Experiencing Interruptions?

Truth Detector

A high school science teacher finds a device that changes his life forever.

  • William Reliford
    Director
    2.0, 2.01
  • William Reliford
    Writer
  • Timothy Mantil
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Katie Otten
    Key Cast
    "son"
  • Cassandra Schomer
    Key Cast
    "mom"
  • William Reliford
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 3, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Omaha Film Festival
    Omaha, Nebraska
    United States
    March 2, 2024
    North America Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - William Reliford

William Reliford, an award-winning visual effects artist and 3D animator, embarked on his artistic journey early in Indiana, surrounded by creative siblings.

His childhood love for sci-fi novels, influenced by authors like Asimov and Bradbury, sparked a passion for visual storytelling. Cinema, particularly sci-fi universes like Star Wars and Star Trek, further fueled his imagination.

At eight, William delved into filmmaking with his father's 8mm camera, honing skills through model spaceships and stop-motion characters. College drew him to radio/tv/film, setting the stage for a career in video production. Transitioning seamlessly to visual effects and 3D animation, William became a skilled storyteller, excelling in digital compositing, lighting, and editing.

Beyond his visual effects prowess, William is a strategic thinker, evident in his love for chess. His problem-solving skills resonate in both client work and passion projects. Specializing in demonstrative evidence for law firms, educational animation, indie film visual effects, and architectural animation, William's diverse portfolio showcases his talent.

As the principal artist at Real Images Visual Effects, he continues to create stunning visuals for a broad clientele, bridging the gap between imagination and reality with his expertise in the intersection of computers, art, and film.

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Director Statement

"The Truth Detector" follows the journey of a high school science teacher with a penchant for exploring quirky technology at weekend yard sales. One day, he stumbles upon a peculiar device that possesses the remarkable ability to distinguish between true and false statements.

The inspiration for "The Truth Detector" struck when I encountered memes on Facebook. Recognizing the potential for a compelling story, I decided to expand upon these humorous snippets. As an avid meme collector and animator always up for a challenge, I began recording the actors in late February 2023.

Despite the initial recording, actual animation work commenced in early September 2023. The first frame was rendered in late September, prompting the realization that to enter the film festival circuit, I needed a finished product by mid-November.

Motivated and prepared for the task at hand, I undertook the extensive process of creating environments, characters, and scenes, including camera blocking and lighting. Additionally, I rigged and animated all four characters featured in the film.

The complexity continued as I progressed to rendering, editing, color correction, sound design, and final output for each shot—all undertaken independently.

Production concluded in late October 2023, culminating in what I hope will be an enjoyable result.

It was a rewarding journey, and I look forward to sharing the final product with you.