Final Scene: Storyboard & Animatic

This is the 6th and final scene in my film. It's also the longest, coming in at around 1 minute long. It's set back inside the witch's house, and the audience watches her create what they think is a magic potion witch all of the ingredients that she's gathered. The Familiar is also revealed to be able to turn into an owl, and the witch is shown to use a mixture of magic and human abilities to complete this task. The climatic scene of the whole film is also in this scene - she grows the last ingredient herself by using her powers. It also holds the 'big reveal' - she isn't creating a magic potion at all, she's just making her dinner.

I wanted the first shot to be of the clock again, to try and signify that the film has come full circle - she's back at home and time has passed since the start of the film. I also think that it's quite a comforting shot to look at and emphasises the inviting and homely feel.

I decided to add this shot in as it is reminiscent of the shot at the beginning with all of the plants on the shelves. I wanted to add this scene to show that there are more interiors to the house, plus the hanging sage is an important ingredient/plant for a witch to own. Burning sage is used to cleanse a space, remove negative energies, promote healing, and generate wisdom and clarity. The various pots and jars, including the mortar and pestle, makes it give it a sense of normality, but as we can't see the contents of the jars it could still be anything in there.

In this shot we see the witch using an ingredient that is hovering around her in the air. She then puts the ingredient back and it floats into the air. There are lots of other things hovering around her, including the ingredients that she's gathered. The mortar and pestle is also moving on its own and the audience is once again reminded of her powers, even if it is something subtle. The Familiar is also introduced as an owl in this scene. I always wanted to have the Familiar in owl form, and this seemed to be the last chance to do it. It doesn't do much, just sits there and blinks, but it definitely adds more magic to the scene as owls can look very regal other worldly.

In this shot the steam is billowing out of the pot and it changes colour from purple to pink steam. Every time she adds ingredients the steam will change colour to signify that something magical has happened in the pot.

In this shot we go back to the kitchen. I've recycled this shot in order to save time as the deadline is looming, but I'm going to use a different ingredient. Plus, the Familiar is now in cat form and sleeping on the counter. This is a good way to signify the passage of time and once again remind the audience of his powers. The mortar and pestle is still going on its own to her right.

The steam billowing out with then change colour again, perhaps from pink to blue or something like that to signify that a magical change has occurred in the pot.

In this shot, it will just be a still of the book page of the ingredients that she's gathered. This will just act as a reminder for the audience of what she's been gathering on her travels and the ingredient that's missing.

In this shot we see the ingredients that she's gathered get thrown into the pot, and it will change colour from blue to a deep green, again to signify that there's been a magical change.

In this shot, the witch grows the ingredient herself since she was unable to find it on her travels through the forest. This is arguably the climatic scene for the whole film. I want it to be similar to the animation tests that I did right at the start of this project, with the shimmer and glow of green light dancing on her arms and face, as well as the shadows being pushed away as the flower grows. I think that it will look really effective and nice. The pink flower will also be a nice contrast against the green glow.

In this shot we see the final ingredient, the flower that she grew herself, get thrown into the pot. The steam will change colour from green to white and then disappear.

In this shot, it cuts unexpectedly to a view of the pot from above. A leaf falls down, perhaps I'll animate a ripple as it makes contact with the surface, and it's apparent that all she's been making is her dinner. I think that the little bits of vegetable make it quite clear, but the leaf garnish definitely helps.

In this shot, just in case it wasn't clear enough that she was making her dinner, it will cut suddenly to another bird's eye view shot of the soup, except it's in a bowl now with cutlery on either side. I think that this cutlery will make it very apparent that all she's been making is her dinner. I don't know if it will draw any laughs from the audience, I'm definitely not expecting that, but it would be nice to hear noises of understanding.

For my last shot of the entire film, I'm still working that out. I want to have a shot of her sitting with the familiar in the house and enjoying her soup. But I don't know if I want to have the audience in the house with them or watching from the outside and looking in on the scene. I'll have to work that one out soon.

This is the finished animatic for the final scene of my film. I feel like it flows well, it draws on previous scenes and makes them new, such as the clock scene, the shelves, and the steam animation. I think that it's clear and concise what's happening, and the ending is easily understood. I still need to come up with a final shot that rounds the film off nicely, but I'll concentrate on getting this shot finished first - it will come to me eventually. All in all I'm very pleased with it.