All Music, Lyrics, Poetry, Photos, Artwork and Videos copyright 2009-2012 by Barbara Carroll
unless otherwise credited.
Paper Cup To Heaven
movie stills:
"An original song tells a story of longing and loss where the singer wishes she could talk
with those who are no longer with her in life. She sings, 'I've got a paper cup on a silken
thread, taking my words to Heaven, talking with the dead...Nobody knows me down
here...'

"Barbara Carroll is an award-winning director/producer who also performs in the film. Carroll has
made short stop-motion films, animated videos with original songs, and documentary and
industrial videos. Shot in B&W with brightly colored animated elements, 'Paper Cup To Heaven'
explores the cutting edge of today's technology and blends it with emotion and humor." - IMDb
Director's Statement:

"In 2009, my best friend died suddenly. I talked with my brother on the phone, just
trying to connect and get my head around the shock. After a while, he mentioned
some wonderful news that my father (who died in 2004) would love knowing. I said,
"Oh, wait...let me get some thread and a paper cup to tell Dad about that!" We
laughed, which I would have thought impossible to do an hour before, and I grabbed
pen and paper to begin putting my grief into a song - Paper Cup To Heaven - which
this short film is based upon in a very non-literal way. Artists have such an
advantage; we might not become rich or famous, but we can take terrible things and
make them beautiful." - BC

'Paper Cup To Heaven' is an experimental work shot on HD video in B&W with available
light, then manipulated using unique rotoscoping techniques. Frames were then
hand-painted and stills added. The music is an original song performed a Capella to tell the
story.

This is a one-woman movie. Cast and crew, editor and singer, that's me! It began with the
song which was written November 2009. Then it was a matter of waiting a few months for
the rotoscoping software to become available for PC and getting the funds for a new
computer and HD camcorder.

The song was recorded as it was being written, so the sound of it is very fresh and
instantaneous, as if the audience is hearing a jazz improv with words and melody. It is as
untouched-up as the film is highly manipulated.


Technical notes:
Rotoscoping and hand-painting done in Synthetik Studio Artist
Vocals Recorded on Cakewalk Sonar 8.5
Editing in Adobe Premiere
Stills and photo manipulation in Photoshop
Video shot on Canon HFS11
Computing rig = Dell i7 64-bit
check out the trailer on
Youtube:
"Paper Cup To Heaven"
Nominated for Best
Experimental Film
they love me; they hate me - a sample of reviews of Paper Cup To Heaven:

"The singer has a beautiful, clear singing voice. The hand painting
added vibrant color to this animated film. I loved the way the
rotoscoping added lifelike movement. A great original song too.  It
conveyed strongly a sense of longing that touched my heart."
- review board member Cleveland International FF

"Seriously?" - Ryan G. moviegoer Phoenix FF