Manny: A Tale of Animation, Prayer and Persistence
As I explored the short film “MANNY,” a wooden art mannequin yearning to draw but tethered by an iron stick to a wooden pedestal, I was surprised at the emotional connection I could feel toward a faceless mannequin in less than 3 minutes. The film narrates MANNY’s awkward yet daring attempts at unleashing the power of creation. However, beneath this whimsical tale lies a profound exploration of perfectionism and constraint, mirroring the filmmaker’s own battle with OCD.
Directed by the talented Pierre Alexandre Ducos, “MANNY” originated as his final project in an animation class at Snow College in the spring of 2023. In a class where 3D animation was a rarity, Ducos embarked on a journey to create a short film that would serve as his first stepping stone into the world of cinema.
The idea sparked during a moment of inspiration and divine intervention.
“The very first thing I did was pray,” said Ducos. “I knew this would be a very time consuming process – so I was basically looking for the perfect idea given my time constraints. I at one point stayed up until 4:00AM, and woke up 1.5 hours later for school still with no story. It wasn’t until I went home to consult my dad and ask him for a blessing, where afterwards we sat together in my room and he joked, “you could always make a stop motion – ” pointing to an old wooden drawing mannequin sitting on my bookshelf. I laughed. And then I looked. And then I looked again. And I thought, “Woah. This could work.”
Pierre Alexandre Ducos shared the intricate process of creating “MANNY” as a solo project. From meticulous planning to continuous prayer, Ducos navigated the challenges of production with unwavering determination. With a detailed schedule and a three-tiered process for success, he met the May 1st, 2023 deadline.
“I knew what every single hour between 7:00AM on April 12th and 12:00PM on May 1st needed to look like. I just needed to go and do it. There’s not enough space to enumerate the numberless technical errors I encountered. I just kept going. I didn’t have time for anything else, and I could prove it! Prayer and planning.”
The journey wasn’t without its hurdles. Ducos recounted staying awake for nearly 50 hours to solve a critical problem, demonstrating his dedication to the project. Even during a moment of crisis, when he lacked music for the film’s final score, Ducos turned to prayer and inspiration, completing the score just minutes before the final critique.
“A thought from a song that I’d made a while ago popped into my head. Without thinking, I started playing the piano, watching “MANNY” play on the screen above me.”
“The song fit perfectly. I just had to get a good take. At 11:30AM, with my final critique due in 30 minutes, I started recording the final score for “MANNY”, from an improvised limb based off of an old song. Never say prayer doesn’t work.”
Addressing the absence of a formal 3D Animation Program at Snow College, Ducos expressed gratitude for the valuable counsel from faculty members Kelly Brooks and Brad Taggart. His skills were honed during a religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where he created 3D-animated study aids with Scripture Central, relying on self-directed learning.
Reflecting on the impact of “MANNY” on his filmmaking journey, Ducos acknowledged the film’s role as an unmoving proof of his capabilities. The experience instilled confidence, affirming that he could overcome constraints and fulfill his aspirations as an animator and filmmaker.
“It was the first large-scale 3D animation that I have ever done. While it doesn’t quite reflect the sort of films I want to make in the future, it represents an iron, unmoving proof that I have the power to do it. I overcame that constraint once. I know I am an animator – beyond that, I am actually a filmmaker. I know I can do what the Lord wants me to do. Because I did it once, I can do it again.“
While the film may not align precisely with Ducos’s future filmmaking goals, it stands as a testament to his ability to overcome challenges. The interview concluded with Ducos sharing his favorite aspects of creating “MANNY”.
“While I was working on “MANNY”, I felt so productive. Every hour was accounted for. I knew what I was supposed to be doing, and I was always doing it – Even when I was behind, I had so much purpose – Everything was on my shoulders.”
“And beyond that, it was for something that was mine. I love that. I really miss that. When I finished the film, I was kind of like, “When’s the next one?” I really miss that feeling.”
Yet filmmaking is not without its struggles.
“There were a few times where I thought “MANNY” would never be finished. That was hard. “What if I do all this, and I have to come to class with a work in progress?” There was a point where I was relying on a system of asset linking that completely failed, and I lost days of work. I had almost a dozen versions of the same character, and I needed to animate one scene. I couldn’t, because my character’s rig was broken, and the one I needed had been corrupted. I spent so long on that problem, I started crying. I watched as my calendar notified me that it was time to move on to the next item, and the next – I prayed and cried and fought back rushes of fear and anger, because It was only me. No one had solved this problem before. It had to be me. That was hard. And these weren’t isolated occurrences. These problems happen all the time. And every new problem has you thinking, “Is this one it?” But that’s where the Lord comes in. And every time, he came in. Every time, the problem was solved, just when I was sure it was unsolvable. Never forget the Lord. Never say prayer doesn’t work. I testify that it works.
In the world of “MANNY,” constraints were conquered, and a filmmaker found his voice, echoing the sentiment that, indeed, prayer and perseverance can bring cinematic dreams to life.
About Pierre Alexandre Ducos:
Pierre Alexandre Ducos is a full-time student from Eagle Mountain, Utah. He has been reading stories with his dad for as long as he can remember, and has always loved the beauty and joy of a good story. During a religious calling as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Pierre Alexandre Ducos learned a 3D graphics program called “Blender” which gave him a voice for telling stories in a way he could finally share. He hopes to make and share good stories every day, and to become a loud voice for joy through the stories people will share with him.
You can find out more about Pierre Alexandre Ducos at:
Linkedin: “Alex (Pierre) Ducos”
Instagram: “pierre.alexandre.ducos”
Youtube: “@PierreAlexandreDucos”
About Warren Workman:
Warren Workman is the founder of the Utah International Film Festival. Workman’s passion is to share the stories of the filmmakers behind the movies and to encourage the next generation of filmmakers. Workman provides these services through ReelVibe PR.
