Hello there! We're the team of Not Home Yet short animated film. Welcome to the Compressed look at the family endless emigration.
Covid and war brought difficult times to Europe in early 2020. In that time Alex Kan with his family started their journey in emigration. Willingly and unwillingly they moved from one country to another, from one flat to another. That experience laied down as the base of the short story and really meaningful film. This is our first project together that could become a stable fundament for the new studio. And industry needs more indie independent studios, ya know?
Are we home yet? No. Not yet. That's what many parents are telling their kiddos every day. And it is unbelivable how easy you can appear in such situation. Every family in emigration has their own story. No way we can describe each of them in such a short format. That's why the film story is based on director experience and the character's identity is blured at the maximum. You can't say what nationality do they have, what country is truly their home, and IS IT EVEN OUR PLANET?
Synopsis
A father and his family wait for a bus surrounded by a huge amount of luggage. Suddenly, the mum loses and cannot find their suitcase with documents. While searching, the couple discuss the specifics of nomadic life and the uncertainty of their place to live, which leads to a fight. As they go so, places change, children grow older, parents faces wrinkle and their hair turns grey. But the bus arrives and the father finds not only the suitcase but also the significance of the endless emigration problem.
Our project is a short, really short 2d animated film. It is a pleasure to work on it, but there are not so many opportunities of funding. Finland (where the director is based) cuts its funding activities and there are not many 2d production studios interested in short films here. Project is too small for international funding and co-producing.
We need not so much money, we have three people in the team and we need a couple more. We work on voluntary basis and even the minimum crowdfunding goal will allow to pay a small reward to existing team members.
If we will reach the stretch goals, we'll hire 1-3 more people and that will be a most productive team-size for this project at this stage.
So if you know something about animation, you know that it is expensive. 2d animation is a good choice for one time short film, but it needs a lot of time to spent on the process. 1 second of the film contains around 12 panels. Almost each key panel should be drawn in storyboard, and each panel should be done in rough sketch and then in clean up. And then you need to color all of these and then you need some light and color effects on top. And editing, sound, voice, music and all, and all...
The good news are – it is really short 3-4 minutes film. So it is only around 2880 panels, only 6 characters, two vehicles and 10 backgrounds.
On one hand – it is pretty doable thing, but on another – we need help to do it fast and with a highest quality.
A good bunch of work is already done:
Backgrounds — drawn and digitalised.
Characters — developed, voiced.
Story — writen.
Storyboard — ready.
You are here: rough animation and clean up & color. So it is still 60% of work left.
Your role in our film could be a support role. We have some awards that we can offer for this support and these lots and sets could become a good part of your collection. We have some concept arts, backgrounds in original drawings and signed prints. We also have new exclusive stickers, artbook and many add-ons that will appear if we'll reach the stretch goals. You'll find more about it further.
Something special for Returning backers
In the first two days you could get two pledge levels with a discount and an exclusive bonus, but time has gone :(
PLUS: Every returning backer will get an exclusive couple phone walpaper (digital format only, jpg).
Pledge Levels
Every gram counts! Take this digital postcard without overweighting your luggage! And thank you for your selfless support. Basically, it's almost like a tip, but with a small reward.
Get this postcard in your mailbox. From Finland with stamps, love and best wishes.
Stick it on your suitcase or whatever. Just add some personality to your stuff!
You think it's too childish? You damn right! But it'll bring some personality to your stuff!
Dive into the world of short film development with this digital artbook. This is a digital version containing concept art, descriptions of the work process, posters, script and storyboards. And no weight at all!
How do films are born? Get printed version of the characters first image.
The world of Not Home Yet short film development right in your hands! Artbook contains concept art, descriptions of the work process, posters, script and storyboards.
Desert, Cost, Winter Woods. Discover this daytime signed prints set copies of original watercolor drawings.
Getto, Cafe, Wooden fence. Discover this nighttime signed prints set copies of original watercolor drawings.
Train, Airport, Yet Another Airport, Metro. Discover this transport signed prints set copies of original watercolor drawings.
Bring them all to your table or wall or... You decide what to do with all these people! These are signed prints – copies of original watercolor drawings.
