A CLOUD AWAY

'A Cloud Away' is a short film created during one school term at the Southern California Institute of Architecture.  The film speculates on a future after the worst of the climate crisis has passed, in which the remaining coastal communities work together to mitigate ocean water temperature rise, as an approach to put their world back together.

This film is based on deep research focused on the implementation of Marine Cloud Brightening, a solar geoengineering technology, which consists of brightening the clouds which in turn reflect sunlight and cool ocean temperatures.  

Our creative process involved many iterations of storyboards, concept art, narration, climax placements, music and sound effects. We worked collaboratively to include elements that were important to each of us, such as showing the impact of climate change of sea life, parent / child relationships, and showcasing the technology.

Below is a small fraction of our research along with four of our storyboard iterations.

Warm oceans and rising sea levels have traumatized coastal ecosystems and communities alike, pushing us to take action through Marine Cloud Brightening and bridge the gap between ocean and clouds by spraying sea water particles into the sky to brighten and reflect the sun away from ocean water.

Fishing boats no longer fish, trawlers no longer trawl, and smaller vessels have been fashioned to contribute what they can. Volunteers from coastal communities join the combined global effort of scientists and industry to lower ocean temperatures and restore the colors of the corals.

All those who can help, including a mom and dad, commit themselves for the 9 month cycle out at sea. Their young daughter, cared for by other community members, finds new ways to play, adapt, and make sense of her environment. This story follows one moment of her life, as she walks and floats along her daily path, passing houses from a previous world and wearing the clothes of the new one.

Her life revolves around this new cycle of reunions and goodbyes, building excitement and culminating in the lantern celebration, where the community gathers to guide their returning loved ones back home from making the clouds white and the sky blue again.