8/25/21 Student Screening! (IN PERSON)
USC ANIMATION STUDENT SCREENING
1. "Miguel" by Armando Sepulveda Mendoza, RT 5:18
Miguel must overcome the feeling of being an outcast on his first day of school in a new country.
2. "The Room That Locked Her In" by Vicky Gu, RT 2:18
Is it real, or is it all just her imagination?
3. "Shower Thoughts" by Vicky Gu, RT 2:10
My mind went wild
4. "Visual Music Practice" by Vicky Gu, RT 0:56
He shall remain a mystery.
5. "Everything Pizza" by David Amberg, RT 2:17
A bear orders too much pizza.
6. "Plastic Ecosystem" by Stefie Gan, RT 1:28
Plastic Ecosystem follows the journey of “new marine life” in the oceans and their behaviors. Millions of tons of plastics litter the oceans and we study their behaviors.
7. "Freestyle" by Ros Fiol, RT 2:06
Combining elements of 90s R&B, hip hop, new jack swing, chiptune, future funk, ballroom, and Afrofuturism, FREESTYLE is a celebration of street dance and all other underground dance movements that create personal connections within public spaces.
8. "Terrarium" by Victoria Cruell, RT 2:36
In a world where plants have overtaken modern day infrastructure, a young girl ventures out and discovers a series of vast and flowery landscapes.
9. "Illegitimate Voice", by CTAN 470 Documentary Animation Production Class, RT 4:53
Stefie Gan moved to the United States from Malaysia as a child. In this animated documentary, she recounts her experiences with culture shock, racism, and ultimately activism. Animated by 16 student directors in the Documentary Animation Production class at USC.
10. "The Best Friend", by Jarrod Chatham, Parker Chatham, and Clara Chou, RT 2:15
A lonely moth dreams about meeting his childhood friend, but it turns in an unexpected direction.
11. "A Good Boy", by Kacey Layson, RT 2:25
After matching on a dating app, Aly is excited to meet James - but he isn't exactly what she expected. This sweet, feel-good animated film proves there's more to puppy love than meets the eye. Written, directed, and animated by Kacey Layson.
12. "There You Are" by Rui Huang (MFA thesis film, 2021), RT 6:07
After her mother dies, a teenager, Su, feels estranged from her father who seems to have already moved on.
I am Shengwei Zhou and my USC ID is 5325630638(email address: szhou894@usc.edu). I have attended today(2021.8.25)'s course and browsed wonderful inspiring works from our alumni. They are not only innovative in terms of their multi-media forms but touching regarding their narrative strategies content and emotional power.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the multi-media experiments, most of these works are blending different media forms like stop motion animation, 3D animation and 2D animation together to tell stories. And they did not just blend these forms for fun, but to combine the mixture visual effects with the theme or character's feelings. Take "Miguel" for instance, Armando used the stop motion part to strengthen the boring life of the main character. The low frame rate of stop motion animation makes the doll movement very stiff, while this kind of stiff effect just exactly reflects the character’s powerlessness and boredom in the face of the school life. On the contrary, Armando used the 2D animation part to show the moments when the character breathed freely. 2D animation part in this film is much fluent than the stop motion part, giving the audience a feeling that the character is more dynamic and happy in this space. These two media forms contrast and mirror each other, creating a very convincing worldview of the story.
As for the content and narrative part of these films, some of them takes multi-level narrative strategies to illustrate concepts or emotions. Take "Freestyle" for example, Ros created two parallel narrative clues and intertwined them to create a very humorous effect.The three characters in Ros's short film all dreamed of being a master of dance in their music world, and each used music to heal the loneliness that arose in their repeated boring life. In the end, they finally met with each other both in the music world and in the real world, and the two clues combined to produce an emotional climax. Not only that, but the interweaving contrast between the narrative clues of the real world and the narrative clues of the music world also produced a lot of punchlines.
All in all, I think a good work needs to mix both forms and content properly to inspire the audience. I am truly inspired by these works and I hope in this semester I could create my own.
I enjoyed seeing the breadth of work that students create in the graduate Animation program at USC. It was engaging to watch people work in mediums and styles that differ from my own. Works like “Miguel”, “Plastic Ecosystem”, and “There You Are” stood out to me because of the tangible feel of them. Even though the first two are stop motion projects, and the latter is 3D, all three of them had rich, textured environments. As someone who is attracted to traditional materials and the fine arts, I liked their sense of being handcrafted. It was inspiring to see the possibilities of new techniques that I can explore within my own work.
ReplyDeleteI was particularly in awe of Rui’s thesis film, “There You Are”. It featured a traditional narrative story, but its visuals were distinctive. The design of the film was so creative, especially within the characters themselves. They looked like wooden puppets. The world looked fantastical, but the story felt grounded in reality. The narrative was naturalistic. I never felt like the characters were not real people. I thought that the contrast between the narrative and visuals was very interesting.
I am in love with the “paper cutout” sequences that Rui included her film, to show the memories of the protagonist’s mother. They were so beautiful, and they matched the handmade feel of the other elements in the film. The transition into and out of this sequence was wonderful. I like how the opening of the wardrobe allowed the scene to unfold, and how when the wardrobe was closed, we were still left with a sliver of the protagonist’s face. The level of design and attention to detail in Rui’s film is admirable. I thought that the final film was incredible.
Victoria Cruell (cruell@usc.edu)
Stefie Gan (stefiega@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteIt was so inspiring to see films of my peers. It's easy to be locked in our own art making and forget the different approaches that other creatives take. I like going to museums for this reason. I was especially inspired by Ros, Kacey, and Victoria's film. "Freestyle" had so much energy that it made me want to dance. I often work in narrative, so it was refreshing to see a film that captured the rhythm and music so well. The characters looks like they're having a lot of fun as well. Kacey's film balanced a melancholic topic like loneliness with comedy. It was a pleasant surprise to see such a fun piece about finding joy playing with a dog and perhaps it's these simple moments in life is all she needed, not a romantic partner. The film could have taken different directions, but I liked Kacey's storytelling tone! "Terrarium" looked fascinating to me. I love seeing nature themes and loved how Victoria paired vines and flowers into the environments of her character. I also love the flower replacement animation. I was imagining a whole screen of flowers and felt so inspired I wanted to make a film about flowers too!
