opeartic animation based on the tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 31 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

poet4eternity	31 Jan 2003
Have you dared to think outside the square? Have you thought of trying something new and original? Are you looking for a truly original concept that helps set up new ground? If you answered yes to the previous questions, then I have the work for you. I present to you a metaphysical opera based on a journey into the major arcana of the tarot with the use of unconventional characterisations, standard characters like the magician, the fool etc. but with definite uncharacteristic attributes. I see it as having scope beyond the norm, we don’t want a death that’s a skeleton or has a scythe, or a devil that’s red, with cloven hoofs and horns. Lets play with the concepts, lets allow the creativity to create new models for both death and the devil. Lets say a death that’s a mirror, reflecting back what is there, a devil that’s both male and female with a voice like a used car salesman, mixed with an evangelist, mixed again with that of a young child. There is enormous scope for working within the framework of the script that I have written, being an opera its meant to be sung and all the pieces have a wide mix of music styles behind them from classical pieces to heavy rock with a touch of everything in between. The work goes for about three hours, think Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, as an example of the animation quality we are aiming for. With Moulin Rouge, Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter, and other like energy films abounding, the time is ripe for AMALAN, I dare you to try something truly unique and original. Lets push the boundaries of creativity, lets push the envelope of artistic development. I believe it lends itself more to being animated rather then being done as live action, but it could be adapted for live actors. The only thing I am insisting on is that I personally take on the role of either director or at most still have one hundred percent artistic control over the work and its completed efforts, this includes any merchandising that may result. I am looking for a chance to do some pre promotion work, in mainly getting it up and underway, I have seen it on the big screen and it would look fantastic. Lets get a gifted and extremely talented Australian a go and help employ some of the unemployed out there. I can see it employing about a dozen people, with some of the money going back into the artistic community. I am looking for a producer/sponsor/backer, if you can help in anyway I will be very pleased.

HudsonGray	31 Jan 2003
That's pretty grandoise--but unless you can write some of the music itself, I'm not sure you can get any backers to truly know what it is that you're thinking to accomplish. You need music writers, singers with operetic training (children don't fall into this category), choreography, set designers, etc. etc. etc. I'm not sure if anyone here has the money/time/skills to help in something like this. You've got better chances pitching it to those who specialize in theater arts rather than the tarot side. And you'll need a written draft of the script with pages of costumes & all the side comments as to who stands where, lighting directions, etc., before they'd take a look at it. (And something in your background to make them think you can pull it off--or it'll not be taken as serious as something submitted by someone with credits behind their name in the same field.) If you're looking to have it be animated, that's an entirely different field and one not often given to opera. The main studios are reluctant to go out on a limb with something that's not been tried & tested (ie: new) so you're immediately fighting that and the fact that you haven't worked in that field before. Going with a smaller studio will help in some ways, but they don't give an unknown complete directorial control because they're out to make money (like the big boys) and have to take a bigger chance with something new and unusual. It's not going to be easy. Both types of studio look at the bottom line in everything because of budgeting. Musicals don't make much money, unlike drama and action stories. They'd also be looking at the market interested in this--tarot is a very tiny part of the marketplace so you'd have to offer them something that says 'wide appeal' to really hook them. Being able to show them what's in your head is going to be of paramount importance. Luck to you. This doesn't sound like it's going to be easy.

The opeartic animation based on the tarot thread was originally posted on 31 Jan 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.