# animate! › Films › Black, White & Green by Ian Bourn › all › synopses › direction & collaboration › full production credits › film stills › tools & processes › format & distribution › background material Canonical: https://animate.org.uk/films/blackwhiteandgreen/all Discovery terms: 2000s animation, 3d cgi, live action and animation, digital compositing, food, memory, london, experimental short film, filmmaker, artist The following is the archived page text; discovery terms above are separately sourced metadata. Archive status: restored in 2026; historical calls, deadlines and services are closed. --- **Black, White & Green – the way of pie** a film by Ian Bourn 2003, 7 min 50 sec ![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “Pies are not cut. They are broken.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen11.jpg) “Pies are not cut. They are broken.” ### animate! synopsis In the setting of a traditional London eel and pie house, solitary diners ponder their steaming dinners, each glimpsing a personal landscape within the food on the plate. **Black, White & Green** is a meditation on the aesthetics of pie, mash and green liquor, an exploration of the terrain and a revelation of what wriggles just below the surface. ### one sentence synopsis What do YOU see in a plate of pie and mash? ### long synopsis In this world of marble tables, etched glass and tiles the humble London dish of pie, mashed potato and thick green liquor acts as a catalyst for excursions into memory, fantasy or to places best forgotten. **Black White & Green** is a meditation on the pie and mash aesthetic – an exploration of the terrain and a revelation of what wriggles just below the surface. ### key credits **director** Ian Bourn **writer** Ian Bourn **lighting camera** Patrick Duval **digital effects** Asher Edwards Max Horton **compositor** Daniel Saul **sound designer** Graeme Miller ### Ian Bourn #### biography [Ian](http://www.filmwaves.co.uk/Filmwaves_files/01_14/10IanBourn.htm) is an established artist, working in video since 1978. The East End of London, where he was born and still lives, is also the site of his work. In 1985 he founded *Housewatch*, the artists’ group specialising in public film events. His films draw on characters from his past and present, their language and sense of humour, to create fiction and metaphor that has an authentic ring to it. Recent video works include **Monolog** and [The Kiss](http://www.mfj-online.org/journalPages/MFJ39/JohnSmith.html) . Computer imaging is a significant departure for his practice. September 2003 #### filmography **Lenny’s Documentary** 1978 B/W video 45mins**The End Of The World** 1982 Col video 10mins**Sick As A Dog** 1989 Col video 25mins**Out Of It** 1991 Col video 1min**Breathing Days** 1992 Col video 14mins**Monolog** 1998 Col video 46mins**The Kiss** 1999 Col video 5mins (also gallery installation)**Alfred Hitchcock** 2000 Col video 26mins**Black White & Green** 2003 Col video 7mins ### a film by Ian Bourn ### direction **director** Ian Bourn ### script **writer** Ian Bourn ### cast in picture **players** John Ellis Dave Bourn Eileen Bourn Elaine McIntyre Yoshimi Kihara Alan Freedman ### live-action personnel **lighting camera** Patrick Duval ### image personnel **digital effects** Asher Edwards Max Horton **compositor** Daniel Saul ### sound personnel **sound designer** Graeme Miller ### support **primary funding** An animate! production through Finetake for Arts Council England and Channel 4 © Ian Bourn 2003 [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: *Black, White & Green* title card](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen01.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen01.jpg) **Black, White & Green** title card - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “It’s definitely a horse. It _is_ a horse. Definitely… Look at the shape of the head.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen02.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen02.jpg) “It’s definitely a horse. It *is* a horse. Definitely… Look at the shape of the head.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I like miniature villages.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen03.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen03.jpg) “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I like miniature villages.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “The best time is in winter…. That’s when it does you the most good.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen04.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen04.jpg) “The best time is in winter…. That’s when it does you the most good.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “At an appointed time, after a certain number of days, after work and before what you are going to make of the evening…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen05.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen05.jpg) “At an appointed time, after a certain number of days, after work and before what you are going to make of the evening…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “It’s that lull between the schedules, when there’s pleasure to be had in allowing yourself to be administered to.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen06.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen06.jpg) “It’s that lull between the schedules, when there’s pleasure to be had in allowing yourself to be administered to.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “... And there is a cowboy.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen07.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen07.jpg) “... And there is a cowboy.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen08.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen08.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “Slide along… Don’t worry about a knife. You won’t need that.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen09.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen09.jpg) “Slide along… Don’t worry about a knife. You won’t need that.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “You sit in the relative peace and calm, contemplating your untouched dinner… Its virgin landscape.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen10.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen10.jpg) “You sit in the relative peace and calm, contemplating your untouched dinner… Its virgin landscape.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “Pies are not cut. They are broken.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen11.