Loose ends Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Posted by Helen in Story teamwork.Tags: Poll, story
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We’re tying up all sorts of loose ends in the story.
It’s been decided that Otto Dafé didn’t pass the manuscript of the Challenger journal on to Beryl Potts – he gave her an amended copy (69% of the vote). This means the original is safe somewhere.
There’s been lots of discussion about the implications of Otto and Lyn working together. Lyn has lured Aileen to Christchurch on the pretext of chasing Otto – who she knew all along was a good guy. So, what is she up to? The current theory is that Lyn needs a journalist to be present – either to make sure that Grazp’s activities are reported in the press (my idea, seconded by Kiwi) or because she thinks a journalist will be able to help them find things out (Tom’s suggestion).
What do you think? Did Lyn want Aileen as a press witness, or for her investigative skills? Vote now in the poll to the right.
And, another question: Tom suggests that Kyle might be Invisible Inc.’s police contact. He suggests that Aileen wasn’t actually a suspect, but Kyle told her that to get her involved because Invisible Inc. wanted her.
So, is Kyle also in on the conspiracy? Does everyone except Aileen and Watson know what’s going on?! Vote in the sidebar poll.
We’ve also been chatting about Aileen’s Mum, and whether she was also in on the plan, whether she was framed (or being used to get at Aileen), or whether she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The conclusion is that she was just unlucky – and clumsy! As Bibliomane puts it: “She sounded EXACTLY the sort of person who would do that and Aileen was clearly only too familiar with Mum getting fired – maybe she just always messes up.”
All of this conversation about loose ends has got us thinking about how we approach the final episode of The Lost Book. Here are two options:
1. We finish the story from where we left off, and show what happens when Beryl Potts is confronted.
2. We cheat slightly and fast-forward six months. The episode is based around a voiceover narration where one of the characters reflects on what has happened since the night-time rescue in Christchurch. The visuals would show snippets of the events (Beryl being driven off in a police van, Aileen being re-united with her mother, etc. etc.) . We’d be able to tie up far more loose ends this way.
What do you think? We’d like to have your opinion, so leave us a comment.
The Lost Book is an animated web series where you wrote the plot.
I see the advantage of the second option but I hope the actual outcome would be unrevealed until the last minute – maybe a twist in the tail? – and that there would be plenty of action in the snippets to balance the reminiscing.
I also hope that there might be something unresolved or left open, to leave scope for a sequel…
Is there the possibility of a sequel project?
Or are we getting our hopes up here?
@Tom – a sequel is a possibility but by no means a likelihood. It certainly won’t happen immediately. We need to make sure the main part of this story (solving the crime of the missing book) is completely resolved so that this series stands alone.
@Bibliomane – may I make a suggestion? Aileen’s no longer investigating K.B.E. – it was decided she’d concentrate on solving this particular crime. Could this be the “unresolved” element that leads to a new story in the future? Now that Aileen knows about their existance, she’ll want to track them down at some point…
It’s great that you’re interested in a sequel. We’re going to be canvassing opinions about the project next month, to find out what you all like and don’t like, and whether a new project would be appreciated. In the meantime, there’s one way you can help us to make a sequel more likely: tell your friends and get them to join in! The more people take part (especially if they actively join in the discussion by leaving comments), the better our case for getting more funding.
@TLB At the risk of exasperating further my friends who already hear a lot from me about TLB – yes, I will continue to encourage them in!!
Happy with your point re the resolution here – I wasn’t meaning a real Desperate Housewives type cliffhanger.
I liked the idea of AA joining Inv. Inc. so if she joins that would neatly create that opening :) – or provide a satisfactory conclusion if there is no sequel
:(
I think a flashback would be slightly disappointing, like JR waking up and finding his shooting was just a dream, although I can see why it would be so much easier for you to tie things up.
With the Professor free and Otto free to talk locating the real manuscript can’t be too difficult. They have a helicopter to help them get somewhere fast, Kyle with the police resources and Watson the super sniffer.
