TvH: Tortoise VS Hare... my latest short film.

My entry for this year's Axtell Expressions video challenge...

TvH: Tortoise VS Hare

I won 3rd place last year (BEWARE... the JubJub Bird!) and picked out the lead puppet for this year's entry with my awarded credit.

I did a lot more experimentation with this one (animation, compositing, FX, etc). I had a ton of ideas and a nightmare sequence seemed the best way to incorporate them into the same story. The 2 minute limit was my biggest obstacle. I might create an extended version that breathes a bit more. Oh well.

Shot on a little cheapo Canon Powershot SD400 (digital still camera w/ vid function) ELPH. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a blue bedsheet and some software. I had a ton of fun making this and pulled some long nights this weekend finishing it up for the deadline. Wouldn't have been so taxing if I used a faster PC and it didn't take so long to render out all the layers and FX (I rendered it out on 3 separate attempts, due to last minute tweaking and dumb mistakes).

They split the contest into 2 categories this year, Ventriloquism and Puppetry and (unfortunately) split the prize money too. It is more fair for people who have skills in one or the other (hint: my lips move). But I'm gunning for a higher spot this time. I think my skills have improved (I certainly learned a ton from doing) and I hope this one shows more ingenuity.

Enjoy and wish me luck!

Thanks for the compliments, guys!

All the entries are in. There are 38 entries for Ventriloquism (for which I'm NOT a participant) and only 8 for Puppetry (I'm lucky number 8!).

My chances are good IMO. Finalists announced in 2 weeks or so (12/15). Which is gonna be interesting, considering there will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners... and there are only 8 entries in my category to begin with. In the youngest age category, there are only 3 for Puppetry. All they need to do is pick the order of winners b/c they're all finalists technically.

Yeah, that's exciting. Regardless if I win or not, it's neat that he and a Henson employee are going to see my film. I got the same kind of feeling when I gave Jeff Smith, Mike Mignola, and Eric Powell copies of my self-published comic at the Small Press Expo in MD.

2nd place!

I was once again defeated by someone with a ton of puppets. This vid won 1st place last year. Much easier to show off the ability to do different voices when you have a plethora of puppets.

No worries, I'll take my prize money, get another puppet, and come back swinging next year.