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen11.jpg) “Pies are not cut. They are broken.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “Remember. Vinegar is unavoidable. Without it there is nothing.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen12.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen12.jpg) “Remember. Vinegar is unavoidable. Without it there is nothing.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “The green is the chopped leaves of parsley…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen13.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen13.jpg) “The green is the chopped leaves of parsley…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “... held in suspension.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen14.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen14.jpg) “... held in suspension.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “It’s the whole world on a plate.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen15.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen15.jpg) “It’s the whole world on a plate.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “Elephant. Mammoth. Africa.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen16.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen16.jpg) “Elephant. Mammoth. Africa.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “It is not England, I’m sure. It could be Italy I suppose but…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen17.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen17.jpg) “It is not England, I’m sure. It could be Italy I suppose but…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen18.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen18.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “There is a group of people sitting on the rocks by the shore…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen19.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen19.jpg) “There is a group of people sitting on the rocks by the shore…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “... and they are all looking at the boat.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen20.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen20.jpg) “... and they are all looking at the boat.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “And behind those people is a wavy expanse of big fat rocks.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen21.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen21.jpg) “And behind those people is a wavy expanse of big fat rocks.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen22.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen22.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “And everyone was running towards the sea except me…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen23.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen23.jpg) “And everyone was running towards the sea except me…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “Looks very hot there… Very hot…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen24.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen24.jpg) “Looks very hot there… Very hot…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “I couldn’t get away from it quick enough…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen25.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen25.jpg) “I couldn’t get away from it quick enough…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen26.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen26.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “I can see a block of flats…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen27.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen27.jpg) “I can see a block of flats…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “The basement… Into the basement.”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen28.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen28.jpg) “The basement… Into the basement.” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen29.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen29.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “I’ve got no idea how you get rid of toads. There’s no such thing as toad poison is there?”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen30.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen30.jpg) “I’ve got no idea how you get rid of toads. There’s no such thing as toad poison is there?” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen31.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen31.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen32.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen32.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen33.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen33.jpg) *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still: “I just felt myself being pulled over… over the edge…”](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen34.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen34.jpg) “I just felt myself being pulled over… over the edge…” - *click on image for full size still* [![Black, White & Green – the way of pie, still](https://animate.org.uk/stillslarge/blackwhiteandgreen35.jpg)](https://animate.org.uk/stillsfull/blackwhiteandgreen35.jpg) *click on image for full size still* ### technical #### process summary A combination of live-action, shot on DigiBeta, and digitally-recreated 3D space. **Black, White & Green** is a mixture of live action and computer generated imagery, with real people and food shot against blue-screen and composited into an imaginary restaurant environment created in a 3D graphics program. The close-up food shots were done using a borescope lens and the ‘animation’ of the food was in fact filmed ‘live’ and moved by means of (off screen) forks and spoons. The voice over narration is that of the author (Ian Bourn) and contributions by the participating actors, who were responding to images of pie and mash dinners and asked to describe what these images suggested to them. The sound recordings and the overall sound design was devised by sound artist Graeme Miller. ### master copy format **format** DigiBeta **colour or black & white** colour ### video distribution format **video format** DigiBeta **screen aspect ratio** 16:9 **video standard** PAL **sound type** stereo ### distributor LUX [info@lux.org.uk](mailto:info@lux.org.uk) +44 (0)20 7503 3980 [www.lux.org.uk](http://www.lux.org.uk/) **Black, White & Green – the way of pie** film, stills and other materials © Ian Bourn 2003