Wonder References

Films

Images

Hair like this

Black coat

Actual Places
(Mexicali > Calexico population wise)

Wonder the Wiener Dog

TITLE: Wonder 
GENRE: Feel-good film? Epic/Adventure film
THEME: Keep moving forward
MAIN CHARACTERS: 
Wonder - He is a small, shaggy, stubborn wiener dog. Caught as a stray, this pup grew a bond with a small child and became best friends. He loves being by his side and will do anything to stay with him.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Owner (Robert?):

Other child (???):

BASIC PLOT: Set in Calexico, a small town in Southern California near the border of Mexico, lives a small wiener dog named Wonder. Wonder is content with his life when suddenly he's kidnapped! Now looking for a way back home, he faces many obstacles including hunger, crossing the border, and possibly getting a new owner. But even after all that, he is determined to go reunite with his best friend back home.

UNIQUE ANGLES/ASPECTS: Based on a true story; all from Wonder's pov; see some culture differences from Mexicali and Calexico (sort of, the main difference would be the environment's signs; ones in spanish v english)

TARGET AUDIENCE: General Audiences (meaning?) Something kids would be able to watch, but also for adults to enjoy

STORY STRUCTURE
ACT 1
Setting of Film: Backyard of house (set in the late 70s, early 80s) Southern California, near the border of Mexico (in a town called Calexico)
Film begins: Boy lets Wonder out to pee.
Inciting Incident: Wonder gets kidnapped (bag-napped?), transaction to Wonder in the back of a truck.
Plot Point 1: Wonder gets out of the bag and jumps (rolls) out of the truck, running in the opposite direction

ACT 2
Setbacks/How does the protagonist deal with them?
Wonder wanders (ha) to Mexicali. Exhausted and starved, Wonder can barely walk at this point. 
A small child holding some food sees Wonder. 
Child hesitantly gives some of the food to Wonder, which Wonder gobbles up happily.
The small child is gleeful. So much so that they pick up Wonder (yes, you're my dog now). 
Wonder possibly rests in the child's arms (like accepting their fate) but he hears the jingle of his collar. NO!
Wonder squirms and gets out of the child's arms, making a mad dash for it.
Child chases Wonder.
Wonder ends up crawling under the border; his collar gets stuck!

Second plot point that jumps to Act 3: Handmade collar snaps as Wonder runs away from the child, running into the desert area to go back home (clouds are in the sky, it looks like it'll storm soon)

ACT 3
Climax: Wonder reaches the house, but it's pouring rain. He paws at the door, but you can hear the loud thunder! Wonder, startled, runs and hides underneath their car. It seems like no one will realize that he came home.
Denouncement: Time passes, Wonder is asleep (looks messy, covered in mud, nappy, etc.) "Wonder?" Wonder's eyes flutters slightly open. "Wonder, is that you?" says a blurred figure before it fades to black.
Ending: Wonder wakes up. He is lying in the arms of his owner. In the room we see "missing dog" posters. All is well.

Personal Artist Statement

Stories have always been a core part of my life. It's everywhere, from how someone talks about their day to reading a book to watching shows on TV. I was always intrigued, always enamored about how people presented their stories. Then I realized that I wanted to do the same thing; I wanted people to get engaged with my narratives. 

Animations and illustrations are my chosen mediums to presenting stories. By visually describing a situation, it becomes more real. People see these images, and they become visually engaged.  I create these worlds for people to experience. And the best part is that by illustrating these narratives, I can lessen the barrier of language; I can communicate with essentially everyone. I can express my message without people having to struggle with written language.

My goal is to one day be part of the story-making process. I enjoy pre-production; I enjoy planning and dissecting stories, translating a script into storyboards, and coming up with concepts to help solidify the final look of the film. I love all of these parts, but I also enjoy animating. I enjoy seeing something come to life, translating expressions and emotions, and clarifying their intent so the audience is all on the same page. I have a voice, and by creating animations people can hear that voice clearly, even when nothing is being said at all.

My thesis film is one of my favorite stories growing up. It's based on a true story about a small wiener dog named Wonder, and his struggle and perseverance to get back home. As I was growing up, I was encouraged to try my best. And even if I didn't reach my goal, at least I gave it my all, which is all we can do. But we shouldn't just give up after realizing we can't make it; we keep going, we keep moving forward, and we become stronger that way. So I want to do the same with my thesis project; I want to give my all, to put in the sweat, the possible tears, and blood into this project. Just like Wonder, we both will face obstacles, but that doesn't deter us from doing our best to reach our goal.