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.