B-Movie Entry: Chris Malidore

#1

Chris Malidore is entered in the “B-Movie” update: View Challenge Page

Latest Update: Final Image: Welcome To Mars

#2

Finally got my scanner hooked up!

So, my big B Movie fascination was always in the science fiction. I kinda wanna do a cowboy thing too… and may yet, but no ideas have formed yet so we’ll let that simmer on low for a bit. For now I’m going with the whole mars crash landing theme.

This concept will show a group stumbling upon a dead (we’ll make it glowy for fun…) comrade, but with alien tentacle monsters approaching from behind. Pretty basic story on this one.

#3

Concept 2 here, is more mad scientist… but still on mars and pretty much after a crash landing (as I am a fixated person when sleep deprived). Hero strapped to ugly science table thing on a slant, mad scientist lady hits the lever and her giant DOOM ray fires some sort of beam into our hero’s head for some purpose that is so clever that even I can’t devise it yet. None the less the machine will be far too big for the tiny lil ray that comes out… it just feels right. I want the perspective to be a liiiittle wonky on the walls, just to make it feel “off”, but hopefully I can keep image integrity with this. We’ll see, if it doesn’t work - I’ll change it. Either way, I’m putting in a window so I can do some planet surface stuff. Even mad scientists need windows…

Any preferences? I sort of lean to concept 2, but I’d have to refine quite a bit of it to make sure all of the story elements fit. I like concept 1 but it doesn’t have enough story for me right now… thoughts?

#4

Doing some quick color tests to figure out lighting and general schemes. Concept 1 would need to be punched up a lil, concept 2 is looking more fun.

What do you guys think?

Tossing around a 3rd idea in my sketchbook, we’ll see how that looks :slight_smile:

#5

So, I’m running with Image 2 at the moment. It has the most story and outside of here has received some good compliments. That and there’s more obstacles to light, and I am a sucker for that…

I’ve been told in the past that I contrast too much, too many dark darks… worried I’ll do this here, but hopefully I can keep myself in check.

#6

Great artwork. I think you should light the scene just like your concept. I would love to see that. Just a thought. Good luck. :slight_smile:

#7

Hmm, I thought I was following that pretty closely - am I missing something or perhaps just misinterpreting your meaning? I’m quite sleep deprived, so I wouldn’t be surprised with either hehe.

Thank you for your comment :slight_smile:

#8

I came to the realization that my scene just wasn’t dynamic enough. And while I can’t really have things flying around for this scedne, perhaps I could give the scene more substance and story telling. So tonight’s project was adding on to the mad scientist’s lab… I tend to take things very horizontal in these cases, so this time I figured we’d go vertical for a change of pace - might learn something new along the way :slight_smile:

It gave me more room to play with colors as well, instead of having everything right up against a light source now I can diffuse spots. So maybe this will show some more variety.

EDIT: Yow, my uploaded image quality sucks, I’ll try some different saving settings on my next update.

#9

Yea the composition is tighter, but one thing the previous version had was larger characters, I find myself wanting to zoom in somewhat on the characters just to see whats going on, not that i wish to see the friken lazer beam doing its business better :P.heh.

The image is coming together nicely. great progress , Chris

Marley

#10

I agree with lightsovereign about the characters, however I do prefer the vertical scene as it seems to flow better with the elements you have in place. Particularly I like the mad scientist pushing down on the lever.

Have you thought of making the mad scientist a green man with big eyes? Might sell the mars aspect a little more.

Over all, though, I like the composition and the theme. Great start!

-rage

#11

@Marley - A great point, and it was definitely an issue I was noticing as I put it up here. I’ve already enlarged them a bit and am feeling better about it… hopefully that will help, but we’ll see. Thanks buddy!

@Rage - I have indeed thought of that, and it was also recommended in an outside critique… I’m a little stuck between a green martian and a hot scientist lady, or a mix of both (somehow)… or, put in a monstrous green martian behind her? I think figure refinement is my next step to figure out these things… so many options!

New update later today!

#12

cool, liking the lighting and colors. makes for a nice, dramatic image…

#13

Many thanks - lets hope it retains that!

#14

Based on the Gallery in your website, I’ve no doubt you can pull off a crazy green witch scientist.

Cheers and good luck

-rage

#15

A hot martian scientist lady!, but it’s just my opinion, I’m sure you’ll find and do the perfect character =] My only crit would be the sun in the background, I find it a bit too disturbing.

#16

Interesting!
As for me I think it would be better to move camera bottom left, or just add some space at the bottom of image.
Good luck!

#17

@Rage: Well, I figure if you’re gonna be good at something… make it green haha

@Eskarina: I totally agree on the sun thing, it’s bugging me too. Once I change my composition a bit and figure out my people I’ll be reassessing that region so that it can be less distracting. Thanks much!

@Peleng: Great insight - thank you for your advice. I’ll be approaching that issue tonight :slight_smile:

#18

Very ominous looking picture… I like the choice of colors very atmospheric…

#19

So, after some great advice from you guys and outside sources I decided to try some new ideas out in addition to the camera angle change that Peleng recommended (thanks!).

So with that said, what do you folks think? I’ve put up a comparison of a possible new angle next to the old for opinions and idea gathering. I didn’t develop this too far yet, but hopefully it tells the scene.

#20

And so I got back to work after a frustrating week. Figured I’d blow off some steam by defining out some character stuff. Of main importance was digging out the face of the martian chick and by making the victim actually look like a victim… and not furniture.

Thoughts? Concerns? Praise? Random opinions about things that don’t apply? Bring it on.

Quick note: Sorry for the major clean up spot around the lady left to do - had to close down the file early.