As for screening my own films, it was a meaningful experience to be able to share work that meant a lot to me. I was nervous at first about the reaction, but then it felt that perhaps films have a life of their own and I can no longer control what they do. It was rewarding to have people come up to me afterward to share the meaning the films had for them. It was the first time I screened both these films in a live audience, and I'm so glad it solicited connection. That's why I want to make films! Just like art, they're a conversation piece and I'm glad we're all inspiring and sharing how we're interpreting the themes and experiences of this world.
Hi!! I’m Shiqi Hu from MFA1, I saw a lot of wonderful works by alumni in class on Wednesday. For example, there are stop-motion animation “Miguel”, “Plastic Ecosystem”, etc., there are also hybrid animation made by two-dimensional animation and stop-motion animation “illegality voice”, there are also three-dimensional animation “the best friend” and “there you are”.
ReplyDelete"A Good Boy" left a deep impression on me, because the author started from a very small point, at beginning the girl had a date with James and then she found that James may be a dog. The real James appeared on the show when we thought the girl was going to kiss the dog , and the whole story easily aroused the emotions of the audience. Similarly, there is the three-dimensional animation called "the best friend", in which the special character design, humorous plot and exquisite production that take my breath away. It is impossible to imagine that this level of animation is just assignment, which strengthened my expectations for my future study at USC.
"Plastic Ecosystem" uses stop-motion animation to convey the fact that the ocean is now full of white waste. I think this idea is very deep, which makes me know more clearly what I can learn in Lisa's class. Although Vicky Gu's "Visual Music Practice" is a short practice assignment, she can turn unsubstantiated music into a visual effect. The combination of three-dimensional and special effects allows us to experience a visual feast.
Finally, I really like Ros’s "freestyle". He uses the music in the headset to cross the real life. The transition between each reality and the music world in the headset is very good and perfect. The fusion of these two story lines, the last three people who like the same song meet in real life, it’s really great!
After the seminar this week, I became very looking forward to the next seminar and I hope I can learn more.
----shiqihu(shiqihu@usc.edu)
Hi! This is Charlene from MFA1! I really enjoyed the screening a lot, and was totally amazed at the variety of mediums used.
ReplyDeleteBoth grappling with the issue of new immigrants’ problems, Miguel and Illegitimate Voice take on two entirely different paths. In Miguel the director focuses more on visualizing the internal struggle as a new immigrant with its riveting narrative, while animated doc IIllegitimate Voice utilizes a first person perspective to recount her personal experience as an undocumented immigrant. There were a few interesting moments in Illegitimate Voice such as when the child had to bend over in the tiny basement, and I liked how she portrayed it artistically, as opposed to realistically drawing the environment. I think it’d make the film even more interesting if this artistic choice could be consistent throughout the film. I didn’t know there’s a class specifically for animated documentary, and I was quite surprised and elated at this new finding. I would love to take that class and make the film I’ve always wanted to make.
Two films that stood out to me particularly were “The Best Friend” and “There You Are.” First off they are incredibly well made, and definitely impressive given that “There You Are” was the director’s first 3D film. I think “The Best Friend” perfectly showcased the powerful potential of a short, as a medium per se - crisp, witty, and unexpectedly entertaining. The character designs were truly at work in terms of building up the personalities of the duo and the contrast between them: the bug being innocent and naive, and the frog so macho and predatory. I also LOVED how the bug’s mouth looked like a butt. “There You Are” has such a wonderful visual development design. Very stunning! The film itself is well boarded, edited, and scored.
Very much looking forward to next week’s seminar!
-Charlene Xu
Thank you for your comments Charlene. If you are interested in the documentary class feel free to reach out to me. I am happy to fill you in on the class.
DeleteGood comments!
Best,
Sheila
Lyu Tianyun. USC ID:2799801213
ReplyDeleteYesterday, I was shocked by the works of the previous seniors in the college. In fact, I have seen some of those works on the college's official website and FirstFrame exhibition before, but yesterday I have been showed many excellent works again, which made me very expect to continue studying in this college for three years.
The first stop-motion animation work is the undergraduation final thesis of the senior in college. It has high completion and sincere feelings. It also combines 2D animation techniques so that the visual effect wasn't single, and the audience's emotions were driven. .
The second set of works is my very favorite Gu Xingyu senior's work, her work bring a great shock to my mind which the one from her own spiritual depth excavation.Her work was not a typical narrative film,it is more about to express her deep emotions to create those experimental short film, a kind of self-knowledge of digging. I like very much, very development idea and development train of thought.
Some works use the combination of stop-motion animation and two-dimensional animation, such as Victoria's work. This brand new mode makes me want to try it
Another student's work is a stop-motion animation made by using garbage as materials, telling the current situation of Marine organisms and human destruction to the environment, which makes wonderful use of the characteristics of materials themselves. Excellent!
There are also several narrative shorts, such as a girl accidentally dating a cute dog which is very funny and has a sweet ending.
Ros's " freestyle"----character design is complicated, but he also completes the animation very well, very smooth, very vivid, and the story is very interesting.
There's also a cosmic pizza story, though when it played live,the scene and the sound failed to match ,but still interesting.
Let me burst into laughter is the fly and frog story, technically speaking, the 3D effect has no shortcomings, plus burst into laughter, is my favorite short film! .
For the last film. I was shocked to hear that this was her first 3D short film. The rendering effect was excellent, the character design was interesting, the story was sincere, and the 2d animation made by AE in the middle was exquisite. I really learned a lot.
Seminar makes me think it is a very meaningful course and can broaden my horizon. Thanks for USC.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was so in awe of the films created by my peers and other previously graduated students tonight! They are all incredible in their unique ways. Each film tells a different story, whether it’s narrative or non-narrative, no matter how different the methods are, each of them shows the complex thinking process, thoughts, and perspectives of someone that couldn’t possibly be put into simple words, and that’s the beauty of animation.
