Invade
Music video for the track "入侵" (Invade) by more reverb - mostly made with powdered charcoal and compressed charcoal.
“Trapped in a dust storm, blurring the barriers between sensation, sight and emotion”
In Depth with the Director -
Wong Man Sze
Hello Man Sze, tell us a little about yourself and your background in filmmaking
Hi, I am Wong Man Sze, a 2D animator from Hong Kong. I graduated from the School of Creative Media at City University of Hong Kong in 2017. I was introduced to experimental animations and sounds at the school and developed a strong interest in abstract animation. After I had completed my graduation film, I decided to become an animator. I love to experiment with abstract shapes, sounds and varied techniques.
How did Invade first come together as a project?
The band member of more reverb came across my graduation film “Ride” on the Facebook page of Ground Up Student Film Festival. He was impressed by the ink style of my film and then invited me to create a music video for their new track “入侵” (Invade).
The amount of emotion and impact you have derived from your charcoal is incredible. What inspired your choice of charcoal as a medium?
When I first listened to the song, I was captivated by the grainy texture of the music. It reminded me of sand animation. But charcoal was used rather than sand because the sand colour is too nostalgic.
There is also a wonderful sense of movement all throughout the film, gradually building into an awesome climax. How did you achieve this?
I divided the film into two big parts. The first part (00:00-02:45) was well-planned. The result was similar to what I had drawn on the storyboard. But the second part (02:49-05:34) was a totally different approach. Since the colours were inverted, it was hard for me to plan the movement. I didn’t have a specific plan. I made spontaneous drawings and imported them into the editing software. New ideas started to come in. The process was full of improvisation and experimentation.
Hong Kong has undergone some seismic changes in the past few years. Has the political situation affected your art, or is it an avenue of escape?
My work used to have no storytelling or narrative elements. But in the second half of 2019 and 2020, I created a few drawings and animation GIFs to respond to the Hong Kong protests. Art has become my way to express my political statements. When telling the truth has become a crime, all I can do is to remember the pain and document it in my own way.
What was the biggest challenge in making this film?
The biggest challenge was to balance my full-time job and the animation production. I made this film in my spare time. The schedule was hectic and the amount of work filled me with anxiety.
What projects are coming for you in the future?
I will be creating more animation GIFs in the coming year.
Do you have any message for our Melbourne audience?
I hope you enjoy the film.