A Little Grey – the Wimbledon Shorts “Best London Filmmaker” winner of 2017, is now available to watch online!
To celebrate the release we speak to co-director and writer Simon Hewitt to find out where the idea for the film came from…..
What was your inspiration for making A Little Grey?
I guess it won’t come as a surprise to say I came up with the idea for this film when I became a Dad for the first time. It was my first ever film and is supposed to represent that period in your life when you’ve grown out of being a kid (even a twenty-something or maybe even thirty-something kid) and realise partying and messing about just doesn’t cut it anymore, you need a new purpose and direction in life. And in our story fatherhood is that new purpose.
Could you tell us a little bit about your choice of animation technique and the process of making the film?
We wanted to make sure the focus stayed on the colour of Grey and the other characters so the animation style needed to be simple, but it also needed to let the colours really sing out. So a simplified CGI character approach felt like the right way to go.
What’s next for you?
I’ve written a live action short that focuses on the same broad topic of identity, but is a much darker story. I hope to finish it later this year.
Directors: Steve Smith & Simon Hewitt
Writers: Stu Royall & Simon Hewitt
Animated by Mighty
Grey (Tony Gardner) seeks help from a psychiatrist (Richard Atlee) when he loses his colour. Grey moves in a world where everyone has their own vibrant colour, except for him. He has gone a little grey, he seeks to find a cure to his condition by trying everything from daredevil sports, to rock concerts and acupuncture until he finally hits the bars, drinking himself to forget. With a baby on the way, Grey is worried that his condition may be hereditary and that he may pass it on to his child. Grey can’t seem to find his place in a colourful world anymore, but perhaps the arrival of a new life may be what’s needed for his spark to reignite once again.