ReplyDeleteI am especially glad to see works created by my cohorts, since last year was so tough that we all struggled together, but now that we finally made it to campus and have this opportunity to screen the films, it’s the best feeling ever. Ros’ “Freestyle” was such a fun, delightful and vibrant piece, I have always been very fond of the musical rhythm working perfectly with the well-animated dancing moves. It gave me good vibes, made me want to get up and dance. Also, Kacey’s “A Good Boy” was heart-warming and funny from the beginning. I am still in love with the cute, unexpected plot and her lovely drawing style even if I have watched it for a several times. Graduated student Rui’s thesis film, “There you are”, truly amazed me. It was hard to believe it was her first 3D film and she started as a 2D artist. The story itself was touching, sensitive and emotional, which I feel deeply empathized with, the characters and color design are also very stylized and unique. On top of that, her outstanding 3D techniques just made the film even better and looks more realistic, it turned out to be such a competed and advanced film. Seeing Rui’s work, I was inspired to put more effort into 3D in the future and hopefully, see where it takes me.
All in all, the screening was such an incredible experience for us who just came to the campus. I cherished every opportunity and time spent in the SCA theater and buildings with people who love animation together, in-person, since that was something we didn’t get to do last year. I am very excited to create my film and make more memories within SCA!
Sydney Chen(pinghsin@usc.edu)
It was so cool to see all these works from my fellow students! I loved seeing all the different perspectives everyone brings with their stories, especially the details they brought in from their own life experience.
ReplyDeleteAs far as my personal taste goes, I think “there you are” was the most impressive visually. It showed a great sense of visual tones in the lighting and compositing, as well as other areas of cinematography, that matched the emotional notes of the film really well. It’s INSANE to think that it was Rui’s first 3D film! “The best friend” was another great CG piece with incredible visuals that added a layer of polish to the comedic premise.
-Jackson Roberts
The Animation Student Screening really opened my perspective on animated films. I have been in the mindset of traditional story structure when it comes to storytelling in animation-- The production starts with an interesting premise and the story ends with a corresponding ending. Clear plotline with 3 acts, appealing characters with flaws, and funny gags spice it up.
ReplyDeleteBut during the screening, most of the short films do not have a traditional storyline. In fact, a lot of them are very focused on zooming into one moment or concept. “Miguel” magnifies the unfamiliarity and happy past. “The Room That Locked Her In” expresses one mysterious concept. “Shower Thoughts” makes one shower moment a tour around the universe. “Visual Music Practice” simply visualizes music. “Everything Pizza” makes the tour around the universe into one pizza. "Plastic Ecosystem" plays as one camera with attitude. “Freestyle” brings people together with one connection—love for music. These “stories” may not look super attractive during pitch presentation, but they offer unique, interesting, sometimes mind-blowing viewing experiences. Needless to mention that variety of mediums and experimental audiovisual design keep the audience engaged and curious.
As a first-year MFA student, I am excited to explore the possibilities in my next 3 years here!
Cherry Guo (guomengy@usc.edu)
P.S. Thanks to everyone who showed their amazing work!
I have not watched student short films in a while. I think the main reason is because I tried to keep my eyes on execution and techniques rather than rough ideas. But that night’s screening reminded me that having fun should be the most important reason why audiences love these unique short films made by talented people. “Miguel” and “Illegitimate Voice” both are great example for emotional expression. They are not only the description of the creators’ unique life experiences, but also the catharsis and expression of a certain emotion, such as loneliness. The short film “Freestyle” is full of vitality and passion. The sense of humor and affinity in “Everything Pizza” and “The Best Friend” made me laugh so hard.
ReplyDeleteThese kind of tangible emotions are hard to get when I watch a feature film in theater. In my opinion, student short films are full of charm because their feelings are real. The vivid visuals fit their real feelings perfectly, just like the cave paintings. They may be simple and rough, but full of vitality and energy. So they can establish the closest connection with audiences and creators rather than feature films.
Naicheng Liu (naicheng@usc.edu)
Kacey Layson (klayson@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteViewing the student work from the MFA Student screening last Wednesday was so inspiring! I was amazed by the quality of narrative/storytelling and production quality across the board. The range of projects is incredibly diverse- from comedic 2D animated films to 3D visual music pieces and beautifully rendered thesis films.
I really appreciated the theme in “Miguel” by Armando Sepulveda, as well as the storytelling and the visuals of the piece. It is a beautiful work about feeling outcast in a new environment, but that hope that occurs when you find a friend. The set and prop designs were very purposeful in the color choices, and I loved the use of mixed media when transitioning from stop-motion to 2D animation.
In “The Best Friend”, by Jarrod Chatham, Parker Chatham, and Clara Chou, I was so amazed by the production quality of the lighting, environments and the models. They had very strong visuals and a unique world that made the narrative even more immersive. The character designs were so fun, and what I loved about the story is that each plot point is so unexpected and hilarious. It's such a fun watch even after viewing it more than once.
I was also inspired by the work of Stefie Gan in “Plastic Ecosystem”. In this stop-motion piece, I could see the intentionality of the work, through the topic of using trash to depict sea life as there are millions of plastic litter in our oceans. The narrative was cleverly executed- from the fish-like movement of the plastic knives to the “pufferfish” popping out forks as spines. In this film, I appreciated how Stefie was able to capture a feeling of our oceans being taken over by a trash ecosystem. Even through the colors used, the yellow hues felt urgent as opposed to a blue or green.
I am so amazed at the work that everyone has made over the past few years, and I’m so excited to see what we will all create next. I am also looking forward to listening and learning from the artists that will speak during the animation seminar. It was so nice to see you all in person last week and I’m looking forward to this semester with you all!
Watching all the animations created by my fellow students has been an inspiring experience. I have been focusing on the technical and visual aspect of animation, considering which to be the most vital part for too long that the main reason for creating films has blurred to me. However, after watching these student films, I have realized that the true reason why we create animation is to share our stories, to express our genuine emotion and to share the sparks of our life. Not only dug deep into the techniques, these films have also touched people successfully and brought so much joy to all of us. Among all the films, my personal favorites are ' A Good Boy ', 'Freestyle' and ' Miguel'. They are drastically different in their techniques, visual styles and storytelling, but are all well made and have touched me deeply in different ways. I was also super impressed by 'There You Are' and 'The Best Friend' for their amazing visual effects, and 'Everything Pizza' for its humor. I was deeply inspired by everyone's film and I'm looking forward to see more of their fantastic works in the future.
