Think.Alexetism » thesis

Fall 07 – Character Design – Bar Background

alexetism — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:36:52 +0000

After being under the guidance of Sherrie Sinclair, brilliant animator from the Renaissance period at Disney, I have been able to establish a look and palette for my upcoming animated series, Mantis In Pantis. This image presents a very sexy Charona mixing a martini for whoever she’ll be dating/f*cking/killing next.

Completely done in Flash. Some elements come from photographs, and are altered to fit the environment.

Heads up,
-Alex

Want a martini? Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

Fall 06 – Interactive Concepts – Mantis Animated TV Series Proposal

alexetism — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:57:24 +0000

So, after developing many animated characters (for my “hit” TV series Mantis In Pantis) under Sherrie Sinclair’s guidance, and developed the angle of the series through the guidance of Bill George, the product is a proposal meant to accompany my tv series pitch. This proposal includes the updated pilot, plus never-before-seen character design.

This proposal doesn’t include the 13 episode Bible. But it is something I’m working on right now, and I’ll be updating as soon as I have something more solid to share with you. Oh, yes, the 13 episode Bible is the document that includes an outline of the episodes that follow your pilot. Producers and agents use this to make sure that your series has a future after your hit pilot.

-Alex

Fall 07 – Character Design – Sketching Walrusky Jr.

alexetism — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:07:09 +0000

After playing around with Sphincter, and being more content with the direction that character is going, I thought or exploring one of the characters with the most potential, Jr. This gal, is Mr. Walrusky’s son and ally to the mantis (despite his Dad being such a villian). At first I thought of making him less of an action hero. Now he’s a drag dressed to kill, literally.

Here are some sketches in which I attempt to stylize what originally was too much of a complex body. Meaning, he had too many muscles (lines and details), and not enough “style.” The challenge for this character has been to show how buff he is, yet show this my throwing simple lines. Also, how do you show a character is a man in drag, when everyday men are fooled by drag queens who have real-life Adam’s apples. It just seems like I need to make it obvious, but not overly obvious. I’m quite happy where things are going with Jr… specially with the upper left style in drawing 2.

-Alex

Fall 07 – Character Design – Mantis Manor drafts

alexetism — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:22:06 +0000

I wish to make the Mantis House a mix of Shag’s 60s bachelor pads, and outrageous kitsch objects. The campier I can get, the better. I want beauty and outrageousness working in perfect harmony. I’m using mixed media in these designs: Some objects are meant to be displayed as vector graphics, while others are meant to be displayed as photographs.

-Alex

Fall 07 – Character Design – List of Needed Objects

alexetism — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:30:43 +0000

Now, as you’ve seen before in my Summer 07 Usability entry, I’m building different environments that will be displayed in the series, and in the Mantis website.

Now here is more of a cohesive list of the recent objects I’ve added to my virtual world.

This first one is filled with objects found in Sphincter’s house right after the Mantis take over. As you see, these designs are highly influenced by Shag’s Conspicuous Consumption Collection. There are European objects, with 60s “sleek” objects, and Asian tokens.

This second one was an exploration of the different weapons that can be used in the show. I’m quite into the ones that are not real weapons… specially the ones that make reference to all things castrating. Like the nutcrackers. Other interesting objects are chopsticks, that could be used as secret microphones.

This third one is an exploration of things to be found at Madam Rosa’s Tarot Institute. From all things pagan, to popular objects. My favorite object is The Ouija Board Eye Exam… it starts out readable, eventually the fine print gets ridiculously absurd. C’mon, who wouldn’t want to be tested by an out-of-this-world consultant.

-Alex

Fall 07 – Character Design – The Different Faces of Sphincter

alexetism — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 08:46:09 +0000

After being satisfied enough with the Mantis hot bodies (Coco ended up being more flat, while Brenny and Charona are more “round-figured”), it is time to move on to the many faces of Sphincter. As many of you know, he’s one of the funniest characters in the pilot, because it is up to him to deliver the most outrageous lines in each scene.

The following is a design exploration on who can he end up being.

This first one I really like. He has that weird mix of Freud meets Mr. Miyagi… which is why I like him a lot. He’s one of those first character I decided to actually go for the “slanted” eyes approach, rather than the dots I had originally thought of.

While the first page has more of a facial variety, the second page explores Sphincter’s possible posture. My first take on him was of a hunched old man… a decrepit monk (similar to Master Splinter)… and even though you might see him here looking more “alive,” this approach is already being rejected as I think it.

