Yellow (2006 short film)
Encyclopedia
Yellow is the name of a 2006 futuristic dystopia
n short film by director Neill Blomkamp
, written by Terri Tatchell and Blomkamp. It was produced at the request of sportswear maker Adidas
as a part of its "Adicolor" viral ads campaign
, in which advertising agency Idealogue gathered seven directors assigning a different color to each of them, and asked them to produce a feature based on their emotional and creative response to the given color, later to be distributed in the form of podcast
s.
The short film, shot by Trent Opaloch in Blomkamp's usual handheld camera mockumentary
style, deals with an Israel
i robotic globe-trotter gone rogue.
laboratory, five instances of an experiment were created, each one identified with a different color, but one turned out to be different. The yellow one developed the ability to think and learn, to the point that it escaped the facility in which it had been created, and became a part of society for 18 months. Having gone through several countries, the android eventually gets a SWAT
team sent after him. The film concludes during the encounter between the android and the SWAT team, with a voiceover suggesting the birth of a new era, with AI becoming part of our society.
. Trent Opaloch, who also worked with Blomkamp on the film District 9
, was the Director of Photography. Visual effects were done by Blomkamp’s own VFX company Ratel. The score was written by Gary Pozner. The film includes actors Julien Phipps, Giddon Karmel, Jason Bell, Jason Lee, Bob Dong, Hamish Cameron and Irene Astle.
Dystopia
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four...
n short film by director Neill Blomkamp
Neill Blomkamp
Neill Blomkamp is an Afrikaner-Canadian film and advertisement writer and director. Blomkamp employs a documentary-style, hand-held, cinéma vérité technique, blending naturalistic and photo-realistic computer-generated effects. He is best known as the co-writer and director of critically acclaimed...
, written by Terri Tatchell and Blomkamp. It was produced at the request of sportswear maker Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
as a part of its "Adicolor" viral ads campaign
Viral marketing
Viral marketing, viral advertising, or marketing buzz are buzzwords referring to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of viruses...
, in which advertising agency Idealogue gathered seven directors assigning a different color to each of them, and asked them to produce a feature based on their emotional and creative response to the given color, later to be distributed in the form of podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
s.
The short film, shot by Trent Opaloch in Blomkamp's usual handheld camera mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
style, deals with an Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i robotic globe-trotter gone rogue.
Plot summary
The film begins by depicting the development process that eventually results in the creation of the main character. It is explained that in a roboticsRobotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
laboratory, five instances of an experiment were created, each one identified with a different color, but one turned out to be different. The yellow one developed the ability to think and learn, to the point that it escaped the facility in which it had been created, and became a part of society for 18 months. Having gone through several countries, the android eventually gets a SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team sent after him. The film concludes during the encounter between the android and the SWAT team, with a voiceover suggesting the birth of a new era, with AI becoming part of our society.
Production
Yellow was written by Terri Tatchell and Neill Blomkamp. Production was done at RSA Production, which is owned by director Ridley ScottRidley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
. Trent Opaloch, who also worked with Blomkamp on the film District 9
District 9
District 9 is a 2009 South African science fiction thriller film directed by Neill Blomkamp. It was written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James...
, was the Director of Photography. Visual effects were done by Blomkamp’s own VFX company Ratel. The score was written by Gary Pozner. The film includes actors Julien Phipps, Giddon Karmel, Jason Bell, Jason Lee, Bob Dong, Hamish Cameron and Irene Astle.