Scene Layouts, Character Layouts, and Floor Plans

Layout Assingnment Part 1:

Layout Assignment Part 2:

Assignment #5: Story Assignment

“The Cat and Mack”

The story begins in 1930s Chicago, a gray city with factories, apartment buildings, and dirty streets. Inside one of the factories, we see a man at work, welding piping with a mask over his face. He finishes his job, takes off his mask and wipes his forehead, then turns to a man standing behind him, who hands him a few dollars. The man walks away, and the worker, Mack, counts the few bills with a frown on his face. Finished working for the day, he walks home along the sidewalk, stopping at one point to look in a store window at a fancy display of gourmet cakes. Mack stops to looks at the food, licks his lips, but the turns away and walks dejectedly back down the street. He then waits in a breadline for a charity loaf of bread, then walks home with it under his arm, looking as miserable as he was before. He reaches his apartment and sets his things on the table, then looks through his cupboards, which are almost empty, for something to eat. Picking up a can of tuna and popping it open, he takes the tuna and bread outside to a fire escape beside his window. He eats his meal in silence, looking very depressed, when something draws his attention and he looks down to see a cat sitting beside him on the fire escape. The cat keeps staring at him, walking in circles and meowing for food, and even though he keeps it away at first, after a moment his expression softens and he hands the near empty can to the cat, who eats it happily. Mack heads back inside, and is soon followed by the cat. He tries to shoo it away, but it ignores him and curls up on his armchair and falls asleep. Looking confused and a little frazzled, Mack just shrugs and heads off to bed himself.

The next morning the cat wakes him up by walking all over him and begging for food again, and he very groggily gets up to start his day. We see bits and pieces of his day, the same as it was yesterday, with him working, getting paid meager wages, waiting for food and heading home, only this time when he arrives home, the cat is already there and is tearing holes into his armchair to make itself comfortable. Mack panics and shoos the cat off the chair and out the window, and then sits down to work on bills and job applications. He’s looking very stressed with his head in his hands, when suddenly a dead mouse is dropped beside him on the table, and he looks to see the cat sitting proudly, nudging the prize toward him as an offering. Mack gives the cat a very confused look, pokes at the mouse with his pen, then realizes what the cat is trying to do and reaches over the pet it. The cat is happy with the affection and comes closer to lie down on Mack’s paperwork, curling into a ball and falling asleep. Not quite knowing what else to do, Mack simply sighs and heads off to bed. The next morning he wakes up to the cat lying almost on his face, and finds that he overslept. He rushes off to work, and after doing his job and getting paid, prepares to leave. However, once he steps outside, he sees the cat waiting outside the factory. Confused, he begins to walk home, and the cat follows, though every time he stops to look back at it, the cat stops as well, cleaning itself and feigning innocence. They have fallen into a routine now, with Mack feeding the cat as they sit on the fire escape, Mack working on paperwork while the cat tries to lie on the papers (and Mack tries to move him), and Mack settling into bed, this time with the cat curled up next to him. Mack’s behavior starts to change, and he pets the cat lovingly, a small smile on his face for the first time.

The next morning however, the cat is nowhere to be seen. Mack is confused by this, but gets ready for the day and heads off to work. At work he’s distracted wondering about the cat, forgetting to count his money before he heads out and not stopping to look in the cake-shop window. Upon arriving home, he gets out the tuna as usual and eats on the fire escape, hoping to draw the cat back, but he never shows. As Mack goes about his evening of working on paperwork, he looks just as depressed as he was at the beginning, going through his work slowly and doing things that remind him of the cat, like setting aside a pile of papers for the cat to lie on and leaving extra room on the bed for the cat. The next day the cat still hasn’t shown up, and Mack starts to act differently. He applies for a new job, and on his way home from work, stops outside the cake shop, pulls out some change, and with a determined look goes in to buy a small piece of cake. Back home, eating his treat out on the fire escape, he looks a little more lively than he did before, having broken his routine and done something unexpected. He looks out over the city, still a little sad, and sighs before looking up at the stars. He smiles at the simple but beautiful sight, and suddenly is distracted by something sitting on the rail beside him. He looks to see that the cat has returned (and has started eating his cake), and he smiles widely as he picks up the cat, who rubs against him affectionately. Holding the cat in a little ball in his arms, they both look happily up at the stars.

