This post peels back the layers on the gritty comic book images infused into INDEFINITE. Those sketchy visuals were a killer touch. But sometimes, their purpose was as murky as a midnight alley.
Christoher Kuiper (Co-director of INDEFINITE and creator of the INDEFINITE comic book.)
“I always had an idea to attach a comic book to the movie. Ultimately the comic served to add to what was missing from the final movie.”
Christopher kicked things off with quick-drawn sketches. He set the stage to weave them into the movie’s cut.
What is J-CORP?
We neglected to spotlight J-CORP’s role as the shadowy powerhouse. The corporation created the mysterious orange vials. This piece of the backstory was a vital omission.
J-CORP was connected to Otto and Jonas. Otto and Jonas backstabbed the organization to steal the vials. Detailing the corporation’s lethal tactics would have strengthened the severity of their actions.
P.S. Christopher chose to name the evil J-CORP after me. I think it is funny. I do not have any grandiose ideas about my personal brand.
The Armored Truck
The armored truck is another nod to J-CORP. The initial sketch is emblazoned with the J-CORP insignia. It’s a symbol of power and mystery.
The final sketch of the armored truck was stripped of the J-CORP insignia. Would the audience benefit from seeing a J-CORP logo? Maybe not. In the world of filmmaking, sometimes less is more.
In the end, the armored truck was not necessary. Samantha stole the vials and delivered them straight into Jonas’s waiting hands.
We could have tried to include a heart-pounding heist, dripping with adrenaline.
Picture this: A shadowy figure maneuvers a locked case through a dimly lit corridor. The “J-CORP” logo is riveted on the case. The click of the latch echoes as the case opens… The shadowy figure’s eyes are illuminated by an orange glow. Snap. The case is closed abruptly. Black footsteps disappear into the night.
Samantha at the Lab
Samantha was a pivotal character. Her presence was a mere whisper.
All three of the lead characters Otto, Jonas, and Amber were connected with Samantha. A short, hard-hitting conversation was all it took to reveal the interconnected storylines.
Instead we provide the audience with a thinly veiled story moment of Amber talking on the phone with Samantha. Their conversation was a cryptic exchange of rambling to fill the void. We failed as screenwriters.
In a panel of comic art the ID badge proclaimed “Samantha”. We enjoyed leaving this moment unknown with secrets. If we gave a description of Samantha in the kitchen scene this image would be clearer.
In the shadow-drenched underbelly of the city Samantha meets Jonas. The pouch of vials was exchanged.
But why?
This is another moment blending previous unexplained character interactions.
J-CORP Helicopter
The helicopter roared in the final scene adding another dimension for the final battle. However, there was a narrative gap. The purpose of the helicopter was too mysterious.
In the heart-pounding chase sequences we missed a chance to make that airborne predator a constant menace. The sounds of the blades should have whisked through the air two or three moments before the climax.
The fierce presence of the helicopter would have elevated the struggle between Otto and Jonas.
The Car Keys
In the narrative of our story the Chevy Berretta’s keys lay carelessly on the asphalt. This was a glaring misstep in storytelling. Jonas’ escape plan hinged on this fake forced tension.
Recap Of The Comic Book Art in the Movie
The art was an afterthought. None were planned in the script. Dialogue should have merged those gritty panels to a better backstory. This was a chance to breathe true life into the characters.
With time on our side it would have been gritty cool to fuse more comic designs with live action. For a poster Christopher blended video still frames with his ink drawn comics. This blending was superb. Sprinkling this technique in brief bursts across the film would have made it explode with style.
INDEFINITE Poster
