Preliminary Thesis Statement and Story Synopsis

Thesis Statement

Focusing on character animation, my thesis will be in the form of an entirely computer animated music video. The protagonist will be a stylized version of the singer who exists in a world that is likewise stylized and fantasy-based. The primary goal will be to successfully synchronize the character's lips with the audio track and to use body movement and position to add emphasis and convey additional emotion to the piece.

When asked why this thesis has to be computer animated:
-The world itself is a fantastic place, a small planet much like the drawings of Le Petit Prince, and will have a hand-drawn look about it to match. The "real"-ness of the world should not be conveyed through photo-realism but through emotional interaction with the world and the world responding to the protagonist's emotional state the way change occurs in a dreamworld based on the dreamer's subconscious.
-Integrating live action footage of the singer into a computer constructed environment separates the character from the world. Usually this technique is used when a person is travelling to an alien place or dreams of visiting somewhere foreign, not when it is his/her world. As the world is a construction of Justin's (the singer), he owns it and should therefore exist within it as an inhabitant.

Story Synopsis

To begin, here are the lyrics to "When the Sky is Falling":
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You were sent to me, fallen from the sky.
A manifest of destiny, electric fields of light,
and theres something about the way
only you can hear me say 'hey.'

They're coming after me
Trying to take me by the hide
But no one can find me
When I'm lost in your eyes

Then you tell me you're here to stay
That you'll make everything okay
Like when the sky is falling
On a rainy morning
I'll be standing by the side of the road singing
Come pick me up take me with you.

Come pick me up take me with yo-ou.
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On a small asteroid fragment in the middle of the universe Justin Catalino sits on a rock, alone, lonely. He is a very innocent, clean looking man, a grown version of the Little Prince. It is clear he has not had much tragedy befall him and yet he is wise. During the first verse a meteor shower rushes by the planet ("electric fields of light") from which a glowing asteroid fragment falls into Justin's hands (which is exactly the same shape as the one he is sitting on though it is not initially obvious). He is elated at the discovery that something else exists out there and is intrigued by the glowing ember. This piece becomes his "pet." He cares for it in a very tender, loving way, not at all childish, merely curious and caring. It does exhibit alive characteristics and glows more brightly when Justin says "hey."
During the second verse a second meteor shower occurs and Justin is pelted with many shards of asteroids and attempts to hide behind the rock he was sitting on, protecting his asteroid fragment. While huddling with his piece he stares at it and in the reflection of the glowing piece Justin sees his own eyes looking back at him sadly, causing an introspective moment ("No one can find me when I'm lost in your eyes").
The meteor shower abates as the third verse begins and Justin gets up from hiding, collecting the pieces that have landed on the planet. They are all glowing and he begins to see that they fit together and glow brighter the more of them that are attached. The increasing glow is comforting and makes Justin feel better ("you'll make everything okay"). The meteor shower occurs for a third and final time, but this time it is much more like rain, they are small pieces and Justin isn't afraid of them. He fits all the pieces together and they form a small planet in his hands. He begins to realize that there is something out there watching him, that perhaps he is being taken care of and the camera pulls out and reveals that as he has sung his song, the asteroid fragment he is standing on has become a planet and is resting in the hands of a much larger version of himself.
Fade to black.