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Progress Report - June 24, 2024 [Question At Bottom Of Post]
🕑 Added 2024-06-25 10:06:14 +0000 UTCHello, everyone.
I hope you all have had a better week than I. Cuz mine's been rough.
As you probably already deduced, this week's poster isn't of Pharmmetra. And that's because the project is in a bad state.
Last week, I noted how I had 6.5 minutes of storyboard done, with 7 ideas I wanted to implement, and 3.5 minutes to implement them in. I noted how it'd be a challenge to include them all, and I'd probably only be able to go with 4 or 5 of those ideas.
In the days since, I was able to implement ONE of those ideas. ONE. And it ended up taking up the entire 3.5-minute section. The storyboard, with that one idea implemented, is at 10:03 right now. AKA, exactly against the 10-minute mark. And I haven't even gotten around to implementing the full ending yet.
You can CLICK HERE to view the 10-minute Pharmmetra storyboard, as it stands now.
In the days after getting the storyboard to that spend, I proceeded to spend a few days trying to cut the storyboard down. And I absolutely agonized over it. I tried and I tried and I tried, but I just couldn't bring myself to cut anything out - I personally feel like every shot is either load-bearing or has important characterization. Cut out a load-bearing shot, and the story just felt rushed and jumbled. Cut out a characterization shot, and it felt cold and impersonal, which isn't the vibe that I want at all - the idea is that picking up and knocking up ladies is just a casual activity that Pharah and Symmetra partake in, a casual date-night sort of thing. So them being personable and expressive is really important to that idea.
Like, I cannot stress this enough: trying to cut the project caused me genuine anguish. If you've been around for a while, you know that I have bouts where I tend to spiral into a deep depression and fall into a really dark place. Usually that spiral sneaks up on me, but trying to cut this storyboard down, I could physically feel myself spiraling. I actually had to straight just disconnect from the Internet for a bit, because I was afraid I was going to do something I regretted. I don't know how many times I wrote a "I give up" Tweet, posted it, and then deleted it a few seconds later.
After three days of being caught in this death spiral, and after a genuine panic attack over genuinely not knowing how to save the project, I decided to take a step back and put together an emergency backup project. The idea is that I will try one more time to fix the Pharmmetra storyboard - and if I can't, then I have a project that I can fall back on, as a safety net.
This backup project is intentionally extremely low-narrative, with very little characterization, very little storytelling, and a very simple theme. Because of the low-narrative nature, none of the previous contender ideas fit (all being fairly high-narrative, even the lower-narrative ones). And so I ended up spontaneously come up with an entirely new idea for it.
The emergency project I came up with is what you see in this week's Progress Report poster: Moxxi whoring herself out for some quick tips. Short, sweet, and to the point.
I shared an early prototype of it on Twitter, and the reception was pretty warm. I've since hammered out more of the storyboard, between yesterday and today, and got it just about finished.
You can CLICK HERE to view the 8-minute Moxxi storyboard, as it stands now. Do be aware it has music, so adjust your volume accordingly.
The public reception is encouraging, but its really you guys and gals, my Patreon, whose opinion I'm most concerned about. And so, I'll just ask you all point blank:
Would you be disappointed if I ended up shelving the Pharmmetra project to do this Moxxi project instead?
And then relatedly, would you rather I try to fix Pharmmetra, or would you genuinely prefer the Moxxi project?
![Progress Report - June 24, 2024 [Question At Bottom Of Post]](https://img5.runfaps.com/storage/9/lx/hz/e9630c-019e8535-66b7-78e4-8445-268621b4eaa5.png)
Comments
TheNexus1
I love the idea with Moxxi. The dirty talk should stay on the side of making me bust a nut and not bust out laughing. lol But seriously though I love your work.
JBlume
I'm not really keen on driving artists into depression and wish you the best. Personally, I love the Pharmmetra concept, and don't like Moxxi as a character as much. I don't know if this is a helpful suggestion, but maybe just focus on the parts and scenes that inspire you the most (or are most easy to "win" at) and keep the rest as comics / still images. You can add more video later.
Hivedragon
If you need to selve, selve it. Dont put unncessary presure on yourself.
Fattycakes
I am really looking forward to the Pharmmetra video. That being said, I'm here for you and your work, not just Pharmmetra. I don't need you to destroy yourself, to just have it made. I'm happy with whatever you put out.
Lord Aardvark
If tomorrow's attempt to rewrite the storyboard doesn't pan out, I will need outside help getting it cut down. I'm not so egotistical as to refuse to recognize when things are outside my ability and when I need help.
J Arco
You can shelve Pharmmetra if you need to. I'd rather you put your all into a project than feeling obligated to completing it. Passion is a good portion of any project. If that passion is waning for any reason, hold off, come back to it re-energized, and finish it with style.
Cuttingwaters
I guess it depends on how far you are planning on pushing Pharmmetra back. If it is the priority after Moxxi then I am good with the switch if it helps you wrap your head around solving the Pharmmetra problem. But I would prefer Pharmetra if possible.
empheezie
I vote for Moxxi, despite looking forward to Pharmmetra, Moxxi is one of my all time favs and seeing her back in the spotlight would be amazing.
Malgus26
Not really....I would def live to see the Moxxi story
Erwin Kreuzer
I really feel what you are saying, I have been there myself. In my work I also have to expose really deep message to an audience in a really simple and in a timely manner. I am not forced to do so, it is something I decided. I wondered sometimes if I shall just give up and write story without worrying about their meaning… But it is just not what I do. Even if we don’t really work on the same field I would advise you that. Never give up on what makes you special, even if it takes time and effort. The fact that you care so much about this is your specialty. Don’t let that down. Tldr: I would advise you to keep working on Pharmmetra. PS. Apology for my poor English, it’s absolutely not my main language.
Derek Reaves
I would love to see Pharmametra but I understand the shelving part if needed. Moxxi is a great backup plan!!
Lord Aardvark
The price we pay for visual storytelling!
Chuck Moore
The only problem I see is that Innie’s (characters) hate condoms more than the Pope, but I will ultimately respect your artistic vision.
Lord Aardvark
That is the hope! I haven't spoken with her about it yet, since officially Pharmmetra is still on the docket. But she's wanted to voice Moxxi for years, and we got a small taste of that at the end of the Gaige video.
Chuck Moore
Personally I would prefer Mad Moxxi but that is mostly because I presume it would be InsideIncognita voicing her in the short.
Mateo Acevedo
I would love to see the pharmametra, it looks so well done and can't wait for it to be finished, keep up the gr8 wrk
