Header Part
×

Hi, my name is Marlyn Spaaij. As a director, writer and storyboard artist I aim to tell stories that can move and transport audiences everywhere.

I play the guitar, write songs and I recently bought a banjo. Also: I have a cat, her name is Piep (or Squeek). I grew up with my sisters in the rural east of the Netherlands, in a region bordering on Germany called Twente.

Ever since I was little I've had a fascination with nature, folklore and music. Forests are my favourite places to be although I currently live in the medieval centre of Utrecht.

Stay up to date and follow me on Instagram

Would you like to collaborate on a project? Let's meet!

phone: (+31) 06 - 12200773
email: m.spaaij@gmail.com
adress: Druk, Westerkade 30, Utrecht, Netherlands

Resumé

Filmography

Trouble in Mind

in production

Duration: 11 min Country: NL Director: Marlyn Spaaij Author: Marlyn Spaaij Producer: Jantiene de Kroon

Wrote and directs the 2D short film Trouble in Mind. Got selected for European Short Pitch 2016 and won best pitch. Recieved development and production funding from the Netherlands Film Fund.

Sisters of the Mist

in development

Duration: 80 min Country: NL Director: Marlyn Spaaij Author: Marlyn Spaaij & Eveline Haagenbeek Producer: Studio Pupil / Lemming Film

Writes and directs 3D feature film Sisterhood of the Meadow. Got selected for Cartoon Movie 2019 and Cartoon Springboard 2017 and received treatment funding from the Netherlands Film Fund. A graphic novel of the film will be published through Nobrow mid 2022.

Benjamin Bat

in development

Duration: 80 min Country: NL Director: Patrick Raats Author: Karen van Holst Pellekaan Producer: Storytellers / ilLuster

Storyboard artist on the 2D feature film Benjamin Bat. The project was selected for Cartoon Movie 2019.

Camouflage

in production

Duration: 19 min Country: NL/BE Director: Remco Polman Author: Remco Polman & Jantiene de Kroon Producer: Mooves

Animated on the 2D dystopic short thriller Camouflage.

Dr Panda

2017

Duration: 26x 7min Country: NL/UK/CH Director: Patrick Chin Author: Daan Velsink Producer:

Storyboard artist on the international 3D- series Dr Panda, based on the famous Chinese game IP.

Wellie Wishers

2016 - 2017

Duration: 26x 11min Country: NL/US/UK Director: Bouwine Pool & Wip Vernooij & Anneke de Graaf & Dario van Vree Author: Various Producer: Submarine

Storyboard supervisor on the American 2D- series Wellie Wichers. Commissioned by HIT entertainment, Mattel and American Girl.

Woozle and Pip, in Search of the Scallywagger

2015

Duration: 90 min Country: NL Director: Patrick Raats Author: Arnoud Rijken & Michiel Snijders Producer: IlLuster

Storyboard artist on the 2D feature film Woozle and Pip, in Search of the Scallywagger.

Cobain: Montage of Heck

2014

Duration: 145 min Country: US/NL Director: Brett Morgen & Hisko Hulsing Author: Brett Morgen Producer: HBO

Animated on the documentary Cobain: Montage of Heck. The film premiered at Sundance 2015 and was nominated for "Best Animated Special Production" at the 43e edition of the Annie Awards.

Tripple Trouble

2013-2014

Duration: 90 min Country: NL Director: Albert 't Hooft & Paco Vink Author: Arnoud Rijken & Michiel Snijders Producer: ilLuster

Animated on the 2D feature Tripple Trouble. The film premiered at the Dutch Film Festival in 2014.

Stupid Monkey

2012

Duration: 3 min Country: NL Director: Marlyn Spaaij Author: Marlyn Spaaij Producer:

Wrote, directed and animated the 2D short film Stupid Monkey. The short was screened at Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, Klik! Amsterdam Animation Festival, Go Short and Shortcutz.

Side-activities

Exposition Futuropolis

2018

Participated in the art comic-project 'Futuropolis' at Wgkunst with comic artists Maaike Hartjes, Hein de Kort and Wasco.

Member of the board

2018 - 2020

Member of the board at DAMD, the Dutch guild for animators.

Member of the board

2019 – 2020

Member of the board at Kunstenbond, the Dutch art union.

Teaching

2014 – present

Guest teacher at St. Joost academy and HKU (Utrecht School of Arts).

Education

Trainings

2016 - present

Participated in European Short Pitch 2016, won best pitch, Participated in Cartoon Springboard 2017 and Cartoon Movie 2019.

St. Joost Academy Breda

2011 - 2012

Earned an MA in Animation, cum laude. Made the film ‘Stupid Monkey’ wrote thesis ‘Why Do I Laugh When You Get Hurt.’ Which was presented at the symposium 'There Will Be (animated) Blood' at Klik! Amsterdam 2012.

The Open University

2009 - 2010

Earned an MA in Animation, cum laude. Wrote thesis ‘Psychological Knowledge as a Motivational Base for Acting in Animation.'

HKU (Utrecht School of the Arts)

2006 - 2010

Earned an BA in Animation, cum laude. Curated the symposium ‘Animating Science, Visualizing Content ́ for Klik! Amsterdam Animation Festival 2010 wrote the publication 'Simply Communicating Complexity.’

Terms & Conditions

m.spaaij@gmail.com

(+31) 06 - 12 200 773

Director, writer, storyboard artist & animator.

Trouble in Mind

Geplaatst doorMarlyn Spaaij
SINGLE TEMPLATE
Back to Shorts

Shorts

Trouble in Mind

in production

Lucille, a 14-year-old alligator, finally gets to spend the summer with her estranged father Bill, a blues guitarist. She joins him and his band on tour to help out as a roadie and looks forward to spending time with him. She hopes playing the guitar together and learning to play his hit-song: Cold Blooded Woman will help build a better relationship. On stage Bill is charming, but getting close to Bill is not what she expected as she discovers the true meaning behind his music.

Credits

Director & writer: Marlyn Spaaij
Producer: Jeroen Zijlstra, Marlyn Spaaij, Jantiene de Kroon
Production Company: Studio 5AM
Script coach: Nadja Dumouchel
Storyboard: Marlyn Spaaij
Concept art: Marlyn Spaaij
Backrgound artist: Carmel Ben Ami

Info

Running time: 12 min
Expected release date: 2025
Country: the Netherlands
Technique: 2D computer/2D analogue
Target audience: Young adults 12-18
Genre: coming-of-age
Status: in production

Process

Trouble in Mind is my 12 minute 2D short film. The film has been in development since 2015, writing the script and working on the storyboards. The project got selected for European Short Pitch 2016 and won the prize for best pitch.

The film is currently in production and is expected to be finished late 2025. The project is supported financially by the Netherlands Film Fund and AFK (Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst).

Next Project:

Stupid Monkey

2012

 Bekijk project