Cinematographer
2009
15 minutes
In collaboration with the creators of worldwide arena spectacular, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, comes a beguiling adaptation of the 1980 classic, THERE’S A HIPPOPOTAMUS ON OUR ROOF EATING CAKE. Dedicated to the now adult fans of the book, this live-action interpretation brings a new angle to the much-loved Australian story. The story follows rogue 9-year-old Zoe and a shower singing, bike-riding, cake-eating Hippopotamus.
The Creature Technology Company constructed a 1/8th size animatronic hippopotamus. They also built a full size back half, which a puppeteer operated from inside, and two separate front legs. As cinematographer I worked closely with the director, Jaime Snyder, to figure out how best to sell the illusion. We got to play with green screen, forced perspective and even a miniature set. Jaime really wanted to achieve a whimsical tone and embrace the nostalgia of the book, so we shot on super 16mm to give the picture ‘imperfections’.
Our female lead, Portia Bradley, had her leg in plaster for the duration of the shoot. This mean we had to come up with inventive solutions to achieve the required blocking.
Written by children's book author, Hazel Edwards:
Seeing the completed film was poignant for me. Thank you for giving me and the audience the gift of the imagination in taking my book into the film world.
One of my most thrilling moments was to be invited one Wednesday morning to the workshop of Creatures Technology to see the hippo, which had been created by their people as in-kind support for the project. A massive warehouse, with gigantic models of dinosaur creatures, roof high, and a buzz of creative enjoyment in the quality of the problem they were solving in hippo parts design.
There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake... retains the sentiment and childlike focus of the original book, but uses the strengths of the medium to add new insights.
Zoe: PORTIA BRADLEY (My Year Without Sex)
Mother: BRIDIE CARTER (McLeod’s Daughters)
Father: ANGUS SAMPSON (Where the Wild Things Are, Kokoda)
Carpenter A: TERRY CAMILLERI (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)
Carpenter B: ROB ALEC (Eraser Children)
Based on the book: “THERE’S A HIPPOPOTAMUS ON OUR ROOF EATING CAKE”
Written by: HAZEL EDWARDS
Illustrated by: DEBORAH NILAND
Published by: PENGUIN GROUP (AUSTRALIA)
Director: JAIME SNYDER
Writer: JAIME SNYDER
Producer: JOEL SHARPE
Director of Photography: LACHLAN RYAN
Production Designer: MELIA RAYNER
Editor: JESSICA LAWTON
Sound Design by: LACHLAN HARRIS
Original Music by: GREAT EARTHQUAKE
Executive Producers: ADAM LOWE, FRANZISKA WAGENFELD, JAIME SNYDER
Casting Director: LANI KINGSTON
Technical Director: CHRIS HOCKING
Post Production Producer: JESSICA NJOO
Production Assistant: ALLIE PARKER
Primary Camera Assistants: JOHN PAUL BEIROUTY, MICHAEL LUCAS
Secondary Camera Assistant: SHELLY FARTHING-DAWE
Gaffers: JARROD THEODORE, BEN OSBORN
Lighting Assistant: JESSICA NJOO
Lighting & camera assistant: TIM DEVINISH
Catering: ALLI PARKER
Stills & lighting assistant: ALAN BENNET
Sound Recordists: LACHLAN HARRIS, NICK THEODORE
Production Design assistant: JESSICA NJOO
Safety Officer: RUSSELL FROST
Set Construction: MATT COCKERELL
Hair & Makeup: ELOISE LOXTON
Visual Effects: JAMES OTTER
Laboratory Services: DELUXE
Colourist: SARAH SPARNENN
Additional VFX: KASPAR ZKIRNER
Post Production Supervisor: PAUL CROSS
Studio services: SOUNDFIRM MELBOURNE
Sound master & mixer: SIMON ROSENBERG
Facility Coordinator: KATHY CHARLES
THE CREATURE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY TEAM:
Project Manager: MIA CARTER
Puppeteer: LLIAM ANSTEY-SPRIGG
Sculptural fabrication: SARAH WARNER, TIM SHEPHEARD, LLIAM ANSTEY-SPRIGG
Lead Painter: JOE BLANCK
THE BRADLEY FAMILY, MUSH RECORDS, COREY O’MEARA, SONNY TILDERS, CAROLINE RICHARDS, PHILLIP MILLAR, KATE MACPHERSON, DENNIS NICHOLSON, TIMOTHY WATTERS, JILL HOLT, SIAN DAVIES, MAT GOVONI, JAMES VERDON, WARP RECORDS, LISA WHITEHOUSE, DAVID TAFT, PEG MCCOLL, AMADEO MARQUEZ-PEREZ, THE FRASER FAMILY, NATASHA MILOSAVLJEIC, MICHELLE FILLERY, MANDA FRANKLIN, YAMA BOY, KATHY FRANKLIN, LOVE CONNECTION, CHRIS & JOHN SHARPE, JUTTA & JON SNYDER, JOSH BACH