Prehistoric Resurrection

(2016, 4:10 min, 3D animation, 2k live-action, single channel, Digital audio)

Inspired by the idea of ‘resurrection biology’, this animated and live-action short visually connects prehistoric references to crane survival and longevity through the beauty of movement and the tools of technology. A 3-D animated crane skeleton emerges from an actual photo of a 12 million year-old fossil that then transforms into motion; interacting with present day Sandhill Cranes and flies away with the flock. The live-action footage was filmed along the Platte River during the height of spring migration at the Audubon Center in Rowe Sanctuary, Nebraska.

Screenings & Awards:

2019 – SPECTRUM: 2019 Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition, CADVC, UMBC, Baltimore MD.
2016 – River Revitalization Foundation, “Full Moon Film Festival”, group show, Milwaukee, WI.
         – Creative Alliance, “Baltimore Filmmaker Shorts Showcase”, group show, Baltimore, MD.
         – “Women Over 50 Film Festival”, London, UK
         – “The Block Film and Art Festival”, Logan, Utah
         – “Creation International Film Festival”, Ontario, Canada
         – “Sandhill Crane Festival”, Lodi, CA.
2014 – Milwaukee Art Museum, outdoor exhibition “Temporary Resurfacing”, group show, Milwaukee, WI.

Credits

Creative Folks
Cathy Cook, PI / Director /Artist / Cinematographer
Paul Dickinson, Sound Recordist and Field Recording Collaborator

Deborah Firestone, Artist / 3-D Animator
Ryan Zuber, Technical Director / 3-D Animator, IRC

Gionatan Tecle, Post-Production Assistant
Will Hromek, LAS Intern

Facility Collaborators
Imaging Research Center
UMBC Department of Visual Arts

Research Support
Visual Arts – University of MD. Baltimore County (UMBC)
The Field Museum – Chicago, IL.
International Crane Foundation (ICF), Baraboo, WI.
University of Nebraska State Museum Archives – Lincoln, NE.
Rowe Sanctuary – Audubon, NE.
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center – Laurel, MD.

Funding
UMBC – (University of MD – Baltimore County) SRAIS grant
UMBC – IRC/CAHSS SFRF grant

In addition to the above credits:
Mark Jarzynski – Technical Director of Software Development @ IRC
Boris Boiko – Kinect Programming & Animator – IRC Undergraduate Intern