UNDER INVESTIGATION
Collaborative Fictional Narrative in the Crime Fiction Genre and Film Noir Style.
INTRODUCTION:
This project began with forming a team of investigators who collaborated on exploring a "Mystery Box" full of important artifacts and clues. The team was given the task of using these clues to develop the primary plot and characters of a Fictional Mystery, which will develop into a film presented in the Film Noir Style.
MATERIALS:
Adobe Photoshop Sketch, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator Draw, Adobe Illustrator CC, Adobe Comp, Adobe InDesign CC, Adobe Premiere Clip, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe Media Encoder, TUFTS VUE.
ALPHA TEAM
"MYSTERY BOX"
All the evidence that was found in the briefcase to build the characters.
HYPOTHESIS
It is base on the clues in the mystery box.
VISUAL MAP
It is contains evidence about the crime. It is going to build a synopsis for the story.
VISUAL MAP 2
It is contains evidence about the crime. It is going to build a synopsis for the story.
METHODS USED TO BUILT THE STORY
As a group we explored the mystery box we were given, took notes of names, documents, dates and any clues that could lead to a good plot. Also took pictures of the artifacts and created a visual map in order to develop ideas. After having the visual map done, and using the names we found in the mystery box, we started to develop our story. As required for the project the following questions were answered;
1) When: Based on the dates in our documents our story develops in 1967.
2) Where: Our story takes place in two locations, one being New York, USA were the main character lives, and the second one Sicily, Italy were the climax of the story develops.
3) Who: Our story has three characters, Sophia Corsava (main character), Frank Corsava a.k.a John Smith (antagonist) and Tany Corsava (secondary character), they were inspired by names found in documents in the mystery box.
4) What: (What happens in the story) We developed our story around Sophia's life and the past of her father, Frank. He committed the crime, related to drugs and mafia, scenario that conflicts with Sophia's current life and values.
5) How: (The crime committed) Frank after becoming a War veteran, story inspired by WWII photos found in the mystery box, became part of the Italian mafia in New York, which meant dealing with the mob and the trafficking and selling of highly illegal drugs such as morphine and heroin.
6) Why: The crime was committed mainly for two reasons, first; Frank when in service was badly injured and to beare the pain he used drugs such as morphine and heroin and eventurally became addicted to them. Then when back in New York, because of the drugs he was using he became involved with the Italian mafia, which offered him a job, to which he couldn't resist for it allowed him to have his daily drug supplies and also money to survive and support his family (Sophia and Tany).
STORY PLOT/ SYNOPIS
Under Investigation - “Sophia”
o Locations: New York, USA – Sicily, Italy.
o Year 1967
o Main Characters: Sophia Corsava (daughter), Frank Corsava (father) and Tany Corsava (grandmother).
Sophia grew up to be a very strong and intelligent woman. She is the daughter of Frank Corsava, a WWII veteran who disappeared when she was only 8yrs old (1948) and his body was never found. She lives with her grandmother, Tany Corsava (Italian immigrant), ever since she was born (1940). Her mother died giving birth and her father was an active soldier at the time. Her and her grandmother live very well after the heritance her father left them.
She dedicates her life to her career as an FBI special agent, specializing in organized crime. Because of her dedication and excellent performance she is assigned one specific case, to bring down the Italian mafia in New York, which includes traveling to Sicily, Italy in aims to catch the head of the organization.
Sophia goes to Italy and works undercover, posing as someone interested in getting involved in the organization. The FBI has spy agents inside the mafia and gets Sophia an encounter with John Smith (an American men with Italian background), who was the head of the Sicilian mafia at the time. They meet in what it looks like an abandoned office, a very dark place, although some light beams through the window’s blinds to illuminate the place. They talk about her becoming part of the organization, he tells her he will think about it and contact her later.
She dedicates her life to her career as an FBI special agent, specializing in organized crime. Because of her dedication and excellent performance she is assigned one specific case, to bring down the Italian mafia in New York, which includes traveling to Sicily, Italy in aims to catch the head of the organization.
Sophia goes to Italy and works undercover, posing as someone interested in getting involved in the organization. The FBI has spy agents inside the mafia and gets Sophia an encounter with John Smith (an American men with Italian background), who was the head of the Sicilian mafia at the time. They meet in what it looks like an abandoned office, a very dark place, although some light beams through the window’s blinds to illuminate the place. They talk about her becoming part of the organization, he tells her he will think about it and contact her later.
