How would you raise a pet cloud? Kaleb McKenna writes about his new short film, Raising Thunder

Kaleb McKenna on the set of Raising Thunder.

Written by Jesse Laurie, directed by Kaleb McKenna and produced by Jasmine Leivers, the heartwarming short film Raising Thunder stars impressive up-and-comer Chloe Brink as a young girl who discovers a magical cloud that may hold the key to mending her father’s (Joel Jackson) broken heart.

Here, Kaleb McKenna writes about the making of the short film.

Chloe Brink in Raising Thunder.

“Having lost my father during my early teens, I wanted to create something authentic to the journey of grief. While the immediate aftermath of loss is often overwhelming, I aimed to explore the barriers that can emerge in its wake, isolating us from others.”

Article by Kaleb McKenna

How would you “raise” a pet cloud?

In early 2020, writer Jesse Laurie and I found ourselves intrigued by an idea. Jesse had written a short script featuring a cloud appearing in its final moments, and as I provided feedback, my curiosity quickly turned into collaboration.

Answering that question and crafting a truly unique short cinematic experience would require the next three years and countless more collaborators. From the outset, I aimed to maintain a sense of realism amidst the film’s fantastical elements. Thunder, our central character, needed to feel grounded and authentic, even if it was a CGI cloud. Early on, there was a debate as to whether animated facial expressions were necessary for Thunder, ultimately deciding that straying too far from the natural essence of a cloud would detract from the film’s central premise.

Kaleb McKenna, Jesse Laurie and producer Jasmine Leivers on the set of Raising Thunder.

This commitment to realism permeated every aspect of our production approach. Designer Andrew Meyer meticulously crafted to-scale replicas of Thunder for our lead actor, the talented Chloe Brink, to rehearse with. Production designer Charlotte Bayley devised practical effects to mirror Thunder’s on-set actions, while our sound mixer, Brad Habib, conducted extensive tests to capture the sound of a miniature cloud in motion.

Kaleb McKenna with Joel Jackson on the set of Raising Thunder.

However, Raising Thunder is not solely about the ‘how.’ It’s also deeply personal to me. Having lost my father during my early teens, I wanted to create something authentic to the journey of grief. While the immediate aftermath of loss is often overwhelming, I aimed to explore the barriers that can emerge in its wake, isolating us from others. Through our shared experiences, Jesse and I crafted a story that explores how pent-up grief is isolating, while shared grief is unifying.

So, how does one ‘raise’ a pet cloud?’

Ultimately, it requires finding a deeper reason to undertake the task in the first place. For me, that reason was to craft a cinematic journey that resonates with anyone who has experienced loss, making them feel less alone.

Kaleb McKenna
Director
Rasing Thunder

Raising Thunder is set to screen at both Stellar Short Film Festival and WA Made Film Festival over the coming weeks.