Dominique Bongers

Animation Workshops

2012-02-07T14:39:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I started with Animation Workshops at a local high school in the neighbourhood. Here I am introducing the childern to animation. Each week they develop a little short story which in the end will all put toghether and shown at 'the schools festival'.
The childeren seem very interested in animation and it is a real blast introducing them to this amazing media!

Pictures and movies will follow!

T-Shirt design

2011-12-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

Oke. I can finally post this after the first person was surprised on her Bday with this gift.

I designed a couple of Australian Kelpie design's for t-shirts.

First one - had too much details.

Second one

third one (also too much details)

final one - the one!!!

the actual design on the shirt!

If you would like to order one as well at www.borduurshoppluto.nl

Model (studio) photography

2011-11-21T11:57:00.001-08:00

Did some model/studio photography a while ago.
Saw them yesterday again while going through my external drive and decided to alter some in photoshop. I only needed the desaturation and levels tool to get this result (more photo's on the photography page)

Gallop

2011-09-16T00:20:00.000-07:00

As part of the summerset artweeks (SAW 2011), Gallop will be cantering along a really impressive list of other amazing animations & films!
The summerset artweek runs from 16th september – 2nd October 2011 and if you're in the neighbourhood, you're more than welcome to come by!!

Other films include: GEB AND NUT - Laura Ratta, MOTHER OF MANY - Emma Lazenby, COWBOYS – Phil Mulloy, THE PROJECT - Cho-Han Huang, SHAUN THE SHEEP – AARDMANN – ADAM - ANGRY KID - MORPH, FAMILY TIES – Joanna Quinn, JOHN AND KAREN, THE STREET - Caroline Leaf, GIRLS NIGHT OUT – Joanna Quinn THE GIRL FROM – Kate Noble, SCREENPLAY – Barry Purves, DETACHMENT- Kate Noble DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE – Paul Bush, STREET OF CROCODILES – Quay Brothers.

Review on 'GALLOP'

2011-08-18T03:21:00.000-07:00

Today I googled myself to see what's happing online with my name, and I came across a very interesting thing: I found a (short) review on 'GALLOP' - my very experimental animation film about the canter of a horse.
The review was about a certain program and stated:

This lightness and playfulness also struck me in Dominique Bongers’s Gallop, a visual experiment with a nod to Eadweard Muybridge’s flying horse

Please read the entire article here: http://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.uk/features/2011/01/03/london-short-film-festival-2011-leftfield-and-luscious/

Product photography

2011-08-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

For a small independent artist, I did some product photography.
The artist "Benil" makes 'zeepjes', a product that can be hanged all over around the house giving the place a certain smell. Depending on he colours (red = rose, blue = sea minerals, purple = lavender, etc) each 'zeepje' contains it's own smell and can be hanged thoughout the house, for example, in the wardrobe closet, on the toilet, bathroom, washroom, etc.
This product is the successor of potpourri which is now turned into a little art piece, which is an amazing gift to give as well as to recieve.

New abstract photography

2011-05-30T04:25:00.001-07:00

In the section 'Photography' you can see new photography work. This work (commissioned) is abstract. Every time when I see this, it makes me think of paintings (especially the abstract paintings haha)

Ami is jumping around in Asheville, North Caroline

2011-05-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

As part of the program 'Into the Woods and Under the Sea' (Children's Film Festival Seattle and REDCAT International Children's Film Festival) Ami is now requested to bounce around in Asheville, Norht Caroline for the 3rd annual Asheville International Children's Film Festival which is scheduled for Nov. 4 to 13, 2011, in Asheville, North Carolina.

So if you happen to be in Asheville, be careful because Ami might bounce into you!

Ami goes to Indiana!! ANDkids World Film Festival

2011-05-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

As part of the program - 'Into the Woods and Under the Sea' (Children's Film Festival Seattle and REDCAT International Children's Film Festival) Ami got asked to get screened at the Notre Dame University in Notre Dame, Indiana (USA) for the program ANDkids World Film Festival, this is scheduled from July 21 to 23, 2011.

