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Bloodlines

Max awakens in a deserted house with no memory of his past. He has been beaten and is pain. His only ally is a boy named Tommy. Together they run from a killer, Tommy's father. As Max's memory returns he discovers that the situation is not what it appears.

  • Victoria Kodai
    Director
  • Victoria Kodai
    Writer
  • Victoria Kodai
    Producer
  • Robert Paterno
    Key Cast
    "Max"
  • Katie Young
    Key Cast
    "Tommy"
  • Ashly Frazier
    Key Cast
    "Harmony"
  • Heston Mosher
    Key Cast
    "Daddy"
  • Girvan Bramble
    Key Cast
    "William/Newscaster/Landlord"
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    stop motion animation, noir, drama, suspense
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Victoria Kodai

As a child in grade school Victoria chose to skip recess and instead wrote and directed short stories and skits for the class. She carried that passion for creating stories into college. Victoria attended Dartington College of Arts in Devon, England where she graduated with a BFA in theater. After graduation Victoria took a very different path and became a telecommunications fraud investigator where she successfully investigated high dollar fraud cases. In addition to her duties as an investigator, Victoria was the main point of contact with U.S law enforcement for records and telecommunications assistance. It was in this capacity that Victoria earned a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. Marshals Service for assisting their efforts to capture a serial killer. After the great recession Victoria went back to her roots and returned to higher education to get a degree in film at California Lutheran University. Victoria is currently a freelance filmmaker and editor working on set as well as editing/motion graphics/effects. Her recent writing/directing credits include the award-winning neo-noir animated film “Bloodlines” and the live action dark comedy “The Winner”.

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Director Statement

I had been wanting to write a story about identity and memory for quite awhile. So when I came across the story idea from Duncan Young I jumped on it. I find it fascinating that memory can shape who we are and how we move through this world. But what if, because of our experiences, we had a very distorted view of the world. What would it mean for that person to remove, even briefly, those horrendous memories? Who would that person be? Who would any of us be? I wanted to explore the core of our identities and the idea that fundamentally humanity is empathetic, kind and nurturing.

Bloodlines was hand drawn in B&W. The color choice harkens back to the days of German Expressionism and deep shadows/high contrast. The best way to get that contrast is with two colors. I eliminated the gray as much as possible. The shadows close in on the characters so it feels like they can’t move and in reality they can’t. They are cursed by their Bloodline. I chose German Expressionism because it really gives the audience the feeling that there is something not right in this world. I can’t help but notice some similarities between early 20th century Germany and the world today. Something is not right.