This animated sequences is an excerpt from the EMMY nominated documentary film WITH DRAWN ARMS.
Tommie Smith raised a gloved fist after accepting his gold medal at the 1968 Olympic games in protest of racial inequality. The unjust backlash set his life on a turbulent path. In an intimate conversation with Tommie, he recounts an emotional descent into darkness as he reflected on decades of hardships that followed his iconic solute.
STILLS GALLERY
CLIPS GALLERY
ART DIRECTION EXPLORATION
This animated sequence visualizes an emotional and traumatic experience that Tommie went through many decades after his iconic gesture. In order for the audience to understand why Tommie hit rock-bottom, I wanted to find a way to help the audience feel the combined weight of his life’s hardships and struggles.
Below are some of the drawings and style frames that I created when I was exploring ideas for the four rendering styles that I incorporated in this film.
Style 1 – NORMAL WORLD
Style 2 – INTERNAL STATE (ROCK-BOTTOM)
Style 3 – TRANSITIONAL (from the normal world to internal darkness)
Style 4 – FLASHBACKS
CREDITS
CLIENT – DOCUMENTARY FILM:
“WITH DRAWN ARMS”
Directed by Glenn Kaino, Afshin Shahidi
DIRECTOR OF ANIMATION:
Kirill Yeretsky
PRODUCTION STUDIO:
Tomato Beach
ANIMATION PRODUCER:
Gerta Xhelo
PRODUCER COORDINATOR:
Arijon Xhelo
ART DIRECTION & ANIMATION DIRECTION:
Kirill Yeretsky
STORYBOARDS:
Kirill Yeretsky
HAND-DRAWN ANIMATORS:
Danny Schwartz
Kirill Yeretsky
Scott Brundage
Sigmund Lambrento
Wing Luo
3D ANIMATORS:
Anton Tokar
Chad Yapyapan
Kirill Yeretsky
Wing Luo
COMPOSITORS:
Anton Tokar
Daniel Belay
Kirill Yeretsky
Rob Slychuk