ReplyDeleteRui Han (ruihan@usc.edu)
Tyler Krantz (tkrantz@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful to be able to sample the variety of work created by recent USC alumni and my peers. Having witnessed the intense process of Victoria, Ros, and Kacey's films, it strikes me how effortless the final animation appears to be. Ros’ “Freestyle”, a joyous celebration of dance and music, was one of my favorite pieces created by our cohort during the Production 1 course last spring. He successfully captured the energy of the video games and shorts that inspired the film. I particularly enjoy Kacey’s “A Good Boy”, a lovely story rendered in beautiful, stylized 2D animation. On the surface a simple narrative about a girl’s dating misadventures in a new city, Kacey layers in themes of loneliness, desire to connect, and transition.
Seeing the diversity in mediums of these student films was inspirational. Rui Huang’s “There You Are”, and Jarrod, Parker, and Clara’s film, “The Best Friend”, both employ CG animation, to very different effects. While “The Best Friend” is a humorous work, “There You Are” is a deeply emotional film about family relationships. Each film is incredibly successful at capturing their desired tone and utilizing the medium to benefit the story. In Armando’s “Miguel”, the narrative is heightened by his choice to use stop motion animation.
Delaney McCallum (jmccallu@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed seeing student work, especially as an incoming MFA student who is still becoming familiar with the program and campus as a whole. I really enjoyed Ros's "Freestyle" in particular. I think animation is a special medium because it is able to capture the freedom of joy in an exaggerated and emotionally effective way, and I think Ros did a great job of that. The choreography and match cuts were inventive and energetic. He really captured the aesthetic of each character to make them unique and lovable, with only body movements.
I also appreciated the intersections of different mediums during the screening. We had stop motion, hand-drawn, and 3D represented. I enjoyed "Terrarium" very much because of its inventive combination of mediums. The hand-drawn elements breathed really organically into a digitally-mastered world of nature. I think it created an interesting juxtaposition, and the environment became hypnotic for me to watch. The screening as a whole has made me really excited to explore different mediums, and recognize the through-lines that create dynamic characters in each one. Each film effectively utilized the medium to enhance the desired tone. It is hard to imagine them in different forms - "The Best Friend", for example, is difficult to imagine in a different format than CG animation.
Jessica Wu(wujessic@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteWatching animated short films always inspires me, so I enjoyed seeing other animation students’ works last week. Before the screening, I’ve already seen several films through Zoom meetings. But watching it on the big screen brings a different touch to it.
I really enjoyed “Freestyle” and “A Good Boy”, made by Ros and Kacey respectively. And I swear it’s not only because they are my friends. “Freestyle” uses color smartly. By simplifying the palette, it allows the audience to concentrate on the characters and their performance. Also, the animation was amazing. In my opinion, dancing is one of the hardest things to animate, even with reference. But Ros did great on keeping the characters in their original design while showing their free and explosive energy. On the other hand, “A Good Boy” is a film that excels in storytelling. In under two minutes, it tells a compelling story. Not only are we able to see the protagonist’s personality and her struggle, but we also see her building a relationship with other characters. The storyboard and layout of the film left a strong impression as well. Not to mention the character designs were appealing and the puppy was just insanely cute.
As I said in the beginning, short films always inspire me. They give me ideas of what I want to do in the future. The two films that I mentioned above made me realize the importance of setting a purpose while making films. They are different films but the message that they want to deliver to the audience is very clear. And that to me, is what makes a good film. If the filmmaker’s intention isn’t clear, then the audience will have a hard time feeling empathy with what’s happening on screen. Overall, the screening truly motivated me to work hard on my P2 this year. And I’m excited to see what these filmmakers will create in the future!
Gunjan Dere (2447599576)
ReplyDeleteWithout sounding too nuanced, I want to reflect how it felt being back in a room full of people who have similar interests after over a year.
Watching the student projects on the big screen was invigorating! It added fuel to the existing passion I have for the art-form. A lot of self reflecting took place during the pandemic. Quite evidently so, a need to find a narrative— a voice, for a lack of a better term. A voice that resonated or synthesized narratives of the whats and hows of living on the subcontinent of India. The student screenings covered a myriad of emotions and ideas. What seemed like surrealist dream of a kind, until a year ago, was materializing right in front of my eyes— an opportunity to piece my own narratives in a collaborative environment.
If I had to boil down what I mean to say, I would say, "the shorts were hella inspiring", but that again would not be a honest reflection of I how felt during the screenings
Hi Gunjan,
DeleteI agree! And sharing your film with an audience in person is also invigorating! Good comments.
Best,
Sheila
I am so glad you commented on the experience of screening your own films. There really is nothing like showing your work to an audience and experiencing their reaction. Good comments, and thank you for sharing your work!
ReplyDelete-Sheila
Aisha Harper (5377-7371-00 // ajharper@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, just seeing all of the talent that came from only 1-2 years of studying in our program has me completely blown away. For the longest time, I always wanted to bring what I envision in my head and bring it to life through animation---and just seeing what resides inside of these students is all the more inspiring for me to work my hardest, as well.
Even though I think that they are all just amazing in their own right, I really resonated with Vicky Gu's work. Her stuff just emitted this gritty rawness that I feel is inside each of us. I'm personally not interested in going into experimental animation, but seeing how she used it really felt like that was the only way to truly communicate certain raw emotions.
I absolutely loved "Illegitimate Voice." Hearing Stefie's story along with the beautiful collaboration of her class backing the animation was extremely cathartic. Even though we walked very different paths in life, there was so much that felt familiar to me. Not only that, but I learned something, as well. That's the beauty beauty of sharing the stories of people of a different background. Also, the fact that she told her own story made it even more beautiful! I wish to do exactly that someday; amplify the voices of those overlooked and ignored.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is I think the first class went off without a hitch! I didn't know what to really expect, but I came out inspired and ready to take on the future. Definitely looking forward to the speakers this semester!!
