Wake Up! came as a result of my extensive work with young people in my job as a Lecturer
Over the years I saw more more Climate Anxiety, disappointment and anger about this issue. Some people felt the facts were being ignored, or that people were going about their everyday lives not interested in the long term consequences of their decisions.
As well as this, I wanted to create a space where young people could come together to talk about these issues and to raise their awareness so they could feel more empowered to make a positive change .
I felt this, in itself, was a strong enough reason to make a film. To get the point across that we all have to play our part in tackling this issue that affects us all.
The film is aimed at all people to inform them about Climate Change as well as offering a space to discuss climate anxiety, eco anxiety and climate awareness with the space to create artwork projects through a series of workshops.
This will culminate in an online exhibition, uploaded to a website and social media.
Having worked in pre-school children's Animation and Comedy for many years, I saw this as an opportunity to put the issue across with humour and put my skills to good use. Comedy opens up conversations and allows us to let our guard down to discuss difficult issues .
Wake Up! is a very simple film which speaks to all of us from young children to the older generation. It is not dialogue driven so is inclusive across all languages.
The idea is to raise money to make a film to show around schools , local communities, festivals and events.
The film will then hopefully promote discussion about climate change in a supportive environment.
On the back of the film, we would like to raise further funds to initiate workshops, providing materials to create artwork projects which can range from painting drawing and film making, which discuss climate anxiety and awareness.
The workshops would be both inside and outside in green and blue spaces. 
A bird sits on a tree snoring contentedly in a peaceful countryside setting. However, they are rudely awoken by an annoying Little Bird who flies in chirping loudly. She alerts the Big Bird to the fact that in the background the trees are being chopped down to make way for a herd of cows. The cows spend a brief time on the land grazing before being killed. Then a tornado passes behind the two birds blowing random debris across the screen accompanied by torrential rain .
Big Bird couldn’t give a hoot and is furious his peace has been disturbed. He just puts his headphones and ignores it all.
Fed up with this intrusion on his privacy, Big Bird decides to fly off to a desert island, to get some peace and quiet. However, Little Bird follows him to the island and chirps that the sea levels are rising. Big Bird just isn't interested. Seeing it as a chance to make a run for it he dons his snorkel and flippers and jumps into the ocean away from the annoying Little Bird. He swims away not noticing the plastic bottles, plastic bags and dead fish passing by.
Little Bird, not giving up, continues to follow Big Bird and through a pair of binoculars spots him on top of a glacier still sporting snorkel and flippers. Little Bird flies over and lands on the glacier next to him. She chirps loudly and hops up and down to warn Big Bird that the glacier is slowly sinking into the sea . He simply shrugs and skis down the glacier which slowly melts into the sea.
Big Bird decides to go back to the country home followed by Little Bird
On arriving back home its too late - the beautiful landscape is ruined by fire, derelict and charred . The film burns out and we think this is the end .
But....
We go back to the beginning of the film where we find Big Bird asleep again on the tree. He wakes up with a scream.
That was a nightmare no bird wants. In the distance the sound of the chirping Little Bird comes in. As in the beginning, she hits the camera, lands and tries to get Big Bird's attention by chirping loudly. This time Big Bird chooses to listen to his new found friend and they strike up a conversation. As they listen to each other, more birds join them on the branch. The birds look out over the countryside chirping loudly to alert everyone to WAKE UP !
WORKSHOPS
We will be running workshops to accompany the film. Participants will be encouraged to discuss in groups with facilitators, issues around Climate Change. Then workshops will be coordinated around the content raised. These could take the form of short stories, short films, paintings and drawings or an amalgamation of all of these. The work will be uploaded to a specific website related to this project called 'Wake Up! Young People against Climate Change'
Sarah Strickett - Director & Animator
Sarah is an award winning Animator and has been involved in the Animation Industry since 1988 having worked on a variety of TV shows such as 'Charlie and Lola', 'The Secret Show' and 'The Little Princess'. She has also worked producing Animated content on comedy shows such as 'Have I Got News For You' and the satirical comedy show '2DTV'.
Her own films have been shown on TVS Television and Channel 4 as well as festivals around the world and have been in 'The Best of British Animation' for the London Film Festival. Her work has also been shown in the Rio De Janeiro Film Festival and across Europe in France, Germany, Portugal and Holland as well as Pan Pacific festivals in Australia and New Zealand
Sarah has also taught and run Undergraduate and Masters courses for 32 years in Animation. She has worked for the last 9 years as the Course Leader at the University of South Wales for the 'BA Animation in 2D and Stop Motion' course which came 8th in the world for 2D production excellence in the 'Rookie' awards .
Her passion for sustainability has led her to complete an Albert Certificate in Sustainability for TV and Media Production.
Tomas Jason Roberts - Assistant Animator /Character Designer
Tomas is a proud Welshman from Port Talbot, Wales and has recently completed a Master's Degree in Animation at the University of South Wales in September 2023.
Tomas has a passion for illustration and animation, which comes from growing up with various animated franchises. As well as creating his own characters, stories and worlds in his spare time, He also enjoys working with clients to produce products and merchandise with studios such as AfroSheep.
One thing that makes Tomas unique is that he is on the Autistic Spectrum. Rather than viewing it as a barrier he sees this as a gift that he cherishes, and with a great gift comes endless possibilities. Tomas believes that this encourages his creativity, which has helped him to pursue a career as an animator and character designer. Many creatives have lived with the traits that come with autism and they have not been held back by the challenges that accompany the condition.
Tomas cares deeply about the issues around Climate Change that affect us all and is passionate about this project.
Róisín Clothier - Background Artist
Róisín is a background artist , illustrator and animator who has recently moved to Bristol from Ireland. Róisín has worked since 2021 in different studios as a background and layout artist on both award winning animated feature films and children's TV series projects . She holds a first class BA Hons Degree in Animation.
Róisín is excited to work on a climate focused animated film and is passionate about the subject and how it affects us all on a fundamental level.
Marek Bielski Sound Designer
Marek Bielski is a Senior Dubbing Mixer and is known for 'Drink It In: The Rise of Man City (2022)', 'Hansa Studios: By the Wall 1976-90 (2018). Few recording studios in the world can claim to have hosted the simply incredible list of musicians that found their way into Berlin's Hansa Studios, standing virtually alone in the wasteland, metres from the Berlin Wall. Over the years Merek has worked with the likes of Robert Plant and Bono. He has also worked on 'Bring the Noise (2015)', a comedy and music entertainment show.
We are honored to have him on board for this project.
How we will use the money raised.
Below is a budget outline on this production. This does not include the workshops. All parties, including the Director, will be paid the Living Wage which is currently £12.00 per hour .
The production should take between 3- 6 months in total, ready to take to festivals in the Summer of 2025 and to take to the workshop stage in September 2025 and onwards.
The budget outline below is for a 4 month production. More details and a further breakdown are available on request from the Director.
Animation/Assistant
Production costs £10,080.00
Background and Layout £840.00
Software £1076.00
Sound design and recording £150.00
Post Production £200.00
Publicity £100.00
Deliverables £99.00
Insurance £49.00
TOTAL £12,594.00
OTHER WAYS OF HELPING US OUT!
Spread the word and tell everyone!
Share the link of the campaign so more people get to know about this!
Upload it on your social media and tag us!
https://crowdfunder.co.uk/p/wake-up
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@sarahfilmaker.bsky.social
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