MOTHERLAND
MOTHERLAND is an experimental shortfilm depicting a propaganda world based on visual inspiration from the 1920s & 1930s but twisted with contemporary elements.
Whilst the world depicted gives the audience a look into a stylized past, it was built and realized using cutting edge 3d real-time technology.
It's theme of freeing oneself from tyranny was radically employed during pre- & post-production: using a real-time 3d engine gave the director more freedom and interactive feedback when building environments, lighting and planning camera moves while decreasing render and waiting times multifold.
The film is Hannes Appell's final project at Filmakademie's Institute of Animation and Visual Effects. Besides doing the concept, On-Set VFX supervision and direction, Hannes was also lead artist both for 3d and compositing. He developed the workflow to use Cryengine for matchmoved live-action shots as an experiment during pre-production.
Read more about the story ►
THE STORY
In a totalitarian propaganda world ruled from above, a girl can be all it takes to spark off a revolution...
Witnessing the fate of a tortured worker and the murder of her protesting mother the girl rises up and confronts the dehumanized terror regime occupying her MOTHERLAND.
The narrative and imagery of MOTHERLAND is based on stereotypic characters and motives that can be found in 1920s and 30s propaganda art. The innocent child in need of protection by the heroic soldier, the benevolent ruler and the patriotic worker. They all live and serve for the nuturing mother state. In MOTHERLAND this original meaning has been turned on its head to reveal an underlying truth behind the propaganda.
About the production ►
MAKING MOTHERLAND
The idea to bring old propaganda art to life in motion images and to make a connection with today's zeitgeist was born in 2007. The initial concept grew from still images into a 7 minute poetic montage during pre-production. Major influences for shot design and aesthetic were Soviet artist Alexander Rodchenko, Soviet war photographer Georgi Zelma, propaganda art by Shepard Fairey as well as the study of propaganda posters from Soviet Russia, the British Empire, Nazi Germany and WWII USA.
After building mood and storyboards for every sequence, a unique look for the film was developed. MOTHERLAND's images feel reminiscent of 1920s and 1930s propaganda and overexposed war photography but are infused with modernday elements and image quality.
After extensive live-action shot planning in a virtual studio, MOTHERLAND was shot in Filmakademie's Studio2 in front of greenscreen in early 2008. Only small ground and interaction elements were built as physical sets and props.
Shooting took place over the course of 3 days and post-production began shortly after an edit had been finalised only days after the shoot. The music score was recorded live with the Filmorchestra Babelsberg in Berlin. After an extensive post-production period the final film was completed at the beginning of 2010.
You can view On Set-Images here or Making Of-Images here
Read more about the director ►
THE DIRECTOR
Hannes Appell studied animation and visual effects at Filmakademie's Institute of Animation and Visual Effects in Baden Württemberg.
Before that he worked as a games journalist, editor and post-pro/graphics artist for GIGA GAMES and NBC Europe in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Apart from his work as an animation director, digital artist and vfx supervisor, Hannes Appell loves to venture between the worlds of film and game technologies. He is currently working for video game developer Crytek and brooding over next-gen video game and film design.
Hannes' animated shorts and other projects can be found on his portfolio site:
You can contact him via email:
