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Title: SHIP OF FOOLS

Reference number: 8014

Date: 1993

Director: d. Leonie MacMillan

Sponsor: The Scottish Film Council, Shepley Shepley Trust, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Television

Producer: Leonie MacMillan

Sound: sound

Colour: col

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 5.16 mins

Description: Animation based on the oil painting 'Ship of Fools' by Hieronymus Bosch. It tells a moral tale of mankind (the 'fools') drifting aimlessly on a ship on the seas of time, not achieving their potential, and focuses in on the story behind one of the characters in the painting - the jester.

The oil painting that inspired this animated film is on display in the Louvre, Paris.

First Reels - a joint short film initiative from Scottish Screen (and its predecessor body the Scottish Film Council) and Scottish Television. First Reels was launched during 1991 by Scottish Film Council in response to a perceived need for small grants to help young and first time film-makers to make or complete their first film or video project. Scottish Television came in as co-sponsor at an early stage and as well as contributing to half the funds they have given the scheme a tremendous public relations boost by running three half hour documentaries showing excerpts from the First Reels. Applicants were invited to submit projects in any format and on any subject they chose. All entries were considered by a jury and thirty five projects were given grants varying from £50 to £2000. On show at the GFT are a representative selection of the best of the films and videos supported by the scheme. [Editorial from Scottish Film Council held in paper archives]

Credits: d., p. and animat. Leonie MacMillan
animated drawing Sarah Crawford
special effects Adam Hill
online ed. Jan Jack
camera ass. Jerry Kelly
m. John Samson
Sponsored by The Scottish Film Council, Shepley Shepley Trust, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Television

Many thanks to Donny Borland, Mike Campbell, John Collin, Henry Eagles, Tom Fraser, Marcus Gray, Julie Kalopsidoris, Jordanhill College, Mark Mellors, Samuelsons Lighting, Gary Scott, Gillian Steel, Technicolor Ltd.

With acknowledgement to Hironymus Bosch [sic] [Hieronymus]

© 1993 Leonie MacMillan