by Georgia Entertainment staff
Writer and director McKinley Benson and his wife, producer and writer Mackenzie Benson, sat down with Georgia Entertainment to discuss their project “Two Ships” an animated, Oscar-qualifying, short film which explores a couple’s attempts to maintain their connection through fleeting encounters while working opposite schedules.
Can you start by telling us a little about your film and what inspired the story and visual style?
MCKINLEY: Two Ships is a 2D hand-drawn animated short that my wife, Mackenzie, and I wrote together based on our experience of working opposite schedules and trying to maintain connection during one of the busiest times in our relationship. It’s a story that’s deeply personal to us but one we’ve found resonates with others who are also looking for human connection. For the visual style, it was important that it feel unique. The character designs were first influenced by Alex Katz’s oil painting portraits, and the original inspiration for the background art came from the gouache or watercolor backgrounds of classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Through close collaboration with our artists, the style morphed and evolved into something entirely its own.
McKinley, you’ve directed both live action and animation. How did your approach to writing and directing change for animation, and what lessons from this project do you hope to carry into future work?
MCKINLEY: My approach to writing didn’t change a lot, but I felt more freedom to write from a place of pure imagination rather than worrying about the logistical or budget limitations that naturally come with live-action screenplays. I did have to shift my approach to directing. I had no actors to direct. Instead, I had to direct the people creating the actors. Through that process, my communication and direction became much more precise. I’m also used to quickly communicating with crew members on set since we’re all there in person, creating the thing live. But with Two Ships, our whole team was remote and spread across the globe in six time zones. Going back and forth with our team over video calls and emails was new, but I learned patience and dedication, and that’s something I hope to carry into future work.
Animation often requires complex collaboration. How did you and your international team navigate creative decisions and bring your vision together, and what was that workflow like?
MACKENZIE: McKinley and I knew we needed to find the right animators and collaborators to bring this project to life since neither of us comes from an animation background. McKinley comes from live-action film, and I am a photographer. After spending a lot of time watching animated shorts, we fell in love with the work of COLA Animation, an Oscar-nominated Portuguese animation cooperative. When Bruno Caetano and COLA came on board in 2022 to co-produce the film with us, they brought some of their artists with them, including our animation director, Ala Nunu, and together we assembled a small team of 12 across multiple countries, including Portugal, Poland, France, the UK and multiple states across the U.S. McKinley and I were deeply involved in every aspect of the film. We created documents of notes, grids to track the progress of every shot, color guides for every object and prop on screen, and even filmed ourselves acting out the entire film so our animators would have reference material. We communicated with our team daily for nearly two years. Also, McKinley loves a spreadsheet, so we were very organized.
The Oscar campaign brings a new level of visibility and scrutiny. How has engaging with that process shaped your perspective on the film or your approach as a filmmaker?
MCKINLEY: This was not something we had in mind when we set out to make this short, but it has brought a level of visibility we never expected. As thrilling as that is, it’s also a bit intimidating. In every project I’ve worked on, I’ve felt there were things I still wanted to tweak or change, even after it was finished. But with Two Ships, this is the first project where I’ve felt that way the least. We’ve been lucky to screen alongside some amazing animated films at almost 60 festivals worldwide. The talent pool is incredible, and we’re still pinching ourselves that Two Ships is part of the conversation.
Your film explores the difficulty of sustaining relationships, whether in this industry or in everyday life. How has seeing it resonate at festivals affected your perspective on human connection and community in an increasingly isolated world?
MACKENZIE: The foundation of this story is built around human connection, which is something we all desire, especially in a world that feels increasingly isolating. Two Ships explores this idea through the perspective of a couple, but it applies to all relationships, whether with a friend, family member or partner. Seeing how audiences at festival screenings have responded has been incredibly encouraging and has reinforced how universal this theme is. There’s something special about seeing someone else go through what you’re experiencing and realizing you’re not alone. We hope the film continues to inspire connection and love wherever it goes.
Looking ahead, how do you hope your film will impact audiences and contribute to the broader animation landscape, both in Georgia and internationally?
MCKINLEY: We hope audiences walk away with a sense of hope and are reminded that the little moments in life often have a greater impact than we think. I also hope Two Ships will encourage other filmmakers and animators, especially in Georgia, to dream big when making their next project and to aim to tell stories that are true to them, because those are the stories that resonate most with audiences everywhere. Cinema is one of the most powerful tools to unite people from all walks of life, and that’s something we need to strive for now more than ever.
Finally, is there anything else you would like to share about the project that we haven’t covered?
MCKINLEY: Two Ships was made entirely by humans, about humans and for humans.
The Georgia Entertainment Indie Spotlight, sponsored by Universal Production Services at Assembly Studios, is a recurring feature dedicated to showcasing independent filmmakers with strong ties to Georgia. Through written Q&As, profiles, and other coverage, we aim to celebrate the creativity, resourcefulness, and impact of local filmmakers who are contributing to the state’s growing film ecosystem.
