The Emergence Film Spotlight

Today’s film spotlight focuses on the short film The Emergence directed by Jocelyn Harp.

What is the title of your film and what inspired said title?

“The Emergence” echoes the beginning of something great, a young sprouting plant, the birth of an Amphiptere… I was hoping this title would symbolize the actual “big ending” of the film, as much as it would symbolize the beginning of adulthood for my friends and I.

Tell us a little bit about the story and origins of your film.

“In a fantasy world where every living things, weather events, mountains and rivers are linked to a celestial particulate current, a young inventor and artist seeks a rare species of creatures, and the truth behind their unexpected extinction.”

I’ve always been fascinated by dragons, since very little, I was trying to find their nests in the forest my mother used to bring me to. The short film emerged out of a need to blend my biggest adult fears of the future, with my most beloved childhood dreams.

Any films or filmmakers that inspired this film?

I believe I get most of my inspiration from asian cinema, and japanese animation such as Kurosawa and Miyazaki films. Those movies often display a very tight relationship between the characters and their environment, a lighthearted wanderer roaming a fantastic, beautiful world, where Nature is being shown as a character of its own.

The works of Ridley Scott, or Denis Villeneuve for exemple, are also a great source of inspiration for the atmospheres, the visuals.

What is the goal of the film for you?

The short film addresses environmental issues, over-exploitation of resources, scientific advancement, but through the eyes of a very contemplative, optimistic and candid artist. I believe its goal is to show those very serious, dramatic subjects, while retaining a certain childlike, marveled way of looking at them. It is difficult to find the willingness to try and save something, when you can’t see the beauty in it anymore.

What has the journey been like getting the film into production?

It has been a difficult one, as we did not have an ounce of money. Most of the props were crafted by my grandpa and myself. We finished the box (the main prop of the film), only 2 days before shooting, the costumes where freely provided by one of my neighbors who used to be part of a theater company. And then came the problem of the locations… We had confirmation that we would be able to shoot in a castle owned my one of my friend’s acquaintances, but after our arrival, we were told it would not be possible anymore, which meant half of the film was dead already if we couldn’t find a new location. A few of my friends took a car and went searching for a new castle in the region for two days, while we were shooting the rest of the scenes. Thankfully they found what would then become the antagonist’s manor, and was even better than the first one. It all just worked because I had these amazing people helping me, trying their hardest to make this film a reality.

One thing you learned from this project?

I’ve learned to take my time, to let something unfold itself when the time has really come. We shot this short film back in 2018, but I couldn’t find the time to actually start post-production until spring 2020, when the pandemic started. I remembered I had this unfinished, impossible dragon/fantasy project on a hard drive from 2 years ago, and I thought “I really want to see this film”.

I’ve also learned every crazy project is feasible when you’re doing it with the people you love and trust.

How can folks find you and your film online?

“The Emergence” is available on Youtube and Vimeo, along with my previous short films. More informations about the short film, and the journey behind its making, are displayed on my website : www.tealmoon-jocelynharp.com

I also have an Instagram where I share some of my 3D and VFX work : jocelyn_harp

Any last pieces of advice for fellow filmmakers?

Keep the people you trust close to you and your film, they could save it, and you with it.

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