Behind The Seams interview with Director: Amber B Dianda
The weekly Behind The Seams series continues!!
Today, releasing the clip we’ve all been on the edge of our seats waiting for, as we go behind the lens of Advocate Amber B Dianda on the creation of “Eden”!
The film itself was co-directed by Amber B and Kirk Dianda, who documented all the products and personalities behind the brand. Amber is also the hand behind the stop-motion animations featured throughout the film, cutting out each piece individually and positioning them one by one for each frame! While I could describe to you the steps taken in making the film, it is much better explained by Amber herself, so without further ado, a Q&A with our dear dear friend…
Alex: Describe what entails stop-motion animation.
Amber B: Stop-motion (also known as stop action) is the process of shooting one picture at a time, and moving an object individually between frames, creating the illusion of a moving image when played back. Stop-motion animation has a long history in the film world, and helped define movies as we know them today.
Alex: Why did you choose to partner stop-motion animation in the creation of the Eden film?
AB: I’m a huge fan of Tim Burton and old school Disney animations, and I’ve always wanted to try my hand at creating my own stop-motion. So when Kirk and I first started talking about this project, we knew we wanted it to keep it short, but still treat it like a story as opposed to a documentary. With that in mind, we needed something to carry the story along, and the animations and voice-overs created the perfect thread to tie it all together. The animations also captured the quirky and creative aspect of Element Eden, so it was a perfect fit.
Alex: How many paper pieces did you cut out by hand for the entire film?
AB: Too many to count, but I took over 2000 individual pictures to create the entire animation!
Alex: About how long did that take?
AB: We worked on and off on this project for over a year, but not a year straight of work… We’d shoot a few days here, and then not touch the project for weeks. I had a lot of other projects going at the same time, so in between those, I would carve out small scenes, one at a time. I would maybe spend an entire day cutting paper out one time, and then other times I’d focus and shoot all day (and night).
Alex: What was the most challenging aspect in the creation of the film?
AB: Trying to cram all the amazing people and things about Element Eden into a piece under 5 minutes. We literally have hours of awesome footage that we shot over the period of the last few years.
Alex: You and your husband Kirk do quite a few projects together as creative minds… Was this one any different?
AB: No, it wasn’t different. Each project we do, we approach it with fresh eyes and strive to capture the idea of the project as best we can. We both work very differently when it comes to creating things, so I think we teach other something different with every project. I usually shoot still photography and his specialty is film, but our rolls changed and blurred on this project. I always love learning and mastering new things, and feel very lucky to be able to share that with the most special person in the whole wide world, my husband.
Alex: What is your favorite part of the stop-motion animation within the film? Why?
AB: I think the words section that describes what it is to be an Eden girl is my favorite scene. I have worked with Element Eden for about ten years, and have met so many amazing and inspiring woman associated with the brand. At first I wasn’t sure how to capture that until I came up with the words that describe an Eden girl… It became a manifesto, and I love how each word grows to reveal the next.
Alex: Looking back, what is one word you would use to sum up the entire film and why?
AB: Feminine. It’s beautiful and nurtures all the traits that Eden stands for.
Alex: In the many personalities featured and interviewed, which sticks out in your mind and why?
AB: Shooting Miya Ando in her studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Miya Ando is the sweetest woman you will ever meet. She’s tiny and delicate but has this amazing studio that is full of heavy duty metal working tools like hammers and blow torches. It was such a contrast to the intricate workmanship of her pieces. She’s incredible, and I will remember that day we spent with her forever.
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