Assignment #4: Character Design Part 2

Cleaned up Character Turnaround

Cleaned up Character Pose

Assignment #4: Character Design, Part One

Character Name: Mack

Character Turnaround:

Character Construction Breakdown:

Character Expressions and Poses:

Assignment #2: Character Development

Physical Attributes:

- Name: Mack McCarthy

• medium height
• stocky build: not fat, just bigger (more contrast with the small, lithe cat)
• 30 years old (not too old or experienced, but out of school and solidly part of the ‘real world’)
• dark hair and dark eyes (probably dark brown, almost black for hair)
• harsh face; square jaw, heavy brows, looks kind of scary, imposing, but not mean
• doesn’t scowl or look angry, just depressed/down basically
• wears a tattered businessman suit, loosened tie and top button undone
• does factory work and wears jumpsuits when working
• has to wear the business attire when job-hunting but doesn’t like it (doesn’t like the life that comes with it)
• wears a fedora-like hat
• when he does smile, he smiles really wide and sincerely (doesn’t smile often though)
• little bit unshaven (5 o’clock shadow)
• doesn’t carry a bag or briefcase or anything - just a wallet in his coat
• when at home, he wears a white undershirt and his slacks (doesn’t have much else to his wardrobe)
• diet of canned foods: beans, tuna, sardines, spinach, etc.; also bread, crackers
• health: healthy, doesn’t get sick often, robust; does a lot of manual labor so he has to stay in shape; is strong

2. Backstory

• occupation: does a lot of things, mainly factory work (like welding, plumbing, that kind of stuff)
• whatever he can find
• income: workman’s wages (hourly, varies depending on what work he can find)
• home: small apartment in a busy but rundown neighborhood
• lots of neighbors, but not really close
• he always gets home late because he’s working so he doesn’t interact with the others much
• apartment is pretty bare and a little unkempt; he’s not in it often because he’s out working/looking for work
• almost empty pantry
• lives off canned food
• ends up sharing things like canned sardines with the cat
• Parents live far away (other state?)
• they’re elderly and can’t take care of him
• has a younger sister who takes care of them (lives with them)
• sends some money when he can back to them even though he can’t really afford to spare it
• close to his family but is also independent
• determined to ‘be a man’ and make his own way
• they also don’t have the means to help him/support him either
• Proud; has a hard time accepting help
• introverted; prefers to be on his own
• doesn’t like being lonely though
• likes limited companionship
• unmarried, never been married
• no children
• not dating (too busy with finding work to support him and parents)
• would probably like a family if he felt he had the means to support them
• Went to college (smart) got a degree in engineering (or the era’s equivalent)
• had high hopes for work after that, got a good engineering job right out of college - then the depression hit and he lost his job, and he had to take up more manual labor; can’t bring himself to leave the city where he had his big break and had success before
• his business suit is a remnant from that time when he was doing well (hasn’t been able to buy a new one in years)
• lives by fairly strict routine; very organized by necessity
• is forced to break his routine with the addition of the cat, and finds that it’s actually a welcome blessing (like occasional spontaneity)
• doesn’t like structure but is forced to live in a structured manner in a structured society; he’d forgotten what it’s like to not live like that until the cat
• lives in New York but not in the main city
• family lives in more rural east (south-east?)
• his world (psychologically as well as visually for story’s sake) is very monochrome, dismal, gray, etc., so the orange cat seems very garish and loud at first in comparison
• his first reaction is that it’s too bright and doesn’t belong
• eventually realizes that it’s the rest of his world that’s too colorless
• kind-hearted; wants to take care of others
• when he first meets the cat it’s watching him eat; he can tell it’s hungry (very thin) and shares some of his food he just bought with his meager funds (may have been treating himself but ended up sharing his treat) - the cat follows him home after this
• he’s not cut-throat enough to really make it in the big city; he’s honest and selfless, but it often works out negatively for him/ he’s taken advantage of

