FLEDGLING

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Synopsis
A foetus develops before our eyes into a prodigious infant. Born from a subterranean womb, he is released into a harsh new environment. Still connected to the nurturing earth, he blindly drags his umbilical cord across the desert. A desert nomad adopts the baby and shows that all life depends on death, and instinct must govern his survival.



Director's Statement
Fledgling is a fable concerned with the theme of awoken instincts, the loss of innocence and the influence of strangers.

Fledgling was conceived in 1997 and finally completed in January 1999. It was my intention to make a detailed film that evoked a sense of realism while retaining a surreal conception of the characters and their experiences.
The pre-production and production of the film were entirely financed and realised by Eron Sheean. I later received some Government funding to complete the film.

The use of Puppet Animation provided a way to present an age old theme in an interesting way. A certain freedom in controlling the design elements, the look of the characters and how they move, the manipulation of light and camera and an excuse to play with little puppets. Animation allowed me to create a larger more credible world than if I was to attempt this as a live action film.

Awards/Festivals

Fledgling chosen for Official Selection in: 1999/2001

• Dresden Film festival. German.
• Humboldt Film Festival. USA.
• St Kilda Short Film Festival. Australia.
• Anima Mundia Animation Festival. Brazil.
• Cinema Jose Film Festival. Spain.
• Message to Man Film Festival. St Petersburg.
• Sitges Film Fest. Spain.
• Chicago Underground Film Fest. USA.
• Palm Springs Film Fest. USA.
• Watch My Shorts. Australia.
• Slamdance Film Festival. USA.
• Side On Screenings. Sydney, Australia.
• Melbourne Fringe Festival 2000.
• Archive program entitled ‘Otherworlds’. New York City.
• Slamdance 2001 Anarchy Semi Finalist Screening. USA.
• Moscow film festival. Australian program.
• Annecy 2003. Australian retrospective program.

Slamdance Online Festival. USA. Winner Best Film Fledgling.

Melbourne Fringe Festival. 2nd prize for best film Fledgling.

Technical Information
Title: FLEDGLING
Duration: 9 minutes
Format: 16mm (Model Animation)
Screen Ratio: 1:33:1
Sound: Stereo
Preview Copy: 4:3
Country Of Origin: Australia
Language: No Dialogue
Year Of Production: 1999
Investors: Private/AFC

Key Cast & Crew
WRITTEN & DIRECTED Eron Sheean
ANIMATED/DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION, EDIT
PHOTOGRAPHY AND
PRODUCED

MUSIC Dylan Curnow
SOUND DESIGN Terry McDermott
TITLE DESIGN Kat Mew