project proposal (an example)

Integrating Activity Project Proposal: Cheryl Simon 

Re-enactment: The Little Prince (with dogs)

Following my ongoing thematic interests in using animals as metaphors for human behavior, my Integrating Activity project will take form as a condensed videotape ‘re-enactment’ of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, using dogs as characters.

A story that teaches about love as an act of responsibility, casting dogs in the role of the key characters reminds us that this lesson of respectful co-existence is basic to sociality across species, across cultures and so too between ourselves and all the objects and worlds which we engage and inhabit.

The video work, entitled The Little Princess, will be approximately five minutes in length, focusing on scenes involving the Little Prince and his Flower, the Little Prince’s voyage of discovery to other worlds, the Little Prince and the Roses and the Little Prince and the Fox. It will include illustrations from the original storybook, animated using final-cut scaling and key framing techniques, voice-over narration and dubbing for the character’s voices, a table-top as a stage set, simple props and minimal costuming. The simplicity of the ‘mise-en-scene’ and post-production styling is meant to respect the honesty of the message.

I’ve chosen to complete the program with a video adaptation by producing a work that highlights my primary interests and talents in scriptwriting and film/video production and also requires me to synthesize the skills acquired in the Cinema, Video and Communications department in a comprehensive manner: the adaptation of the original story calls on my scriptwriting skills, the set design and costuming benefit from knowledge gained in film analysis and visual arts classes, and the video production and postproduction elements will exercise expertise acquired in Cin/Vid/Com production classes.

The project will be delivered as a Quick-time movie published on DVD and also distributed on Youtube. The DVD package will include the finished work as well as preview video and a selection of special features such as a pdf version of the original story, an ‘out-takes’ section and a slide-show of actor profiles. The packaging will use an emblematic still from the film to ‘brand’ the work.
Schedule
October 3:                          Script Adaptation
October 10:                        Sets + costumes designed/prepared
                                                Shooting begins
October 17:                         Shooting concludes
October 24, 31, Nov 7:   Post-production
November 14/21:             Work in progress presentation/DVD production
November 28:                    DVD production
December 5:                       Final Submission/Youtube launch

Required Materials/Software/Permissions
A camera will need to be booked for October 10 and 17. Sets and costumes will be homemade. Final Cut and DVD Studio Pro software will be needed. No other permissions will be required.