Quick evaluation of the silly story

1.  Too long, yes, but there's a bunch of stuff that can be cut; for example, Kimiya and Tricia doesn't even need to be in the restuarant at the beginning at all, a cut to home from the moment Maya gets the notice would be smoother2.  Speaking of Tricia she doesn't even do anything in the story, why is she there? Can she do something?
3. Even I don't fully understand the resolution to this story's conflict nor even what its conflict itself is (der that's what happens when you write without a plan but it's fun)
4. The 'chase' is going to need some additional cool parts in it to further justify animating this story

This counts as a blog post.

Yeah it's come to this

I can't really create anything I want anymore

Jin Doodle

Modelling Agency end

“Here you go! It’s all on me!” Maya says cheerfully to Tricia as she sets her pile of food down.  She is working at the yum cha place again, at Kimiya’s and Tricia’s usual table.

“Um,” Tricia says, “you know, my family owns this restaurant, so, it’s already on the house for me.”  “Oh.” Says Maya.  “But thanks!” Adds Tricia with a sweet smile.  She then inhales her grub.

“You’re gonna have to spend the money on something else,” Kimiya says.  Maya sighs.

“What would you spend it on?” Maya asks.

“Me?” Kimiya replies, blankly.

“Yes, what do you want most in the world?” Maya pushes.

“What do I want…” Kimiya repeats, coming up with nothing.  “I want you to be happy.” Kimiya finally replies, rather lamely.  Maya frowns.  Then she shrugs.

“I’m sure an idea will come up,” she concludes, walking off to get more food.

“Well, that was a pleasantly conventional wrap-up to her little adventure,” Kimiya comments to Tricia, as she gets started on her lunch, “she hadn’t affected the world as much as she feared.”

Meanwhile, back at the agency!

An unidentified woman walks up to the receptionist, holding the very same magazine Maya appeared in.  “I’d like to know the identity of this model.”

The receptionist looks warily at the woman.  “Your name, miss… ?”

Close-up of mysterious woman’s eyes, narrowing.  There’re similar to Maya’s, but more wrinkled.  “Mrs. Sharestani,” she replies.

Fade out!

Hey bro I got a really cool idea

Modelling Agency #9

“I quit,” Maya says, back at the agency.

“What, now?” Asks Mr. Agent curiously, “With your debut being so successful?”

Maya nods.  “I was happier in my old job.   Perhaps the possibilities that opened up to me clouded my judgment,” she continues, slightly hanging her head humbly, “but often, seeking leads to deprivation, as it were.  I realise now that being seen as someone I’m not, by people who expect things of me I cannot give, is terribly unfulfilling.”

Mr. Agent nods distractedly.  “All right, fair enough, fair enough.  We do appreciate your time, thank you, Ms. Maya.” He opens the door for Maya.

But Ms. Agent coughs politely.  She walks up and hands Maya a check.

“You’re still giving her that?” Mr. Agent exclaims, but a look from Ms. Agent shuts him up.

Maya gulps.  “I… I didn’t do anything.  How can I…” The check crumples in her fingers as she worries.

 

Ms. Agent immediately hands her another check.  “Oh, you have backups,” Maya says.  This time, Maya reads it past the figure.  It was signed by ‘Esther’, along with a little note that said ‘don’t come back’.  Maya reluctantly accepts it and walks out.

Characters will always be more engaging in books than in films

Here's why: Books don't have to describe anything literally.  Written stories can be filled with things like "his eyes were full of absolute fury" and "comprehension dawned on his face".

Many times even (or indeed, especially) in real life I have mistook someone's expression to mean something else.  You don't have to worry about this in books.  Everyone has their own ideas about how one ought to look when one is feeling a certain mood, and when the book describes the expression, the reader creates that perfect look in his imagination comfortably.  Thus, books are able to make use of complex expressions such as "he smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes, which remained cold" and such.

In films, you gotta spell things out so vividly it can easily get awkward, just in case the audience doesn't understand what's going on! At least a live actor can do his thing, and see what happens, and maybe try again.  It's especially troubling in animated films, a slow process wherein waves of people can easily scrutinise every drawing, watering down expressions into clear, readable ones.

La la la..

Modelling Agency #8

Maya runs.  Naturally, crowd chases.

Car pulls up.  Window rolls down.  It’s Ms. Agent. 

A tilt of her head beckons Maya, who dives into the car.

“I don’t think this is working,” Maya suggests.

Modelling Agency #7

In a newsagent, Maya flicks through a women’s magazine.

“So are you in?” Kimiya asks.

“I don’t see me anywhere,” Maya answers, almost sounding relieved, “oh, well, WAIT A MINUTE!”

She found the ad displaying her eyes, pasted onto someone else's face.

"This is going to give me nightmares," Kimiya mutters.

 "THIS, is my eyes! They can't do that!" Maya exclaims, probably incorrect grammatically.

"What did you think they were going to do?" Kimiya asks.  "They can't have just eyes in an ad.  Or a veiled woman.  Anyway," she adds, "at least nobody will recognise you."

