Throughout 2018, we’re working with The Smalls to present twelve new short films directed by emerging filmmakers in response to the themes explored by The Art of Change.
This month, Sois de Traca’s animated film imagines an alternative reality scenario and tackles the frightening themes of animal extinction, pollution, and climate change.
We meet the duo to hear more about the making of the film and how film can break down barriers.
How does your film respond to this month’s theme – Climate Change?
The film is a surrealist take on human responsibility over climate change and on our inescapable connection with nature.
Truth be told, climate change sounded like quite a daunting theme to approach. Uncertain, ominous, intangible, gigantic. Of course we were drawn to the challenge. We so often wonder about sustainability and waste.
What if each of us were instantly accountable for our actions when they affect climate change?
For the film we considered different approaches, just restraining ourselves from apocalyptic narratives and finally decided it would be most interesting to create an alternative reality scenario.
What if each of us were instantly accountable for our actions when they affect climate change? We wanted for nature to be able to voice its concerns, so in the film a group of animals has become organised and are committed to make themselves heard by humans, guerrilla style.
Can you explain the process behind the making of your film?
We first think a little story and do some drawings about how we imagine it would look like. After that we do the storyboard and once we have quite clear what is going to happen we design backgrounds and characters. For this film we have drawn all the animation digitally, and also we have made some ink textures to include in the backgrounds. Then, once we have all the animation bits done we do all the compositing and add sound to make it come alive.
Do you think art really can be a vehicle for change?
Art is really good at posing questions and usually being presented with another person point of view makes you wonder about things, even when they are not completely related to what the artist intended. It is questions that can bring change eventually, so in that sense art can be a great starting point.
About Sois de Traca
Sois de Traca is a filmmakers duo based in Manchester, formed by María Álvarez and Elisa Morais. They make animated short films and sometimes also venture into technology producing media art, interactive experiences or projection mapping installations.
Watch more of Sois de Traca’s work: soisdetraca.com
Next month, our theme is ‘Community‘.
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