An absurdist comedy
Writing Process
To develop the plot, I employed multiple frameworks concurrently until achieving a consensus among team members. Initially, I crafted a basic storyline about a janitor pursuing money by undermining a rival, but acknowledged its vagueness. Refining the janitor's motivation was crucial; we realized that money alone couldn't drive the character arc, as it merely serves as a means to fulfill deeper internal desires. So what motivates the janitor to desire money? Validation? A boost in career? Love?
After long conversations with my team, the answer was love — for a goldfish.
The janitor loves his goldfish dearly and seeks to improve its life by earning more money. His goal is to secure a raise by becoming Employee of the Month for a year. The challenge, however, is the introduction of potential competition for this certificate: a better janitor. Ultimately, he sacrifices his beloved goldfish to defeat his rival, abandoning his original motivation for a secondary one. The story highlights the dangers of competitiveness, jealousy, and fear, emphasizing the conflict between the janitor's needs and desires, in line with our theme statement.
STILLS
