PRESS KIT

Short Film: Stop Motion Animation

Duration: 12 minutes 32 seconds

Written and Directed by

Christopher Kezelos

Produced by
Christine Kezelos

ZEALOUS CREATIVE
California, USA
zealouscreative.com

A Zealous Creative production, produced with assistance from Screen NSW.

ABOUT ZERO
TAGLINE
How can nothing be something?

LOG LINE
Born into a world of numbers, an oppressed zero discovers that through determination, courage, and love,
nothing can be truly something.

SYNOPSIS
In a world that judges people by their number, Zero faces constant prejudice and persecution. He walks a
lonely path until a chance encounter changes his life forever: he meets a female zero. Together they prove that
through determination, courage, and love, nothing can be truly something.

DETAILS
Narration: Nicholas McKay
Writer/Director: Christopher Kezelos
Producer: Christine Kezelos
Genre: Animation
Length: 12’32
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Language: English
Shoot Location: Sydney, Australia
Released: 2010
Website: zealouscreative.com

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.

ACCOLADES
AWARDS
- 2009 Australian Cinematographers Society: Gold Award – Experimental & Specialised category (NSW/ACT)
- 2010 Australian Cinematographers Society: Golden Tripod – Experimental & Specialised category (National)
- 2010 LA Shorts Fest: Best Animation
- 2010 Rhode Island International Film Festival: First Place – Best Animation
- 2010 Grand OFF – World Independent Film Awards: Best Animation
- 2010 ATOM Awards: Best Short Animation
- 2010 Naples International Film Festival: Best Short Film
- 2010 Flickerfest International Film Festival: Best Achievement in Sound
- 2010 Bondi Short Film Festival: Best Script
- 2010 Bondi Short Film Festival: Best Design
- 2011 Shorts Film Festival: Bronze Award
- 2011 Lady Filmmakers Film Festival: Ladies Kick Butt
- 2011 Sandfly Film Festival: Best Animation
- 2011 Sandfly Film Festival: Best Australia Short
- 2011 Sandfly Film Festival: Best at Sandfly

NOMINATIONS
- 2010 AFI Awards: Nominated for Best Short Animation
- 2010 Inside Film Awards: Nominated for Best Short Animation
- 2010 APRA Screen Music Awards: Nominated for Best Music in a Short Film
- 2010 Australian Screen Sound Awards: Nominated for Best Sound in a Short Film

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.

CAST & CREW BIOS
NICHOLAS MCKAY
NARRATOR
Nicholas studied acting at Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts and graduated with
a Bachelor of Dramatic Art in Acting. (B.D.A. NIDA)

Nicholas has an amazing vocal range, matched only by his diverse client base. Nicholas
can play the part of a 5 year old boy or an 85 year old man. From epic, international movie
trailers, to ads and animations.

He’s a signature voice/actor and a favorite with many big brands, radio stations, television
channels and corporations… national and international.

Nick is now represented by renowned manager, Winter Artist Management and famed
agent, Danis Panaro Nist (DPN) in Hollywood, who are taking care of Nicholas’ international
movie trailer voiceover career.

CHRISTOPHER KEZELOS
DIRECTOR
In 1996, Christopher graduated from Sydney University’s ‘Sydney College of the Arts’,
majoring in film production. For more than a decade he has worked as a writer, producer,
director and editor on ads, online videos and award winning short films through his
production company Zealous Creative.

In 2009 Christopher wrote, directed and animated a stop motion short film called Zero. It
has won 11 awards including ‘Best Animation’ from LA Shorts Fest and the Rhode Island
International Film Festival and has been nominated for an AFI Award in the ‘Best Short
Animation’ category.

He’s recently finished his latest film, a stop motion short called The Maker which is currently
touring film festivals. He’s also developing a number of new projects including a stop motion
animated feature and live action TV series.

FILMOGRAPHY
The Maker (2011) A Tasteful Bunch (2004)
Zero (2010) Nature’s Wonder Fruit (2004)
For Doris (2008) Margaret (2004)
DentaMate (2006) SMS (2003)
Become One (2005) No Butts About It (2003)
Reflections (2005) Dentophobia (2001)
Annie, Forget Your Gun (2005)

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.

CHRISTINE KEZELOS
PRODUCER
Christine is the co-owner of Zealous Creative, a boutique production company based in
Los Angeles. She has been writing and producing award winning short films, ads and online
videos since 2001.

In 2010 she produced a stop motion animated short called Zero. The film has won 11 awards
including ‘Best Animation’ from LA Shorts Fest and the Rhode Island International Film Festival
and has been nominated for an AFI Award in the ‘Best Short Animation’ category.

Christine’s latest stop motion short film called The Maker is currently touring festivals. She also
has a number of new projects in development including a stop motion animated feature
and live action TV series.

MATTHEW HORREX
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Matthew Horrex has been working in the Film and Television industry for nearly 15 years. He
is currently employed as the series Director of Photography for “All Saints”, one of Australia’s
most watched dramas. His most recent work on the series has received accolades from the
Australian Cinematographers Society, winning several NSW silver and gold awards and a
national ACS Award of Achievement in Cinematography.

