It’s a world where jackrabbits and human beings live together in harmony.
One particular bunny goes to the counter of his local cafe and tries to order his favourite beverage: carrot juice.
The barista apologizes and tells him that they’re all out of carrot juice.
Disappointed, the mild-mannered bunny takes a seat and begins reading the local newspaper.
That’s when he spots the front-page headline: City out of carrot juice.
Outside the window a mob of other rabbits is seen stampeding down the street.
And then the killing begins.
This recent contribution to the beloved genre of killer bunny films is the brainchild of local filmmaker Brendan Preston.
Preston’s stop-motion masterpiece will be showcased tomorrow at Whitehorse’s first Kino screening event.
Marie Fortier is the organizer of Kino Whitehorse - a group created to give broke and unknown amateur filmmakers that little kick in the ass needed to get them to realize their artistic visions.
Fortier isn’t the first to come up with this idea.
Kino is an international movement providing amateur filmmakers with a place to screen their short films.
The movement was founded in Montreal 10 years ago and has since spread worldwide.
And Montreal is where Fortier discovered the movement.
The way it works is that anyone who registers, as a team or individual, is committed to produce a short film for the Kino event.
Then the films are shown to an audience.
But it’s much more than just a way to get your film projected, said Fortier.
The event also serves as a way for filmmakers to get feedback from the public and other filmmakers.
And it creates a network of cineastes who can help inspire one another.
They can talk about ideas, make suggestions and share equipment and skills.
During the interview a week and a half ago, Fortier had not yet figured out what her project would be.
“Kino has been my project,” she said.
“I haven’t had much time to work on anything yet, but I think I’ll do some sort of an animation - something quick and easy.”
She had a pretty good excuse for not having enough time.
Fortier had just finished putting in 14-hour days working as the trainee assistant director on the children’s series Anash and the Legacy of the Sun-Rock.
It was the type of opportunity for a budding filmmaker that you don’t usually find anywhere else, she said.
“It’s just the Yukon.”
Fortier studied film at the University of Quebec in Montreal and has put that education to use since moving to the territory.
She worked on Red Coat Justice, helped organize the francophone film fest and also did a few other small projects.
But working makes it hard to find time for her own projects.
Another problem Fortier had in motivating herself to create was that she didn’t have the social network.
While at school, she was constantly surrounded by people that were excited about created films.
These people were also willing to put in time volunteering to work on other people’s films, so there was a lot of free labour around.
Kino is already working out in the free labour department.
Fortier spent a great deal of time helping her friend make his killer bunny film.
During the scene when the bunny mob marches down the street, thirsty for carrot juice and blood, Fortier looked as if she was just playing with stuffed animals.
She moved each one slightly forward, let Preston take a photograph of the scene, then moved each slightly forward again.
“I looked crazy and people were really concerned about me,” she said laughing.
“Someone actually came up to me and asked, ‘Are you OK?’”
And they didn’t even get to see the murder scenes.
The film screening will take place tomorrow at the Golden Apple, located at 2163 2nd Ave.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is by donation.
The Yukon Film Society is offering $150 credit for equipment rentals to one of the Kino filmmakers.
Because the screening isn’t a competition, the winner will be drawn from a hat.
Contact Chris Oke at chriso@yukon-news.com