Aspirations:

• to live comfortably with his family in a furnished home
• to have a family of his own

Fears:

• his family suffering
• him not being able to provide for them
• being forgotten

Idiosyncrasies:

• always checking his watch (anxious and very time-oriented)

3. Character Narrative:

Mack jiggled the door handle once more, just to check for certain. He sighed heavily as it refused to turn, but honestly, he hadn’t expected it would. He looked around to see his meager belongings piled in the apartment hallway beside him, stacked with surprising care considering what must have been a hasty removal. The landlord had warned him this would happen if he missed another month’s rent. There was nothing he could do though; with his small pocketful of earnings, he barely had enough to pay for food. He hadn’t even made enough this time to send some back to mom and pop. Turning his back against the wall, Mack slumped to the floor, all his energy spent from a long day of back-breaking labor and never-ending worry. It was all too much - he didn’t have time to worry about finding a new place to live right now, not when he had another work shift starting in a few hours and he could barely keep awake. What he wouldn’t give now to be back in his room, kick off his shoes, and let his eyes close for at least a few moments before he was thrown back into the ugly gray fray of the real world.

A sound beside him on the floor drew his attention, and he looked to see that old orange cat sitting calmly, staring up at him expectantly. He could feel irritation rising in him at the sight of its carefree face, and shifted around so his back was to it. The cat almost gaudy orange cat was in no mood to leave though, and made its presence known with a loud, grating meow. Mack peered over his shoulder at it; it rocked slightly as it made itself more comfortable on the concrete floor of the landing, but otherwise didn’t move.

“What do you want from me?” Mack said gruffly, “I don’t have a home for you to crash in anymore. Go bother some other chump, will ya?” The cat meowed again in response, its expectant face not changing in the slightest. Nearing his wits end, Mack turned to face the cat again, ready to pick it up by the scruff and carry it outside if needs be, but as he turned the cat rose from its spot and walked briskly toward him. Nudging his knee with its head, the bright orange cat paced in circles in front of him, meowing and looking up at him every now and then impatiently. Mack watched the little show with steely eyes, but after a moment his expression softened, and with an annoyed huff he reached behind him to his metal lunch carrier and pulled out the remains of his sardine can. Presenting it to his feline companion, he felt a small smile light his face as the cat attacked the near empty tin with gusto.

“Guess you and me are in the same boat now, eh cat?” He said dourly, and the cat responded with a happy twitch of his tail. “I suppose we could camp out on the roof tonight.” he said thoughtfully, glancing up as though he could see onto the flat roof of the building, “There’s not much in the way of cover up there, but the stars are real nice.” The cat looked up at him from the now clean container, meowing in agreement with the suggestion. Mack smiled again, and this time it was wide and genuine. He stood then, and began to gather his belongings off the floor and into his arms, choosing not to dwell on the fact that he could gather them all in one trip. Starting off towards the stairwell with the orange cat trotting happily behind, Mack said over his shoulder “Watch my stuff for me while I’m at work, will ya? And why not try hunting for a change? I’m sure there are plenty of pigeons up there for you to eat; I’m almost out of sardines!”

Concept Exploration: "Staircases"

Tagline: An old woman witnesses the ups and downs of life on her daily walks up and down the stairs of her apartment building.

Assignment 1: Short Film Concepts

Short Film Concept #1:
An old woman lives on the top floor of a soviet apartment building with no elevator, and every day must make the long trek up and down six flights of concrete stairs

Short Film Concept #2:
A man in 1930's Chicago is down on his luck during the Depression, but his dull life becomes a little brighter with the addition of a fluffy orange cat

Short Film Concept #3:

Once the janitor locks up the art gallery for the night, the paintings and sculptures are free to do what they want

Short Film Concept #4:
A mythical, shape-shifting spirit protects, plays with, and learns from the wild animals living in her rain-forest

Short Film Concept #5:
Two cowboys face off in an old-West showdown, but their showdown is shut down when both guns refuse to fire