LOVING VINCENT

As a part of my study skills work I was asked to write an analytic essay about something I really liked and there was no other choice as this- so I thought I going to post it, if anyone ever wanted to read it~ as I truly deeply love LOVING VINCENT.

Loving Vincent

  

Great things are done

by a series of small things brought together.

/Vincent Van Gogh/

by Kristin K

Few years back there was rumours of something incredible is taking place - being created, something this world has never seen before. For most of us the first glimpse was via Facebook where mostly things happen with a scroll. Little video was shared around – showing Van Gogh’s paintings coming alive, so real, so beautiful. After that silence until this year - the first fully painted animated feature film “Loving Vincent” - written and directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman come fully to life on the big screens.

The development was funded by the Polish Film Institute, and partially through a Kickstarter campaign (En.wikipedia.org, 2017) with a budget being  only $5.5 million  that is £3.8 million, which compeering to other high gross animations is really nothing considering what incredible work been put into it. (Waters, 2017) We are talking oil paintings, by hand, not computer-generated stuff, not some kind digital art multiplication of the frames, but real handwork of real artists.

The main idea came from Dorota Kobiela who are painter herself and been developing her ambitions since her college studies.  When she met her future husband Hugh Welchman - Kobiela told Welchman about her desire to paint a short animation about Vincent van Gogh – particularly about Vincent’s last days (Waters, 2017) and that was it…

"I fell in love with Dorota,

then I fell in love with her project," says Welchman. (Waters, 2017)

So together they began to read every biography they could find of an artist and the beautiful journey towards incredible masterpiece begun.

Vincent Van Gogh will always remain as a legendary figure – in art history so as in our day popular culture. (Schaffner, 1998) There is no many, who don’t know him now, mostly because is sad and tragic life. During his carrier, however only few people know him or his work. He was often lonely and depressed. (Green, 2002) Selling only one painting in his lifetime, there wasn’t much joy for him. Also, his death was always surrounded with mystery. Did he really wanted to die? This is the question that film creators are trying to ask in such incredible way, that leaved audience speechless.

"No one knows exactly why Van Gogh killed himself," Welchman, says.

"And if anyone tells you they do, then they're being a one-eyed kid. He didn't leave a suicide note; he didn't write a letter; …."(Waters, 2017)

To make film successful there was a need for a good story, just a load of beautiful paintings wouldn’t be enough – the story was the key.

So, both Kobiela and Welchman came up with a sort of detective plot – featuring the real people that Van Gogh knew whilst alive. Setting taking place a year after the artist's death exploring various accounts given by residents of Auvers.

According to (Waters), 2017) plot also explores the not-impossible theory that Van Gogh was murdered by René Secrétan - a local 16-year-old who was always picking on him, making poor Vincent very uncomfortable - also admitting to having given him the gun. This story seemed perfect for filmmakers and production could begin.

The processes and methods used was quite different from any other before, - first fully, hand painted animation ever. The film-makers chose to use classically trained painters over traditional animators wanting avoid animators with personal styles – giving preference to real oil artists.   (En.wikipedia.org, 2017)

Total of 125 painters were chosen from more than 5,000 applicants. As becoming more or less international project painters been chosen from around the world to work in the production’s studios in Poland and also in Greece. (Milligan, 2017)

Each frame was adopted to van Gogh’s style. Experts from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam give the film creators very detailed insights into the artist's techniques – but unfortunately just being an exceptional artist wasn’t really enough when it came to making an animated film. Some of artists had to quit. (Waters, 2017)

All film made in post-impressionist style also featuring Vincent van Gogh’s 120 famous paintings took a way of presenting documentary into another level making it first feature film of its kind. (YouTube, 2017)

In the world where everything seems to go digital

 and so many decisions been driven by saving time and money

to choose to spend years patiently painting tens and thousands of canvases

seems about more than just authenticity

this is a labour of love and prove there is some things modern technology just can’t capture.

/Lucy Cotter Sky News 2017/(YouTube, 2017)

This sensational approach to the artist's final days put even quite impressive actor cast to one side, focusing mainly on truly amazing works of Vincent.

Finding a way to see this film myself I feel like I had an opportunity to go back in time and not just that. The all film, the colours were so alive, so real, that it felt like I been also inside the painting itself.

