Based on a series of animated shorts made for American comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, creator Mike Judge took his characters and setting into live action with this smart down to earth comedy called Office Space. Judge who is best known as the creator of "Beavis and Butt-Head", wrote and directed this masterpiece of a movie, which satirize the tedious life of a pencil pusher, and just about how much they will put up with before they flip out and start doing things by their own rules.
As I've said before, a lot of what I have in mind for the animation based on Jonathan Coulton song, is inspired heavily by this film. While I'll get more into Coulton in a later blog entree, it is know that before all his internet music success, he spent some time working as computer programmer in most likely a dull office with an annoying boss similar to this movie. It would not be impossible to assume that he most likely saw this movie, and was either inspired or related enough to the characters from Office Space, that he may have based the character of Bob some what on Bill Lumberg. If this is not the case, then Coulton at least had as much experiences dealing with people like those featured in this movie, as Judge himself. All speculation aside, my personal view is that the song is essentially what you get when you cross dawn of the dead with Office Space, and maybe add a pinch of Evil Dead.
The Plot is centers around frustrated low level employee of Initech, Peter Gibbons. After taking in a group session with a hypnotist, attempting to have himself brain washed into liking his dull job, a hart attack causes his hypnotist to drops dead. This event causes Peter to stop caring about all the unnecessary stresses in his life, and after being unintentionally promoted due to his new relaxed uncaring attitude, takes revenge for his fired co worker friends, by hacking into Initech's accounts to steal a very nice redundancy package.
I will be drawing from the following scenes respectively, for character movement, directional camera placing, facial expressions, and humor tone.
In this first scene we get to see the differences and interaction between the main character Peter Gibbons, and his boss Bill Lumberg. Bill strolls into work very satisfied, while Peter drudges in and even hesitates to enter. This illustrates perfectly the dynamic I want for Tom and Bob, Peter clearly hates Bill, but is just pretending to do what he wants so that he'll leave him alone.
There are some great shots here to, which I'll refer to when doing the animatic.
Here is a quick scene between Lumberg and the character of Milton. Milton was the main character in the same titled series of animated shorts, which the movie was based on. One of the shorts even featured both of these characters in a similar type of interaction, which eventually carried over into this movie and this clip. This again works as more good examples for movement and expressions for Bob, as well as some possible reaction inspiration for Tom when he's hiding from the zombies
Another short scene between Peter and his boss, this time a different member of management. While Bob was based a lot on Bill Lumberg, this character also works as a good template for movement and mannerisms to reference. I really love the calm way that Peter tries to get across his point, and how he ultimately fails because the other guy is happy to talk but will not listen to a word Peter is saying.
While I didn't Have Jennifer Aniston in mind when designing the character Janice, while looking for reference clips I could help noticing the similarities in what I was thinking about for the chemistry between her and Tom. This scene between Peter and Joanna demonstrates well the kind of thing I’m looking to do in the animation in terms of character direction.
Another scene with Milton and Lumberg. Through out the movie Lumberg continues to take and take from Miltons character until he eventually snaps and burns the building down.
Here is some footage of Lumberg talking to all the employees. Good references here are of crowds and how the way Peter is positioned really stands out among the other office drones.
Some more interaction between Peter and Lumberg. Peter really doesn't want to work on the weekend but he knows that if Lumberg asks him he will cave, so Peter is hiding from him in an attempt to slip out of work without his boss seeing him.
Peter disturbingly dreams about Lumberg having sex with Joanna after hearing that she slept with a Bill Lumberg, who unknowing to him just had the same name. The end bit where his neighbor is talking to Peter through the wall, works as good reference for when Bob is speaking to Tom and Janice through the wall at the end of my animation.
After witnessing the death of his hypnotist, Peter finally gets the courage to ask Joanna out. I figured this would be a good clip to reference a short exchange between Tom and Janice after he saves her from the hordes of zombies.
Again more good stuff for the end of the animation, to show how Janice and Tom reacted to Bobs speaking through the wall of their well protected hiding space. Bill Lumberg continues to try and contact Peter, but Peter just doesn't care anymore.
The final scene between Lumberg and Milton. Lumber continues to be a total ass hole to Milton giving him perfect reason to snap and set fire to his Lumberg's business. This is a great piece for Bob, Lumberg maintains his complete customer service like attitude towards Milton, even though he and him are placed in an absurd area where there would be not point in deluding each other any further. Bob has the same approach to Tom, he doesn't care that he's a zombie, he's still his boss and he still wants to remain professional.
Now that Peter no longer cares about work, he no longer cares about Lumberg. The big thing of note from this clip is the way Lumberg pretends to himself that Peter still respects him and continues to act as if Peter has been fair and is doing what he asks. I want this to be the way Bob walks away at the end of the video while the other zombies are chewing on the doors.
Lumberg tries to have a word about Peter's behavior. It backfires.
And finally the ending moment when Peter sees his place of work and personal prison burn to the ground. At first he looks so what confused as if not knowing what to do, then he sees the guilty looking Milton sneak away and he lets out an almost insane laugh. Tom has witness his daily hood die, all his co workers either eaten or turned into zombies, but he got the girl, found a place of safety, and feels more alive then he has in years.
Next I'll be looking at a few more films that have inspired this animation, the Evil Dead Trilogy.
