COCHANO, The lights brought by Earth
is a non-profit 3D animated short film that seeks to educate the viewer about the detrimental effects of illegal gold mining, especially those related to mercury intoxication.
We aim at involving the public in an entertaining and touching story that will help educate and inspire, contributing to changing the course of illegal mining in Venezuela and elsewhere.
As this is a problem of global interest, this short film is aimed at both indigenous communities that live in these sensitive areas and the general public. Once we have completed the film, we will show it nationwide in movie theaters, the Internet and social networks.
is a non-profit 3D animated short film that seeks to educate the viewer about the detrimental effects of illegal gold mining, especially those related to mercury intoxication.
We aim at involving the public in an entertaining and touching story that will help educate and inspire, contributing to changing the course of illegal mining in Venezuela and elsewhere.
As this is a problem of global interest, this short film is aimed at both indigenous communities that live in these sensitive areas and the general public. Once we have completed the film, we will show it nationwide in movie theaters, the Internet and social networks.
COCHANO, Las luces que trae la Tierra
es un cortometraje de animación 3D que busca educar y concientizar al espectador acerca de las consecuencias negativas de la minería ilegal, especialmente aquellas relacionadas a la intoxicación con mercurio.
Aspiramos involucrar al público en una historia entretenida y conmovedora con miras a educar, concientizar e inspirar, para así contribuir a cambiar el curso de la actividad minera ilegal en nuestro país y el mundo entero.
Como este es un problema nacional y de interés general, este cortometraje está dirigido tanto a las comunidades indígenas, como al público en general. Una vez completado el cortometraje, lo difundiremos a nivel nacional en salas de cine, talleres audiovisuales en las comunidades indígenas, redes sociales y en la web.
Our Motivation and Justification!!
Our planet is going through the biggest gold fever in history, with prices that reach 55$ per gram. The method mostly used to extract gold powder is mercury amalgamation, which is a highly toxic metal for the human being, the planet and the fauna that inhabits it.
Many indigenous populations live in the region where mining takes place and are the ones most affected by the devastating consequences. Mining causes contamination, deforestation, loss of culture of local communities, transmission of diseases, such as malaria and HIV. Mercury intoxication due to exposure to contaminated water, soil or animals can cause neurological damage that in many cases can be irreversible, and even deadly. Not only will the indigenous suffer the consequences of mercury contamination. Anybody who consumes fish coming from contaminated waters can get sick.
In this short film we aim at exposing the costs and benefits of illegal mining, both for the miner and for other people involved, so that the viewer can reach their own conclusions. We seek to educate and create conscience of the current problem. We will use 3D animation because it is the perfect media to communicate this complex, long-term problem to children, adolescents and adults. We want to involve the viewer in the problem, by creating a connection to a traditional indigenous family that discovers mining and lives the changes related to this encounter.
Our planet is going through the biggest gold fever in history, with prices that reach 55$ per gram. The method mostly used to extract gold powder is mercury amalgamation, which is a highly toxic metal for the human being, the planet and the fauna that inhabits it.
Many indigenous populations live in the region where mining takes place and are the ones most affected by the devastating consequences. Mining causes contamination, deforestation, loss of culture of local communities, transmission of diseases, such as malaria and HIV. Mercury intoxication due to exposure to contaminated water, soil or animals can cause neurological damage that in many cases can be irreversible, and even deadly. Not only will the indigenous suffer the consequences of mercury contamination. Anybody who consumes fish coming from contaminated waters can get sick.
In this short film we aim at exposing the costs and benefits of illegal mining, both for the miner and for other people involved, so that the viewer can reach their own conclusions. We seek to educate and create conscience of the current problem. We will use 3D animation because it is the perfect media to communicate this complex, long-term problem to children, adolescents and adults. We want to involve the viewer in the problem, by creating a connection to a traditional indigenous family that discovers mining and lives the changes related to this encounter.
Nuestra motivación y Justificación!!
Nuestro planeta actualmente está pasando por la fiebre de oro más grande de la historia, con precios que alcanzan 55$ por gramo. El método mayormente utilizado para la extracción artesanal de polvo de oro es la amalgamación de mercurio, que es un metal altamente tóxico para el ser humano, el medio ambiente y la fauna que lo habita.
