In creating a 5-minute animated short film, Grasshorse Animation Studio will solicit the help of emerging artists from around the world using an online production method. Mimicing big-studio production pipeline techniques, Grasshorse has established a virtual workshop setting and will take delivery of assignments and finished work through its web interface. The studio says it is especially keen on discovering new talent outside of the standard centers of production.
“We’re looking to recruit artists from around the world who are new to the film and TV industry, and we’ve created a system which allows relatively inexperienced artists to learn and grow while making contributions to a project that they can be proud of,” says Grasshorse founder Stephen Jennings, a digital artist with more than 10 years experience in feature film visual effects. “The online response has been incredible and far beyond our expectations!”
The production on Grasshorse’s plate is a 5-minute short titled The Shimmering, in which a decrepit, wounded Knight wanders the desert for an eternity, pursued by a mysterious, shape-shifting force that takes many seductive and frightening forms. After several violent confrontations, the Knight discovers that The Shimmering has not been attacking him, but trying to heal him and bring him renewed life.
Artists who wish to work on the project must first register with the site and take a skill level certification. Once a task is assigned, the files are downloaded over the internet or sent to the artist on DVD. Assignment reviews, feedback and revisions are all conducted through the Grasshorse web interface.
“This unique system allows artists to contribute from anywhere,” Jennings comments. “It used to be that if you dreamed of working on high-end projects you had to pack up and move to where the big studios are, and then spend years doing grunt-work before you could actually touch a shot in a film, but that’s no longer true.’
The Grasshorse Studio can be found online at www.grasshorse.com and the ‘Grasshorse Animation Workshop’ podcast is available from the iTunes Music Store. For more information, email contact@grasshorse.com.
Leave a Reply