What a Small World: Animation in Miniature

With: Tristan Oliver, Björn Susen, moderated by Andrew Amondson
Topics: #Production Design #Animation #Cinematography #Production Conditions

Big or small worlds, our love for stop motion animation film transcends all dimensions. And our guest in this session has been one of the most habile creators of these gripping miniature universes on the big screen: Tristan Oliver, the animation cinematographer for all time favourites like Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit and movies by Wes Anderson like Fantastic Mr. Fox, Isle of Dogs and the still rather secret The French Dispatch. From London, but accompanied by his gaffer and camera operator in Berlin, Tristan embarks with us on a live lighting session with an original set piece from the famous laboratory sequence in Isle of Dogs in our studio. Sharing insights on his creative processes, Tristan unveils his search for the "real enough:" the dream state of stop motion animation where the intricate manual labour takes on new proportions in our minds.

Tristan Oliver

Tristan Oliver is a cinematographer. His filmography includes Academy Award-winners WRONG TROUSERS, A CLOSE SHAVE and CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT; BAFTA-winners CHICKEN RUN, STAGE FRIGHT and THE BIG STORY; and the Academy Award-nominated PARANORMAN. In recent years Tristan has worked with Wes Anderson as DOP on the Academy Award-nominated FANTASTIC MR FOX and ISLE OF DOGS. He has also worked on THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL and THE FRENCH DISPATCH.

Björn Susen

Björn Susen has been working for more than 30 years as an electrician and a gaffer. He has worked on many different projects such as THE READER, CHICKEN WITH PLUMS, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4, DARK SEASON 1. Recently he has worked on UNCHARTED. On the side he spends time with his family.

Andrew Amondson

Guido Castagnoli

Andrew Amondson

Andrew Amondson is a producer, director and creative whose work includes Emmy award-winning nonfiction series and documentary films for Netflix Originals and Criterion Collection. He was a member of the Berlinale Talents selection committee from 2004 to 2007. As an artist, Andrew creates play-based installations and large-scale social sculptures connecting us with nature and one another; the most recent of which was awarded the Inspiring Future Generations Award in London. He is also a member of the production and development team at Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin.