Baron Samedi (Veve) Character Design

Papa Legba (Veve) Character Design

Stickman Homework for Characters

Ed Wood Review

Tim Burton’s Ed Wood is a film biography of Edward D Wood Jr, a Hollywood screenwriter, director, producer and actor. Starring Johnny Depp as Ed Wood, Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi and Sarah Jessica Parker as Dolores Fuller.

Edward D Wood was famous for making cheap films, bordering on the ridiculous; these films were notable for their bad acting, questionable stock shots, flimsy set designs and doubtful special effects, especially for that time.  However, Wood was able to gain popularity and attract a cult as a result of his so-called artistic shortcomings, accomplished however after his death. Burton, on the other hand, worked meticulously to re-create Wood's films and his film Ed Wood was no exception. It was a production that brought the late 1940s to life and was comically portrayed in the same B-movie style that Edward D Wood created in his own films.  J.D Lafrance talks briefly on Burton’s passion: “No one understands and appreciates this devotion to cinema more than Burton. From Beetlejuice (1988) to Mars Attacks! (1996), his films are lovingly crafted homages to the horror and science fiction B-movies that the director enjoyed in his childhood” (Lafrance, 2004). It is the same devotion and love of film making that Edward D Wood injected into his own films that makes Burton the perfect candidate to make this movie. In wanting to recreate a film based in the late '40s, Burton felt it had to be shot in black and white, and he was adamant in his decision. The film was turned down by Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox until Disney welcomed the project. Tim Burton held fast to his vision in true Edward D Wood Jr fashion. From places, studios, houses in the same architectural style, to furnishings within them, Burton adopted them all to bring the atmosphere of that Hollywood decade to the screen. Burton told the story of Ed as a surprisingly happy soul despite constant failures to make popular films. What he might have lacked in talent, he made up in determination, and would sacrifice all to fulfill his visionary projects. Ed Wood is portrayed as an enthusiastic young screenwriter/director working as a prop man in a Hollywood studio trying to get his work screened. Dolores Fuller is his then girlfriend and an aspiring actress. Although very dark in places, particularly when portraying Bela Lugosi’s addiction and subsequent death, the film is generally light and comical. Following Ed Wood from his debut Glen or Glenda? to Plan 9 from Outer Space, Burton lightheartedly interpreted Ed Wood’s one-take scenario as a comical parody insisting after the first take “that’s real”, regardless of the take being riddled with errors. Wood’s perception of Hollywood and life had a slightly different twist than his contemporaries. This allowed Burton to add colour and lightness to what could have been a darker, heavier black and white film owing to its biographical nature, focusing on his cross-dressing fetish, a dedication to film making, and what would seem to be his one-take ineptitude. Burton used those instances as his glue to build an otherwise depressing story of one director’s need to tell his own story regardless of others' opinions to his struggle with unpopularity.

With the infusion into our daily lives of the colour of television and film, we sometimes take for granted the freeing of emotional inhibitions that today’s story telling gives us. The bombardment of colour allows us to feel imposed upon when a Black and white film is shown, as the story telling may appear difficult to interpret or even to watch. Burton’s method of story telling allows for such films to be more palatable although black and white. He focused on making his character, Wood, more understanding by utilising his so-called defects humorously, thereby introducing a broader spectrum in the film. As a result, Wood becomes approachable, easy to sympathise with and to love. Although intuitive and revealing, Buton's biography seems to be more about filmmaking, imparting useful pointers, in regard to Ed Wood, on what not to do to make a successful film until you can wield the power of Tim Burton, whose meticulous hard work almost always assures him a hit.         

Character Synopsis

The Hero, Papa

Sixteen-year-old Papa was believed to be orphaned in the Haitian earthquake, although found at a crossroads in a dense wood far from the devastation. Papa has lived a carefree life, and was always attuned with his surroundings. He was of medium height with a physically strong build owing to his athletic pursuits. However, his new life in Belmont Abbey, England, has forced him to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, though not successfully, making no friends, human that is, and alienating himself further from his tutors with talk of ghost spotting and supernatural activity. He believes his hair is sacred, not permitting the Abbey’s barber to touch it, while personally maintaining an almost round mini-afro. When Papa was found he had few personal belongings, so he has had to rummage through the lost and found property at Belmont in order to clothe himself. He attired himself donning an unsuitable match of clothes: a long white cloak with schoolboy shorts and a plain T-shirt; shoes were an elusive luxury. The only item that Papa could call his own was a pendant of an axe, which hung in a chain clasped around his neck. The axe is enchanted and it along with his many supernatural abilities (none so prominent than the gift of sight, which gives him the power to see ghosts and into the world of spirit) allowed him to become a ghost-hunter.

