Zaroff : Concept

The top concept was developed further by looking at screenshots from the 1930’s film and drawing from observation with a fine line pen. The pen is a useful tool in displaying lighting and shadow with cross hatch shading and manages to keep the film noir mood to the piece as wel as suggesting my own cartoony animated style.

Concept ideas: Rainsford

Ive put in a lot of time for research so I think it's about time I get drawing. Just been playing around with styles etc. Here's what I've got:




With these two images I have been experimenting with style of the main character of my piece, Rainsford. The top image is a more toned lifelike drawing from a screenshot of the film and just above is experimenting with fine lie and silhouettes.

Setting

Zaroff's castle – Zaroff's house will be modelled on that of Bran Castle or as it is better known ‘Dracula’s’ castle. In the trailer there will be no shots of the inside of the house. However, one shot will depict fearful positioning on the mountain top as the rain beats down. A wide resource of images are available just from searching ‘bran castle’.

Imagine this: a remote jungle set in a lonely sea. A solitary chateau outfitted with every luxury and inhabited by a charming lunatic.

character profiles

Zaroff is the film version of that familiar figure from Russian literature, the eternally bored aristocrat whose anomie can only be defeated by extreme diversions. In Zaroff's case it turns out that he, a skilled huntsman since boyhood, is only brought to vibrant life by stalking and killing the most dangerous prey -man.

- I think this description I found hits the nail on the head perfectly.





Ivan:

-A gigantic creature, solidly made and black bearded to the waist. – page 15 ivan description.



The Island:

- Isolated Caribbean island
- -Giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide open jaws. – sea
description page 26

Characters : Rainsford

Here I am giving you all this info on what aesthetic I want and all that, and yet I haven't introduced you to all the characters of 'the most dangerous game' yet. Here we go then. The main protagonist: Rainsford

- Old fashioned hunter
- lots of pouches, bags and belts that hold useful tools
- a gentlemen
- smart clothing
- hunting jacket
- maybe a pipe

With fear again gripping his heart, heard the general’s mocking laugh ring through the jungle. – description page 37

Claustrophobic setting behind Rainsford to convey the sense of being trapped in the game.

- powerful Polynesian build, coupled with an agiled grace

The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the full
meaning of terror. – description cat and mouse page 35

Under one he carried khaki hunting clothes, a haversack of food, a leather sheath containing a long bladed hunting knife – description of hunting clothes page 32

Graphic Novel

The Sin City graphic novel is predominately black and white which has influenced me in the production of silhouettes for my characters and how to light the setting of 'film noir' to create that mood with the limited palette.

Watched the film Sin City again to help with my research along with looking into 'the Spirit' graphic novel and feature film. The V for vendetta is another graphic novel which is a little bit special.

Renaissance (2006) and other influences

A mixture between Sin City and the rotoscoping technique used in 'A Scanner Darkly'.

- modern
- limited palette

Range from dark blacks and bright whites with no grey scale in between.

- completely 'colourized' appearance.
- Film Noir




Other stuff I have been looking at include an animated feature titled 'Film Noir' (2007) and also the style used in the computer game adaptation of the graphic novel 'Killer 7'. Think that's enough for now. Soak it all in yeah...