Maybe the story could end with shady KBE figures watching as Aileen et al celebrate recovering the manuscript.
Has Beryl got the Ikhata? Did they rescue it when they escaped?
@Bibliomane – thanks, and sorry if your friends are already bored of the subject! Tom’s idea of Aileen joining Invisible Inc. is a good one, isn’t it?
@Kiwi – it isn’t a problem to resolve the story without the flashback option. But, the discussions over the past week have started to ask lots of questions about earlier events (why did Lyn seem surprised when she discovered the destroyed book in her shop? What was Aileen’s Mum’s involvement? Was Aileen really a suspect or did Kyle make that up?) and answers to all those questions can’t be fitted into 90 seconds and a standard narrative structure!
Has Beryl got the Ikhata? Who knows?! We don’t yet know what happens to it on the expedition – it may still be in Venezuela. We’ll be watching the expedition journal microstories with interest….!
I can see how the second option would explain more stuff, not just the earlier stuff, but what happens next. It’d be good to find out if Kyle ever asks Aileen out, and if he gets his job back, and whether Aileen’s article exposing Grazp Pharmaceuticals is printed…
A summary would be good because the story has gone in unexpected directions. Maybe it could even show what happened to the Prof and the Ikhata in Venezuela? I think she must have destroyed it or hidden it somewhere it will never be found.
@Meg, it would be really interesting to see the fall out from Aileen’s article.
Maybe do both?
Start with actual events and then shift over to flashbacks.
Like first you get the current confrontation with Beryl Potts. Then a fade out to a cafe where the group is talking, a month or so later. There they think back about what happened afterwards while they celebrate? And then maybe end it with Lyn casually suggesting Aileen to join Inv Inc (and then not hear Aileens answer while the story fades out).
@Tom, that’s a great idea, but I’m afraid we’re vetoing it. We’ve always planned that the final episode will be a smidge longer than the others (~90 seconds before credits rather than ~60 seconds) but that still doesn’t leave time to fit in both a confrontation and a celebration.
@Meg, I agree with @Kiwi – it’d be great to see Aileen get published. It’s on the list of possible snippets to include in episode 6, if we go with the flashback option. And, @Brian’s idea about the Challenger expedition is also on the list. And, @Tom’s plan for Aileen to join Invisible Inc. And lots of other ideas that I’m sure will be suggested in the next few weeks.
But… that’s only if you decide you like the flashback option. We’ve put a poll up, so you can vote now. We’d like to get this finalised by Friday, so that as soon as episode 5 launches we know what we’re aiming to do in episode 6.
If we go to the (Iowa) cafe there could be more significant cupcakes or other delicious meaningful edibles!
It would also be good to bring together some of the motifs like the dino print and number 4 (did we ever decide what that was about? I’ve forgotten!!).
Using some of these images from previous episodes as visible props could build up tension in the last episode without having to use them in time-consuming dialogue or action, no?
Hmm, @Bibliomane – are you suggesting a third option? One where we don’t see any of what happens, but instead we see the characters sitting in a cafe discussing it?
(The number 4 turned out to be related to chemicals found in the rejuvenating water, which highlighted the involvement of Grazp Pharmaceuticals.)
Oh yes, 4, thank you!
@ TLB, no, I just meant that the voiceover could be speaking over the group or character (seen but not heard) in the cafe. I think I misunderstood a bit. Your option = no visible “6 months later” setting at all, just the voice + flashback snippets, is that right?
Sorry for confusion on all fronts! I’m in favour of flashback, taking everything into consideration.
@Bibliomane – ahh, I see! Hmm, might work… we had been thinking about only showing flashback snippets, but perhaps starting and ending with a cafe scene would be an effective framing device…? Definitely worth mulling over.
were ar the dogs. ps. ive been away.
Hi Snaknap – we’ve missed you! We definitely need some ideas about what Watson’s been up to, so that we can show it in the final episode. Let us have your thoughts over at: http://thelostbook.net/2009/06/24/which-stories/