What Was Once - a film diary

tuesday october 12 2010

2010-10-12T01:33:00.000-07:00

These days, I'm not even trying to contact producers. Instead I'm thinking a lot about how I want to make movies in the future. How to make, produce and distribute them to turn them into something I would myself go to the cinema and watch. I'm not there yet, I need to plot and plan.

wednesday september 22 2010

2010-09-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

I've contacted several producers but I don't get any replies. All I can do is find more producers, otherwise my little film is on the slow burner.

wednesday september 1 2010

2010-09-01T06:54:00.001-07:00

I've contacted yet another producer but no answer so far, other than that she's received my e-mail. Things are slow!

thursday august 19 2010

2010-08-19T06:50:00.001-07:00

I'm back! Kinda.

I've been wanting to make at least one more picture portraying how a running building becomes a shooting star. So that's one of the things that/what I've been doing today.

In the midst of this I start messing with colour again! When I thought black and white was a firm decision. Is it out of curiosity or am I looking to prolong this process?

I've e-mailed a producer since my return home from my holidays, with no reply. When I'm certain this picture is done, I'll e-mail again.

I hope you've had - well, are still having - a great summer!

thursday july 15 2010

2010-07-15T04:47:00.000-07:00

I take a holiday break from What Was Once, both the film and the blog.
I will be back in August, as soon as I have some new developments to report. I will announce my return at EllaSkerries too.

Have a lovely summer!

friday july 9 2010

2010-07-09T01:46:00.000-07:00

I've heard from the production companies I contacted. One is much too busy but loved the project, one wants to get back at the end of summer. Let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy our summer.

wednesday june 30 2010

2010-06-30T03:10:00.000-07:00

Today my PDF introducing What Was Once was finally e-mailed away. It's in the midst of summer and holidays, so let's see if something will happen.

The PDF is in Swedish, but I post it here, in case of curiousity.

Don't be afraid to click to enlarge.

saturday june 26 2010

2010-06-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Editing my presentation, hopefully it should be ready for review any moment now.

tuesday june 22 2010

2010-06-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Finally working on my presentation that I'll show other producers to see if I can tempt them. I've been postponing it, unfortunately, but now it's happening.

thursday june 17 2010

2010-06-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

I don't seem able to get the titles right. Godamnit.
This is what they looks like right now.

wednesday june 9 2010

2010-06-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

So far, this is what the woman sees looking our her window:

I'm not entirely certain this is the final design, but for now it is.

On to the titles, so I can put together my informative little pamphlet to lure money people and producers alike into my sticky web of yarn.

tuesday june 8 2010

2010-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Drawing a new man and composing an image of him surrounded by the running buildings and shooting stars, looking back at the house with the woman and the demons. Not quite finished yet, and no full day.

So far it looks a bit crowded and messy... Hm.

monday june 7 2010

2010-06-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

Drawing different elements for my presentation material. Not a full day.

friday june 4 2010

2010-06-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of silence about my producer simply because there has been a lot of silence from him. Now I've received a letter where he states that he has taken on too much work and will now go on holidays, that we can get in touch in the middle of July and then see where we're standing.

This leaves for decisions and possibilities. I have some thinking to do.

thursday june 3 2010

2010-06-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

Drawing a little before work. No time to scan though

wednesday june 2 2010

2010-06-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

Drawing on a new ground for the boy to stand on, but the weather is too good and I run off!

monday may 31 2010

2010-05-31T06:21:00.000-07:00

I've made a sketch for what the main character sees looking out her window, using what bits and pieces I already have made. It doesn't feel as strong as the first yet, but there you are, a first step.

Also I'm toying around with the title and the clouds I've made.

And since a few days back I'm contemplating converting some of the designs into postcards and try to sell them, for fun, to celebrate the work I've put into them and as a little way to highlight my film. Could be fun!

wednesday may 26 2010

2010-05-26T02:25:00.001-07:00

Making small alterations that I've been longing to do since I published this image here. No hands on top of hands, and more feathers in the background. Little things that bug me.

