Oct 8, 2013

"Upstairs" by Matthias Hogue

In the three-minute short "Upstairs," Matthias Hoog imagines what lies behind the doors of his neighbors' apartments. The filmmaker, who brilliantly understands the potential of visual storytelling in animation, puts a simple idea into action. Hogue uses the box motif to represent the claustrophobic physical living space of the apartment dwellers, while at the same time neatly framing the intensity of the paranoia that runs through the protagonist's mind.

Hogue is also a master of the digital toolbox, using Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, After Effects, and Maya in a seamless workflow to achieve his unique look. This short film was commissioned by Channel 4's Random Acts and produced by Not To Scale London in collaboration with Lupus Films. His student short "Tuesday" was entered in Cartoon Brew's inaugural Student Animation Festival in 2010.

Credits Director Matthias Hoog Sound and music David Kamp Voice Cast Steve Fulst Animation Jason Cotey, Nick Brooks Tape Mastering Mankey Producer Daniel O'Rourke [5]