Greg McLeod Talks ‘365’ and ‘Marfa’
Greg McLeod is an award winning illustrator, animator and director and one half of The Brothers McLeod. Last year Greg undertook the challenge of creating 1 second of animation per day, after over a staggering 1000 hours of work the result was the now award winning 7minute film “365”. We spoke to Greg about “365”, the upcoming crowdfunded film “Marfa” and more…
Your film “365” is currently on its journey around the festivals, can you tell us where the idea came from?
It came to me 2012 Christmas. I seemed like an interesting idea and fed into my love of multiple narratives in a film.
Can you tell us a bit about the production process of “365”?
Once I had the idea for the day I had a very simple set up – mac-air and bamboo wacom. Animated straight into flash then added to the edit and added the fx.
What was the most challenging aspect of “365”?
The last 2 weeks were really hard. Getting over the finish line was a struggle.
As well as currently screening at festivals the film is available ‘on demand’ via Vimeo, how have you found this method of selling the film?
The on demand service on Vimeo has offered us a way of selling our work online. However the pick up is very low. Only about 100 sales to date. Our recent film “Phone Home” which is available for free has had 200000 views.
Would you like to see more ways for filmmakers to be able to make an income from their own projects?
I can’t see it happening online, the concept of a free watch is so entrenched now I don’t see a way of making it work. Our major source of income is through traditional outlets such as broadcast or advertising.
The 365 project established a healthy social media following through the daily Facebook updates, was this always part of a ‘promotional’ plan for 365?
The Facebook element was a real driver for me continuing the project. The fact it was updated daily and the close contact with the followers really spurred me on.
You’re now crowdfunding for you next film “Martha” can you tell us some more about this project?
Our award winning film ‘365’ is off to the Marfa Film Festival and having never been to America I’ve decided to make an animated travelogue of the trip. I’ll be travelling via Austin Texas with a 7 hour road trip through the wilds of Texas to the gloriously remote town of Marfa. Along the way I’ll be documenting the sights and sounds, the people and the architecture and of course the outstanding natural backdrop. I will be using some of the techniques and methods I used in my previous films ‘Cosdwallop’ and ‘365’. The joy of found sounds and images coupled with subconscious musings and visuals collated into a working narrative. So the film won’t be your standard travel film but more my impressions of being in a completely new and foreign environment.
I am not a seasoned traveller. Europe is as far as I’ve managed, so this trip should be a wondrous revalation. My main experiences of travels in America have been formed through films and books. Easy Rider made a big impact on my teenage self and it led me to such films as Badlands, Scarecrow and Vanishing Point. Woody Guthrie’s glorious autobiography Bound For Glory and Kerouac’s On the Road through Wolfe’s Electric Kool Aid Acid Test and Updike’s short stories. I have travelled the vast distances of America vicariously through characters both on the page and on the screen. So now it’s my turn. Hopefully I won’t be shot on a lonesome highway or chased indiscriminately by a psychopathic lorry driver. However it should be an interesting and exciting ride and I’m sure to pepper it with the sites and sounds all filtered through my ever so slightly twisted mind pipe.
Check out the Kickstarter campaign here.
What appealed about crowdfunding the film?
We thought we’d dip our toe in the water and see if we could cover some of the costs of the production. The on demand avenue doesn’t seem to work so we thought we’d see if people would be willing to pay upfront
You have had previous internet hits with the likes of “Spamland” how has the internet been for releasing your films and finding an audience?
The internet has been a massive shop window for our work and it’s through that exposure that we’ve got more commercial work.
Which of your projects has been your favourite to work on?
Isle of Spagg is one of my favourites because it was something me and Myles worked on very closely and something people said we’d never pull off.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Being alive, look about, there’s a lot of stuff out there, and daydreamings a big help.
What words of advice would you give to aspiring animators?
Make lots of really short films. Make things you’re interested in.
Jake is a Researcher and Interactive developer at Wonky Films and the face behind all of Show Me The Animation’s online platforms and website. So if it breaks he’s probably to blame! Aside from running the SMTA online, Jake make’s interactive things for Wonky Films.
