Not too unorthodox. Just very iffy material--sorry
. The trunk is dying off, or has at least died off significanty and probably isn't going to develop much more without planting it outin the ground and leaving it alone for a decade. The potential, even for an "unorthodox" bonsai is minimal with this tree, I think.
That said, if you're set on making a bonsai from it, I would avoid bending any branches into such drastic downward movement. IThe tree is deciduous--not a conifer and its character is different to begin with.
The the current upright branching is more suitable for this tree. Stop trying to make it a juniper and go with what it actually is--or at least resembles--a dying forest giant.