Green-themed film a hit with judges of NZ contest
‘‘It was a bit fiddly, but a lot of fun,’’ says Natasha Bishop of making her animated short film Arboraceous – the overall winner of a national film challenge promoting sustainability.
The four- minute clip took the budding Whitby filmmaker three weeks to put together using software she already had and popular online programme Artrage.
Arboraceous, meaning ‘‘covered in trees’’, is simple and whimsical, with no dialogue. Bishop’s hand-drawn ‘‘gingerbread men’’ silhouettes cut down the last apple tree on earth to build a house. When they realise they need food to survive, they rocket off to other planets, but ultimately salvation is found at home.
‘‘I’d made some films before, in groups, but this was my first try solo. I really enjoyed it,’’ said the 16-year- old Samuel Marsden Whitby student.
Natasha was encouraged to enter The Outlook for Someday awards by her IT teacher.
Entrants could use any genre and up to five minutes duration so long as sustainability was a theme. Arboraceous won two awards, including Standout Picture, announced at a function in Auckland on December 5.
‘‘ I was happy to make the shortlist but when they read out my name on the night it was more shock than excitement.’’ Natasha received an $8000 Unitec package and an Android tablet. She plans to take a break for the summer but intends to make more films in the future.