The Pre-production Design
Portfolio of Owain Hollett
FRYHEAD:
BOARDS
Precise Viewing:
Background:
‘Fryhead’ was an assignment for my short-film class during my time at Sheridan. I combined three 30-second shorts together into one cohesive film. It was pretty much my first time making my own story under a very slim timeframe, so it was very experimental.
Synopsis:
A disgruntled McDonalds worker fantasizes of the many ways he could defy his orders by using objects in his surroundings. He wakes up from his dream and ultimately submits to his job… or does he?
Animatic / Storyreel:
This film is about the experience I felt at times during my minimum wage job after high-school. During my monotonous shifts, my mind would often drift off to twisted places as a way to cope. I believe it’s a very relatable feeling to get primal thoughts like these in crappy jobs to keep yourself from becoming complacent. The title ‘Fryhead,’ is both symbolic and literal- the worker’s brain is fried from the job as he pictures frying his boss’ head in the deep fryer.
If you’ve ever browsed the internet back in the day, you might have played the flash-game, ‘Whack Your Boss’ by Doodieman - which was a big inspiration. I basically ripped the same concept of clicking ordinary office items as weapons to attack your boss, but set within the back kitchen of a McDonalds. The game was another piece in that era of corporate job fatigue (such as: Office Space, Dilbert, Fight Club, and Falling Down). It’s a philosophy that was popular in the 90s, but is still relevant today, just under a different coat of paint.
The Meaning
Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) perfectly encapsulates the mindset by saying: “My manager can order me to do something, but for me not to kill that person at that moment is clearly a choice I make. It’s always a choice- a choice to do the assignment, quit and become a circus performer or kill all the people around me.” Adams, S. (1998, May). Interview with Scott Adams. Playboy Magazine.
It’s all about nature's choice. It’s shocking to see someone randomly kill their boss, and so is the concept that you can pretty much do anything. Murder is stupid and risky, but you can apply the same risk towards anything else besides mopping up grease.
OTHER PROJECTS:
FINAL ANIMATIONS
Film:
Garnering over 1k views on YouTube, and completed solely within the tight deadline of a semester- ‘Fryhead’ was the first piece that made me realize I had a passion for directing. Supported by my professor, Tabitha Fisher, who helped steer my focus in a direction that made sense.
REFLECTION
Medium Limitations
Given this film was entirely improvised, I didn’t have a clear idea of what direction I’d take it initially. I basically started with a gimmick ripped straight from a flash cartoon, then tried building my own meaning out of it. The twist ending came naturally to convey dark-imagination, it’s what gave the story meaning. I would have preferred the end sequence be depicted in live-action, as it would have added more clarity to the violent cartoonish events taking place in the protagonist’s mind. I wanted a distinct contrast from a simplistic cartoon to the harsh reality. I did my best to animate it in a vaguely realistic style, which does an okay job- but I’m uncomfortable with using mediums that aren’t being used to its full advantage.
How can I make a statement on fantasy and reality if there is no reality in the story? The real answer is: you can’t. That’s why I like storyboarding and directing- freedom to tell the blueprints of stories without being restricted to one particular medium.
