Abstract:
This chapter reflects on the research and creative development process that informed my transcultural screenplay Making Murphy . To situate Murphy in a transnational context, I draw upon academic writing about national styles of animation, their generic conventions, narrative structures and the characteristics of their female protagonists. The creative decisions about the screenplay are born out of my own storytelling impulses, influenced by the works of other animation filmmakers, collaborations with my Japanese script consultant, and film market imperatives that have become clear after meetings with producers, funding bodies and delegates at animation festivals. These forces have shaped my understanding of how such a screenplay negotiates the demands of a transnational industry.