Now it's time to move on to the second part of the image. If I have these two images done - looking out the window and what they see from the window - and a good logo, I feel that together with the character designs I have a good visual material for an application.

The application was supposed to be handed in a month ago but I haven't heard anything from my producer. From what others tell me I gather he's taken on too much work. Hmmm.

tuesday may 25 2010

2010-05-25T06:44:00.001-07:00

Today I've been trying to incorporate the title of the movie into the imagery. I'm still not quite sure how I'll do it, combining action and movement with clear graphics isn't all easy. I have ideas of nighttime, stars becoming the title and then shooting stars, the rays of the sun and the main characters waking up....

In my imagination it's great, in what so far exists of such a reality is more or less messy.

monday may 24 2010

2010-05-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

Finishing the drawing of my clouds, but there's no time to scan it or fix with it.

thursday may 20 2010

2010-05-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Today I've made letters for the titles. The thought is to animate and integrate them into the design. I hope they are not too unreadable because I like them. They feel both graphic and jugend:y.

Now I've begun yet another insurmountable drawing of clouds, thinking the letters will disappear into the many lines of the sky.

I make myself tired and weary and excited. It feels like if the many graphic and detailed elements will work out they will add to the movie and make it pop out. And if not I've wasted a lot of time. Working out a design has elements of gambling in it. I wish I worked faster, yet I couldn't make this if I did.

wednesday may 19 2010

2010-05-19T07:05:00.001-07:00

Today I've finally finished the background I've been drawing. The hope is that it will match the sky without competing with it, like an indoors sky, kinda. Maybe all the little lines can highlight the main characters internal confusion as well, that would be lovely.

See, before:

And after:

Here it is with a bit of shadow:

I've also been playing with fills:

And with colour:

I'm very attracted to keeping my film in black and white though.
I want it flat, just not boringly flat. Hmmm.

Right now this is my favourite, I think:

It has a bit of 20's German expressionism silent film feel to it I think, and that's never wrong in my book.

Now I'm starting to think about and tinker with the titles for the movie...

monday may 18 2010

2010-05-18T02:30:00.001-07:00

Sitting in the sun, drawing on my background pattern. It's slow work.

wednesday may 12 2010

2010-05-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

I keep drawing on my presentation picture and play with different ideas for a wallpaper design, that will go with but not conquer or confuse the graphic sky.

tuesday may 11 2010

2010-05-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

I keep drawing on the presentation material. Cleaning things up and drawing each item on a separate paper. It's good efficient fun.

monday may 10 2010

2010-05-10T04:46:00.000-07:00

I dreamt last night about my film. The movie was packed with patterns and structures and half abstract things intermingling with more depicting designs. And there was no colour. It was more to the Edward Gorey style that I originally, in 2004, was inspired by (you can see the original designs in the side bar).

This is an Edward Gorey inspired illustration I made for another project.

And watching these (especially pic 1 and 5) I start thinking...
Maybe a structured, to my mind slightly neurotic style, is the right way to go...? Mind you, I'm not saying that I think Pick me up's designs are structured and neurotic, but what I have in mind might be. Like something back to basics with where I am today's twist?

That sounds good, right?

wednesday may 5 2010

2010-05-05T05:22:00.001-07:00

I've been working on one half of the image material that I'm making for the film application (I'll get back to you on that).

I've also started thinking about colour. One idea I have is to animate colour in abstract patterns as an overlay and keeping the characters and settings themselves in black and white. I think that could be an interesting and also expressive way to work.

Of course I've also gone through one of the gazillion doubts that seem important for the realization of a project. Do the demons look too childish? Would it be better if they were more like gigantic, slightly more abstract shadow beings?

Now I think not, but unless you try how will you know for sure?

tuesday may 4 2010

2010-05-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Drawing on a still from the movie where all ingredients - characters and settings - are included. I'm still doubting my design. I feel my style as an animator is too childish and that it makes my film look like it's not suited for grown ups. This is something I will have to keep thinking about, now I'm much too hungry!

wednesday april 21 2010

2010-04-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

I made a new girl today:

I have a hard time deciding whether the boy and girl should look "normal", or as extreme as the rest. Decisions. Let's see if I'll be satisfied with this one, I do think she's slightly less the "good girl".

