The Session

For the last two weeks, I've been working with the animation directing duo, Jens & Anna. Anna asked me to help with some animation on a truly inspiring film that they've been working on for a year but want to finish up before Christmas! It has involved collaborating with team of artists, writers and actors to create a short film about a psychiatric session. Much of the film is rotoscoped of the filmed actors, but with all of the psychological symbolism, memories, imaginings and various hallucinatory imagery, there is also a great deal of creative animation involved. Often, one things morphs out of another, a process that I really enjoy animating. When they first showed me the trailer for the film, I was very emotionally affected by it - I felt that I could really empathise with the force of emotions the three characters are suffering in the film. For that reason, I have great expectations for The Session and expect it to be a huge success!

GIAC Premiere

Girlfriend In A Coma premiered at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London on the 26th of November. It was a very stylish night with prosecco, hors d'oeuvres and a room packed with economists, journalists, filmmakers and various Italian V.I.P.s!

Where The Wild Things Are/Higglety Pigglety Pop!

'Where The Wild Things Are/ Higglety Pigglety Pop!' premiered at Aldeburgh Music Festival on June 8th this year. They put me up in a charming and luxurious hotel called The Bell and arranged taxis to and from the show. The venue at Snape is breathtaking. This modern, stylish brick and dark wood building overlooks a wide stretch of marshes. Everyone in the bar was transfixed by the dark grey clouds, dazzling evening sun and a huge rainbow arching right across the sky. It was wonderful to see my work presented in such a beautiful and prestigious setting, which made all of the months of hard work worthwhile. Afterwards, the organisers threw an indulgent party for everyone involved and I stayed chatting to the opera singers and other artists until midnight. An adaptation of Higglety Pigglety Pop! is now moving to The Festival of Contemporary Music at Tanglewood Music Centre in Boston. It will be performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Summer Academy for Advanced Musical Study. http://www.bso.org/micro-sites/tanglewood-music-center/about-us/the-festival-of-contemporary-music.aspx The academy have chosen not to perform the piece theatrically, so this month I animated Jennie the dog to fit in with the rest of the animations (in the production at Aldeburgh, Jennie was acted in costume by Lucy Schaufer). Netia and I were devastated at the news of Maurice Sendak's death, which came just as I was finishing the final animations for the show. The show had his personal approval and supervision form the beginning and he appeared to be very excited to see it. Netia considered the production not only an homage to his work, but a present to him.

The Best of the British!

After a hugely successful and inspiring festival this year, British Animation Awards is releasing a DVD of some of the favourite and most successful entries this year. Among them is "All Consuming Love", directed by Louis Hudson, which I did some character animation for. Follow the above link to check out all of the animations to be found on this DVD!

'Lilith's Second Chance'

Back at Campfire Festival in Melbourne, part of the Campfire Film Foundation. It is available for screening in classrooms around the world through the foundation for the purpose of spiritual exploration.

http://campfire.org.au/film/liliths-second-chance-2

BBD at CFF

Being Bradford Dillman.....

http://www.facebook.com/beingbradforddillman

....was named Runner Up for the Indie Magic Award - Best Animated Short at Charlotte Film Festival, North Carolina!

http://www.charlottefilmfestival.org/2012-cff-award-winners

It has also featured recently in Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF).

Being Bradford Dillman wins at BUFF 2012

Being Bradford Dillman, a short animated film I worked on last year as CG animator has won the 'Best Short Film' award at BUFF Film Festival.

http://buff.se/en/blogs/vinnarfilmer-buff-filmfestival-2012/

BUFF JURY 2012 "A full-unanimous jury has selected this film for it with the precise narrative, rich imagery and skillful implementation challenge and engaging.

The film is a social realistic animation with magical elements that draw us into a gripping story about a girl and her mother.

Their fantasies both reveals parents' gruesome power over their children and become a road to the girl's exploration of gender and identity."