During the Spring 2021 semester, I teamed up with Professor Joshua Muntain of Villa Maria College in Buffalo, NY to develop a semester long project for his “Post Production” class. Working with a dozen students, I took on the role of “the client”, where I asked them to develop animations adapted from my audio dramatization and short story “The Specter of Ægir”. By simulating a client-creative professional working relationship, the students gained experience pitching animation concepts, adapting source material and refining their post-production workflow, all while regularly participating in reviews and receiving critique.

During pitch presentations, the students articulated why two selections from the story spoke to them the most and how they would channel visuals and animations that they loved into their own productions. Throughout the semester Joshua and I met with them to workshop their ideas, rough visuals, animatics, character and background designs. The students came with a myriad of artistic styles, choices and ideas, which kept us on our toes! We helped guide the students to find ways to pull off their vision by furthering their understanding of storytelling and how to channel the projects they love while challenging them to clarify their ideas so they would land.

For their final assignment, they presented their two animated moments – which I’m happy to share stills of here. It was incredible to see the students pour their personalities and ideas from their own lives into their pieces, which transformed the story into reimaginings that radiated their own voices. Being on the other side of the classroom has been an eye opening experience in so many ways. I’m beyond fortunate to have had this experience and hope to be in front of a class again in the near future!

Jordan

Still from animations (below) created by Tim Clavier, Mika Ervin, Brianna Scutt, Aurora Mill, Shalayah Smith and Xzavyer Barker.

Listen to the audio dramatization and read the story: www.jordanbianchi.com/the-specter-of-aegir