Good Grief
A$4,452
of $3,500 targetyrs ago
Successful on 12th Oct 2012 at 1:00AM.
Visit Good Grief online at: www.goodgrief.tv.
"There
were just times when I physically needed to be held up. It was like my
anti gravity muscles weren't working and I would just keep falling..." ~
Dana
Grief is something that touches every person in many different ways though the experience is not always what we expect. Through grief we experience a greater understanding of life and how to live it.
Good Grief is a short animated documentary being produced at the Victorian College of the Arts. It is director Fiona Dalwood's graduating Masters project and produced by Jonno Katz. In early 2012 we interviewed five people about their experiences of dealing with the loss of something they loved. Now, the real voice recordings we've captured are being made into a stop-motion film attributing the dialogue to a variety of lively, original characters.
Pic: Storyboard image of our first character, Spangle the Boston Terrier. Spangle lost boh of his parents within a fortnight.
UPDATE
Good Grief has successfully met our target fundraising amount of $3500, however our campaign is still running and open for pledges until October 12.
What will the extra money help us out with?
Well, getting into a nice big festival would be amazing, but actually attending a festival would be the cherry on top. Any funds collected past our initial target will be squirreled away and put towards a travel budget should we be accepted into any fancy-pants overseas festivals. We might be able to create some subtitled versions of the film too! We're giving away door special door prizes along the way so you might just score yourself something truly unique to keep as a reminder that you're the kind of awesome person who supports indie film-making.From the Director:
Why make Good grief?
I want to make this doco as way of exploring my own experiences of grief, by working out how traumatic periods make us better people. I believe, if we let it, grief can be a positive influence in our lives. Grief is unique, different for everyone, and I believe it changes us. I know I am not alone in my experiences of sorrow as a wake-up call or catalyst for change. I want to make a film that captures some of the knowledge gained by others in the darkest moments of their lives. You won't find platitudes or emotional manipulation here, just five ordinary Australians being disarmingly honest about their loss. It's refreshing to hear such candid observations about one of life's last taboo topics.
In 2010, when my Mum died, my family set up a charity in her honour, something that will change the lives of other people. Changing the world in a small way makes me feel we were put here for a reason. It gives me hope that despite all the terrible things that go on around us, the best quality we have as humans is the compassion to help others, to lift each other up and to share.
My Mum’s imminent death made me want to live my life as transparently as possible to let her know I would be okay so that she could concentrate on wrapping up her own life. Returning to school to study film-making has been a gift to myself and an assurance to her.
Good Grief will be charming, honest, funny and poignant.
How is the film being made?
I have chosen to make Good Grief as a clay animation film - or ‘claymation’ - because I believe that such a big topic deserves a light touch. Something magical happens when a clay character comes to life on screen, with all their wobbly bits and funny faces. They breathe, they live, they take us somewhere else.Good Grief is as much a love story about life as it is about losing something we love, and I want people to enjoy the sensuality of our world made small.
Good Grief is being produced using the time honoured methods of stop motion animation, made famous by such icons as Ray Harryhausen, Jan Svankmajer and Peter Lord. Through the magic of endless stanley knife cuts and glue gun burns, I will be constructing a world in miniature from modelling clay, armature wire, plasticine and elbow grease. Then I spend the next few months taking LOTS of photographs one frame at a time, and squishing it all together into a seven minute film. That’s 10,125 frames to go!
This is a one woman show, so it’s going to take me a loooong time to lovingly construct each of our four sets and to craft the five main characters into moving, pose-able puppets for shooting. And I don’t have any time to lose.
Why make Good grief?
I want to make this doco as way of exploring my own experiences of grief, by working out how traumatic periods make us better people. I believe, if we let it, grief can be a positive influence in our lives. Grief is unique, different for everyone, and I believe it changes us. I know I am not alone in my experiences of sorrow as a wake-up call or catalyst for change. I want to make a film that captures some of the knowledge gained by others in the darkest moments of their lives. You won't find platitudes or emotional manipulation here, just five ordinary Australians being disarmingly honest about their loss. It's refreshing to hear such candid observations about one of life's last taboo topics.
In 2010, when my Mum died, my family set up a charity in her honour, something that will change the lives of other people. Changing the world in a small way makes me feel we were put here for a reason. It gives me hope that despite all the terrible things that go on around us, the best quality we have as humans is the compassion to help others, to lift each other up and to share.
My Mum’s imminent death made me want to live my life as transparently as possible to let her know I would be okay so that she could concentrate on wrapping up her own life. Returning to school to study film-making has been a gift to myself and an assurance to her.
Good Grief will be charming, honest, funny and poignant.
How is the film being made?
I have chosen to make Good Grief as a clay animation film - or ‘claymation’ - because I believe that such a big topic deserves a light touch. Something magical happens when a clay character comes to life on screen, with all their wobbly bits and funny faces. They breathe, they live, they take us somewhere else.Good Grief is as much a love story about life as it is about losing something we love, and I want people to enjoy the sensuality of our world made small.
