Ian Meets Katie - Ghost or Real?

Many kids are made fun of for being fat. I was one of those kids who was made fun of for being skinny.

My legs and feet grew first while other parts of me never did grow! This also resulted in me being very clumsy and so I would fall down a lot. The childhood nickname I was given by friends and family was 'Noodle'.  Some called me that with great affection but most used it as an opportunity to slay me in social circles. I had a horrifying experience in the change room where the class bully made fun of me for not wearing a bra and then she followed up with, "oh wait you don't need one!" The peanut gallery cheered her on, much to my horror.
Throughout life, my feelings were diminished by people saying that being made fun of for being skinny is a good thing. 
It really doesn't matter if you're fat or thin, the result is the same low self-esteem, want-to-kill-yourself reaction. Thankfully, I had art, music and an imagination. Those things saved me and I hope they save you too...

Some children prefer to blend into the wallpaper while others strive to be the class clown. I am learning all that physical stuff doesn't matter. We have failed by not engaging in enough intellectual and emotional conversations with each other. I believe that children act out or stay quiet based on really trying to discover themselves but not being allowed to.

Part of growing up is learning and discovery. Parents seem very good at teaching kids to learn about the world around us but there is a great failure at teaching a child how to discover themselves.

Frank Gryner is animating the cello I refinished years ago for the 3-D environment of the SCATTERBRAIN video!

Ian, our main character in the Idiot Savant story, had the great misfortune of growing up in the 1930s. He is gangly, awkward and doesn't speak. Children in this era were beaten pretty mercilessly for being different. The behavior was classified as disruptive and any sign of mental illness was dealt with harshly. Post World War II era, women were so excited to have their men come home that they created a perfect household for them. PTSD was not dealt with properly and so the children would live in fear of their parents. Between the experimental therapy going on and the unattended mental illnesses of both parents and children, we have swept more dirt under the carpet with each passing decade.

The only solace that most people have is in the form of a pill when it should be healed via our own imagination. This actually works when people stop controlling and allow a person to simply THINK.

For Ian, there is a blend throughout the story of him creating imaginary friends and experiencing new potential friendships.

Katie & Ian: Dolls made out of clay for the Idiot Savant record

In the new video we are working on for this record, you will catch a glimpse of Katie. As you follow along with the story, you will see if she is real or imaginary. I just recently sculpted her head and we plan on scanning her to make a 3-D character like Ian in BLACKGUARD.

While writing this story, I find myself cheering Ian on a lot as he navigates through his hell.

Currently in the 3-D world for the SCATTERBRAIN video, my co-producer Frank Gryner has been building the 3-D home for Ian. Ian's bedroom will become a playground for his imagination.

These are the early wire-frames for what will become Ian's home in the SCATTERBRAIN video.

My goal with the SCATTERBRAIN video is for you to start seeing how Ian applies imagination to survive.
My hope is that it will also inspire you to go to your imaginary place when you are having a tough time in your own life.

All I want for him (and ultimately for you) is the opportunity to discover the imagination of the inner child.

We all have that right.

I hope you get some thinking time!
Karen

"While you're thinking, time is ticking and your work's not done again..." ~SCATTERBRAIN from 'Idiot Savant'

This Skelerocker was made by using random garage junk. Mark Miller ROCKS!