IOW 300.8 | Title sequence design
I'm Glad My Mom Died Re-do
Brief
Conceptualise, storyboard, design and animate a 30-180 second mini title sequence adapted from a provided blurb of selected books that have yet to be made into features. Conceptualise the narrative and visual treatment based on the blurb alone. Additionally, you are required to include an appropriately integrated hypothetical titles (cast, crew, directors, producers etc.).
Deliverables
02 Comprehensive Storyboard
03 Screen-shot Storyboard
04 30-180 second Title Sequence
Rationale
Introducing I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennete McCurdy's best-selling memoir, sharing her experience of being a child star and the pressures of fame, through the frame of her relationship with her controlling, abusive mother. This mini-series allows McCurdy to retell her story, to a wider audience, through reading excerpts of her memoir alongside rotoscoped animation.
In this title sequence, one follows the journey of a gardener, who, lovingly tends to a unruly and dying garden, resurrecting it into a wild and thriving haven. This process acts as visual metaphore, of McCurdy's healing process, forming parallels between trauma, of trimming, mowing and watering, and healing, through the growth of the garden.
The garden itself represents death, growth, control, love and patience, all of which are pivotal themes within the sequence.
The art direction is inspired by 1920-30's Vogue magazine covers, which is achieved by the use of a soft pastel colour palette, shape and choreography. Rotoscoping was further encouraged by McCurdy's own experiences with the film industry as a child-star, so as to respect her experience, and to encourage ethical practice, all of Jenette's experiences throughout the memoir will be portrayed in animation.
Re-do
Due to limited time, we were unable to complete the project to it's potential. As part of our redo Thuli Makhotla and I completed the shading. Improvements to the overall timing and music were done as well as changes to the end title card of the sequence.
Process Work
Typography & Colour
The colour palette has a clear divide, between the harsh reds, maroons and pinks used to portray McCurdy's flashbacks to her mother's excessive attempts of preening her daughter, and the soft pastels used to portray the gardener and her attempts of healing.
Moodboards
Left: Mother's moodboard consists of darker colours, sharper shapes and more dramatic contrast.
Right: The Gardener's moodboard consists of pastels, florals and romantic shapes, as well as the butterfly. The butterfly forms a symbol of transformation and revitalisation within the sequence.
Final Title Sequence
Final Storyboard
