KSB // Hi Kris can you tell us who you are and why do you do what you do?

KH // I direct animations and work as a designer. I’ve made a couple of short-films, but over the last year, more and more I have started to work on commissioned projects.
I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of working to a brief and I’m starting to be able to combine it with my passion for animation…which is amazing!!

KSB // Where are you located?

KH // In london.

KSB // What got you into motion graphics and stop motion?

KH // I studied Graphic Design. More and more I felt that – for me – animation is the way I like to work.
I still treat my animation projects very much like design projects.

KSB // Where do you go for daily inspiration?

KH // Children’s toys, the newspaper, good conversations with interesting people. I like looking at weird stuff on the internet, but try and not get caught up by looking at films and promos.

I think its important to look for inspiration outside of your own discipline.

KSB // What advice would you give to someone looking at career in design and animation?

KH // Patience, perseverance and a thick skin.
Its not easy, and I’m still struggling to make a living with it, but I love what I do and the satisfaction that comes with completing a nice project makes it all worth it.

Beatpick Spot 3

KSB // How long did the project take?

KH // Longer than it looks like…

KSB // What did you enjoy most about working on the Beatpick project?

KH // When I finally looked trough the lens and saw those little optical illusions we made were actually working.
Another exciting moment was when the guys at Beatpick sent me a track for the video that I felt was perfect for the video. The right sound makes your project come to life so much, and there is nothing more satisfying to see and hear it together the first time.

KSB // What equipment did you use to create the video, and what was the main source of inspiration?

KH // Canon 5d, some good lights and Dragon. All the compositing was done in After Effects.

I’ve got a graphic design background, so I tend to treat animation like design.
So the thought was to play with simple optical illusions to illustrate the fact that most things can be quite difficult or real easy if you just look at them/ go about them the right way.

Screwed Up

KSB // How long did the project take?

KH // The actual production/ post production took about 2 months. What seemingly took forever was the sound design. If your productions are relatively low budget it can be quite difficult to get the people involved to prioritize your project.
Eventually I found the right man for the job though (amazing Austrian sound designer Alexander Zlamal) and from that moment onwards it went really smooth.

KSB // What was the best part of the project?

KH // I realised at some point that I can’t do everything by myself. I had some problems with the animation at first, but then my talented friends Ulle and Tobias came to rescue and all of a sudden the stiff nut and bolt were injected with some life.

KSB // What equipment did you use to create the video, and what was the main source of inspiration?

KH // Again, a digital SLR, some good lights and a bit of compositing in AE.
The inspiration was the end of a relationship, and the annoying feeling (that came just afterwards) that we had made a mistake.

Hindsight is a particularly joyless experience.

Aftermath

KSB // How long did the project take?

3 hectic weeks.

KH // What was the best part of the project?
When I felt I had an idea that was the perfect visual response to the piece of writing I had been given to work with. Another great moment was seeing the set come to life with the dop’s (Mirko Beutler) beautiful lighting.

KSB // What was the main source of inspiration for aftermath?

KH // The source of inspiration was a piece published in Granta’s Feminism Issue. Rachel Cusk’s Aftermath.

Breakfast

KSB // How long did the project take?

KH // A few weeks for the illustrations, then another month for animation, edit and sound.

KSB // What was the best part of the project?

KH // Getting the drawings on to the cubes. A lot of trial and error was involved.

KSB // What equipment did you use to create the video, and what was the main source of inspiration?

KH // The main source of inspiration was the lost connection between the animals we love and the food we eat. Industrial farming is one of the worst aspects of modern life. It baffles me again and again how we can show so much appreciation for pets we keep in our homes on the one hand, but turn a blind eye to where the cheap bacon we buy in the supermarket comes from. GRRRGG!!!!

photo of Kris Hoffman taken by Antonio Curcetti