(Figure based on Disney’s lead character in Tarzan)

Legba

Papa’s axe, Legba was a mystery to him, but he was told that it was a gift bestowed to him by his parents. Legba, although miniature in size and able to be worn around his neck, would grow to a formidable size when Papa whistled a special tune. Once enlarged Legba could communicate with Papa, able to answer any question put to him, usually after he had been fed. Legba had a huge appetite and loved sweat things, but what he loved the most was to eat lost souls and one day he promised to eat Fatso Friar. Legba, when wielded could discharge incalculable levels of lightening; however, only Papa could command him and he would shrink back to his normal size when handled by any other. 

The Sidekick, Fatso Friar

Fatso was a ghost living in Belmont Abbey, who, during his life in the then Catholic stronghold of the Tudors, was a Friar. A novice in training, Fatso lived to the age of sixteen until a falling wall crushed him during his prayers, trapping him within the confines of the Abbey while the other friars made their way on to the afterlife. Fatso, although a competent Friar was still only a novice whose unfinished training hindered him from completing his journey to the afterlife. Fatso was his nickname; his real name he had forgotten as no one used it when he was alive, and now that he was dead and still in the world of the living, no one would use it ever again. Short and round best describes him, his attire a brown robe held together with a rope, with brown Birkenstock-like sandals on his feet and round spectacles covering his eyes. Although sixteen and able to grow a full head of hair, Fatso always wore it shaven and this appearance continued after his death. Fatso’s ghostly existence is a reflection of his existence in the living world - oppressed. Constantly bullied by other ghosts and phantoms bigger and more powerful than he, his only saving grace is his ability to play the fool and wriggle his way out of difficult circumstances. As a loner he yearns for friendship, whether of the living or dead. 

(Figure based on Disney’s Friar in Robin Hood)  

The Bishop Richelieu

Known only as, The Bishop Richelieu, this tall slender man commands authority with his sharp features in a pale complexion but with lifeless eyes. Born, raised and educated at Belmont Abbey, The Bishop is very proud of his roots, and will not tolerate any break from tradition. As you have gathered The Bishop hates change, especially when change comes in the form of a new face, Papa. Nevertheless, in the spirit of charity the Bishop tries to maintain a facade of acceptance towards the young Haitian. His hypocrisy has taken a toll on the Bishop, who is no longer able to constrain his hatred, overwhelming him and poisoning the other staff and pupils against Papa. His hatred has permeated far into the spirit world, thus converting innocent spirits to his dark will, pitting them against that which initiated his blind hate, Papa. Draped in robes of black and red with a high pointed traditional ceremonial hat that hides a third eye, he carries a staff through which to wield his power. As the darkness overwhelms him, The Bishop acquires an uncanny ability to use malevolent powers, and along with his third eye, which also can see ghosts, he poses a dire threat to benevolent beings and people.   

(Figure based on Cardinal Richelieu)

Gorgamel

Gorgamel was the ancestral staff of power, which was handed down from one Richelieu to another. The head of the staff resembled a hooded cobra with gems for eyes that could bewitch the strongest of wills. The Fire of Gorgamel was the essence of the staff’s power and along with its ability to control any flame, it was also able to project fire from the cobra’s open mouth. Much like Papa’s, Legba, Gorgamel could talk, and always reminded Richelieu of his proud and distinguished lineage, carefully caressing his fragile pride.

Character Design, class work

Hero Mickey

Round Witch

Nazi Hobo

Synopsis: Teenage Ghosthunter

A young Haitian teen called Papa, who lives in Belmont Abby after he was adopted by the Church Of England in 2010. A solitary Papa has been alienated due to the fact that he sees and talks to ghosts, ironically his new best friend just happens to be a ghost. A teen friar, called Fatso, who lived within those same walls during the time of the Tudors. He was a clumsy young friar, who died unexpectedly when a wall came crashing down on him during his prayers. Fatso and Papa were good friends and often helped each other out, especially when Fatso was tormented by more dangerous entities.  However, the Archbishop, although human, seemed to pose a greater threat to the two than any entity. The Archbishop was corrupted by his desire for power, and much like Papa could talk and converse with spirits. But unlike Papa he manipulated the ghosts to do his evil work of causing chaos. Papa knew this, but was unable to convince anybody else of this fact, so he and Fatso would hunt the rogue ghosts that the archbishop would set loose on the monastery and sentence them to the abyss with his axe of inquisition.