ANIMATION STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A GLOBAL ANIMATION PROJECT
The COVID-19 quarantines of 2020 forced educators and artists alike to work in new and creative ways. One such collaboration involving SF State’s School of Cinema just recently enjoyed its debut. A Pocket Magic Flute is an animated film adaptation of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” produced by the Pocket Opera company of San Francisco. It is a finalist for the Digital Excellence in Opera Award from Opera America.
Nicolas A. Garcia, artistic director of the San Francisco Pocket Opera, conceived the film project and garnered funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Opera America. He contacted SFSU Cinema Professor Martha Gorzycki to get students involved. Gorzycki (MFA, ’02), the director of the University’s Animation Program, mentored five student interns who worked on pre-production and production: Estrella Torres, Jacqueline “Rosie” Nares, Alex Wood, Madeline Ko and Jessie Plascencia.
“It really helped me understand how the pipeline of production works in animation,” said Nares (B.A., ’22), now a library media assistant at an elementary school in Stockton. “I already had a bit of an idea just because I’m a huge animation fan. But being firsthand, I got to try a little bit of everything. Working in background, character and prop design, I was able to figure out where I fit in the pipeline, too, because it is my dream is to work in the industry.”
Torres (B.A., ’21) helped create storyboards and design characters and props. She says working on A Pocket Magic Flute was a pivotal moment for her. “It gave me my first real opportunity to step into the animation world and feel confident in my skills,” Torres said. “When Martha reached out to me specifically because of my talents, it was such an honor. It gave me the encouragement I needed to believe in myself and my abilities as an artist. The class she created was small, with only five students, and I felt so fortunate to be one of them. “The experience not only helped me grow as an artist, but also reinforced my love for animation as a medium for storytelling,” added Torres, now an instructional aide for middle-school students with disabilities in Brentwood. “I’m truly excited to see how it resonates with audiences and how it might inspire others.”
Shawneé Gibbs (B.A., ’02) and Shawnelle Gibbs (B.A., ’02) are the lead producers, screenwriters and animation directors on A Pocket Magic Flute. The siblings comprise a powerhouse team, writing scripts for cartoons for many of the major studios and networks. Miriam Lewis (MFA, ’12) is the lead costumer. They all attended the world-premiere screening, held in the August Coppola Theatre at SFSU on Sept. 25.
A Pocket Magic Flute has brought together numerous arts organizations, including the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Oakland Youth Symphony, Sacramento Youth Symphony and Sirnare Animation Studio in Kenya.
A Pocket Magic Flute is now traveling to classrooms of fourth to eighth graders, accompanied by a curriculum and appearances by the artists in person.
“This was a local and international collaboration of diverse teams of scholars and artists coming together remotely to produce a 20-minute animated film,” Gorzycki said. “One of the primary goals of this project is to educate youth and especially BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and People of Color] youth on collaborative and creative career possibilities in the performing arts, fine arts and media arts.”
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, RAFAEL FLORES PREMIERES NEW DOCU-SERIES
Professor Flores will be premiering an installation of his latest documentary series titled “The Chicano Poets Series” in Pittsburg, CA on Saturday, January 11, at 5 PM. This special event will take place at Maya Cinemas, the only Latino owned theater chain founded by legendary producer and activist Moctesuma Esparza, whose mission is to bring culturally rich experiences to underserved communities. This historic evening celebrates the vibrant voices and stories of Chicano poetry, featuring live music & special performances and an exclusive Q&A session with three iconic literary figures:
Juan Felipe Herrera: U.S. Poet Laureate, National Book Critics Circle Award winner, and a pioneer in Chicano poetry. His works have shaped the landscape of contemporary literature. He recently received the National Medal of Humanities from Joe Biden and the MacArthur Genius Award.
Rigoberto Gonzalez: An award-winning poet and author whose accolades include the PEN/ Voelcker Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His powerful works, like “Butterfly Boy”, explore themes of masculinity, LGBTQ resilience, and migration.
Paul S. Flores: Former SF State Creative Writing Graduate, renowned playwright, poet, and performance artist known for blending cultural storytelling with activism. His acclaimed book “We Still Be”: recently earned the American Book Award and he has won various grants such as NALAC, The Rainin Foundation and the Creative Work Fund.
RSVP now to secure your spot for this one-of-a-kind event!
RECOGNIZING THREE OF OUR RETIRED (SOON-TO-BE RETIRED) FACULTY
The School of Cinema held a holiday lunch on December 5th and this provided us with an opportunity to recognize three of our retired (or soon-to-be retired) faculty: Randy Rutsky, Jenny Lau, and Joe McBride. The Director of the School of Cinema toasted our retiring faculty, noting that Randy and Jenny have — each in their respective ways — changed how we see the world. And we are all the better for it. Joe has transformed innumerable student lives by giving them one of the most transferable skills out there: writing. We thank them all for everything that they have done for our students and our School.
RUIZ WINS BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY AT THE MOSAIC WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
Congratulations to M.F.A. student Jesse Collier Sutterley! His film Ruiz won Best Short Documentary at the Mosaic World Film Festival and has been selected for the Afro-Latino Short Film Competition, Central Film Festival, Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film, and Virginia Black Film Festival. Ruiz shares the powerful story of Kcey, a young Puerto Rican and African American Air Force member, and the resilience of her loved ones as they confront the tragic loss of her life in Afghanistan. Jesse created this poignant film as part of SF State’s Veteran Documentary Corps. Directed and edited by Jesse, Ruiz was shot by M.F.A. graduate Andrés Gallego. M.F.A. graduate Birdy Hong managed production sound.
FEMINIST FILMMAKER FELLOWSHIP (F3)
The Feminist Filmmaker Fellowship (F3) aims to provide an open and safe space, virtual or in-person, advocating for womxn and non-binary filmmakers. Our events allow leadership development to flourish by listening to members to help bring their ideas to life.
Follow us on Instagram @feministfilmmakerfellowship for all our updates and to help us make some films.
JOIN QUEER CINEMA COALITION
Queer Cinema Coalition ensures a safe and creative space for LGBTQ+ filmmakers on campus to learn how to make our mark in an industry that doesn’t prioritize our voices. Through guest speakers, screenings/discussions, and community organizing, we build life-long connections to help us survive and thrive as filmmakers at SF State and beyond.
Follow us on Instagram @queercinemacoalition.
JOIN THE ANIMATION SOCIETY
The Animation Society strives to educate and provide an inclusive space for creative SF State students to learn about and discover a love for animation.
Email: animationsocietyatsfsuofficial@gmail.com
Website: Animation Society Wixsite
Instagram: @animationsocietysfsu
LATINO/A/X FILM CLUB RECRUITING FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
The Latino/a/x Film Club is now recruiting students dedicated to improving the representation of Latinos in the film industry and celebrating the contributions they have made to the media industry. Students and allies from any discipline are welcome to join regardless of their academic background. This club has regular monthly activities to facilitate networking, resume building, attracting potential paid gigs, and studying the legacy of Latino/a/x cinema in the United States.
For more information contact: GRogado@sfsu.edu
Dear Prospective Students:
The School of Cinema offers in-person tours of our facilities. Please make an appointment by contacting the Cinema Office at cinema@sfsu.edu.
- Drew Lewis: School of Cinema, Tech
- Pablo Riquelme: Production Coordinator
Friday, December 20, 2024
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Saturday, December 21, 2024
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