I was also thinking about what the world might look like as seen through the window of the flat...

...maybe like something like this?

It's hard to know when to stop. The whole world needs to be created sooner or later of course, but other projects and duties are also beckoning me. Decisions, decisions.

tuesday april 20 2010

2010-04-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

I gave the tall one bigger wings and the little one a trident as one is mentioned in the script, but I think it looks a little stupid. Hmmm. Maybe it's the script that needs changing.

I've never been satisfied with the look of the leading lady.

It feels like I'm stuck in a mannerism that I can't shake and it's very annoying. I want some kind of androgynity to her look though not necessarily that she's cool, I don't want her to look like a "good girl" either and I want people to be able to identify with her and read stuff into her, so some kind of anonymity although I still want her to be particular...

I'm thinking of everything from the look of Patti Smith to Sofia Loren to myself to women in the street. My only conclusion is... that I might put her in a bathrobe again... that could help with the changes she'll be going through in the script.

monday april 19 2010

2010-04-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Today is a day for thought and considering:
What do I want? How should I do it?
Tomorrow is a day of delivery, when the work continues.

friday april 16 2010

2010-04-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Going over the script and re-formatting it some, a quickie before I shoot off.

thursday april 15 2010

2010-04-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

Today I've written a short synopsis, project description, director's note and made a preliminary budget and sent it to the producer to get an opinion. That's the glory of not working alone.

I'm quite but not 100% happy with the design of the demons and the main characters. For instance I think the smaller demon could have a bigger beak and more of a hunch. What do you think about this?

New and old:

Which one do you think is the better?

wednesday april 14 2010

2010-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

Today I finished off two demons. I discarded the owls and went for the plague, crows and ravens, inspired by pictures like these:

(The two images link to their original locations.)

Let's see if I'll be contented or not.
The main characters will get some finishing touches. The girls shirt is much too short and her thighs too skinny for instance.

tuesday april 13 2010

2010-04-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

So this is the boy and the girl as they look right now (or should I say the man and the woman?).

Am I content with this?
Hm, I don't think I know yet.

I've been trying to make the boy look anonymous, like uncharted territory, and I do like his skinny legs. They are a bit Tintin:y.

Alright, commencing the work on the demons. A-one, a-two, a-

monday april 12 2010

2010-04-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today I've been working on the designs for the main characters of the movie, the man and the woman. The pics are now ready for the scanner and some final cleaning up touches, a quick job.

The design of the two demons comes next. I was working on them a lot at the beginning, but even though I put a lot of thought and effort into them, I'm really not happy with the outcome. The idea to get inspired by owls I think is good, but the result looks like something made for another movie, and that being a movie that I don't want to make.

friday april 9 2010

2010-04-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

New stars and houses.
I think this might look swell in change and motion.

thursday april 8 2010

2010-04-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Quickly preparing yesterdays' scans, before I'm off for work.

(And have a look at this, why don't you!)

wednesday april 7 2010

2010-04-07T08:36:00.001-07:00

Working on the transformation from houses to stars, and cleaning up the sketches.

tuesday april 6 2010

2010-04-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

Today, my birthday, I keep on working on my shooting stars.
I think I have a good star, it's the tail in itself that I need to get right.

friday april 2 2010

2010-04-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the house becoming a star, uncertain if my work is successful. I still like my new house, but uncertain of the look of the star. Trickiness!

thursday april 1 2010

2010-04-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

t
This is the display of a house becoming a shooting star that I was working on yesterday.
I don't much like the look of it. It looks too childrens' film, like I haven't separated myself from the original 2004 design:

The original design.

Today I drew this house. This too me is much mote interesting, and in tune with what I would like to achieve.

And I can think of interesting ways to turn this house into a star.

wednesday march 31 2010

2010-03-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

What the heroine looks like right now, the sketch and the clean up.
I'm nowhere near colour yet, I think a lot about it though.

Today I've been working on a display of the transformation from a running building into a shooting star. The pics are drawn, but the display is still not quite... there.

