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PROPOSITUM LOGO

DIRECTORY

Pre-Arnold Kai, little
Arnold Kai, little

A dedicated and memorable thanks go out to my friends, family, mentors, professors, coworkers, et al.. The experiences I had are ones I revisit gratefully in memories, photos, and within the work itself.

THE COMIC

PRŌPOSITUM excerpt, mixed-media graphic novel, 2023

Read on tapas.io, red

THE FILM

this is where it starts., mixed-media animation, 2022

ABOUT

PRŌPOSITUM is a story encapsulated in a brightly full-colored graphic novel with a range of construction paper backgrounds, mixed with found materials, colored pencil illustrations, and found photo manipulation techniques for the digitally rendered characters to interact with.

 

Arnold Kai, a man with a shady past as a scam artist, wakes up naked in a field, unaware of who he is or where he is. Upon finding an existential guide, Arnold has to relive the events, harsh relationships through past versions of himself, and the consequences that led to his death. Arnold now has a big decision about what he wants to do after his journey through what is called Wait Space.


As a sister project to the comic, "this is where it starts." is a three-minute animated film following the same storyline and also features mixed-media components. Bentley, Clarence, and Trevor drive out to the middle of nowhere to bury the body of their recently deceased friend, whom they’ve collectively killed. In the process, they relive the instances that led to his death. They will leave the body here and never look back. Little do they know, this is only the beginning. This is where it starts.

This project started as a short film idea, developing into a larger narrative for Max Foster's undergraduate thesis project. The project has thus developed into short one-shots, extended writings, illustrations, and so much more.

Guide, little

Listen to the Spotify playlist!

CAST

Sparkle graphic
Arnold Kai, a caramel-skinned man, smiles wide with big teeth. He has half lidded eyes and a casual pose for his portrait. He's wearing a black suit, white dress shirt, and a red dress tie.

(Pre-) Arnold Kai

Age: 34 (now deceased)

Birthday: March 27th

Arnold Kai, before death, is evidently self-centered.

Arnold Kai, a caramel-skinned man, looks scared in his portait. He has tears in his wide eyes. His lip quivers. He's wearing a frumpled white dress shirt.

Arnold Kai

Age: 34 (now deceased)

Birthday: March 27th

Arnold Kai is reflecting through Wait Space, unaware of his past.

Sparkle graphic
Guide is a purple-haired and happy individual. They smile brightly. They have eyebags along with a mole on their right cheek (to the viewer's left). Guide wears a grey shirt with a necklace around their neck.

Guide (Avery)

Age: !?#%^

Birthday: January 4th

Guide is a sympathetic but challenging Wait Space advisor.

Bentley Russo is a slender-faced African American man. He smiles with half lidded eyes, and a calm smile. He has freckles on his cheeks. He's wearing a black suit, with a white dress shirt, and red dress tie.

Bentley Russo

Age: 32

Birthday: November 30th

Bentley is a passionate observer of the life but is often distracted by his sentimentality.

Clarence Mentaur, white, hangs his head with his shoulders slumped forward. He's an axnious individual. He has blond hair and his eyes take up most of his face. He has long eyelashes. Clarence is slightly smaller than the others. He's wearing a black suit, white dress shirt, and a red dress tie.

Clarence Mentaur

Age: 19

Birthday: August 15th

Clarence is an anxious but resourceful individual who's always thinking ahead.

Trevor Bautista is a terracotta-skinned man with large rectangular brown eyebrows. Trevor has a ponytail that sticks out from the back of his head. Wth half lidded eyes, he looks to the left. He's wearing a black suit, white dress shirt, and a red dress tie.

Trevor Bautista

Age: 21

Birthday: May 2nd

Trevor is a spontaneous yes-man who attaches himself to his role models. 

Even more characters...!

COMING SOON...

CHARACTER ART

Clarence Mentaur, little
Trevor Bautista, little

CONCEPT ART

PROCESS & STUDIO WORK

These photos document my senior thesis studio desk and the small backroom I liked to call my Fortress of Solitude. 

EXHIBITION

Bentley Russo, little

At the end of my spring semester senior year after completing my thesis, PROPOSITUM was exhibited at Montserrat Gallery in Beverly MA during Here, There, and Everywhere. I was featured among my senior Animation and Interactive Media peers. I functioned as a co-curator, point person, and installer.

PRŌPOSITUM

Original graphic novel and animated film project

 

© MaxFosterStudio.

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