Plan for the Week
Brainstorm and evaluate potential directions for my final practical outcome
Select a main thematic direction and identify possible production formats
Establish a viewing list for visual and thematic research
Investigating Potential Outcomes
Before moving towards a practical outcome, I need to decide what subject and format the project might take. I spent some time brainstorming several possible directions based on my interests and the research completed so far:
Direction 1: A Psychological Narrative about Trauma: This direction would connect with my earlier research into mental health. It could involve a short film exploring the less visible effects of trauma, with graphic objects used to represent elements of the character’s memories, thoughts or emotions.
Direction 2: Isle of Man Folklore: Drawing from my heritage and upbringing, this direction would explore Manx folklore and fantasy. These stories could provide opportunities for character design, miniature environments and tactile props connected to the island’s cultural history.
Direction 3: An Anderson-Inspired Archive: This would be a stylised story about an obsessive archivist living on the Isle of Man. The character might organise fictional records using typewriters, lino stamps and hand-bound books. It would provide a strong reason for graphic props to appear throughout the story.
Direction 4: A Day in the Life of Manchester: This would take a more contemporary approach by following a character through Manchester. Everyday objects such as tickets, receipts, coffee cups, signs and flyers could be used to establish a recognisable location.
Direction 5: A Nineteenth-Century Period Drama: This would allow me to explore Victorian ephemera and traditional printing methods. However, accurately producing the environments, costumes and props would be difficult within the available time and budget.
Conclusion & Decision
After reviewing the different options, I have decided to develop the Isle of Man folklore direction. The subject has a personal connection to my heritage and offers plenty of possibilities for physical making and graphic design. I have not yet decided whether the outcome should use live action, 2D animation or stop-motion. Stop-motion currently feels particularly relevant because its sets, puppets and props would allow me to work directly with physical materials and visible imperfections. Next week, I will investigate specific Manx stories and compare the practical demands of the different formats.
Additional Research for Next Week
To help develop the visual direction and decide on a format, I plan to review several films and pay particular attention to their tone, materials, graphic props and treatment of folklore. My initial viewing list includes:
- Isle of Dogs — Wes Anderson: To study the film’s miniature graphic props, typography, packaging and controlled production design.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox — Wes Anderson: To observe how fur, fabric, wood and paper contribute to the handmade quality of its world.
- The Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea — Cartoon Saloon: To examine how Celtic folklore is interpreted through shape, pattern, colour and 2D animation.
- Kubo and the Two Strings — Laika: To consider how physical materials, particularly paper, can become active parts of a story.
- Yn Shenn Dooinney as ny Ferrishyn (The Old Man and the Fairies) — Lily-Joy Lancashire: To examine a recent stop-motion response to a story presented through Manx cultural and language contexts.
