THE FILM

Here's the finished film...I hope you like it. You can also watch and vote for it on the Virgin Media Shorts website. Please spread the word so these little lovers can reach more people. Spank you...

MEET THE FILMMAKERS

THE ALEX SANDWICH

from left: Alex Baranowski, Martin Stirling, Alex Burt

They say a sandwich should be named after the filling but in this case I'm sandwiched by two mighty clever bits of bread...so chew on that.

Baranowski is a musical miracle. He writes music for Danny Boyle, the National Theatre, RSC and for tonnes of stuff on the tellybox. He wrote the beautiful soundtrack for Myron & Hester in about 2 hours. He's basically the Jesus of music...

Speaking of Jesus...give Alex Burt a couple of rocks and he'll get you so trollied you'll think it's a good idea to make a film in a day. Burt is like a magician of the motherboard with seriously long sleeves and I thank him for entertaining my stupid ideas until the early hours of the morning. I gave him some sketchy sketches and he made them move by tickling the computer in the right places. He's a tireless workhorse who is fueled solely by cups of tea.

Alex's Diesel Fuel

As for me, I'm the idiot in the middle. The proverbial filling with too many ideas and not enough time. I wish I was more like Myron. This is my second animated film using this style, my first was a true story about an impossible road trip. It was shortlisted for the BAFTA 60 seconds of fame competition. I have just started working on a stop-motion animation about a funeral director struggling to survive in a world that has discovered immortality. I am currently being mentored on this project by Oscar winner Suzie Templeton.

For more information on the filmmakers check out our pages at the top...

A FILM IN 12 HOURS

THE IDEA.
Myron & Hester is a love story about two lovers who are brought together by their unique experience of time. It's based on a true story...

Myron (left) & Hester (right)

THE CONCEPTION.
Ok, so I took a lot of license but Myron and Hester were two real patients of author and neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks. When I heard about how their lives were affected by the speed in which they operated I wondered what would happen if the two were ever to meet.

This is Oliver Sacks' brain surrounded by Oliver Sacks' body.

THE SLAPDASHERY.
This was early in the morning and I quickly scribbled down a little tale which for some stupid reason I thought should be realised by the end of the day. I used a device called a telephone to see if any friends were free to help me in this ludicrous enterprise.

This is the first draft script. The image isn't backwards - I write my film ideas using mirror writing.

THE TEAM.
Alas, the ever trusty duo Alex and Alex entertained me and off we went. I drew some very basic pictures which were scanned into photoshop, coloured and handed over to Alex Burt who got on with his magic. 

Colouring in on the computer.

I prefer crayons.

THE VOICEOVER. 
Ideally I'd have Dr. Sacks do the voiceover but the sun was setting and I had no idea where or how to ask. In the end I did a terrible recording on my laptop myself.

The voiceover was recorded using a very expensive and technical sound making device called a Mouth.

Meanwhile Alex Burt was on his 17th cup of tea (this isn't a joke).

THE MUSIC.
After Alex (Burt) had finished tickling the computer I edited it all together and sent it to Alex (Baranowski). About two hours later he'd written a heartbreaking tune and added some sounds - including a cleaned up version of my annoying voice - to the images.

Myron and Hester was complete.

Roughly 12 hours after reading about the two time afflicted lovers we had a neat little film that we made in no time at all. We really hope you like it...