EPICYCLE, 7min., Canada
Directed by Deb Ethier
A surreal experimental animated allegory of the cyclical rise, fall and evolution of social order.

https://rustybolttheatre.zyrosite.com/
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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I’d been looking back through some of my very early (as in: really old) art notebooks and wanted to bring some of the recurring concepts and visual elements from those to light, translating them into an updated animated language.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took about six and a half months. It was just me doing everything except the music in this case, so I “worked” very long hours...except it wasn’t really work; it was a joyful obsession. I work very organically and things begin to change and take shape as I go along. Ewan Laker-Mansfield came on board for the sound design fairly early in the process and was able to work out ideas as I sent him finished clips.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Hmmm. Surreal; Mysterious.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I often have to pause and figure out a different technique to get the effect or look I want; kind of a “seat of the pants” approach. I also agonize over the overall “look” and spend a lot of time on color grading and layout. From vision to “reality” is often a rocky journey.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I loved the feedback video! All I could think was, “People really do get it!”...you’re never really sure until you get that confirmation.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I’m a bit of an anomaly; I didn’t start making films until 2016, quite late in life. However, it was then that I realized all of my previous art work (drawings, small sculptures, paintings, photography) was actually trying desperately to be film and needed that temporal aspect. Once I made my first (VERY primitive) animation it was a “Eureka!” moment.

7. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I wish more festivals offered the kind of support and exposure you give to your filmmakers. There are a few out there, but yours really gets involved and supports us. I love that!

8. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I do find FilmFreeway to be a lifesaver. Finding out about fests through FF searches and having all of my information already entered into my profile has saved a lot of time.

9. What is next for you? A new film?

Already at work on my next film, “Effigy House”. It’s an exploration of recurring themes, images, aesthetics that roll around in my head, some of which popped up when working on Epicycle, but with a very, very different approach