// BACK //
Click the image for an excerpt
REVIEW //
''Demelza Kooij successfully tells a story of the anthropocentric extreme of individualism and consumerism by alternating between these two worlds through a very meticulously edited film: the black and white clips with the voiceovers subtly prompt viewers to contemplate and pay attention to specific ideas and hints in the colored clips with the scientists and their app that follow them. The Breeder is a visually compelling film that captures the essence of this controversial topic by orchestrating a very coherently edited narrative with a gripping message.'' Lujain Ibrahim (22 July 2018)
Click here for full article
Click the image for an excerpt
REVIEW //
''Demelza Kooij successfully tells a story of the anthropocentric extreme of individualism and consumerism by alternating between these two worlds through a very meticulously edited film: the black and white clips with the voiceovers subtly prompt viewers to contemplate and pay attention to specific ideas and hints in the colored clips with the scientists and their app that follow them. The Breeder is a visually compelling film that captures the essence of this controversial topic by orchestrating a very coherently edited narrative with a gripping message.'' Lujain Ibrahim (22 July 2018)
Click here for full article
The Breeder (11'57'', 2017)
SYNOPSIS //
The Breeder tells the story of a scientist who uses genetic modification for breeding custom-made pets. These hyper-cute creatures melt hearts worldwide, but there is a dark side to their irresistible cuteness...
WINNER // Scientist Award Imagine Science Films Abu Dhabi 2018
''The goal of this award is to encourage more scientists to create films that let audiences into their minds, labs, and lifestyle.''
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.'' Demelza Kooij (1 February 2019)
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SCREENINGS //
Imagine Science Films New York – Oct 2017, New York, USA
Imagine Science Films Abu Dhabi – Mar 2018, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Kunstnacht / InScience Film Festival – Sept 2018, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Planet in Focus – Oct 2018, Toronto, Canada
Animaladies II conference – 13 Dec 2018, Animal Studies Research Network, Wollongong, Australia
Black Box Pop-up Cinema – 4-8 Feb 2019, Mon-Fri 5 times per day, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Cardiff International Film Festival – Oct 2019, Wales, UK
Northumbria University – Ways Of Working experimental studio, Oct 2019, Newcastle, UK
InScience Film Festival Nijmegen – Nov 2019, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art [MMCA] Seoul, South Korea – 4 Sept-25 Oct 2020, part of the exhibition: Museum for All, Museum for Dogs. This is a unique exhibition made for dogs and their human companions, curated by Mr. Yonghee Sung.
Muni Festival – 29 July 2023, Oubirin University Tokyo, Hinatayama campus, Japan
ONLINE //
Labocine – Aug 2023, Magazine issue #85 Dog Days
CREDITS //
The Breeder is a chapter for the feature film Mosaic commissioned by Imagine Science Films and Labocine.
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
Crew
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.
The Breeder on IMDB.com
Photo credit: Park Swan, Image provided by MMCA Seoul, South Korea.