If you’re feeling somewhat deflated by the increasing distrust towards scientists and their case for mankind’s contribution towards global warming, discouraged by the recent failure of the Copenhagen summit or simply remain uninterested in the whole damn thing, it might help to know that for some the game’s not over. It has simply moved onto a new playfield –online. British director Simon Robson helms a group of artists from the around the world in creating ‘Coalition of the Willing’, a short animation film that takes its cues from 60ss counterculture and sets out to prove that all good revolutions start from the initiative, good will and power of the people. We caught up with Simon as he prepares to launch the project this week and preview a short clip from the film.

Dazed Digital: Simon, how did the idea for the film come about and what motivated you to commit to the project?
Simon Robson: Living a rather idyllic life in Sydney in 2008, I was confronted one day with a billboard advert for Jeep. The ad was a huge photo of a Jeep on top of a mountain, the strap line read in block capitals above, 'Have fun out there'. I thought to myself, that if people still think it's okay to scream around the countryside in an SUV burning copious amounts of carbon just for fun, the environmental message isn't hitting home. So I started drafting plans for an environmental film, which became Coalition of The Willing.


DD: You call this a 'post-Copenhagen' film. What was the impact of the Copenhagen negotiations on the tone and content of the film and what would your description of its 'post-Copenhagen' setting be?
Simon Robson: The post-Copenhagen aspect of the film is that we are looking to the future to see what's next. The writer, Tim Rayner and I started working on the script in July of 2008. Back then we were deeply cynical about what governments could achieve in terms of far reaching agreements at Copenhagen. Unfortunately, our feelings were borne out. We have always felt that the key to tackling the climate crises is to galvanise the energies of the worldwide public in the fight against climate change. The key to kick starting this grass-roots revolution is the creation of high profile online destinations where people from around the world can share their knowledge and generate the tools, innovations and social-networks to combat climate change. Forget governments, the people is where it's at.


DD: It has an optimistic tone too. I'm guessing the optimism lies in the willingness of individuals to get involved?
Simon Robson: Precisely. We start the film off with some critique of governments and the consumer culture we're all caught up in. But the film soon goes on to look at inspirational phenomena, such as the 60s counter-cultural revolution and open source culture. These events show how great change comes from the bottom up, not the top down. I think that once people grasp how empowering it could be to get involved in a war on global warming; sharing the knowledge and skills needed to begin low carbon living, then we'll see the power of the human swarm. No more waiting with bated breath as leaders sell our futures down the line to industrial interests.

DD: You are collaborating with various artists from around the world. What was your selection process and what do you think each one brings to the project?
Simon Robson: The selection process was very organic. In fact, it wasn't really a selection process at all. Some artists approached me, others are people I've admired for a while and others are colleagues I've worked with over the years. Some people came and went, perhaps they were enthused initially but then realised they didn't have room in their schedules for a pro-bono project. But that's the nature of a collaborative venture like this; an organic build-up of skills and power. What do they all bring to the project? Between them they bring myriad techniques, ideas, skills and aesthetics; an artistic moving-image swarm! But above all they also bring the desire to user their moving-image skills to sells ideas for change.


DD: A number of different techniques is used by each artist. Could you take us through a few of them and in particular, those that you're particularly excited about?
Simon Robson: Well, I think everyone's bringing something different in terms of technique. I've been re-discovering a lot of traditional stop-frame techniques, such as oil paint on glass and the multi-plane camera. Decoy is shooting human stop-motion and combining this with 3D renditions and matte painting. World Leaders have created a very groovy looking 2D cel animation. Parasol Island are doing something very 3D and character driven. Adam Gault and Thiago Maia are mixing model making with in computer animation. The list goes on and on. It's going to be a very visually rich 12-minute film!


DD: The way the film will be available to view is also quite innovative. What were the thoughts behind the website and how will it work for the viewers and followers of the project?
Simon Robson: For some years now, I've been writing for an online animation blog called Motionographer. Over the years, there have been many stunning online film releases, which have briefly been flavour of the day before they disappear. I decided that with Coalition Of The Willing, seeing as the film is essentially the sum of 30 constituent parts, to release the film in stages. So the idea of a staggered online release was born. We'd create a website that would showcase the film in such a way as to present it as a single piece of work made by many contributors. Then we'd release these contributions in sections, four or five being uploaded every two weeks for three months. This way we hope to capture the interest of the audience and have them return again and again as more film sections go online. The site also shows developing work in progress from the artists, showcases the artists themselves and delves deeper into the issues we raise in the film with curated essays and a community forum. Online art director Tim Dillon has guided me through this process from beginning to end and has been instrumental in creating and designing the strategy and aesthetic of the site. Without him I would have been lost!


DD: What are you hoping to achieve with the film and what's the next step for anyone that may want to get involved?
Simon Robson: I would like the film to be seen by as many people as possible. I'd like organisations with the skills to think seriously about designing an online system like we propose in the film to kick-start the online war on global warming. I would like the film to make people realise that the major force for environmental change is staring back at them from the mirror. They can get involved with groups and likeminded individuals in their local communities and online in virtual communities to get the knowledge they need to make great changes in their own lives. People can achieve anything. It's up to us now, governments won't save us, we will.

http://www.coalitionofthewilling.org.uk

CREDITS
Direction Knife Party
Animation Knife Party, James Wignall, Jonny Plummer