs now.

The primary reason I'm doing this is because of the success that I've had with the daily sketchbook. So, updates and art will come every Tuesday.

Isaac recently wrote some cool new stuff for the score, which has made it even better. On my end, I've been rewriting scene 4. I'm trying to streamline the narrative and clear up the confusing parts. It'll probably require more visuals, but that's okay. But I gotta tell ya, de-clunking stories takes time.

The distant threat...

Bailey