The Background: A Long-Awaited Collaboration

Back in 2018, when I first moved to Rotterdam, a friend introduced me to the crew at Studio Mals. I was immediately drawn to their iconic and playful style. At the time, I was writing my first feature-length screenplay and naturally asked if they had ever considered working on fiction. They were busy and content with their commercial projects, so they politely passed on the idea. Over the years, we’d see each other at festivals and around the neighborhood, and I kept up with their work.

Fast forward to 2024, and the opportunity to collaborate finally came full circle—Studio Mals reached out, looking for a native English speaker to voice the main character in their new puppet film, a collaboration with Setreset Films for OFFF Barcelona 2024. Not only was I thrilled to be involved, but I also saw an opportunity to help strengthen the storytelling to match the incredible handcrafted aesthetic they had created.

The Challenge: A Stunning Visual Without a Cohesive Story

When I joined the project, the handcrafted sets, vibrant characters, and meticulous detail were already in place, but the script lacked the personality and wit that would allow the story to shine at the same level. The humor needed sharpening, the characters’ voices lacked distinctness, and the dialogue wasn’t grounded in the imaginative world they’d envisioned. The challenge was clear: ensure that the narrative was as polished and compelling as the visuals.

The Approach: Strengthening Character and Narrative Cohesion

The first table read made it clear—the visuals were stunning, but the story lagged behind. With the deadline looming, we transformed the studio into a makeshift writers’ room, scribbling notes on every surface. Late into the night, we broke apart dialogue, refined characters, and sharpened jokes, balancing urgency with creativity. The room buzzed with playful riffing, laughter, and character-driven decisions, all in a race to make the story match the film’s striking aesthetic.

I collaborated closely with the team to refine the script in several key ways:

• Character Development: We gave each character a distinct voice, ensuring that their personalities matched their visual design. This made their interactions feel more organic and comedic.
• Punching Up the Humor: The original jokes were adjusted to feel more natural within the world of the film, focusing on humor that was grounded in the characters and their relationships.
• Song Rewriting: The film featured a musical number that needed lyrics to better reflect the updated character personalities and the themes of the film.
• Streamlining the Story: While some structural elements had to remain due to production constraints, we adjusted dialogue and scene pacing to improve clarity and engagement.

The Execution: Bringing the Story to Life

With production already well underway, we had to work quickly. The revised script was implemented where possible, and I lent my voice to multiple characters—Geoff, Notepad, and the Eraser—ensuring that the refined dialogue was delivered with the right energy and timing. We recorded the final voice work in Hilversum under tight deadlines.

The Outcome: Finding the Balance Between Vision and Feasibility

Despite the time constraints, we made significant improvements to the script, strengthening character voices and sharpening the humor. Not every change could be implemented—some adjustments simply weren’t possible with production already underway. But through the process, we built a creative rhythm, learning how to challenge ideas while respecting the constraints.

The film premiered at OFFF Barcelona to an enthusiastic audience, who responded to both the handcrafted visuals and the refined storytelling. While it wasn’t a perfect execution of our ideal version, it was a meaningful collaboration that elevated the project beyond just a visually impressive piece—it became an immersive storytelling experience.

Since its premiere, the film has received fantastic reception, and more importantly, a creative bond has formed between me and the crew. Discussions are already underway about expanding this collaboration into a larger series, proving that when strong visual storytelling meets thoughtful narrative refinement, something truly captivating emerges.

Catch me in the BTS video!