by Jo Johnstone
Films have and will always be filled with ideas and themes. From emotional, political, psychological and beyond. The number and variety of ideas that can be expressed within a film are endless. For this months Movies In Motion, we look at a short film that considers the possibility of creating life as well as the choices we make within our own.
Films have and will always be filled with ideas and themes. From emotional, political, psychological and beyond. The number and variety of ideas that can be expressed within a film are endless. For this months Movies In Motion, we look at a short film that considers the possibility of creating life as well as the choices we make within our own.
The Maker opens on an unusual rabbitesque creature standing in a studio with a book. We watch as time begins to escape him through an hourglass and the shorts violin score begins. The creature opens his book and choses to use his time to build someone, a mate or companion possible. He crafts a face with teeth and glass eyes like his. He takes inspiration from his violin for a pattern on her face and cooks this. He then crafts a body with thread and material. He gives her rabbit like ears and stuffs the body to give her shape. Yet the creation is lifeless so the creature must find a way to breathe life into her. He tries showing her films as well as reading to her with no avail. His final attempt moves into the shorts incredible score as he plays her the violin. Its this music that awakens his mate. The two embrace and the creature bestows his book to her. The creature then disappears leaving his creation alone. In isolation, the new creature watches as the hourglass starts all over again along with the films score.
The piece is directed by Christopher Kezelos who had previously directed short Zero. The Maker was first conceptualized in 2010 when composer Paul Halley, a friend of Kezelos, was struggling to get his music to audiences. Kezelos decided to put Halley’s music to a short animated piece. Kezelos and his writing partner, Ziad Jamal contacted artist Amanda Louise Spayed to see if they could use her bunny like creatures in the film. Once the pair had finalised the story the sets as well as its players had to be built. The studio with its many objects and pieces all had to be individually crafted. Spayed added some of her own drawings to the studio and the creatures book. A language and font were also created especially for the story which can be seen in the book as well as on the board that the creature uses to teach his lifeless mate. The short took four animators, including Kezelos, thirty days to complete. The result is a beautifully crafted piece of stop-motion animation.
The piece is directed by Christopher Kezelos who had previously directed short Zero. The Maker was first conceptualized in 2010 when composer Paul Halley, a friend of Kezelos, was struggling to get his music to audiences. Kezelos decided to put Halley’s music to a short animated piece. Kezelos and his writing partner, Ziad Jamal contacted artist Amanda Louise Spayed to see if they could use her bunny like creatures in the film. Once the pair had finalised the story the sets as well as its players had to be built. The studio with its many objects and pieces all had to be individually crafted. Spayed added some of her own drawings to the studio and the creatures book. A language and font were also created especially for the story which can be seen in the book as well as on the board that the creature uses to teach his lifeless mate. The short took four animators, including Kezelos, thirty days to complete. The result is a beautifully crafted piece of stop-motion animation.
The most striking image from the piece is the creature himself. A plush lanky, striped body wearing a dark coat. A round porcelain face with indentations that are inspired by his violin. On his face the creature posses two glassy eyes that look as if they belong on a doll. His oversized human like teeth dominate his face and allow little in the way of movement and prohibit speech. On first glace the creature is creepy with his large teeth and glazed expression. Yet as he undergoes work on his creation he looks sweet and longing. Kezelos has make his task so much harder by designing his creature with such limited facial movement but in the small flickers of his eyes and ears emotions are conveyed that soften the strange creature. For his mate the creature has built her in his own image. She too is lanky but with a pink patterned body. She also has rabbit like ears and an almost identical face. Her main distinguishing feature is that her glassy eyes are blue and not amber.
The animation style of the piece is similaiar to that of Laika’s film Coraline. The opening section shows a doll of Coraline Jones being crafted by mechanical hands. In The Maker you see the creature precisely cut, stitch and stuff his creation. Despite the creatures lack of fingers you feel his every cut and stitch. His movement style is light but fluid. Despite his unusual face through Kezelos and his animators hard craft the creature is able to convey confusion, sadness, happiness and joy. This is mainly through his eyes and ears with a small amount attributed to his face and mouth movement.
The animation style of the piece is similaiar to that of Laika’s film Coraline. The opening section shows a doll of Coraline Jones being crafted by mechanical hands. In The Maker you see the creature precisely cut, stitch and stuff his creation. Despite the creatures lack of fingers you feel his every cut and stitch. His movement style is light but fluid. Despite his unusual face through Kezelos and his animators hard craft the creature is able to convey confusion, sadness, happiness and joy. This is mainly through his eyes and ears with a small amount attributed to his face and mouth movement.
The set of the short is particularly interesting. Its a workshop of some kind but with every viewing you notice how detailed it is. Each book on the shelf has a mark or title of some kind. Bottles and utensils line the creatures desk. The opening shot of the creatures face cuts to a long shot from behind of him looking at a wall. On this wall are sketches and works from an unknown source yet parts can be made out. You see a sketch that is in the style of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man accept instead of a mans proportions its done with a creature. The hour glass is also surrounded by statues in the form of the creature. The studio adds so much meaning and possible interpretation to the story.
The film is accompanied and really led by its beautiful score. Halley’s piece builds as the creature builds and climaxes as its power resserects his mate. Each chord helps communicate the ergency of the sand in the hourglass. The film and its score are an urgent race against time. The short can even be interpreted as a homarge to music. After all it is the score that awakens the creatures mate.
The piece can be read in so many different ways. No matter how you interpret the film its a treat that stays with you. You long to understand why the creature disappears and what his mate will do without him. You also wonder how our dear friend came to be alone in his studio.
This is truly an incredible piece of film. In its short running time, its brings to mind works such as Frankenstein and visually films like Coraline and Donnie Darko. The Maker is interested in two eternal ideas: one is the possibility of creating life and two how we chose to spend life. The creature, knowing he has limited time, choses to make life. His time is tirelessly spent making a friend so that for a brief moment he is not alone. That moment is worth his lifetime. Once the creature has gone his creation then has to make a choice about how her time will be spent. The cycle continues.
The film is accompanied and really led by its beautiful score. Halley’s piece builds as the creature builds and climaxes as its power resserects his mate. Each chord helps communicate the ergency of the sand in the hourglass. The film and its score are an urgent race against time. The short can even be interpreted as a homarge to music. After all it is the score that awakens the creatures mate.
The piece can be read in so many different ways. No matter how you interpret the film its a treat that stays with you. You long to understand why the creature disappears and what his mate will do without him. You also wonder how our dear friend came to be alone in his studio.
This is truly an incredible piece of film. In its short running time, its brings to mind works such as Frankenstein and visually films like Coraline and Donnie Darko. The Maker is interested in two eternal ideas: one is the possibility of creating life and two how we chose to spend life. The creature, knowing he has limited time, choses to make life. His time is tirelessly spent making a friend so that for a brief moment he is not alone. That moment is worth his lifetime. Once the creature has gone his creation then has to make a choice about how her time will be spent. The cycle continues.
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