Arts Thread

My approach to film making begins with an idea that often comes from a deep emotion within myself or one I see in others. The thing I like to do most in life is help other people and try to put a smile on their face (as cheesy as that sounds) so, through the use of animation, I explore ways in which people struggle using a variety of techniques and approaches, aiming to help with the comprehension of these sensitive topics. During my time in my undergrad I found myself drawn to the experimental side of animation. I tend to take an autoethnographical approach to my work, often attempting to find new ways to discuss topics that personally affect me, such as mental health. I’ve found animation to be a very useful tool in helping me express these emotions that are difficult to explain as well as the general abstract concepts of the mind. This film began with the intention of finding a creative way to express to the viewer why some people use unhealthy coping mechanisms when struggling. As these are important topics to discuss, my first step was talking with others about their experiences, in order to make the film more understandable and relatable. Lots of my time this year was spent researching addiction, why we do the things we do, watching others films in order to help figure out my structure and technique etc. I think some projects need to develop and expand at their own pace; I usually think of my projects as being alive in that sense, letting them go down the path that feels right, continuously checking that the message I’m aiming to explore is coming across. Experimentation is an extremely important part of my process and one that often produces many things that aren’t used, but even these parts are important. One idea that doesn’t work may lead to an idea that does.