David Sproxton4 October 2007
Co-founder of Aardman Animation - the creators of Wallace and Gromit - David Sproxton is one of the judges of Friends of the Earth's Green Film competition, One-Minute with Meaning.
One of Aardman's best loved characters, Morph has come out of retirement to call on filmmakers to enter the competition.
We used Morph on our intranet to put out messages about making sure you switch off lights in rooms because he's a well loved character, so we thought he'd be a good messenger for you as well.
David on Morph's appeal
What prompted you to support the Green Film competition?
Most of what we're talking about now is not that new, the science has got better and the facts have got stronger but the issues were flagged 30 plus years ago.
One reason we got involved is we've got to find a way of getting these messages out more quickly to take more effective action earlier.
Any tips for making One-Minute with Meaning?
With a lot of short films, there's often a big film trying to escape out of it.
But in a minute, if it's well constructed, you can put over some pretty hefty ideas without hammering a point home.
A one minute film if it's well thought through can pack a punch and not bore your audience.
Good one-minute films which are engaging, put across a message, sustain and leave you feeling you've had a bit of entertainment and some information are quite tricky to make. It's not as easy as it seems.
David on short films
When did you first get involved with Friends of the Earth?
As a geography graduate, I've always continued an interest in environmental issues. In the Seventies I came to Bristol and joined the Friends of the Earth group here and we started a cycling pressure group which lead into Sustrans.
We have that ability to put more wit, more comedy, less seriousness into a short film talking about environmental issues.
David on the Aardman approach
See more of David's interview below:
