3D artist and filmmaker Franz Impler, whose bonkers grad film Out Of Bounds we featured in Stash 149, is back with a new short film – complete with his surreal story-telling and signature unpolished CG style.

Franz Impler: “The biggest challenge in this project was that the process of concept and story development went on for four years from the first idea to the final result. A lot has happened over this period and a lot has changed, and so has the project.

“The initial idea came to me right after I finished my diploma at the beginning of 2020. I started writing the script and making sketches for the characters and settings. It was just a few weeks before the pandemic hit Europe and the first lock downs began.
 

“It’s not often you get to be so flexible on a project and it was a bit scary at times because it felt like losing control. But that’s kind of what the film is about, so maybe it was a good fit.”

 
“I have often questioned the film and as it is a personal project, I could have stopped it at any time and started something new. My solution was to just let the project develop organically and not try to control it too much. I even wrote some parts of the film while I was already animating.

“There are at least three different versions of the storyboard and way more versions of the script. The last scene of the film especially, changed a lot and in the end it was very spontaneous.

“It’s not often you get to be so flexible on a project and it was a bit scary at times because it felt like losing control. But that’s kind of what the film is about, so maybe it was a good fit – it was definitely a good exercise in trusting your intuition again.

“For the look of the film, I aimed for something that is a bit dreamy and surreal but not over the top. I tried to find a color palette and lighting set up that is not too crazy but still gives you a surreal feeling and taste.”
 
 

 
Director: Franz Impler

Sound: Franz Impler