Muchas poblaciones originarias viven en las zonas donde se lleva a cabo la minería ilegal, por lo que se ven muy afectadas por las consecuencias devastadoras. La minería trae consigo la contaminación de los ríos, la deforestación de los bosques, la pérdida de cultura de las comunidades locales, la transmisión de enfermedades como la malaria y el sida. La intoxicación con mercurio, por exposición al agua, aire, tierra y animales contaminados, causa daños neurológicos que en muchos casos pueden ser irreversibles y hasta mortales. No solamente son los indígenas quienes sufrirán las consecuencias de la contaminación de las aguas con mercurio. Cualquier persona que consuma pescado proveniente de aguas contaminadas podría enfermarse.
En este cortometraje se pretende exponer los costos y beneficios de la minería ilegal, tanto para el minero como para los demás afectados, para que el espectador pueda llegar a sus propias conclusiones. Queremos educar y concientizar al espectador y para lograr esto, utilizaremos animación 3D porque es un medio de comunicación muy eficaz para hacer llegar el mensaje a niños, jóvenes y adultos, especialmente siendo éste un problema real que sus consecuencias serán sentidas con el pasar de los años. Queremos involucrar al espectador en el problema conectándolo con la vida de una familia indígena tradicional que descubre la minería, y que vive los cambios relacionados a este encuentro.
About Us!
We have gathered a great team of Artists and Researches that will participate to create this film! Contact us if you are interested! or you have any questions or suggestions!
Mariana Ramírez Uzcátegui (Director, Animator & Art Director of Cochano)
Graduated as a graphic designer from the “PROdiseño” school of visual communication in Caracas, Venezuela. She continued her studies to obtain the diploma as a Digital Director in the international school of animation “DSK Supinfocom” in India. Her thesis, “Pardesi”, was given special honors in Artistic Direction by the jury. “Pardesi” has also won awards in animation festivals in Asia, Europe and America. She has worked for 5 years on the production and making of several short films.
http://www.behance.net/mariana_ramirez
http://pardesindia.wordpress.com/
Cristina M Gomes Ph.D. (Director & Scientific Advisor)
Biologist graduated at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, she obtained her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Anthropology at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. She finished her post-doctorate in the same institute in September 2010. She then returned to Venezuela and since has been doing another post-doctorate at the Universidad Simón Bolívar. She runs a Project on ethnography, health and education of indigenous communities in the Lower Caura River, Bolívar state. As part of this Project she has produced and directed two short films on education and health. She has much experience working with traditional communities in Venezuela and in other countries such as Bolivia and Ivory Coast. Dr. Gomes’ work has been published in many international scientific journals and she has participated in many conferences worldwide.
https://sites.google.com/site/proyectosanema/home
Pablo Iranzo (Art Director,Illustrator, Compositing of Cochano)
Graduated as a graphic designer from the “PROdiseño” school of visual communication in Caracas, Venezuela.
A graphic designer, animator and plastic artist, Iranzo began his career working as art director in the prestigious motion graphic company Totuma Communications where he developed projects for clients such as HBO Latin American Group, Discovery Networks, Nickelodeon, Sony Entertainment Television, among others.
Later, he continued a diverse of projects that include the art direction and 2d animation of the short film "Hoy No Se Hace pastel de Chucho", different film posters and the brand image of the renowned Venezuelan punk band "La Vida Boheme".
http://www.behance.net/pabloiranzo
Oscar Noya (Scientific Advisor)
Orangel Carrasquel (Illustrator & Character Design)
Fabiana Daly (Illustrator & Character Design)
http://www.behance.net/FabianaDaly
Miguel Monteagudo (3D Artist & Illustrator of Cochano)
http://www.miguelmonteagudo.com/
Pedro Dasilva Pita (3D Animator of Cochano)
https://vimeo.com/pedrodasilvapita
Carlos Arandia (3D Artist & Animator of Cochano)
https://vimeo.com/user1572442
Leonardo Aldrey (Music and Sound composer of Cochano)
http://audiobend.com/
We have gathered a great team of Artists and Researches that will participate to create this film! Contact us if you are interested! or you have any questions or suggestions!
