We have 2 projects for the 1st year of the Grad Program. The 1st semester one is based on a short story. This time it's "the Street of Crocodiles" by Bruno Schultz (1934).
Here's the story:
http://www.akirarabelais.com/brunoschulz/streetofcrocodiles.htmlWe don't have to stay true to the text so we can use it as a springboard. So I'm going to do an animation where I will tell a story where you, the viewer, are brought on a "slumming party" in the 19th century through New York from 5th ave uptown into the bowels of the city. Along the way the it becomes a descent into madness where you get lost from the party into this crazy semi-hallucinatory nightmare.
I've been scouting out locations and taking amny photos for reference as well as hitting the Library's picture collection. I will use my own style of decoration to bring life to the scenes.
I see it much the way the film "Russian Ark" is played out. If you haven't seen this film you should. It's one continuous shot through the whole film and is in the 1st person point of view which can be disorienting.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009NHAT/104-2355737-1436762?v=glance&n=130&n=507846&s=dvd&v=glanceI will do the animation and the soundtrack. Then I will output to a DVD and hand bind a small book to enclose it and a set of the original drawings.
After bouncing it off my professor he said if it needs to take the whole year that's ok so I am really REALLY psyched about this. I get to emerse myself in my love of the 19th century and the history of New York.
:thumbsup: