Little Big Shots returns for more – 2013 issue

Little Big Shots is an amazing, inspirational film festival that invites children to watch and create their own movies to star on the screen.

You may have heard me talk about the festival before, but 2013 was one of the most outstanding years for LBS by far. There was so much contrast between all the films, animation or reality, fantasy or real-world problems. There was something special about all of the different short films, something that was very unique. I think every contestant did a very good job. Let’s hear about my top three films-

3. Reloaded

Reloaded is a humorous animation about a scientist’s experiment gone wrong. Using clay and other strange objects to create crazy effects and a destroyed landscape, monsters crawl through the city as cars are crushed and citizens are eaten.

This film reminds me of an old horror movie, as it follows the well-known storyline of a city being taken over and then saved at the last minute by the scientist. This could be considered typical, but it is actually very clever and well-put together as to not be so boring and predictable.

The cool stop-motion film brought a happy and fun feeling to the end of the films, and left us feeling satisfied with the day of films.

2. Yonalure – Moment to Moment

This is one of the craziest but most beautiful things I had ever seen, and I hadn’t seen many of those.

Yonalure is about … well, it had many underlying messages but I couldn’t tell you exactly what it was about. It was based on a large moon, who could stand up and walk, and explore the city and places around it. Bizarre objects and angles were twisted around the screen, making you change perspective at any spare moment.

The moon-man was very tall, but seemed confused with the night and the world that surrounded him. As the movie progressed, he seemed more and more aware of the many things that were happening around him. The constantly changing world was becoming a playground to him – until the new day arrived.

The simple but amazing imagery in the animation and the ticking of time in the background, unheard but known, makes a fantastic and wonderful setting for Yonalure – the dreamlike film that has my thumbs up!

1. Julian

Julian. This is one of my favourite movies as it is a very intelligent take on one of Australia’s most recent and modern discussions.

Set in a 1981 classroom, with an impatient teacher and a very persistent bully, Julian uses ‘dobbing’ to make peace in the classroom and rid of the bully, but instead drives the teacher to a frustrated mood, and gets sent out of the classroom to see the principle.

While waiting for the boy before him to take his turn, he sees his friend being driven out of the office by an angry principle and is told by the boy some information which the principle would have liked to keep a close secret.

Julian is a very clever short film that has definitely won my good points, and I think it has been one of the most interesting and funny takes on modern events. It is a story of innocence turned into a fight of blackmail, but all humour at the same time.

 

So there you have it! The 2013 list of my favourite short clips. Many of the other films were amazing and cleverly-made as well. Unfortunately there were also a few that didn’t spark my enthusiasm though. The film ‘Memories’ could have been brilliant, but I found the storyline very typical and dull. Perhaps next time there could be another was of expressing break-up in another unexpected, amazing way!

You can see more about the clips and Little Big Shots at their website here!

Or you can submit your video that you are passionate about here! (remember to make sure the video is your own!)

Robin Rhode – The Call of Walls

Robin Rhode is truly an inspiring and different artist to what any of us have seen before.

Using graffiti art on many different kinds of walls in normal streets, amazing imagery, and dance moves caught in motion, Robin creates many scenes to do with everyday objects, and has picked up the art of finding strange but mesmerising worlds in the simple asphalt or concrete walls of Johannesburg. Simple shapes can be turned into rhythms and patterns while he dances around them in the many scenes of his artwork.

Robin often creates an unfinished but exciting edge to his work. You sometimes feel like a certain shape is out of place, but somehow it all fits in like a puzzle. He also adds strange performance, that often echoes the shape or puts it out of place. It often feels like he is dancing with the object itself, or sometimes it is just simple and lonely, with Robin like a shadow beside it.

This exhibition hosted two parts – one full of Robin’s work and animations, and the second room covered with different shapes and diamonds which you could colour in and experiment with. I loved the idea of being able to have a whole wall to yourself, where you were able to spread colour and different drawings and brighten up the room like your own little world.

