Music

As part of the audio realisation for my idea, i had Luke Robinson, a music student at Huddersfield university compose a piece of music for me, i have just received the final copy:

Location Scouting

I have done a quick location scout in a woods near where i live in Greasbrough. The woods is known as 'Fenton woods'.
Here are the pictures i took:

Landscape concept art

I have received the concept art for the landscapes from Charlotte Taylor:

The first are all the forest as it starts:

These are the fantasy world:

And finally the horror world:

I'm very happy With how these have come out, i feel they really show how the film will look and feel.

Idea - Creatures and costumes.

The main part of my idea is the creatures within the world the girl creates.

The first creature i would think about creating would be the Faun. As my idea was inspired alot by Pan's Labyrinth. i decided to have a look at how the faun was made in that film.

I do believe that the facial part of the faun was done using Foam Latex which is widely used in Big Budget and Hollywood Films.

I believe the best way to create the creature as it is in concept art is to use a foam latex mask - as foam latex can be molded around a model. and then add the horns over the top as done in the above video.

As for the Troll and the Fairies i believe it would probably be better to create them digitally as it would be easier than trying to do it on set. However for the troll it could be an interesting idea to attempt to film someone in a sensor suit and then manipulate the image and size through the computer as seen with 'Gollum' in 'Lord of the Rings'

References:

Pan's Labyrinth making - (Youtube Video) [online] - last accessed on 18th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-sSsRaoohc

Bringing Gollum to life - (YouTube Video) [online] - last accessed on 18th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Krx0ozjJA

Idea effects - tree roots

Another effect in my piece is the living tree roots.

This effect has been used before in a film called 'The evil dead' in which the roots came alive and rape a girl. I believe that in that particular case they used robotics / animatronics.

However i have decided to use both special and visual effects.
So for the first part where the roots are pertruding out of the oil and slashing at the girl i would use 'After Effects'
Here is a video showing the type of thing that is achievable -

When the girl is actually caught by the tree and bound in place, i would use pre-made vines on set as i believe trying to create vines around a person on a computer would be very difficult and would take alot of time.

References:

After Effects VideoCopilot 3D Vines (YouTube Video) [online] last accessed 17th December 2012 at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5tePLbD-04

- Tree-Rape - Google images [online] last accessed 17th December 2012 on http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=the+evil+dead+tree&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=1024&bih=1233&tbm=isch&tbnid=HVAsY7Y4A5WFnM:&imgrefurl=http://haffandhaff.wordpress.com/page/6/&docid=M_VdLMtQTjjqsM&imgurl=http://haffandhaff.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/tree-rape.jpg&w=505&h=465&ei=KmzQUJX9HYOL4ATkpoDACQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=751&vpy=270&dur=667&hovh=215&hovw=234&tx=158&ty=106&sig=111639871220691663455&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=147&start=0&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0,i:112

Idea Effects - Lightning

This is probably the easiest effect to figure out.

Lightning can be done in many different ways depending on what outcome you're looking for.
The first and probably the most obvious is 'After Effects' there are many tutorials online about how to create lightning. Most of these sprung up when the newest starwars films were released and many focus on how to make lightning appear form the hands. However i have easily found one to show how to do it.

This effect creates forked lightning, however in some cases sheet lightning could also be very effective. Sheet lightning is a very bright flash rather than a spiky trail as above.

To create sheet lightning the best way to my knowledge would be to use a lighting to do it.
I would imagine this would be a case of using a very large strobe light on set using perhaps a blue filter, this would then create the flashes necessary to create a realistic sheet lightning effect.

However for the purposes of my idea, i think that using after effects would be the better option, simply as a case of budget.

References:

After Effects Lightning Strike (YouTube Video) [online] last accessed 17th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxnXtYfy19s

Idea effects - Growing grass and flowers

This has been one of the hardest Effects to consider.
I have searched high and low for a tutorial of some form that might help me work out how to do it.

