Filmmaking students from the School of Digital Arts (SODA) have created a unique documentary centred around the near-death experience of a cat.
Will Stogden and Sasha Morris, third-year Filmmaking students at SODA, have collaborated to create The Fire Cat Documentary, a true story about a cat with an ambition for life after he was saved from the depths of a bonfire, that follows his emotional journey of rehabilitation and inspiration.
Having successfully raised funds for the creation of the film through public crowdfunding earlier in the year, they began working on the film in March, shooting, grading and editing the film while simultaneously learning how to work with the documentary’s central character, the Fire Cat himself.
Director and Producer William Stogden commented that meeting Fire Cat was the highlight of the filmmaking experience stating: “We had spent months preparing for the shoot and testing the synergy of cats and cameras, so when we finally met him, it was like meeting a celebrity. He is the sweetest cat to work with, and we were honoured to tell his story”.
Although a true story, William explained that one of the major tasks when shooting the film was creating the right tone. He commented that their: “biggest struggle when creating our documentary was finding the correct emotional balance. We didn’t want to overwhelm our audiences, but we still wanted to do justice to the raw and emotive experiences reflected upon in our documentary”.
This film was created as part of the final-year project at SODA which provides students with an authentic experience of creating their own independent film, fundraising, shooting and marketing the entire film themselves. William explained: “Throughout our time at SODA, the most important lesson we have learnt is to trust other people’s judgement, use critical feedback to make your work the best it can be. We have also learnt to take risks, using any opportunities we can to improve our practice”.
Following on from the film premiere that took place at The Salutation Pub, The Fire Cat Documentary will be shown at the Manchester School of Art Degree Show which runs from June 7-20.
William Stogden commented: “We are feeling very positive about showcasing our work in the Degree show, and new audiences experiencing Fire Cat’s narrative through a piece of work created by us is very satisfying. We are excited to see it screened alongside all the other amazing work that has been created this year”.
