Our Story

My name is Noella B. and I'm working with Signe Baumane on an animated feature film project called "Rocks In My Pockets" - a funny film about depression!

The film is a traditional cell animation with 3 dimensional paper mache backgrounds. A beautiful mixed media animation.  

Signe was born in Latvia. She received a BA degree in Philosophy from Moscow State University in 1989. Eight months after giving birth to her son she was checked into a mental hospital and diagnosed as manic-depressive. Despite the diagnosis, Signe made 3 animated short films in Latvia before moving to New York in 1995. In New York she continued to work in the field of animation and made 12 more award winning animated shorts. Her films have been accepted at Sundance, Berlin, Annecy, Venice, Tribeca, and hundreds of other film festivals around the world.
Rocks in My Pockets is her first feature film project.

Noella Borie was born in France and raised near Switzerland in a half Italian family. She loved and was fascinated with animation for as long as she can remember. She lived in Tokyo for a Year before coming to New York City to complete her studies. She graduated from Parsons with a BFA in Illustration and Animation in 2010. Her Thesis Film "The Face Shop" won awards for Best Animation at Big Apple Film Festival, Festivus and Next TV entertainment.

The Impact

There is still stigma attached to depression. People who never had it regard it as a character flaw, something one can 'snap out of.

But there is a chemical basis for depression, something scientifically proven, existing outside your will power. By sharing her personal experience Signe attempts to peel the stigma off of depression but also to raise the subject above just the clinical symptoms. Depression brings us to deeper questions: what is the meaning of my life? What is my place in Universe? Is my existence important? Why continue to live?

This personal project is also to broaden the insight into female depression and suicide. It poses the following questions: is depression inherited? If so, can one beat the bad genes and save oneself from suicide? Mixing animation and humor with her own voiceover, Signe investigates the history of depression in her family and how it might be connected with her own suicidal tendencies. Discovering a link between depression and the social entrapments the women were caught up in, Signe examines the toll marriage and children can have on women with unfulfilled intellect and ambition. She probes the mysteries of inner voices and demons of darkness, but regards the reliance on pharmaceuticals as a practice that might actually exacerbate the problem. Combining traditional storytelling with imaginative animation, this project looks for a fresh way to give people hope and a better understanding of a most common affliction.

What We Need & What You Get

As you know, to make a  film, especially an animated one(s), takes time and money. Right now we have the soundtrack, some of the backgrounds, and Signe is animating tirelessly day and night. I'll be in charge of overseeing the production, coloring, compositing and final editing of the movie. I am also in charge of raising money!

We need to raise $30,000 to be able to scan and color the drawings and assemble them in After Effects. We have about 5 000 drawings now waiting to be scanned and colored, and it is going to be about 35 000 more. Without your help there will be no color, no sunshine, no joy!

By helping us you'll get a credit in the film depending of the level of your support. Each generous donation will be rewarded generously with either a paper mache background from the film, or a signed drawing, acrylic painting, or tax deduction, a special studio visit, a private tea session with Signe, and many other possible rewards. We are open to bargaining and negotiations.
But mainly, you'll become an essential part of independent filmmaking, a force of resistance to big Hollywood productions. If you feel the need to foster independent minds, independent ideas, independent, personal style - our project is for you!

Other Ways You Can Help

Let the world know about this exciting project! Tell your friends! Spread the word!

Send us your suggestions on depression research centers, foundations, schools that would be interested to support/donate to our project.

We are also pre-selling exclusive cells, drawings, colorful paper mache sculptures and lots of extra goodies! Feel free to contact me for further info!

You can make tax deductible donations, the project's fiscal sponsor is Women Make Movies, non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization.

Visit our website and the store (website under construction, should be up by the end of the week!)

Visit the blog about making the film: http://rocksinmypocketsthemovie.wordpress.com/

Apply for internship to help to color the drawings for the project.

Ask questions about the project and future screenings!

Get on our emailing list!