Visual Authorship and Space

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SCENE STEALERS

The ‘Visual Authorship and Space’ brief was the one that excited me the most. We were to create two fan posters of a selection of movies, ones in which we reimagine a scene from the movie in a different perspective or style. Immediately I was drawn to Pan’s Labyrinth, as it is a movie that has provided me with inspiration for a long time

Research : Movie Scenes

I love this scene between the faun and Ofelia, it is such a simple, gentle act between them but so powerful in how it highlights the extreme violence Ofelia is Living through.

Ofelia’s death at the end of the movie is harrowing. It’s a tragedy to have such a young girl die, at what’s even more disturbing is that it is at the hands of her father.

What makes this even more sad is how her death is portrayed as something good for her in the end, her way out of the mortal world - her only escape from cruelty was death.

For my research I decided to look into the scenes from the movie that I found most powerful the first time i watched it. However, with these scenes I tried to capture moments that no so many people might focus on.

I love this scene where Ofelia looks at her new, beautiful pair of shoes, to me it symbolises her accepting that the life of neglect she had is behind her.

Development : Compositional Sketches

These are some of my initial compositions, I wanted to focus on the scene in which the faun comforts Ofelia. I love their relationship throughout the movie - it is so beautiful.

Out of the compositions I had designed this one was by far my favourite, I loved the idea of the two images having a relationship. In this example, two different perspectives of one moment.

Development : First Outcome

The feedback I got after the first critique for this project surprised me. Out of the two drawings the illustration of Faun was my favourite, but my classmates disagreed. They felt the Ofelia drawing was more original whilst the Faun drawing had been seen many times… and I agree with them. Even though I love this scene and these characters I feel this isn’t a very unique take on the movie and doesn’t really show my personal experience with it.

I was suggested to focus on hands as a development point, when I was watching through the movie another time something hit me. There are specific scenes that I always have to skip or look away for. I thought that instead of drawing a scene that I love, I should focus on the scenes I cannot bear to watch.

Research : Movie Scenes

The scene from with the pale man always highly disturbed me, the way he rips the fairy’s heads off with no thought really sickens me… An extra gruesome detail that I think is sometimes missed is how he licks the blood off his hands afterwards.

This is the one scene in thee movie that no matter how hard I try I just cannot watch. It makes me so sick to my stomach every time I even think about it. It is so powerful in that way. The brutal, uncensored murder of an innocent man as almost an introduction to the general is such powerful character building - it really makes you despise him.

Development : Compositional Sketches

Experimenting with compositions inspired by these scenes

These studies of rabbits were inspired by how the boy at the beginning got caught by the general because he was out hunting rabbits with his father. I like the idea of an innocent creature such as a rabbit representing the death of the innocent boy,

Development : Outcome Ideas

Development : Second Critique

In the final critique I received lots of feedback on my work. I am grateful as this as it gave me lots to think about. Some opinions conflicted each other, for instance, if I should keep my background empty or add more detail.

However, one opinion was stated multiple times. It was that the composition should be switched. The man in square with close up of his face and the longer rabbit drawing replaces the two instead. It was interesting to get this feedback as I really love the other rabbit illustration I did so I am glad others think it should be included. I am excited to see how these images would look as pair.

Development : Responding to Critique

I am so glad I decided to follow the advice given to me in the critique about switching the compositions, I feel that this rabbit illustration is much stronger and how close the man’s face is to you created something very uncomfortable and striking. For the final I just want to make a few adjustments to the background colour of the man and darken the shade of red I use so that it can look even more grotesque. I also want to make the rabbit slightly smaller so there is more space between it and the border.

Final Outcomes

The ‘Scene Stealers’ brief was really fun and exciting, I enjoyed looking closely into imagery that I have loved for such a long time and reimagining it in my own way. Finding inspiration in unexpected places was really refreshing.

I love my outcomes for the ‘Scene Stealers’ brief. Although they are simple I feel they are very effective and striking. I am proud on how I picked a scene from the movie that no one else thought to do, rather than doing something very obvious. I like that you have to know to movie well to realise what it is referencing.

However, even though I do love this subtlety small part of me wishes it was that tiny bit more recognisable. Adding background details such as a wine bottle, hand above the boy’s head or the sack they carried the rabbits in could help viewers more easily understand the reference, butI worry it could overcrowd the composition and take away from the focus I want to have on the disgusting gore in the illustration.