WESTON COLLEGE LEVEL 3 EXT DIPLOMA IN CREATIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION & TECHNOLOGY (Unit 4 ) Project Proposal CENTRE NAME & NUMBER WESTON COLLEGE – 50 6 4 5 CANDIDATE NAME & NUMBER NAME: Skye Nicholls ULN: 1571289673 PROJECT PROPOSAL TITLE AND DATE Game Prototype / Animation / Dance LAUNCHED ON 2 6 th February , 202 5 MAIN AREA OF ACTIVITY / PATHWAY e.g. art/fashion/illustration etc. Games & Animation Production Candidate Name Skye Nicholls Candidate Number 1571289673 Pathway Games and Animation production Project Title The Catalyst Within Section 1: R ationale (Approx 10 0 words) - This academic year I’ve learnt how to effectively plan my time out when preparing for a long project and how this influences my production and piece. I have also learnt the importance of identifying bottlenecks prior to running into them, this was learnt when I did a big group project and lost a lot of time creating assets due to one bottleneck which held me back for weeks. I’ve also gained significant understanding on using Blender when modelling and thus made me more confident when it comes to creating object and character models, rend ering, sculpting, animation, and lighting. With this, I have managed to better my ability to become more independent when working, instead of immediately asking people around me how to do something in Blender I am able to try fixing it myself and then searching it up if that doesn’t work. This has been a massive improvement for me as I can allow myself to learn from my mistakes instead of getting others to fix them for me. - - What I hope to do for this project is to improve my lighting and modelling skills beyond what I can currently do. I want to be able to achieve realism In Blender and demonstrate models which have had time put into creating them followed by lighting which is rendered smoothly and thus looks realistic and reflects the mood of the cutscene I’m creating. I’m planning to do this through taking careful consideration when creating all my assets and not rushing them followed by watching tutorials to guide me through creating any comple x models which I may struggle with [the same applies with lighting]. Finally, I plan to enhance my ability to create characters through doing character design for this project. Like I had found in my research, I need to aim for original character design whilst being diverse and inclusive. This is something I often struggle to do as I find going outside my ability difficult and thus a challenge - But this project I’m aiming to create at least 4 - character designs which reflect d iversity and originality. - - What’s important to me is this project showing how passionate I feel about symbolism in my work; I’ve always felt the need to reflect my views or beliefs through my work so that one day everyone sees them and understands them. The symbolism behind “The catalyst within” is to show the boundary in which one can cross when they take intelligence too far , creating creations they can’t control or understand due to believing that they are too intelligent for anything to go wrong. This reflects what happens in the real world today, people who go into science believing that they know everything they are mixing without thinking of the consequences of their actions, they allow their creations to slowly consume them. Through this cutscene, I am reflecting on this directly, I am showing someone what happened due to the actions of a reckless scientist who believed what I had said and as result slowly became a biological mutation through mixing chemicals which he had accidentally breathed in and consumed - making him his own creation. - Section 2: Project Concept (approx 2 0 0 words) My project is going to be a short, 1 minute, 3D animated cutscene for my game inspired by the genre of sci - fi analog horror. My game is inspired by the style of poppy playtime, the backrooms, and analog horrors such as vita Carnis and the smile tapes, I ha ve chosen to research these as my inspiration because they are what’s popular amongst my audience. The game concept: In this game you play as a scientist who is a part of the same company as a friend you work with and have known since childhood, you’ve always known this friend to be experimentative outside of his work duties with what he creates. One morning, you wake up for another day at work, but before you leave you receive a PSA alert on the television and find that a creature was found running freely in the area, you slowl y uncover that this was in fact your friend who was hidden behind the creature. Due to this cre ature being released many workers fled the laboratory you all worked at as the creature was spotted there and had viciously begun to retaliate against workers who tried to approach him for testing and captivity. It’s your job to return to the laboratory an d to uncover what was created to cause this creature to develop so you could reverse the mutation before it consumed your friend entirely, where reversing the mutation would be impossible. The cutscene: The cutscene will start with a camera looking up at a television screen [as if you were looking up from the floor], This broadcasts an unscheduled PSA alert to locals in the area informing them of the creature running free in the area. This PSA alert [in t he style of a VHS tape] and gives a description of the creature with a photo taken of it [as if it were found footage], it tells viewers how to stay safe and what to do upon encountering, the PSA then cuts out when there’s a loud screeching noise [which is the creature attacking the host]. The TV then turns black and the cut scene ends. I aim for this project to be an opportunity to develop my artistic skills through drawing an abnormal creature followed by my 3D