Xiaoqian Zhu (xiaoqiaz@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the screening this week. Most are short assignments for classes. Even though they are small projects, they contain interesting ideas. It’s cool to see Vicky’s three projects in a row lol. They introduced us her style as an artist; also, they reminded me the animation intro classes I took. I think Vicky really made every project complete and unique in a manageable way under the limit time. They make me think back of my own assignments, in which there’re some things I could learn from her. The screenings are really good for new students to know the program and be better prepared for their projects too.
Thus, the films are really touching. I can feel the sincerity in them. That’s why I always love to see students' works. Even the little flaws in the story or in the techniques are pretty, which represent their real and adorable thoughts. When we get more and more professional, we may lose some of the stupid but genuine moments in the work. And the flaw stands out to us so that we can be more aware of them and try to avoid them in our future projects.
Shon Xiao
ReplyDeleteOut of all the student-made films we watched in class, “Freestyle” by Ros Fiol was one that I enjoyed the most. The style alone already makes a statement, with its groovy, curved linework and the bright but simplistic color palettes. The exaggerated shapes and the strongly established color palettes of each character made them easily recognizable and relatable. Further, Ros animates the movements of each character slightly differently according to their taste in music. I think one of the strongest points in Ros’s film “Freestyle” is the seamless transitions between the real-life scenes and the disco dancefloor scenes. I believe in one shot, a character throws off their jacket, and the screen cuts from the real world setting to the dancefloor world. On a related note, the entire film had very comical timing, often hyping up the energy within the dancefloor world and suddenly cutting to how the character is actually behaving in public, usually feeling a little embarrassed about their dancing. I think the relatability and the accurate portrayal of how people feel when listening to music makes this film particularly addicting.
Outside of Ros’s film, I believe the wide variety of films from students really inspired me. The diversity in mediums, such as the mix of claymation and traditional 2D animation in Armando’s film “Miguel”, the mixed media in Vicky’s “Shower Thoughts”, and the use of magazine-like cut-outs in Victoria’s “Terrarium” all expanded my idea of what an animated film can look like. I’m excited to see more works from my fellow animators as well as explore these mediums in my own future works.
It is so nice to finally have a chance watching all these short films on a big screen other than our laptop screens through Zoom! I love the feeling of watching film with others physically in the theater. The reactions of other people are also part of this immersive experience.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some old versions of "The best friend". This latest finished one has great dreamy lighting and delicate texture. The water drops/sweat beads on the frog's skin make the whole story even more outstanding. I like the storytelling rhythm and music and humor. The modeling of the poor moth and the setting of the sexy frog are also uniform surprisingly.
"Freestyle" made by Ros has excellent color settings. The lights, crowds and dramatic camera angles of the music world are in contrast to the real world where the three protagonists are located. Kacey's film shows her sophisticated storytelling skills. (Her movie link does not seem to be in the above, but we defintely watched it on class. It's the Tinder date one with a cute dog in it.) I am impressed that they were able to make such complete P1 films last semester in online classes.
Shengluo Zhang
Hi Shengluo,
DeleteThank you for letting me know I did not include Kacey's film on the blog. I just added it.
Best,
Sheila
It was great to see some work from the past and current MFA’s! I was quite impressed with the quality and creativity of the films; definitely far beyond what is typically considered as “student film” level. This got me really excited for the projects I will be working on pretty soon, and to see more of my peers’ films at student events/screenings.
ReplyDeleteThe film that stood out to me the most was Ros’ film “Freestyle”. Not only was the theme extremely relatable, but the energy was super positive. For lack of a better term, the narrative was so human. The different character types and music genres really gave me the impression that although all people may be different and have varying interests, ultimately we can vibe with each other one way or another. It was really refreshing to take an idea (listening to music with headphones) which is usually spun as antisocial behavior, and instead make it about what people have in common and can make them connect to one another. Side note, I thought this would make for a phenomenal headphone commercial.
I also am obsessed with “Everything Pizza” by David Amberg. This kind of sense of humor reminds me of Adult Swim shows where character attitudes are super real but everything else has no limit. The animation and narrative were simple but brilliant, and it was hysterical.
Overall I really loved all the films. I can’t wait to see what we’ll all make next! This first class demonstrated the strength of the program and the possibilities both in medium and genre that we can pursue. It was also great to see what kind of topic and visuals my peers are interested in so that I can get to know them better.
Nina Ceklic
It’s really inspiring to see the works of the upperclassmen, and get an expectation about what kind of work we’ll be able to do in this program. As someone who’s drawn to narrative based stories, I’m particularly enjoying “Miguel”, “Freestyle” and “There You Are”. The three films use three different media, stop motion, digital 2D, and 3D, and each explores different possibilities of the media to the fullest. “Miguel”, for example, constructed such a textural and detail oriented environment, and have the characters acting stiff, to better convey the mood that the main character felt uncomfortable in a new environment; the 2D animation, on the contrary, was done fluently in a more handmade style, to convey a more upbeat and free kind of mood.
ReplyDeleteI’m also in love with the character design, the scene design and especially the CG paper cut out animation in “There You Are”. It felt really well thought out and well planned.
I’m in awe of the making of Illegitimate Voice. I’ve never worked on an animation with other artists before, and seeing this form of collaboration is super refreshing. It’s clear that every artist has their own understanding of the story writing, and different ways of visualizing it. Each artist’s unique style and character is so clear and distinctive in their clip, and they work together really well to tell the story. It’s even more impressive to think about how the film was made in quarantine!
Also it was just so nice to be back in an auditorium with people, enjoying great films!
Ruoyu Chen
MFA 1
chenruoy@usc.edu
08/30/21
Dina Garatly (Dgaratly@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteI was so amazed to see some of the MFA’s students work! I right away thought “wow” those are students!!! I remember hearing one of the students saying “there were some mistakes, this was my first animation” and I thought:” what mistakes?, it looks perfect to me”. Every single piece was outstanding and had a beautiful message!
