Alter Egos

When Chris and I first interviewed Ryan for what was to become the dialogue track for the animated short it was apparent that there was more of a story there then we could cover. It was then that I proposed to the team to do a documentary as well as the animation. At the beginning of this project we used to quote from Anais Nin "We don't see things as they are but as we are". I think that Laurence Green has captured that sensibility in his approach that makes you question the ground you stand on. In the making of this documentary it was never intended as a promotional piece for the animation and this kind of comment is just plain uninformed. In the end Ryan preferred the way he was portrayed in this documentary more then his portrayal in the Oscar winning short. It was also especially well received in Montreal where we shot it.

i viewed "alter egos" at a private screening with Laurence green present. the documentary, originally meant only to be a promotional tool for the animated documentary contained in entitled "Ryan," works as so much more. it is a credit to Laurence to have put together such an emotionally charged outlook on a fellow film maker, long-lost animator Ryan Larkin. Ryan went from Oscar contender to panhandler. the animated "Ryan" is shown in full at the end of "alter egos" as is Ryan larkin's reaction to it and conversation with its creator, Chris Landreth. it is one of the most insightful moments that i have seen in film. Laurence green has managed to create more than just a promotional tool--he has made a documentary every bit as creative and deep as the man and the film it is about.