ORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND THE ART OF PROP-MAKING

I know I should probably work on the shots and storyboards before jumping straight into prop-making, but I was so excited to try out my little experiment that I couldn't help it. So I've started making props! Of course, not all scenery can be produced at home, lest the end product look sloppy or amateurish. Still, given that the object of my creation will not be a major feature (even though it can be a major species... a little chemistry joke over here), my homemade model certainly was fun to make, and will be useful in establishing the protagonist as a scientist along with the rest of the mise-en-scene. Allow me to walk you through the process of modeling some molecules:

I don't have a modeling kit, and buying one would be rather expensive if its sole purpose were as an object in the background; making my own, then, seemed quite favorable. Using the picture above, I drew my "skeleton," which would guide me throughout the process. Luckily, I had some polymer clay and paperclips laying around at home, so I gathered my materials and began rolling black and white blocks into atoms.

The process was painful - one wrong move and the whole thing would fall apart. Even worse, the double bonds had to be put in such an angle so that not one, but two paperclip fragments could be stored within the miniature (or should I say giant?) model. And I still had to keep in mind the 120˚ angle for each carbon. After some arduous work, the structure was done and ready for firing. 

There was just one more problem... I don't have a furnace, and absolutely cannot be trusted with an oven. Funnily enough, the solution arose by accident. The project took some time to do - by the time it was complete, the natural lighting was dim enough that I had to turn on the lampshade sitting by the desk. A brilliant idea! The lamp, which by some malfunction keeps heating up, has caused me numerous burns throughout the years; this time, however, its weakness could be exploited for good. Placing my model under the scorching desk light, I waited for it to dry. And - who would have guessed - it worked!

firing the piece under the table lamp - it is unbelievably hot

Done!

"Ecstatic" is an underestimation of my emotions upon seeing the finished product. Yes, it did break down after some five minutes, but that can be solved with a bit of glue - nothing too serious. Knowing that it is possible to create molecules out of clay, I can make more particles to add to the scenery where the opening takes place.

In addition to making my own, I also got a few manufactured goods - a trophy, medals, and other prizes to signal that the scientist has had a history with recognition, and already has a crowd to please. Beside are some of the achievements that will adorn the scientist's shelves. 

Overall, this was a fun experience, albeit precocious. I have actually been working on developing the story - there is a shot list in the works. By the end of this week, I intend to have a storyboard at least halfway done, so that I may try to experiment with different shots and angles when production starts.