The whole bunch of background prints! Collect them all! Signed and numbered as usual.
The Gold Collection of All Family and Backgrounds Prints. Signed and numbered as usual.
The Ultimate Package of All Awards mentioned above.
Become the brand of short film universe – stick your logo on a suitcase and get the whole bunch of previous "sweets".
THAT'S IT! Whole stack of previous "sweets" and final reward with the biggest appreciation! Shine in the titles of our short film!
As a small project with a tiny team we are carefully work with our budget. Actually in the beginning we don't have one. That's why even small goal could become a great opportunity to turn a thank you into something more valuable.
Our great goal is to became new animation studio specialized on indie animation. We want to bring more stories and styles into our world. We want to bring more meaningful themes to the surface.
2000€
Film funded with a small reward for the team members. We’ll be at the same point but with better comfort at work.
5000€
There is a long scene in the end of the film: we are looking on the empty bus bench on a sea cost. So in this scene we have a huge sky space. It would be really great to have several planes there crossing the screen from right to left with fun or meaningful words on their Sky Banners. Catch the opportunity to write something on the wall in the sky! Director Alex Kan surely will moderate these messages to keep our film safe and tolerant.
10 000€
This amount will enable us to transition from voluntary arrangements to normal working conditions, in which we can hold each other accountable for meeting deadlines and maintaining the required level of quality. This goal makes animation production reasonable. Characters Turnaround Prints Add-ons unlocked!
15 000€
We already have additional stories about short-film characters. This goal allows us to move these stories from his head to the pages of the First Comic Book. Unlocked!
20 000€
Pins unlocked! We also thrilled to finally make 'em.
25 000€
Now we all can have some of Not Home Yet suitcases. Yes it is pretty small but it can hold your keys, so no complains. Keychain unlocked!
30 000€
Another step into Not Home Yet universe. Second Comic Book unlocked!
50 000€
Mom&Dad Heads Plushes unlocked! The Team is fully funded, we can plan the next projects.
100 000€
We are making 5 short format FUN animated scenes with Not Home Yet characters for social media.
150 000€
If we'll reach such a magnificent goal, we'll make 15-20 minutes pilot episode! ”Thank you in the Titles” Add-on unlocked!
"If you don't have money, why don't you use AI for the most of the work?" — Really? This campaign was born EXACTLY because of cutting budgets in the industry. Layoffs and cutting government fundings leaded to enormus amount of people in the job market. Initiatives like this campaign are not only for bringing ideas to life. Crowdinvestments help to organize new studios and to create more jobs on the market.
So this is a great chance for you to help industry and to get some stuff in return.
Here we are! We know how, we want and we actually already doing that thing! Because nobody can stop us! (Except burnout and day-job if we will not get funding)))
Alex Kan - director.
Heart and soul of Not Home Yet short film. Alex is the director, he also animates and designs, and produces this project. Drawing on his years of experience in design, animation, and creative directing, he explores the themes of emigration and the delayed life syndrome.
Elena Suárez Vega - clean-up artist.
Master of lighting, colour and ink & paint. Elena joins Not Home Yet short film as a clean-up artist. Elena has extensive freelance experience in animation and illustration for indie video game, short films and books.
Clemens Gutjahr - composer.
A jazz lover, experienced musician and owner of his own trio. Clemens joins Not Home Yet short film as a composer. He was honoured with the Peer Raben Music Award and was nominated several times in other competitions.
The director of Not Home Yet short film has an experience in crowdfunding, but it was long time ago in a completely different sphere. This is our first crowdfunding project in art and animation. That's why we are making a small start-goal plan and many stretch goals. That's how we prepare for the risks.
Also we can make no guarantee of sipping dates and shipping prices because situation in the world is too unstable. But we'll do our best!
Shipping charges may change between pledge levels and countries of delivery.
BackerKit will calculate the shipping costs that may be required when you fill in your shipping address after the campaign ends. Shipping costs will not be calculated and invoiced until that time! At this point, you will only be charged for your pledge amount.
We'll send you a BackerKit survey when all materials arrive.
