MONSTR
How do you go on living when everything is taken from you in the blink of an eye?
The story of a young artist who confronts his inner demons while apprenticing with a northwest totem carver after the death of his beloved.
Accolades
Best Animated Short
Edmonton International Film Festival 2023
Edmonton, Alberta
Alberta Short Film Devon Bolton Memorial Award
Calgary International Film Festival 2023
Calgary, Alberta
Official Selection
WYO Film Festival
Sheridan, Wyoming
Official Selection
Los Angeles Horror Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
Best Action/Adventure
Best Director
Best Sound Design
Hollywood Blood Horror Festival
Los Angeles, California
Screenings
Edmonton International Film Festival
Edmonton, Alberta
Calgary International Film Festival
Calgary, Alberta
Freak Scene Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
Horror Underground Film Festival
Montreal, Quebec
LA Skins Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
lil’ spooky fest
Los Angeles, California
Horror At the Ohio
Madison, Indiana
NatiVisions Film Festival
Colorado River Indian Reservation
WYO Film Festival
Sheridan, Wyoming
Four Corners Film Festival
Farmington, New Mexico
Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Festival
Barcelona, Spain
Los Angeles Horror Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
Chain NYC Film Fest
New York, New York
Black Hills Film Festival
Hill City, South Dakota
ImagineNative Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario
Hollywood Blood Horror Festival
Los Angeles, California
Warner Bros. Discovery Access Programs video teaser:
HBO Max Original | ONLY YOU: An Animated Shorts Collection
The HBO Max X WBD Access Animated Shorts Program provides underrepresented creators who have not had the opportunity to create an original work for a network or streamer, with access to Warner Bros. Discovery’s powerful suite of creative talent and resources.
Program participants are being provided with a production budget, resources, a dedicated WarnerMedia executive mentor to help them develop and execute their original 1-5 minute animated short film. All projects are overseen by Executive Producer, Amanda Miller, who is guiding them through the production process, from start to finish. They’ll also be exposed to the business of animation, as well as to various career pathways into the industry through a series of master classes and workshops. Come meet our cohort, mentors and producer! We’ll be sharing more details on their projects and progress in the weeks and months to come!
For more information, visit the WarnerAccess Animated Shorts website
Tank Standing Buffalo
Since he first held a pencil, Tank has never put it down, using art as a way to understand himself and his place in the world. Tank’s interests have led to the creation of haunted house attractions, tiki mugs, tattoos, painted motorcycle tanks, wood carvings, freakshow attractions, horror movie FX, record covers, gig posters, band merch, zombie portraits, and most recently, animation.
Xstine Cook
Xstine is a writer, director, and multi-disciplinary artist. She trained at Dell’Arte International, and studied mask making with masters on the west coast of Canada, in Bali and Europe. She founded a successful physical theatre company before starting a puppet festical, and is a recipient of the 2022 Calgary Award for Arts.
Cara Adu-Darko (a.k.a. Sammy Jean) (she/her):
Composer, Musician, vocalist
Noted for her distinct vocal sound, reminiscent of old 1960’s soul, this Calgary born singer is also a gifted song writer who performs acoustically or alongside her backup band. Cara’s distinct sound is influenced by her old Kingston town roots, Reggae, Ska, old school Soul, Jazz and Motown. Cara maintains her individuality in the arrangements she composes, and brings a hard core love of horror to the soundtrack of MONSTR.
Brandon Smith (he/him):
Composer, Sound engineer, musician
Brandon Smith is a musician, synth programmer and avid student of keyboard history who works collaboratively with Cara Adu-Darko to create film scores. His love of vintage equipment and history led him to work for the National Music Centre in Calgary, where he came to know many of their instruments and artifacts including a world class collection of synthesizers. MONSTR is his third Tank Standing Buffalo film.
Created + Directed by
Tank Standing Buffalo
Written by
Xstine Cook
Tank Standing Buffalo
Produced by
Amanda Miller
Xstine Cook
Leah Solis
Casting Coordination by
Joanne Boreham
Animation + Storyboards by
Tank Standing Buffalo
Animation By
Crooked City Studios
Supervising Producer
Leah Solis
VO Talent
Spirit Tristan Risk
Artist and Creature – Corey Feldman
Carver – Gabe Vadas
Background + Additional Asset Design by
Michael Linington
3D Build + Compositing by
Michael Corr
Animation by
Louis Solis
Additional Animation by
Brian Evinou
Additional Shadow Animation by
Miranda Limsiaco
VFX Supervisor
Greg Zajac
Compositing by
Sean Janisse
Greg Zajac
Music + Sound Design created by
Cara Adu-Darko
Brandon Smith
Additional sound design by
William McGuigan
With additional music performances by
Walter MacDonald White Bear
Dialogue recording by
Barnhouse Studios
Justin Lapointe
Daniel Martins
StudioBox NZ
Jane Baken
and Gregg Sartiano for Mr. Feldman
Re-recording Mixer
William McGuigan
Production support provided by
Rooster Teeth
The Producers wish to acknowledge
Aaron Davidson
Jorge R Gutierrez
Melanie Nepinak Hadley
Austin Harper
Karen Horne
Kc Kohlman
Jane Lee
Suzanna Makkos
Vanessa Pfeiffer
Daniel Rose
Emily Thenard
Xochitl Torres
David Waary
Kofi Waife
Billy Wee
And Tank’s teacher+mentor+friend Phil Ashbee