manifest
1 : MANIFESTATION, INDICATION
2 : MANIFESTO
3 : a list of passengers or an invoice of cargo for a vehicle (as a ship or plane)
Norman has been a sketch of a character in my head for over 6 years. The idea of someone flying not to get to a destination, but just to be a passenger, seemed like an ultimate fantasy. I remember being fascinated by flying when I was young, striking up conversations with new friends assigned next to me a million miles above the ground. Now flying is a chore - a headache. In this post-9/11 world, the joy of flying is gone.
With Norman I wanted to explore fantasy and intimacy in a unique setting. His attempts at finding meaning in the people next to him are ultimately unsatisfying. Disillusionment moves Norman out of his comfort zone. When Cindy bumps into him, he's neither prepared for a new friend nor her honest vulnerability. He must decide if it's important to chase his fantasy, or follow what he wants in reality.
The animation component to Norman was created to score the character's emotional state in key moments of the film. He's dropped out of his comfort zone of the airplane cabin, having to accept falling and ultimately crashing into the ground. To his amazement he can still climb up and can walk on the earth. In addition, his character evolves from a mere sketch into a fully rendered body - from idea to reality.
Creating the stylized animation in Norman involved a unique blend of 3D and live action pre-visualization, 3D generated elements, 2D compositing, and thousands of hand-drawn frames animated by hand. The team, including myself, consisted of the entire visual effects department of CSI:NY. We invented our own distinct process of design and workflow in order to accomplish the specific changes in the animated character and his world.
Chris Cruse
1 : MANIFESTATION, INDICATION
2 : MANIFESTO
3 : a list of passengers or an invoice of cargo for a vehicle (as a ship or plane)
Norman has been a sketch of a character in my head for over 6 years. The idea of someone flying not to get to a destination, but just to be a passenger, seemed like an ultimate fantasy. I remember being fascinated by flying when I was young, striking up conversations with new friends assigned next to me a million miles above the ground. Now flying is a chore - a headache. In this post-9/11 world, the joy of flying is gone.
With Norman I wanted to explore fantasy and intimacy in a unique setting. His attempts at finding meaning in the people next to him are ultimately unsatisfying. Disillusionment moves Norman out of his comfort zone. When Cindy bumps into him, he's neither prepared for a new friend nor her honest vulnerability. He must decide if it's important to chase his fantasy, or follow what he wants in reality.
The animation component to Norman was created to score the character's emotional state in key moments of the film. He's dropped out of his comfort zone of the airplane cabin, having to accept falling and ultimately crashing into the ground. To his amazement he can still climb up and can walk on the earth. In addition, his character evolves from a mere sketch into a fully rendered body - from idea to reality.
Creating the stylized animation in Norman involved a unique blend of 3D and live action pre-visualization, 3D generated elements, 2D compositing, and thousands of hand-drawn frames animated by hand. The team, including myself, consisted of the entire visual effects department of CSI:NY. We invented our own distinct process of design and workflow in order to accomplish the specific changes in the animated character and his world.
