Hi!
I’m Alisa Stern, an artist and animator from New York City. You might know me from Doctor Puppet, a stop motion animated Doctor Who fan series I produced and directed for six years.
This is my first film since completing Doctor Puppet in 2018. I hope you like it too and decide to support it!
The Film
Sum of its Parts is about hidden forest creatures who come to life when they hear music. It’s half music video, half experimental stop motion film, and about three and a half minutes long.
I plan to complete Sum of its Parts in November of 2019 then enter it into animation and film festivals - so it won’t be online immediately. Contribute at least $5 and you will receive a password-protected link to see Sum of its Parts before it premieres at a festival or anywhere else! The film will be available online to everyone about a year later.
The Animation
Sum of its Parts doesn't look like Doctor Puppet because I'm using a different animation technique. To bring each forest creature to life, I'm making a sequence of sculptures by hand. This technique is called replacement animation. You may know it from films like The Nightmare Before Christmas - it's how Jack's head was animated!
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The Woods
Instead of building a set, I’m animating on location in the beautiful woods of the Hudson Valley in New York State. (This also happens to be where I grew up!) For years, I've wanted to animate a film outside, so I'm really excited to finally be doing it!
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The Music
Sum of its Parts is the title of a retro synth track from an upcoming album by Scott Ampleford. I've already collaborated with Scott on Doctor Puppet, which he composed the score for and also narrated. When I heard Sum of its Parts, I was inspired and wanted to animate something to it. I imagined strange little creatures moving along to the beat, and the idea for the film was born.
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The Perks
The biggest perk of supporting Sum of its Parts is getting to see the finished film first! If you're able to contribute more that $5, you can get some other exclusives including the actual sculptures I'll be using in the film! And I'm not done sculpting, so I may add even more sculptures as this campaign progresses.
The Budget
$5,000 will cover all the costs associated with making the film. Because of Doctor Puppet, I already own all the equipment needed to produce stop motion, including a DSLR camera, tripod, DragonFrame software, and laptop. Animating in the woods comes with unique challenges, so I do need a few new things. This money will also help me to enter Sum of its Parts into film and animation festivals, and even attend a few festivals. Here is everything it will pay for:
- Color correction
- External battery to extend the life of my laptop in the woods
- Extra camera battery
- Camera dolly
- Tick resistant outfit
- Art supplies
- Transportation to and from the Hudson Valley
- Postcards and buttons
- Festival fees
- Transportation to and from festivals
- Indiegogo fees
Any additional money raised will help increase the production quality and pursue more festivals.
The Risks
Sum of its Parts faces a weird challenge for an animated film. Because I’m animating outside, I’ll be at the whim of the weather and the season. Rain and extreme heat could prevent me from animating. If I don't finish by October, diminishing daylight and cold weather will also become challenges.
If the weather, light, or anything else delays the film, I will communicate honestly and keep you all informed.
Other Ways You Can Help
Can't contribute and still want to support Sum of its Parts? Sharing this campaign and the video above is a huge help! Send it to your friends who love art, music, animation, or the outdoors. Thanks!