During the meeting Sophia feels a strong familiarity with this men but she can’t put her finger on. He sounds so familiar, and even though she can’t see his face, because of the lack of light in the room, whatever she can see of him reminds her of her father.
“How come?! He disappeared 19 yrs ago! Is it possible that he …” – She asks herself the same question over and over again for the next couple of days; “Is it possible that his disappearance has to do with getting involved with the Italian mafia? My own father?” – She decides to go back to New York and look for answers. She starts digging his past and how he made the fortune that she was left with. Tany always told her that he was just a good businessman, but at this point she knows there is more to the story.
Back in New York, she found photos and documents her grandmother had hidden from her, photos of her father just before he went missing, and documents of his disappearance that didn’t make sense. After that she was sure the man she met in Italy, was Frank Corsava, her father.
“How come?! He disappeared 19 yrs ago! Is it possible that he …” – She asks herself the same question over and over again for the next couple of days; “Is it possible that his disappearance has to do with getting involved with the Italian mafia? My own father?” – She decides to go back to New York and look for answers. She starts digging his past and how he made the fortune that she was left with. Tany always told her that he was just a good businessman, but at this point she knows there is more to the story.
Back in New York, she found photos and documents her grandmother had hidden from her, photos of her father just before he went missing, and documents of his disappearance that didn’t make sense. After that she was sure the man she met in Italy, was Frank Corsava, her father.
Then she decides to return to Italy and confront him. Another meeting is arranged and it is then that Frank, aka “John Smith”, decides to tell his daughter the whole truth, assuming the consequences.
He explains how he was badly injured in combat and to alleviate the pain and make life bearable he became a heavy user of heroin and morphine. Back in New York he found a supplier for those drugs, people that was involved with the mafia. The supplier offered Frank to work with them and his personal drugs would be free, besides, he could make a living to support his mother and daughter. So at the time he felt pressured to join them and started trafficking. Through the years he made a fortune, and gain respect within the New York mob. However, he was always worried that his “business” could put his family in danger. So he built a network in Sicily, and decided to fake his death by disappearing and moving to Italy. There he changed his name to John Smith, and joined the Sicilian mafia, who specialized in heroin and morphine trafficking at the time.
Her first instinct is to arrest him and take him to justice, but in her heart she understands that what he did was because of the circumstances at the time, and all along he did it for his family. Because of the risks he took, she and her grandmother have the quality of life they have today. She just can’t arrest her father after all she knows now, so they came to the agreement of him quitting the mafia, and her quitting her job. Both and grandma Tany, move to an unknown location … restoring their lives as a family and living happily ever after.
He explains how he was badly injured in combat and to alleviate the pain and make life bearable he became a heavy user of heroin and morphine. Back in New York he found a supplier for those drugs, people that was involved with the mafia. The supplier offered Frank to work with them and his personal drugs would be free, besides, he could make a living to support his mother and daughter. So at the time he felt pressured to join them and started trafficking. Through the years he made a fortune, and gain respect within the New York mob. However, he was always worried that his “business” could put his family in danger. So he built a network in Sicily, and decided to fake his death by disappearing and moving to Italy. There he changed his name to John Smith, and joined the Sicilian mafia, who specialized in heroin and morphine trafficking at the time.
Her first instinct is to arrest him and take him to justice, but in her heart she understands that what he did was because of the circumstances at the time, and all along he did it for his family. Because of the risks he took, she and her grandmother have the quality of life they have today. She just can’t arrest her father after all she knows now, so they came to the agreement of him quitting the mafia, and her quitting her job. Both and grandma Tany, move to an unknown location … restoring their lives as a family and living happily ever after.
~~~~ The End ~~~~
SOPHIA CORSAVA
Main Character
Sophia Corsava
(Rendering by Camila Rodrigues Cavalcanti)
Date of Birth: 1940
Place of Birth: New York city, U.S.
Address: 23 Bella Avenue, New York
Occupation: FBI Special Agent,
(specializes in organized crime)
Height: 5.7 ft.
Weight: 120 lbs.
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Blue
Personality : Highly intelligent, career oriented, determined and confident.
