MAURITS VALK
RAIN CHECK
A man returns to confront his future a year after his absence.
2D Storyboard Animatic made in Blender 5.0 using my Whippet add-on.
( Currently a work in progress )
The Script
Initially I wanted to write a script that would be made into a live action short film so the story had to actually be filmable. This led me to a classic diner scene that built tension over time between two characters. Inspired by the film, Heat, the story is set a year after John and Bill's last bank heist.
During the storyboarding process, I wanted to convey that time had passed somehow so I added John running into Mel as he's looking back over his shoulders. The exposition through their dialogue helped provide context to John's absence while also raising the mystery.
The full script is available below:
CHARACTERS
I wanted to show John struggling with his new life right as he arrives. Set in the pacific northwest, John steps off the bus without a rain jacket or an umbrella, he's late because his truck is in the shop and constantly looking over his shoulder.
Bill on the other hand is older and more composed. He shows his confidence by not immediately greeting John when he sits at the table. He lowers his newspaper to reveal himself with a remark on John's tardiness.
The tension between John and Bill grows as their conversation progresses. Mel's character provides moments of relief by waiting their breakfast and being completely unaware of John and Bill's occupations. She acts as a grounded perspective to the story that resembles that of the audience.
JOHN
MEL
BILL
Stills
3D Mercedes
The original concept was to make a 3D animatic in Blender so I created some initial assets. The Mercedes 420 SEL vehicle was intended to be Bill's car.
I drew the sides of the car in Photoshop and then imported them as planes into Blender. This provides a hand drawn feel with the advantage of 3D and low poly modeling.
This method is a bit dated since I started texture painting in Blender recently. Texture painting allows you to draw directly onto 3D objects making it an easier process.
