January 10th-2022: Start of SEED Brief

Mind-map for the new project above:

Well, new project begins ey?

Not exactly what I was expecting it to be, and not in a bad way. I think this shall be fun.

First task of the project, different yet not bad. Again. Interpreting a selection of 3 quotes from a list which catch our eye/make us think, then write about them. Mine came from the names of Isaac Asimov, Marie Curie, and Robin Williams. List of quote provided below:

QUOTES FOR INTERPRETATION.pdf

Download PDF • 45KB

After that the brief was handed out and explained. Areas of the brief made sense to meet, since having done them in previous projects, yet the beginning and "kickstarter" to this project was very different. A little off topic, but I am very good with model kits and Lego sets, only issue is that one cannot build such things without the first piece of first steps. That is how I felt for a little while regarding the project, before having a little chat and beginning to break a few of my thoughts down and see how they spread out.

The quote which I picked is the following:

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. - Marie Curie

What follows is what came from the quote

Mind-map close ups:

Phobias and the sense of fear, as well as pain and suffering (even though not as happy as some of my other mind-map notes) sprang onto the page quickly after breaking down Marie Curie's quote, and letting the connections between words flow and appear.

I even listed a few of my own, and if you can't read my writing, here they are:

• Spiders

• Heights

• Attachments

• Detachments

• Separation

• Emotions

Spider-Man:

In the past and present, the age old origin story of Spider-Man is being retold, but along the same lines or themes present throughout his presence in the public audience as well as in the Marvel Universe. Odd one out. Usually a nerd. Bullied. Family member lies and gets told the famous "with great power comes. . ." line. Gets bitten by a spider of some kind along the way. Wakes up and is now a SUPERHERO!

This may be all the same story, but it tackles a specific phobia through two mediums, with a simple nod to the history of the character across the mediums. The famous character first appeared in "Amazing Fantasy #15", published by Marvel Comics on Aug. 10th 1962. A pdf copy of said issue is provided below:

Amazing Fantasy #15.pdf

Download PDF • 2.30MB

This issue provides the basic origin of the character, with one crucial aspect. His first jump/test of his powers. The issue above is the original, and features the page shown below:

This image was one of the foundations that made up the origin story of Peter Parker's vigilante/superhero Spider-Man.

Here he climbs buildings and tests his strength by accidentally crushing a smoke pipe/metal chimney on the roof of a building.

It shows his powers and and how he is soon/starts to conquer his fears by seeing a sign for a fighting match and prepares for it.

His phobia is being tested.

Now what I wanted to talk about was something that crosses over between this medium, the page, to the silver screen. In Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse, we follow a character called Miles Morales, a relatively new spider in the marvel world, but instantly loved by the fans after being introduced in the Spider-verse comic event. In the film, we follow as he takes the familiar paths we know and love of Spider-Man's origin, but giving it a new and more comedic twist, until he begins to test out his powers, which he does by reading a comic book about Spider-Man.

How may you ask? How is Miles able to read a comic about Spider-Man whilst he is becoming Spider-Man?

My and Answer: GO WATCH THE FILM YOURSELF, OTHERWISE WE WILL BE HERE FOR HOURS!

Anyway, he picks up a comic comic, which turns out to be a parody of the original "Amazing Fantasy #15" cover (original on left, parody on right). Miles then uses these comics to help him become Spider-Man. How? Watch the clip below:

If you didn't understand that, let me explain.

In the comic there is a building in the comic which Spider-Man or Billy Barker as he is called in Miles Morales' Universe, makes his first jump off, so Miles finds one that looks similar to it in his city.

Both of these characters are scared, and they handle this in different ways. Bill Barker makes his jump, yet Miles, upon reaching the building says nope and jumps off the much smaller building next door.

This here is a change of perspective towards the characters fears. Through the characters eyes, our eyes as the audience, through the eyes of the writers, we all get to see a new take on the character and not be let down, since it is a fresh take and a new PERSPECTIVE!

Starkid:

Speaking of perspective lets talk about another finding, one I was introduced to over New Years Eve through friends, yet has links to this project:

Starkid Productions is a musical theatre company founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan. The group if know for the production of the Potter Musical Trilogy (consisting of A Very Potter Musical, A Very Potter Sequel and A Very Potter Senior Year), which parodied the Harry Potter movies.

What makes these guys so interesting and reminded me of them when mind-mapping for this project, is that the cast is always so very little. On an average you would be looking at 9-15 actors, with a cast of characters close to almost 30 maybe even 40, main or supporting. So, the actors end up playing multiple roles, which can make things confusing for some, but gives the characters and the actors a unique perspective.

Lets take the Starkid actor Jeff Blim for example. Since he is my favourite!

Jeff has played a number of roles over the years, some more loved than others. Here are to name a few:

Aragog - A Very Potter Senior Year. Aladdin - Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier. Father - The Road to Oregon. Mr. K. Davidson, Rude Customer, Man In A Hurry, Sam, Greg, General MacNamara (love this character so much) - The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals.

(Images of listed characters listed in same order.)

From the stupid to the smart, weird to the sane, kind to the right down awful, Jeff Blim milks every character he takes on, and gives a new perspective to each story he can tell, whatever it may be. And with that we begin to look beyond the narrative he tells, and at the actor themselves, seeing their thoughts and efforts put into the musical's narrative, and how they can adapt it to the story, make it their own, and somehow iconic, even though, and I have to agree, hate some of the characters he plays (like the Man in a Hurry).

If interested in Starkid, here is the link to their YouTube channel. I highly recommend The Guy Who Doesn't Like Musicals and Black Friday: Youtube.com. 2022. Before you continue to YouTube. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/c/starkid> [Accessed 11 January 2022].