Dummy Attempts to Make a Movie

 By Jon Densk:

    

    "just draw", "animation is such a hastle", "why do I have to do this", "im done making movies"

    "I have a new film I want to make".

    

    Alot of what has pushed me to make my first film was being greatly inspired by the many pessamistic words of Hayao Miyazaki. Something about his films, the studio space, and his opinions resonated with me. I felt truly thrusted forward with making Axolodyssey, which im truly proud of what we all achieved there. 

    About 2 years ago~ I started whipping up this idea for a feature film, named The Dream Giver, while working on Axolodyssey. Now that the film is done and I saw what the team could do, Ive felt confident we could actually make a film. Than Ai became really popular, axolodyssey failed to impress festival runners and tech giants have made it harder to reach the fans that believed in me. In these times its almost felt like miyazaki is this ghost behind me telling me to just draw, just keep going, dont focus on all of the craziness because the inspiration is still there.

So either a film is in the future or im a crazy idiot. Regardless, Here is some art work from the start, to where things are now.

Early design drawings for the main character Caleb.

Early Character Lineup. Only a few of these have stuck around.

I was proud of these sketches for a long time but they never felt like my drawings, and were always leaning to hard into looking like someone else which I didnt really want. It was part of my learning process.....but than I got angry, and with anger, came unlimited power MUAHAHA 

jk I just wanted to stop looking like others and start looking like ME, but feel like the people that inspired me.

Im not done with all the designs

With exploring how I could twist and turn designs, I found myself overly excited with the characers I created. I felt like I was actually making a good drawing for once! Pushing through the barrier of what was comfortable and into unknown scary town, lead me to a more unique and personal style with each drawing.

Caleb after his plastic surgery

trying to find my own voice as a designer was really hard but also really rewarding. Though the internet loves to continue to tell me how im just copying everyone still. However the real challenge has been the WRITING of this story. 

Ive been throwing the story around the brain wall for 2 years now and finally two days ago, I started to think the story was working. I didnt think this would be so challenging, yeah go ahead just write a feature dummy! I thought the ideas and imagination would come quick and clearly. but nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

what came quick and clearly was the filter in my head that says 'that idea wont work' or ' ok if you do this, than you have to effect xyz, and wheres the pay off?' ' whats this characters arc and motivation?'. 

woof. I didnt feel qualified at all.

Old concept piece. I wish I naturally understood watercolor.

The process of writing has truly been very hard. And the story for the film has fundimentally changed since i first started thinking about it. But Im still enjoying the nagging feeling over my shoulder of Miyazakis influence pushing me to do what inspires me the most. 

Another crummy image board

Making a film is so personal, and sharing it with the world is even more revealing. Now I understand why Miyazaki wants to retire every 3 months. It all leaves me feeling, why try and make a movie if youre getting pushed around by outside forces? 

sadly this airship no longer made the cut

But like the title says, the dummy attempts to make a movie, and that dummy is me. With all the self doubt and 100% burnout, I still feel excited and pushed to try and make a test for this film, to show what a team of cool peeps are capable of, if you push through every boundary and create something unique and personal. 

brrrr

did this photo of this old ticket dispencer ignight the entire beginning of the film? maybe.

Dream Give Tower Concept. If only I could paint not like a 6 year old.

Im excited to finish 'v3' of the story treatment and hopefully get some friends who know how to paint to help bring this world to life! 

Me getting back up from being knocked down x amount of times.