THE BREEDER (2017, 1157) excerpt

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THE BREEDER (2017, UK/USA) is a short hybrid film commissioned by Imagine Science Films and Labocine New York for the anthology feature film MOSAIC.

REVIEW // labocine.com/spotlights/213

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT //
My short film THE BREEDER is the result of (what I thought was) my own weird attraction to watching YouTube clips of pets in wheelchairs and animals with various deformities or oddities: a dog unable to keep its tongue in its mouth, three-legged cats, dogs running on hind legs, rabbits with balancing issues, a Grumpy Cat... Fortunately for me, but perhaps not so much for the animals, it turns out I am one of many millions of people who are drawn to animals with health issues. If you have a pug dog and you think it looks cute, you are part of us. You like Munchkin cats? Do you melt at the sight of Rhea the featherless mini-parrot who receives knitted sweaters from fans? You are with us too. Biology gives the answer: it has everything to do with cuteness aesthetics.

Pugs belong to a breed known as brachycephalic, as do Chow Chows, English Bulldogs and French Bull dogs. One of the expert voices in my film, Clare Fisher (La Trobe University, Australia), calls them "squishy faced dogs". These dogs suffer from respiratory issues and are – usually very audibly – gasping for air. Pugs don’t walk; they hobble around. As a result they tend to be overweight, because their physique (short legs, round body) makes running a difficult activity. Dr Joyce Goggin (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands) points out that we tend to think of these dogs as having “always been around”, that the appearance of these animals is somehow “naturally occurring”. But in fact humans have created these animals via selective breeding. In doing so, we humans have also, in a way, actively contributed to the creation of animals with health issues. This is one of the ‘ingredients’ of the film. The other is a mechanism that works subconsciously. Dr Joyce Goggin explains how zoologist Konrad Lorenz identified characteristics in baby animals that trigger a care response in adults: a big/round face, a chubby physique, clumsiness, large eyes, soft skin or fur – to name a few. These ‘cute characteristics’ are present in human babies as well as other young animals. Looking cute is a good survival mechanism especially when you are not yet able to look after yourself. As you may have noticed, these are also the traits of pugs and other animals with health issues.

My film envisions what may happen if we mix past animal breeding practices with an attraction to these cuteness aesthetics and the new possibilities of genetic modification. The result is a rather morbid narrative presented in a light-hearted manner. The film is a hybrid of fiction, animation, and documentary, telling the story of a scientist turned breeder (played by Charlotte Hunter) who creates an app with the help of a developer (played by Trevor Murphy) that allows customers to design their own pet. Whether you want a rabbit with excessive amounts of fur or an animal from her renowned legless ‘desk-animal’ range – it will soon be possible.

Past and upcoming screenings: demelzakooij.com/film/thebreeder/

WINNER // Scientist Award Imagine Science Films Abu Dhabi 2018

CREDITS //
Directed and Story by – Demelza Kooij
Screenplay – Chris Lindsay
Producer – Anita Norfolk
Executive Producers – Alexis Gambis, Lauren Kaye

Cast
Dr Gaia Schönbacher – Charlotte Hunter
Adam – Trevor Murphy

Voice #1 – Clare Fisher, La Trobe University Australia
Voice #2 – Dr Joyce Goggin, University of Amsterdam

Animator – Pepijn Schroeijers
Director of Photography – Joris Cottin
Assistant Camera – Thomas Aitken
Gaffer and Clapper Loader – Betka Kovandova
Assistant Director – Federico Barni
Assistant Producer – Janine Koppe
Casting Director – Federico Barni
Location Sound Recordist – Liz Greene
Additional Sound Recording – Demelza Kooij, Lars Koens
Runner – Amy Chidlow
Make-up Artist – Sophie McGuffie
Editors – Demelza Kooij, Federico Barni
Colour Grading – Lars Koens
Sound Design – Lars Koens
Music Composer – Lars Koens

Archive – with special thanks to:
Cuda – Julie LeRoy
Turbo Roo – Ashley Looper
Pug – David Irving
Cat – Kathryn Jones
Various animals on wheels – Eddie's Wheels

Thanks
Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), Quality Research Funding support (LJMU), Film Studies department and Alex Irving at Liverpool Screen School (LJMU), Dr Elli Wright, Maria Midgley, and Dr James La Course at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Dr Cate Cropper, Nicola Frost, and Lynne Chapman at University of Liverpool, SheepIt Renderfarm, Zikmund Bartonicek, Marijke Cock, Nico Kooij, and Nekatu.

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