“Above Ground” and the Depths of Human Struggle

In an exploration of human resilience and the relentless fight against adversity, the animated short film “Above Ground” emerges as a powerful film that delves into the complexities of tragedy, self-medication, and the triumph of the human spirit.

“Above Ground” originated from the personal journey of one of the producers, touching on themes of deliverance, overcoming cycles of abuse, the struggle with the opioid crisis, and finding the courage to face overwhelming obstacles head-on. Kevin Sharpley (writer/producer/director) recounts the emotional depth of the story also connecting with its powerful message.

“The story originated with one of the producers, it’s based off a member of his family. “Above Ground” writer/producer Vince Vargas adapted the story and approached me and my company to translate the story into an animated film. The team connected not only on the story, but also the message of deliverance, the fight to overcome the cycle of abuse, the struggle of the opioid crisis, and the ability to find the courage to face overwhelming obstacles and conquer them.”

The heart of the production lies in the collaborative efforts of a diverse and talented team. Sharpley expresses his favorite part as witnessing the story come to life, from the conceptualization with Vargas and Isom to the artistic vision crafted with Bianchi. 

“When I began to flesh out what the visuals would be with the films Artistic Director and lead animator Gianfranco Bianchi, we chose some inspiration films-“If Anything Happens I Love You” and “Dear Basketball” were two from the few and the conceptual sketches had a wide range, so honing in on the look was a lot of fun.”

The film’s backbone, the emotionally charged music composed by Cremisini and a poignant song by Michael Isaac Isom, sets the tone for the visual narrative.

“I asked (Cremisini) to compose the music before we animated a frame, which he was reluctant to do as he’s composed music for films and tv series before, but mostly after the visuals were done. But I knew the music was going to be a big key to telling this story, as more than likely we weren’t going to have dialogue. The feather in the cap for music in the film was a powerful song composed by Michael Isaac Isom (a very talented family), which closes the film.”

The production journey was not without its challenges. Sharpley acknowledges the difficulty in blending various styles and workflows of the team. Yet, the mastery of Gianfranco Bianchi in experimenting with different techniques and software, including Blender, 3D Studio Max, Krita, resulted in a unique and visually captivating representation akin to a coloring book with crayon and watercolor aesthetics.

Reflecting on the overall experience, Sharpley expresses satisfaction with the film’s impact on audiences, evoking tears and heartfelt responses. The film touches on critical issues such as the opioid crisis, mental health, familial strife, and overcoming obstacles, resonating deeply with viewers.

“It’s the reason why we did the film in the first place. It touches on so many things, the opioid crisis that has affected so many, mental health, familial strife, overcoming overwhelming obstacles, we put our hearts and souls into the film, so I’m not so sure I would want to tinker with the result we have.”

When asked about advice for aspiring filmmakers in the production space, Sharpley encourages them to immerse themselves fully. Whether writing, acting, producing, or directing, he emphasizes the importance of learning, networking, and embracing every aspect of the industry.

“Jump in! Jumping in means combing the internet, books, speaking to whomever you can in any part of the industry, going to festivals, fully immersing yourself and then getting started. If you want to write, just start writing ideas and concepts, anything really as you learn the process of storytelling and how to craft a script. If you want to act, take a class or two, volunteer on a film, get on any set you can, theater as well which is such an incredible foundation, read books on technique, learn monologues and practice them.”

As “Above Ground” prepares to make its way to the Utah International Film Festival, scheduled for February 12-17, audiences can witness the culmination of this labor of love. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience t “Above Ground” on the big screen.

To stay updated on future projects, Kevin Sharpley directs interested viewers to StayAboveGround.com for more about “Above Ground” and KijiKMultimedia.com and Xavatar.co for information on his other ventures.