So if you happen to be in the neighbourhood, look out for Ami!

Dog Photoshoot

2011-03-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some photographs of a dog I photographed.

The dog's name is Dazzle and she was a joy to work with. On the pictures she is only 10 weeks old. She is an Australian Kelpie, a 'sheepdog' which is famous for being the only one walking over the backs of the sheeps while doing their job.

Please click further to my 'photographs' or my flickr account for more pictures of this amazing dog and other photographs.

Ami got a Daily Deviantion

2011-02-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

Completely clueless, I recieved a message in my email inbox that I should check my deviant account. And guess what i found: On the 15th of January 2011 Ami recieved a daily deviantion. This is a daily honour that account users can give to someone simply cause they enjoy their art so much that they wanna share this with the rest of the world (so a daily deviantion give extra attention to the art work). And indeed it did. I recieved tons of messages saying that they enjoyed the film.

"With a creative twist in using coffee instead of sand on glass, Ami by ~Persnikitie is an endearingly charming animation that is bound to tug at the heart strings." Written By Suggester (Suggested by *Negshin and Featured by ^ArtisnotanAccident)

source: http://persnikitie.deviantart.com/art/Ami-113682855

For this I would like to thank Negshin (Nusha Amini) for suggesting Ami and her kind words.

Ami goes to REDCAT!!! (Los Angeles, California)

2011-02-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

Just recieved a lovely message from Elizabeth Shepherd (Director, Children's Film Festival Seattle) that Ami, my lovely little coffee fox, as part of the 'Into the Woods and Under the Sea' programme is gonna be screened at the REDCAT International Children's Film Festival which takes place on consecutive weekends March 26–April 17, 2011, at the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater in Los Angeles, California...

OMG 'Ami' is gonna jump around in the Disney CalArts Theater... ^-^

Maybe she'll bump into Mickey Mouse (hope she comes back with an autograph)...

OneDotZero

2010-11-25T09:27:00.000-08:00

During the OneDotZero week they also filmed us, and here is the result. An amazing collection of clips where OneDotZero shows the highlights of their amazing festival... and guess what?

We are in it too!!! During our presentation, they filmed us as well, and placed a clip in here! we are shown at the 00.45, 46 and 47 second with our project 'The anti-doom-dome', including a clip of the animation, maquette dome and bike powered presentation...

onedotzero_adventures in motion festival 2010 viral from onedotzero on Vimeo.

Gallop goes to LONDON

2010-11-24T07:41:00.001-08:00

After me spending some time in London during the OneDotZero festival, it's now up to Gallop to explore England's capital, cantering through the streets, unleashing it's thunder...
Gallop will go to London for the London Short Film Festival in 2011 and we are all looking forward how people are responding to her.

I do wonder if they kindly provide her with a hayfork at dinner parties... :)

AMI of to SEATTLE

2010-11-24T07:33:00.001-08:00

It looks like 'Ami' is going to be a famous filmstar as she is now touring around the USA, visiting festivals. And during her tour, she'll make another stop in Seattle for the 6th annual Children's Film Festival!

'Ami' is soo extremely happy that after making so many friends in the EU, that she is now also tons of new friends in the USA!!

Gallop - Festival of Nature

2010-11-24T07:30:00.001-08:00

Encounters had not even started or Gallop cantered already almost to another festival. Next year, another festival of Nature will be held in Bristol where they also show films on a really big screen. And in 2011, Gallop will be cantering over that screen!

Ami goes to Minneapolis!! USA

2010-11-24T07:15:00.000-08:00

Recieved a really cool message in my email inbox that the People in Minneapolis are really loving 'Ami' and would love to screen her during their 2011 Minneapolis - St. Paul Internationl Film Festival as well as during a library screening!!

'Ami' is of course extremely happy making new friends and she can not wait until April 2011 to go and make some friends in Minneapolis!

