First, I just thought I’d say, “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY JESUS!

Okay…

THE SIMPSONS NEWS

Started up on show 17 this week.  I was put on Act 3 since it had the most changes. The changes weren’t as crazy as they were in show 16 but, we’ve only got a four day work week, so the pressure is still on.  I’m planning on finishing it this week if I can.

In other news, we got a Christmas present from Matt Groening this week.  It was a copy of SIMPSONS WORLD: THE ULTIMATE EPISODE GUIDE.

It’s cool because I wanted a copy. I don’t own any version of the Episode guides. The sad part is, that it’s already outdated since it only covers seasons 1 -20. Still, it’s awesome. Thank you Matt Groening.

I flipped through it and it’s sad that I don’t remember all the shows I’ve worked on. I look at some and think, “Did I work on that one? Looks familiar.” On the other hand, some of the screen captures in the book are from scenes I drew, which is fun to see.

VIDEO

Director and co-writer of the Mocumentary STORY OF THE MIMERS sent me a link to his movie.  I thought it was great so I’m posting the link here so you can see it too.  It’s a pretty darn funny “Mocumentary” of the best Mime artists of all time:

WRITING

(For those of you coming in late to these posts, if you want to read what my project is about, CLICK HERE to learn about the general world the story takes place in, and CLICK HERE if you want to know the story itself.)

Below is an excerpt of what I wrote the last two weeks, as set up for what I’m writing about THIS week, in case you’re interested in following along with more depth:

Right now, the theory of story that I like to use to flesh out my plot is the DRAMATICA theory.  Unfortunately the DRAMATICA theory is so complicated and convoluted, that I can’t really sum it up in a nut shell. If you want to get an idea of what DRAMATICA is all about, click the link below:

What is DRAMATICA?

In order for you to be able to understand it fully, you would need to download and read the FREE book on pdf. Click the link below:

Free DRAMATICA pdf book

or listen to the FREE audio book podcasts by clicking the link below:

Free DRAMATICA audio book

or read the FREE text of the book directly from  their site by clicking the link below:

The DRAMATICA book readable on the net for free.

As I did the last two weeks, I’ll put up the DRAMATICA Table of Story Elements in order for you to understand what I’m talking about and so you can follow along.   For a clearer pdf version of the chart (download chart now):

Last week I posted up my breakdown of the OVERALL story throughline. This time, I’ll put up my breakdowns for the  MAIN Character story throughline and the IMPACT Character story throughline. Pay really close attention to how the story tends to change, depending on the perspective we are seeing it through. The  OVERALL story throughline is a “birds eye view” of the entire story, while the MAIN Character story throughline is what we would see if we WERE the main character. The  IMPACT Character story throughline is the view we would get if we were following the Impact character around.

Below is the breakdown of the types followed by how I fleshed them out:

MAIN Character story throughline:

• Act 1 – Obtaining
• Act 2 –Gathering information
• Act 3 – Doing
• Act 4 – Understanding

 ACT 1

Signpost #1

Type 1. Obtaining

(Obtaining Definition: Obtaining includes not only that which is possessed but also that which is achieved or lost.  For example, one might obtain a law degree or lose an election.  One can also obtain a condition, such as obtaining a smoothly operating political system or loosing the love of a parent.  Whether it refers to a mental or physical state or process, obtaining describes the concept of attaining.)

• Rob has happily obtained the Hot Dog he’s been wanting for a day and a half. He looks forward to eating in peace and quiet.

Journey #1

Type 1. Obtaining ======> Type 2. Gathering Information

• As he sits down to eat and is confronted by the three Sorcerers. He tries to find out from them, what he could do,  in order to have them give him a few minutes to eat his lunch in peace and quite. When they tell him, he gladly does it.

ACT 2

Signpost #2

Type 2. Gathering Information

(Gathering Information Definition: Gathering Information describes the process of acquiring knowledge.  It is not the knowledge itself.  When a portion of a story focuses on learning, it is the gathering of an education that is of concern, not the education that ultimately has been gathered.  Gathering Information need not be an academic endeavor.  One might learn to express one’s feelings, or learn about love.  Gathering Information does not even require new information, as sometimes one learns simply by looking through old information from a different perspective or with a new approach.  It is not important if one is learning to arrive at a particular understanding or just to gather data.  As long as the focus in on the process of gaining information, Gathering Information is the operative idea.)

• The Sorcerers betray him and attack. The Rob defends himself and his lunch while desperately looking around for a way to escape.

Journey #2

Type 2. Gathering Information ======> Type 3. Doing

• Discovering there’s no way out. He decides the best thing to do is to eat the Hot Dog, right there and then.

ACT 3

Signpost #3

Type 3. Doing

(Doing Definition: Doing is the process of being physically active.  In and of itself, Doing does not require any purpose, but simply describes engaging in a process, task, or endeavor, whether for pleasure or by necessity or compulsion. )

• Unfortunately the Lead Sorcerer destroys his Hot Dog, which forces him to pick up his weapon and fight them off or die.

Journey #3

Type 3. Doing ======> Type 4. Understanding

• After dispatching all the monster and the other Sorcerers, he has the Lead Sorcerer in a weakend and vulnerable state.  Understanding that the only way to show the Sorcerer that he’s mistaken about who he thinks he is. He chooses to let him go free.

