'And Then They' by Shaun Clark

BAFTA-nominated UK animation author Shaun Clark is not a stranger to Zippy Frames. He has hosted his 'Angry Dogs' film, and talked about his 'Wish You Were Here' and 'In the Beginning'; his films alternate between the arthouse and the commissioned, between live-action collaboration and 2D animation, and between the mildly surreal and the documentary.

His latest animation short, 'And Then They,' presents a collage of diverse voices that emerge as people are interviewed about a character named Alex. 

Memories of Alex’s swamp-dwelling aspirations, mud-rolling weekends quickly unfold as the film becomes a poignant exploration of identity, prompting viewers to question how well we truly know others and the intricacies that shape an enigmatic figure like Alex.

We inquired to learn more about the short animation film.

ZF: Tell us about the film title and how it was selected.

SC: The film's title is based on the lines that regularly appear in the narration and is a nod to how the script was constructed by asking multiple people the same questions about the main character. 

ZF: What was the process of preparing for this film? Since it was a live-action shooting, you didn't need a film script in the traditional sense. Your script was the participants themselves.

SC: At the outset of the project, I teamed up with Producer Carrie Washington (BEEE Creative) to plan how we would collaborate with the five partner organisations (MacIntyre Charity, Vacani School of Dance, Redborne Upper School, Carers in Bedfordshire - Young Carers, Creative Connections group [adults living with Parkinson’s disease and dementia]) to co-create a collective narrative around a character. Inclusivity was key, so we worked with writer Leander Thom to write a film script that all the participants could contribute to. Leander developed a script centred around a character called "Alex”. Through the script the participants were asked to fill in the gaps about Alex’s appearance, what Alex loved and hated, where they lived, and memories of Alex. This enabled the participants to bring their own interpretations of the character and play an active part in shaping the film.

Before sharing the script with the participants, we tested it with the crew, asking them to complete the missing words to ensure their responses aligned with our vision. Once we finalized the script, we distributed it to the participants, encouraging them to treat Alex as an entirely imaginary character and approach their descriptions with as much creativity and freedom as possible.

When we received the completed scripts, the results were often hilarious! We then selected sentences from each participant to assemble the final version of the script. In fact, we ended up with so much material that we could have potentially made a 30-minute film!

ZF: The film employs both pixilation and 2D animation. Was this a conscious decision, or did it emerge in the process?

SC: Yes, the combination of 2D animation and pixilation was a deliberate decision from the outset. I wanted to contrast pixellated real people filmed by videographer Chris Lincé with the 2D-drawn version of 'Alex' to highlight the idea that everyone is either remembering or inventing this character. The 2D animation was created entirely on an iPad using Procreate software, often during my commute, on holiday, or during lunch breaks. This approach was incredibly freeing, allowing me to work on the film anywhere rather than being tied to a studio. Many shots were even created on the London Underground, trains, buses, and planes.

ZF: Your combination of animation techniques also extends to editing the voices. The participants have their own voices, complementing the narrator etc. I guess you didn't want any long speeches from talking heads etc.

SC: Yes, the participants partly narrated the script, recording the lines they had written in it. Their voices are mixed with Melvyn Ternan's voice, who recorded the rest of the narration. Sound Designer David Pringle worked with the recorded voices, blending them seamlessly to ensure they flowed naturally throughout the film. Composer Tanera Dawkins also created a wonderful, playful score to capture the project's mood.

To manage longer responses, we set a word count limit on the script, encouraging participants to refine their answers as they completed it, ensuring the story remained concise and flowed smoothly. The same participants also acted in the film, engaging with the character of Alex and helping to bring the narrative to life on screen.

Watch 'And Then They' trailer:

ZF: You've done a lot of indie animation shorts before, and time is usually the enemy of indie filmmakers. Did you have a tight schedule on this one, and did you face any other challenges you probably wouldn't have expected?

SC: Yes, the turnaround was very tight. We shot in June, and the film had to be finished by December. We still needed additional shots during the editing phase with Ariadna Fatjo-Vilas, so I animated and air-dropped them into the cut as we went along.

One unexpected outcome of the animation process was the wobbly line work for ‘Alex.’ This was a result of it being nearly impossible to draw anything straight or smooth while commuting on the Victoria Line of the London Underground. It was an unexpected visual style but adds a real sense of life to the animated line. 

ZF: Diversity and inclusivity are two words we commonly use but do not always give a precise meaning. What was your meaning after directing the film?

SC: For me, it’s about celebrating difference. One of the most rewarding aspects of the film was collaborating with such a diverse range of people, brought together by Carrie Washington and her team. The energy and enthusiasm they brought throughout the production really enriched the film. It was also important to me to bring underrepresented voices to the screen, allowing them to share their ideas and skills and give them visibility (visually and audio). Sharing the finished project with them at the end was a truly special moment.

The project was funded by Arts Council England and is a co-production between Flicker Mill and BEEE Creative. 'And Then They' has traveled to the UK (London International Animation Festival), Spain (Girona Film Festival), Greece (ICONA Festival), and continues its festival run.

About Shaun Clark:
Born in Beverley, United Kingdom. Independent filmmaker Shaun Clark has worked as a director and animator since 2005. His work has been BAFTA nominated and won prizes at the Clermont Ferrand Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival, the Imagine Film Festival, and the British Animation Awards. Shaun has held retrospective screenings of his work both in Greece and South Korea and has created films for the BBC, Discovery Times USA and Arts Council England. He currently resides in London, where he works as a filmmaker at www.flickermill.com

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