George - animation for OneDotZero_Cascade graduate workshop 2010

2010-11-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

During the OneDotZero_Cascade 2010, 40 cross disciplinary creatives were chosen to work together in 4 groups. I was part of the Grey Area. During the cascade we were given a brief 'better vision of an Utopia'.

After tons of discussion we ended up with the Uto Power Station 'The Anti-Doom-Dome' project. One can find more information about this on www.isthisthegreyarea.blogspot.com.

For the final presentation, the group decided to have an animation and this is it: George! This animation is sort of the introduction (or it sets the scene) and afterwards we go into details about what the 'anti-doom-dome' is all about.

Selected for ONE DOT ZERO_CASCADE Graduate Workshop

2010-10-26T16:16:00.001-07:00

Normally I'd write 'Ami' or 'Gallop' got accepted to the festival but this time, it's not them... It's me... I got accepted or selected to participate in the OneDotZero_Cascade graduate workshop!!

This is a 5 day workshop (and on day 6 you present your work to a panel). During these 5 days, we have the chance to meet the people from Kin-Design http://www.kin-design.com/, collaborate in a team (with people you've never met before, plus everybody comes from a different background), learn about presenting yourself and in a team, etc etc.

The brief was coming up with a positive prospect idea for an Utopia and we'll present this during the OneDotZero festival in 2010 in front of the BFI...

On this picture: the 'blue' team: Grey-Area (Me, Gus, Thomas, Viv, Natelie, Ollie, Lucy, Ed (aka George), Jane and Lulu!!

Follow our process, progress, pictures, thoughts, and everything else on:
http://www.isthisthegrayarea.blogspot.com/ &
http://www.onedotzero.com/blog/

and maybe see you on the 11th of November!!

Encounters Press Launch

2010-10-26T16:09:00.000-07:00

On thursday 23rd of September, Encounters held a press launch. This is a first time where they invited press and local filmmakers to come along and 'celebrate' the fact that within 2 months the festival will be. As Gallop was selected, also I got invited to participate in this cheerful event. More information can be found on: http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk/blog/press-launch.html and encounters will take part from 16th till 21st of November 2010. (gallop is shown in the arnolfini, Animated Encounters Best of South West, on thusday and saturday!!)

Exhibition - Bristol Festival of Photography 2010

2010-10-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

During my 2nd MA year I also did an additional Black&White photography courses with Tamany Baker. This was soooo much fun that right now I've got a photograddiction - which is realy contagious btw.
As a big finaly, we (the Black&White photography people) decided to have an exhibition as part of the Bristol Festival of Photography. We picked a restaurant in the neighbourhood and after some stressful work (mounting / framing...), we spent an entire day hanging the work. But the result was lovely and the exhibition lasted around 3 till 4 weeks.

I know its a bit late, but i finally put some pictures online (check photography).

Photography

2010-10-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I did a bit more photography. In this case; reportage photography. With reportage you sort of capture a serie of photographs which combined tell a story. This can be as broad a 'a day in the life of...' or '24th of...' to something very small like 'a child teasing her caretaker' or 'the imagination of a child'...

Anyway, I got some photographs updated to the site (see tap: photography - reportage photography) and if you would like to see more, please visit persnikitie.deviantart.com or flickr.com/dominiquebongers

Showreel 2010

2010-09-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

My latest showreel (2010). Here one sees a collection of my animation works:
The reel includes shots from Gallop (2010), Ami (2008), Memory (2007), Hopeless (2006), other animations and some tests to explore the medium animation, film and photography.

By watching this, I just realise that I am quite a 'hands on' artist, someone who prefers to work directly with the materials and by doing so, gets inspired and develops new ideas and creates new possibilities / challenges.

I hope it demonstrates my knowledge and skills as an animator, my ideas and concepts as an art-director and my passion for this profession.

Hope you enjoy it!

Gallop selected for Encounters 2010

2010-09-02T05:31:00.000-07:00

Gallop got her first festival screening!

GALLOP has been officially selected to screen in competition in the Animated Encounters Best of the South West programme as part of Encounters International Film Festival 2010!!