In addition to his work in television, Matthew’s cinematography has been featured on many
award winning international short film projects. His film DentaMate was screened in the
‘Rhode Island International Film Festival’ in 2006 and Annie, Forget Your Gun was awarded
first prize at the ‘Young at Heart’ Short Film Festival.

His work on Zero has recently awarded him two awards from the Australian
Cinematographers Society, a NSW ‘Gold Award’ and the coveted ‘Golden Tripod’.

DAVID COX
ANIMATOR
David Cox has been illustrating, sculpting and animating since 2000. After graduating with
honours in 2001, specialising in illustration and animation, he went on to work at the Jim
Henson Company.

Working for the Sydney-based Creature Shop, David’s expertise in moulds and prosthetics
was first shown on the TV series Farscape.

David has since created his own stop-motion animation film, illustrated two children’s books
and worked as a Production Artist for various leading publishing and digital companies.

His most recent stop motion animation is the multi award winning Zero, where David was
responsible for concept illustrations, character modelling and animation.

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.

KYLS BURTLAND
COMPOSER
After winning Best Score on graduation from A.F.T.R.S (the Australian Film and Television
School), Kyls went on to be nominated for Emerging Talent of the Year by the Film Critics
Circle in 2003. She has composed music for over 40 films, and 300 TVCs and idents, and her
scores have shown at festivals all over the world, winning two events in particular; La Shorts
2005, for ‘A Letter from Fallujah’, and the St Kilda Festival for ‘Swing’ in 2008.

Kyls is perhaps best known for her musical rebranding of ABC TV which won a Gold Promax in
New York in 2007 and again in 2008.

In 2009 she was nominated for an ASTRA award for her musical children’s show ALPHABREAKS
for Disney channel. And three TV series for free to air have followed this accolade; Recruits,
Guerilla Gardiners, and Jesters.

BRETT BIMSON
PRODUCTION DESIGN
As a graduate of Visual Communications, Brett has been involved in digital design since the
mid 1990’s working for a variety of digital media agencies and traditional agencies such as
Clemenger BBDO and Host.

As a Senior Art Director, Brett has directed and co-developed a number of projects that
have been recipients of prestigious awards locally and internationally, including an AIMIA,
several ADMA Awards, 2 IAB Awards, a New York Festivals award and most recently a Gold
Pencil at The One Show. Clients include Sega, RTA, Uncle Tobys, Mitsubishi and V Energy
Drink.

Brett also works as a production designer having recently completed work on the multi
award winning short film Zero. He was also responsible for designing the film’s matte
backgrounds.

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.

ZERO CREDITS
Produced with assistance from Screen NSW.

Narrated by Nicholas McKay

Written and Directed by Christopher Kezelos

Produced by Christine Kezelos

Director of Photography Matthew Horrex

Animated by David Cox Christopher Kezelos

Assistant Animators Mark Lagana Christine Kezelos

Original Music by Kyls Burtland

Matte Painting &

Production Design by Brett Bimson

Sound Design, Foley & Mix Brendan O’Brien

Visual Effects Supervisor Justin Alvarez

Compositors Justin Alvarez Desmond Waterman

Carlo Monaghan Douglas Njegovan
Brad Roddy Kieran Kenny
Chris Jackson Darrin Hanley
Mike Foxall Bevan Lynch
Heather Galvin Erik Fazekas

3D Artists Robert Mack Bevan Lynch

Chris Burness Michael Yates
Jorge Arturo Hernandez Ruiz

Online Editor Billy Wychgel

Offline Editor Christopher Kezelos

Edit Consultant David Maurer

Colourist Billy Wychgel

Credit Roll Heather Galvin

Sculpting & Models David Cox

Carpentry Jim Kezelos

Set Design & Construction Bonnie Tulloh Ziad Jamal

Ai Ikeda David Cox
Elisabeta Goanta Christine Kezelos
Jim Kezelos Christopher Kezelos

Painting Olivier Strobel David Cox

Props Bonnie Tulloh Ziad Jamal

Ai Ikeda Susan McClymont
Rueben Carlsen Christine Kezelos
Olivier Strobel Shelley Hepworth
David Cox

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.

Fabrication Christine Kezelos Reina McAndrew

Costume Designer Katie Nimmo

Children’s Drawings Hannah Jamal Nathan Stewart

Singer Robyne Dunn

Additional Voices Reina McAndrew Tully O’Brien

Shelley Hepworth Lisa Hill
Anthony Clarke Brendan O’Brien
Kyls Burtland Christine Kezlos
Keely O’Brien Christopher Kezelos

Recording Studio Linear Studios Love Htz Studio

Colony NoFi

Producer Mentor Warwick Burton

Script Editor Christine Kezelos

Catering Mama Kezelos’ Kitchen

Thanks to Valerie Allerton Brett Bimson

David Cox Matthew Horrex
Justin Alvarez Ziad Jamal
Ridwan Hassim Matt Smith
Nick Doherty Andros Walsh
Marshall Heald Tia & George Gialouris
Margaret Murphy Toby Wilkins

Special Thanks to Jim & Nina Kezelos

© 2010 Zealous Creative. For enquiries visit zealouscreative.com/contact.