Luce and the Rock
One day, out of nowhere, a giant Rock lays in the middle of the peaceful little village where Luce lives. The villagers can’t even open the door to their houses anymore! Luce is angry: go away Rock, you don’t belong here! And why are you here anyway?
Interview with Writer/Director Britt Raes
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
My previous short film Catherine was not specifically written for kids, but it appealed to adults and kids! It made me realise my style and storytelling naturally resonate with kids. The film was not only for adults.
With Luce and the Rock, I wanted to create a film for kids, but not only for kids. A film so cute that adults would also fall in love with it!
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
For the cute characters, the funny animation, the bright colours, the catchy music, the graphic visual language,…
If you’re having a bad day, it can hopefully put a smile on your face!
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Some themes I explored were fear of the dark, being big and small, and most importantly what it means to have a home.
Is a home the place where you come from, the house you live in, a place where you are welcome, somewhere where you feel safe, or the community of people you belong to? Those different meanings are explored throughout the film!
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Throughout the development and production, I try to keep the core of the story and the characters in mind. How can the different aspects (colours, shape, sound, movement,…) of storytelling support it?
For example, the Villagers: the 6 Villagers (almost) look the same - red blocks -, they fit perfectly in their door openings and they also fit together when they form a block, they sing together like a choir and they move in the same way. All these different elements communicate that they belong together and form a community.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I especially love the drawings I’ve received of kids that enjoyed the film! It’s the first time I’ve gotten fan art, and it is AMAZING! Such a great way to understand what people remember from the film, and which scenes or characters they connect to!
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was so focused on creating a ‘film’ in its totality that I was surprised at how much the characters themselves resonate with the audience. People want to see more of them, that is so wonderful to hear!
With the character design of Luce, I intentionally kept it simple, so that people could interpret it. Is Luce wearing a hijab, a parka, a hoodie, a raincoat or something else? There is no wrong answer! And it’s been a happy surprise that it works, people see their own culture represented in it!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am very happy to be featured on the platform to be able to reach the adult audience! The film is for kids, but not only for kids. Adults like cute things too :D
So it is really great to share some insight into the film with peers and other professionals. Who hopefully enjoy it themselves (and then get so excited they want to share it with their kids ;) ).
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film has been travelling around well and the support has been great.
It would be wonderful to get more screening opportunities, and it’s wonderful when the film becomes part of educational initiatives! So any interest in that, be sure to get in touch with Miyu Distribution!
And film festival directors and journalists, if you can help create opportunities to share the film not only with a young audience but also with peers in the professional world, that would be great! At some festivals the film is not in public screenings and other filmmakers can’t go see it, which is a bit sad.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Make people happy! Make them smile!
And I hope they also discover the diversity in the film. Characters have different shapes and sizes, they are different kinds of creatures, there are different skin tones, and there is also a character with a fake leg. The diversity is scattered throughout the project but not everything is in the foreground. I wanted it to be casual, it’s a part of the world just like it is our world: diversity is all around us!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I hope that after the first happiness they feel from watching the film, they also dig a bit deeper into the story.
I hope they think about what it means to be different and come from another place. People that seem different from us, might be more like us than we realise, if we just take the time to get to know them. Something we don’t understand might look like a threat at first, but with an open mind who knows what you can discover?
Would you like to add anything else?
The voice of Luce was done by my niece and nephew, and their mom is Mom in the film! It was such a pleasure to work with them and have their voices be part of the movie.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am developing a new short (for adults!) and also dreaming of making more projects with Luce!
My producer Thuristar is creating a second season of their series Mush Mush and the Mushables!
David Chambolle, the lead animator, worked on the feature Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds.
Interview: May 2023
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
Luce and the Rock
One day, out of nowhere, a giant Rock lays in the middle of the peaceful little village where Luce lives. The villagers can’t even open the door to their houses anymore! Luce is angry: go away Rock, you don’t belong here! And why are you here anyway?
Length: 12:58
Director: Britt Raes
Producer: Perrine Gauthier
Writer: Britt Raes
About the writer, director and producer:
In her work, BRITT RAES appeals to the child alive in each of us. Her first professional short Catherine travelled to 200 festivals worldwide, collecting 50 prizes along the way. Besides having just completed her second professional short, Luce and the Rock, Britt is also writing a series, a special and a children's book. Britt is now 35 years old, but when she’s home alone, sometimes she’s still a bit afraid of the dark.
PERRINE GAUTHIER is an International Emmy-nominated producer with 15 years of experience developing and producing animated content. Her recent credits include Mush-Mush and the Mushables, currently airing worldwide and in production for a second season; and the short film Luce and the Rock, which premiered at the Berlinale and has been selected to 150 festivals, aside from its TV and theatrical release.
Key cast: English version: Fien RAES and Casper RAES (Luce), Karolien DUELLAERT (Mom), Bram MEINDERSMA & Susanne EDAM (Villagers)
Facebook: Britt Raes
Instagram: @brittraes
Hashtags used: #luceandtherock
Website: brittraes.tumblr.com
Other: Vimeo
Made in association with: In coproduction with VRT-Ketnet and RTBF With the participation of France télévisions
Funders: With the support of: The Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) The Netherlands Film Fund The Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government via Scope Invest This project benefited from a residency at l’Enclume with the support of the SACD and Copie Privée