EYE OF JUPITER, 3min., Canada
Directed by Roger Gallant
Eye of Jupiter is a short animated film that follows a lost astronaut contemplating life while drifting in orbit above Jupiter.

http://www.projectaroid.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

There is an annual animation festival in Atlantic Canada called the Animation Festival of Halifax (AFX). I have participated in a few of their community animation projects but have never submitted anything to their main screenings. I was looking for a reason to work on an animated sci-fi project, so I decided to make this short film and use the AFX submission deadline as my target date for completion.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I started thinking about the story idea in November 2023 but didn’t begin any asset creation or animation until January 2024. It took around four weeks to animate and edit the film.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Dire acceptance.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I used different editing software and a new workflow for this short film. The workflow caused some issues with camera movements in some scenes. I had to make some adjustments from my original vision to make it work within the software constraints I faced.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

It was really enjoyable to hear what others thought of my short film. It is rare to get feedback from audiences when you cannot attend a festival in person. Seeing the feedback video was a great way to gain insight into whether people enjoyed the film.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I’ve been working on small film projects for the last 15 years, focusing mainly on time-lapse videos, music videos, and some short animations. In 2023, I decided to create a couple of short films to submit to film festivals.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

For sci-fi films, it’s probably a tie between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I cannot think of anything else the festival could do to enhance the experience. I am very happy with my experience at the Fantasy/Sci-fi Film and Screenplay Festival.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

The FilmFreeway experience was great. It was easy to submit to the festival and keep track of the submission.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I don’t know if I have a favourite meal, but It’s hard to go wrong with pizza.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m currently finalizing a script for another sci-fi animated short film. I plan to start production in July and complete it by October.