COVID Dystopia: On the Red Carpet

Posted on by Thor

On Sunday November 3rd at 8pm there was a second screening of COVID Dystopia at the Orlando Film Festival. I had quite honestly not realized there was a screening Sunday, so I hadn’t promoted it like usual with a Facebook invite.

I feel it is important to always go to any screening to be there for the question and answer sessions that follow the screening. I went early to get a sketch done in the theater lobby. There was a red carpet set up so film makers could pose in front of all the corporate logos. I took a selfie but haven’t had an official shot taken yet. I have one more chance with my final screening on Tuesday. I shared a shot of myself in front of the COVID Dystopia movie poster and that shot got more engagement than any of the trailer of stills from the film I had shared. It wasn’t my smiling face that got the likes because I was as usual wearing my formal black KN-95 mask. One of the staff took the photo. I usually cross my arms for such a shot, but the lanyard got in the way, So I ended up putting one hand on my hip. On this trip to the festival I finally brought along some COVID Dystopia cards and buttons. The cards have an early poster on one side and the lyrics to the other side. The buttons have a laurel and “COVID Isn’t done with us yet”.

I figured an 8pm screening might be better for getting a crowd in the theater. I was wrong. The producer for the animated short Matty Cat sat in the back and there were two others seated house right. I had met the producer at the first screening where there were lots of filmmakers and about 5 audience members. I joked with him about how I had hoped for a more packed audience. We had a very pleasant conversation about the trajectories of our careers, and lives, then the films started.

Seeing all the films a second time I got to better appreciate things that worked well in each film. With the first screening I cringed every time animation seemed flawed. I put that aside and just looked at textures, lighting and all the aspects that I could learn from should I once again commit to making an animated short.

The two person audience filtered out when the lights went back up so there was no point to a question and answer session. One of the staff however asked us both questions. He was fresh out of film school and just breaking into the film business. Talking to him was awesome since he was in touch with all the Hollywood gossip and so passionate about wanting Independent films to make a mark. There is a horror film that was just made with a budget of $15,000 and it made about 6 million dollars in theaters. That is a one in a million shot but it is what keeps filmmakers motivated.

The last Orlando Film Festival showing of COVID Dystopia will be on November 7, 2024. The November 1st screening 2pm, theater 9. At 8pm on November 7 is the Awards Ceremony which I will also attend in case I need to pick up another award. The Orlando Film Festival runs from October 31 to November 7 at the CMX PLAZA CINEMA CAFE 155 S. Orange Ave, Downtown, Orlando FL. A one day pass is $20 and you can see a whole lot of films in one day. When I attend a film festival I treat it like a movie marathon. If you go to a screening, I will be easy to find as the one person in a KN-95 mask. We might be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with us.

COVID Dystopia: Zeus Came Down With a lightning Bolt

Posted on by Thor

This shot has no actual animation, but a depth map and camera movement.I could have had his hand physically point but I decided to keep it still so the the lightning bold movement is the center of attention.

The lighting bold was animated in after effects. I hand animated the bolt as well but liked the procedural animation better. I did hand animate lightning in another shot with basketball players jumping to tap the COVID ball.

COVID Dystopia will screen at the Orlando Film Festival on November 1 and 7, 2024. The November 1 screening is at 4:15pm and the November 7, 2024 screening is at 2pm, both in theater 9. At 8pm on November 7 is the Awards Ceremony which I will also attend in case I need to pick up another award. The Orlando Film Festival runs from October 31 to November 7 at the CMX PLAZA CINEMA CAFE 155 S. Orange Ave, Downtown, Orlando FL. A one day pass is $20 and you can see a whole lot of films in one day. When I attend a film festival I treat it like a movie marathon. If you go to a screening, I will be easy to find as the one person in a KN-95 mask. We might be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with us.

COVID Dystopia: Jesus Snatched Up all the Chicks

Posted on by Thor

Adobe decided to update the Premiere Pro software overnight. Now when I play the edit of COVID Dystopia quite a few shots are offset and partially out of frame. This shot is one of those shots. I had to go in and re-edit the start and end positions of the clip.

As I share scenes I will be digging in and redoing the work that was already done. The only other thing I might need to do to the movie is add captions in case a film festival requires them. I added captions once before but took them back out since they distract from the scenes. The film moves at such a breakneck speed that there is not time to read and also see that is happening in each shot.

