Culver City Film Festival 2018 - Like Clockwork
A cuckoo clock bell ringer struggles to break out of the monotony of his ticking prison in the hope of creating his own original melody.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Parker McBain
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I believe one of the biggest issues we face as artists is finding a balance between our individual voice and that of the audiences we seek to relate to our work. As I continue to grow as an artist, I find it increasingly easy for me to become subject to outside influences. And while I believe it is important to listen to the ideas of others, I believe it is equally as important to have the confidence and faith to adhere to the ideas of the individual. This balance between opposites is what I wanted to get across with this film. I hope that my audience can walk away from my film thinking of their own work, their own ideas, and find the balance they require to feel fulfilled and confident as artists.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Everyone can relate to the idea of not feeling in control at times in their life. Sometimes we can get too involved with our routines and the influences around us that before we know it, we are in a rut, blind to the reality of our true interests. Hope is that anyone who may be going through the doldrums of life like the character in my film did, that they can recognize their situation and find the courage to break free.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
One of the beauties of animation is that the story writing process is capable during most every aspect of early production. My film was one of those situations where the story never stopped being worked on, even well past the writing phases. It wasn’t until one viewing with new eyes on the animatic that we realized I was trying to cram too many themes into a five-minute short. This sort of ties into the eventual final theme of the film about finding a balance between being the listener and the speaker. As director I was very good at incorporating criticism into my story, but I struggled with taking control of the story. At first it was almost as though I was allowing others to try and make decisions for me. And it wasn’t until I built up the courage to stand up for my thoughts and ideas that I regained control of my story to create a manageable and touching film.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I’m always interested in how my viewers interpret and react to my films, and so far most people seem to be thinking about the same ideas I intended for them to get from the film, but if there were other underlying themes that touched some audience members more, then I am always excited to hear other opinions, because that, I think, is what makes films and filmmaking so interesting. I’m always looking to see the world in new perspectives, and many times I learn the most from my own work only after listening to the critique of my audiences.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
My goal with this film is to be able to have the chance to reach as many people as possible. It was truly a beast to complete having a little less than a year of production with a team of less than ten people on it during various stages. And I want audiences everywhere to have a chance to enjoy a film that me and my team worked very hard on and are very proud of what we were able to accomplish.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’m not expecting anyone to see this film and change their lives drastically. I just want to get people thinking. My goal when it comes to making short films is to have a conversation with my audiences. I want them to leave the theatre with hopefully some new ideas or questions that can spark an interest of their own.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Do you think there needs to be a balance between being a follower and being the one who is followed in order to better yourself in your ambitions? Or if not, then how can imbalance serve a similar purpose to your own life and the lives of others around you?
Would you like to add anything else?
I thank you for the wonderful opportunity to have my voice heard a little.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Having currently graduated from university, I am now working as an animator for game cinematics and am working to get my foot in the door for feature film animation.
Interview: December 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
Like Clockwork
A cuckoo clock bell ringer struggles to break out of the monotony of his ticking prison in the hope of creating his own original melody.
Length: 5:07 minutes
Director: Parker McBain
Producer: Parker McBain
Writer: Parker McBain
About the writer, director and producer:
PARKER McBAIN is a recent graduate from Florida State’s College of Motion Picture Arts, currently an animator for game cinematics for Sony Playstation. He loves bringing stories to life with other talented artists.
Facebook: Parker McBain
Instagram: @parkermcbain
Website: www.parkermcbain.com
Other: Parker McBain on LinkedIn
Made in association with: Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? No future release dates as of now, but possible festival screenings in the coming months.