I started making a short portraying the activation of a fetal worker
from standby and follow his programmed duty to maintain the this
autonomous facility of unknown origin. (this would be discovered during a
much longer film) After making a repair, this unit noticed something in
a reflection.
At this point I have to mention some backstory, most of the feti bred
for the facility have had genetic adjustments to eliminate emotion and
most other functions. The scientist however enhanced the brain to act as
a micro-processor for the machine components to use and make complex
decisions. This being the most effective method of the time period,
before high end computers were being developed. The idea thought up by
the ludicrous scientists put in charge of the program, this facility was
in desperate need to be built to accomplish there aims. Each of them
however had their own ideas and agendas during construction. But neither
disagreed on the sole crucial element; Drone-workers, mindless slaves
that can maintain and monitor one of these vast industrial complexes
while using a minimal amount of power.
So, normally one of these workers wouldn't notice a reflection or
anything close to thought past their protocol, but some feti with
genetic defects slip through the screening process and occasionally one
develops small independent thoughts and emotions. These are called
awakened, they are connected still, but have noticed that they weren't
meant for this life, their deeper natural DNA speaks out and they become
aware of their surroundings.
They have not escaped yet or freed by others, these are called Strays
and they may get a mention later but its not vital to this short.
This main protagonist we follow from being rigged to task now suddenly
finds itself staring deeply into a window reflection, slowly feeling
what he may have become in a another life. From here the story develops
into it finding a smile and not moments after caught out and chased
through to its' inevitable demise.
To get some much in a short space, I may adjust certain timing and
scenes while keeping the focus on the smile and chase beat to demise. I
felt to start with that i could get the quick rig and straight to action
with fades to pass time. Though after the opening scene I found my self
holding parts for longer to emphasize the emptiness and lack of human
interaction. I had made an animatic lasting 4 minutes showing only a
fresh fetus being born, having sockets being implanted and woken up
right at the end. What i'm trying to convey in roughly a minute could be
too much.
After this idea becomes to take hold this animation may have taken on
its initial intention in a better way, enhancing the emptiness with
drawn out dark scenes with low light. I wasn't sure at this point, so
looked for soundtracks, after looking through a few different genres, a
sparse piano piece came up that ties into these ideas. Later I may add a
more progressive sound track building up with each beat. I have looked
into Olafur Arnalds before for inspiration and I love the contrast it
provides, juxtaposing a grim unknown existence to a beautiful violin
solo for example. Or the build up of an underlying orchestral resonance
finally peaking at the moment of hopelessness for our character. This
can be too much though, it could be the off beat that brings the
animation together. A moment of silence upon being backed into the
corner, could bring his situation to life much more.
I still may completely change the sound track though, this works for now until the pre-vis sheds light on other areas.
Once a defective unit is discovered they are quickly captured and
eliminated by the controllers and security units. They are then sent to a
waste disposal area to leave the facility as detritus. This is
sometimes not the end however for a mangled fetus, a more hardy specimen
may survive their capture/screening-process to be picked up by a Stray
Collector on the outside. Then they can be indoctrinated into the ways
of these humble creatures of the outside world. Where the lack of gene
therapy and hormonal treatment
causes them to grow and form mutated/deformed versions of children.
(Slightly resembling the disturbing aftermath of the Chenoble residents)
Still fairly weak yet
supported by mech-suites built form junk, scavenged machine units from
the
facility and other materials that were discarded.
