Dr Mandala
Dr Mandala by Jasmin Hedger, Animation student from the University of South Wales
Who?
My Name is Jasmin Hedger and I created the stop-motion film Dr Mandala. I designed the whole production and the only parts I did not make were the music and also a co student Charlotte Cowly made the corridor adjacent to the main set so… Music by Joe Marvelly! Narrated by Arthur Hughes!
What?
It takes place in a doctors office were you find Dr Mandala sitting agitated by the repetitive knocking on the door. Who is at the door? The doctor drifts in and out of daydreams of past patients and becomes increasingly disheartened about his life’s work, a magic painter. He is unable to leave his office and day, to week, to year, heals patient after patient, by painting a picture for each of them. The colours in each painting represent the patient’s plight, which appears when they declare their woes. But even though he is a master of helping others, he has no idea how to help himself… will he ever escape?
Inspiration?
What inspired me to make this film was during my time in University I became depresses and discovered that only I could free my mind, realizing that the problems was inside me and not reality and the world is exceptionally beautiful. During this time I did some reading about different meditations, went for very long walks and ate good food to try and snap myself out of it. This is when I Discovered The Mandala which is a Hindu and Buddhist symbol representing the universe and the hole of life and creation and also it is a symbol expressing a person’s striving for unity of the self. So it went from there… the film is about me waking up to reality and happiness.
My main influence as far as animators is Jan Švankmajer, because of his surrealist style and subject matter. I particularly enjoy the (1971) Jabberwocky because of it use of found objects and cinematography. However I consider my self a fine art animator so I am greatly influenced by the impressionist, surrealist and cubist movement.
How?
The Film is fully stop-motion shot 25frames per second, using Stop Motion Pro 7 and Premier C7. The puppets have armature bases, with uses of materials such as latex, sculpy, acrylic paint, wool, fabric, beading and other things. As far as techniques the painting movement was designed by me and is done by repainting each frame. Also the lights on the machine are dome by moving 27 pins each shot and the final one is when the rabbits head pops out, that is done by having a few heads in different stages of emersion. I dream about animation and it consumes my thoughts, I believe it is magic and anything can happen.
Next Projects?
Currently I am working on an art exhibition; which will consist of about 20 puppets ranging from marionettes to animation puppets to crazy new designs. In addition I plan to make a flat pack puppet theater set. All will be influenced by welsh countryside and happy to be human.
The main idea for doing this exhibition is to improve my craft skills and to make some tactile work. But also I plan to use the puppets to fund my next film, either by selling them or using them as gifts for bids on a brilliant website called kickstarter.
My new film is going to be about a gentleman on a quest for hair, were he will consume different antidotes from mysterious and wise people, but dome in a way I could never describe in words. I hope to display new animation techniques and leave a big fat smile on the views face.
Which animation do you wish you had made?
If I could claim to of made an animation it would have to be Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase produced by Joan C. Gratz it is a Two-dimensional clay animations melding and merging the work of 35 famous artists. It blows my mind.
