Home Movie Factory

In our brief time together, we’ve worked on some very exciting projects, but this was just something else!

The Home Movie Factory is an ambitious, interactive installation created by legendary French auteur, Michel Gondry. As massive fans of Gondry’s magical, hand-crafted music videos and films, we were knocked off our feet when we were asked to create a visual identity for the upcoming Johannesburg incarnation of the concept.
After meeting Gondry in 2011, Russell Grant and Darryl Els of The Bioscope began talking about how great it would be to set up a Home Movie Factory in Johannesburg. In making this dream a reality, our involvement would be extensive. We started out by designing a look and feel for the JHB HMF. Taking a roughly illustrated character (drawn by Gondry himself), we added colour and some local flavour in the form of some repeat pattern details. From there a multitude of materials were combined into logo and poster designs that matched Gondry’s own hand-crafted aesthetic and mirrored the proud DIY ethos of the Home Movie Factory.

With logo design, poster art and large scale signage in the bag, we set to work creating a short video to introduce Joburg audiences to Gondry and his unique film factory. Combining as many mediums as possible, the video would include stop-motion, 2D cell and 3D animation with live action clips and a soundtrack collecting ten of our local favourites.

Further involvement in the project included the illustration of an elaborate map of The Factory floor as well as an 8 page booklet explaining the unique art experiment. On the night of the launch, we were invited to DJ and VJ, creating visuals based around stop-motion loops we made of the gorgeously realised final Home Movie Factory.

After opening it’s doors, the project turned out to be a massive success. Open 6 days a week, and running through all of September and October 2012, all available slots to participate were quickly booked out. The response was so positive, that the project was extended for an additional month, churning out dozens more DIY films across November.

An incredibly creative, heart-felt gift to the people of Joburg, The Home Movie Factory was a true wonder to see in action and a project we’re incredibly proud to have been involved in.