This was a wonderful exhibition which inspired me and others to step out, and create art in the most unsuspected and surprising places. Robin Rhode is an artist who stands out in the most peculiar of ways, and I would love to see more of his work one day!

To see more about the exhibition, click here!

Man Covets Bird

Man Covets Bird is a deep and thoughtful story about a Nearly Man and his simple friend, the bird.

When he finds a bird fluttering down from the sky, completely flightless, all his troubles go to waste and he embarks on an adventure to the far city, where even the conditions of work and transport don’t bother him.

A play full of understanding and growing up, the two companions give talk and laughter once again to the city, forgetting about their own problems and needs.

The act can be taken in many different routes, such as how is parents find their son is a complete stranger to them, or how the pair are completely opposite to others who live so closed up, they forget about anyone but themselves.

A story of a small but gigantic life, and two hearts that join in harmony, we find our true selves and what brings us together in this extraordinary world.

Travel through a journey of love, friendship, bravery and innocence as Man Covets Bird reveals yourself – and the human connection.

Find out more about Man Covets Bird which played at The Arts Centre in Melbourne.

How I imagine Bird (you never see bird in the play!)

MIAF – the generation of animation

MIAF (Melbourne International Animation Festival) is an amazing animation festival to do with the world of film and art.

These inspiring sessions of amazing motion pictures are varied and valued between horror, abstract image, problem solving and even history.

One of my favourite clips were made by Halas and Batchelor, two of the greatest creators of cartoon makers before Disney and also Fabio Friedli/Gerd Gockell.

1. Automania 2000 (Halas and Batchelor)

The world has gone car-crazy, and people have started to evolve into permanent car lodgers. Since the scientists have put forward their world-changing inventions and mass production, they now live piled under millions of old cars!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Butterfly Ball (Halas and Batchelor)

A sweet animation to do with understanding and friendship. A colourful band of bugs, animals and a banjo-playing frog, everyone needs love!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bon Voyage (Fabio Friedli/Gerd Gockell)

A perilous journey from danger to safety turns out to be danger to death. A ticket to bumpy rocks, harsh waters and fire-filled trucks is all you need to try and survive the trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These animations were breathtakingly exquisite and well thought about by each brilliant filmmaker, and
MIAF is the best session of films you could see. The beautiful animations deserve a 99/100.

Thankyou to Halas and Batchelor and Fabio Friedli/Gerd Gockell your inspiration in art and movies!

Find out more about MIAF!

Northern Exposure

Northern Exposure is a large night festival blooming with projections, installations and artwork from all different artists around Melbourne. It thrives with excitement and friendliness, especially on a chilly evening walk. Here are some of the beautiful designs and installations in the shops. Expose the weird and wonderful!

This amazing festival is at High Street, Northcote. Tours start on the 15th of June, 6:30 PM, then again at 8:00. Then tours on June 16th start at 2:00.

Click here for some more info!

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Arietty

Arietty Clock is what you call a Borrower. Have you ever heard scuttling noises around your house and dreamed of what it might be? In this heartwarming film by Studio Ghibli, based on The Borrowers by Mary Norton, a story told between a family of 4 inch tall people and a big world of paradise above the floor, the danger from the terrifying ‘human beans’ puts their life and their ancient art of borrowing in danger.

Worse, what could happen when the family are discovered and Arietty makes friends with the boy upstairs? And are they the last family in exsistence? In Arietty’s world, nothing is impossible.

 

Gertrude Street Projection Festival 2011

The Gertrude Street Animations is a long array of inspiring anime and visual movies projected on to buildings. As you meander along the cool lit up street, you’ll find yourself in a world of light and distorted moving pictures, and the normal busy Brunswick street will be transformed into an eerie landscape with eye-popping artwork.

What was you’re favourite piece of animation?

I liked the merry-go-round on the cylindrical building best!

If you owned a building, which artwork would you project on yours?

Probably some of my own, or maybe kozyndan!

If you and your friend took control of the event, which street/route would you recommend for next year’s animation?

