Free Range Film Festival - Untamed World: Deserts
A look into the daily lives of tiny animals living in the desert, trying to survive.
Interview with Director/Producer Kelsey Juddo
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I’ve always loved stop motion animation and had been toying around with the idea of making a short film out in nature for a while. I was heading to Death Valley with a friend and decided it would be the perfect setting. I wanted to create something fun and enjoyable, like a fictional Planet Earth episode.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film is for everyone, it’s meant to be an escape into a microscopic part of our world.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I think that everyone can relate to the mouse in this film. He is trying so hard to obtain this special piece of food and it is always just out of reach--for reasons that he can and cannot control.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I started with a very rough idea of what I wanted the story to be about when I was shooting. A lot of things had to change because everything was being shot outside with very minimal equipment. The story really started to take form once I was editing, which is when I made the decision to add the narrator. Cameron, who narrates the piece, was really helpful with the writing process as well.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I love collaborating whenever I’m working on a project, so there has been feedback from friends and family since I started shooting and writing the narration. We’ll see what the festivals have to say!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Yes, especially in terms of writing the narration, because that was something I decided to add so much later. I was writing it around the time of the election and someone had suggested making the narration about the political climate of our country, but that ultimately wasn’t a direction I wanted to take.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I just hope to inspire people to go out and make their own projects. This was a passion project that took me over a year to finish because I was having to work and just takes breaks from editing everything. It’s always tough to give yourself the initial push to start something, but once you do it’s very rewarding.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
I would love to partner with an organization that saw an educational potential in a film like Untamed. I’ve always imagined making similar shorts, but instead of being set in a more fantastical world, it would be in our own, and based on facts.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want viewers to come away from Untamed with a feeling of relief, that if only for a few minutes, they were able to forget about any worries and just escape into a different world.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The biggest conversation I would like this film to start is about how we view our public lands. Untamed is a good example of natural landscapes inspiring art, which is an aspect of preserved places that is often overlooked.
Would you like to add anything else?
I’m so happy with the way the music and audio turned out with this project. Mike McGraw and Peter Eddins took the few examples I gave them and created the perfect soundtrack. It really brought the whole film together.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Currently, I’m working on a couple other short stop-motion projects that I’ve shot (they’re still in the editing process). I’m also prepping for a short documentary I’m doing on the eclipse that is happening later this month.
Interview: August 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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Untamed World: Deserts
A look into the daily lives of tiny animals living in the desert, trying to survive.
Length:3:19
Director: Kelsey Juddo
Producer: Kelsey Juddo
Writer: Kelsey Juddo & Cameron Malcolm
About the writer, director and producer:
Key cast: Narrator, Cameron Malcolm
Where can I see it in the next month?
The project is currently available online, but I’m also waiting to hear back from a few festivals in the coming months.