FROM HELL HE RIDES: Synopsis
A corrupt sheriff and his posse are targeted by a lone gunman, hell-bent on avenging a savage crime from their shared past. Director/animator Adam Ciolfi took inspiration from the classic spaghetti westerns of the 1960’s to create this inspired stop motion short.
Adam Ciolfi on the making of FROM HELL HE RIDES
While reading a biography on Italian director Sergio Leone something occurred to me; wouldn’t it be an interesting challenge to tackle the widescreen vistas of the classic spaghetti westerns of the 1960’s using stop motion animation. From the confines of my small studio I would spend the next two and a half years bringing that one simple thought to life.
Production began in November 2018. With the finishing touches to the script in place, a full year was devoted to pre production which included storyboards, designing and building the characters and sets, and recording the vocal performances. Animation began in December of 2019.
One of the benefits of working alone meant the production could continue uninterrupted even after the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in North America in March of 2020. With lock downs in place I spent over a year at the animation table, putting the characters through their paces. The last shot went before the camera in February 2021. Post production followed with the film completed in May 2021.
When I wrote the script, I did not fully comprehend the enormity of the task I had set for myself. This has easily been the most difficult production I have ever undertaken but the resulting film is one I am immensely proud of.
Adam Ciolfi – Director’s Bio
How much do you really need to know about a man who has spent the past 20 years holed up in a basement making hand crafted films. With stories ranging in subject from children’s fantasy to social commentary to all out horror, one can never be sure which genre the film maker will turn to for inspiration. The past 10 years has seen the completion of 4 stop motion short subjects that have combined to win over 20 awards worldwide. At the same time these films have offended and polarized audiences with their strong content and subversive use of a medium that is typically associated with children’s entertainment; an animator and director whose films have been embraced by critics for their originality and visual style while at the same time, often rejected in mainstream animation circles. Undaunted, Adam continues to carve out his own unique place one frame at a time.
Adam Ciolfi – Filmography
IT CAME FROM BEYOND THE DRAIN (pre production) – writer/director (animation)
FROM HELL HE RIDES (2021, 15 min.) – writer/director (animation)
FILTH (2019, 15 minutes) – writer/director (animation)
HIVE (2016, 11 minutes) – writer/director (animation)
BROKEN (2014, 11 minutes) – writer/director (animation)
THE LADY OF NAMES (2011, 79 minutes) – director (animation)
FORESIGHT (1996, 24 minutes) – director (live action)
CLOSE UP (1994, 24 minutes) – director (live action)
ATTIC IN THE BLUE (1991, 28 minutes) – director (animation)
FROM HELL HE RIDES – Credits
Written and Directed by Adam Ciolfi
Produced by The Ciolfi Brothers
Animation by Adam Ciolfi
Music by The Three Sorcerers
FROM HELL HE RIDES on line
website: https://adamciolfi.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A-film-by-Adam-Ciolfi-225691100795562/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ciolfianimation
YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-IGdAjPqeAfnAS86M-ZmRQ
Reviews for the films of Adam Ciolfi
Famous Monsters
Rue Morgue
Rue Morgue Interview
Morbidly Beautiful
Animated Clay
Horror Buzz
Without Your Head
a film by ADAM CIOLFI 