Smith street, if they wanted a longer and more challenging event.

What else could you include in the event?

Maybe some little dwellings where people could sit and watch the animations, unseen, and decorated it so it looked like a mini forest.

And lastly, what is the rating for the Gertrude Street Animations? 

Probably 7/10! great job- you’ve broken the record for last year!

Little Big Shots

Little Big Shots is a brilliantly constructed children’s film festival which plays fun and amusing films for all ages. One Monday I had the chance to experience a part of this fantastic event, and was amazed at it’s result! Here’s a list of the top 3 films and what made them so outstanding….

 

 

 

 

Mobile

Mobile is a silly animation about a mobile with a group of stuffed animals including chickens, a dog, a pig, a mouse and a lonely cow strung up on the other side of the mobile. However hard the cow tries, he simply cannot get to the other side to be with his new friend, the mouse. This amusing German animation will delight the family, and give a bright start to the festival!

Marcel the Shell with Shoes on

Marcel is a tiny shell that lives in a big world and wears pink dolls shoes. As you go through the film, Marcel will tell you about how she hang-glides with corn chips, has a small ball of fluff that she pretends is a dog and has a raisin for a beanbag. Although it’s fun being a shell, Marcel soon finds out that it’s not all good being so small…. This cute comedy from the USA will bring laughter and a lot of fun to the audience!

Ormie

This comical film shows Ormie, a small pig desperate to get a jar of cookies on top of a fridge. Watch as Ormie does an array of hilarious acts in order to get the jar, and laugh at how he fails the most easy things imaginable. This Canadian clip will thrill the eager audience and bring laughter to the screen!

Summer Wars

Summer wars is a full-on movie about a world-wide program called Oz that controls people’s lives and their work. Kenji, a maths freak, works for this program, and all goes well until he gets invited across to the country by his girlfriend and lives a completely different life.

One night, he gets sent a ridiculously long code, and spends the night number-crunching the whole thing. But early the next day, he finds out that the whole of Oz is a mess, and it’s all his fault. And Oz controls the world, so heaps of traffic jams, floods and confusions begin to happen all over the Earth.

This film was very intense, and probably suited for 10 to 15 year olds. There were a lot of shocking and disturbing themes, which made it exciting but at the same time really scary. I give it a 9/10 since it was one of the best movies I’ve seen this year!

I saw Summer Wars at ACMI which is The Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. It’s cool!

See more about Summer Wars here!

Animalation

Have you ever wondered which animal you would be if you had the choice?

Are you interested in painting and animation?

Do you like animals?

Well, come along to Animal Portraits, a cool session at ArtPlay, that let’s you find out which animal suits you best, and at the same time indulges you in animation and art in 5 hours of fun.

Here’s a quick preview of what happens, and be amazed at how fun it looks!

Firstly, you can look at some pre-made examples by some other artists. See how it all comes together and enjoy the little film you will be making.

Then you can get thinking. Write down three animals you could be and draw one on a separate piece of paper. Don’t lose them!

You can now get decorating. Make your creature out of card, but leave some bits separate so you can move them later. You might also want to do a few extra bits for your background!

Now get animating. Use a basic animating system like Frame thief or use the one at ArtPlay, they’ll show you how to use it. Place your creature under a camera, and make sure that no light gets through! They’ll have it all set up at ArtPlay, so don’t worry if you don’t understand.

Put your creature on the glass, and move it a little bit. Then press enter. Keep repeating, and watch as your film comes together.

Later, you might want to add vocals. Record your voice and it appear later when you get  your animation from ArtPlay in June.

Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? All in 5 hours……

So now you know what happens, I hope you will be tempted enough as I was to have a go at this cool workshop. I hope to see you there!

UPDATE! The animations are now finished. You can check them out at http://animalselfportrait.blogspot.com/ They look and sound excellent. Thank you Dell and Kate.

P.S Why don’t you have go at it at home? I must admit it’s better at ArtPlay, but you can easily do it on a rainy day!

Have fun!