Summer, Year of the 100 Frame shot.
I’ve been working towards making an emotional impact in a short amount of frames, and having a focused clarity around the gear change. I learned a lot about clarity and illustrating a clear shift in emotion with my last three x100 shots, and I’m looking to build on that.
I’m spending a little more time in ‘base camp’ to make sure I know exactly what I want before I touch the computer, which will hopefully make the whole process a little easier. I figured the best way to do this would be to give myself some restrictions (100 frames, no dialogue) and some clear goals. They are:
Real situations and context. Clarity in emotional change. Instantly relatable. Make an impact in 100 frames.x100 Shot: Pirate Panic Key Pose and Layout
x100 01 PiratePanic TestPose Final from Brad Kinley (Archived Work) on Vimeo.
x100 01 PiratePanic Prop Final from Brad Kinley (Archived Work) on Vimeo.
THE PITCH:
A pirate leaps onto the prow of his ship, having flipped his spyglass up in the air, catching it adroitly, he scopes out the horizon. He slowly lowers the spyglass, frozen in terror before panicking and leaping off the boat which explodes in splinters and cannonball holes.
SITUATION AND CHARACTER QUESTIONS:
WHERE: This is taking place in the Indian ocean, on the prow of a pirate ship.The primary colors seen are black, white and brass.The pirate has slid down a taunt guideline onto the prow.
WHO: The pirate is a swash buckling owner/captain who is feeling extremely alive at the moment. He’s dropped his crew off one small island and is being pursued by the British. He thinks he’s lost them.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Dressed rakishly in black, torn clothing, and a red bandana, his prized spyglass tucked away and at the ready. He is of an athletic, muscular build.He’s in his early 30’s, quite handsome and a little rough around the edges.
MOMENT BEFORE: The pirate has been up in the rigging scouting out for a ship he’s supposed to meet. His crew has been left behind on an island for their safety after a close call with the British. He’s just seen a ship on the horizon and is leaping down to take a closer look.
WHAT IS CHARACTER THINKING AT THIS POINT?
Yarr! The brisk salt air does clear the head…where is our sister ship? We’ve hot 4 tons of quick silver in the hold to trade and then into port at new Zealand……Ahh! Who is that…? Them? Better take a better look!
WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE?
I would love to see a pirate with enormous confidence and joie de vive come spiraling into frame running to a stop. He’s flipped the spyglass up and catches it with a flourish, peering into the horizon. Within that pose he slowly drops the spyglass from his eye, easing into a blank or shocked expression. Then he breaks into a panic and scrambles off  the ship as it explodes with cannons hot.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Confidence, to a slow concentration, shock then pure panic.
x100 Shot: Hot Spring Hotness Key Pose and Layout
x100 01 HotSpringHotness TestPose Final from Brad Kinley (Archived Work) on Vimeo.
x100 01 HotSpringHotness Ref from Brad Kinley (Archived Work) on Vimeo.
THE PITCH:
This takes place at the edge of an outdoor hot springs. A man in tiny trunks enters the spring which is exceedingly hot. He should be cringing and wild eyed as he steps in and lowers himself down. Just after sitting he inhales and into a wild look, and then melts into relaxation as he acclimates.
SITUATION AND CHARACTER QUESTIONS:
WHERE: This is taking place at an outdoor hot springs, surrounded by nature.The primary colors seen are stone, aquamarine water and dark green.Behind the bather is an onset style patio and forest.The hot spring has a stairway into it and is around 5 feet deep.
WHO: The bather is a fit athletic man who has never been in a hot spring before. He was expecting a bath hotness, but this is much higher.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The bather is dressed in a small red speedo. He is of a muscular build and quite tall. He’s in his late 20’s and handsome.
MOMENT BEFORE: He’s just started entering the hot spring and is up to his calves. He’s jumpy and breathing deeply and has just begun to sweat. The heat was delayed and has just reached him.
WHAT IS CHARACTER THINKING AT THIS POINT?
Ohhhhhmygood or hot hot hot hot hot hot! Oowww, should I get out, no no stay hot hot ahhhhhhh….I’ll get used to it. Little better….paauuusssseee……ahhhhhhhhHhhHhHhhhhhh…so nice….
WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE?
I would like to see the bather selling the HEAT as much as possible with their whole body, not just their face. I would like it to have a staccato entrance, then cringely get into a spot to relax and then melt into the face of bliss.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Realization of the heat when we start the shot, building into staccato near panic and chest clutchingly hot body language, and then holding that last pose before totally melting into blissed out-ness.
x100 Shot: ??? SECRET ???
x100 01 SECRET TestPose Final from Brad Kinley (Archived Work) on Vimeo.
THE PITCH:
WHERE:
WHO:
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
MOMENT BEFORE:
WHAT IS CHARACTER THINKING AT THIS POINT?
WHAT WOULD I LIKE TO SEE?
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Next Steps?
I’ve got all the building blocks in place. Next step is finishing up shooting reference for all the shots, and then start blocking in my golden poses. I’ve taken on three shots at once so I hop between them as I work to keep my eye a little fresher and to better emulate a real production environment. In short, all that’s left is to start putting time, passion and thought behind these. Once the blocking pass is done on them all, I’ll post again!