GEORGE NEWS - A former Georgian and learner of Glenwood High School, Hannah O'Brien, is on cloud nine after a short animation film that she produced won a gold award in the student division of the 2020 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
Another former George learner, Abraham Mohotsi, who matriculated from Eden Technical High School (former PW Botha College), was part of the film team.
The film, The Boy and the Robin, is a short adventure-drama about a young boy named Adam, who through his imagination is transported into a new world based on a TV show he loves.
"When a terrible accident occurs in his imaginary world, the boy finds himself exposed to a reality he struggles to come to terms with," O'Brien told George Herald.
"Through this film we aim to tell a universal story about coming of age and the loss of innocence that comes with it, which is something we believe we have all experienced in our lives."
The film is four minutes and 34 seconds long. It was produced last year by O'Brien and a team of eight other students of The Animation School in Cape Town as their third and final year project.
The story was originally written by a member of the team, Tian Westraad. "It was then changed to better suit the animated format with the help of our lecturer Benito Kok and the director of the animated film Mune: Guardian of the moon, Alex Heboyan, who came all the way from France to help us. After this lengthy process it was then adapted into a final script," said O'Brien.
The film is aimed at a general audience. "We wanted to make a film that is deeply personal and can resonate with many people around the world, however, it is suitable for children to watch."
It should be released on The Animation School's YouTube channel in the next few weeks.
The production team of 'The Boy and the Robin'. Standing, from left are Tamika Bramwell, Hannah O'Brien (producer), Storm Arendse, Hayleigh Gundry, Hanno van der Merwe, Tian Westraad and Abraham Mohotsi. Front: Kyle Ryan and Conor Louw.
Read more on sister publication, George Herald.
The New York Festivals TV & Film Awards honours television and film content in all lengths and forms across 50 countries. Its aim is to encourage the next generation of storytellers by recognising innovators in 14 categories.
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