Martin Rodahl, who made one of his initial career marks when selected for SHOOT’s 2012 New Directors Showcase, directed, produced and edited this Special Olympics Illinois’ PSA titled “Different Like Me.” The spot features real athletes practicing various sports as their voices recite a poem that speaks to their respective journeys as Special Olympians. All aspects of the production, from concept to editorial, were handled by 71 Degrees North.
Rodahl said of the piece, “As far as unique challenges, working with real athletes with a variety of intellectual disabilities was both challenging and rewarding. Ultimately no one can tell their own story like the athletes themselves.
CreditsClient Special Olympics Illinois Production Company/Creative 71 Degrees North Martin Rodahl, director/editor/producer; Neha Datt Schultz, executive producer; Jason Chiu, DP; Christina Honan Swan, copywriter. Audio Design & Mix Noise Floor Cory Coken Music Audiocastle Color Nolo Digital Film
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