Skip

What happens when two very different characters from two very different movies get caught up with each other as their celluloid world slips and slides (and skips!) around them? This is the question posed by Skip, a very cool animated short by Sarah Jolley who made this short when she was a student at the Vancouver Film School where the standards are always of an incredible quality.

I love the look of this animation, the character design and the clever use of colors, not to mention the (ever so slightly) knowing take on the various genres of movies you see here.  I suspect we have not heard the last of Ms Jolley!

Reading Kills

Can you imagine a world in which no one can read because if they do their death will be imminent? This is something the denizens of this particular world discover - and you can imagine the effects it has on their society...

It would certainly be a deterrent, perhaps even more so than in that most famous of dystopic illiterate societies featured in Farenheit 451.

Beto Gomez developed this idea for his thesis work at Vancouver Film School.  No one is safe, it seems – so you may well ask yourself why you are reading this!  Watch out! Behind you!

Monster Date

Those crazy kids over at the Vancouver Film School are the modern day equivalents of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.  The big difference, though, is that instead of putting on a show, these guys create a very funny and hugely enjoyable video for Halloween.  This has absolutely nothing to do with their degree work, it was just something that they felt like doing.  And what an awesome job they make of it!

The concept is quite simple and straightforward (which is why perhaps it makes this such blissful viewing).  Harkening back to the video dating fad of the 1980s this piece features a series of lonely hearted monsters in search of the special one.  Most varieties of monsters are represented, from vampires to zombies and there is even an appearance by a genie.  There are quite a number of great one liners, but for me, the genie has just about the best line - " I'm not looking for a girl who's just interested in rubbing my lamp".

The monsters here are fairly reminiscent - in terms of makeup and character - to the types we used to see in Buffy - and the whole thing is produced with wit and panache.  If this is what the students at the VFS make in their spare time, one can only wonder what amazing films they come up with for their degree projects.

Is this a tribute or a pastiche?  Who can really tell and to be frank, who cares?  It is great stuff, especially coming up to Halloween.  The fun doesn't stop there either.  The makers are inviting responses over at their YouTube channel. If you have the desire, you can create your own response (you have to be in full fancy dress) and submit it there.

Cyburbia

I have no idea how far we are away from the introduction of implants which will connect us to our digital world but Cyburbia imagines that this has already happened.  A young couple have opposing opinions about hooking up so completely but when a global implant failure happens their friendly disagreement turns in to a desperate fight for life.  Cyburbia was created by students at the Vancouver Film School and directed by Arun Fryer.

The Man Who Saw a Boat

A man lives at the bottom of the ocean but his peace of mind is broken by the appearance of a boat on the surface, way above his head. Should he go and explore or remain content where he is at the sea bed?

This gorgeous looking animated short is by Henrique Baron who created it in the Digital Character Animation course at Vancouver Film School. It is great to see an animation (particularly a student animation) with such an existential stance, the idea that philosophical thought begins with the human subject—not only the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, incarnate human individual. The starting point here – the existential attitude per se is the sense of disorientation the protagonist feels in his apparently illogical world. I also loved the resolution which, despite the abstract nature of this animated short, leads the way towards another philosophical revelation. Nietzsche would have loved this.

Pig Out

Bacon. Pork. Ham. Lots of people love all three, but particularly bacon if you believe certain websites… However, have you ever thought about the animal behind the bacon? Animator Deborah Tudtud (that is the best last name in the world, incidentally) has and this is her offering to the world – one pig that really does not mind being eaten… indeed is absolutely convinced that you should.  Right now.

This particular porcine performer is a little reminiscent of the Ameglian Major Cow from Douglas Adam’s The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, so keen is it to be eaten!

Tudtud created Pig Out as part of the Classical Animation program at Vancouver Film School.  Not only did she direct and animate this very funny short, but she also composed and performed the song as well.

Zombies of Oz: No Place Like Home

If you are like me you must have wondered what happened to Dorothy when she got back from Oz (sequels aside, of course!). Hickory, Hunk and Zeke (aka the cowardly lion, the tin man and the scarecrow) are still there. Yet Dorothy awakens in the barn with the three farm hands visibly scared and no sign of Aunt Em and Uncle Henry anywhere.

You have probably guessed from the title that Dorothy has woken up in the middle of a zombie apocalypse (or perhaps an Ozpocalypse?).  In only a short space of time the undead are knocking on the barn door and the four survivors must meet their destiny.

