Paul has parable with teeth

Jun 23 2007 By Tamzin Lewis, The Journal

It is a childhood experience most of us can relate to. Lying back in a huge chair, mouth gaping and eyes wide as a dentist prods and scrapes around our teeth. It certainly made a lasting impression on Paul, who has based his first short film Rory's Teeth on boyhood trips to the dentist.

He says: "I didn't brush my teeth as a child and did all the wrong kind of things like eating sweets. I feared the dentist and remembered screaming as he came towards me. So my character Rory is based on me."

Rory is a little blue dragon who lives on Dragon Island and loves to eat sweets but hates brushing his teeth. The consequence is that when he meets a pretty pink girl dragon, the flames he blows to try and impress her are doused by his dirty teeth. Ashamed of his sputtering dragon breath, he agrees to see the dentist, who shows him how he must brush his teeth until they are sparkling. He can then dream of getting the girl.

Initially written as a children's book, the idea was developed by Paul into a five-minute film with the help of Tyne Tees producer Bob Duncan, who has produced Rory's Teeth. Bob helped pioneer British Sign Language programmes for the deaf community and created the SignPost unit at Tyne Tees in 2000.

"I created a book, but didn't get anywhere with a publisher," Paul says. "Bob suggested that there was potential to turn the story into a film. The idea took off from those discussions. It has become a film without dialogue aimed at deaf children and those unable to read English, although everyone can enjoy it."

Paul benefited from the wealth of experience at Northern Film and Media (NFM) and was awarded a bursary to develop his idea as part of Stingers, a digital short film scheme. Paul is one of 15 film directors whose short movies are being premiered at an event at NFM on Tuesday.

It hasn't been a straightforward path into the film industry for Paul. His artistic abilities weren't encouraged at school and he worked as a joiner and then as chef, before deciding to study illustration seven years ago.

Paul, 36, of Newcastle, says: "I had always wanted to draw, but when I was given careers advice I was told there was no potential for me in the arts. I didn't enjoy being a joiner and communication was a real problem in the chefing industry, so I went back to college. It was frustrating really and I wish I had been given this opportunity before."

He says: "A lot of artists in the deaf community don't find work easily or have to take on jobs that they wouldn't necessarily be involved with. We are marginalised as there are few opportunities. It is case of encouraging deaf people to take the bull by the horns. Deaf people have wonderful stories and fantastic ideas to tell."

Paul took a BTec national diploma in graphic design followed by a foundation degree in animation and illustration, graduating in 2005.

He was mentored by Mark Jobe, who runs Quay Animation and made his name working on films such as Christmas Carol: The Movie with Nicolas Cage and Kate Winslet. Mark has advised the production team throughout the making of Rory's Teeth, which has taken about four months to produce.

Paul says: "I trained in illustration, but it is difficult to get into publishing because of communication problems. There is a barrier in talking to people if you don't have a sign language interpreter. I had to learn quickly, but was given a lot of help by Mark.

"I am happy with what I am doing now and hope to do more. At the moment, I am meeting Business Link and trying to set up my own business so that I get help with interpreter support which I need so that I can concentrate on illustration and animation."

Rory's Teeth will be shown at a private screening at NFM on Tuesday evening, along with films including Rebound about the end of a relationship and the joys of Feng Shui; Gone Fishin' about a fishing trip which goes wrong; Huff, which deals with a couple's petty argument; and coming of age drama Torch.

SNFM chief executive Tom Harvey says: "Stingers allows the region's short film makers to showcase their vision, and demonstrates their dedication and commitment to producing high quality and engaging stories. Their vision and hard work is not only recognised in the region, but further afield on national and international platforms."