modelling skills when creating the assets for the environment. I also aim to enhance my current abilities and understanding of environmental storytelling and how certain choices impact the players’ views and perspectives on biology and creation, in particular the understa nding that intelligence can cross boundaries, curiosity can create disaster which may or may not be irreversible. Resources: - Blender: to create my models and build the environment in which the cut scene takes place in. - - Polligon, Polyhaven, AmbientCG, : . These sites will allow me to collect previously made textures if I can’t provide any myself. - - Ibis paint: To create concept art for my cut scene such as the environment, the storyboard, the characters, and to create my own textures. - - Alright motion: I will use this software to animate the PSA alert which will be shown on a 3D modelled TV screen in the cut scene. - - Epidemic & free sound: I can utilize these sites to collect any audio for my PSA alert if I can’t put together my own pieces of foley. - Audacity: I will use this software to construct all my audio for the PSA alert, the background music isn’t going to be present [as it isn’t in poppy playtime] but there will be audio for the PSA alert as that’s what it does in “no I’m not a human”. - Premiere pro: to create the analog horror styled VHS tapes / PSA alerts, and my presentation - Photoshop: creating maps Section 3: Evaluation (approx 50 words) - To keep consistent with my evaluation , I ’ll do a weekly journal. This journal allows me to reflect each week on what I managed to achieve over the course of the 5 days what I managed to complete and why I chose to focus on that task to grasp understanding of where I am in my project. I also reflect on what problems I ran into whilst doing said task and what I found worked well for me so that I can keep in touch with what I’m struggling to do as I can find methods to improve it in the future. And finally, I will mention what my plans are for the following week so that I don’t go on a tangent doing anything irrelevant. - The week before this project ends, I’m going to focus on doing a full scope evaluation of what I have achieved this project, what I want to work on, and what I could’ve improved , followed by any bottlenecks I encountered. I’m planning to evaluate how my modelling skills have improved and what I’ve learnt from modelling different objects and texturing them. I’m also planning to evaluate how ability to creat e an environment which reflects narrative and lore without spoiling all of it. Proposed Research Sources and Bibliography (Harvard Format) What I will research Technical: - Software - > Researching all the software’s I’ll use. - Studying environments that inspire me [such as poppy playtime, Chapter 5, the cutscene with the doctor]. - Scripts [Used for creating dialogue/ voice acting in the cut scene]. - Storyboarding - Data collection and analysis [Primary & secondary research] - Prototype development - Documentation reporting [aka: weekly journals] Visual: - Colo u r theory - Modelling tutorials - lighting tutorials - creating good character design tutorials - camera animation tutorials - Vhs/ found footage/ analog horror video effects - Environment research [Poppy playtime] - LOOK SPECFICIALLY INTO THE CHAPTER 5, POPPY PLAYTIME CUTSCENE. - escape the backrooms cutscene - texturing Audio: - How to create analog horror audio [distortion] - Text to speech voice: using Microsoft text to speech and adjusting it - Any sound effects - sond effects - Extra: - definitions of analog horror, biological mutation, and found footage. - Researching various analog horrors, looking into how th ey portray biological mutations - Researching various video games and how they use VHS tapes and found footage - - Source Bibliography: Bauer, M. (2025, 27 August ). Why Analog Horror Is the Most Terrifying Trend in Film Right Now . Retrieved from HotBot: https://www.hotbot.com/articles/analog - horror - terrifying - trend - 2/ BBC. (n.d.). BBC.co.uk . Retrieved from Market Research: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z6y9rj6/revision/1 Becht, E. (2025, July 7). Watching VHS tapes in 2025 is an eye - opening experience Retrieved from Pocket - lint: https://www.pocket - lint.com/vhs - format - not - good - nostalgia/ Charlie, C. (2026, February 20). CookWithRome . Retrieved from Blender vs Maya: Why Is Blender Better Than Maya? [2024 Guide]: https://cookwithrome.com/blender/why - is - blender - better - than - maya/ Cichacki, S. (2025, January 8). Unknown Tapes’ Looks Like a Prehistoric ‘Blair Witch Project’, and I’m All in on It . Retrieved from VICE: https://www.vice.com/en/article/unknown - tapes - looks - like - a - prehistoric - blair - witch - project - and - im - all - in - on - it/ Deguzman, K. (2025, March 15). What is analog horror - history and examples explained . Retrieved from StudioBinder : https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what - is - analog - horror - definition/ Dictionary, C. (2025). Public - broadcasting . Retrieved from Cambridge Dictionary : https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/public - broadcasting Drew, C. (2023, November 29). 15 types of research methods . Retrieved from Helpfulprofessor.com: https://helpfulprofessor.com/types - of - research - methods/ Eddy, C. (2019, November 21). Gizmodo . Retrieved from The 5 Biggest Horror Trends of the Last Decade: https://gizmodo.com/the - 5 - biggest - horror - trends - of - the - last - decade - 1838973130 Eldridge, S. (n.d.). Found footage . Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/art/found - footage El - Gaby, M. (2025, May 2). There are specific brain cells that enable intelligent behaviour, scientists say . Retrieved from INDEPENDENT : https://www.independent.co.uk/life - style/health - and - families/intelligent - behaviour - brain - cells - research - b2744327.html Ellis, M. (2026, February 27). How Do TV Stations Do Their Schedule? Retrieved from Aeanet.org: https://www.aeanet.org/how - do - tv - stations - do - their - schedule/#google_vignette FANDOM. (n.d.). Poppy playtime . Retrieved from FANDOM: https://poppy - playtime.fandom.com/wiki/Category:VHS_Tapes fandom. (n.d.). Tangi Virus . Retrieved from Fandom: https://analog - condition.fandom.com/wiki/Tangi_Virus fandom. (n.d.). The boiled one . Retrieved from fandom: https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/The_Boiled_One fandom. (n.d.). the smile tapes . Retrieved from fandom: https://the - smile - tapes.fandom.com/wiki/The_Smile_Tapes Fandom. (n.d.). vita carnis . Retrieved from Fandom: https://vitacarnis.fandom.com/wiki/Vita_Carnis_Wiki FasterCapital. (2025, April 2). FasterCapital . Retrieved from Brand Positioning Game: How to Play a Brand Positioning Game and Have Fun: https://fastercapital.com/content/Brand - Positioning - Game -- How - to - Play - a - Brand - Positioning - Game - and - Have - Fun.html#What - is - Brand - Positioning - and - Why - is - it - Important - Fibroblasts. (n.d.). Cell culture and transfection protocol . Retrieved from Fibroblasts: https://fibroblast.org/biological - research/ filmdaft. (2025, 9 December ). What Is Analog Horror? Definition, History & Examples Retrieved from filmdaft: https://filmdaft.com/what - is - analog - horror - definition - history - examples/ GamePato. (2025, August 13). What is a Cut Scene in Video Games? Definition, Types, and Importance . Retrieved from GamePato: https://www.gamepato.com/blogs/game - cutscenes - guide Griffiths, A. J. (2026, February 25). Mutations - > Genetics & evolution . Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/mutation - genetics Hassan, M. (2024, March 25). Historical Research – Types, Methods and Examples Retrieved from Research Forms: https://researchmethod.net/historical - research/ Library. (n.d.). Private Broadcasting . Retrieved from Library: https://1library.net/article/private - broadcasting - business - t - television - applications - standards.z3ne6v8q#google_vignette Manvell, R. (2026, January 5). Broadcasting . Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/technology/broadcasting McMullen, C. (2026, January 4). Survival horror Dead Format is an eerie, blood - soaked video - nasty flashback . Retrieved from GameSpew: https://www.gamespew.com/2026/01/dead - format - impressions/ Podder, S. (2025, June 24). What is found footage filmmaking? Retrieved from no film school: https://nofilmschool.com/found - footage - filmmaking Sailer. (n.d.). Videographic Research – What is it and what are its benefits? Retrieved from Sailer: https://sailer.fi/en/what - is - videographic - research/ steam. (n.d.). The complex: Found footage . Retrieved from Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1942120/The_Complex_Found_Footage/ steam. (n.d.). Unknown tapes . Retrieved from steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2785200/Unknown_Tapes/ Stoll, J. (2025, December 17). Horror movies - statistics & facts . Retrieved from Statista: https://www.statista.com/topics/12896/horror - movies/#topicOverview ` Team, W. (2026, February 12). Horror film industry statistics . Retrieved from worldmetrics.org: https://worldmetrics.org/horror - film - industry - statistics/ TVtropes. (n.d.). Vita Carnis . Retrieved from TVtropes: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebVideo/VitaCarnis Whitson, C. (2025, October 31). Why analog horror is terrifying audiences better than modern movies . Retrieved from The Pacer : https://www.thepacer.net/why - analog - horror - is - terrifying - audiences - better - than - modern - movies/ Wikipedia. (2026, March 11). Poppy playtime . 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Understanding Your Audience - Bartle Player Taxonomy Retrieved from Game analytics: https://www.gameanalytics.com/blog/understanding - your - audience - bartle - player - taxonomy Project Action Plan and Timetable Week Date Week Beginning Activity / What you are intending to do - including independent study Resources / What you will need to do it - including access to workshops 1. 02/03/2026 - Idea generation - Context - Initial idea - MIND MUP - word - WIX - Online websites 2. 09/03/2026 - Create survey - Find target audience - Continued context - Research broadcasting - Microsoft forms - Word - Online websites 3. 16/03/2026 - Prepare UAL proposal - Finalize concept # - Prepare presentation - Research analog horrors & video games - Word - Premiere pro - Online websites 4. 23/03/2026 - Present presentation - Research cutscenes - Research camera angles and movement - Research texturing & lighting - Online websites - Premiere pro 5. 30/03/2026 - Research camera animations - Research what blender mods I can use to create different effects - GDD - Asset list - Gnatt chart - Online websites - Word - Excel 20/04/2026 - Creating the TV - Creating the Tv stand - Creating the coffee table - Creating papers - Create picture frames - Draw the 2 friends - Blender - YouTube - TikTok - ambientCG - polligon - polyhaven - ibis paint & photoshop 27/04/2026 - Creating the lights - creating the sofas - creating alcohol bottles - creating books - draw the creature - Blender - YouTube - TikTok - ambientCG - polligon - polyhaven - ibis paint & photoshop 04/05/2026 - creating the ambience audio - creating the dialogue - creating sound effects - make the PSA alert tape - Free sounds - Text to speech [Microsoft] 11/05/2026 - Add in the sound effects - complete camera animation - render the final product - blender 18/05/2026 - evaluation - hand in - WIX - Teams