The Making of the Movie

It's mid November 2005, everyone is sipping on something at our company lunch. Jo the director nonchalantly announces that it's time Creative Vision made a short
film. A bit startled someone asks, "Why?"  The answer: Because we need to move
on and get into the long form film business.  We need to showcase our in house abilities: direction, storytelling, 3D animation, visual effects, design and art direction as well as editing.  Still a bit frazzled everyone listens intently. Jo continues: So let us find a story and write a script. Getting excited, Jo is now sitting on the edge of his seat: So we can shoot it before the close of business on December 16.  Confused but on the same wave length, someone says: That's not enough time and where will the budget come from, are you mad?

This is how "The Mamtsotsi Bird" came into being. Within four weeks we had conceptualised and written the story, found actors, a D.O.P and a small crew that were prepared to give of their time for nothing because they believed in the project. (We shot an in-house pilot using the members of our team. Though hideously hilarious it served as an invaluable tool in making editing and flow decisions before the shoot). We shot over an extended weekend with a six man crew, everyone doing at least three jobs at a time. Simultaneously Brenton Green our Director of Animation and Visual Effects began designing the monstrous birdlike creature.  On December 16 the team closed for the Christmas period satisfied and happy that they really had achieved their goal.  In January the allocated six weeks for all visual effects, animation, online editing and grading started.  As soon as a satisfactory offline was ready, the aid of a very talented musician, Adam Lomas was called in and after not too much begging, he agreed to do the music and sound design with a smile on his face.

Within an incredibly short time and no budget Creative Vision has completed their first short film. The team has met all objectives and remains in hopeful optimism of getting finance for future projects, and to generate work from other production companies who need 3D animation, digital visual effects and post production facilities.

The Creative Vision team performed the following in house;
• Producing and Directing
• 3D Animation and Visual Effects
• Conceptualisation and Script Writing
• Art Direction and Design
• Offline and Online Editing
• Compositing, Grading and Title Design
• Casting, Locations, Wardrobe and Props