Watching some of the students work made me feel so emotional, and made me feel so grateful to be here and to be a part of the MFA team. It made me feel 100% sure that I made the right decision when I decided to quit my job as a “Visualization Scientist” for the past 13 years and to join this program; to become an artist and to go back to what I am passionate about and really meant to be doing.
I enjoyed every film, but I think the one that sincerely resonated with me was “Illegitimate Voice”, it had a powerful meaning and really inspired me and touched my heart. Everything about the animation from characters to narrative and voice over was wonderful! It’s amazing how art can enable us to send a simple message in a beautiful meaningful way.
I was so inspired by all of it, and again I am so grateful and feel so lucky to be here and I cannot wait to see what I’ll learn and what will my message be.
Dina Garatly
Vicky Gu (xingyugu@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful watching a diverse selection of student/alumni films! Thank you Sheila for asking me to show my films. I was really flattered to be part of this screening. We have a very talented body of students and I love watching all of them on a big screen. I love the variety of subjects each film carries.
I particularly love the narrative films that are light-hearted and comedic. I often lack the sense of humor to produce such work, so it is always refreshing to watch something that gives the audience a good laugh. I also love the many different kinds of animation techniques that are present in this screening. I love how we are able to fully explore our artistic potentials and try out many different approaches to animate our films.
I felt slightly awkward watching my own films, not only because I haven't watched them for a very long time, but also because I don't really know what people's reactions might be. (watching three of my films in a row) I hope I have provided MFA2s and MFA1s some expectations for the required/elective classes they might take in these three years. Animation can have so many possibilities for us to explore and experiment.
Thank you again Sheila for putting this screening together for us! It was a great show and I hope that we can continue this tradition in the future.
Hi Vicky,
DeleteYou're welcome. Thank you so much for sharing your work!
Best,
Sheila
Vicky (Shunyi) Xie (shunyixi@usc.edu)
ReplyDeleteIt’s a pleasure and inspiring to watch some student’s work from this school since this is my first week of the first year in USC cinematic arts. Overall the students works are stunning and amazing, both visual and the concept behind the works are unique and creative from my point of view. I would love to share some of my thoughts about those works with my background and “personality” as an artist.
I graduated from an art college that everyone is working hard on improve the skill on making art that visually pretty, and have high value on the market, so they can be hired right after graduation. But the works from USC students, for example those experimental shorts, they might not have the best drawing skill with perfect anatomy, but they have unique ideas to tell a story with the method that people will not see often in the cinema.I am really glad to be part of this school and will have chance to learn how to be innovative, step out of my comfort zone as well.
However, there are also some things that I would love to do that I didn’t see that much in those students work. Personally, it is boring to just describe the animation and read out the story through the whole animation. For example, by read things like “Yeah life is hard as an immigrants, yeah I need to deal with racist, sad.” out loud will not help me to actually have emotional connection with the situation, even though I am an international student who deal with all things in a foreign country all alone for years as well. If I need to direct a film about these things, I will try to write a story with a character that actually deal with those things (or in a metaphor way), so the audience will go on journey with the character (and it would work even the characters never talk) , rather than view some animations with a vocal narrative to describe what happened in those shots words by words. Less is more, is what I am aiming for.
Overall, I like those films and they are inspiring. My personal taste on those films does not mean they are bad, they are all amazing films.I am looking forward for the future lectures of this class and my new period of life in USC.
It was so much fun watching all the films in the class! All of them are so astonishing and I was blown away by how diverse they are. I have watched some of the films before and it was amazing to watch them again on the big screen.
ReplyDelete"Illegitimate Voice" was a surprise to me, it was so beautiful and so warm. I love how the images connect with the voiceover, and I can totally resonate with the story. I was also really amazed by Rui's film "There You Are". I feel so really inspired by the story of the love between father and daughter. The lighting definitely makes the story more appeal and juicy. I enjoyed "Freestyle" very much, and I love how colorful the film is as well as how powerful and energetic the music is.
I'm so grateful to be part of the screening myself and it was so satisfying to see everyone's reaction in person! I was really nervous and was literally screaming inside but then felt so relieved when everyone was laughing and really enjoyed in "The Best Friend". Thanks, everyone! And thank you so much, Sheila, David, and Stefie, for preparing us drinks and snacks at the end of the class :)
Clara Chou
You are very welcome Clara. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful film!
DeleteBest,
Sheila
My My name is Adriel! I am an Animation MFA 2 and excited to be into this semesters seminar. For last class, It was super inspiring to see everyone’s work and get to show support for my friends project as well as be exposed to new ones! I feel the showcase was a great way to connect with the class and unite us all through the love of animation and motivation to execute our ideas. I loved being able to see my classmates work on the big screen and witness the impressions it made on everyone.
ReplyDeleteRos’ Freestyle featured amazing soundtrack with carefully and meticulously animated characters that were filled with personality, style, and unique rhythm. Kacey’s A Good Boy
touched on the heart warming and humorous storytelling elements that you would see just just before the next Disney picture while shining light on the relatable struggles on modern dating. Stefie’s work did an excellent job at giving the audience a window into her life and sharing her narrative with the world so we could understand how she see’s. Armando, the master of stop motion! After semesters of seeing him gone the craft of stop motion, screening Miguel was a great way to learn about his early work and appreciate his growth as a film maker! Finally following Rui film on social media and learning about how it was her first ever 3D film was so inspiring and a big part of me wanting to take a Cinema 4D class!
There’s power in numbers and sense of belonging in community and the screenings last class were a great way to both acquaint and reacquaint each other with talented likeminded individuals that will support each other into a bright creative future
Hi this is Jiamu Tao, Animation MFA 1. I was so surprised to see the students' works from last year! They were so good! I'll pick some that I resonated with the most and talk a little bit about them.
ReplyDeleteVicky Gu's works caught my attention. As someone who work primarily in the narrative realm, I often do not understand the approach that creators of abstract and experimental contents take. Vicky's is another case. When I viewed their works, I feel like I can understand what they want to say and how they feel from their narration and motion. But if you ask me to put my thoughts into animation and words like that, I probably can't. It was a fun experience with one another experimental animation and I gained some knowledge about myself.
