According to director Pierre Michel, they’ve already shot Triumph and Disaster – an 8-minute short told in two parts. Now they need $24,000 to finish the effects, polish and add sound design.
Michel himself is a little quirky in that broad brushstrokes kind of way (read: French), but his proof is in the outstanding level of talent displayed in his prior work. With a lot up his sleeve, he’s been able to produce some thrilling, powerful commercials that rely heavily on swooping cameras and explosive CGI (his ad for the 12th Festival Polar Dans la Ville is a favorite).
The question is whether he can translate those intense skills into pure narrative – or, at the very least, a story that isn’t simply a series of stunning visuals.
It’s typical in this column to write a bit about why we chose this particular project to spotlight, but Triumph and Disaster is incredibly clear-cut. It’s a question of having faith in a lesser-known commercial director who has proven he has serious chops and access to some killer VFX artists.
Here’s how Michel describes the set up for both segments:
“Part 1 – Triumph
In the first film, a man is standing on the roof of the tallest building of a beautiful city. He is watching the sun rising… The mood is full of happiness and expectation. But who is he? Why is he here? The sun begins to spread its light like a wave of gold…We realize the streets are empty. No one is here.
But there are people in the city… Waiting.
Waiting for him… Waiting for the sun…
Waiting for something that will change their worlds forever!
Part 2 – Disaster
In the second part, a young girl is looking at us. She is walking into the biggest cathedral ever made… A breath-taking and magnificent place where each inch is pure creation.
She is alone, walking slowly to her destiny. She is beautiful like an angel and she is about to face the unknown. Why is she here? In this place? At this exact moment?
It will be hard to believe what happens next. She will experience one of the most epic moments ever witnessed… Something that will change her destiny in a very radical way.”
To be honest, his hyperbole is a bit off-putting, but when Michel cuts the big, faux-poetry talk and lets the visuals speak for themselves, the real magic blooms.
Which is what I’ll do now. No need to waste anymore time before letting the imagery do the heavy lifting.
Check out the campaign spiel and visit the Kickstarter page:
Do you want to see this film? Enough to help fund it?
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