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Gramps' Crib Board

Gramps’ Crib Board is a short, animated narrative film about my grandfather’s relationship to the game of cribbage while he was a Prisoner of War in Bavaria during WWII. Cribbage is a game of strategy and scoring combinations. It uses a wooden board with counting pegs for tallying up points, a deck of cards and is usually played with between two to four players. An accompanying dialogue within the film captures a few moments of his experience in the camp as we imagine how the game helped to transcend the grim reality of his four years of imprisonment. Underscoring this film is an original interpretation from the marching song “Colonel Bogey March”, a well-known tune that was practiced by military troops during their marches. Playing cribbage with my family during this time of quarantine reminds us of how cultural rituals can sustain individuals and communities through uncertain situations. Working with the elements of the game, this animation takes the viewer through a transitory journey of confinement and, ultimately, to a new beginning.

  • Rennie Taylor
    Director
  • Tom Taylor
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Rennie Taylor
    Sound
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 1, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Toronto Metropolitan University
Director Biography - Rennie Taylor

Rennie Taylor is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. His practice focuses on the everyday with an emphasis on nostalgic signs and symbols found in popular culture. Engaging in the practices of photography, filmmaking, animation, collage and illustration he explores themes of consumerism, the handmade and obsolescence. He investigates decay within technology which corresponds to his material manipulation of celluloid, ephemera and found objects. His short experimental Super 8 films and videos have been screened across Canada and Internationally in Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Serbia, and the United States. These films have appeared at festivals such as Antimatter [Media Art], Dresdner Schmalfilmtage, Engauge Experimental Film Festival and Light Field. He is currently pursuing his MA in Cinema & Media Studies at York University, received his BFA with Distinction in Photography at Toronto Metropolitan University and an Ontario College Diploma in Fine Arts at Centennial College. Rennie previously served as a board member at the8fest Small Gauge Film Festival and a founder of the artist collective [UN]PROMPTU.

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