This documentary short delves into VFX house Rhythm & Hues shortly after its first round of layoffs and Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration. (Following its bankruptcy declaration, Rhythm & Hues was acquired in March 2013 by a company with ties to VFX/animation house Prana Studios, which has offices in L.A. and a subsidiary in Mumbai, India.)
The film explores the factors that are putting the VFX industry in peril, and the impact of hard times on artists and their families. Rhythm & Hues' founders also share their takes on what went wrong and why.
"Life After Pi" was directed by Scott Leberecht, who is still an art director at Rhythm & Hues. The film was produced by Christina Lee Storm, who at the time was manager of digital production at Rhythm & Hues (she is now at Act One).
Production Scott Leberecht, director/editor; Christina Lee Storm, producer.
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More