NGA Open Call - “The Thinker” storyboard concept

Abstract

Storyboard (9:16, monochrome, dramatic side light)

1) Introduce The world (0:00–0:16)

• Extreme macro on clay surface. No identifiable form.

• Macro pans along a ridge that could be muscle, but still abstract.

• Tight close-up where an elbow/forearm becomes readable for the first time.

• Foot forms from a blocky mass → recognizable plane breaks

• Tight on shoulder blade/back compressing into posture.

• Pull back slightly. You can now read “a body,” but not the full figure.

• Medium close: hand/knuckles near face. Head mass hinted, not clear.

2) The “click” into The Thinker (0:16–0:26)

• Medium shot from classic Rodin-ish angle, still partial frame.

• Slow pullback to show the whole quarter-scale figure.

3) End beat: stillness with life (0:26–0:30)

• Locked full figure for 1–2 seconds.

Ezra. 2022, stop motion.