Title: Whispers in Stone
Logline:
When his workaholic mother and alcoholic father’s late-night argument erupts, a lonely boy attempts to reconcile them with tea, but his accidental scalding goes unnoticed, driving him deeper into his world of stone miniature creation.
Old Version:
A sensitive child who was overshadowed by his parents’ endless arguments over their conflicting parenting styles, finds comfort in building miniature stone worlds which he can express himself freely. His parents cannot notice the child’s small joys and desperate attempts to connect. When a stormy night heightens the tension, he struggles to bridge the growing gap between his imagined world and the reality of his fractured home.
Synopsis:
One night, a young boy sits at home alone, waiting for his parents to come back so he can show them the little stone structures he built. But ends up going to bed disappointed.
Late that night, his mom stuck from work, while his father is out drinking with his friends. hey start arguing as soon as they get in; his dad doesn’t understand how hard it is for his mom to work late, and his mom gets mad at him for spending so much time at parties instead of being with their child.
The shouting wakes the boy, and feeling helpless, he wishes they would stop fighting. He gets out of bed and decides to make them their favorite tea, hoping it will help calm things down. But in his rush, he accidentally burns himself while trying to make the tea. Instead of noticing his injury, his parents just see the broken teacup and start arguing about that, completely ignoring the fact that their son is hurt.
Once they finally calm down, both parents feel guilty and ask the boy what he wanted to show them. He excitedly presents his little stone creations, but when his parents exchange silent glances, he can’t help but feel disappointed. The next day, he finds some new toys like a set of Legos and a soccer ball on the table. He glances at them, but then pushes them aside and goes back to playing with his stones.
Old Version:
This story captures a child’s longing for connection amidst parental discord. It begins with a young boy, xxx, delicately crafting a stone structure in his bedroom, eager to share his joy with his emotionally distant parents, xxx and xxx. However, when they arrive home, their argument quickly overshadows his creation, causing his hopes to fade.
As a thunderstorm mirrors the rising tension in the house, the boy attempts to make tea for his parents but accidentally burns himself, emphasizing his sense of helplessness. The next day, to make amends, his parents give him toys, but they’re well-meaning gesture only deepens his feelings of isolation.
In the end, the boy finds solace in his stone creations, whispering his thoughts and dreams to them. As he builds, vibrant colours swirl around him, blending his imagination with reality. Yet, his parents remain oblivious to the magic unfolding in their midst, caught up in their ongoing conflict. Heartbroken but hopeful, he places the final stone and whispers, “Maybe one day, they will see it too,” caught between the wonder of his imagination and the emotional distance of his parents.
Tone and style:
The animation will embrace a 3d oil painting style that creates a dreamlike textured visual style experience.
The oil-painting style allows for a beautiful interplay of rich that flowing colours that transition between the warmth of a child’s imagination and the bleak tones of reality.
(The sound scale will enhance the immersive quality, from the soft whispers of the wind among the stones to the sharp crack of thunder and raised voices echoing through the house.)
Derailed Treatment:
Introduction: (0-2 mins)
The film opens with a gentle and painterly scene of the child, xxx, playing alone in his bedroom, stacking small stones into a delicate structure.
As he places the last stone, he looks towards the empty house, hoping to share this moment with his parents. In the distance, viewers see his mother, xxx, typing furiously on her laptop, while his father, xxx, is glued to his phone. Their faces are blurred, unfocused, emphasizing their emotional distance from the child.
The warm colours of the backyard fade as the child’s hopes dim, replaced by the cold blue tones of the empty kitchen when he heads inside.
Inciting incident: (2-3 mins)
One evening, after building a miniature house out of stones, xxx waits for his parents to come home. He positions the stones carefully, imagining them as a welcoming family. When his parents finally arrive, the house fills with muted colours and shadows. They don’t notice the child’s creation. Instead, they begin to argue, their voices becoming louder.
Through VR, the viewer feels the room shrink around the child, as his parents’ sharp words cut through the air. The vibrant colours of the child’s imagination shade into grey as he realizes they won’t notice his efforts.
Raising Action: (3-7 mins)
A thunderstorm rolls in, the sound of heavy rain wrapping the VR space.
A clap of thunder jolts the child awake, and he hears his parents’ argument from the master bedroom.
(Peering through the crack of the door, viewers see distorted, oil-painted figures of his parents, their faces smeared with anger and frustration.)
(Peering through the crack of the door, viewers see the distorted, oil-painted figures of his parents, their faces smeared with anger and frustration.)
As the fight escalates, the father throws a glass, shattering it into shards that seem to float in slow motion.
The VR experience captures the shards falling like droplets of paint, splattering across the room, adding to the chaotic scene.
The child, desperate to diffuse the tension, sneaks into the kitchen to make his parents’ favourite tea.
Unfortunately, Ethan struggles to pour it, only to accidentally scald himself.
(The viewer feels the heat of the steam rising as Ethan try to pour it)
He cries out in pain, and the sound echoes in the VR space, creating a stark contrast to the distant voices of his parents, who use his accident to further blame each other.
In this moment, the VR perspective shifts to a low angle, making the viewer feel the child’s smallness and vulnerability
The boy retreats into the closet, clutching his burned hand. His parents’ argument continues in the background.
Climax: (7-8 mins)
The next day, the atmosphere shifts. His parents, guilty and trying to make amends, present the child with a bunch of toys, LEGO sets, and a soccer ball.
Option 1: The boy pretended to be thrilled to receive the gift under the gaze of his parents. However, after putting the gift back in his room, he continued to play with the pile of stones.
(The VR environment is filled with bursts of vivid colour?)
Option 2: Yet, the child’s gaze remains fixed on the ground, uninterested. The child tries to express his desire for time with them – a simple request to build something together- but his words go unheard.
Resolution: (8-10 mins)
The child return to his bedroom after the school and clutching the small stones that he had gathered. He kneels in front of the miniature stone sites he builds, arranging and rearranging the stones as he whispers to them, pouring out his thoughts and dreams.
(It is a place where he feels heard, even if it is only the rocks he carefully stacks.)
In the world of stones, the colours return, swirling around him in warm and flowing strokes.
As the sun sets, casting a golden glow over the miniatures, the child smiles (Bittersweet smile (small)). As he puts on another stone, his imagined world seeps into reality- a vine of light and colour spreading from the centre of the miniature house into the real world. The stones grow larger, merging with the surroundings, creating a surreal landscape where imagination and reality intertwine.
However, his parents continue to clash, their words echoing through the walls of the child’s world, unaware of the magical shift around them.
The child watches from the sides. If you are careful enough, you will notice the child being caught heartbreak, as the world he built to escape their conflict has now become the stage for it.
At the end, he places the last stone on top of his stone made tiny house; the colour exposed around him. He whispering to himself, ‘Maybe one day, they will see it too.’ Yet, even as his parents stand in the midst of their child’s creation, they remain focused only on their own anger, and missing the wonder that the child had hoped they would share.