Operator
Operator by Sam Barnett, Sam discusses his film below…
Who?
I did a lot of the work on this film, writing directing and animating. Alejandra Bursik-Cervantes provided voice work, and Luke Seldon provided some of the music. Numerous people contributed notes and advice including Louis Morton, who’s excellent film Passer Passer is in your current student showcase.
What?
Something goes very wrong in the middle of Bob’s workday when the corporation he works for installs a new efficiency system. The machine he works on appears to malfunction, then gives birth to mechanical parasite which tries to attach its self to his head. As Bob tries to keep from getting fired while fending off the parasite, he realizes he may be choosing between his life and his job.
Why?
I was inspired to make this short stop motion animation by cordyceps mushrooms which infect and control the minds of ants, “parasitic ideas”- such as ideologies designed by cults or oppressive regimes explicitly to weaken and control the holders of such beliefs, and the callous mechanization of corporate bureaucracy. I wanted to create a story that promoted empathy for people who are relatively powerless and become victims of these kinds of destructive forces in the world.
How?
The film is mostly stop motion animation, but I did a lot of post VFX in After Effects.
Next Project?
I am currently writing a feature film about the rise of a cult leader and his mental collapse and the subsequent collapse of the organization as a whole.
Which animated film would you like to have made?
Balance 1989 by Wolfgang and Christoph Lauenstein, or Dimensions of dialogue by Svankmajer?