"There she is!" A woman they don't know squealed to her annoying friends, "I recognise her!"

"Run." Kimiya advises.

But before she knew it, Maya was backed into a corner.  She pointlessly covers her mouth with the magazine.  “Oh, um, hello.”

"Yeah, it's her eyes!" The stranger babbles.  Maya lifts her magazine to cover her eyes.  "But why is she wearing that thing?" The stranger continues.
Maya covers the veil with the magazine again.  “Um, it’s called a…”

"Oh, I've heard about those people," another piped up, "they wear them to stop men falling in love with them or something!"

“It’s not that simp…”

"Wow!" The first one exclaims, "To be so beautiful they have to cover their faces outside of a magazine! I've got to see this!"

"That’s very kind of… Eee!" Maya shrieks.  Without warning, someone whisks away her veil.  To the aggressive fan’s bewilderment, there was another, differently coloured veil hanging where the original veil was.  “I have a backup,” Maya explains timidly.

After two more quick attempts of uncovering (Maya apparently has an infinite number of veils) Kimiya steps in angrily.  “Hey! That’s my sister you’re bullying!”  Quite violently, she pushes the crowd back, snatching the veils from them.

With a long, annoying intake of breath, the silly woman replies “Oh my God, yes she is! You have the same eyes! Come look!”

Getting gradually crushed under the weight of the gawkers (“hers is a little duller, though…”), Kimiya mutters to Maya, “Cheese it.”

“Bye!” Maya streaks out the store.

Maybe I can improve the button thing by deadline

Flashy flash flash

Shock

The Modelling Agency #5

Dropped off, Maya walks the rest of the way talking to herself, like what always happens in cartoons, striding on adorably small feet.  “Should be fine.  Should be fine.”

Just as she reaches the door, a girl walks out, sobbing quietly.  “Should be fine.”

After a surreal stay in the waiting room, she is beckoned to another room.

“Ah! So glad you could make it! Ready to get some pictures taken?” Mr. Agent greets.  Maya looks around.  Far off, the photographer gives her a nod.

Maya gulps.  “Um,” Maya hesitates.

“If you want something, just say so,” Kimiya echoes within Maya’s brain.

“Sir…” Maya twiddles her thumbs, “will I have to work with men in the room with me?”

Mr. Agent’s smile flickered.  However, Ms. Agent promptly walks to the photographer to whisper in his ear.  He walks out, leaving the camera, though with effort trying to show no annoyance.  Ms. Agent takes over the camera.

Ms. Agent claps her hands twice.  A crowd of women with a ridiculous assortment of lights and makeup zips around Maya.  Mr. Agent, the only man in the room, backs uncertainly.  “Well, good luck, Miss Maya!” He says, as he takes his leave.

The women go to work on Maya’s features.  “Thank you,” Maya says to Ms. Agent, who gives her a rare smile.

Cuts to Maya leaving the office.  “So how did they come out?” Mr. Agent asks, reaching for the film.  However, Ms. Agent pretends not to hear him and constantly keeps the pictures out of his reach.

Modelling Agency #4

Cut to! Business card in hand, Maya borrows Kimiya’s laptop to look up the model agency.  “Seems legit.”  She mutters.  Kimiya mills around her, empty shopping bags in hand.

“So you’re gonna do it?” Kimiya asks.

“I’ll give it a try,” Maya decides firmly, “The money would be nice.  I’d like to be able to go to university like you.”

“Just university?” Kimiya asks.  “I’d thought one day you’d like to, er, fix your,” Kimiya hesitated, “complexion?”

Maya touches her own cheek briefly.  An 'accident' long ago had left Maya with a scar.  “I don’t know.”  She answers without emotion.

“Want a lift, Maya?” Kimiya offers, hastily breaking the silence.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to be a bother,” Maya replies meekly.

Kimiya turns a foot towards the door, but that was all.  She narrows her eyes at Maya.  Maya stares back, cracking a smile.  “The agency is, uh, just on the way,” Kimiya said.

“I, no, I couldn’t,” Maya replies coyly.

“Are you…?” Kimiya presses.

“Yes, if you insist!” Maya accepts, beaming.  "Thanks, Kimiya."

Kimiya rolls her eyes.  “I told you before, if you want something, just say so.  Jeezaloo.”

The Modelling Agency #3

“WHAT.”  Kimiya barks, her shocked expression framed.  However, Tricia butts into the frame with her congratulations.  “Woho! Nice one, sister!” Tricia notices Kimiya’s expression, and adds, “Aren’t you proud of her, Kimmie?”

“Hmmm,” Kimiya replies, now with an expression of mock realization, “I recall being lectured yesterday that the body is not something to be seen and that I should rethink my choice of attire.”

“Gosh,” Maya replies, blushing, as she gives the girls their usual order.  “This, er, isn’t like that at all! It’s only my eyes they want.”

“I’m pretty sure leaving the eyes uncovered,” Kimiya continues, “is only a necessary evil that ensures women don’t get run over.”

“And I didn’t lecture you,” Maya mutters despite herself, “I was just… Concerned.”

