The Sum of Parts

loglines

Ed Whetstone — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 03:39:08 +0000

When it comes to writing a screenplay, arguably the most important thing is the “logline” — you know, the little summary on Netflix that tells you what the movie’s about. It’s kind of remarkable just how hard that single sentence can be.

Approaching “The Sum of Parts” – I had two characters in my mind. A robot, and a guy whose job it is to hunt robots. You know, pretty standard Blade Runner / i, Robot fare. I also had a setting – 1930s America, but with the technological advances of robotics. Retro-futurism!

So I started building a story around those elements, and so far, I feel like there is a good story in there *somewhere* but it hasn’t clicked yet. I haven’t found my logline. I keep asking myself “what is the movie about?”.

I can summarize any good movie:

“An unfulfilled hacker discovers that his reality is an illusion, and must learn to fight against the forces enslaving mankind”

Even a film with a crazy-complicated premise and plot: “An exiled dream-thief must plant an idea in the mind of a businessman in order to return to his family”

So for SOP? Well, this is what I have so far:

“On the eve of WWII, an ex-mobster must uncover the truth about his brother’s vision for robotic utopia”.

It needs work.

The project is …

Ed Whetstone — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 21:34:58 +0000

The project is officially back in action. I’m going into super-secret stealth mode for a while, though, so there won’t be any big updates here for a while.

Long story short, I’m putting together a small team, and making a pitch package for a feature-length Sum of Parts film. It’ll be a great exercise even if it doesn’t go anywhere, and the whole process should be a ton of fun. We’re making a 2.5 minute short as a centerpiece of the pitch materials, which will be a pretty big challenge… so wish us luck!

The drawing board, mark III

Ed Whetstone — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:24:29 +0000

I’m revisiting the script, and the project is not yet dead. I have hope. I also have a little cash to spend on concept artists. Which gives me hope.

Jobless, but with plenty of free time.

Ed Whetstone — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:48:55 +0000

I’m now unemployed, which means I’ve got plenty of time on my hands to work on SOP!

Today I got started on an architectural design morgue that will guide the construction of all the environmental assets for the short. I’ll be documenting that process as it happens!

Rrrrender

Ed Whetstone — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:33:25 +0000

Ed Whetstone — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 02:22:10 +0000

Doing a few test renders before articulating.

Finally Putting it all together

Ed Whetstone — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:42:02 +0000

first full-body test

full body, more details

Continuing the design

Ed Whetstone — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:33:53 +0000

leg design

Optical geometry

Smells like Torso

Ed Whetstone — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:44:57 +0000

Continuing the slow march down the body

torso wireframe

torso render

Continuing the Arm

Ed Whetstone — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:20:22 +0000

Slow going, but here’s the latest.

arm redesign

robot hand

completed arm render