I like Ros' Freestyle a lot! He was able to animate such complicated and detailed characters and maintain the volume at the same time. That is literally my goal for my Fundamentals of Animation class this semester!
The Best Friend cracked me up. It's so well-made, and it tells a very complete story. Just, such a great job!!
Pedro Chinchilla
ReplyDeleteI was inspired and awe struck to say the least. I came to this program on a whim and didn't know what to expect. Seeing the upperclassman's work and the skill level just blew me away.
It was interesting to see the different visual styles and approach used to express similar social issues for example how "Illegitimate Voices" and "Miguel" used different Animation methods to touch base on similar immigration and racism topics.
"Plastic Ecosystem" was a fun and interesting as it borders along the line of fine art and animation.
This may be because of the use of found objects and its association to Dada movement. Additionally, the work reminded my of the work Albatross by Chris Jordan. If intentional or not the film has a call to action because of the materials used super cool and subtle.
LINK: http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/albatross/#trailer
"Freestyle" was super fun and relatable as I grew up in the city. Thus, i would ride the bus and train to get around similar to the characters in the animation. Additionally I plug my headphones in to unplug from the world like the characters. What i found most interesting was the way the music was used to drive or push the story forward.
I was also blown away by the narratives and quality of the renders in "The Best Friend" and "There You Are" . As I myself want to focus on 3D Animation and creating compelling narratives. Therefore I left class that night feeling super inspired and excited for my future here at USC.
I was amazed by the talent of my fellow peers. It was truly a great experience seeing such a wide range of styles and artistic voices all coming out of the same program. Kacey’s film “good boy” is so charming. Her character designs are fantastic and the little dog is so cute. The film “the best friend” is incredible. The cinematography and design of the film is so well done and the story is so good. By far my favorite film of the night, and it made me excited to start incorporating 3D into my own work. Rui’s film was also so gorgeous. The film’s lighting was so well done. Overall it was a great way to start off the semester and I'm thrilled to be studying alongside such talented artists and filmmakers!!
ReplyDelete-Armando
The screening of our peers’ films was very eye-opening and lots of fun. They were really well made and as a fellow animator I admired how much work and efforts they put into. I was in the same class with Kacey while she was making “A Good Boy”. It was a pleasure to be able to witness how she put everything together and kept improving throughout the way. Even though we were on Zoom but I remember vividly the whole class showed great support and made constructive suggestions. The same goes for Ros’s “”Free Style” which I also enjoyed a lot during last semester. Ros had a very unique style and his animation was full of energy and fun. We had a really great experience working on our individual projects with the support from each other and I know it will only get better this semester.
ReplyDeleteI also related a lot to Armando and Stefie’s films. They had very different approaches towards the immigrant subject. I felt for their stories and they also inspired me to think about that in my ways. I like how the stories started with a child’s point of view and we could see the efforts they made and finally the growth.
Can you please leave your name so that I can give you credit for this post?
DeleteThank you,
Sheila
I’m so sorry! It’s Fiona Chenxue Lu
DeleteThe films I’ve watched made by fellow USC graduate students are mind refreshing and really make me think out of the box. Everybody uses different mediums and works on various art styles. Incredibly, they know which kind of mediums or art styles work most to express their intended ideas. For example, in the film “There you are” by Rui Huang, the artist changes art styles between its original CG style and paper puppet animation while narrating the story in the picture frame. Also, the film “Plastic Ecosystem” by Stefie fan describes a view in the ocean, but human wastes substitute all sea creatures. To clarify the theme of environmental protection, stop motion animation is the exact go-to artistic approach because it allows real plastic bags, rubber tires, or any trash to be on the frame, much intuitive and effective. I also immensely enjoy the film “freestyle” by Ros Fiol. I’m very into its character design, color scheme, timing, and animation. Also, the story is perfect. It’s very uplifting and a relief for me.
ReplyDeleteBeing a first-year student at MFA, I am very excited to learn all kinds of skills, and I’m glad that I get the chance to choose my own way of being an animation artist.
Jiayi Tang, tangjiay@usc.edu
Lydia Su MFA2
ReplyDeleteI think it is such a great opportunity to see the movies that are made during semesters by students that I admired. Since I have shared the experiences of working on animation projects with some of them. I really appreciate the hard works behind these completed beautiful short films. And it is interesting to find out that the fact they are so different in genres, narrative methods, and styles, but I can definitely relate them with the personalities of their creators.
I resonated with the films that have the theme regarding immigration. “Miguel" by Armando has a beautiful style switching between lively 2d hand-drawn animation and stop motion to covey the feeling of the protagonist. "Illegitimate Voice" by Stefie and her team seamlessly connect the styles from different artists. I can deeply resonated with the questions that were asked in the film. "The Best Friend", by Jarrod Chatham, Parker Chatham, Clara Chou, and "There You Are" by Rui Huang have beautiful lighting and warm style in 3d that I am going for. I also appreciate the excellent 2d character animation and acting in "Freestyle" by Ros and “A Good Boy” by Kacey to tell the stories that we simply feel relate and charming.
I feel that every time I rewatch these films, I can still learn more from the technique concepts, the content behind the scenes. As one who also struggles in producing animation projects. I would definitely like to have opportunities to see more of them coming out and hopefully join in in the future!
Aloha, Lee / scene.aloha@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful that the first screening was our school's student films. I could see what I was getting into and what to expect. Which got me tremendously excited!
Although all films screened were incredably amazing and full of talant, but personally my favorate film from that night was Ros's "Freestyle"!
First off, "Freestyle" was very entertaing to watch as an audience. Because I completely felt what the characters in the film were going through! I always secretly jam inside while listening to music out in the public. I may act calm, but I am doing all that "Freestyle" inside. And I think this is an important point as a creator to be able to connect with the viewers, going like "hey, I do that too?". It simply was a very well exacuted and smartly planed short. Thus, very inspiring as a fellow creator. Way to go Ros!
