ELDER BIRDSONG

Title: Elder Birdsong

Logline: Getting older gets better when you flock together. Three spirited birds tell it like it is.

Produced, Written and Directed by: Shuchi Kothari & Sarina Pearson (in alphabetical order)

Production company: Nomadz Unlimited, in association with Gainsborough Films & Te Arai Research Group

Country of Production: New Zealand

Run time: 5 minutes

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Genre: Animation Musical

Funded by MBIE’s Ageing Well National Science Challenge, Professor Merryn Gott and Dr Lisa Williams from the University of Auckland’s School of Nursing conducted interview-based research on issues of social isolation and loneliness among New Zealand’s elderly. Due to the successes of our previous collaborations with them, they approached us to discuss how this research could reach the wider public. We suggested a funny, touching animated short film that could live on social media, in policy rooms, and on the film festival circuit.

Our choice of animation was based on the belief that anthropomorphic animals and birds in particular have a great capacity to communicate powerful ideas more concisely than live-action characters. We went through more than 200 pages of interview material before scripting Elder Birdsong. The research was clear—these were not self-pitying old people. They were resilient, engaged and eloquently pointed out the systemic social structural problems that contributed to their sense of isolation and loneliness.

To reflect the inclusiveness of the nursing research, we created 3 bird characters (a Pakeha Owl, a Māori Tui, and a Korean Godwit immigrant couple). Working with Yukfoo Animation was really exciting as they designed the birds and brought our characters to life, particularly on a very tight budget. In terms of voice-work we remained strongly committed to casting culturally appropriate performers for the respective birds. Rima Te Wiata’s rendition of the elderly Tui is a testament to the power of voice in animation. Musician Marshall Smith’s composition of the melody elevated our lyrics and high school teacher Margaret’s willingness to take her singing from her classroom into the studio gave our Pakeha Owl real sincerity. The Korean non-professional actors that voiced the Godwits had never sung outside of the shower! All films are collaborative, but animation even more so.

This project is an ode to our wise Kaumatua (elders) and we hope it inspires you to pay them a visit, or at least pick up the phone.