I always liked the concept of this shot. Since Jesus has holes in his hands from the crucifixion nails, his hands make for very ineffective masks when held over one’s face.

COVID Dystopia will screen at the Orlando Film Festival on November 1, at 4:15pm and November 6 at 2pm in theater 9 of the CMX PLAZA CINEMA CAFE (155 S. Orange Ave, Downtown, Orlando FL). The film is part of Animation Block 1. Orlando Film Festival passes are on sale now. A 1 day pass is $20. You can see a lot of films in one day if you are up for a marathon.

COVID Dystopia: Jesus Dropped a Cluster Bomb

Posted on by Thor

In the weeks leading up to the Orlando Film Festival, I feel I should share shots from COVID Dystopia. I do this leading into each film festival.

This festival feels special since the film was created in Orlando and so many of the shots relate to Florida’s failed COVID response. The film has been rejected multiple times for other Florida Film Festivals and I thought it would never be shown in this state.

The animated film is controversial  and rather hard edged. It is perhaps too controversial to be shown at your average Film Festival. When it is shown, it wins awards. It won the Best Short Animation Film Award at the Chicago International Reels Film Festival. It won as the Best Short Short Film at the Berlin Shorts Film Festival, and it has won an Honorable Mention at the Charlotte Film Festival and it was a Nominee for the Best Animated Short at the Iowa Independent Film Festival.

COVID Dystopia: Screening Times at Orlando Film Festival

Posted on by Thor

COVID Dystopia was placed in Animated Film Block 1 at the Orlando Film Festival which starts October 31, 2024 and runs through November 7, 2024.

The Orlando Film Festival takes place at the CMX PLAZA CINEMA CAFE (155 S. Orange Avenue downtown Orlando FL).

COVID Dystopia will be shown twice. The first showing is on Friday November 1, 2024 at 4:15 PM in theater 9. The second showing is on November 6 at 2 PM also in theater 9.

This film shouts into the void that wishful thinking does not stop an airborne virus, the effects of which are hard to ignore if you are paying attention. I honestly thought this film would never be shown in Florida since so many scenes mock Florida governor DeathSantis’ handling of the pandemic. We might be done with COVID, but COVID is not done with us.

Passes are now available for the Orlando Film Festival. One day passes are $20, seven day passes are $100, VIP passes are $150 and VIP Elite passes are $350. You can experience independent films for a day of a solid week.

The Orlando Film Festival is now in its 16th year of showcasing incredible cinema from around the world. The CMX Plaza Cinema Café is the Festivals home. The Cinema has twelve beautiful theaters with high-end digital projection located right in the heart of Orlando. All of the Film Festival events take place in or around the theater. Audiences do not just watch quality cinema but also get an immersive experience full of spirited Q & A’s, panel discussions, script reads and fantastic parties. This is the perfect opportunity for filmmakers and screenwriters to directly interact with their audience, as well as others in the industry.

COVID Dystopia is an Official Selection for the Orlando Film Festival

Posted on by Thor

I really didn’t think COVID Dystopia would ever be screened in Florida. There are so many scenes that feature Florida Governor Ron DeathSantis that I assumed any juror who is conservative would guarantee the film is never seen.

The Orlando Film Festival runs from October 28 to November 4, 2024. That means COVID Dystopia will be screened right before the November presidential election. The film also features many scenes of Trump’s failed COVID policies. This is, I am assuming, another reason many film festivals consider the short to be poison for the big screen.

A Rhode Island film festival organizer e-mailed to let me know that she contracted COVID-19 at the the in person screenings at the film festival. This meant that approvals for the festival had to be delayed while she recovered. I thought, that might mean that COVID Dystopia might have a better shot at approval, but the film was still side lined. People prefer to pretend that life has returned to normal even as they get repeatedly infected. Every film festival is a super spreader. One in 35 people are infected right now. We are just now starting to come down from a COVID wave that peaked in late August 2024. I think I am still a COVID virgin. Even though I take every precaution, I will likely become infected at one of these Film Festivals as I promote COVID Dystopia.

I am finishing up the design work on a 200 plus page book with over 600 COVID themed illustrations. If the copy editing is done by late October, I could publish the book in November of 2024. The COVID Dystopia book gives a more sweeping overview of everything that has happened in the ongoing pandemic. The short animated film would become a teaser to promote the book.