Over Dinner

Over Dinner by Marcus Armitage at the Royal College of Art.

What?
Their last dinner before he leaves to join the Army. The reality of the situation begins to break in through the four surrounding walls.

Why?
For this film, I wanted to try oil on glass, as I have a background in painting but had never brought that into animation. I wanted to create something visually different from the constant transformation almost slideshow style of many oil on glass films I had seen. I wanted to create something more controlled but with the tonal range and details you can achieve with the painted image.

Inspiration?
The story came while researching on the topic of archives. I had been looking at many religious paintings and was particularly drawn to their composition. Paintings such as the last supper were hugely influential to the story as well as the image. I enjoyed the idea of someone’s last meal, and the emotions that come to the surface at these moments. The theme of young men leaving home to join the army is another interest and something that has happened a lot around my home of Yorkshire, and I wanted to explore how this affects the family unit.

Next Project?
I am currently working on my graduation film about inherited opinions and judgements, and their affects on a young boys life in the multicultural melting pot of London. https://vimeo.com/88376360 This is a little colour test of what the film will look like when completed!

Which animated film do you wish you had made?
I think I would have liked to have made the Crusha ads by Joel Veitch! They’re awesome.