After a year online it was a wonderful and slightly surreal experience to see these films in person and on a large screen. Even though I had seen many of the screened films before class I felt they offered a new perspective by watching the films collectively with peers. Specifically, the films I had not seen offered exciting inspiration. Rui’s "There You Are “was esthetically charming, her character designs blended well with her 2D cut out style sequence. I felt that that sequence was very successful in conveying the tone of the film as well as a very smart way to compress time. David’s film "Everything Pizza" was witty and unexpected. I wish the sound during the viewing was in sync because I thought the delivery on the humor would have been perfect. Overall, I thought it was a funny but succinct short. I remember hearing about "Illegitimate Voice" from those who were in the documentary class, and it was satisfying to finally see it in person and on the screen. The film beautifully weaved each student’s work into the storyline while amplifying Stefie’s story. Wonderful job for those who showed their work and thank you for doing so!
ReplyDeleteKaisey McCallion
This is Anna Wang, Animation MFA1.
ReplyDeleteAs a first year animation grad student, I am very excited to see what my fellow peers were able to produce in SCA. As a 2D animator and storyboard artist, I am also excited to know that there are so many opportunities to learn and collaborate.
Armando is able to use sound and color design in "Miguel"'s production design to create mood. "Everything Pizza" was such an entertaining story to experience (even though the sound was out of sync). Comedy is hard to write, but David did a fantastic job. The choreography and camera angle in Ros' "Freestyle" creates dynamics that was able to move the audience along with the feel. "The Best Friend" felt like I was watching a trailer of a feature film. "Illegitimated Voice"" by the Documentary Animation class was very well written. This work also showed me the potential of collaboration in USC. "There You Are"'s story, environment and character design, and lighting together are so well-thought and harmonic.
Parker Chatham
ReplyDeletepchatham@usc.edu
The screening was a great start to the seminar class, and I am very humbled to see diverse and talented voices on screen. It is refreshing to see the films on the big screen and have a live audience. Some of the shorts that spoke to me were Armando's "Miguel" and Kacey's "A Good Boy". Both shorts have a clear narrative structure and likable protagonists who undergo self-transformation.
Rui Huang's "There You Are" is impressive both visually and technically, and I am amazed that this is her first narrative CG film. I hope she continues to direct future CG films in her career.
Seeing "The Best Friend" on the big screen was the highlight of my first week. I never heard a live audience react to our work (zoom can be awkward for feedback), and it was encouraging/emotional to hear a positive response. Our team struggled over 6 months to finish the animation, lighting, and rendering, and it was a huge reward to see it all come together at the end.
I look forward to the future guest speakers. Thank you Sheila, David, and Stefie for the wonderful snacks!
There is nothing like screening your work for an audience. I am so glad you had that experience.
DeleteI'm glad you liked the snacks!
-Sheila
Jarrod Chatham (9921324777)
ReplyDeleteLast week, it was inspiring and refreshing to see student-produced shorts on the big screen. I felt that many of the works represent a diverse group of voices which was a great opportunity for our class to appreciate the community here at USC. Among the shorts that I enjoyed were Rui’s thesis “There You Are” and Armando’s “Miguel”. Both demonstrated emotional intensity and are successful for its focus on character study. For both pieces, there is a feeling of intimacy and genuine connection that I felt was powerful.
It was a satisfying experience seeing our film “The Best Friend” not only on a big screen but with an audience. The moment that people laugh and clap was cathartic given that this film was both mentally and physically difficult to finish in the middle of the pandemic (something we can all relate to). I remembered how much I have sacrificed and the frustrations coupled with disappointment of not accomplishing the level of quality I wanted. Therefore, seeing the film with other fellow students reminded me to always take a pause every now and then to love the work I make. Many artists tend to put themselves down easily because of the obstacles that slow the creative process down. By seeing past work, one can pivot back to the goals, find the source of motivation to start up again, and learn what to improve as a professional artist. Resilience and discipline are the strongest skills that artists should always practice.
Thank you Stefie and Sheila for the tasty snacks and beverages!!! :)
You're welcome! I'm so gladyou had the opportunity to see your film with an audience.
Delete-Sheila
Giulia
ReplyDeletetzuyupan@usc.edu
It was a great pleasure to watch people's works with a big screen! We haven't have a chance to do student screening for a long time, and it really brings up different feelings even with those shorts we have already seen. It was so lovely to see how people work with diversed methods and stories. It was also a great introduction to know people by telling their art styles.
Freestyle by Ros is one of my favorite films. I love the energy and creativity in those animations and transitions. And I'm also exciting to see Illegitimate Voice on a big screen too! Seeing my own shots give me extra motivations to do better. Overall, it was a wonderful, inspiring first class to start the whole semester.
Siqi Fu(5428836696)
ReplyDeleteIt is such a great experience to see so much student films on a such big screen with amazing acoustics. I have to say they are all so diverse and so interesting to watch. I am especially impressed by the films that made by my classmates: Ros and Kacey. Because I have seen how these beautiful pieces built up on zoom little by little, when these films showed to a variety of audience on a big screen, they are unbelievably wonderful. I feel so proud of them.
Another film I enjoy so much is Rui Huang's Here You Are. I have seen some pieces of the film before, but I have never seen a whole one. I am astonished by its color, lighting and beautiful renders. Although they are built in 3D, they do have some 2D features in it. I love how the paper cut animation is built in this film. I know she has a paper cut stop motion animation in her first year of this program. I am amazed by how her visuals develop so much in three year. As this is her first 3D piece, I am so encouraged by her bravery, which gives me hope learning 3D and C4D.
I am really thank to this special experience to see so many student films. It is an impressive night and a brilliant start of my new learning life on campus! Thank you Sheila and Stefie!!
Georgina Gonsalves- MFA 3
ReplyDeleteI was very excited to see everyone’s completed film. I loved the twins film, I watched the development of it over last semester so it was really exciting to see it completed. Beautiful lighting and vibrant colors! I loved Rui’s film. Such a sweet story and the rendering was beautiful. I really appreciated the different forms of animation. So unique! I was also the SA for documentary film. I admire the effort put into creating this remotely during the pandemic. It was very impressive and so beautiful.