The last one, I was just doing a free-style exploration on things that don’t really make sense. I got tired of drawing rats and mutated animals with 3 legs came to be. Personally, this exploration I find to be more hillarious, but really… what am I going to do with a rat’s head on the body of a sea horse snake.

Soon enough, you’ll be seeing a flash version of these drafts. Let me know what ya think.

-Alex

Fall 07 – Identity Developement – Mantis in Pantis Promo

alexetism — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:31:06 +0000

Heads up! The girls are at it, yet again… this time at the supermarket. They cannot keep their claws to themselves… nor their starving fangs off men’s necks.

Alex says:

I had a lot of fun creating this promo for my tv series, Mantis In Pantis, which is still on its early production stages. Read the pilot here, and tell me what you think.

Who the f*ck are the mantis?

The Mantis are crime fighting super heroes that live in Silicon City (known by many as the â€œnewâ€ New York), the most rotten place in America. They handle criminals that regular government officials cannot manage. Once upon a time they were regular insects, but because of a tragic prescription pills accident, the mantis became as big and as smart as humans. Watch them date, watch them go through therapy, watch them fight, and most importantly, watch them flaunt those tight little… claws.

-Alex
think.alexetism.com

Fall 07 – Identity Developement – First Animatics

alexetism — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:09:32 +0000

So, I spent an entire week sick (the flu is really hitting everyone), and I have turned into a vessel for Vitamin C. Still, the work hasn’t stopped… and as you know, I’m taking two Directed Studies this semester, one will Bill George, the other with Sherry Sinclair. Both asked me for similar things after reading my pilot. Sherry asked for thumbnails; Bill asked for Audio… so, I put the two together into an animatics sketch.

This scene takes place after Sphincter saves Charona from dying in the electric chair (you guessed it, this all happened in Texas). Yes, she was getting executed because she’s the type of woman who eats her mates’ heads after she “does” them. But, as explained in the soon to be released opening song for the series… Charona didn’t mean to kill the motha fuckas’…

Btw… the dialog is getting changed… and No, I’m not playing the voice of Charona’s Mom (Angelina Jolie)… someone who can fake an accent will.

Enjoy,
-Alex

Fall 07 – Identity Developement – Mantis in Pantis Pilot

alexetism — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:12:07 +0000

If you prefer to download it, click here to get the Mantis in Pantis pilot.

MANTIS IN PANTIS PILOT â€“ ALEX

INT / NITE – SUBURBAN HOME

A suburban home is starting to steam up with all the hot action that’s happening between a mantis and a boy. They put their hands together (well, hands and claws) and begin exchanging energy.

CHARONA
That feels really funny.

BOY
It’s nice, eh?

Charona nods as the boy begins to ramble.

BOY
Charona, you and I share something special. Don’t you agree? You are a very sweet girl. And how do I say this… I want to fuck your brains out.

CHARONA
(with a surprised face)Chris… (a moment of uncertainty that soon fades into excitement) I thought you’d never ask!!

The adolescents who are clearly in love begin to kiss.

CHARONA
(referring to the bulk in his pants) I can help you with that.

As Charona’s claws find their way down the boy’s pants, he gets scared.

BOY
(removes the claws) No. It’s alright. I got it!

Boy unzips. And the next clip we see is a zoom out of a hot dog entering Charona’s mouth. It is also being eaten by the boy through the opposite end. They kiss “lady-and-the-tramp” style.

BOY
Ok, enough with this sickening and unrelated reference to Disney that’s filled with amusing yet strong sexual connotations.

They jump at each other. And a lot of “sounds” can be heard that refer to sex. Until you hear the sound of a blade chopping something. The mother enters the room.

MOTHER
What is going on here?

She finds Charona in a corner devouring the boy’s head. AHHHH!!

[INSERT OPENING SEQUENCE HERE]

[RETURN TO SHOW]

INT / DAY – PRISON CELL

As Charona rots in jail for having beheaded an innocent boy, she gets approached by a jail SUPERVISOR, and by a regular GUARD.

SUPERVISOR
I’m happy to say we are going to release you… for good behavior.

CHARONA
Really?

SUPERVISOR
Yeah, well… and also because we ran out of space in jail. Black people and terrorists keep filling it up (says this last part really fast). Well, best of luck. (walks away)

The cell gets opened. Guard and Charona start walking down the hallway.

GUARD
So, I was thinking maybe now that we wont have our hands tied by our guard/prisoner relationship, we could get to know each other better.