Sophia Corsava
(Rendering by Camila Rodrigues Cavalcanti)
Date of Birth: 1940
Place of Birth: New York city, U.S.
Address: 23 Bella Avenue, New York
Occupation: FBI Special Agent,
(specializes in organized crime)
Height: 5.7 ft.
Weight: 120 lbs.
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Blue
Personality : Highly intelligent, career oriented, determined and confident.
TANY CORSAVA
Secondary Character
Tany Corsava
(Rendering by Alexander Thom)
Date of Birth: 1890
Place of Birth: Verona, Italy.
Address: 23 Bella Avenue, New York
Occupation: Retired
Height: 5.4 ft.
Weight: 128 lbs.
Hair Colour: Grey
Eye Colour: Blue
Personality: Soft spoken, good listener, caring and loving with her family.
(Rendering by Alexander Thom)
Date of Birth: 1890
Place of Birth: Verona, Italy.
Address: 23 Bella Avenue, New York
Occupation: Retired
Height: 5.4 ft.
Weight: 128 lbs.
Hair Colour: Grey
Eye Colour: Blue
Personality: Soft spoken, good listener, caring and loving with her family.
FRANK CORSAVA
Antagonist
Frank Corsava
(Rendering by Cesar Ricardo Leon)
Date of Birth: 1910
Place of Birth: New York city, U.S.
Address: Currently Unknown
Occupation: WII Veteran
Height: 6.5 ft.
Weight: 148 lbs.
Hair Colour: Medium Brown
Eye Colour: Brown
Personality: Introverted, goal oriented, serious and private.
(Rendering by Cesar Ricardo Leon)
Date of Birth: 1910
Place of Birth: New York city, U.S.
Address: Currently Unknown
Occupation: WII Veteran
Height: 6.5 ft.
Weight: 148 lbs.
Hair Colour: Medium Brown
Eye Colour: Brown
Personality: Introverted, goal oriented, serious and private.
BRIEFCASE
All the evidence.
NINE PANEL STORYBOARD
(Illustrations by Camila Cavalcanti)
THREE PANEL STORYBOARD
(Illustration by Camila Cavalcanti)
FILM POSTER
First, I research about film noir movie in order to get idea how to create my own poster.
MOVIE POSTER/ ROUGH
(Illustrated by Camila Cavalcanti)
MOVIE POSTER
(Illustrated by Camila Cavalcanti)
3D MODEL OF SOPHIA CORSAVA
ADOBE FUSE
I did the character in the Adobe Fuse and I exported into Mixano to be animated. After that I recorded the animation using QuickTime Screen Capture.
3D MODEL OF FRANK CORSAVA
ADOBE FUSE
I did the character in the Adobe Fuse and I exported into Mixano to be animated. After that I recorded the animation using QuickTime Screen Capture.
3D MODEL OF TANY CORSAVA
ADOBE FUSE
3D BACKGROUND - PHOTOSHOP
This is the place where Sophia and Frank meet for the first time.
Frank is wainting Sophia. He is wearing glasses and hat as a disguise.
Finally, Sophia arrives for the meeting.
During the meeting Sophia feel that the man's voice is familiar.
Tany worried abou Sophia, so she decides to go to the place and watch her niece from far away.
Sophia left, she is confident that the smuggler has fallen into the trap.
Adobe After Effects Video
CONCLUSION
The purpose of this project was to connect clues; and objects collected in a briefcase. Developing the whole crinimal story and creating the characters. After creating the story my group and I built the characters using Adobe Sketch and Abobe Draw on the ipad. Then I developed a nine pannel storyboard, which was a challenge to choose the nine most important parts of the story to be designed in Adobe Comp. Finally I created my poster that had film noir feel. I used Adobe Illustrator, however; I do not have much skill in that software, so it takes me a long time to develop a poster. One of the parts I liked about this project was making the 3D model using Adobe Fuse, at this stage I created a 3D model with animation. Finally to represent the main scene of the story I put my characters in Adobe Photoshop and; I chose a background that represents the main scene in the story . To make the scenario real, I used Adobe After Effect to animate my characterand put her in the main scene of the story. Overall this whole project was very helpful to me. I learned a lot about the software, besides that it gave me knowledge about the Adobe apps on the ipad.
