unbrokengames
March 17th, 2010, 10:25 AM
Closed: Rough Sketch Composition challenge: Highway Escape
Just before the start of evening rush hour commute on a busy highway, *something* appears in a city, impossibly gigantic and alien. It attacks – sending out immense strands and countless dark tendrils that pursue every living or moving object. Once early commuters realize that this is really happening, those fortunate to be already leaving the city attempt to outrace this terrible presence. Most are overtaken—slowed by traffic, panic, collisions, tossed/overturned cars up ahead, and the speed of this creature’s grasp.
An image: only two vehicles are left, still desperately fleeing:
1. A small sports car (BMW, Maserati, something fast and maneuverable), somewhat ahead
2. just behind, a mini-van.
The focus of the shot is the desperation of these two drivers - will (can) either survive?
Specs: Only rough compositional sketches requested at this point! That means a blobby square for the minivan, a pasted in jpeg of a matchbox car, a blurry line for a tentacle (or a "reaching tentacles about here" note) is FINE, so long as I can get a sense of how a real final piece's layout and perspective would come together - in particular its sense of energy.
8.5 x 11 maximum size – portrait orientation preferred, but landscape ok. No pref on color or b/w - whatever seems right. No limit on number submitted – up to you. Only 1 sketch will win.
Honorarium: $20 for the best sketch submitted by 7pm EDT Sunday 3/21. If more than 5 (thoughtful) sketches are submitted, I'll up the honorarium to $40. Paypal preferred.
Use: Inspiration for a final full page image to be commissioned for indie rpg (pen/paper to start). Actual sketch submitted here will not be used commercially.
Background info:
• The sports car has a lone driver. Skill, speed, and a high tolerance for risk allowed him to swerve around slower vehicles to get this far…
• The minivan driver is a parent and presumably there could be children in the car. This could be indicated by a hint of a “baby on board” sticker, stuffed animals in the back window, the side of a car seat shown, etc.
He/she only survived because immediately upon seeing the chaos in his rear view mirror, still distant, while everyone else was gawking and slowing down, he/she slammed down the pedal and roared up the breakdown lane to get away. His extremely low tolerance for risk got him this far.
How would you compose and frame this image to get this story across with an emphasis on:
1. Desperation & speed
2. The two vehicles, with a hint of their stories
3. The sheer scope and terror of the chaos behind and approaching them.
For instance:
• An angled overhead shot working to get maximum context and surrounding road/wrecked cars, etc.
• From slightly behind, focusing on the cars, slightly more understated - tentacles reaching from “under the camera” towards the vehicles.
• From slightly ahead, looking back at the cars, with more of an emphasis on what they are fleeing.
• From a side angle, to mix both.
• Rear view mirror shots from inside either car:
o from the sports car (seeing minivan close behind and creature’s tendrils snatching up cars just behind)
o from in the minivan, with the sports car seen through the front window and the creature in the rear view or side mirrors….
Bonus points for creative thinking – example:
• If visible, what would drivers on in-bound lanes do (seen as these 2 vehicles pass them)? Would they pull over? Attempt to turn around and drive against traffic? Stop and flee on foot?
Multiple composition ideas (i.e. different images) welcomed.
I prefer you post your sketch publicly in the board, but a PM or email is acceptable.
Note: no guarantees that the winning sketch will lead directly to a commission for a final image. Do please also link to your portfolio and/or any relevant work & rates.
Contact info: bsurette AT gmail.com
Just before the start of evening rush hour commute on a busy highway, *something* appears in a city, impossibly gigantic and alien. It attacks – sending out immense strands and countless dark tendrils that pursue every living or moving object. Once early commuters realize that this is really happening, those fortunate to be already leaving the city attempt to outrace this terrible presence. Most are overtaken—slowed by traffic, panic, collisions, tossed/overturned cars up ahead, and the speed of this creature’s grasp.
An image: only two vehicles are left, still desperately fleeing:
1. A small sports car (BMW, Maserati, something fast and maneuverable), somewhat ahead
2. just behind, a mini-van.
The focus of the shot is the desperation of these two drivers - will (can) either survive?
Specs: Only rough compositional sketches requested at this point! That means a blobby square for the minivan, a pasted in jpeg of a matchbox car, a blurry line for a tentacle (or a "reaching tentacles about here" note) is FINE, so long as I can get a sense of how a real final piece's layout and perspective would come together - in particular its sense of energy.
8.5 x 11 maximum size – portrait orientation preferred, but landscape ok. No pref on color or b/w - whatever seems right. No limit on number submitted – up to you. Only 1 sketch will win.
Honorarium: $20 for the best sketch submitted by 7pm EDT Sunday 3/21. If more than 5 (thoughtful) sketches are submitted, I'll up the honorarium to $40. Paypal preferred.
Use: Inspiration for a final full page image to be commissioned for indie rpg (pen/paper to start). Actual sketch submitted here will not be used commercially.
Background info:
• The sports car has a lone driver. Skill, speed, and a high tolerance for risk allowed him to swerve around slower vehicles to get this far…
• The minivan driver is a parent and presumably there could be children in the car. This could be indicated by a hint of a “baby on board” sticker, stuffed animals in the back window, the side of a car seat shown, etc.
He/she only survived because immediately upon seeing the chaos in his rear view mirror, still distant, while everyone else was gawking and slowing down, he/she slammed down the pedal and roared up the breakdown lane to get away. His extremely low tolerance for risk got him this far.
How would you compose and frame this image to get this story across with an emphasis on:
1. Desperation & speed
2. The two vehicles, with a hint of their stories
3. The sheer scope and terror of the chaos behind and approaching them.
For instance:
• An angled overhead shot working to get maximum context and surrounding road/wrecked cars, etc.
• From slightly behind, focusing on the cars, slightly more understated - tentacles reaching from “under the camera” towards the vehicles.
• From slightly ahead, looking back at the cars, with more of an emphasis on what they are fleeing.
• From a side angle, to mix both.
• Rear view mirror shots from inside either car:
o from the sports car (seeing minivan close behind and creature’s tendrils snatching up cars just behind)
o from in the minivan, with the sports car seen through the front window and the creature in the rear view or side mirrors….
Bonus points for creative thinking – example:
• If visible, what would drivers on in-bound lanes do (seen as these 2 vehicles pass them)? Would they pull over? Attempt to turn around and drive against traffic? Stop and flee on foot?
Multiple composition ideas (i.e. different images) welcomed.
I prefer you post your sketch publicly in the board, but a PM or email is acceptable.
Note: no guarantees that the winning sketch will lead directly to a commission for a final image. Do please also link to your portfolio and/or any relevant work & rates.
Contact info: bsurette AT gmail.com