TENDRIL is a design, direction and animation studio based in Toronto, Canada. Formed from the ongoing collaboration of Brazilian-Canadian directorial team Chris Bahry and Alexandre Torres, 'It is a place where directors, designers, and artists from diverse backgrounds create powerful, visual storytelling experiences,' says producer Molly Willows.
Not afraid to be experimental, 'we dare to be naive and see every new client and brief as an opportunity to create our best work.'
TENDRIL's amazing short film for STYLEFRAMES NYC is a good example of what is created when commercial constraints are removed: An ominous piece of 'sci-fi noir', in parts reminiscent of big-budget studio films DARK CITY and TRON:LEGACY, it depicts an anxious creative guy on an all-nighter at his desk. He's trying to come up with a pitch, yet haunted by conflicting creative muses.
In the film, the aforementioned muses - or 'The Gods' - were an idea by co-director Anthony Scott Burns, and proved to be the project's eureka moment: 'The Gods are the ones we challenge when we accept the invitation to unlock new avenues of self discovery,' he wrote in his presentation to Stash Magazine, the event's organisers.
As a series of conferences and seminars, STYLEFRAMES attracted speakers from such notable companies as The Mill, Zaha Hadid Architects, and advertising heavyweights BBH. It focussed on that singular moment in any creative's life: 'The Pitch'. As such, TENDRIL's movie perfectly captures the late-night paranoia of the looming deadline. Check it out -
....................................
Interview with Styleframes Co-Director, Anthony Scott Burns
MONOBLOG: It's an impressive piece of work, considering that the team didn't have very long to work on it. What are your thoughts on the experience of the STYLEFRAMES production?
Thanks so much for your kind words. Firstly, it was a pleasure to collaborate with Chris Bahry + Tendril, and John Black of CypherAudio. All throughout my career I have created work almost completely solo because I have never been able to find collaborators who see things so similarly. Chris, John, and I clicked immediately.
I think we all saw that this was the right project for us all to blend the best creative qualities in each other. We had all been wanting to work together on something for years, and Styleframes couldn't have been a better project to do this. It was an ambitious & short schedule, but I think we all loved the intense method of creating this piece.
MONOBLOG: After all the hard work, what was the reaction to the film?
The reaction so far has been great. I'm glad people have responded so well to it. It really was a labour of love for all involved.
MONOBLOG: When I first saw it, my first thought was 'I wish these guys had done Tron: Legacy'. If you had a wishlist, what would you love to work on?
My dream projects would be Tron 3, The Black Hole remake, and Daniel Clowes' graphic novel Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron.
MONOBLOG: Great choices. So what are you working on, next?
I've just finished my newest short film "Manifold". It's a science fiction mystery, and has already been picked up to be made into a feature. I had many of my good friends involved, including Ash Thorp ( - see elsewhere in this edition ) who was instrumental in all the design aspects of the film. The eight minute piece also has a dark synth score by the immensely talented Makeup and Vanity Set.
My album Pilotpriest is going to be released this year on vinyl, and I hope to be primarily developing/making feature films from here on in. Ash and I have been building stuff for months, and as soon as we're ready, we'll unleash these on the public.
By the way - my new film is a black and white, too!
MONOBLOG: That's what we like to hear! Thanks Anthony. Congratulations to you and the team on this beautiful piece of work.
For additional interviews and background details, check out Motionographer.
By the way - my new film is a black and white, too!
MONOBLOG: That's what we like to hear! Thanks Anthony. Congratulations to you and the team on this beautiful piece of work.
For additional interviews and background details, check out Motionographer.
Credits
Production Company: Tendril Design + Animation
Directed by: Anthony Scott Burns and Chris Bahry
Music and Sound Design: John Black of CypherAudio
Editor: Chris Murphy of Relish Editing
Executive Producer: Kate Bate
Creative Directors: Chris Bahry and Alexandre Torres
Producer: Molly Willows
DOP: Anthony Scott Burns
Costumes: Jessica Mary Clayton
Make-Up: Stacy Hatzinikolas
Grip: Chris Atkinson
PAs: Howard Gordon, Derek Evoy
Man at Computer: Travis Stone
Gods: Iain Soder, Jessica Mary Clayton
Motorcycle Rider: Kris Sharon
Guy with Binoculars: Dennis Pikulyk
Gods Concept Art: Marco Texeira and Vini Nascimento
Additional Gods Concept Art: Ash Thorp
Environment, Prop, and God Design: Anthony Scott Burns, Vini Nascimento, Chris Bahry, Andrew Vucko
3D Modeling: Vini Nascimento, Marcin Porebski, Renato Ferro, Andrew Vucko
3D Rigging: Renato Ferro
3D Animation: Vini Nasicmento, Marcin Porebski, Renato Ferro
Textures: Vini Nasicmento, Renato Ferro
Lighting, Render: Brad Husband
Compositing: Chris Bahry, Anthony Scott Burns, Brad Husband
