Caitlin Lomax, Ben Matei and Jennie Tkaz WA finalists for 2022 Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge
Screenwest and Epic Games are pleased to announce filmmaking team Caitlin Lomax, Ben Matei and Jennie Tkaz as the WA recipients for the 2022 Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge, receiving $50,000 production funding to produce their animated short film, The Bolt.
The Bolt follows Jack, a tradie having a really bad day. With his emotions threatening to overwhelm him, Jack becomes fixated on undoing a bolt that refuses to come undone. Eventually with a new set of tools and little help from his friends, Jack comes to realise it was his repression keeping him stuck all along.
Exploring themes of mental health and coping strategies, the film aims to help reduce male suicide rates and encourage men to open up and talk about their problems.
The team will now have eight weeks to bring their idea to life using 3D creation tool Unreal Engine 5, with a focus on creating an exaggerated and dynamic animation quality.
Virtual production producer and digital specialist Caitlin Lomax is the founder of INTR Studios, a Bunbury-based digital studio with a focus on AR, VR, Virtual Production and Motion Capture. Most recently, Caitlin served as technical producer on Australian animated VR series Lustration VR, which held its world premiere at SXSW 2022 earlier this year and is now available on Oculus TV.
After collaborating on a previous project for Harper’s Bazaar using Unreal Engine, Caitlin has again teamed up with director, writer and animator Ben Matei to bring his new concept to life. Ben has directed several short films and music videos, including Never Alone. In 2021, Never Alone was selected to screen at the prestigious, Academy Award and BAFTA-qualifying LA Shorts Film Festival, and will hit WA screens later this week as part of the 2022 Revelation Film Festival.
Ben’s Never Alone co-writer, filmmaker Jennie Tkaz is also on board The Bolt, serving as co-writer and producer on the film.
“I’m thrilled to team up with Ben and Jennie to bring Ben’s story to life. The Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge presents us with an awesome opportunity to really push the tools of the engine and our collective skills. We’re excited to be utilizing mocap, animation, virtual cameras and making use of lumen, the new dynamic lighting system. We’ve got an awesome group of talented West Australian artists on our team and we’re up for the challenge of creating something unreal!” said Caitlin Lomax, The Bolt Virtual Production Producer.
“I’m excited and grateful to bring such a personal story to life. The Bolt represents a common issue among men, where in the face of overwhelming emotions and lack of coping strategies, they often turn to fixating on a practical issue they can more easily solve. Our hope is that The Bolt will mirror the struggles of our audience and reflect back to them that to be ‘strong and masculine’ encompasses being vulnerable, embracing connection and admitting when we need help.” said Ben Matei, The Bolt Director/Writer/Animator.
“Caitlin, Ben and Jennie are all bringing unique skillsets and experiences to the project – I can’t wait to see The Bolt’s simple yet emotional concept come to life through Epic Games’ incredible technology. Congratulations to the team!” said Eva Di Blasio, Screenwest Talent Development Manager.
The 2022 finalists’ films from around Australia and New Zealand will be released online later this year.
The Unreal Engine Short Film Challenge is supported by VicScreen, Screen NSW, Screen Tasmania, Screen Queensland, Screen Canberra, Screenwest, the South Australian Film Corporation and Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC).
About Unreal Engine
Epic Games’ Unreal Engine is the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D tool. Creators across games, film and television, architecture, automotive, manufacturing, live events, simulation and other industries choose Unreal to deliver cutting-edge content, interactive experiences, and immersive virtual worlds. Follow @UnrealEngine and download Unreal for free at unrealengine.com.
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