Hobos or Ghosts?

All right, Lonely Episode 2 is done (Long Live Lonely Episode 2! Death to the new flesh!). What's next? My daily script idea exercise from January birthed two short scripts that I'm equally excited about. However, both have significant challenges.

 
See the World By Rail - Hobos ride steam trains in the 1930s (ish). It's a simple set up with a tiny twist at the end. 3 page script. Not a lot of dialog with 3 or 4 key visual moments. Would require some detailed small terrains (maybe the purchase of the terrain generator), an animated steam train (recently purchased) but the biggest challenge would be animating a hobo convincingly playing a guitar in two scenes. Also while it will be short (< 5minutes), the lack of dialog, my failings as an animator and decision to stay in IC8 as opposed to UE5 will likely make this a "one for me" project. Well, let's face it. They are all one for me projects...haha.

Windows - This one is a workplace horror (a common theme from me...) focused on a window washer working on a skyscraper haunted by ghosts of Covid's past. Not a lot of dialogue but I think the post-covid theme is strong (and that's coming from someone who does plenty of eye rolling at the term post covid). Three or 4 difficult special effects and the set pieces would be exteriors 40 stories high in a city with some significant interior sets on the other side of the window.

Earlier in the year I thought I would finish "Lonely Ep2" and hit the ground running fast and furious on "Windows" to get it out by Halloween. Now, I'm pretty sure that's not possible and have opted for a more relaxed schedule. So..."See the World by Rail" looks like the next.

At this point I've worked up 5 hobo characters (hobo clothing is hard).

Also been researching the Terrain Generator for some custom exterior sets. I'll likely purchase it and get busy living on the holiday weekend. More news soon.