"What if a type of fizzy/energy/alcoholic drink turned anyone that drank it into monsters/creatures that infested the planet?"
Plot Ideas
- 1) After the world has "accidentally" been infected by an up and coming drinks company, a hired 'exterminator team' is needed to sweep through the lands and wipe out the creatures. Perhaps this team works for a rogue organisation (or the leading drinks company) with hidden intentions. As the heroes of the story would soon discover.
- 2) The leading company who created the mystery drink now uses the infected at it's command to dominate and control the planet. In the act of entertainment, the organisation trains its creatures against captured survivors in a tournament, also against rivaling teams in a set of trails. Winners win ultimate fame and 'freedom'. Maybe the only way the hero(s) will discover how to beat these creatures and put an end to the corruption is to enter and compete in the trials.
- 3) Perhaps one of the first cities who received the mystery drink in stores had become infected. Maybe the drink was the companies "experimental" remedy that was "mistakenly" released. They tried to cover up the outbreak on sabotage and are now on the hunt for the criminal(s) (heroes) who so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The hero(s) try to reveal the truth about the company and its hidden intentions.
My favorite is number (3).
Further Development: Culture, Genre & Pipeline?
My world wouldn't include a specific culture from Earth, as this world would feature on another planet where humans had moved to thousands of years ago; changed due to evolution or space travel. Perhaps this could lead to a culture mix. Or there is a completely different race all together?
The genre for my idea could potentially be taken two different ways. The first could be a comedy-action sci-fi spoof. The second idea was about perhaps turning this very funny plot into a more serious scenario - a mixture of action/spy.
The end of the pipeline I want to aim to produce is either a film or game cinematic trailer. Whether this effects the pipeline or not I am unsure, as I would be modelling the characters for animation purposes.
Now to start sketching out my ideas!
Hey Heidi,
ReplyDeleteSorry for getting to this post so late... To be really honest, this just sounds super-generic to me, because once you've got past the 'fizzy drink as catalyst for monsters etc' - you're just in a world we've seen a few times already. It also feels immediately like a world of bipeds in costumes in a sort of dystopian metropolis. The point about asking the 'What If' question is that it should be used to create an original logic that gives rise to lots of original off-shoots - a 'coral reef' of invention should build-up around the original scenario. Right now, your fizzy drink idea is a 'macguffin' - because, let's face it, it could also be a pill that changed everyone, or chip in their heads, or a plague or virus... you've essentially created a 'virus' scenario - hence my suggestion that it is highly generic and not really a 'what if' at all. If this sounds unduly negative, don't be disheartened - I just don't want you putting your energies into something that isn't going to 'break orbit' in terms of the sea of similar work that's out there.
You need a more interesting world, Heidi - if think you need to do something really radical to reboot your thinking; I think you need to look at visual sources that have nothing to do whatsoever with the work you think you want to make because it's making you think less interestingly about the possibilities in terms of story: let's try another approach - I'm going to leave you with a bunch of paintings, and you're going to tell me what's going on in them and who these characters are. Invent their lives.
http://de.wahooart.com/Art.nsf/O/8EWLLE/$File/Max-Ernst-Les-dieux-obscurs.JPG
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/72/2d/56/722d5634ecd238f4f5fa66ccde8dae35.jpg
https://gendermodernism.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/ernst-max-clothing-of-the-bride.jpg
http://greynotgrey.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ernst1.jpg
http://web.ncf.ca/ek867/ernst.blue.jpg
Looking at it now, I really do see what you mean here. The whole 'outbreak' scenario. :s This was the second idea I had. The first being ''What if there was an actual Money tree''. I'm just in/was in a state of mind where I was doubting my own progress with the Tree one. So I will just stick too my original thoughts as it has huge potential. All in all, I do want to create something very different/unique.
DeleteThe paintings you've linked to me are great; lovely styles too. Specially these three:
http://de.wahooart.com/Art.nsf/O/8EWLLE/$File/Max-Ernst-Les-dieux-obscurs.JPG
https://gendermodernism.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/ernst-max-clothing-of-the-bride.jpg
http://web.ncf.ca/ek867/ernst.blue.jpg
The animal I see in all three of these paintings is an Owl. The eyes/faces stand out quite strongly, and it's something I saw straight away which is strangely satisfying. I have built up a large collection of images/paintings and CG worlds as a source of inspiration. Think it's time to look through the hundreds of images I have to get a sense of 'reboot' in my mind and think away from the obvious. Thanks again, Phil. :)
me again - okay, so this owl that you see - tell me something about him... Who or what is it? What else is happening in this image: I know this with some conviction - no where in your thinking have you ever consider an owl as a major character in your scenario - that already sounds like progress to me... Tell me about the owl...
ReplyDeleteOk; so the first image. This Owl looks like he has just found something or is doing something with great significance. A tiny flightless bird; Penguin. Or a young owl. He could be celebrating, acting out a ritual/ spiritual bond or just simply throwing him in the air to fly. This little creature appears to be shimming/glowing.
DeleteThe second image. This Princess Owl is accompanied by her guards and overbearing servants. She is about to walk onto a stage or balcony to greet her people and celebrate her coronation. Wearing her regal, hooded shoulder-covered cloak.
Painting three. It seems like the queen from image 2 could appear to be seen to the left. However, this appears to me as like a nightmare. Perhaps someone who is scared of owls, or this is indeed an owls dream/nightmare. Being smothered by gremlin like creatures pulling out his feathers. Or perhaps loosing his sight. Or the fear of death/being prayed on with lots of staring eyes in the darkness.
I definitely feel like this owl creature could tie in with the money tree idea. If so, the first painting fits the story idea I had originally. A creature who finds another, etc. However these paintings have new and exciting ideas within them too.
Hey Heidi, I just want to make the point that what I was doing with these images was simply making you react to sources outside of the preferred genres in your head. There was no suggestion that you have to have an owl character in your project, but rather that suddenly you were thinking about owls, which you couldn't have predicted. Above, you're struggling - unnecessarily - to make this owl idea fit with your old idea. My point is you need to have more ideas, and look at surprising and unpredictable sources of inspiration...
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile... you have your mentor-ee: go be a force for good!
Eleanor @ http://espence-animation.blogspot.co.uk