FROM THE TOP

Short Talk with Rich Farris (director)

United Kingdom / 2023/ 8‘14‘‘

BEST ANIMATION FILM Category

21st IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival 2024

Synopsis: Things haven’t gone quite the way Robin expected them to, so she decides the time has come to get rid of her drum kit. But giving up her passion might not be as simple as she anticipates.

Biography: After a brief stint as a professional drummer, Rich found his calling in animation. Initially working as a freelance animator on projects, including short films earning two BAFTA nominations, a Student RTS Award and an Annie. These experiences opened Rich’s eyes to directing, where he now tells his own stories, through the medium that he loves.

Rich Farris, director

Neda Valcheva (author): The film moves in a circular way, not only the town is a circle, but it also ends in the same place where it starts.

Rich Farris (director): Yes, in the writing stage we were thinking about the drums, and obviously they are circular, and how we could include that in a visual way, but in a story way as well. We knew in an early stage that we wanted the film to end the same way it started. It is about having this thing inside of you, for our characters it is drumming. You might wanna get rid of it, but it is part of you that you should not ignore. 

Neda Valcheva: Tell us more about the set and how it was making this animation.

Rich Farris: The set was huge, the full drum set was three metres high, the scene with the falling was animated on the set. At the end we separated the drum into six parts, so for the rest of the film we could animate to a manageable size and then for the very end shot, when the main character was falling, we put them all together.

Neda Valcheva: I found the “earthquake” moments in the film to be fascinating, what did they represent for you?

Rich Farris: That was a thing that came up again and again. From the top is made at the National Film and Television School and we have a lot of tutorials. We worked with a big team: writers, producers and all of the head departments. And these shaking elements keep coming back again and again. For me it is kind of how enjoying  that creation of fear, and the anxiety coming from “Oh no, I should not be enjoying this, I am giving this up”. So, it’s kind of the world shaking, the world being the drum, trying to pull it back in, but resisting it.

Author's view (Kaloyan Vasilev):

It is when you lose something that you realise how dear it truly is. From the Top is a stop-motion animation by animator and drummer Rich Farris. He explores the difficult process of letting go of something as precious as passion—and how it inevitably finds its way back to you.

By bringing not just life, but complex emotions and expressive nuances to his handmade puppets, Farris metaphorically delves into the cyclical nature of life. His protagonist, Robin, endures inner struggles and setbacks, only to return to where she began—transformed by the journey. Beyond its touching story and well-crafted characters, the film stands out for its evocative music and richly textured sound design, making it both a visually and emotionally immersive experience.

From the Top is more than a student film—it is a mature, introspective work which resonates with anyone who has ever questioned their path or drifted away from a passion they once held dear. Through its stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling, it reminds us that even when we step away from what we love; it often remains within us, waiting to be rediscovered.