CHARONA
Don’t you think it is still unethical and inappropriate?

GUARD
Only if we were running for Congress. Besides, who says anything about a relationship?

CHARONA
Hmmm, ok. But only once. And thinking about it, we could still run for Congress, for the Democrats.

The guard opens an empty cell and starts to touch Charona; she pulls back and says…

CHARONA
No kissing.

They proceed with their erotic activity…. and she sees his neck and feels so tempted. She starts thinking “happy thoughts” about flowers, only to find them mowed. Then her mind proceeds to thoughts of cake, only to find it cut by a giant knife. They complete the act and she didn’t kill him.

GUARD
God, you have the sweetest pussy I ever had… aside from Kathy Griffin’s.

CHARONA
It was good for me too. I’m just glad I didn’t kill you.

GUARD
(as he puts a cigarette into his mouth) Ya got any matches?

Charona extends her claw with the match, as she lits the cigarette, she beheads the guard. The Supervisor can be seen from behind the bars, and he tears the document that stated Charona’s freedom.

SUPERVISOR
Now, not even Jodie Foster can help you.

INT / DAY – EXECUTION ROOM

As ChARONA sits in the electric chair, there’s a lot of conmotion. Someone is shouting “Get your execution season tickets now! Get them now before they run out!”

EXECUTIONER
Any last wishes?

CHARONA
Yes, I wish I had never killed that girl while I was DUI. (Cries)

EXECUTIONER
But you never killed a girl while you were driving.

CHARONA
(Shouts and cries) Then WHY AM I here??? (Cries)

Before the executioner pulls the lever, SPHINCTER, a mysterious rat enters the room abruptly.

SPHINCTER
Not so fast! Last time we checked we were not in Texas!

OIL MILLIONAIRE appears wearing his cowboy hat and boots.

OIL MILLIONAIRE
Yes, we are. I bought all of you yesterday.

SPHINCTER
Be that as it may, you can’t keep her here because… (dramatic music plays) I’m taking full custody over her.

EXECUTIONER
And what makes you think we’ll listen to you?

SPHINCTER
Would you listen to this? (anti-climatically starts looking through his papers and mutters) ‘Online petition for a kidney transplant for little Amelia’… no. ‘Online petition to bring Xena warrior princess back’… no. Aha, here! (extends out a paper) ‘Online petition to save Charona from dying a horrible horrible death at the Electric Chair!’

SPHINCTER
So you see, thanks to this, the Governor just granted her a pardon.

EXECUTIONER
(as he lets go off the lever, with a tear in his eye) He never granted ME a pardon.

Sphincter looks confused. The Executioner continues quite sentimentally…

EXECUTIONER
I broke expensive china at his house-warming party, and even though he said it was ok, I know he still resents me.

Staff members let go off CHARONA. She gets out of her electric chair.

CHARONA
Does this mean I’m free?

Quickly a soldier puts a cone on her head, and get their picture taken with her like they do with prisoners of wars in the Middle East.

SOLDIER
(as the soldier takes off the cone) NOW you can go.

INT / DAY â€“ SPHINCTER’S HOUSE

CHARONA
(as she stuffs fruit and other food into her pockets) Well, thanks for all your help, but I better get going.

SPHINCTER
You aren’t going anywhere, Charona, you are the â€œchosâ€ one.

CHARONA
The â€œchosâ€ one?

SPHINCTER
Chosen. Chosen. I meant chosen.

CHARONA
Ahhh, you mean the CHOSEN one.

SPHINCTER
Yes, well, at least one out of three. And I, SPHINCTER SENSEI, have officially adopted you.

CHARONA
Adopt me? Listen, you are a little crazy, I already have a Mother who I love very much, and I’ll call her right now to straighten everything up.

Charona makes a phone call, phone rings for a longer time than expected. Angelina Jolie picks up.

ANGELINA JOLIE
Angelina Jolieâ€™s House of Orphans.

CHARONA
Mom?

ANGELINA JOLIE
Who is this?

CHARONA
Mom, it is me, Charona. I got out of jail. Can you pick me up? I’m at some weirdo’s house.

ANGELINA JOLIE
What? Who is it again?

CHARONA
No, it is your adopted child number 28.9, CHARONA… the green one.

ANGELINA JOLIE
Me? Adopting you. I don’t quite recall.

CHARONA
Mom… don’t joke like that.

