The Gates of Heaven

Details: 2004, 2 mins, Digibeta

Summary: Can we be more? We are compelled to take the leap. Based on a Chinese tale called The Dragon Gate.

Credits
Discussion, comments and intensions
Reviews & comments
Awarded
Festivals & distribution
Technique

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Credits

Screenwriter: Lucy Lee
Text adapted from: Nichiren Diashonin 1279, Marianne Williamson 1996
Narator: Margaret Robertson
Composer & Sound Design: Sam Sutton
Editor: Lucy Lee
Art Direction & Painting: Lucy Lee
Directed & Animated: Lucy Lee
Commissioned by Chapter for Experimentica '04 with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Made at Instinct Media 2004, produced by Lucy Lee
Thanks to: Sylvie Bringas & Hyun-Joo Kim

Discussion, comments & directors intensions

Directors comment
Based on the Chinese myth ‘The Dragon Gate’ this film is a metaphor for the struggle to make something of your life, the struggle to ‘jump the waterfall’ and achieve your goals. The act of trying itself makes you learn, and experience life fully, even at the risk of failing.
This film is also cuts through time and culture by using references to a recent American poet and a modern English interpretation of an ancient Chinese myth. The text was found in a 12 th century Japanese Buddhist text, using an ancient Chinese tale to explain a concept, for all cultures in the distant future to learn from.

Integral use of references
The spoken references in this piece are an integral part of the reading. This section of Marianne Williamson's poem was quoted in Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech. So this line of poetry is now synonymous to Nelson Mandela’s enlightenment even in the confines of a prison, and his commitment to leading all people to a more enlightened way. He jumped the falls. The Dragon Gate story was also referenced by the Japanese Buddhist teacher who worked for all people to attain enlightenment, he used a Chinese story at a time when there was great animosity between the nations. Both are leaders bringing cultures together, for the greater good of leading all people to an enlightened way of living. The images show the difficulty of this struggle and recognises that many die in the attempt.
I have used ornamental carp because they are a symbol or reference to wealth (they cost a lot to breed and look after), so saying that despite your wealth, or standing in life, this struggle is just as much yours.

Context in which I found the tale:
The following link takes you to the whole letter in which it was found. "The Dragon Gate". I always wandered why this letter was so disheartening (…not a single carp out of a hundred, a thousand or even ten thousand can climb the falls…), since it is a letter of encouragement to followers who are being persecuted. But I figured that it is a way of saying, “Yes I recognise and acknowledge how hard it is for you… and it’s likely to get harder”. It is preparing the reader for the amount of effort needed to overcome their obstacles.
I think now that it is a good way of seeing difficulties in life, you really have to be stubbornly persistent and just keep jumping. I’ve given up on things because I reckoned it was not my lot, or I simply lost hope and the result is to become bitter and angry. It’s worth persisting, even if just to hold off the bitterness.
I guess one of the reasons that we give up is described well by Marianne Williamson in “Return to Love”. This is a very well known poem, commonly known from being quoted in Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech. It is sometimes incredible to think but we do actually choose to be small, to fail, we are frightened of success. We choose the familiar, it seems to be the easier path.
Maybe we have a responsibility to our species to be the best we can. Which leads me to ask, what is best? What is success? Well maybe if we have a talent for something, however obscure, we should follow it, even if it does annoy people, or challenge them too much (because at worst it’ll make them angry, at best it’ll make them think). In which case success can’t be measured by social acceptability, but by the extent to which you have the guts to fully express your specific talent (otherwise known as ‘be yourself’).
As far as this film goes, it’s not an easy world to be jumping in, it’s dangerous to jump and it’s dangerous to stay where you are. But our worst enemy is ultimately our own attitude.

Background on The Dragon Gate tale:
A few dragons begin life as fish. Carp, who successfully jump rapids and leap over waterfalls, change into fish-dragons. A popular saying, "The carp has leaped through the dragon's gate," means success, especially for students who have passed their exams.
Another legend says that carps able to leap over the Dragon Gate would become dragons. Several waterfalls and cataracts in China are believed to be the location of the Dragon Gate. This legend is an allegory of the drive and efforts needed to overcome obstacles.

Background on Dragons:
The Chinese Dragon, or Lung , symbolizes power and excellence, valiancy and boldness, heroism and perseverance, nobility and divinity. A dragon overcomes obstacles until success is his. He is energetic, decisive, optimistic, intelligent and ambitious.
Unlike the negative energies associated with Western Dragons, most Eastern Dragons are beautiful, friendly, and wise. They are the angels of the Orient. Instead of being hated, they are loved and worshipped. Temples and shrines have been built to honour them, for they control the rain, rivers, lakes, and seas.
Everything connected with Eastern Dragons is blessed. The Year of the Dragon, which takes place every twelve years, is lucky. Present-day Oriental astrologers claim that children born during Dragon Years enjoy health, wealth, and long life.

Reviews & Comments

Review from The Asian Reporter ( October 11, 2005) (click the image to open a PDF of the document to read)
Click this link to put your comments about 'The Gates of Heaven' on the Super Shorts site.
Click this link to put your comments about 'Waiting' on the Film Network site.
I seem to be on the top of the industry panel's favorites! I wish one of them would give me some work!! ;)

Awarded

Cinanima, Espino Portugal, 2005 - Jose Abel Prize for best animation in a European film

Festivals & Distribution
(Currently being distributed)

Distrubuted by the British Film Council

Other screenings
Keep it Reel - London
Poetry Film Night - London

Sales, Distribution & Broadcast
The Short List - have bought the rights for 'The United States of America and its territories and possessions' for period of 3 years (ending March 2009)

Listed in
UK Short Film Database
BBC Film Network

Technique

The fish were filmed on mini DV then broken down as single frames, hand painted over each frame in both Photoshop and then Painter. Then strung together again as a ‘9 frame dissolving’ sequence.
The birds are hand drawn on paper, scanned into computer and then hand painted in both Photoshop and then Painter.
The waterfall was done the same way as the fish, but the background was erased out frame by frame by hand and the sequence was then laid over a scan of an ink painting on canvas. Mist effects are dissolving png layers in After Effects.
Each shot was put together in After Effects. The editing was done in Premiere.
The film was made at www.instinctmedia.co.uk The whole film including pulling the idea into shape, production, sound and post production took 6 weeks (not a recommended time scale, but serves as an excuse for anything wrong with the film!)
The sound was written recorded and mixed by Sam Sutton at www.noisecreative.com