Storyboarding continued.

A (rough) breakdown of my post-it note storyboard; I've started to organise it into acts and scenes as it makes a lot more sense seeing it written like this and allows me to see the structure a lot better.

Scene 1

Opening title pans down over the scene of the desert that Pisthetaerus and Euelpides find themselves walking through. They are led by two caged birds, a jackdaw and a crow, that are restlessly hopping in the rickety cages they're housed in, perched atop a leaning tower of luggage that Euelpides is trugging along behind him in a wooden wheelbarrow. 

The two friends chat amongst themselves, setting the scene up for the viewer; How long they've been in the desert (about four days), whether they should have trusted the merchant who sold them the birds acting as compasses, leading them to someone who can help them in their goal of a better life.  Using the main characters as mouth pieces, talking about their own pasts the basic story can be set up.

The scene ends with them setting up camp, making a fire, setting the birds down next to them, and discussing their hopes and dreams for the future. This lets us see more of their own personalities, their goals, their motivations, how comfortable they are around each other hinting what their relationship is and how long they've known each other.  

Scene 2

Begins with a sandstorm; I feel that a scene of them getting up and getting ready for their days journey could be unnecessary, unless humor could be conveyed in it somehow, e.g. commenting on how great the day is looking, then the next shot is of an awful storm. 

The birds are going crazy in their cages, the men realise they must seek shelter. They see a very small oasis; nothing but a lonely desert tree in some bush. There's nothing else for miles around, so they duck down behind this tree, putting their luggage on its side to hide behind too. After the storm passes, they hear a voice but can't see where it's coming from. They soon realise it's being emitted by the tree itself, and they meet Trochilus, (slave birds to Epops).  At first he demands to know why humans are all the way out here, but soon they flatter him enough for him to fetch his master.

The men meet Epops, a scrawny molting bird, disappointing compared to the image that Tricholus was painting of him; Opportunity for a funny moment. 

The group of characters are introduced to one another and the goal of the men is discussed; A place to live where they can eat when they want, not have to do chores, not live under the rule of others. Epops suggests a few places, but none of his suggestions peak the mens interest. 

Pisthetaerus comes up with an idea of founding a new city with his new found friends, where they can make up their own rules. The group decides this is a good idea.

Epops calls for the other birds, and soon the sky is filled with a flurry of colours and different bird calls. They spiral down together, landing in the branches of the tree beside Epops.  At first the other birds are outraged as to why there are humans allowed to live in their midst and threaten to kill them, but Epops, the king of the birds, convinces them to give the men a fair trial and hear them out. Pisthetairus uses his incredible gift of the gab to flatter the chorus of birds, convincing them that they're more ancient and superior to both the Gods and mortals. He tells intricate lies and draws from myth to spin an elaborate history and fictional relationship with the Gods to convince and praise the birds.

Scene 3

After being so convinced by Pisthetairus's lies and compliments, the ego-inflated birds approach Zeus himself to inform him of their negotioations. Their city will be built between the heavens and earth itself; the perfect place to control mankind as well as the immortal Gods by controlling the trafficking of sacrificial smoke sent to the heavens by humans, thus starving the Gods. They talk to Zeus, saying if he does not surrender then they will stop his access to the human world. Equally, if mankind doesn't sacrifice to the birds instead of the Gods, then they will destroy their crops, but if they do then they will assist them by maintaining the insect pests that eat the harvest.   

While the chorus of birds are doing this, the Pisthetairus and Eulepides speak with Epops back at his house within the tree. They discuss how the men will become a part of the city of birds if they cannot fly. Epops directs them to a certain root that grants them wings. (There's a lot of potential for very cool scenery here; a forest, a secret cave, Where is the root? What does the root look like? Etc. The wing growing scene also has a lot of potential for something really creative. I should also take into account what the wings look like; typical bird wings or something more hybrid between humans and birds? Or should they look more like sails maybe?) 

Scene 4

 The city begins to get built. Different birds could have different jobs, e.g. Woodpeckers are carpenters, the owls are librarians and gardeners, ravens are postmen, halcyon's are fishermen, (A lot of capacity for character designs here!) 

Along with the physical city being built, the community and society also begins to take shape. Religious ceremonies made to honor the birds are written (I like the idea of a priest design for one of the birds; look into what kind of religion was prominent in the context of the play itself, e.g. when it was written. What kind of robes would they wear?)