So Gallop is now following her big sis Ami into the festival circuit... Snik, they grow up so quickly :)

Ami goes on the Ale Kino! on Tour

2010-09-02T05:20:00.000-07:00

Recieved a lovely letter from Poland, where Ami was screened last year, asking if Ami would like to come back and visit the audience in three small Polish towns and in Poznań once. So there she goes again to Poznan and further, but this time without me...
Luckely I don't have to book a flight every time Ami goes off haha!

Gallop - the effects explained - behind the scene

2010-07-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Wanted to use this spot on the website to talk a little bit about behind the scenes of 'Gallop' (my latest animation film about the canter of a horse).

I've viewed the film to a certain amount of people and mostly their reactions have been amazing (so 'Gallop' is going down pretty well, which is great). Additionally I also have people asking what i've done with the footage, as they believe that I've used some old footage.

This I take as a compliment as it shows that I've done a good job, simply cause people can not figure out what I've done, but maybe I did my job a bit too good...
So here, a little behind the scene / explaination so people can understand what I've done and why I do classify it as an animated film.

In this short footage, one can see the final footage and the orginal footage. The orginal footage is the one with the girl riding the white French Arabian horse. By using the program After Effects, I've been able to manipulate the footage, removing the girl and the gear from the horse and added some grain and dirt to it. So one is left with some 'old footage' of a galloping white French Arabian horse.

This little trick has been used on some other shots in 'Gallop'.

Ami wins third place in Shooting People's Film of the Month

2010-07-09T16:18:00.000-07:00

After some hanging around on the internet, I bumped into Ami. She was previously asked to be shown on the dailymotion.com page and that is where I found her. But she did more than just her normal bouncing; she was unstopable cause Ami won the third place in Shooting People's Film of the Month for January 2010.HOERA!!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdshdk_ami-by-dominique-bongers_shortfilms

Ami keeps bouncing

2010-07-09T06:47:00.000-07:00

Even now when Gallop has finished and is making her first enter, Ami is still bouncing around, making new friends. She really enjoys the UK and is honoured to be screened as part of the Children’s Jury Animation Award Programme during the Film Festival for Children and Young People in Caernarfon North Wales in November, and the Bristol Harbour Festival in July.

So make sure you'll be around and maybe you'll bump into Ami!!

GALLOP 2010

2010-05-24T08:25:00.001-07:00

After 2 years of hard work, I've finished my latest film 'Gallop'.

In a nuttshell, 'Gallop' is an animated film about the canter of a horse.

It is an artistic reaction to the motion studies of the 1900's. The film visualises the hrose in an extraordinary way to illustrate the relation between experiencing motion and a horse its excitement of cantering.

'Gallop' will premier on the 18th of June at the MA ANIMATION Showcase 2010, at UWE Bower Ashton - Bristol UK. Hope to see you there!

Shutterbugs - BFOP Bristol festival of Photography

2010-05-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

Participating in the BFOP, Viktoria Horvath, Louise Fletcher, Wendy Sheppard, Charlotte Bryant and Dominique Bongers (me)are exhibiting our photography work in the Teohs restaurant (southville, Bristol):

Shutterbugs
Using traditional black and white film and old school darkroom printing, a group of UWE evening course photography students came together to get creative and experiment! Each with their own individual style, brought together by their love of black and white.

Teohs
278 North Street
Southville
Bristol BS3 1TF

Email info@dominiquebongers.com for further details, or visit www.teohs.net.

Open 11am - 2.30pm daily.
Free entry.

Special Mention for Ami (Friend)

2010-05-01T06:20:00.000-07:00

Today (saturday) at 8.30 the postman brought me a little package which contained a betacam with Ami and a letter from Leeds Young People's Film Festival.

The letter brought good news and said:

Dear Dominique,

Congratulations! Friend gets a special mention in the Leeds Young People's Film Festival shorts competition!
The jury gave it a special mention because "I liked the animation style and the story was really sweet" Freya, 9.

