My skills have grown, and my artistic perspective has shifted about a million times since I first put together my portfolio. While I’m not looking to change jobs anytime soon, I am interested in showing off what I can do — you know, just in case Russia (or America, for that matter) suddenly invades and I need to prove my creative worth under pressure.
So, I’ve decided to start working on an animation update. That said, don’t hold your breath — between finishing a book, studying for a B.Sc, running an artist merch business, and hosting a podcast, this is going to be a sloooooow burn. But I’m willing to give it a shot.
I’ve done some conceptual planning and nailed down my script (copyright me — please take note!). In the spirit of sharing the creative process, I’m posting it here. I like it, and I know I’m going to enjoy bringing it to life. I wear all the hats on this project: art director, producer, animator, artist, critic… and possibly the only member of the audience too :)
Anyway, here’s my script — enjoy it! (But hands off — seriously, I did say copyright, right?)
"Cut-Out for This"
[Scene opens with a top-down shot of a large piece of paper laid out on a desk. A childlike, sketchy drawing of a neighbourhood fills the page – houses, trees, roads, maybe a suspiciously happy-looking sun in the corner.]
NARRATOR (cheerful, slightly cheeky)
"Let’s take a little stroll through imagination... or possibly someone’s Year 4 art project."
[The camera begins to zoom in slowly, pushing past penciled-in trees and scribbled sidewalks. As we get closer, the view shifts from top-down to eye-level. As the camera tilts, the drawings begin to lift up – popping into 3D cut-outs with little paper creaks and rustles.]
[Right in front of the camera now stands a cut-out man in work clothes. He blinks. A little paper eyelid flaps down and back up.]
NARRATOR
"Hi Phil. What are your plans for later?"
PHIL (a little awkward, very sincere)
"I’ve been meaning to try skateboarding. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do… but also something my knees are deeply afraid of."
[He pauses, then nods like he’s convincing himself. It crinkles slightly.]
NARRATOR
"Oh cool, Phil! I actually know a few things about skateboarding. Want me to pass on some extremely average wisdom?"
[Phil immediately brightens. He rips off his tie with paper-ripping sound effects. It flutters into the air, turning from a flat sketch into a little paper cut-out that drifts away like a freed bird.]
PHIL (determined)
"Yeah! Let’s do it!"
NARRATOR
"Walk with me, Phil."
[Phil starts walking down the drawn neighborhood street, which rises into pop-up cut-outs as he goes. A tree folds open and two paper birds flutter from one branch to another, chirping in kazoo-like beeps. People stroll in the distance, flapping slightly in the breeze like impatient bookmarks.]
NARRATOR
"Did you know there are three kinds of skateboards, Phil?"
[The camera zooms in to Phil, who is now deeply contemplating this. He awkwardly tries to bend his paper arm to rub his chin. It resists. He tries harder. Finally, with a SNAP, the arm folds into place.]
PHIL (wincing)
"Ouch… no, I didn’t know that! Please tell me more."
NARRATOR (slightly concerned)
"Um… okay. Well, first up – penny boards! They’re small, light, and super portable. Kind of like the espresso shots of skateboards. Not a lot of stability, but they get you moving fast."
[A colorful penny board folds itself together in midair with satisfying paper flaps and snaps. It drops to the sidewalk with a pap! A cool-looking cut-out kid — oversized hoodie, backward paper cap, mysterious sunglasses — pops into frame like a sticker being slapped on.]
NARRATOR
"Penny boards are great for zipping around town… if you have the balance of a caffeinated cat."
[The kid pushes off, one paper leg flapping wildly. They cruise along the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding a dog walker, a rogue fire hydrant, and a stack of newspapers labeled “VERY IMPORTANT.” They leap off a small paper ramp made from a folded street corner, land cleanly, and casually flick the board up into their hand.]
PHIL (wide-eyed)
"Oh yeah, I’ve seen those. They’re pretty cool… but they absolutely terrify me. Like riding a banana peel at 30 miles per hour!"
NARRATOR (laughing)
"Yep, they're not exactly beginner-friendly. But if you want to feel like a fast-moving question mark, penny boards are the way to go."
PHIL (nervously adjusting his now-folded sleeve)
"I think I’ll need something a little more… emotionally stable."
NARRATOR
"In that case, Phil, let me introduce you to the longboard… It’s the laid-back cousin of the skateboard. Long, smooth, and chill – like if surfing and commuting had a baby.”
[A longboard slides into view. A cut-out surfer-looking dude with sunglasses and wind-blown paper hair stands on it, arms out. He slowly glides past Phil like he’s in a shampoo commercial.]
PHIL
“Wow… he looks like he smells like coconut and wisdom.”
NARRATOR
“He probably does, Phil. Longboards are great for cruising, carving, and philosophically pondering your life choices while rolling downhill.”
PHIL
“That sounds dangerously introspective.”
[The longboarder glides out of frame… and crashes softly into a stack of cut-out cardboard boxes marked “existential dread.” A pigeon applauds.]
NARRATOR
“And finally, we have the classic skateboard. You know — ollies, kickflips, scraped knees, and suspiciously strong ankles.”
[A cut-out skateboard bursts through a paper wall, ridden by a tiny cut-out person doing flips and spins in glorious, physics-defying style. The background music briefly turns into dramatic guitar riffs.]
PHIL (gasps)
“It’s like watching a very cool piece of toast with wheels!”
NARRATOR
“That’s... actually not far off, Phil. These boards are the go-to for skateparks, tricks, and dramatic teenage angst.”
PHIL
“I’ve got plenty of angst, does that give me a head start?”
NARRATOR
“You’re halfway there, buddy.”
[Phil walks toward a cut-out skate shop, which folds open like a pop-up book. A cut-out shopkeeper waves, holding a sparkly new board.]
PHIL (excitedly)
“I’ll take one board, medium-sized, extra balance, hold the gravity!”
NARRATOR (chuckling)
“One gravity-free board coming right up.”
[Phil grabs the board, takes one tentative push... and immediately falls flat. A cut-out cat slowly walks by and meows judgmentally.]
PHIL (from the ground)
“Nailed it.”
NARRATOR
“And that’s the first rule of skateboarding, Phil. You fall. Then you fall again. Then you maybe eat a sandwich and try again.”
PHIL (perking up)
“There’s sandwiches? I’m in!”
[The camera pulls out as Phil gets back up, shakily rides the board, wobbles, but stays upright. Cut-out people cheer. Confetti made of notebook paper flutters down.]
NARRATOR
“You’re doing it, Phil!”
PHIL
“I regret everything but also nothing!”
[Cue triumphant music as the paper world continues celebrating Phil’s tiny, magnificent, papery progress.]
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