Rot
the narrative
Horror accompanies a red fungus that plagues the town of a young blacksmith, Rodrick. Victims of the plague are burned, lest they rise at night and wander into the forest. The population dwindles as the blight gains a tighter grip on the town. Pressed for answers, the Prince of the kingdom gathers a militia to put an end to the epidemic.
pROCESS
Project:
Team Size:
Software:
Workflow:
3D Short Film
Solo Project
Photoshop
Research > Story Development > Sketch > Reassess > Refine
Environment
The story takes place in a medieval Germanic town surrounded by dense forest. Most of the forest is filled with the standard flora for that region but as the characters delve deeper, the landscape grows stranger. While developing my environment, I aimed to show the gradual shift in plant life that can be seen in the story.
Silhouettes and thumbnails of the environment
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
Technical drawings
Planning for production, I created orthographic and isometric views for two of the major scenes in the narrative. The first being Rodrick's home and the second being the strange forest that claims the deceased.
Rodrick's home, though small, is well equipped and well kept. After losing his father to the plague, he is left alone to continue his family business. His days are spent working so there isn't much to maintain when he arrives home. His living space, was designed with his minimalistic lifestyle in mind. The orthographic gives the next stage of artists all the information needed to convey this narrative when fabricating the set.
Orthographic view and isometric rendering of Rodrick's home
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
The strange forest that houses the source of the plague is a labyrinth of gnarled branches and fog. The characters follow the increasingly foreign plants to a monumental dead tree, resting by a stream. These technical drawings are meant to give a sense of scale and give a clear view of the set layout.
Orthographic view and isometric rendering of the strange forest
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
Renders
Additionally I rendered a few more scenes from the story to establish the visual mood. Times are bleak and the characters need help from the visual story telling to get this point across.
This is the entrance of the giant tree. At the base of the trunk is a deep burrow that's been packed down by repeated traffic. Twisting roots cover the mouth and an intense red light radiates from deep within.
Rendering of the tree entrance
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
Rodrick's town was once a bustling center for trade and commerce but now lays quiet. Merchants, craftsmen, farmers and the like have all either fallen victim to the plague or do their best to hide away from it.
Rendering of Rodrick's town
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
Characters
The two protagonists in this story are Rodrick and Prince Gunter. Though they come from different worlds, they both recognize the immediate threat at their door. Prince Gunter, going against his fathers judgement tries to aid the soon to be desolate town. The locals holds resentment towards the crown from its lack of action but Rodrick sees Prince Gunter's actions as a shift in character.
Rodrick
Rodrick's lifetime of work and dedication to his craft has granted him weapon knowledge and a strong physique. The plague has taken nearly everything from him and feels hopeless. Upon Prince Gunter's arrival, Rodrick displays his own grievances towards the crown. However, with his own motives of getting closure and putting an end to his town's suffering, he joins Gunter.
Poses, expressions, turnaround, and rendering of Rodrick
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
Prince Gunter
Prince Gunter is the fourth of the King's sons. His father's dismissive attitude towards Gunter has always led him to rash, often reckless, decisions. Seeing the King's similar attitude toward smaller settlements, Prince Gunter gained a soft spot for the forgotten and discarded subjects in the kingdom. Upon hearing the news of an unchecked outbreak in one of the towns, Prince Gunter brings a small company of thirty soldiers and supplies to aid the town.
Poses, expressions, turnaround, and rendering of Prince Gunter
Tools used: Photoshop (Drawing Tablet)
