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Big Trees

This short semi-animated film tells the story of a woman's spectacular ocean view from her apartment in Vancouver’s West End. How far will she go when leaves start to obscure her panorama, her light and her happiness? A brilliant blend of stop-motion, projections and models, drawings and altered live-action transports us into a meditation on the tension between urban life and the natural environment. Like Don Giovanni, will our ambitious protagonist stop at nothing to get her way?
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This short semi-animated film tells the story of a woman's spectacular ocean view from her apartment in Vancouver’s West End. How far will she go when leaves start to obscure her panorama, her light and her happiness? A brilliant blend of stop-motion, projections and models, drawings and altered live-action transports us into a meditation on the tension between urban life and the natural environment. Like Don Giovanni, will our ambitious protagonist stop at nothing to get her way?

Plants Music All subjects
  • writer
    Ann Marie Fleming
  • director
    Ann Marie Fleming
  • original music composer
    Gordon Durity
    Alessandro Juliani
  • lyrics
    Ann Marie Fleming
  • animation
    Kevin Langdale
  • production designer
    Erik Whittaker
  • miniatures photography
    Erik Whittaker
  • editor
    Ann Marie Fleming
    Jeanne Slater
  • featuring
    Yolaine Mottet
    Alessandro Juliani
    Erik Whittaker
    Ben Ratner
    Meg Roe
    Rick Tsai
    Faith the Pug
  • singer
    Alessandro Juliani
    Scott McNeil
    Meg Roe
    Rebecca Shoichet
    Rick Tsai
  • musician
    Alessandro Juliani
    Gordon Durity
  • production manager
    Ruth Vincent
  • cinematographer
    Brian Johnston
  • camera assistant
    Wendy Dallian
  • digital imaging technician
    Werner Thomas
  • sound playback
    Jill Sharpe
  • hair
    Bonni Reid
  • makeup
    Bonni Reid
  • production assistant
    Devon Ellis-Durity
  • compositing
    Kevin Langdale
  • titles
    Kevin Langdale
  • digital imaging specialist
    Éloi Champagne
    Randall Finnerty
  • technical coordination
    Steve Hallé
  • matte cutting
    Ceile Prowse
    Fred Casia
  • online editor
    Yannick Carrier
  • sound design
    Gordon Durity
  • sound editing
    Gordon Durity
  • recording
    Rukkus House
  • re-recording
    Rukkus House
  • executive producer
    Roddy McManus
  • administration
    Victoire-Émilie Bessette
    Rosalina Di Sario
    Simon Zaurinni
  • marketing manager
    Paule Béland
  • producer
    Michael Fukushima

Education

Ages 12 to 18

Notes

How does your community balance urban development with protection of natural habitats? Are there debates in the community about this issue? Identify such a case and ask students to defend their position. If a community needed more housing for a social good (e.g., rentals for low-income families), should the city be allowed to take over and develop green spaces? What if that development is for high-end condos? Should this make a difference?

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Big Trees
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Bonus materials are not included with the downloaded film.

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