F.M.

P Pitch and
Proposal
By Harry Burbidge

Product
Information

Content outline:

Live action and animated comedy short about a teenage boy, John, who
daydreams about being a cat (2D animated style), but soon realises the
consequences of being one.

Act structure
Act 1:
Cat being stroked by Johns Grandma. John jealously watches his pampered cat,
while having to wash up many plates and cutlery.
Shortly James has a daydream of him being a cat.
Act 2:
2.D animated sequence of cat sleeping, having lots of food and playing with a piece
of string.
Cat getting told off for pooing on the floor, shivering out in the rain and being
barked at by a dog (sound only).
Act 3:
John is shaken from his daydream and continues washing up the dishes.

Storyboard
Establishing shot for
location

Allows audience to read

grandmothers facial
expressions, as well as
able to read her dialogue.

 Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Flash CC15.

Resources

Cast and crew requirements:

Actor - Convey stressed, irritated and happy moods.

Budget
Production is essentially cheap, due to
resources (e.g. costume) already
available.
Adobe Flash, a cheaper industry
method.

Schedule subject to change

4th April

Continue filming live action

sequences.

11th April

Animate cat grinning at food.

18th April

Animate cat peeing on .

25th April

Animate cat being told of by

owner.

2nd May

Animate cat shivering in the rain

On weekends, commence filming live action shots 1- 6 and 8-15.

9th May

Continue filming live action sequences

16th May

Animate cat being spotted by

dog.
Edit together live action and 2D
animated sequences.

Proposed Schedule
Tasks

Week No

14/03/13

Design stills for each cat shot and convert sections needing to be moved into
symbols (e.g. legs).
Design food bowl and pile of biscuits (using reference pictures).
Create updates with the cat doing random things. E.g sleeping. Upload something
each day.

21/03/13

5
28/03/13

Animate sleeping sequence, by changing the mouth, belly and eye shapes.

Back up production sessions in case cast and crew cannot make it.
Live action performance by cats.
Critically evaluate Actors performance.
Consult on animations effectiveness.
Design cat and create animation stills.
Live action production sessions scheduled during half term/weekends
and prioritise college days over creating animated sequences.
Animated sequence completed within 1/2 weeks before deadline.

Critical approaches
Inspiration: Work stressed teenagers
Diary of a Wimpy Kid animated sequences.
Watching my own cats.
Humorous cat videos.
Simon's Cat.
Genre: Animated live action semi teen comedy.
Codes and conventions: Humorous and sometimes serious situations.
Realistic/fantasy style narrative.
Characters aged 12-18.
Target audience: Teenagers aged 15-19.
Those who rely on the internet (particularly watching YouTube and enjoying short animations) for
escapism from chores, homework and stressful scenarios.
Audience classification: Group 066.
Market fit: Teenage protagonist and teenage relatable issues.
Animation and animal appeal.
Cats antics reminding audiences of their own cats/pets.
Secondary audience: Young adults and older.

Representation: Teenager is not stereotyped as a lazy, slob like generic teenager.

Target audience survey

responses and how I
applied them:

Secondary research
Drawing tutorials to create a professionally realistic cat design.

Cat walk cycles: Realistic cat movement portrayal.

Still of my cats - to assure

accurate anatomy drawing.

Below are teenage inspired facial

expressions for my cat, to convey the
arrogant and moody persona.

Social issues:
Wanting to be in someone else's place.
Teenagers being alienated from others.

Legal and ethical requirements:

Prevent negative representation of teenager (i.e lazy and arrogant). Stereotype of lazy resistant
teenager broken down, as despite resistance, he continues carrying out expected chores (i.e washing up).
Talent release forms.
Location risk assessment and reconnaissance sheets.

Audience responses:
Preferred - Appeal to the storyline and enjoy the animation.
Negotiated - May enjoy the animation, but not like the idea of being a cat (e.g. wanting to be a dog instead).
May not agree with the message either.
Oppositional - Will not find animation or the message/storyline appealing.

Film festivals -

Destinations

Encounters - Short Film & Animation Festival.

Cardiff Independent Film Festival.

Emerging technologies
Facebook and Twitter.
Final Cut Pro and Adobe Flash.
YouTube.
Vimeo.

Thank you for

listening

Are there any

questions?