A Short Film That Explores A Quest of the Self Amidst the Noise Around Us In its dream-like world, NONE plays with the concepts of light and darkness, a contrast that can be identified even in the juxtaposition between the gloomy, dark images and the soothing music composed by film score composer Ben Lukas Boysen. The film, which emerged as a collaboration between director and graphic designer Ash Thorp and Danish art director Chris Bjerre, carries a silent narrative, one that remains subject to open interpretation. “I purposely left the door open to the viewers’ emotions, and wanted to allow them to take what they wanted personally from watching it. The concept for NONE was to create a very simple, yet personal, sequence of moving images that revolved around a set tone”, said Ash Thorp. A film of contrasts, NONE exudes a postwar atmosphere of resignation and macabre tranquility, yet also manages to instill in the viewer a feeling of hope. Although only two characters make their appearance towards the end of the film, you get the impression of many creatures lurking in the shadows, and – strangely enough – not all of them bad. Ash Thorp has been mainly working on feature films and within the gaming industry for more than six years now, from his home office near San Diego, California. He operates a freelance creative firm, for which he works as designer, illustrator and director. We reached out to hear his take on this quietly confronting short. The Plus: What influenced you when you were creating this piece? Ash Thorpe: There are a lot of influencing factors, everything from Miyazaki films to old world photography. My pool of influence is massive, and I am always adding to it. TP: You have a broad and accomplished showreel – what is something you particularly enjoy about your line of work? AT: Thank you for the compliment; I’m very appreciative! I really enjoy the freedom and challenges that come with my line of work. I love discovering unknown worlds and concepts when I create. Design is about problem solving for me, and I love knowing that for every design problem, there is a perfect solution. It is the designer’s job to find that unique solution and to execute if flawlessly. TP: You’re exploring a fairly recent artistic medium; in what direction do you think – or hope – that it will develop in the future? AT: It’s amazing the influential power creatives have to help steer the path of the future. I grew up on comics and art that was communicated via pen and paper, and now I feel the canvas is opened in a larger spectrum to the CGI world. It’s an amazing time we live in, with the endless knowledge and technology continually being developed. TP: The video seems to touch upon ideas of the fall of mankind; what do you think is man’s greatest hubris? AT: Again, I will refrain from imposing my own personal reflections on the piece, so as not to impose on any of the viewers’ personal interpretations. I will say that I believe that mankind’s largest weakness is vanity. Our personal obsession with ourselves can overshadow what makes us so individually unique and special.
