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Producer Nicola Poupard and director Robyn Henderson graduated from their film courses at York St John's College only 18 months ago but they've not let the grass grow under their feet. Already involved in the film industry through working at Leeds Independent Studios, the pair have come together with an ambitious project for their first short film.

Despite not knowing each other at college, since working together at LIS, the pair have formed a filmmaking partnership with designs on making it in the competitive world of cinema, and the first step is to complete their debut short - 'ReHydration'. This 12 minute short film - consisting of live action and stop-motion animation - is currently in pre-production but Nicola and Robyn are looking to obtain funding assistance from local business as unlike many other filmmakers at this level of the industry they are not eligible for government grants to fund it.

'ReHydration' came from an initial idea Robyn had while still at college emanating from a conversation about dehydration and decomposition, and the natural processes involved. Actor Roger Clarke plays the protagonist whose home resembles a pupae or pod and the film traces its disintegration with a bvisual style inspired by the films of Jan Svankmajer and especially Tim Burton.

Prosthetics for the stop-motion scenes

"There's no real dialogue but plenty of soundscaping in the piece - we want it to have that 'other worldly' quality where film dissolves into fantasy, and hopefully get the balance right between sound and vision. Luckily we're being helped out by designers and prosthetics people who are prepared to get involved for free because they believe in the project. Hopefully the scale of the film will act as a beacon to others that you can be ambitious, even at this level of the industry. You don't always have to be narrative driven."

"Some people were sceptical, thinking that we might be reaching too high for a first project but everyone who saw the storyboard was excited by it and ideas can inspire people to give their services for free......luckily! However we do need sponsors to complete the picture as you can't do everything for free, and we only have so much money of our own to invest."

"Leeds Independent Studios have been good to us and let us have studio time for free but because of our ineligibility for any grants (we're not disadvantaged enough apparently!), we're having to approach local businesses about getting involved."

"Hopefully we can persuade them to part with a minimum contribution of Β£400, for which they will get their logo on the film credits, a VIP invitation to the first screening and the knowledge that this film could be seen all over the world. We're aiming to enter 'ReHydration' for awards at prestigious film festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Vienna and others in the States and around the world. On top of that we hope to enter the film into local film festivals in Leeds and Bradford."

"Obviously these days internet video sites can provide a great platform to get your work seen, and as well as exposure on the film festival circuit, we'll be posting online to get our work seen. Ideally we can make a few waves in the industry and move on to other projects, we're always thinking about what to do next - you can't sit on your laurels!"

Anyone interested in sponsoring 'ReHydration' can send a cheque to:
Pink Tree Productions Ltd.
19a Folly Lane,
Bramham,
Wetherby,
LS23 6RZ

Or for further information.....