Hi, I'm Liza Rhea,
and I'm the director of the Short Circuit short film The Number 2 to Kettering.
I grew up in Northampton, England, and I got the number two bus to school.
It was a big red double-decker bus, full of strangers.
And, one day, someone exiting the bus caught my eye and smiled at me.
And, uh, my immediate reaction was, like,
"Oh, no. Don't look at this person, don't interact."
Then I just realized, "Actually, that felt really nice."
So, I wanted to, whenever I could,
without being the crazy girl,
um, just catch someone's eye and smile at them,
and I got the nickname "The Smiler" from all the bus drivers, you know.
(LAUGHS)
I used color to try and relay this emotional journey that this girl's on.
Another thing that we went with stylistically was, um,
trying to make it look like a bit of a stop-motion animation.
So, having the background characters animated on twos
and having real tactile textures.
We have such a huge impact on one another. We're all going through something,
and sometimes the smallest act, even if it's just a smile,
can really help brighten someone's day.
I hope you enjoy The Number 2 to Kettering.
(WHISTLING)
(MAN 1 GRUMBLING)
-(GIRL GASPS) -(COINS CLATTER)
Good morning.
(SIGHS) Is it?
-Oh. Um... -(COINS CLATTER)
(CHUCKLES)
(SQUEAKING)
(CLEARS THROAT) Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
-(GASPS) -WOMAN 1: Hmph!
(GASPS) Excuse me, sir.
(GASPS)
-MAN 1: What'd you do that for? -Sorry, I, uh...
(MAN 1 GRUNTS)
Sorry.
(SIGHS)
(SCOFFS)
-(BABY CRYING) -(OBJECT RATTLES)
Huh?
WOMAN 2: (SIGHS) Hush now.
-Excuse me. Is this yours? -(SIGHS)
-Sorry, I don't mean to bother you... -What?
(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)
(SIGHS)
Huh?
(BABY GURGLING)
(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
-(LAUGHING) -(SIGHS)
(BOTH LAUGHING)
(LAUGHING)
(WOMAN 2 BLOWS RASPBERRY)
(ALL LAUGHING)
MAN 2: That's cheered me up.
-Well, good morning. -Isn't it? (CHUCKLES)