SOMEWHERE

Gold Spike

Demo Film

Film

TitleSOMEWHERE
BrandANIMALS AUSTRALIA
Product / ServiceANIMALS AUSTRALIA
CategoryB05. Visual Effects
EntrantVANDAL Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Idea Creation ANIMALS AUSTRALIA North Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
Media Placement ANIMALS AUSTRALIA North Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
PR ANIMALS AUSTRALIA North Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
Production VANDAL Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Post Production VANDAL Sydney, AUSTRALIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Brenden Brenden Johnson VANDAL Managing Director
Russell Finch VANDAL Music Composer
Anna Greensmith VANDAL Executive Producer
Nick Kaloterakis VANDAL CG Artist
Bryn Morrow VANDAL CG Artist
Emile Rademeyer VANDAL Creative Director
Kent Smith VANDAL VFX Artists
Phil Stuart-Jones VANDAL Editor
Phil Stuart-Jones VANDAL VFX Artists
Andy Sutton VANDAL CG Artist
Marcus Timpson VANDAL Colour Grade
Mick Watson VANDAL VFX Supervisor / CG Lead
Lyn White Animals Australia Director of Strategy

Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

Among real footage of animals from real factory farms throughout Australia, one hopeful pig dreams of a better world. Our hopeful pig, named Peanut, sings alongside other pigs and chickens, yearning for a world without factory farms. She pleads her case for a kinder world, where she could be free. At the climax of the film, she grows wings and flies to freedom. Compassion should not discriminate. It’s time to free our thinking and change the world. Kindness starts here.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Did you know that ‘factory farming’ or ‘farmed’ animals like pigs, hens and chickens aren’t shielded from cruelty by the same basic laws that protect other animals like cats and dogs many of us share our homes, lives and hearts with? When given the chance, farmed animals will befriend us, just like dogs and cats do. They have the capacity to show affection, to experience joy — but most importantly, they can also suffer. And suffer they do, by the millions, in barren factory farms where they’re treated as food-producing ‘machines’ rather than living, feeling beings. Most of us are taught to think that ‘farmed’ animals are all the same — however the reality is that every animal is a unique individual. With the high walls of factory farms hiding these animals from public view, the daily cruelties inflicted upon them are kept secret. When confronted with images of the immense suffering experienced by animals hidden away in factory farms, the natural response from compassionate people is: “How is this legal?” Many of Australia’s Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines were written nearly four decades ago — and incredibly, those covering pigs and poultry have only been reviewed once in the last 20 years. These standards are archaic and permit cruelty to animals that would never be acceptable to our modern society. These cruel codes make it legal for intelligent and sensitive animals to be severely confined in sheds and cages, denied access to fresh air and sunshine, and even permit parts of their bodies — like sensitive beaks, teeth and tails — to be cut off without pain relief. The good news is we don’t have to wait decades for government and industry reviews to happen! We all have the power to take a stand against factory farming cruelty. Kindness starts here. All animals deserve kindness and a life worth living. But for millions of animals each year, this remains but a dream, impacted by practices born in another era. Our choices can change their world. Compassion should not discriminate. It’s time to free our thinking. By using our power as consumers and making kinder choices, all Australians can bring animals back into the circle of compassion. Farmed animals live, breathe, feel, befriend, yet draconian laws and practices deny them a life worth living and human kindness.” Australia's leading animal protection society, Animals Australia, want to encourage all Australians to change their thinking and change the world. By using our power as consumers and making kinder choices, all Australians can bring animals back into the circle of compassion.

Tell the jury about the visual effects and summarise any relevant challenges or techniques.

The challenge of the film was to create a realistic collection of 3D animals using CG animation and VFX. The animals included 3D pigs, 3D flying pigs and 3D chickens that sing along to a composed song. The 3D animals had to be integrated into existing footage to match the look and feel of the live action footage captured of the "real" animals in Australian factory farms. The flying pig had to be a photoreal, realistic and convincing version of a pig, so to not feel like a "cartoon". The animals all had to capture the hearts of people as the plead their lot.