Synopsis
One man seeks refuge from the world's crazy in the arms of his muse -- the love of his life! Alyssa Dann has taken this tongue-in-cheek Blues piece and brought it to life in a charming manner.
"Almost everyone around the world deals daily with the insanity of Trumpocracy," says composer and lead vocalist Chris Oledude. "As an artist, my job is to acknowledge the oppressive and depressing nature of the former President's behavior and policies, but I have to do it through the lens of the Blues writers and performers who have done this for years."
Oledude highlights the human condition when discussing "Orange Blues": "When we're upset, we need to be comforted. Hugs work really well! Kisses can be extremely effective! I am channeling that crisis-grounded need for physical love that we are all experiencing right now."
"I need desire's fire to burn through those orange blues!"
" 'Orange Blues' is a tribute to every man and woman who feels overwhelmed these days. Between COVID-19 and Trumpocracy, there was plenty of stress for all. As we have learned in the most dramatic manner, however, our message must be clear: Trumpocracy must go; but whether it disappears or not, WE will endure, survive and prove victorious."
Our Review
“If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.” – Timothy D. Snyder
These words perfectly resonate with Orange Blues by Christopher R. Owen. The message of this short animated film is clear: those who fail to rise have only themselves to blame. Alyssa Dann has done an outstanding job, dedicating countless hours of painstaking effort to bring the essence of Orange Blues to life through her remarkable stop-motion and animation work.
Director Biography - Alyssa Dann
Through a Media Arts class in high school (Woodstock, NY), Alyssa Dann -- a musician and songwriter -- was introduced to the power of storytelling through film. She directed, filmed, and edited two of her own music videos, and fell in love with video editing.
In a "Media as Service" program with Woodstock Travels, Alyssa visited India and Nepal, working with NGOs to create promotional content. After high school, she taught video editing and recording media arts to 8th Grade kids -- in her old classroom!
In 2020, when Alyssa first heard the song “George Floyd”, inspiration struck like lightning for a visual to the moving anthem. This was a wonderful project, co-created with Chris Oledude, that opened her eyes to how powerful film making can be -- especially in companion with wonderful justice-centered music. For the first-time director, this music video was a challenge that she embraced wholeheartedly.
The results were spectacular. "George Floyd: Say Their Names" was -- and remains -- compelling. The video was accepted by more than 350 film festivals, earning various honors at approximately 150 of those festivals.
In 2024, working again with Christopher Owens and CESO Enterprises, Inc., Alyssa created a stop-motion music video for ORANGE BLUES 24. This involved a new angle of video production as she created a unique set with bits of nature, felting, fabric, pipe cleaners, painting, and clay -- taking pictures until the scene came to life. Again, the results have been visually spectacular, bringing even more color and texture to this rollicking and highly-charged Blues number.
Alyssa, a singer-songwriter herself, is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College (US-NY).], and working on her debut album.
Director Statement
FROM ALYSSA DANN:
I was compelled to create this video by the groovy feel in Chris’s song, “Orange Blues.”
Taking inspiration from nature, I built a set out of cardboard, watercolor backdrops, felting, moss, wood, wool, clay, pipe cleaners, and fabric, to create the world that these clay instrumentalists and lovers would live in for the video.
The song has a serious political undertone, yet it leaves room to highlight themes of closeness and love. Overall, this work focuses on one of rebellion's best forms - banding together to create "resistance music"... in this case, resistance to "orange blues"!
For me, this project was an incredible pursuit with the important length of the verse by verse storytelling nature of the song. In the end, a 4:54 video took more than 500 hours to build, shoot, and edit. This included some 2,000 individual photos used in the animation.
I am very proud of the work I put into this project I hope it both does justice to this wonderful song and inspires people who watch it to try something new for a project that inspires them!
Credits
Alyssa Dann
Director
George Floyd: Say Their Names
CESO Enterprises, Inc.
Producer
George Floyd: Say Their Names
Chris Oledude
Key Cast
"Lead Vocal"
George Floyd: Say Their Names
Wendy A. Ward
Key Cast
"Co-Lead Vocal"
George Floyd: Say Their Names
Alyssa Dann
Animation - Stop Motion
Chris Harper
Animation - Featured
Christopher R. Owens (ASCAP)
Original Score / Composer of Music
"George Floyd: Say Their Names"
Christopher R. Owens (ASCAP)
Writer / Lyricist
"George Floyd: Say Their Names"
Wendy A. Ward
Writer / Lyricist
Specifications
Project Type:
Animation, Experimental, Music Video, Short, Web / New Media
Genres:
Music, Commentary
Runtime:
4 minutes 54 seconds
Completion Date:
October 12, 2024
Production Budget:
5,000 USD
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States, United States
Language:
English
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
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