Unfortunately i have not found one, however many things i have seen have led me to the conclusion that it would probably be done using 'Maya' and 'Adobe after effects'.
I did find one tutorial that hinted towards the use of Maya for this particular effect which was called 'Organic line growth'. however the tutorial turned out to be about something different.

In the idea the flowers turn out to be paper - which would be a simple matter of folding paper flowers and placing them onset. and after the grass has grown, putting grass on the set as well would be fairly easy as it is my understand that grass can be bought in rolled up strips.

I will continue to search for some tutorials.

Idea effects - Creatures into dust

In my idea, when the circle of light hits the evil creatures they turn to dust. I imagined this would be done using camera and editing techniques. Simply by filming the creatures, then stop the recording removing the creatures from the shot, start recording again and throw a big handful of collected dust onto shot where the creature was stood. Then using simple edit techniques cut the shot together in the right place to make it look like they have simply turned to dust: An example of this was done with coins in 'Edger Wrights' - 'Scott Pilgrim vs the world'. Here is an example of the same effect someone has done and uploaded to youtube.

References:

Scott Pilgrim Coin-Burst Effect (KO) (YouTube Video) [online] last accessed 17th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egdFChekChE

Idea effects - Glowing eyes and balls of light.

As part of my Idea the girls eyes glow when the balls of light shoot into her. This would be achieved purely through Visual effects e.g. entirely computer generated.
This effect could easily be done on after effects and a program called 'Mocha' which comes free with after effects.

I have found a tutorial online that shows exactly how it can be done:

Balls of light.

As the Girls eyes are glowing Balls of light or energy are flying into her from the ground and sky.
To create these balls of light Adobe after effects would be used again rather than creating them on set.

I have found a tutorial on how to do it:

Finally when the girl is filled with this light, the light explodes in a circle around her. This is probably one of the hardest of all the effects.
After much research i have concluded that it would again be in After effects.
Here is a tutorial i have found:

To get the explosion/ expanding effect i would manipulate the size of if using key frames, so that it gets bigger very rapidly.


References:

Glowing eye replacement Effect Tutorial (YouTube Video) [Online] last accessed 17th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvHXmT0NeZQ

Adobe After Effects CS4: Energy Ball Tutorial (YouTube Video) [online] last accessed 17th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt8M_p6qAz0

"Force Field" After Effects Tutorial (YouTube Video) [online] last accessed 17th December 2012 on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aba4mZ0DMQM

Idea effects

In order to think about how i would achieve the effects in my idea. i thought it would be easier to list them all first, and then research into them one by one. This way i am unlikely to overlook something.

• Grass growing
• Flowers growing
• Paper flowers
• Sky changing color
• Fairies
• Faun
• Lightning and black clouds forming
• Blood flying from fauns mouth
• Grass turning to oil
• Oil sprouting arms
• Tree roots coming alive.
• cutting into arms and legs
• Troll
• Balls of white light
• Light exploding from the girl
• Creatures turning to dust

Concept Art

I put an advertisement out within the university for concept artists to design the creatures and landscapes within my idea.
I did this so that people including myself would have a better idea of the look and feel of the piece.
I had a lot of replies and i eventually found 2 people i wanted to do it. Because they were students i did not want to burden them with the project as they have their own deadlines. So i split the workload, one artist (Bethan Roberts) Worked on the creatures and the other (Charlotte Taylor) Worked on the landscape designs.

I have been sent the design done by Bethan Roberts.

The Faun or Satyr on the left is the Faun as it is first seen, the friendly version. and the Faun on the right is the Faun as it will look when it turns evil. 

These are the fairy designs. The fairy on the left is the friendly version seen first. the fairy on the right is as it will be when it turns evil after being grabbed by the girl.

This is the design for the troll.

Visual Realisation

After writing my idea down in full, i started thinking about what i wanted it to look like. so i started searching for pictures on Google images just to give an idea of what i picture in the idea.

First location - Forest (unaltered)

These two pictures show a regular forest, dead (probably from winter) that appear quite spooky and creepy as they are. I would imagine, would a child be walking through these on their own they might become quite scared.

The next pictures are ideas for the fantasy world the child creates:

 These two images are taken from Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland'
The reason i have chosen these two images is the 'Wonderland' in the story represents (in my opinion) the ultimate childhood fantasy world. lush flowers, magical creatures and multicolored skies.

The next picture is what the dark world that appears could look like:

I will soon be location scouting for a possible forest to use. and i am currently trying to find someone to do some concept art.

references:

The-misty-forest-Sequoia-Bayview-Trail-Joaquin-Miller-Park-Oakland-CA - Google images [online] last accessed 18th December 2012 on https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=709&q=creepy+forest&oq=creepy+forest&gs_l=img.3..0l9j0i5.62.3045.0.3119.17.15.1.0.0.0.158.1338.11j3.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.fmUv7ZRJdSU#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&site=imghp&tbm=isch&spell=1&q=creepy+forest+path&sa=X&ei=44HQUMXtH4iB4gSh54F4&ved=0CFIQvwUoAA&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.bGE&fp=e0a3f6b714b94685&bpcl=40096503&biw=1280&bih=709&imgrc=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.lovethesepics.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2012%252F10%252FThe-misty-forest-Sequoia-Bayview-Trail-Joaquin-Miller-Park-Oakland-CA.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.lovethesepics.com%252F2012%252F10%252Fwhen-the-woods-are-scary-enchanted-forests-like-brothers-grimm-broken-fairytales%252F%3BbQc6I3IoP1MbXM%3BxbZ8nAj-Bxe3wM%3A%3B117494581454074646023%3B990%3B743

fantasy,landscape,alice,in,wonderland,movies,tim,burton-c3a1e470709c219027fac9592ed6e3ee_h - Google images [online] last accessed 18th December 2012 on                                   https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=709&q=creepy+forest&oq=creepy+forest&gs_l=img.3..0l9j0i5.62.3045.0.3119.17.15.1.0.0.0.158.1338.11j3.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.fmUv7ZRJdSU#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=alice+in+wonderland+landscape&oq=alice+in+wonderland+landscape&gs_l=img.3..0.141043.145726.6.145875.22.2.20.0.5.0.81.160.2.2.0...0.0...1c.1.G8kfVAMsqSY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.bGE&fp=e0a3f6b714b94685&bpcl=40096503&biw=1280&bih=666&imgrc=http%253A%252F%252Fcdnimg.visualizeus.com%252Fthumbs%252Fc3%252Fa1%252Ffantasy%252Clandscape%252Calice%252Cin%252Cwonderland%252Cmovies%252Ctim%252Cburton-c3a1e470709c219027fac9592ed6e3ee_h.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fvi.sualize.us%252Fupdate_new_images_from_tim_burtons_comingsoon_fantasy_alice_in_wonderland_movies_landscape_picture_5c3U.html%3BSuyAGBerNmjqNM%3B0PUJWb0AC3du2M%3A%3B117494581454074646023%3B500%3B247

alice-in-wonderland-movie-image-5 - Google images [online] last accessed 18th December 2012 on https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=709&q=creepy+forest&oq=creepy+forest&gs_l=img.3..0l9j0i5.62.3045.0.3119.17.15.1.0.0.0.158.1338.11j3.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.fmUv7ZRJdSU#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=alice+in+wonderland+landscape&oq=alice+in+wonderland+landscape&gs_l=img.3..0.141043.145726.6.145875.22.2.20.0.5.0.81.160.2.2.0...0.0...1c.1.G8kfVAMsqSY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.bGE&fp=e0a3f6b714b94685&bpcl=40096503&biw=1280&bih=666&imgrc=http%253A%252F%252Fcollider.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252Falice-in-wonderland-movie-image-5.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcollider.com%252F27-high-resolution-images-from-tim-burtons-alice-in-wonderland%252F17329%252F%3BEIKHsSng9MtLGM%3BBSyvjIMQGQQxtM%3A%3B117494581454074646023%3B1920%3B1188


