Month: Jan 2020

Posted in Set Design

Building the Bridge

Posted on by maryamdaneshvar

To cross a bridge, a river or a border is to leave behind the familiar, personal and comfortable and enter the unknown, a different and strange world where, faced with another reality, we may well find ourselves bereft of home and identity. —Jean-Pierre Vern-ant

The bridge is an important code and has symbolic meaning in my film.

Somehow the bridge is connecting the safe place which is the village to the dangerous and unknown part of this narrative.

For that reason I had to create a not stable bridge. Something that reflects a passage and starting point of a dangerous voyage.

I had a long discussion with my art director about a suitable and meaning colour. At first I picked a brown colour. But then we both felt that there is not that much contrast with the rest of the set. Interestingly, we both simultaneously came up with the idea of painting it yellow. The yellow will stand up also it has represents an hazardous element.

I’m pleased that I managed to finish this part of the set in just one day. The next step is to build the mountain!

Posted in Puppet

Making the Puppet

Posted on by maryamdaneshvar

I’ve been insired by German Expressionism style. Expressionism refers to art in which the image of reality is distorted or exaggerated in order to make it expressive of the inner feeling or ideas. Therefore, I decided to create a fantastical creature which was half human and half ant which was a representation of Kolbaran. Also, I wanted to create an abstract face similar to “Weeping Woman” by Picasso.

Despite some researches on how to build a puppet for stop-motion animation, the whole process was very experimental.

Posted in About the Project

Why Stop Motion?!

Posted on by maryamdaneshvar

A year ago, this time I had no idea what is Stop Motion! In September, while I was thinking and researching for my Final Major Project, I came across the idea of making a film about Kolbaran. However, I knew that I won’t be able to travel to Kurdistan and even if I could, as a student I wasn’t able to make a film in a very dangerous mountain. The alternative option was to make an animation. After a quick research I realised that how much I could connect with stop motion animation.

I always loved art (painting, sculpture, design, architecture and Fashion), I also love storytelling, but more importantly I love filmmaking. In that moment, I strongly believed that this is a real match making in heaven.

Making a decision to work on a stop motion animation short film without any background was a huge step. I knew from day one that I will face lots of obstacles but I was persistent and determine to take the risk and make an experimental film.

9 months later, I still excited about this project. I’m not saying my project is the best ever animation, but what it matters is how much I learned throughout this process. From building a puppet and the set, to lighting and using the software, and more importuning telling a story, directing and animating, all were joyful.

Posted in Set Design

Village!

Posted on by maryamdaneshvar

Merry Christmas and happy new year everyone. While you were celebrating holidays, I was busy building my set for my test pilot.

Enjoy watching the video of the behind the scene for building the main set for the village.

Posted in About the Project

Existentialism vs Absurdism

Posted on by maryamdaneshvar

For many people, Kolbar’s live represent the absurdism. Everything is meaningless. Kolbar is identical with Sysyphus. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king who was punished to roll a rock up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top, repeating this action for eternity (The Myth of Sysyphus).

However, I strongly believe a Kolbar follows this lifestyle freely. As, Existentialism believes that individuals are entirely free, therefore it emphasises action, freedom and decision as fundamental and holds that the only way to rise above the essentially absurd condition of humanity with is characterised by suffering and inevitable death, is by exercising our freedom and choice and complete rejection of Determinism.

In this plot, despite the fact that the protagonist knows what is waiting a head of her, she willingly becomes a kolbar and takes the same meaningless and absurd journey. Her action, demonstrate the futility of existence.

The message of the film is unclear until the very last seconds, when we see the colourful particles.