"The Jinx Project" - Writing the Story - Part 3

"The Jinx Project" - Writing the Story - Part 3

Read this "Story Commentary" from the beginning by clicking HERE.

On Sunday, March 9th / 2009, I read my story to my family for the first time.

 My Dad and his Wife listened quietly as I read everything. I started off reading at a normal pace, but by the end I was going through it all much quicker than I should. I lost track of time in the process. I knew that I had been talking for quite a while, but I had forgotten to look at the clock before starting.

After I had read the last words, there was a short pause, I looked up at them to see a bit of a twinkle in their eyes. They both spoke up, telling me how much they loved the story... for all the reasons I hoped. The characters... the way they interact with each other... the dialogue they speak... and the unspoken inner-thoughts of Jinx.  My Dad told me he liked how there were occasional rhymes I chose that were unexpected. He thought the story was going in one direction, and then I took it in another. All of this is what I had hoped to hear... But there was one more thing he said that made it a memorable moment...

My Dad said that he knows he doesn't say it much, but "I'm proud of you, Son". Adding, that he respects me for what I have accomplished with my life so far, through the good and the bad times.

This was a touching moment for me... as it's not something your Parents say often. But, I've always taken pride in knowing that my Mother and Father are proud of me. They have always expressed their love, and shown an interest in the things I'm passionate about...trusting me to make the right decisions for myself... and in the end, that's all any child really wants.

On the same Sunday, I drove to visit my Mother's house. I usually visit both sets of parents over a weekend. My Grandmother had recently moved back from living out West and was now staying with my Mother. I wanted to share what I wrote with them at some point during this visit. So, after dinner, I read the story to My Grandmother, Mother, and Younger Sister...

This time, I remembered to set a stop watch when I started reading. Once again, I started off speaking at a normal pace, but found I was speeding up again by the end. As the story concluded, I spoke the last few words, while looking up at my Mother across the room. Her eyes were welling up a bit, but she had this big smile on her face. It was a look I have seen at different points in my life when she had witnessed various accomplishments... and it meant a lot to see it again.

She told me how much she loved the story, and mentioned some of her favourite moments. My grandmother said that she couldn't believe how many different rhyming words I had used. My younger sister liked it a lot too. We talked about some of the details, and they offered some suggestions.

When I had finished reading, I had quickly turned off the stopwatch, without looking. So, after we had talked for a bit, I glanced down at the timer, and did a 'double-take'... It took nearly 22 minutes to read out loud!... and I knew I had read it quickly. I also have a 2 minute visual section of the story that is told entirely without narration. So, I immediately knew that my 15 minute animated short story, had now become a much longer animated film...

Right then I knew that if I wanted to see "The Jinx Project" from beginning to end; from Storybook to Animated Film... I was in it for the long haul.

Look for future 'Story Commentary' updates as this production journal continues...

Thanks for Reading!

Mike Hogue