Ben West wrote, directed and did the animation for this warming mockumentary promoting the 2008 Australian Directors Guild Conference. Ben’s witty script, combined with a bit of Christopher Guests meets Chris Cunningham is a refreshing change of pace from the über epic conference promos of late.
I caught up with Ben to discuss his concept and process: “I came up with the idea of film makers as freaks ostracized by society growing up and finding each other through the calling of film making. [They] tend to be pretty precious with fragile egos so the idea stuck. The freak factor […] represents the skills that are peculiar to film craft. The effects […] involved substantial 3d tracking and photogrammetry that allowed the actors freedom to perform…”
Production Company: Soma Films
Writer, Director and Animator: Ben West
Producer: Sarah Nichols
Cast:
Big Eye – Cameraman Cameron Craig
Ear Girl – Sound Recordist Alison Cox
Multi Arm – Art Director Anthony Howes
Big Mouth – Director Chris Lee
Barber George Shelazi
Casting Director: Wendy Green
Director of Photography: Nicola Daley
Camera Assistant: Ashleigh Carter
Gaffer: John Ward
Art Director: Angus McDonald
Production Asst: Sian Hamilton
Runner: Chris Lee
Lighting:Rick McMullen Lighting
Lab: Atlab
Bake Transfer E-film
Grade: Bean
Senior Colourist: Christine Trodd
Edit & Post House: The Tait Gallery
Editor: Danny Tait
Online Compositer: Ricardo Neves
Composer: Nick West
Sound Mixer: Ant Smith
Sound Post Production: Sandcastle Studios