CONCLUSION

Signpost #4

Type 4. Understanding

(Understanding Definition: Understanding is different from knowledge.  From knowledge one gets awareness, from Understanding, one gets meaning.  To obtain meaning requires not only knowing the substance of its nature, but the context of its essence.  In other words, one must not only define what something is, but how it fits into the larger picture as well.  To this end, Reason describes the function and Emotion defines the purpose.  So Understanding is not just an intellectual pursuit, but requires an empathy with the meaning as well.  It is useful to note that many Eastern and ancient philosophies define Understanding as “becoming one with” that which is being considered.  Until one joins a subject in unity, one cannot understand it.)

• Rob realizes that it’s possible to change the minds of the Sorcerers and that gives him hope, that the attacks might stop and he’ll get the peace he wants. He also knows that every time he uses the warhammer, it gets more and more difficult to control himself and it.

Alright, now it’s time to do the same with the Impact character:
IMPACT Character story throughline:

• Act 1 – Conceiving an Idea
• Act 2 – Developing a Plan
• Act 3 – Playing a Role
• Act 4 – Changing one’s Nature

ACT 1

Signpost #1

Type 1. Conceiving an Idea

(Conceiving an Idea Definition: Conceiving an Idea is the process of arriving at an idea.  If there were no artificial light in the world, one might conceive the need for some form of electric torch.  That would be conceiving.  But the design of an actual incandescent bulb versus a fluorescent one would require conceptualizing a specific implementation of the idea one has conceived. Conceiving an Idea need not come before conceptualizing.  For example, a common dramatic technique is to give a character a very clear mental image of an object or arrangement that holds the solution to the story’s problem.  But the character does not know the solution lies in the conceptualization.  It is only when she finally conceives of the need for a particular kind of solution does she realize she had the answer all along.  Simply put, Conceiving an Idea defines the question, Developing a Plan clarifies the answer.)

• The Lead Sorcerers tries to convince Rob that Rob is evil. That the Sorcerers are truly the just and justified between the two of them.

Journey #1

Type 1. Conceiving an Idea ======> Type 2. Developing a Plan

• Rob dismisses the idea so the Lead Sorcerer then puts forth that he should let himself be imprisions by the Sorcerers, so that he could be watched and not become what the prophesy says he will.

ACT 2

Signpost #2

Type 2. Developing a Plan

(Developing a Plan Definition: Developing a Plan means coming up with a practical implementation of an idea.  It is not enough to simply have the idea.  To conceptualize, one must develop an actual mental model of how such an idea might be made manifest.  In other words, one might have an idea to build a spacious house.  But to conceptualize the house, one must imagine everything that makes up the house — the design, the layout, the colors & textures, everything that is essential to understanding what that specific house is.  Developing a Plan requires being able to visualize something as a whole.)

• When Rob refuses this plan, the Lead Sorcerer say’s that refusing requires them to kill him, because it’s the only way to be truly safe.

Journey #2

Type 2. Developing a Plan ======> Type 3. Playing a Role

• The Lead Sorcerer then shows that, by not complying with the reasonableness of the plans he proposed that he’s only showing that he’s guilty of treacherous intentions. He is showing his true colors as the world enslaving overlord he will become.

ACT 3

Signpost #3

Type 3. Playing a Role

(Playing a Role Definition: “Playing a Role” is an elusive concept, subject to inconsistent common usage.  For purposes of story, Playing a Role is meant to describe the condition of existing in a certain manner.  Whomever or whatever is “Playing a Role” a particular way is not truly of that nature; to do so would require Changing One’s Nature.  In fact, playing a role may be put on as a deception or because it is necessary to adopt a role in order to achieve one’s purpose.  However, as long as there is nothing more or less to the functioning of a person or thing, it can be said to “be” what it appears to be.  Stories often focus on someone who wants to “be” something, without actually “Changing One’s Nature”.  The important difference is that “Playing a Role” requires that all the elements of what one wants to be are present in oneself.  “Changing One’s Nature” requires that there are no elements in oneself that are not in what one wants to become. )

• Rob begins striking down the Lead Sorcerer’s monsters and friends, making it easy to prove his point. He drives it home by  showing Rob how easily he would strike down a helpless person, by NOT fighting him. Playing the role of victim to Rob’s predator.

Journey #3

Type 3. Playing a Role ======> Type 4. Changing One’s Nature

• Rob shows the Lead Sorcerer that he HADN’T been as consumed  and rage as he let on. Rob surprises the Lead Sorcerer by not attacking him when he has a chance.

CONCLUSION

Signpost #4

Type 4. Changing One’s Nature

(Changing One’s Nature Definition:Changing One’s Nature means achieving an identity with something.  This is different from “Playing a Role” which merely requires posing as something.  To Changing One’s Nature, one must do more than just pretend to be by mimicking all the traits of what one wants to become.  Rather, one must also lose all those parts of oneself that are inconsistent with what one wants to become.  “Giving up” a part of oneself is always the hardest part of becoming and the reason so many characters spend a lot of time “Playing a Role” without ever Changing One’s Nature.)

• The Sorcerer is deeply moved by this example and becomes very impressed.  The Lead Sorcerer, makes a gift of two Hot Dogs for Rob out of respect, leaving Rob with a new perspective about the Sorcerers as a whole.

ART

This week I sketched out more of the warhammer design.  This time, I focused more on the hilt.

I was looking through a book of  weapons and there was a page in it that had combination weapons.    I wondered if perhaps I should make the warhammer a combination weapon also.  Below is an idea I had to have a blade come out of the hammer by pulling it out by the hilt.  Still not sure if I’m gonna go with this idea yet.

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