OHTJ
Some BACKGROUND
You will not find story or imagery specifics here. Why? We're in an age of blatant disregard for intellectual property and copyrights. There are plenty of content pirates, copycats, and imposters on the web. Plus, billionaire tech bros arrogantly acting as if they've the right to treat all human creative output like gas they can siphon from artists' tanks to fuel their beloved machines -- then training those machines to homogenize and regurgitate it as slop. It's ironic that they think removing humans from human creative endeavors is a good goal.
I'm not interested in enabling either type of parasite. So while it's a work-in-progress, content specifics of OHTJ will be shared with collaborators directly -- models and artists I've brought into the project to help weave this narrative and visual story. I don't mean to sound pretentious. It may or may not be fully completed as envisioned, and may or may not succeed as artwork anyone considers "good". But I absolutely aim to keep it original and real.
In fact, a goal I have for OHTJ is to create a package of work that honors humanity in both primal and intellectual ways. Of course I am influenced and inspired by amazing artwork and literature from across the ages. That is a normal part of human creativity, but not the same as just ingesting, morphing, then re-hashing others' work. So, all that said, here is some "where I'm coming from" info on OHTJ for prospective collaborators or anyone interested in the project's concept and progress.
I aim for a storyline and visual themes that are simultaneously surreal/dreamy and tangibly real at the same time. That may sound contradictory, but some of the most enduring and interesting creative works such as Alice's adventures by Lewis Carroll play with that a lot. Most of us have had real life experiences that challenge us to figure out "what is actually real". I certainly have, in recent years. And now, in America at least, we're experiencing macro-level failures to respect the differences: masses of people giving themselves over to demonstrably false propaganda, accepting obvious lies as "real", and disparaging anyone who dares aim for truth or honesty. Historically that kind of trend never ends well.
Of course things that are real, surreal, and fictious ALL have their places and uses in human existance, and play off one another. A surreal dream or work of fiction can help process, understand, and find meaning in real world matters. Real events and experience certainly fuels the imagination. Keeping those realms sorted and balanced has always been part of the human condition. It allows us to indulge the imagination while staying grounded and functional. It's how we manage to survive in a dangerous real world, while leaving space for our higher selves and interactions. It's incredibly difficult to get right, sometimes. But we fail as individuals and a species when we decide that that very human struggle doesn't matter, or isn't worth it.
The interplay and importance of respecting the differences between those elements partly underpins and motivates OHTJ. I'm creating a kind of "everyman journey of discovery" within a dream/nightmare backdrop, packed with metaphores and symbolism ... that is simultaneously surreal, and built around pure nature and naturistic human figures to tell the story and convey meanings.
Despite its surreal narrative and visual themes, I aim for OHTJ to be:
1) thought-provoking (for humans who still choose to think ;) )
2) grounded in humanity and hopefully relatable to most humans at some level
(it's inspired by specific experiences I've had and that others have shared with me)
3) both DARK in tone and beautiful in imperfect, unpredictable, authentic ways
4) lavish with diverse natural human beauty, and a vehicle for models' expressive skills
5) made entirely from actual content made by me, plus input from some collaborating artists
*NO* generative AI will be used to make OHTJ text, imagery, or plot sequencing. It's unnecessary and contradictory to project goals.
I'm posting all this partly so anyone interested gets a sense where I'm coming from, without sharing detailed content. Ultimately I hope to produce a visually beautiful and conceptually interesting large format "coffee table book" that will be printed and available for purchase. Additionally I hope to create a card deck and accompanying booklet.
ADDITIONAL DOCS- see updated date near top of each document
[[CLICK HERE]] for 1-page public flyer/handout PDF with general project overview (opens in new tab)
[[CLICK HERE]] for PDF with a bit more detailed project background for anyone interested in participating in OHTJ as a model, providing a little more sense of the baseline style and casting requirements. Specific shoot requirements, content usage, and pay details will be discussed, agreed, and planned case-by-case prior to scheduling each casting/booking. Contact me with questions or interest and to see what scenes are still open for casting. (Opens in new tab)
[COMING SOON]: a chart showing status of casting vacancies and general model types that may apply (opens in new tab)