Nexus Studios directing duo Smith & Foulkes created the film for the UAE pavilion at World Expo 2020
Nexus Studios directing duo Smith & Foulkes created a captivating animated short film together with the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Tellart and Kossmanndejong, to celebrate the UAE’s 50-year history and the richness of Emirati culture.
In a story woven through time, Smith & Foulkes took inspiration from the Bedouin artform, Al Sadu, placing three generations of family life at the heart of the narrative. Visualised through a subtle painterly 2D aesthetic and colours reminiscent of the nation’s rich landscapes, the film blends accurate historical moments with hopeful re-imagined scenes of what life could look like in the future, with a wish for greater equality and inclusion.
To ensure authenticity ran through every detail, the Directors worked closely with an all-female team of Emirate archivists who were consulted on creative decisions every step of the way.
Dreaming Together was shown on an impressive 8K, 24-metre screen at the Pearl Theatre as the centrepiece of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020, which was built bespoke for the event. Along with the screen, the semi-circular auditorium included rising seats and surround-sounds providing an immersive multi-sensory feast.
“How many times in one’s career are you asked to create a film that celebrates the history of a Nation? It was a privilege to be able to travel through the country, immersing ourselves in Emirati history and culture. At the heart of this story are three generations of family life, specifically chosen to show the unparalleled speed of change and the experience of living through these times. This is a unique moment in time when all three generations are still here to tell this tale.” – Smith & Foulkes, directors, Nexus Studios
Brand
Client: Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation for World Expo 2020 Dubai
Archival research: Lest We Forget (UAE)
Agency
Agency: KDJ Tellart Productions
Agency Producer: Olivier Klonhammer
Concept, Script and Creative Direction: Tellart (NL) + Kossmanndejong (NL)
Brand strategy, Brand Narrative and Guardianship: SY Partners
Production
Production Company: Nexus Studios
Directors: Smith & Foulkes
Producer: Tracey Cooper
Production Manager: Edith Chappey
Studio CG Lead: Nico Domerego
Art Director: Callum Strachan
Storyboards: Gabriel Schucan
Character Designer: Sukanto Debnath
Character Designer: Melanie Climent
3D Generalist: Jonathan Vuillemin
3D/2D Generalist: Laura Quinn
Rigging: Lea Georges
Lead 2D Animator: Bishoy Gendi
2D Animator: Sim Marriott
2D Animator: Hozen Britto
2D Animator: Peter Dodd
2D Animator: Marylou Mao
2D Animator: Conor Ryan
2D Clean Up Artist: Giacomo Autili
2D Clean Up Artist: Rebecca Perrone
2D Clean Up Artist: Joe Cheng
2D Clean Up Artist: Chiara Sgatti
2D Clean Up Artist: Sasha Balan
2D Clean Up Artist: Judit Boor
2D Clean Up Artist: Joanna Boyle
2D Clean Up Artist: Andreia Serrano
VFX Artist: Paul Cousins
Lead Compositor: Jesse Richards
Compositor: Adriano Vessichelli
Compositor: Bethany Levy
Compositor: Guillaume Cassuto
Compositor: Daniele Baiardini
Editor: David Slade
Sound
Musical composition & soundscapes: Matthew Herbert
Sound Design: Resonate
Genres: Animation, Storytelling
Categories: Short Films and Music Videos, Short films
Nexus Studios, Thu, 05 May 2022 10:40:52 GMT DF