I thoroughly enjoyed this take on the Oz tales by Mai Nakanishi and Christine DeJoy of Vancouver Film School although I can easily see why Oz purists may not immediately take to it! Yet this tells a tale (however alternative) extremely well, with more than just the Dorothy meets the zombies twist too. A bravura piece of filmmaking – is this really a student film?

Shedding

Planet Earth – as you may never have seen it before. Vancouver Film School student Stefano Marrone (with sound by the fabulously named Aroon M Zick) has come up with a very different way of viewing the history of communication on our pale blue dot – through the direct experiences of the planet itself, tooned up very cutely indeed. It’s all there – from the creation of the alphabet and the printing press, to newspapers and books. Finally we hit the digital age. How will our planetary protagonist respond to that?

You will have to watch this marvelous animation to find out but it is another example of how the medium of animation can raise important issues and provoke thought and discussion.  Of course, any piece of work which name checks J Baudrillard, French sociologist, philosopher, cultural theorist, political commentator, and photographer will get my vote straight away. This is an exceptional debut by Mr Marrone (who also has a very cool website showcasing a lot of his work) and bodes very well for what we might see from him in the future.

Oh Brother!

I think I will dedicate this animated short to any of you girls and women who have experience of that strange contradictory beasty – the older brother.  If you were fated to have such a creature in your household as you were growing up then what happens in this will definitely resonate.  He seemed to be born to tease you, mock you, and drive you as crazy as a big crazy thing.

Of course when you think you have his number absolutely he goes and does something brave and fearless and completely and utterly for you – and then you are back to square one.

This funny short was created by Kim Julien as part of her studies at Vancouver Film School. Whether this is autobiographical I cannot say – but I have my suspicions that it is!

Tough West

In the west, it's all about the decisions you make; and if there is a choice to be a chicken; there is also always a chance to become...a legend. So goes the voice-over of this interesting and enigmatic flash animation by Henrique Barone.

It was created for his thesis at the Vancouver Film School which consistently produces high quality graduates with a great future ahead of them in the animation industry.

Barone’s work is unusual for its refusal to necessarily follow the usual three minute story arc and what we get is something much more introspective as a result – belied by the cartoonish nature of the art but accompanied by a great voiceover!

Evil Toofairy

When you are a little boy and you lose a tooth there may be good reason to be afraid, especially if you believe that the Toofairy is evil.  Yet little boys can be rather ingenious and when it means protecting yourself against the Evil tooth fairy then they usually have a trick or two up their sleeves.

This charming (!) short animated film - Evil Toofairy - was made by Vancouver Film School Student Eduardo Monroy Dugelby.  It was made through the VFS Digital Character Animation.  We can see a bright future awaiting Mr Dugelby - as long as the Evil Filmfairy doesn't get to him first, that it!

If you enjoyed the adventures of the boy and the toofairy, then this will make you roar with laughter.

BIG CATCH MOVIE

Movie may be too big a word for this four minute spectacular.  However, if you like a pastiche of other movies, plus Kung Fu sea gulls you will love this over at our sibling site, Webphemera.

See how many movie references you can find. We won't give them away here, but you will have a lot of fun looking for them. This is a very clever short film!

Meet the Geeks

Geek culture in the twenty first century is vast - and it can leave many non-geeks a little bewildered to say the least. So, in an attempt to educate the general population, Sano Sagara and Luis Francisco have put together this useful guide for the non-initiated.

The short film has been made in the style of the instructional videos of the forties and fifties, complete with slightly bemused narrator who guides us through four aspects of contemporary geek culture.  As a crafty play on an old genre of film making it works very well.  You may not see your own particular brand of geekiness portrayed here, but keep in mind that this was a project done by the guys for their studies at the Vancouver Film School.

At least it is an attempt to educate the wider world about geek culture.  After all, geeks will inevtiably rule the earth and perhaps the general populace should know a little about their future overlords (and I will finish this post off with a suitable evil cackle).

Digital Orca by Douglas Coupland

Image Credit Flickr User JasonJThomas

Douglas Coupland, most famous for his novel Generation X has created this amazing Digital Orca sculpture, now in place in Vancouver Harbor.  The structure breaks down a three dimensional Orca whale in to cubic pixels.

Image Credit Flickr User lindsay.d.bunny

This is intended to make something creative and new out of a familiar symbol of the West Coast of Canada. 