After a montage of the city being built, a messenger announces its completion, and a party is thrown to celebrate. The birds all have a great time, and theres food and drinks and we see the birds accept the men as part of their society. 

 Scene 5

The following morning a second messenger announces that while the birds were distracted by their grand party, the goddess Iris has infiltrated their new city after being sent by Zeus to see why their not receiving the sacrificial smoke signals. After questioning her and locking her in cage for  a while, Iris is allowed to fly back home to her father Zeus, and complains about her treatment there (although I don't think including the scene with Iris getting home and talking to Zeus would be necessary.) 

Scene 6

It starts becoming widely known that humans are desiring to join the city and become birds alongside Pisthetairus and Euelpides. A herald from the humans arrives and announces this, before be hastily removed by Pisthetairus (could have a funny moment where the herald gets kicked off the side of the floating city/ slapstick comedy. The idea that humans will pander to whomsoever holds the most power is also discussable here, as  previously the humans worshipped the Gods, but as soon as a higher power holds command then that is who they pray too.) 

However, a third messenger spreads the word that unwelcome people are trying to get into the city. Here, as a new place founded on the ideals of having no rules or government over the two humans that created it, people believe that they have the freedom to do what they want here. For example, in the original script, a youth brings his father here on the premise that here, no laws would forbid him from beating him up. In my interpretation I should choose an example more suitable/ understandable for children, but still conveys the same message. Pisthetairus soon kicks out these humans though, for disrupting the peace. (Idea to do character designs for the messenger birds and maybe police birds?)

Scene 7

The chorus gathers together and speaks of the crimes and laws against their kind now in place in the city. These include catching, caging, stuffing, eating them. (Could be a place for a funny disney style song? Dark humor that appeals to both adults and children.) This setting could be in a courtroom? Or different locations depending on the lyrics of the song? 

While this is happening, the two men leave the courtroom while the birds song continues. As they walk away, the previously clear lyrics sounds more and more like chirping and bird calls. Walking away from the courtroom/ location of the scene (tbc), they're confronted with more humans climbing up the sides of the city using ladders they've made themselves. The following group of humans in the original script includes; a taxman, some traders, a poet, an inspector, a geometer, an oracle monger. Some of these make sense in my interpretation but I could change a few that make less sense in more modern times, e.g. change a geometer to an explorer or professor. These humans immediately begin trying to impose Athenian ways to the birds city, and yet again Pisthetairus rudely dispatches of them before they can make any changes to his personal haven from Athens.

Scene 8

A new figure is introduced; Zeus's nemesis Prometheus, who slides into the city unnoticed by disguising himself with a mask. His goal is to let Pisthetarius know that the Gods are planning something as they have started to starve due the lack of the sacrificial smoke that the Bird city is interrupting. However, he tell's him not to negotiate with Zeus until he promises to surrender his real source of power; his scepter and Basiliea, his maid. This information gets Pisthetairus thinking about Zeus plan, and worried for his beloved city. He confides in Euelpides, and they both await the arrival of the Gods with anxiety.

Scene 9

Soon the Delegation of Zeus arrives made up of three Gods; Zeus' brother, Poseidon, the incredibly dimwitted  Heracles and the even more stupid Triballiaus. They come to represent Zeus and wish to negotiate with the birds, so they don't have to starve any more. 

Pisthetairus, being a smart man, immediately sizes up these Gods, and chooses his first target. He easily outwits Heracles with promises of the leftovers from the grand banquet the birds had when the city had first been completed. Using Heracles as a much taller and stronger mouthpiece, Triballiaus is bullied into submission. Lastly, with Heracles and Triballiaus as two votes against one, Poseidon has no choice but to agree with his fellow compainions, and Pisthetairus' terms are accepted.   

Scene 10

As Pisthetairus' terms have been accepted, he is proclaimed King of the Gods and presented the scepter and Basiliea. The whole film ends with a gathering to the wedding of Pisthetairus and Basiliea.

Though this is the basic plot, I would like to put more thought into the specific locations of each scene, as this whole project is very narrative based and I feel that having a better visual idea of the scenery will help to progress the story as as whole. This is a challenge for me in itself as writing a strong narrative isn't something I'm well versed in, but would like to get better at.

I should also take this written structure and translate it into a drawn storyboard, conveying my transposal fully. This will also be done through the character design and development, as well as the progression of the design of the world surrounding the characters and narrative together.