TAINTED
TAINTED is a oneiric graduation short film for all audiences with a music clip-like approach that touches on the idea of conformism and the impact it can have on someone.
TAINTED
An endless sea of sand; then, like a lighthouse in the middle of an ocean, a basilica stands.
Shelter or trap ? Either way Edun decides to answer the call of this strange building.
Synopsis
Without alternatives, he decides to walk up to it.
Inside the colossal building is ... a small room, with rows and rows of fully stocked bookcases. There, some people are seemingly working, writing with feathers in old books. Or are they ?
A desk is unoccupied, as if waiting for him. Edun takes his place and tries to write in the book in front of him, but all he can ever seem to draw is this weird symbol. The symbol that's on the window. It's there, on the paper, and then it disappears. Frustrated, Edun slams his fist on the book. The ink of his feather spreads onto his skin, onto the book, on the floor, on ... everything. It floods the room.
He has to get out, to flee. Out of the basilica, out of the desert. So he runs.
But the basilica soon morphes into ink, and a massive wave is after him.
There is no escape. He fights to keep his last breath, in vain.
Edun gives up. He gives in to the ink.
And by giving in to it, he finds himself. Free, forever tainted, but still whole.
TAINTED is a oneiric graduation short film for all audiences with a music clip-like approach that touches on the idea of conformism and the impact it can have on someone.
Characters
Early researches:
Below are a line up and turns of the characters in an early stage of the project;
While the Shades' (blue figure) design overall stayed the same, Edun's design changed slightly toward a more stylized approach (shoes and color).
Final designs:
We discover the world through Edun's eyes. He is, in more ways than one, the blank canvas depicting someone trying to make their way through life. It's the reason why he had to stand out so much from the backgrounds, going as far as not having a shadow.
In the movie, Edun seems like a work in progress: because he is one. His journey will challenge and change him.
Like statues, the Shades do not move. To Edun, they seem like examples to be followed.
Their cloaks is a direct reference to the ink in which Edun will be coated and, later, drownded.
Backgrounds
Early color and background researches:
The more colored version of the backgrounds I explored in the early stage of research did not suit the overall energy I wanted the movie to have. That's why I opted for a greyscale (more of a blue-grey, really) for the outside, and a desaturated scale of greens for the inside.
I then tried out textures...
The room is full of hints to understand what are each characters' role and the meaning of the movie.
I referenced Greek gods' symbols and attributes: The drawing on the circular window represents Hecate's wheel (deaths, beginnings, changes); On the Shades' chairs, you can find Hypnos' symbols (an upside down torch and an owl; deep sleep, and dreams); On the chair Edun will sit on there's Thanatos' symbols (an upside down torch and a butterfly; death). Several other objects such as the globe, a lyre and the feathers are references to the Muses.
Storyboard
Very early on, I knew I wanted to challenge myself with this project: it translated into planning to have a lot of character and fx animation. I am happy I did not give up on the more difficult shots, as it was good training before facing the actual animation industry !
Below, and to close things up, are some final still frames of the movie:
And thank you, for your time !
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