The Making of "Death From Above"

"Death From Above" is a teaser/trailer created by director Jordan Coles and a group of second year animation students, working together in Module PR5001 to deliver a group project. The film is currently in festival competition, and recently won "Best Trailer" at Halicarnassus Film Festival. Jordan was asked by Will and Rowena at Escape Studios to talk a little about the making of "Death From Above"; in this interview, Jordan explains where his inspiration came from, what the challenges were, and how the team worked together to complete the project.

Pitch and Concept Trailer
The initial pitch was made by director Jordan Coles. Unusually, Jordan had prepared not just a concept pitch for his idea, but a full previs animatic - using low poly rigs cut together with music and sound effects to help tell the story and demonstrate the value of the idea, showing the importance of good, confident pitch in getting a project off the ground.

Later, the team drew storyboards to develop the story further, and establish a stronger relationship between the two main characters, fleshing out the characterisation and improving the back story.

Covid-19
The project was completed during the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 crisis. The Death From Above team worked entirely from home, completing the project using their personal equipment.

Rendering
Rendering was done in Unreal Engine, overseen by CG Supervisor Edoardo Sartori.

Credits 

• Jordan Coles - Writer, Director, Editor, Animator 
• Callum Wylie - Producer, Voice Talent
• Daniel Brand-Sinyinza - Director of Photography, Additional Editing, Animation
• Edoardo Sartori - 3D Layout, Set Design, CG Supervisor, Animator
• Niki Valera - Storyboards and Animation
• Tequila Mason - Storyboards and Animation
• Karlita Rojas Tarazon - Voice talent
• Flynn Smith - Animation

Official site
You can see more about "Death From Above" at the official site, and at the IMDB. You can also find it here at the Rookies.

Film Festivals
Death From Above was a finalist in the TMFF - The Monthly Film Festival on April 30th. It has also been selected for five upcoming festivals:

• Prague International Monthly Film Festival, Online, Date tbc
• Pinewood Studios' Online Lift-Off Sessions on 14 June.
• Kosice International Monthly Film Festival, Slovakia, 29 June
• The Lift-Off Sessions, also online
• Lisbon Film Rendezvous, November 13-15, Semi-Finalist

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our new BA/MArt, now recruiting for September 2020, follow this link. To apply, visit the official page here.