If I Was God...
2015
8 min
Coming soon
In this short animated film, a Grade 7 boy’s mind starts to wander while dissecting a frog in Biology class. What would you do if you suddenly found yourself charged with God-like powers? Would you use them for good? For bad? Perhaps a little of both? The possibilities seem endless. Oh to have the power to toy with life and death, to create monsters who can punish those who torment him daily, or better yet, to create that one perfect day with Lily, the love of his 12-year-old life! Drawing inspiration from the filmmaker’s own memories and using a variety …
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In this short animated film, a Grade 7 boy’s mind starts to wander while dissecting a frog in Biology class. What would you do if you suddenly found yourself charged with God-like powers? Would you use them for good? For bad? Perhaps a little of both? The possibilities seem endless. Oh to have the power to toy with life and death, to create monsters who can punish those who torment him daily, or better yet, to create that one perfect day with Lily, the love of his 12-year-old life!
Drawing inspiration from the filmmaker’s own memories and using a variety of animation techniques, from traditional animation to stop-motion puppets and more, this darkly whimsical short explores the difficult gateway between childhood and adolescence, when the approaching power of adulthood is often mistaken for omnipotence.
If I Was God is the latest offering from two-time Oscar®-nominated animator (The Cat Came Back, Strange Invaders) and long-time NFB collaborator Cordell Barker.
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writerCordell Barker
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directorCordell Barker
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designCordell Barker
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editorCordell Barker
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stop motion animationSylvie TrouvéDale HaywardCordell Barker
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stop-motion supervisorDale Hayward
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2D animationCordell Barker
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2D animation assistantChris Cormier
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compositingFred Casia
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stereographerFred Casia
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cinematographerStephanie Weber Biron
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rig removal compositingDale HaywardSylvie Trouvé
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lighting assistantPeter Lavender
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online editorDenis Pilon
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puppet fabricatorLaurent CanniccioniEmily Bélanger
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puppet costumesSusana Vera
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setsDeborah SullivanSamantha Scafidi
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propsDeborah SullivanSamantha ScafidiCordell Barker
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puppetsCordell Barker
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puppet armaturesThea PrattErik Goulet
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stop-motion internAudrey Meubus
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original musicLuigi Allemano
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sound designLuigi Allemano
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musicianLuigi AllemanoDidier DumoutierFrançois PilonJohn SadowyAdrian Vedady
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music recordingGeoffrey MitchellPadraig Buttner-Schnirer
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voiceCordell BarkerNatalie Viebrock
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ADRJohn Schritt
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foley artistAndy MalcolmGoro KoyamaSandra Fox
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foley recording mixerJack Heeren
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foley recordistJenna Dalla RivaStephen Muir
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re-recordingJean Paul Vialard
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script consultantJason Sherman
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production supervisorMark Power
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technical coordinatorSteve Hallé
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technical directorÉloi Champagne
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centre operations managerDarin Clausen
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studio administratorBree BeachGinette D'Silva
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production coordinatorFaye YonedaJasmine Pullukatt
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marketing managerChristine Noël
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executive producerDavid Christensen
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producerMichael FukushimaDavid Christensen
Education
Ages 10 to 18
Study Guide - Guide 1
Ethics and Religious Culture - Ethical Values
Family Studies/Home Economics - Adolescent Development
Health/Personal Development - Identity
Warnings: Disturbing imagery
Questions/Activities:
- What did the boy do with his god-like powers? Was any of that really happening?
- The film moves at a quick pace. Use this to allow your students to ask questions and clarify any of the events of the film.
- With the gift of god-like abilities, what would be the first thing you would do? Why?
- Allow this to spark discussion on what the boy in the film daydreamed about as well as what your students would do in this fantastical situation.
- With great power, comes great responsibility
- Lead a discussion on the moral aspect of power, and whether or not those who have power should be responsible for the wellbeing of those who do not.