evil-forest-cropped - Google Images [online] last accessed 18th December 2012 on https://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&safe=off&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=709&q=creepy+forest&oq=creepy+forest&gs_l=img.3..0l9j0i5.62.3045.0.3119.17.15.1.0.0.0.158.1338.11j3.14.0...0.0...1ac.1.fmUv7ZRJdSU#hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&site=imghp&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=evil+forest+trees&oq=evil+forest+trees&gs_l=img.3...15446.16583.7.17347.7.7.0.0.0.0.90.506.7.7.0...0.0...1c.1.g5U4oDwl8rY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=e0a3f6b714b94685&bpcl=40096503&biw=1280&bih=666&imgrc=http%253A%252F%252Fcrowhollow.files.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F04%252Fevil-forest-cropped.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcrowhollow.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F04%252F22%252Fthe-blight%252F%3BcAZFnAPBWy9sdM%3BZQRO0GK0WhwSfM%3A%3B117494581454074646023%3B340%3B400

Idea Walk through

I have been given feedback on my idea and progress so far. It has been suggested that I need to consider why the girls imagination turns against her, like a trigger of some kind.

After giving this much thought, i realized the creatures i researched and like in many of the literary and film depictions of them, they only attacked humans if they felt threatened, so i thought this would be the best idea. 

Below is a draft run through of my how i picture my idea going:

Audio/visual run through

A young girl in a white dress is standing in a forest. The Forest is dead and dark, the sun is covered by grey clouds. The ground is muddy and wet; the girl’s bare feet are covered in dirt. She starts to walk slowly and cautiously down the dirt path. She does not seem frightened; she appears to be in awe.

Fantastical Music starts. The girl continues to walk. The trees begin to grow many different colored flowers. Grass starts to grow under her feet in place of the mud, the clouds part to show a blue sky, the sky changes color from blue to purple then red then yellow, and continues to change through many different bright colors.

The girl crouches to sniff one of the flowers to find that it is made of paper. She smiles. She stands up and starts running through the forest happy and laughing. She comes across a beautiful stream. She runs her foot through the water and the mud washes away.

Then something small and glowing appears from behind the girl, she see’s it, it flies around her head and around her body. It stops on the branch of a tree. It is a fairy. The girl stands looking up at the fairy. Soon more fairies start to appear, some from the trees, some from behind flowers and in flowers, some from water and some in the grass. They fly around the girl, dancing in the air.

A friendly looking faun appears from behind a tree. And walks across to the girl, it starts dancing with her. She breaks away and starts chasing the fairies trying to catch one, She catches one in her hands and it struggles to get free, she does not let it go, the fairy in her hands becomes angry and turns black. It bites her hand and she lets go. Lightning flashes and black clouds quickly form over head. The Other fairies turn black and started darting at the girl like bullets. She runs to the Faun for help but the faun also has turned dark and grown fangs. It roars at the girl blood flying from it’s mouth. The girl runs away but the grass turns to black oil and she slips and slides, the oil grabs at the girl as though arms are sprouting from the earth. The roots of the trees come alive and start slashing and grabbing the girl as the fairies continue to fly at the girl. The girl screams cries and pulls against the trees roots; they cut into her arms and legs. A troll emerges from the oil right next to the girl. It’s teeth bared, oil dripping down its face and body. It reaches out for the girl.

The girl looks up into the eyes of the troll, determination in her eyes. Big balls of white light start flying from the ground and the sky into the girl, her eyes start to glow, brighter with each ball of light. She lets out a scream and the lights shoots from her in a wide circle. The troll, the fairies and the Faun turn to dust. The oil turns back into grass and the sky turns back to blue. The tree roots release her and sink back into the ground. The girl looks around, and then skips down the path humming as she does.