ANGELINA JOLIE
Listen CHAMIKUA… or whatever you call yourself, if I were to keep up with all the children I adopt, I would be an excelent parent. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have children to save.

Angelina hangs up the phone. Charona is devastated; she looks at SPHINCTER, and says.

CHARONA
The chosen one, you say…

SPHINCTER
Yes, but before you become the chosen one, you need to go on a quest for knowledge. (as he puts a post-it on her forehead)

CHARONA
(grabs the post-it, and it opens into a ridiculously long list. Starts to read) This is a chores/To-Do List!

SPHINCTER
The quest for knowledge, is a quest for action, and you are only going to learn what to do, by not doing what not-to-do. (as he hands her a mop)

CHARONA
Whatâ€™s that supposed to mean??

EXT / DAY – GARDEN

Charona is washing the car that’s outside of the house. She notices the presence of another mantis, one not too different from her, only dressed in punk rock clothes. Her name is BRENNY, and she’s clipping the garden flowers with her sharp claws. Charona waves at her, but Brenny doesn’t wave back. She continues clipping uninterested until she finally says.

BRENNY
He’s got you doing his slave labor too, eh?

CHARONA
Well, apparently I’m not the only one. Name is Charona.

BRENNY
I know who you are. You’ve been all over the news thanks to Crocker’s video.

Sphincter spies on them through the window, and writes down ferociously, when he notices that they notice, he quickly closes the curtain.

CHARONA
Sphincter’s a little looney, isn’t he?

BRENNY
Not as looney is him.

She points at Bugs Bunny dressed as a cross-dresser, standing on the street as if he was prostituting himself. A car stops in front of him, and half the window opens. Bugs says, “Eh, whassup, doc?” The voice inside sounds like Elmer’s, and says, “What’s up, eh? hehehe… why don’t you find out?”

BRENNY
I just finished fixing the rose garden, what ya think?

The rose garden looks like shit, and dramatic music accentuates it.

CHARONA
(unsure what to say, but being graceful) It looks lovely.

INT / DAY – BATHROOM FLOOR

As Brennny and Charona scrub the bathroom.

So, do you have my same problem? (pause) That uncontrollable urge to kill everyone you fuck?

BRENNY
You mean, am I a rapist/serial killer like you?

Charona looks down embarrassed.

BRENNY
Yes, I am. We are mantis you know. It is is in our genetic code… we must kill who we fuck. Which, believe it or not, men just love.

CHARONA
You think? (kinda weirded out yet excited)

BRENNY
Oh yeah, that are nasty mother fuckers.

FX: toilet flush.

CUT TO:

Brenny and Charona a eating menâ€™s heads after an orgy in some sort of club.

BRENNY
(with her mouth full) But anyway, we don’t have to worry about killing our lovers much longer, because Sphincter is going to cure us.

CHARONA
(chuckles, and wipes off the blood on her lips) That senile old man? How?

BRENNY
The only way we can be cured, regardless of what Tom Cruise says, through psychotherapy.

CHARONA
Ewww, do you wanna eat the Adamâ€™s apple?

BRENNY
(as she takes it) Thatâ€™s the best part.

CUT TO:

Charona and Brenny are standing in a corner, looking extremely suspicious, with an â€œice creamâ€ truck next to them. They seem to be waiting for someone, as if they were drug dealers.

BRENNY
Sphincter wants to make super heroes out of usâ€¦ and treat us all at once. (pause) Can you keep a secret?

CHARONA
Of course, you can trust me. Iâ€™m your home girl.

BRENNY
Yeah, well, anyway. I sometimes get the feeling heâ€™s also also making a reality tv show of usâ€¦ with hidden cameras everywhereâ€¦ like Frank Chuâ€™s 12 Galaxies. (very fast and looking to the side) Donâ€™t tell him I told you.

CHARONA
Shhh. Here they come.

A group of very obvious terrorists wearing â€œcostumesâ€ approach the mantis.

TERRORIST
Youâ€™ve got the package?

CHARONA
It is all in the truck.

The terrorists open the back of the truck, and it is filled with weapons of mass destruction. They look at each other and nod.

INT / DAY â€“ Sphincterâ€™s living room.

Sphincter is meditating in his living room, as the mantises interrupt.

BRENNY
Ok, Sphincter, weâ€™ve done everything you asked for in your â€œQuest for knowledgeâ€ list. Whatâ€™s the next step.

SPHINCTER
The next step, is to complete the team. We must search inside the holy bookâ€¦ the YELLOW book.

