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Est. Reading Time: 4 Minutes

On Visual Style & Techniques

MARK (M) Why did you think it was important to change the aspect ratio when cutting to animation? Does the change in aspect ratio reflect the main character’s intrusive and claustrophobic headspace?  

HANNA (H) I didn’t put a lot of thought into the aspect ratio during pre-production, I only realised it could be something to consider when the animation software I used asked me what size canvas I wanted. I decided to tighten the aspect ratio to further differentiate between animation and live-action. The claustrophobic headspace is definitely something I thought about so I’m glad you picked up on it.

There is also something about the 4:3 aspect ratio that just feels very dreamlike. As it’s heavily associated with old televisions and videotapes, the 4:3 aspect ratio has sort of a nostalgic feel which I thought could be utilized to further show the characters disconnect from reality.

On Process & Discovery

M How did it feel to essentially be in front of and behind the camera at the same time? What did it teach you about filmmaking?

H This was quite the challenge as it gave me so much more to think about when I was already overwhelmed by all the choices that needed to be made. But it also meant I spent a lot of my time thinking about the character and her motivations. This made all the decisions behind the camera much easier as it is such a character-oriented story. 

Ultimately, I’m glad I acted in my own film even if I have almost no acting experience. I learned so much about the acting process and the importance of being in a safe environment. Being comfortable enough to be vulnerable is critical to an actor's performance so I’ll make sure to keep this in mind when I work with actors next time.

M In making and finishing the film, what did you discover and learn that you might adopt or further explore in future projects?

H Death of a Clark is the first short film I’ve ever made so I could probably tell you a million things that I’ve learnt from this project. One of the big things I noticed was that I was constantly seeking people's opinions on every minor decision I made, even friends and family members who knew little about film or were not part of my intended audience. Hearing so many conflicting pieces of feedback was very overwhelming and did more harm than good. So for the next project, I am going to practise trusting myself more instead of seeking excessive external validation. 

On the technical side, I really want to improve my animation skills and start using more professional software. In this film, I just used procreate on my iPad which did the job as the hand-drawn imperfect style was part of the appeal, but that may not apply to the next project I attempt. The biggest limiting factor in animation is your own skill and the software you use so I would love to challenge myself with Adobe 2D software and possibly 3D animation if I’m feeling brave.

On The Future

M I know your goals might change and grow over time, but what are your current goals in filmmaking? Do you see yourself writing, directing and acting in most of your future projects, or do you want to focus on one or two particular areas?

H That’s a tough question. I'm not too sure about which area I would like to specialize in so at the moment I’m trying to do as much as I can to get a feel of all areas. I love writing but it’s the part I find the most challenging. I often get stuck in my head about what I’m trying to say but I’m hoping that will improve with practise.

I love directing and would love to get more experience directing actors as it’s something I didn’t really get a chance to do on this film. Acting is a very strange profession that I never considered for myself until recently. I cast myself in this film because the actor I had planned to play the role had to cancel at the last minute and I didn’t have time to find anyone else. Now that I’ve got a taste for it I would like to do more in the future but it’s more of a backup plan.

Mark’s Final Thoughts

• Interesting to read Hanna discuss her impulse to constantly ask for people’s feedback on her work. Seeking reassurance on your first short film is pretty natural so I’m sure with more experience, Hanna will grow to not just trust her gut, but understand and feel comfortable with her instincts and style. This will naturally improve her ability to filter and navigate different pieces of feedback.

  Tags Animation Bourgeon Death Live-action Mental Health

The founder of Hommage, Mark Shaba published this interview on 05.11.2021. Mark is a filmmaker from Victoria, Australia. He respectfully acknowledges the past and present traditional owners of the land on which he creates, promotes and screens art, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation who are the custodians.

Death of a Clark is the second film added to our new collection ‘Bourgeon’, which is aimed at promoting and showcasing talented first and second-time filmmakers. Our goal is to encourage filmmakers who display ambitious, promising and unique qualities while learning their craft. Being one of their first interactions with an online platform, we hope to set a nice example and standard of personalized film discussion and promotion.