Aiju Salminen. Elvis is cool!
Aiju Salminen and Elvis (film rushes)
Why Elvis? Is he somewhat of your hero?
I like Elvis's music, but he is not a hero or idol to me. And Elvis is cool!
I find Elvis really interesting, because he has actually been a real person but nowadays he seems like an icon, or imaginary person. You know what I mean?
I read a book about Elvis faking his death (the conspiracy theory that Elvis is actually alive, he faked his death because he wanted to live normal life without the publicity and fame). Then I thought about Elvis for a long time and made a film where Elvis is dead but also alive at the same time.
Is your work somewhat related to children cut-out? What are the techniques?
I don't like to do drawn animation myself... It was computer assisted cut-out animation. I animated traditionally (under camera, stop-motion technique) and added backgrounds and some camera movements with After Effects. I like children's books and films.
Elvis took me about 6 months to make.
Your scripts are a bit gothic (in terms of gothic subculture), especially “Karaoke”. Death and irony - is it the influence of Tim Burton or Edgar Poe or…?
Yes, I really love Tim Burton's films. I hope my film's are not too similar to his films... But I like cute things, and also gothic, scary things. My other favorite director is Finnish Aki Kaurismaki -in his films there is also sadness and humor at the same time.
I find kind of "loser" characters interesting. I guess everyone has a "loser" side in themselves that they can identify in. I think that Burton and Kaurismaki films are also films that are films for adults, but children can watch them too (since there is no sex or violence). I think it's nice.
What is your relationship with your film school (Turku Arts Academy)? What do those who teach you think about your a bit “cemeterish” humor?
I haven't even thought that my films would be "cemeterish" because I have been this way all my life -it seems just normal to me! When I was a child I used to play witch, ghost or vampire plays when other girls were playing princess. I asked my mother to make me a black robe with a yellow star in it, it was my witch costume and I used to wear it at home.
I don't think that my teachers in Turku didn't think that I was any different, tough. I really liked Turku school! I made three films there quite freely ("Karaoke", Elvis and "Treevil" with Aino Ovaskainen and Christer Lindstrom).
And I think that Priit Porn who was our main teacher is a great teacher.
Do you have a funny story about the process of working on a animation film? What are your plans?
I hope to make a new short animation. I like short films! I'll think of a funny story for I while, I'll write it to you later on. If I can think of something!
© Shortы'2006