Movie Brain Storm

[Dr. Otto]

Originally Posted by Galyo

Please, PLEASE don't make it a TG TF.

You can relax. I think we've all conceded that the gender of the victim will stay the same from beginning to end.

[Dr. Otto]

I've written the basic set-up, just before the transformation kicks in. Since I don't have any idea what kind of props or sets will be available to us, I tried to keep things as simple as possible, so they can be easily revised. Right now "Moo" seems pretty straightforward and to-the-point, but if anyone can think of a better title, that's fantastic. We can work out the details of the transformation itself as we go along.

Something we really haven't considered yet is whether the actress herself would be willing to shed her clothes. I'm thinking of David Naughton's first TF from AWiL in terms of explicitness. If a GoFund campaign (or something similar) was successful enough, she might be comfortable doing it if she got a worthwhile paycheck...but those are a lot of ifs.

Then again, it could make more practical sense for her to gradually tear OUT of her clothes as the transformation progresses, as some of the effects could be conveniently hidden until they burst out in plain view. (I was thinking of a growing udder in particular.) Besides, nothing gives a good TF some bite than the sound of ripping fabric.

MOO

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

A car pulls up beside an old country path. MEL, a pretty young woman in her 20's or 30's, climbs out. She's carrying a large backpack.

MEL
(to driver)
Thanks!

The car pulls out and disappears down the road. Mel looks around, and sighs. She's clearly been on the road for a long time.

We hear a rumble of thunder somewhere overhead. Mel looks up at the sky, and scowls.

MEL
Great.

She walks off-screen.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY (LATER)

Mel strolls along a small dirt path cutting through a field. She notices something, and comes to a stop.

AN ABANDONED BARN

seemingly empty of people and cattle is close by.

Mel hears another crack of thunder. The storm's getting closer. She looks at the barn again.

MEL
(shrugs)
What the hell.

INT. BARN - DAY

Mel enters through the front doors. We can faintly hear the pit-patter of rain on the roof as the storm finally arrives.

MEL
Hello? Anybody here?

No one answers. Relieved, Mel pulls off her backpack and leaves it beside the door while she looks around.

As she goes deeper into the barn, she notices a few empty stalls meant for cows. But they're all empty.

A little spooked by all the silence, Mel starts to whistle. She's interrupted by what sounds like a cow's moo from somewhere in the barn.

MEL
Hello?

She doesn't hear the moo again. Perplexed, she enters one of the stalls.

INT. STALL - DAY

A small, strangely cozy space. Some hay has been laid out on the ground, but it looks old and stale.

Mel looks around. Satisfied there's nothing inside, she starts to leave...and then her foot kicks a bucket left on the floor. Milk splashes out and stains her pants.

MEL
Damn!

Mel rubs the wet stain with her hands, trying to dry it out. Then she looks down at the bucket.

The bucket itself is rusty, but the milk looks fresh, as if it'd just been squeezed from a cow's udder. It sparkles enticingly.

SHORT MONTAGE

Mel stares at the milk. A quick succession of back and forth shots between her face and the sparkling milk to indicate she's being mesmerized.

[Galyo]

Originally Posted by Dr. Otto

You can relax. I think we've all conceded that the gender of the victim will stay the same from beginning to end.

Sorry for being so explicit about it, but TG TFs are generally a big turn off for me.

Although most people know I have a fondness of horses, I think a cow TF will be very interesting. I like the script you've written so far; seems like a nice foundation to work from.

One thing I don't like about most cow TFs is that a lot of them contain hyper fetish stuff, typically with breasts expanding beyond the scope of realism.

[CantSaySeeSaw]

Here's some things I was playing with today. I'm mostly posting because I think it would be fairly simple to make hooves from simple black wedge heels and some fabric. I can actually do this effect on webcam while manipulating a tail puppet and a single ear, or two ears with a still tail. I think we can show a tail growing, but maybe it would be enough to just look down and suddenly have hooves without showing the transition.

[Dr. Otto]

Originally Posted by CantSaySeeSaw

Here's some things I was playing with today. I'm mostly posting because I think it would be fairly simple to make hooves from simple black wedge heels and some fabric. I can actually do this effect on webcam while manipulating a tail puppet and a single ear, or two ears with a still tail. I think we can show a tail growing, but maybe it would be enough to just look down and suddenly have hooves without showing the transition.

One way to compensate for what we don't SEE in a transformation is to replace it with something we HEAR. A nice, chunky, hardening sound effect could indicate the change, (I'm thinking of a noise akin to cracking ice) then the heroine could look down and see her feet have become hooves.

[Galyo]

I'm wondering how you intend to show the changed hoof when the foot is still plantigrade? Maybe a custom extension can work? I've seen those in fursuits before.

[CantSaySeeSaw]

Originally Posted by Galyo

I'm wondering how you intend to show the changed hoof when the foot is still plantigrade? Maybe a custom extension can work? I've seen those in fursuits before.

I'm not sure what you mean?

[thrandrall]

Intro treatment is good. Milk is kinda different than some other catalysts. You might want to also indicate sniffing and noticing that it doesn't smell sour - even if the implication is that it's been there for a while.

[thrandrall]

BTW, before I forget about posting it again...one of my go-to movie references for film-making on a budget.

Primer (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390384/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) - highly recommend checking it out and listening to the commentary too. (Score on IMDB is a little lower than I recall, but ignore that). We're talking about a feature-length movie about time travel - very well made - for about $6-$10k all in. Yes, there are next to no real practical effects and some out of pocket was avoided (ie. catering by director's mom, etc) - but it is still an amazing presentation.

I give the original El Mariachi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104815/...l_tt_1)similar credit ($8000 budget) but it was made 12 years earlier and the investment would have gone a lot further in Mexico at the time - then again, we're also talking about an action film where Rodriguez uses pretty much every editing trick in the book (ie. using blanks in real automatic weapons means he can only show them firing one shot and then has to repeat/cycle the frames to simulate multiple shots). Again, the commentary is a "must" for aspiring film-makers.

[popperock]

Let's also not forget Rodriguez's book Rebel Without A Crew, which is about the making of El Mariachi and includes one of his Ten Minute Film School tutorials on how to be a low budget filmmaker. Also worth a look is Spike Lee's Gotta Have It: Inside Guerrilla Filmmaking. These are pretty much the primers for aspiring indie directors from the the 90's onwards.

[CantSaySeeSaw]

Thrandrall, thank you! Popper too. I'll take a look at those and make notes. I assume since you're in this thread you want to help the thing get made. What do you guys want to contribute in particular? Do either of you have any film experience?

Also if you PM me your approximate location, that might be useful information too. I'm trying to think about where this can get done, and so far the East Coast of the US is looking like the best option.

[CantSaySeeSaw]

PRESTIGE CHALLENGE

It's Easter and you know what that means-- stuffed lagomorphs are on sale! I challenge you to purchase one and use it to make a head-band or hat that makes it appear like you've grown donkey and/or cow ears. Post a picture of your creation-- preferably of someone wearing it, doesn't need to be you-- and I will pick my favorite. Winner receives postage to send the ears to me, and I will wear them in whatever circumstance you want. No nudes, but will consider almost anything. I will also throw in some kind of super secret suprise-- don't know what yet, but I'm *really* good at suprises. Contest ends after five people enter. If five people don't enter, we can negotiate.