Good Grief is being produced using the time honoured methods of stop motion animation, made famous by such icons as Ray Harryhausen, Jan Svankmajer and Peter Lord. Through the magic of endless stanley knife cuts and glue gun burns, I will be constructing a world in miniature from modelling clay, armature wire, plasticine and elbow grease. Then I spend the next few months taking LOTS of photographs one frame at a time, and squishing it all together into a seven minute film. That’s 10,125 frames to go!
This is a one woman show, so it’s going to take me a loooong time to lovingly construct each of our four sets and to craft the five main characters into moving, pose-able puppets for shooting. And I don’t have any time to lose.
Pic: A storyboard lineup of all of our characters. Left-Right: Sarah the carrot, Alex the lettuce, Dana the spider, Andrew the grasshopper and Spangle the Boston Terrier.
What do we need this money for?
While I’m busy making a mess in the studio, my producer Jonno will need all the help he can get to shore up some much needed funding in order to ensure we can get the finished film out to festivals. Making a movie isn’t just about what happens on set - we’ll need to make DVD duplicates, print press kits, post packages, pay festival fees, promote the film and do everything we can to ensure Good Grief gets the attention it deserves - and we need YOU to be an important part of it! After all, there’s no point making a film if no-one gets to see it, right?
Some of our expenses include:
When can you see it?
Good Grief will screen at Melbourne’s ACMI cinemas in early December as part of the Victorian College of the Arts School of Film & television graduate screenings. After that we will be submitting the film to festivals with the hope of reaching an international audience. The more money we can raise, the more festivals we can submit to. This is why you’re so important. Only you can help us get Good Grief onto the world stage.
While I’m busy making a mess in the studio, my producer Jonno will need all the help he can get to shore up some much needed funding in order to ensure we can get the finished film out to festivals. Making a movie isn’t just about what happens on set - we’ll need to make DVD duplicates, print press kits, post packages, pay festival fees, promote the film and do everything we can to ensure Good Grief gets the attention it deserves - and we need YOU to be an important part of it! After all, there’s no point making a film if no-one gets to see it, right?
Some of our expenses include:
- Craft materials
- Composition & Music
- DVD duplication
- Festival submissions
- Marketing material
- Exhibition/Screening tapes
When can you see it?
Good Grief will screen at Melbourne’s ACMI cinemas in early December as part of the Victorian College of the Arts School of Film & television graduate screenings. After that we will be submitting the film to festivals with the hope of reaching an international audience. The more money we can raise, the more festivals we can submit to. This is why you’re so important. Only you can help us get Good Grief onto the world stage.
There there, you deserve a pat on the back.<br /> <br /> - You’ll receive a special thanks on the Good Grief website.
5 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 12
What you really need is a comforting hug.<br /> <br /> - A special thanks on the Good Grief website.<br /> - We’ll also send you a very cool signed Good Grief postcard.<br /> - Free attendance to an Artsclub networking event in your area organised by Artshub
15 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13
Tea and sympathy<br /> <br /> - A special thanks on the Good Grief website.<br /> - Free attendance to an Artsclub networking event in your area organised by Artshub.<br /> - A very cool signed Good Grief postcard.<br /> - Your very own hand embellished special blend Good Grief tea bag.
8 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13
An afternoon curled up on the couch with comfort food<br /> <br /> - A special thanks on the Good Grief website.<br /> - Free attendance to an Artsclub networking event in your area organised by Artshub.<br /> - A special thanks in the film credits.<br /> - A very cool signed Good Grief postcard.<br /> - Your very own hand embellished special blend Good Grief tea bag.<br /> - A delicious block of chocolate.
7 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13
The late night TV marathon <br /> <br /> - A special thanks on the Good Grief website. <br /> - A special thanks in the film credits<br /> - A very cool signed Good Grief postcard.<br /> - Your very own hand embellished special blend Good Grief tea bag.<br /> - A delicious block of chocolate<br /> - A photographic production still signed by the Director
3 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13
Retail therapy<br /> <br /> - A special thanks on the Good Grief website. <br /> - A special thanks in the film credits<br /> - A very cool signed Good Grief postcard.<br /> - Your very own hand embellished special blend Good Grief tea bag.<br /> - A delicious block of chocolate<br /> - A photographic production still signed by the Director<br /> - A signed DVD copy of the film once it has been released
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13
Primal Scream Therapy<br /> <br /> Everything that has been listed<br /> <br /> PLUS<br /> <br /> - An Associate Producer film credit (serious IMDB street cred)
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13
Someone to tell you everything is going to be OK<br /> <br /> Everything that has been listed<br /> <br /> PLUS<br /> <br /> - You’re our new Executive Producer! You’ll get EP film credit (serious IMDB street cred) and an invitation to the film’s red carpet premiere screening at ACMI in December 2012<br /> - a delightful evening of comforting home cooking from the Director; and<br /> - your choice of prop used in the film
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 13