BRENNY
Look, if you are looking for a third girl, Iâ€™m tellinâ€™ you now she wonâ€™t be listed in that yellow book of yours.

SPHINCTER
Silence! Do not contradict me.

Thereâ€™s a pause. Brenny and Charona look at each other arching their eyebrows.

SPHINCTER
(giving up) Ok. What do you suggest?

CHARONA
Easy, we’ll put an ad on Craigslist.

CUT TO:
Brennny is sitting in front of the computer. She goes through all these ridiculous webcam replies. I want them to be a montage of ridiculousness; everything from famous characters, to crappy cartoons, to real people. I want one of Buffy The Vampire Slayer saying, “I think I should be the one because, lets just say I’m not a stranger to the super-hero business.” Then there’s an Ursula shaking her tentacles.

SPHINCTER (Off Screen)
Ohh, I like that one.

Sphincter has a perverted face on. Brenny looks at him with disgust.

SPHINCTER
What? It is important for your teammate to be sexy. I mean, if she’s going to be a woman, she has to be sexy… otherwise, why would we let women join the workforce?

Brenny is about to kick his ass, Charona stops her by putting a claw on her shoulder.

CHARONA
Lets just continue looking through our replies. How about this one?

Brenny clicks, and we see a video that parodies Legally Blonde’s admission video. COCO, a bleached blonde mantis is floating in a pool with monkey servants around her performing all sorts of servant acts.

COCO
I would love to be a super hero mantis because I’m looking forward to network with all sorts of people, even poor ones! My Dad, Mr. Lionel Ritchie himself (who is known for his generous contributions to non-profits) is quite happy I’m finally gaining direction in life… unlike my sister. (Gets sad) May she rest in peace.

End of transmission. Brenny and Charona just blink in silence. (I want the “blink” sound effect though)

CHARONA
(as she looks at Brenny) Well, it is going to be a difficult choice. But at least one thing is for sure, it will be ANYONE but that last one, that slut Coco.

SPHINCTER
And that’s exactly who we are to get.

An invitation to webcam blinks in the screen, COCO is online. Sphincter pushes Brenny out of the computer and accepts the invitation.

SPHINCTER
Well, hello Ms. Ritchie.

COCO
Hello, bad looking creature. So glad to see you all online!

Brenny and Charona pull Sphincter.

BRENNY
In the kitchen… now!

INT / DAY – KITCHEN

Brenny and Charona drag Sphincter into the kitchen. They let go of him.

BRENNY/CHARONA

We don’t like her. She’s a stuck-up snob!

SPHINCTER
Well, I don’t care. Because my plan was to use the super hero business to fund my psychology business, but I need Coco’s Dad as an investor for my super hero business first, or else there’s just no business!

CHARONA
Wait a minute. That sounds dumb. Why don’t you use Coco’s Dad to invest on your psychology business instead. You would skip (counts with her fingers quickly) 2 unnecessary businesses.

SPHINCTER
(shouting upset) Because then we would have no show!

Sphincter storms out of the kitchen upset.

BRENNY
You do realize we could easily just kill him, and get this over with…

INT / DAY – Living Room

SPHINCTER talks with an excited COCO on webcam.

SPHINCTER
We would love to have you on the show. I mean… as an investor AND member of our crime-fighting and sexy insect team.

Before the rat finishes talking, the front door abruptly opens, and Coco is already in with her luggage. She has starving-monkey servants helping her with her stuff. Brenny and Charona enter the living room. As the monkeys march in lines, carrying her luggage.

COCO
Roommates, I’m home! I’m so glad to be here.

SPHINCTER
(to Brenny and Charona) See, she’s not so bad.

COCO
(As she takes off her sunglasses) Someone had to be the pretty one.

Brenny and Charona exchange glances.

EPISODE DONE. TADA!!!

Fall 07 – Character Design – Sexy situations

alexetism — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:53:05 +0000

So, as the whole sexy-ness develops into something more solid, I decided to place the mantis in different situations. As you see, they are far sexier, I modified their claws into weapons of mass destruction, and I made their face more insect like, while their body has become more womanly.

I wish to make their torso as thin as their neck, not only because that’s what the media tells me it is beautiful, but to add continuity to the design.

The hair has pretty much remained consistent for most of them, except for Coco. I’m gonna lose Coco’s southern belle hairstyle, and go for a sexy pony tail instead. She’ll still act like a blonde though… so all of you lovers of dumb blondes don’t need to stress out over it.

-Alex