Worried about my reoccurring arm ache.
Maybe I should look into that?

tuesday march 30 2010

2010-03-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

This is where I am right now.
The first pic sent to my producer.
My arms ache from fiddling too much.
It will be interesting to clarify the transformation from house to star.
And it feels important that I chose a 60's building.
The temptation of beautiful last turn of the century windows was big.
But no. This will be prettier.

I wish I were faster.

Now I just have to sit and doubt myself.
Is it too noisy? Too childish? Too --- ?
I go make the dishes.

friday march 26 2010

2010-03-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Today I've been working non stop on something that I thought was going to be fabulous. Now I'm oh so tired and realize... it's not.
It makes me so sad. I shouldn't be stressing myself out, but there is so much you want to try when you have this opportunity.

wednesday march 24 2010

2010-03-24T04:19:00.000-07:00

Making one more earth. Now I must choose which one to go with.
I don't think this is the right one, possible the third.

tuesday march 23 2010

2010-03-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

Two sets of sky and earth. Which one is the better one?
It's across these that the houses will start running and turn into shooting stars. Could be pretty, yes? Now I must run.

monday march 22 2010

2010-03-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

Working on the ground - the earth - for this new little world that I try to create. Working working working, drawing thin, thin lines. I hope this is an effort that will pay off. Maybe the pattern later on can be used for something other, or as a start off for something other. Sometimes I have to stop because staring into all these lines makes me nauseous.

thursday march 18 2010

2010-03-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

Working on my stars and commencing the design of the earth.
Finally I'm forced to quit. My arms hurt too much from non stop tedious work and are cramping. This is a bad sign.

wednesday march 17 2010

2010-03-18T02:05:00.000-07:00

Working on the star glow - of my running houses becoming shooting stars - an entire day, getting completely caught up and overdoing it. Rejoice. I love losing myself in detailed pointless work. I'll have to reuse my glows in another project sometime to justify all the work I've put into it.

monday march 15 2010

2010-03-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

Working on the facades of the running houses.
How do I best combine them with the shooting stars?
I must remember to draw the earth, so far I only have a sky...

friday march 12 2010

2010-03-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

Working on the design of the running houses that are to become shooting stars. Trying out different ideas that don't seem to work very well. It's time to think again, I guess.

thursday march 11 2010

2010-03-11T00:29:00.000-08:00

Drawing and tearing and scanning and printing and starting over again. Intense fun work and putting your ideas to the test. I wish all days were like this.

monday march 8 2010

2010-03-09T02:26:00.000-08:00

Couldn't focus on my design, started composing my director's note: Why do I want to do this?

sunday march 7 2010

2010-03-07T12:17:00.001-08:00

Reluctantly adding some finishing touches to the new idea.
Can I move forward from here?

friday march 5 2010

2010-03-06T01:40:00.000-08:00

Reconsidering the design and going back to a previous idea.
Will it get better this time?

thursday march 4 2010

2010-03-04T07:25:00.001-08:00

Tried drawing, cleaning up and colouring but all pointless - too ill.
Now I give up and go eat Lebanese.

wednesday march 3 2010

2010-03-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

Drawing on my demons and googling medieval, Christian and Buddhist demons for inspiration. What do you get when you combine owls and demons? Considering colouring and getting stressed over everything taking so long and me being ill and tired.

monday march 1 2010

2010-03-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

Today I started working on the new design of the two demons. Actually both demons have two designs, one for when they are still and one for when in action. It was good fun and I hope to continue soon...

wednesday february 24 2010

2010-02-24T02:24:00.000-08:00

Composing a to do-list for what is needed to complete applications.
Designs, information, budget, previous work and an explanation for why (on earth) I would want to do this? Also I wrote a short synopsis for the film, but now it's time to make preparations for my trip to Barcelona....

monday february 22 2010

2010-02-24T01:49:00.000-08:00

Meeting the producer for the first time about the film. Preparing image material - a sky, a falling origami star, sketches of the girl, the original art work and plenty of owls as inspiration for the demons.