The world premiere of “Loving Vincent” happened at France’s Annecy Festival and received a standing ovation which lasted throughout the final credit sequence and beyond. (Mayorga and Mayorga, 2017) It ended with "Starry Starry Night” song what was written by Don McLean many years ago and performed by Lianne La Havas now specially for the motion picture "Loving Vincent". If no one cried during the film it definitely set the right mood with the final credits.

This work is incredible part of keeping alive Van Gogh’s story, his works with all his sadness. This film is like encouragement for all people to look at Vincent’s works - to read his letters, to know him what he was – an incredible man and outstanding painter. Shame that there is no much showings and opportunity to see this film are limited, which is a very disappointing.

We could only wonder what would Van Gogh who died in 1890 and would have never experienced cinema as we know would thing about this work - this incredible tribute to him. This film represents true love and admiration, towards Vincent – love that will never die as long as humanity exist.

My biggest respect and gratitude to all creators and production team. To all who took a part, who painted, sponsored, who believed and who made it happen.

…For they could not love you
But still your love was true

And when no hope was left in sight on that starry
Starry night.
You took your life
As lovers often do;
But I could have told you
Vincent
This world was never
Meant for one
As beautiful as you…

~

/.Don Mclean/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp5qJlr4go0

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• ·       Arts, V. (2017). The 61st BFI London Film Festival: In Conversation with Hugh Welchman, one of the directors of ‘Loving Vincent’. [online] VIEW OF THE ARTS. Available at: https://viewofthearts.com/2017/10/15/the-61st-bfi-london-film-festival-in-conversation-with-hugh-welchman-one-of-the-directors-of-loving-vincent/ [Accessed 4 Nov. 2017].
• ·       BBC News. (2017). Painting 65,000 pictures like Van Gogh. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-cornwall-37707160/how-do-you-paint-65000-pictures-like-van-gogh [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       En.wikipedia.org. (2017). Loving Vincent. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_Vincent [Accessed 2 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Facebook.com. (2017). Loving Vincent. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/LovingVincentUK/?brand_redir=190101704414938 [Accessed 7 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Google.co.uk. (2017). Loving Vincent - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Loving+Vincent&client=safari&rls=en&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6kMTYyqDXAhUGIcAKHVEACugQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1324&bih=946#imgrc=FHiD2uEjQBA3kM: [Accessed 2 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Green, J. (2002). Vincent van Gogh. London: Franklin Watts.
• ·       internetowe, O. (2017). The Paintings. [online] Lovingvincent.com. Available at: http://lovingvincent.com/the-paintings,2,pl.html [Accessed 2 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Little White Lies. (2017). Loving Vincent review. [online] Available at: http://lwlies.com/reviews/loving-vincent/ [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Metro.co.uk. (2017). Trailer for animated Van Gogh movie Loving Vincent shows how stunning it is | Metro News. [online] Available at: http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/23/this-animated-van-gogh-movie-rendered-entirely-in-paint-looks-unbelievably-stunning-5771097/ [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Milligan, M. (2017). Good Deed Ent. Dates ‘Loving Vincent’ NYC & LA Openings. [online] Animation Magazine. Available at: http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/good-deed-ent-dates-loving-vincent-nyc-la-openings/ [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Rajen, S. (2017). ‘Loving Vincent’ Starring Vincent van Gogh. [online] Fashionindustrybroadcast.com. Available at: https://fashionindustrybroadcast.com/2016/04/04/loving-vincent-starring-vincent-van-gough/ [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Schaffner, I. (1998). The Essential Vincent Van Gogh. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated.
• ·       SongMeanings. (2017). Don McLean - Vincent (Starry Starry Night) Lyrics | SongMeanings. [online] Available at: http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/10750/ [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       Waters, F. (2017). Van Gogh, a new film and a tantalising question: was Vincent murdered? [online] The Telegraph. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/06/27/loving-vincent-van-gogh-goes-to-hollywood/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2017].
• ·       YouTube. (2017). Lianne La Havas - "Starry Starry Night" (Loving Vincent OST). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp5qJlr4go0 [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       YouTube. (2017). Loving Vincent - Sky News Clip. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJmcPOKcsdA [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       YouTube. (2017). Loving Vincent Review. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_LmcvkIi2E [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
• ·       YouTube. (2017). This Vincent Van Gogh movie is incredible. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC2VriINKLU [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].
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