Year 1: Storytelling and Commission: From Script to Screen

Here I've further explored the prospect of my initial ideas through the use of sketches. In particular I have generated some interesting ideas from the 'cutesy' approach by looking at symbols and star signs and how they may relate back to the environment of Hell. One design I am proud of is my 'mountain goat', a demon based on the number of the beast that aspires to past victories. I feel like she works well as a character since she has a very identifiable image. 

I have looked at designing other demons on the side as well to act in as background characters or antagonists in the story. I used star signs to design them, using the forms to produce monstrous shapes and forms. The idea is that star signs have a very unusual or sublime formation that bends well to re-designation into demons or monsters. On that point I wanted to mention my worries over the nature of these demons, since I mentioned in some of the doodles how they should be 'relatable'; demons are manifestations of humanity, and they should be recognized in that regard. it doesn't necessarily mean they have to be scary or strange looking in appearance, but rather more symbolic. I can use such sources as Dictionnarie Infernal, or Dante's Inferno, to achieve this statue, since devils generally have an affinity for the higher entities described in these books.

While thinking of a good design for the main character I created several different designs that I later conformed the overall style of the concept to. It would be a good thing to mix and match some of these styles for the sake of it, since I never know what I may make through doing so. This can be a pathway for different plot structures and possibilities. Generally the rules of empathy stand though, by making the main and supporting characters as human looking as possible it is easier to reach the audiences interest.

Besides the cutesy approach I have also looked at the other idea described in the previous post with the more realistic approach. In this plot, I have created an ex-Royal Marines soldier, previously involved in the Falklands. Since battles in the Falklands had been based on Mt Harriet and Mt Tumbledown I thought it would be a interesting take on the keyword 'Mountaineer'. Upon retirement she became interested in hiking and its benefits. One day she takes her younger lazy brother up the mountain to show him how enjoyable it can be, when they come across a screaming pothole she is overcome with responsibility. Instead of phoning emergency services she climbs down the pothole to find a literal hell. I think this flesh out helps back up the characters motives a bit more than just having a plain old person who just happens to like the hobby.