A realistic looking doll for the purposes of a short film.

sharding1 · Post by **sharding1** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 12:12 pm

Hello,

My name is Sam Harding, I am a Film Production Student studying at The University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom. This semester we are being tasked with creating a 7 minute short film based off a fact and then fictionalized. For our chosen area of interest we found a few stories that related around a divorced Father who has a son that is unaware of his Fathers doll.

The general synopsis of the film is:

It's Christmas day, Peter Johnson a divorced Father who lives a double life. At work he is a computer administrator, at home his loneliness is out of control, so much so he seeks comfort in a realistic sex doll; treating her as if she is as human as anyone else.

During his Christmas Day preparations with Annabelle (doll) he gets a surprise visit from his son James.

James unaware of his Fathers double life, his surprise visit to his Father's on Christmas Day will be one he will never forget.

As we are students, our budget doesn't really allow for a really expensive RealDoll. What I wanted to post on here for was just to make people aware of this short film and to ask if there is anyone out there who is willing to help us! We would require someone to lend us a doll for filming purposes and for ease of location it would be need to be someone based in the UK.

We respect that this may be a strange thing to ask but we are really wanting to get the aesthetic look and feel of this story to feel real. We don't want to resort to using a blow up doll that will just look plain and boring on screen. The doll itself is only required for talking with and interacting in subtle ways, there is no sexual intercourse involved.

If there is anyone out there willing to help please get in contact!
one based in the UK.

We respect that this may be a strange thing to ask but we are really wanting to get the aesthetic look and feel of this story to feel real. We don't want to resort to using a blow up doll that will just look plain and boring on screen. The doll itself is only required for talking with and interacting in subtle ways, there is no sexual intercourse involved.

If there is anyone out there willing to help please get in contact!

my email address is sharding1@students.uc
my email address is sharding1@students.ucreative.ac.uk

If there is any other information anyone would like to know then please don't hesitate to get in contact and I will be willing to answer your questions!

Post by **Nescio50** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:31 pm

sharding1 wrote:My name is Sam Harding, I am a Film Production Student studying at The University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, Surrey, United Kingdom.

This has been verified by TDF Management.

Post by **Mistress Angela** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 12:44 pm

Sorry, I am already busy with something. I competing to be on the cover of an little magazine. They want me

Bilbo Baggens · Post by **Bilbo Baggens** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:10 pm

Hi I'am bilbo, I hate adventures , as you know I'am a hobbit, plus you have to call my movie agent, you will have to work a deal with him first.

Dollarhyde · Post by **Dollarhyde** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:23 pm

Hello sharding1 and welcome to the forum...

All the best in your project...

Everhard · Post by **Everhard** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 3:23 pm

sharding1 wrote:During his Christmas Day preparations with Annabelle (doll) he gets a surprise visit from his son James.

Annabelle

Good luck with wanting to borrow a doll... No chance! They are very heavy, cumbersome, and so expensive nobody is likely to lend one to even the most well-meaning stranger.

This is the second such request from Farnham art college that I have seen. The first was just a few years ago.

Sandtable · Post by **Sandtable** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 8:30 pm

You might think about asking to borrow a mannequin and a realdoll head. If it is as you say, most of it other than head or hands would be window dressing. There are models other than realdolls, and considering the cost you could understand. A person might rent a car for filming - but that usually carries insurance. Now consider loaning an uninsured car.... that is loaning a realdoll.

Szalinski · Post by **Szalinski** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:31 pm

Didn't Ryan Gosling do that one already?

Post by **Nescio50** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 5:47 pm

Last year one of my dolls was to feature in a short movie.
The film maker agreed that I would be the only one to handle the doll. Also, damages by others than me, would be the liability of the film maker.
For some other reason the production was cancelled, so my doll isn't a film star

Resume, it is possible to have a doll featuring a movie, but it takes a lot of clear&strict agreements. And never let an inexperienced person handle a high-end doll.

LovesBlackWomen · Post by **LovesBlackWomen** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:03 pm

Can't you just use a mannequin (with a hole)? They are just as realistic as RealDolls, are much easier to pose, lighter, easier to move around, come apart, MUCH easier to dress, much sturdier, can stand unassisted. If you're not having sex with it, a mannequin is a far, far better option. Also, a high end doll has a better chance of being stolen.

Post by **RainLover** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:42 pm

sharding1 wrote:As we are students, our budget doesn't really allow for a really expensive RealDoll. ... We would require someone to lend us a doll for filming purposes and for ease of location it would be need to be someone based in the UK.

May I offer some constructive advice? Think of the doll like a piece of equipment you are going to rent for your production. Doll owners are on the whole a retiring bunch who don't want publicity for themselves or their doll, other than the limited photo sharing that happens on the forum or the interactions at our conventions. Therefore, your best shot is to offer up some money to compensate the owner for his/her time--and expect the owner to be the exclusive doll wrangler for the entire time the doll is on set. I think the comparison to a car rental is appropriate, although I would look at car rental fees in your area for a subcompact and then double it. That should be about the right rate for your area. That's about what specialty prop wranglers get (minimum) for low/no budget productions per day of filming. Speaking from experience on this.

RainLover
Media Moderator