Image Credit Flickr User popejon2

Natural imagery is thus modified by technology.  This bridges the past to the future and so, hopefully, speaks to the people who help create Vancouver’s thriving harbour culture.  At the same time the giant sculpture is intended to address the changes that are shaping the economy of British Columbia.

Image Credit Flickr User Jason Coburn

A digitised sculpture is something quite new, especially one of a killer whale.  It almost regales the harbour with its presence and its metal structure is lit up beautifully at night.  Altogether, Copeland’s new work is a compelling and visually stunning addition to Vancouver’s already charismatic harbour.

Image Credit Flickr User wlcutler

The kids love it too, as well as art lovers.  At least, that is, if their unambiguous joy at jumping around the base of the sculpture is anything to go by.

Terms & Conditions - Cool Animated Film about Digital Rights Management

This is a very well put together animated short film about Digital Rights Management or DRM for short.  It was made by a group of students attending Vancouver Film School and outlines what publishers can do if they use DRM.

This is a term that is used when describing any technology that inhibits the use of digital content.  It involves direct modification of the file(s) and is used widely by such global brands as Sony, Microsoft, Apple and even Auntie (the BBC).

Amazon, for example was able to make two George Orwell books disappear from the files of Kindle users who had bought it from them. Without any irony whatsoever.

What does this mean for people who buy downloads?  You can’t share the book and you will most certainly not be able to keep the book forever.

It certainly does not seem like an enlightened move by publishers, particularly when it comes to reproducing and disseminating the work of long dead authors.

Take a look at the video and make up your own mind.

Tower Defence

Copying With Death

Copying With Death is a short film made by Vancouver Film School student Pete Ryder. It is just another normal, boring day at the office until the photocopier starts making malicious threats against people.

With little time left before it carries out its deadly threat it is up to one young office worker to avert tragedy. Or will he?

This entertaining short was created through the VFS Writing for Film and Television Program. Writer go through the process of production with a professional director. Then they shoot their movie within a three and a half hour time frame using limited locations – in this case an office space (was it borrowed on a Sunday?).  As you may already have worked out, the film is played largely for laughs - and they come in fast and thick, particularly the expressions that the lead actor pulls and of course the copier itself, which strangely has no acting credits at the end....

The film is directed and edited by David Roncin and produced by Wade Fennig. On hand to direct photography was Shane Twerdun.

The cast was made up of Meghan Amelia and our hero was played by Darren Borrowman.

This is a really well put together short, considering that it was done on a very small budget and in a very limited time.

Oh – and it is also very funny!

Rendezvous With Rama

Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama was published in 1972 and so far we have had no film adaptations of this marvellous science fiction novel.  None.  Nada. Zilch.

The story, set over a hundred years from now, is about the arrival in our solar system of a massive fifty kilometer cylindrical spaceship (more or less ripped off in Star Trek: The Journey Home).

It is told from the perspective of the astronauts whose mission it is to intercept and enter the giant spacecraft.  What happens next? Go discover!

Back to adaptations - the occasional computer game does not sate the desire to see this on screen (the big, silver one that is).  Of course the BBC produced its own very worthy radio adaptation of the novel in 2009 which allows the listener to imagine the splendor of space and Rama itself.  However - that just simply is not good enough, is it?

Morgan Freeman was mooted to be interested in a film version of RwR but sadly nothing ever came of it.  Now at last, thanks to Vancouver Film School student Philip Mahoney (sound design) and visual media by Aaron Ross (from a previous project), we finally get a glimpse of just what RwR might look like if given the full movie treatment.

For obvious reasons, Mahoney and Ross were not able to include everything that happens in the novel in this short animation which runs for just over three minutes.  However, they manage to feature some key moments from the novel in this superbly done animation with the main thrust of Mahoney's project being taking the already prepared video and interpolating a new soundtrack upon it..  This was done with full permission (see Aaron's comments below) and - although due to individual interpretation, improves on the original.

It would be marvellous if some Hollywood big wig were to see this and decide to go ahead with creating what, in the right hands, could turn out to be a science fiction movie masterpiece.  Hopefully he would take on Philip Mahoney (showing just how important sound is) and Aaron Ross - with the awesome graphics - to work on (if not lead!) the project.

If you haven't had quite enough - here is a short making of the original film (Ross' project) that we are sure you will find interesting.

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