Chris Cruse
| Written and Directed by | Chris Cruse |
| Norman | Stephen Twardokus |
| Cindy | Larkin Clark |
| Produced by | Laura Cray Erin Rakow |
| Director of Photography | Lawson Deming |
| Animation by | Brad Powell |
| Edited by | John Paul Horstmann |
| Costume Designer | Charlotte Kruse |
| Production Design | Richard J. Ramirez Jr. |
| Line Producer | Vinnie Singh |
| In Order of Appearance: | |
| Jimmy | Tyrell Slayton |
| Jean | MaryLouise Lockridge |
| Ron | Bombadjian Bamba |
| Dexter Fontana | Himself |
| Stewardesses: | |
| Stacy | Tanya White |
| Tracy | Bonnie Wickeraad |
| Lisa Lacey | Lesley Harvey |
| Pool Blonde | Cuyler |
| Pool Dudes | Drew Baldwin John Coffey Nathan Kanne Ryan Macaulay Chris McKenna Eric Weems |
| Extras | Elysse Applebaum Jackie Bailey Drew Baldwin Kyle Boyce Lindsey Buchanan Leroy Carlos Marla Carlos Sergio Carlos M.F. Chimali Jason Coleman Jonny Coleman Cullen Conly Laura Cray Annelise Dekker Jennifer Fuller Patty Guggenheim Jeff Healy James from Brazil Patricia Jenkins-Bock Matthew Jenkins-Bock Travis Jenkins Mark Kesman David Mancherje Kate Marshall Mara Marusa Patrick McCullough Chris McKenna Alex Meenehan Raoul Ponce Erin Rakow Bill Richau Vinnie Singh Marilyn Sommer Thomas Sommer |
| 1st AD | Laura Cray |
| 2nd AD | Allsion Adamovic Michelle Freziere |
| Assistant Camera | Leah Demo |
| Makeup and Hair | Tammy Curtis |
| Production Sound Mixer | Oliver Moss |
| Boom Operator | Shira Ingram |
| Gaffer | Ian McAllister |
| Electric | Brent Hansen |
| Best Boy Electric | Jay Muranaka |
| Key Grip | Eduardo Barraza Jose Felix |
| Best Boy Grip | Brandon Musselman |
| Assistant Production Design | Mike Beamer |
| Wardrobe Assistant | Melissa Kidd |
| Script Supervisor | Kevin Klauber |
| Production Assistants | Elysse Applebaum Kyle Boyce Roy Chung Ryan Chung Jonathan Coleman Cullen Conly Michael Figge Daniel Johnson Aaron Webman |
| Animation Layout | Chris Hagerthy |
| Additional Compositing | Chris Cruse |
| Music by | .dB |
| Additional Patterns & Noises | Mikey Schanzlin |
| Sound Supervisor | George Haddad |
| Re-Recording Mixer | Andy D'Addario |
| Colorist | Johnny Kirkwood |
| Additional Sound Design | Nate Cornett |
| Painting by | Jonny Coleman |
| Production Consultant | Amsie Soria |
| Script Supervisor | Kevin Klauber |
| Stage Tech - Air Hollywood | Jonathan Esquival |
| Stage Tech - Stage 3 | Walter Sylvia |
| Monitor Services | Jon Peter |
| Mixed at | Todd AO |
| Finished at | Encore Hollywood |
| Special Thanks | Mom, Dad, Craig Wm. Cullen Conly Jonny Coleman Anne Goursaud Geoff Hemwall Vikki Williams David Yoneshige Rick Lee, Hula Post Barbara Marshall, Encore Hollywood Mike Simoni, Encore Hollywood Justin Sanchez, Encore Hollywood George Haddad, Todd AO Sabi Tulok Donny at Elephant Symphony Chris Tarantino Marcella Garate Sanchez Matt Barber Ryan Williams Carrie Gillogly Jeri Yoshizu Ryan DiDonato Mark Meyerhoff Jason Winfield Rick Rohas Kevin Oeser Steve Desmond Norzwind International Jen Fuller Kate Marshall Ru Sommer Tim Cahill Andy Bruntel Eric Weems John Coffey Edgar Gargarella Mary Beth Fielder Sheila Rosenberg Kier Lehman Elliott David Chris Riser Megan Milks |
Copyright © 2007 No Performance, Inc. All Rights Reserved
- 17 Sept Strasbourg, FR
playing at the
Strasbourg International Film Festival - Sept 26 Charlotte
playing at the
Charlotte Film Festival - Previous Flights
- 28 June - 12 July Malta
playing at Kinemastik - 14-25 May Cannes
playing at the Short Film Corner - Dec 6 Chicago
opening for Daft Punk's Electroma - Nov 8 LA
- Oct 24 Seattle
opening for Bling: A Planet Rock - Sept 29 Brookyln
Last Supper Festival
- Sept 18 Atlanta
opening for Mayor of Sunset Strip - August 15 LA
Priv. Screening w/ Muertas - August 2 NYC
Scion Easy 10 Event
