kingjakepemberton-blog

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As of the timing of writing this, I am presently working on the second episode of Purrluccios, a direct continuation of the first. The film has over a hundred puppets involved in the production, a more character-driven plot and multiple sets. The above footage isn’t coloured and a full score has yet to be added. There are dark sections where the appropriate shots have yet to be finished. But I feel that as it is now, it’s already a clear step up from the last episode. The characters - new and old - have more definable personalities, and there’s more of a plot than just a sustained joke. The script went through multiple drafts and had many people look it over and offer suggestions before shooting. I’m working with two different directors of photography who have done amazing work in making this one look far superior to the first, from lighting arrangements to how to place the camera properly in relation to the set. I also got to work with my very talented friend Lottie Adams in voice acting, as well as Tom Ridgewell and Jamie Spicer Lewis - two YouTubers I’ve always looked up to and am now lucky enough to call my friends. I’ve worked with more people than ever before on this one and am confident it’ll be one of the best things I’ll have made so far...

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The Purrluccios started off as a short about anthropomorphic cats in the mafia, but is becoming a longer running series and a culmination of many of the things I love to do - writing, voice acting, directing, art, so on so forth. The script is overall pretty basic, but I got to work with some really talented performers who gave the characters a lot of personality despite having little to truly work with. This one was truly a labour of love for myself - I love films that have a clearly hand built set, big or small, and then fill that whole new space with things that could be conceivably alive and real. Having that kind of small space appear on a much bigger screen is an incredibly proud moment for me and I hope future episodes fare as well if not better... 

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Purrluccios production photos, summer 2015

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Purrluccios production photos, summer 2015. Original puppet designs by Ross Munro.

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Blue Cheese Is Evil was my first step up from Christmas Crisis Theatre and an attempt make a puppet video that was more filmic. A group of mice come across a block of blue cheese and are freaked out because it’s blue. It’s not a very strong story but I still think it’s cutesy and funny. I got to work with a lot of good friends for the voices, and am pleased with the editing in particular. Alongside this, Bath Spa Uni film students set up a film festival every spring, and this came third, which was very humbling.

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A very short sketch I made inspired by the nonsensical rantings of Varg Vikernes, infamous black metal alumni who is renowned for being an unabashed white supremecist and murderer. Vikernes has recently released a tabletop RPG game which is not only horribly complex and hard to play, but incredibly unsubtle in how its themes, characters and lore reflects Vikernes’s racist views, no matter how much he denies it. I made this in a day as a result. I’m particularly pleased with the colour grading I managed to pull off in this one. I’m not really a colourist by any means but I think it’s an okay job. The funniest part is that a few weeks later, Vikernes uploaded a video where he basically said everything in this video, just without the irony...

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Satan & Gabriel BTS pictures, summer 2015

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A piss take on modern sitcoms that me and my pal Conor took way too far. The angel Gabriel and Satan live together as housemates, and what starts off as family-friendly comedy slowly turns into a disaster. I think this is too long in reflection, and have learned to be more concise about things I make since. What I like about it is how many people I got involved with in making it, be they actors, voice actors, animators, DoP’s and production assistants. We also got to film it in Bath Spa uni’s amazing TV studio which was great...

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My first attempt a longer short film as opposed to a sketch (although I’d still say it’s largely a sketch). It focuses on a theme of anxiety, and how the nature an anxious person is to create worst case scenarios in their minds when something goes wrong. Often, these scenarios are completely unfathomable and impossible...so I made a film where they all definitely happen, in which a man has to bake cupcakes for his friends and discovers he has no eggs, and must go on a quest that leads to hostage situations, murder and launching a chicken into space. I basically wanted to use as many of my talents as I could at the time, and was inspired to use hand puppets by the work of TVMaxwell. It’s not competition level, but I am proud of it.

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The second episode of Christmas Crisis Theatre, in which Fox and Otter return to fulfil Fox’s dream of meeting Santa’s reindeer, only to find them to be unsavoury characters. Was inspired VERY loosely by the 2014 YouTube controversies about certain YouTubers being accused of assaulting their fans, and it coming to light that many had. Essentially, I wanted to create something out of the idea that icons are completely capable of abusing their fame and influence, and how the diehard fans sometimes need to learn that this is the case. Remade all the puppets for this one, with brighter, more Christmas orientated designs. 

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The first episode in my short-running Christmas Crisis Theatre series, in which a Fox and an Otter try to get some money together to throw a Christmas party, but can’t. Because they’re a fox and an otter. Had some issues in exporting which meant it had to run in 15fps, but was the first time I used a multitude of puppets and some backgrounds. Was based on a script which I handed in for a first year assessment. Also my first time working with voice actor and animator Matt Ley (thelaserbearguy).

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A video I made for YouTube LoFi Week in 2014, an initiative set up to show how you don’t need expensive equipment or software to make a decent video. Filmed and voiced entirely on an iphone, and all shots were merely cut together with no grading. Only change in sound was to have there be sound or no sound at all.