Of course, Ami is extremely happy and keeps bouncing around, making me uncapable of doing anything else than also bouncing around. We both are really happy with the news and thankful to the jury for giving Ami a special mention. Thank you. :)

Barry Purves - Basics Animation: Stop-motion

2010-04-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

Quite recently Barry Purves, one of UK's famous stop motion Animators (and director & writer), known for his amazing animations such as: Next, Screenplay, Rigoletto, Achilles, has finished his 2nd book: Basic Animation: Stop-motion.

In the book, he talks about stop motion and he also happen to find a little spot to write an amazingly nice comment about Ami (Friend). As I don't know much about copyright issues but certainly dont wanna get in trouble with copyright stuff, please, buy the book and turn to page 89!!

So hereby I (and Ami of course) would like to thank Barry Purves for his kind words!

Black and White Photography

2010-03-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

And again I went to my wednesday evening course with Tamany Baker to do some b&w photography. This time I came with a3 paper so that I really could blow some of mine medium format negatives up! The result: grain! and lots of it!!! Please check these out and if you wanna see more just click on the photography button on the left!

Ami will visit London again!!

2010-03-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ami keeps hopping around! She will be screened this weekend (saturday the 13th) in London, part of Barbican Film!

So, if you happen to be in London this saturday, please check out Barbican and perhaps you bump into Ami :)

Simple Portrait Photography

2010-03-02T06:07:00.000-08:00

Last saturday I went to Folkhouse for a Simple Portrait Photography Course.
Normally I find it very difficult to capture people with my photocamera. Thanks to Graham Parish and his one day workshop I now have less problems with it as I now also now what it is that I try to capture in my photographs.

If you would like to see some of the pictures please check out the photography site or www.persnikitie.deviantart.com

Ami goes to HAITI

2010-02-24T04:42:00.000-08:00

Today I recieved an email from Rich Warren - Encounters to see if Ami would like to participate in a project (collaboration between the Cube Cinema and Encounters) for Haiti.

The project is called: THE HAITI KIDS KINO PROJECT

The Haiti Kids Kino Project is a basic, micro-humanitarian goodwill project to provide a small opening for fun, escape, community, emotion and social occasion to a people and place the Cube wishes to communicate with, and contribute to rebuilding hope. The intention is to improve quality of life through the act of making, sharing and reflecting and forging friendships and exchanges.

Ami and I believe that this is one amazing project and are extremely honoured that Rich Warren considered our participation. Hopefully, next to being shown, Ami will make some friends over there as well!

Ami selected for Leeds

2010-02-24T04:39:00.001-08:00

The UK seems to love Ami... I can't be happier. Hopefully she makes some friends over there in her 'never ending quest for a friend'.

Ami selected for Sprockets

2010-02-24T04:36:00.001-08:00

Ami is doing so well in Europa that the outside world now also starts noticing her. As a result she is now selected for Sprockets in Toronto, Canada!!

Ami is selected for the Best of Encounters Programme

2010-02-24T04:32:00.000-08:00

Back in the UK again and Ami can't do any better:

As a result of being selecting in Best of Encounters Programme, the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse (UK) has requested to show Ami in one of their programs.

If she keeps travelling all over, Ami probably will see more of the UK than I...

Ami selected for ALEKINO!!

2010-02-24T04:30:00.001-08:00

Wow! Ami is going on a plane to go to the east - She will visit the lovely people in Poznan to see if she might be able to make some friends over there.

As I am extremely proud of her, I thought that she might could use my support so I went along!!! It was amazing in Poznan, lovely people, amazing festival organisation!
Me and Ami really enjoyed our time over there.

Ami selected for London Barbican

2010-02-24T04:28:00.001-08:00

Ami is doing extremely well in the UK. She now goes to London to enjoy some viewers over there!

Ami selected for Encounters

2010-02-24T04:10:00.000-08:00

Ami is selected for Encounters Film Festival 2009 for the Childern's program!

She will be showed on Saturday at 10.30 (1st in program!)