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Unknown Callers

Unknown Callers playfully interprets a collection of voicemails and memos, considering the humor, absurdity, and melancholy in one-sided conversations and missed connections.

  • Tim Best
    Director
  • Tim Best
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 29, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • DC Independent Film Festival
    Washington D.C.
    United States
    February 15, 2025
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • Independent Shorts Awards
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Finalist
Director Biography - Tim Best

Tim Best has been a lighting and technology supervisor, artist, and software engineer working in animation for over 25 years. He occasionally runs marathons and posts silly animations and pictures of cats on various social media platforms. People semi-frequently tell Tim that they aren't sure when he's joking.

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Director Statement

Unknown Callers began as a series of experiments exploring real-time animation and rendering techniques with Processing. My initial interest was in developing a methodology to quickly produce computer animation with a sketchy, hand-drawn aesthetic, and organic appeal, rather than slick digital polish. These early sketches became a series of short “animated podcasts” based on conversations with my daughter. A few ended up on social media and some were just for fun.

Over time, the tools became more refined and I wanted to create more complex imagery. I made and photographed pen and marker drawings, combining them with digital paintings and procedural computer animation effects to create something that felt more like a cross between puppetry, documentary, and traditional cutout animation.

The final film playfully interprets a collection of voicemails and memos, considering the humor, absurdity, and melancholy in one-sided conversations and missed connections.