Mariana Ramírez Uzcátegui (Director, Animator & Art Director of Cochano)
Graduated as a graphic designer from the “PROdiseño” school of visual communication in Caracas, Venezuela. She continued her studies to obtain the diploma as a Digital Director in the international school of animation “DSK Supinfocom” in India. Her thesis, “Pardesi”, was given special honors in Artistic Direction by the jury. “Pardesi” has also won awards in animation festivals in Asia, Europe and America. She has worked for 5 years on the production and making of several short films.
http://www.behance.net/mariana_ramirez
http://pardesindia.wordpress.com/
Cristina M Gomes Ph.D. (Director & Scientific Advisor)
Biologist graduated at the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, she obtained her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Anthropology at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. She finished her post-doctorate in the same institute in September 2010. She then returned to Venezuela and since has been doing another post-doctorate at the Universidad Simón Bolívar. She runs a Project on ethnography, health and education of indigenous communities in the Lower Caura River, Bolívar state. As part of this Project she has produced and directed two short films on education and health. She has much experience working with traditional communities in Venezuela and in other countries such as Bolivia and Ivory Coast. Dr. Gomes’ work has been published in many international scientific journals and she has participated in many conferences worldwide.
https://sites.google.com/site/proyectosanema/home
Pablo Iranzo (Art Director,Illustrator, Compositing of Cochano)
Graduated as a graphic designer from the “PROdiseño” school of visual communication in Caracas, Venezuela.
A graphic designer, animator and plastic artist, Iranzo began his career working as art director in the prestigious motion graphic company Totuma Communications where he developed projects for clients such as HBO Latin American Group, Discovery Networks, Nickelodeon, Sony Entertainment Television, among others.
Later, he continued a diverse of projects that include the art direction and 2d animation of the short film "Hoy No Se Hace pastel de Chucho", different film posters and the brand image of the renowned Venezuelan punk band "La Vida Boheme".
http://www.behance.net/pabloiranzo
Oscar Noya (Scientific Advisor)
Orangel Carrasquel (Illustrator & Character Design)
Fabiana Daly (Illustrator & Character Design)
http://www.behance.net/FabianaDaly
Miguel Monteagudo (3D Artist & Illustrator of Cochano)
http://www.miguelmonteagudo.com/
Pedro Dasilva Pita (3D Animator of Cochano)
https://vimeo.com/pedrodasilvapita
Carlos Arandia (3D Artist & Animator of Cochano)
https://vimeo.com/user1572442
Leonardo Aldrey (Music and Sound composer of Cochano)
http://audiobend.com/
Acerca de nosotros!
Mariana Ramírez Uzcátegui
Egresada como diseñador gráfico de la escuela de comunicación visual PROdiseño. Cursó estudios en la escuela internacional de animación DSK Supinfocom en India donde obtuvo un diploma como director digital. Su trabajo de tesis, “Pardesi”, en español extranjero, obtuvo mención especial en dirección artística por parte del jurado. “Pardesi” ha sido igualmente premiado en diversos festivales de animación en Asia, Europa y América. Ha trabajado durante 5 años en la producción y realización de diversos cortometrajes.
Cristina M Gomes, Ph.D.
Bióloga graduada en la Universidad Central de Venezuela, obtuvo un doctorado en Antropología Evolutiva del Instituto Max Planck en Alemania. Culminó su post-doctorado en esa misma institución en septiembre del 2010. Regresó a Venezuela ese mismo año y desde entonces es post-doctorado en la Universidad Simón Bolívar. Actualmente dirige un proyecto de etnografía, salud y educación con comunidades indígenas en el Bajo Caura, Estado Bolívar. Como parte de este proyecto ha producido y dirigido dos cortometrajes de educación para la salud.
Pablo Iranzo (Director de Arte, Ilustrador, Compositing de Cochano)
Egresado como diseñador gráfico de la escuela de comunicación visual PROdiseño en Caracas, Venezuela. Diseñador gráfico, animador y artista plástico, Iranzo comenzó su carrera trabajando como director de arte en la compañía de motion graphic “Totuma Comunicaciones”, donde desarrolló proyectos para clientes como HBO Latín América, Discovery Networks, Nickelodeon, Sony Entertainment Television, entre otros. Luego, continuó participando en diversos proyectos que incluyen la dirección de arte y animación 2d del cortometraje animado “Hoy No Se Hace Pastel de Chucho”, afiches de cine e imagen de branding para la conocida banda de punk venezolana, “La Vida Boeheme”.
Illustrations from the storyboard
Illustrations from the storyboard
Illustrations from the storyboard
Illustrations from the storyboard
