My Fantasies Keep me up at Nite
Celina de Leon
See it On Campus: Level 1
Visitor InfoMy film can be watched in the Emily Carr little theater (room D1375) from May 10-22
Director
Duration: 4:56min
Medium: Live Action and 2D Animation
Trailer
Logline
A young woman and her friend are led to a metamorphic realization when they ponder the nature of dreams.
Artist Statement
I create experimental films that explore themes of youth, fantasy, and embodiment. These themes are often sprouted from melancholic emotions; like the heavy nostalgia produced from growing older, or the feeling of cultural detachment. I employ techniques of visual absurdities to offset these themes in an irreverent and stimulating way. My practice involves an abundance of digital compositing, 2D animation, and analogue film manipulations. Although I use a variety of different filmmaking styles, playfulness is a constant in my work.
Project Stills
Behind The Story
The film is based on the Chinese Philosopher Zhuangzi’s story, “Butterfly Dream”. The story explains that when Zhuangzi was sleeping, he dreamt he was a butterfly and when he awoke, he thought of the possibility that he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man. I was very interested by this metaphysical relationship between dreams and reality and wanted to incorporate it into my film. The animation and live action hybrid aspect of My Fantasies… strengthens the theme of what is real versus imagined. Although there’s a clear dichotomy between dreams and reality in our everyday lives, my film explores a mesh between the two, considering the possibility that both worlds are just as authentic.
My film draws aesthetic inspiration from my two favorite films: Věra Chytilová’s 1966 film Daisies and the 1977 film House by Nobuhiko Obayashi. Both of these films use experimental techniques that remind the viewer they are watching a constructed piece of media. This emphasizes the craft of filmmaking, another large theme of my film, but usually hidden in mainstream cinema.
Credits
Director Celina de Leon
Starring Shoji-kko Blunderfield and Taylor Shaw
Music Dylan Spence
Sound Design Sam Street
1st AD Lauren Olson
Camera Operator YueMing Hong
Camera Assists Warren Tang and Sidney Gordon
Assistant Animation Emma Swain
Colorist Nina Wolf
Special Thanks to Lindsay McIntyre, Harry Killas, Chris Strickler, Media Resources, 2022 FMSA Cohort, Hallie Fraser-Low, and Kyla Johst
Behind the scenes photography Sidney Gordon, Taylor Shaw, and Jessie Luo
Poster Hallie Fraser-Low