“So how do you doll up your eyes to look like that, anyway?” Tricia asks.

“I do no such thing!” Maya answers, “They always look like this!”

“Wow! I’m jealous,” Tricia replies.

“So you don’t condone eye makeup?” Kimiya asks, “I don’t know if you realise it, but that’s what you’re gonna have to do for the photos.”

Shot of Maya as she hesitates to reply, but Kimiya continues, “And, that’s what you will influence the target audience to do!”

Maya gulps.  “So… You don’t approve of this, Kimiya?” She asks.

“Oh, I don’t care, Maya,” said Kimiya rather annoyingly, “I was just confused, that’s all.  It’s your decision.  It’s eating time!”  Kimiya grabs roll, and so does Tricia.

Maya peeks at the figure in her note again, but with far less enthusiasm.

The Modelling Agency #2

Maya proceeds to whip out delicious dishes, quite efficiently.  A smartly dressed man (let’s call him Mr. Agent) becomes very interested in her, nudging a just as smartly dressed woman (Ms. Agent) at the same table.

 “Can I get you two anything else?” Maya asks as she reaches their table.  Mr. Agent studies Maya critically, holds up a finger and very quickly has a hushed discussion Ms. Agent next to him.  The moment Maya started to feel awkward, Ms. Agent appears to concede to his idea.

“No thank you, we were just about to pay.  What’s your name?” Mr. Agent asks.

“Maya, sir.”

“Well, Miss Maya, we’d like to offer you an opportunity!”

“Sorry, sir?”

Mr. Agent gives Maya his card.  “I work for Esther Models.  We happen to have a need for someone of your looks.”

A quick zoom out as Maya, still carrying her platters, quickly scans herself.  She’s as modestly attired as ever, with her veil and everything.  As politely as she could manage, Maya asks, “Are you all right in the head, sir?”

Ms. Agent snorts, but Mr. Agent doesn’t notice.  “I know what you’re thinking, Miss Maya, and you are correct, you're unremarkable! Except for your eyes! The fact is, we’ve never seen eyes quite as brilliant as yours.”

“M-My eyes?” Maya repeated.  It was true; accompanying her dazzling eyes were eyelashes so long they’d poke someone else’s eye out.  She hesitated.  “I don’t know, sir…”

“I understand, Miss Maya, I understand,” Mr. Agent says as delicately as he can, “I assume you have certain… obligations and if you feel this sort of job is not… ethical, remember, we won’t force you.  Just have a think about it, and give us a call.”

They got up.  Mr. Agent gives Ms. Agent a meaningful look.  Ms. Agent exhales gently, and scribbles something in her notepad.  “Er, supposing you were to accept,” Mr. Agent adds, “and supposing our immediate clients were satisfied… This is an estimate of what your pay would be,” Ms. Agent rips out the page from her notepad, folds it and hands it to Maya, “Just so you know.  Any other questions, call us.  Good day!”

They left.  Maya tentatively peeks at the figure, and beams.

The Modelling Agency #1

Within this post I attempt to write a cartoon.  Totally unrevised, don’t know if it’s good or bad yet.  This isn’t a pilot; as an attention-getter a pilot is pretty important, but I feel that seeing if the main meat of the series hold up well is important too.

Maya – A polite, religious, veil-wearing girl who ran away from home.  Crashed at her sister’s place.  She’s the main character in this episode.

Kimiya – Maya’s much taller, older sister.  Also left home, ages ago.  Unlike Maya, not at all religious.  Goes to university, but falters in specialising.  Due to her unique abilities (she beats her friends at anything) she is the labelled “protagonist” of the series.

Tricia – Kimiya’s buddy.  Silly but loyal.  Studies for a degree in zoology.  Became friends with Kimiya when Kimiya attempted to nurse an injured tortoise back to health out of guilt.

The story starts: Kimiya and Tricia trots through the local mall.  “You want to eat yum cha again? (OH BOY MY POTENTIAL TARGET AUDIENCE DWINDLED ALREADY) I didn’t know you liked it that much!” “Yes, it’s good, but I also want to see how Maya’s doing.”

Cut to Maya’s back as she grabs various items from a cart.  She turns around to reveal that she’s carrying steaming platters of treats and wearing an apron.  “Biya berim!” She chirps.  (I have no idea what this means)  She marches to waiting customers, possibly singing a terrible song:

“I have spring rolls, I’ve got noodle rolls, shrimp dumplings for you! Try steamed meatballs, and also phoenix claws, maybe some cha soo baau too!” “It’s pronounced cha siu baau,” a patron mutters.

More later.

Pinkie Pie v1.01

I don't really want to post pixel stuff forever; however I'm quite short on time these days.  And I don't think I should post job-related stuff.  But I think I know a solution.

So this is my 200th post

What has my life become

Pretty okay actually

Finished Pinkie

wheee.

Some icon thing

Then animated

The colours



Cleanup

Big one

Blinkity blank

Hello!

Look I don't have time for anything now so I'll just doodle the very first image in my head, okay?

I don't even know.

Filly this time