How I came up with the world, characters, & aesthetics of “Infatuation”
[“Six Eyes” (fanart of Satoru Gojo from “Jujutsu Kaisen”) by @lunarelles on X]
- I find myself often writing with inspiration from films, television shows, and even video games that I’m a fan of. The urban fantasy genre, most often associated with the 2000s and early 2010s, is one of my biggest inspirations, especially for this film. In this section, I looked at my favorites of the urban fantasy genre and how they influenced my film, as well as other major inspirations for the aesthetics and themes of the screenplay.
- Urban Fantasy Television of the 2000s
- Supernatural
- Follows two brothers hunting monsters, all started when their monster-hunting father disappears
- Came out in 2005, ran until 2021
- Takes place in America, traveling across different cities and states
- Brings up questions of “what is family,” “what is moral in a world of secrecy and monsters,” and “what are you willing to sacrifice”
- Inspired the American aesthetic, the importance of family and finding family, the concept of a secret hierarchical society
- Supernatural
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Follows Buffy, a chosen-one Slayer, and her adventures fighting monsters while trying to navigate her new high school (and eventually college)
- Came out in 1997, ran until 2003
- Takes place in Sunnydale, California, over the Hellmouth
- Brings up issues of feminism, exploitation of youth, morality, and what is means to have power
- Inspired the idea that women are more likely to be Hunters, the idea of dreams being mystical in the Sasaki family, and the idea of a whole secret society existing
- Grimm
- Follows Nick, a detective who discovers he is a Grimm, someone capable of seeing monsters that inspired folktales known as Wesen
- Came out in 2011, ran until 2017
- Takes place in Portland, Oregon
- Brings up questions of “what makes someone a monster”
- Inspired the idea that only Hunters could see Lightstalkers
- Other Huge Influences
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- 2020-present TV show & a 2021 movie
- Secret society of people with powers fighting “curses”
- Influenced themes of tragic romance, found family, constraints and corruption of hierarchy
- Mariko’s ancestor and child are both named Megumi as a reference to this influence
- Love Actually
- 2003 British romcom
- Takes place around Christmas
- Follows multiple different romances, some positive, some tragic
- Plays into the cinematography and sound for my film’s romantic aspects
- Slay the Princess
- 2022 visual novel video game
- Fantasy, cosmic horror
- Inspired the designs for the Children of Desdemona a bit
- Inspired some of the sound design and reflects the cyclical nature of violence
- Chasing Amy (and the rest of the View Askewniverse)
- 1997 romcom/romantic drama
- Takes place within a larger comedy movie universe
- Inspired the cinematography and aesthetics
- Ties into the themes of queerness and self-sabotage
- Jujutsu Kaisen